Free and Cheap

It's probably well known to most of my friends that I'm pretty big fan of Groupon.  I also use Living Social and am familiar with a few other "social deal" type sites.  It's seems like a pretty simple way to save money with very little sacrifice.

Additionally, there are many other deals to be had with a pinch of internet savvy and limited qualms about giving out your e-mail address.  I have to say, I've taken advantage here.  Coupons.com is worth a look and I also visit favorite product sites (such as coffee-mate and swiffer) to find similar deals. 

Now, I've said all this first as sort of a disclaimer. 

Off and on, I have followed a number of different "frugal" blogs, and there seems to be sub-set of these strictly devoted to couponing and deal-sleuthing blogs.  What these blogs seem to share in my opinion are stories of large shopping trips costing them a fraction of the retail price (sometimes only a few pennies.) and countless links to coupons and sometime even "free" items. 

Now, while I'm still a sucker for a good bargain - I have to say some of these stories turn me off a little.  Why? While I it's impossible for me to know the exact nature or intent of the authors, there seems to be something inherently materialistic about getting all this stuff.  To me, being frugal should be synomymous with simplification of life.  Coupon mania and endless "free" samples seem like complications.  Also, there's a bit of a high in getting a deal, and it's hard to say weather these "frugal writers" are truly looking to budget or just chasing the next deal.  It almost appears "addictive" at times. 

I think the trouble is knowing where to draw the line.  I've clipped coupons, and managed some major savings from time to time.  "Free Samples" are often great ways to try new products.  In high-school I got a free-set of Neutragena products (kind of a first run in my own-deal-sleuthing adventures.)  It can be "fun" and cost-effective to combine strategy and budgeting.

However, for me, the end goal of the frugal life is for me to wind down and not to wind up.  Many coupons are for highly processed products.   Many Groupons are for things I never needed or wanted.  Adding these items to my life is neither simple, and often times not even cost effective. 

So you tell me - where is your line in the couponing, deal grabbing world?  other thoughts?