How long will coupons last?

TLC’s new hit show “Extreme Couponing” is taking the country by storm, but is this show to the advantage of consumers?  At first, yes; but after the publicity it has received, it seems not.  This show has opened a whole new world to millions of consumers and inspired them to pay less for groceries.  I have to admit, I too was intrigued by the idea of getting grocery items for free and have even started couponing myself.  But inspiring consumers to coupon is not the problem.  It appears that since consumers are figuring out the value of coupons and the impact they can have on their finances, stores and manufacturers are going to become stingier with their coupons.

 Is this really fair? 

Stores receive the full value of the product from the manufacturers plus about 8 cents for every coupon that is used.  It really appears that manufacturers are the ones who are losing out as they seem to be practically giving away their products for free to these extreme couponers. 

While in the grocery store the other day, the cashier and I started discussing the new rage of coupons and she said, “but you know, things are about to change with coupons”, meaning that there would be more strict rules and most likely less coupons in circulation.  Although this show has been great because it has brought attention to an advertising method that most of the population overlooks every day, it seems to take advantage of this method that was not foreseen by advertisers.  It is not the intention for the coupons to get entire purchases free.  If you’ve noticed, most coupons require a consumer to buy multiple items to receive the discount.  By stacking coupons, it seems that consumers have outsmarted the marketing departments of many companies.  It is a shame if the idea and uses of coupons change forever because they are now more useful than initially imagined.  My advice, use as many coupons as possible before these companies and grocery stores change their policies.