Coupon Crazy: The Science, the Savings, & the Stories Behind America's Extreme Obsession

by Mary Potter Kenyon

A fascinating history of this marketing tactic, and why some shoppers take it to extremes—from a longtime expert couponer.Coupon Crazy  examines the phenomenon of avid coupon use and the socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors that construct it. By delving into the history of couponing, refunding, the science of shopping, and the dark underbelly of a coupon world the average American doesn’t even know about, Mary Potter Kenyon manages to both fascinate and educate. Readers will meet today’s “Coupon Queens” (and Kings) and learn about an era when trash really was cash. Not just an observer of this ethnographic research, Mary lived it for over thirty years.“My favorite aspect of the entire book was the candid tone Kenyon takes in sharing her story and others. As someone that both uses coupons and teaches couponing practices, I found the book triggering self-reflection at many   Do I purchase products just because they are on sale? Do I devalue products I’ve gotten for free? Do I allow coupons to inform my purchases or the other way around?   If you are a couponer, it’s quite possible you’ll find yourself reflecting on your own shopping habits as you read this book, too.” —Angela Russell, The Coupon Project

Genres: Nonfiction, Personal Finance, History

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Mary graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in Psychology and is certified as a grief counselor, trained under world renown grief expert David Kessler. She is an author, widely published in magazines, newspapers and anthologies. She teaches writing workshops for area community colleges, libraries and writer's conferences and does presentations and workshops on utilizing creativity in your everyday life, jumpstarting your natural creativity and facing grief with grace. She is the author of several books, including the award-winning "Refined By Fire: A Journey of Grief and Grace," with a foreword written by New York Times bestselling author, Cecil Murphey and "Called to Be Creative: A Guide to Reigniting Your Creativity," Mary and her husband Nick Portzen speak on the power of prayer in marriage and are currently working on a book on the same topic.

Reviews

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Coupon crazy" is almost as addicting as the use of coupons! Once I started reading it, I had a difficult time setting it down. It not only elaborates on the strategy of using coupons to get the most product for your money, Mrs. Kenyon also delves into the psychology behind marketing and consumerism. If you have ever used a coupon, this is a must-read!

[Janis Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a novel - but great entertainment! Tips and stories about the history of coupons and refunds. Nostalgic - remember trading stamps? Very well written.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a blast to the past for me. It also made me miss the many deals that my mother, sister and I did especially back in the 80's when those who tried to save money were more of the minority. I never did the fraudulent or extreme things mentioned in the book, but as a newlywed, I was able to stockpile cleaning supplies, food, and paper items that greatly saved us on our tight budget. Our family was never stingy. We would share our extras with friends. It made our hobby sociable and profitable to us, as well. Shame on those who did fraudulent things in the book to make a huge buck. That is why the companies stopped being so generous. I met Mary Potter Kenyon through Refund Express and Refund Cents (both magazines). Mary's love story involving couponing is so sweet, too. The book was easy to read and made me want to try to do more couponing and refunding, as I burned out with coupons over the years. To me, it is easier to print the legit ones online, and find other ways to save by scoping out all the steals and deals online before leaving home. I have my son's old Smart Phone, and even though it is 3GS, still has several apps that help me save money.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprise! Coupon Crazy is well researched, absorbing and insightful. Numerous times during my reading I found myself with my head nodding in agreement with what the author was saying.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of books I read for research are a bit of a pain, but this one was a pleasure. Ms. Kenyon's book has a homespun plainspoken charm backed up by exhaustive research. I picked this up mainly so that I could read her history of coupons, rebates, and free premiums, which is comprehensive and comprehensible - much better than anything I could find on the Internet about the topic. But I also enjoyed reading her insight into the mores and habits of the coupon community as a dedicated member. She brings hard-won experience to her discussions of the ethics and practicalities of the practice, explaining its joys, pitfalls, and dangers. Though Kenyon is a dedicated fan of coupons, she is not above admitting that the practice can be unhealthy, even as she explains its benefits to her life.

There were a few issues - her organization is a little scattered at times, and she loses focus a bit towards the end of the book. But I really liked this, and I'm glad I came across it despite it being outside my usual wheelhouse. I recommend it to anyone who's interested in consumer culture or the history of advertising.

[Peggy Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as both my son and daughter can verify I have been couponing for about 45 years. I love rebating and couponing,this book was wonderful as it is the science, the savings and the stories behind America's extreme obsession just like the title of the book says. Mary tells you everything from the date and who put out the first coupon, when and why blue /green chip stamps dissolved and why we love to save using coupons.

[Holly Booms Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well researched look into the history of couponing from the heyday of 1980's refund craze through Extreme Couponing today. The author is likeable and her memoir is interspersed with lots of good facts and research statistics. She does a good job of looking at the trends and ramifications of couponing, including fraudulent use and the way retailers use psychlogical studies of consumer buying habits to try to control what you buy.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a handy-dandy guide to getting started in the world of couponing...and who doesn't need to save money these days? Nothing can replace hands on experience, but research and preparation is essential. Reading Mary Potter Kenyon's book is a good start before tackling the confusing world of extreme couponing.

[Susan The Book Dragon Campton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to another Whimsical Wednesday! This Wednesday’s whimsical Gem is something so many need these days, a money saver. Green in color, it shimmers and shines like a newly polished and stocked freezer section on sale day! Cool to the touch, it crackles with electricity and causes the adrenaline to rush and a flush to rush to ones cheeks. This is no ordinary money saver, this about Couponing, the world of clipping and saving, though nowadays it is more downloading and saving, my secretary informs me. This is Gem Maker Mary Potter Kenyon’s “Coupon Crazy: The Science, The Savings and the Stories Behind America’s Extreme Obsession”.

My secretary, Susan, told me she was once Queen of the Coupons in her set and so I have decided to let her review this Gem. So from here on out, she will be relating this review. Susan, take it away.

Thank you, Drakon. I began couponing in the mid-1980’s. I was a single mom and needed to save a penny anyway I could. Then I got married and needed to save even more as I was now feeding three on a budget, working and going to college full-time. Every penny counted (when doesn’t it) and I suddenly found myself not just clipping coupons, but organizing them in a folder, making sure I understood each stores system and started getting refund checks as well. When I began reading Mary Kenyon’s book, I felt like I was reading my own story. This woman is me!

The book is fascinating. It explains how to coupon, what to watch for, how stores not only watch our shopping habits, but even manipulate us into buying more. Some I am sure you understand, putting all that candy and those handy items near the registers or placing things at the end of an aisle..but she goes on to tell us even more! That person you keep running into at the store that has very little in their cart? They may actually be following you to study your shopping habits for a large corporation or the store itself!

We also learn interesting trivia! Did you know the first coupons were put into use in the 1800’s! And it was all to get people to drink something new? Or that the man who owned Coca Cola sold the bottling rights for $1? Amazing!

If you are an extreme couponer, just a shopper, someone who is starting to coupon more and wants to understand how all this works or just love a really interesting book, Coupon Crazy is for you! It is available where all great books are sold. Mary Potter Kenyon has been couponing for 30 years and used it to help raise eight children! She also teaches workshops on couponing! I learned some tricks I wish I had known all those years ago! Thank you, Drakon, for letting me review this lovely book! And to all you Book Dragons out there, happy shopping!

You’re welcome, Susan. Book Dragons, be watching for a special announcement later this evening…I will have a list of Authors who will be joining us over the next three weeks for interviews, excerpts and giveaways. Stay tuned, I hope your having to stay in your caves will be a little brighter by my columns.

Until tomorrow, your humble Book Dragon,

Drakon T. Longwitten

I received my copy of Coupon Crazy in a drawing, the opinions expressed are my own.

[Kendra Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
As a frugal shopper I enjoyed this book! Full of lots of information, if you like those types of books you’ll love this, but at points in the book it was a tad too “info dump”-ish for me. The end of the book I really enjoyed and made me excited to look for coupons when grocery shopping!! She knows her stuff!

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the best about all of these is the stories about the extremes people go to. For example, I had no idea about the amount of coupon fraud that was going on a few years ago! I wonder how the extreme couponers are doing things now. I haven't (in my life) ever seen stores do double coupons or triple coupons and I haven't seen much manufacturer coupons in years as well.

[Bailbottom21 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coupon Management System is a promotional tool that helps you create, manage and track coupons in real time. Coupon management system supports customer interaction by providing real-time data.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're already a couponer, not really new information. Good for a beginner.

[Kim Harms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew the coupon world was so complex and, well…crazy? The book is titled appropriately.

Kenyon is a frugal consumer, and a 30+ year veteran of using coupons to stretch a dollar. She figured out what worked for her when her children were young and really made couponing her part-time job. In her book, she delves into the history of couponing, the variety of ways of couponing/refunding/rebating…, the science behind it, the evolution of it and even as she calls it – “the underbelly of the couponing world” – something I didn’t even know existed.

I got lost in the details every now and then. A couple chapters were chock full of facts and statistics (which I’m sure some people will love), but I’m not a huge statistic person so it was a bit overwhelming at times.

But Kenyon kept the reader engaged with her own personal stories, testimonies of others in the couponing world and interesting bits of trivia. I enjoyed the read, and I feel like I have a better grasp on the world of couponing. Plus I came away with some new hints about how to be a resourceful shopper.