Couponing....is it ethical?

Yeah, I know, ethical...what the what?  About two weeks ago after watching Extreme Couponing, I decided that I should give it a try.  I've tried couponing before, but wasn't very successful at it.  After watching the show I realized I just needed to learn more about it before I tried it again.  So I began reading up on how to "Extreme Coupon".  I realized I had, had a good start but just wasn't utilizing my coupons correctly in conjunction with sales and I didn't realize that you could use a store coupon and manufacturer coupon on the same item. I can't tell you how many times I had two coupons in my organizer and didn't use both of them.  Argh to those missed opportunities.  Anyways, I have been really excited at the possibilities now that I'm getting the hang of this.

However, twice now my excitement has been squelched by friends who asked me if what I was doing was right and implied that I am cheating stores out of their profits on the products that I buy or get free through couponing.   They told me that the stores need to be paid for the products that they sell.  I was quite shocked by their assertions.  I mean, haven't coupons been around for a very, very long time. Wouldn't retailers and makers of the products stop putting out coupons if they weren't good for them.  I don't think they are doing it just to be nice to us to give us a break from paying high prices for everything.  There has to be something in it for them.  It's advertising.  One great deal can get you to go into a store that you normally wouldn't go to.  And then, likely, you'll purchase something that is not on sale or don't have a coupon for and there's their additional profit. Not to mention if you use a coupon to buy something you normally would buy but would like to try out, you might love it and be hooked.  Isn't that why they do it? Retailers will do all sorts of crazy gimmicks to get you to come to their store and keep coming back... and it works.

Since I began couponing two weeks ago, I have gone to Rite Aid once and Walgreens three times.  Now I have been to Rite Aid before but had decided over a year ago that in general their merchandise was priced way too high and hadn't been back since.  And as for Walgreens...well, it has only been there for a year or two, but they cut down some of my favorite trees on the lot of land and stuck the Walgreens right on top of them.  I was irritated by that and decided I would never go in there.  I know-- a bit childish, but without trying I had never gone Walgreens at all, until this coupon craze hit me.

And so to my dear friends who think some how I am snaking retailers out of their profits, I say, actually Walgreens and Rite Aid won.  Because of their coupons, sales and advertising, not only have I entered their stores, but I keep going back. (Rite Aid is tomorrow's shopping trip).  And yes I am getting some amazing deals.  And yes I also bought the Hello Kitty Band Aids that weren't on my list, weren't on sale, and didn't have a coupon for (because of a very persuasive 3 year old and the necessity to avoid a complete meltdown).  So they've got me in their doors and I'm able to pick up things at super low prices which is a great help to my family and our budget.  To me it's a Win Win situation.  I'm curious as to what others think--would love some feedback.  In the meantime-- if you think that couponing is a good thing support my cause and print a coupon on Coupons.com above!!!