As most of you are probably already aware, TLC will be airing a new series tonight called Extreme Couponing. I won’t be watching…
To hear the words “extreme” and “couponing” used in the same sentence just makes me cringe. I mean the very definition of of extreme is “going to the utmost or very great lengths in action.” Anything done to the extreme borders dangerously on becoming an obsession.
I don’t know about you, but that is not the way I want my actions to be viewed by my family and friends — or you, my readers.
:: Couponing As A Lifestyle
Couponing is a way of life, but taking it to the extreme isn’t necessary to trim your grocery budget. Yes, getting hundreds of dollars of groceries for under $5 is a thrilling experience. However, take a closer look at those groceries. Do you really have the ingredients necessary to put together a wholesome family meal? I’m betting the answer is no.
I prefer to support practical couponing here on Deal Seeking Mom. A typical grocery shopping trip for our family of seven averages about $100 and consists of a variety of fresh produce and meats and the sensible use of coupons on products that complement a healthy eating lifestyle. I could be wrong, but I’d imagine this is the ultimate goal for many of you — not simply getting free products for the sake of free products — and I plan to share more of these trips in the coming weeks.
:: Our Stockpile
It may surprise you to know that I pass up a good portion of the deals that I share with you each week, freebies included. If an item isn’t something my family uses, I’m probably not going to waste my valuable time and energy shopping for it. Yes, even if it would make a great donation — storage space is at a premium in our overcrowded house, and unless I know we can shuttle something off to a dropoff immediately, I’ll probably pass it by. However, I do want my readers to have every opportunity to save available, so I post all of the offers that I can without judgment.
That said, we do have a stockpile… a modest stockpile. I buy enough to last us 6-8 weeks, and that’s plenty in my book. It makes for easier management of expiration dates while still allowing me to be generous with family and friends as the need arises.
I will say that I’m thankful to TLC for inspiring more people to learn about couponing. If you came here by way of the show and are interested in learning a common sense approach to using coupons and saving money, I hope you’ll subscribe to Deal Seeking Mom and stick around!
What are your thoughts on the show? How do you approach couponing in your household?
amy mohre
I agree this program shows couponing and those who use coupons in a bad light. The majority of us do it to save money and out of necessity not out of greed or just because we can. I like it that Im in good company here!
Jill
I have tried to check what is in their basket on the advertisment. You just can not get coupons like that on fresh produce or meat. I don’t believe when you have such a huge quanity of stuff that it is called a stock pile. I think it is more like hoarding.
krystal
i did watch parts of the first one, and personaly i found it interesting. i DO NOT condone exterme couponing, but watching how some of their minds work was fassinating. for a while i was kinda down on couponing. it seemed like no matter how much i looked for a deal, it never seemed to work out for me, but watching the parts of the show that i did watch, got me back on top of my game. i do not buy more than 4 of the same items with coupons, with the exception of diapers and wipes. (our daughter is 2 so we r moving from diapers at night to pull ups durring the day, and trying to use the potty, i think i go through more pants than when she was 1st born but…) i do however buy some items at full price that i KNOW that i shouldnt and should look for the coupon( toothbrushes, and my body wash) but by the time i need it its a dire need situation and im already at the store. so yes some ppl my boycott the show, but personaly it motivates me to become a better simple and small couponer.
Anne
I’m recording it so I can watch & see what they do. Curious! I’m not a crazy couponer but do like to get go buys on what our small a family uses. We have a few months stockpiled & I’m going to try to keep it that way.
Diane
I am not sure that I would want a pantry or basement or attic full of “stuff” that I will never use! We have 5 (soon to be 6 children) and I started using coupons to save on what we do buy to make our grocery money go farther.Or, I will use coupons to try new things,and, hey, I would have bought the item without the coupon anyways most times, so I am OK with that. We eat what is on sale basically…our local grocery store had a 10 for $10 sale on pasta and sauce. We bought 10 and will use 10 in the next few months. When chicken is on sale, we eat a lot of dishes with chicken. I will buy a roast that has a sell by date of that day and save several dollars and throw that in for dinner that night. We eat well, I just have learned to plan my menu based on what I can find a deal on. I stock up on things when they are on sale- and by that I mean I will have a couple back ups of the item. I have 3 bottles of shampoo because I got it for 85 cents with my coupons last month. I do not have 85 bottles of 3 cent shampoo though. That is insanity!
candy
totally agree…just trying to do best for our families…this show is going to hurt us in the long run….TLC does not care….they are going to make money off of this…evidently they do not use coupons and get paid an extreme amount of money that they do no live frugal…lucky them….
Jennifer
Let me just say WOW! Who are we to judge these people. If they want to spend the time to “extreme coupon” so be it. I’m sure all of us have our downfalls and don’t spend every minute of every day to the best of our abilities. I know for me I sometimes spend to much time reading when I could be doing something more productive. And to call these people hoarders is just wrong. Hoarding is a real psychological problem, and if some of them are hoarders maybe they can get the help they need, but it is not our place to call them such. Maybe we need to stop and take a look at ourselves and quite judging others.
Jen
That woman on the first show who did not have any kids definately had a hoarding problem. She and her husband were throwing stuff on beds to store it and she had something like 20 years worth of toilet paper. If all the crap was taking over her home and eating up all her time, she has a problem and probably needs professional help.
Erin
My sentiments exactly, DSM! I majored in Economics in college, and it’s tough for me to see people doing this, just for something free. There is no such thing as free. Someone somewhere is paying for this. Not that coupons are bad. When it’s taken advantage of, and suddenly the manufacturer is giving away so much “free” product, there profits decrease. What do manufacturers do when their profit decreases? They either make a cheaper product, or mark up the price. (Or I suppose they go bankrupt, haha!) It also seems that they might be less likely to provide coupons in the future. I also think the TLC show is almost meant to make fun of couponers, rather than teach us anything important. Just like the strange addictions – I feel no compassion for the girl who eats tissue paper, whatsoever. I don’t care what happens to her. I think TLC is really not a good channel anymore – totally not worth watching any of their shows anymore. It’s like a freakshow at a circus (pardon the expression.)
Angela R
Heck yeah, Tara! I just shared this with my FB followers. I was contacted by Discovery (TLC)’s PR last week’s in hope I’d share this on my blog. Their email made me want to talk about it even less and I told them so.
Well said, my friend.
candy
This show is not going to help us……it is now going to limit the coupons and freebies that we get…companies are out there to make money and want our business and enjoy their products..and the store needs to make some amount of money also…..but when you have hoarders who enjoy just the word “free” and do not even use ,abuse the right of people that really want that product and the hoarders wiping out shelves , shame on you! no wonder why walmart and others keep changing their coupon policy on a weekly basis…I do not even care if they donate to a cause, it is hindering the normal family “just trying to get by” living….remember our economy sticks and gas prices for getting a freebie really isn’t FREE.
Amber
Do you think the manufacturers do not have a 200% markup on their products? They are still making money or they wouldn’t put the coupons out there.
Amber La Mons
For all of those that comment about wiping out shelves, you can ask the store to order in the quantity that you want. This eliminates the problem and you get what you want for home/charity.
Jessica
If those people have the time and energy to “extreme” coupon that is their business. I don’t think that we should continue to celebrate people that have issues. I also don’t think that the people that “extreme” coupon could actually be following rules, limits, or common sense. I would love to see whether or not they actually use all these products and what they spend on their bills beyond what they have a coupon for. I buy items that my family can use, or that I can put into donation boxes for US military as part of my girl scout troops annual service project. I swap coupons that I don’t use with friends. But I love saving all the money I have and love the rush I get from seeing 100 dollars get cut in half for a weekly grocery shop. I’ll watch, but not because I think I am going to get $500 worth of meals for my family for $5. I know how much time goes into one of my shopping trips, I am curious how much time goes into theirs.
Jennifer@HomeMatters
Great post! So well written. I couldn’t agree more. Glad to know I am not the only one who feels that way :)
Jennifer
Libby
opps after watching Amanda I wrote on her wall I would have to unlike her page its not couponing its hording , And now I am watching Joni dumpster dive and have her child do it also WOW they are mentally ill in my book , Tara I love your site you are very realistic and have helped my family save lot of money :) Thanks for being Sane lol
Paige
We won’t be watching. We only buy what is necessary for our family to ensure others families get the same benefit of savings as we do. For our family we have a 6 month stockpile (only that because we were both previously laid off for 7 months with no income). I get really frustrated at individuals whoa re so selfish that they need to buy ALL the items of one something that is on sale. (For example 50 jars of pasta sauce!) Be considerate of others, and the same will be returned. We WON”T be giving any energy positive or negative to this “event” on TLC….
Libby
Ohh I forgot to add Amanda Blocked me from her wall now . lol
Kelly
i totally agree that the people are horders ! I will watch for the simple fact that i’d love to be able to do as well as they do money wise but with a third of the amount they do. The one woman on the first epsiode that bought like 100 boxes of pasta , and 200 candy bars its not a wonder she looks the way she does! we may buy 5 candy bars a month and thats for our family of 3 she sould be stockpileing coupons for jenny craig or weight watchers because if she is eating all of that candy along with all of that pasta on a daily basis she will die of obeasity before she’s able to use her stockpile!
Michele
I watched in shock of anyone who digs for coupons in dumpsters along with their 3 or 4 yr old child.Especially after seeing her garage was filled with enough food to feed her family for a year.
I was in line a few weeks ago and had about 10 coupons..the lady behind me said “I watched that food hoarding coupon show on TV did you see it”?
Embarrassing!
Julie
When people comment on my coupons, it’s usually in amazement. They wish they could save money on there groceries. I can’t count how many people I have seen check out without a single coupon. There are more people paying full price vs. us that use coupons, in my opinion.
Stacy
I would love to watch it, just out of curiosity. I talk to the people that were on the show and as for the dumpster dive with the child, she had never done it before, but the SHOW told her she had to do it. I go to a site called weusecoupons.com and Nathan, who was also on the show, does a LOT of donating, he is also doing coupons for troops. Really, we need to remember this was a reality show and it may not reflect the whole truth. Most just have a stock that will last them a year or 2. I understand that it can become and addiction, but you just need to stop when you feel comfortable. I started out hardcore and now I miss deals all the time. I know I am set on HBA items for about 4-6 months and that is perfectly fine for me! To each their own, who are we to judge based off of a “reality show” with “producers”? Just my 2 cents.
Michele
If she was “told” she had to put her child in the dumpster I would of “told” them off!
Libby
joni bought 40 jars of ragu For a family of 4 ??? Really and she already had shelves full , She wasnt donating it she was hording it .
Stacy
I know for my posts I am going to be chastised like mad, but truthfully I would go through 40 jars of pasta sauce in about 6-9 months. I only have a family of 4 also. I use it for pizza pudgy pies, spaghetti, lasagna pasta bakes and so on. For me to use about 2-4 jars a week is nothing!
lillie powe
I will not be watching the show. I search daily to find coupons that fit my healthy, environmentally conscious lifestyle. We should be aware of the fine line between saving on the products we need & use & the practice of hording.
anna hobbic
thank you!!!
Andrea
Love the comments! I saw the initial show. Right off the bat I was making comments about obsessive/compulsive disorder. Some of the things that these people were stockpiling would definitely go bad. How much stuff on those shelves can two people eat? How many deodorants can one use?! It was crazy! So much valuable time devoted to this obsession. It’s one thing if you end up donating most of it to a food bank or shelter, but most of them are not doing that. I was wondering where they shop that a store would take an indefinite number of coupons for the same product. My Shop Rite only allows 4 coupons for the same product. And as many of you have said, because of this obsession and greed, when I go to the store to buy one or two items with my coupons, the shelves are empty. And Tara, you are so right about all those free or nearly free items & not being able to put a wholesome meal together.
I know that many of you are worried that this show will ruin it for us regular couponers, but there are already problems for us such as a lot of stores refusing to take internet coupons because of all the fake ones that are being generated. That kind of greed has already ruined it a little for us. And with newspapers going the way of the dinosaur, without our Sunday coupons, it’s really going to be hard to save our hard earned money in this economy. I hope it never comes to that!
Heartland Hannah
I’m also glad I’m not alone in my disgust for shows like this and also the people they tend to feature. I was interviewed to be featured in an article about extreme couponing but was filtered out as not being “extreme enough.” Translated I but what my family needs and then I also buy things to donate to local shelters. I guess that’s not considered exciting enough though I think it’s more representative of the many people I have come to admire through forums such as this one.
TV shows about single men with pallets of pampers in their garage and women who have to get permission from a grocery store to run multiple transactions back to back are not what this is all about but rather represent an embarrassment.
valerie
I am soo happy you mentioned this Dealseekingmom. I just love how your thoughts are alike ours here on your comment page. I just hope it doesnt give viewers the idea of grabbing all the sunday papers, emptying all the shelves(which I pray doesnt happen here in Los Angeles) and also make viewers not hate but dislike couponers. A toothbrush or two for free at target makes me the happiest person in the world. But to go extream, I dont think so its just not my style. By the way I LOVE everyones opinion on this topic!! =)
liz b.
I so appreciate this site and agree with most of you. I don’t do freebies unless it’s something I have been wanting to try or I know I’ll use. I rarely print coupons unless I know I need/want that item at my next shop. I shop at stores that don’t often have name brand foods so I don’t use a lot of coupons, which can be tricky. I actually shop at 2 different grocery stores to get the best deals, but I don’t buy much processed stuff either and I seriously almost never buy name brand.
I will watch just out of curiousity…but it bothers me that something as simple as couponing to save money for your family is now being made into a ridiculous reality show!
Nic P
Believe me you are not alone. Most of the people featured, have an issue far different and far beyond “I use a few coupons to budget wisely and help my family”.
Hoarding is a serious mental health issue, and it doesn’t matter if you have neat and tidy shelves. If you are buying more than what your family needs, or more than you can donate etc. It’s just hoarding.
It get very frustrated that a few extreme people are defining wise coupon users.
Stacy
Here is a link I would like to share. It is “behind the scenes, what didn’t make the cut”. https://www.weusecoupons.com/upload/wuc-news/103326-tlc-donation-behind-scenes-what-didnt-make-cut.html
Susan
I agree with you, I have watched the show but noticed that a lot of the stuff they throw into their carts I wouldn’t eat. Who wants to come out with a cart full of sugar laden chocolate milk & heavily sugared cereal, & other packages of food full of added colors/dyes, saturated fats, high sodium, etc. I don’t see them coming out with many fresh fruits, vegetables & unprocessed meats. I use coupons MOSTLY for non-food items, detergents & other clothing items. I have found a FEW, not nearly as many as I would like, coupons for unprocessed chicken, a nice loaf of bread or some frozen veggies. I have written to some companies of organic foods & have received some coupons for healthy items that way. I started a couponing group at my church so that I could give away coupons that I don’t use- I feel as if I am throwing away money when I throw out coupons. Now some of the ladies from my church drop off their coupons that they don’t want, I cut, file them & bring them in for everyone to go through to take what they need. I no longer need to buy diapers but there are a number of woman at church that can & can certainly use more than the 1 they get in their own paper. :-)
Susan
sorry for the typo, should be:
“detergents & other CLEANING items”
Melissa
When I first started couponing, I chased every deal whether I used the product or not. Then I realized how crazy that was. Now I buy what I need with coupons and stockpile about 3 months worth. Chasing every deal is not worth my time. I have kids and want to spend time with them (and my hubby!) Thank you DSM for making it easier for us to find the deals we need!