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?
Andrea Lyng
I did start couponing because of the show, and by no means did I think I was going to get to the level of the people on the show because I am not going to drag my kids to the dump to dumpster dive for coupons, I am also not going to devote 70+ hours a week to it because my family is waaaay more important to me then saving a buck! I do however enjoy the fact that I have gotten into it for the simple fact that I have cut our single family incomes grocery bill in half…that to me is worth it. I have taken advantage of lots of the freebies that are brought to my attention, however like you just because an item is free does not mean I take advantage of it. I only get items I myself or my family will use!!! Thanks for all you do to make us better couponers :)
Amber
Hi, I’m fairly new (2 months) to couponing, as well, and I’m happy that I have been saving between 50% and 65% each week for the past month. And this is on items that we will use and I have gotten my stockpile started. I will probably watch out of curiosity, as I didn’t see the original episode of this series. I will hold my opinion about the show until I see.it. :D
christi munson
I was wondering if ANON wud post the places she finds coupons for the healthy foods she buys? i wud be interested in that. Cuz i do have trouble finding coupons i NEED. I have a lot of great deo and toothpaste buys tho. Gotta love that stuff that takes forever to go bad!!!
Tara Kuczykowski
Christi, be sure to check out the Deal Seeking Mom Coupon Database. You can search for your favorite brands, or if you search organic, you can also find lots of coupons for healthier foods:
https://coupondatabase.dealseekingmom.com/main-database/?mode=front&adv_search=0&search=organic&search_all_words=1
Mary
AMEN! I don’t consider myself a an “extreme” couponers but an “expert” couponers instead. The part that makes me frustrated is the hoarding. Who needs that much deodorant? I love giveing out of my “overage!
Victoria
where is the like button :)
Tara @ The Fab Shopping Mom
I am actually excited to see the show tonight! I am new to using coupons for grocery shopping and hoping to learn some tips or tricks of the couponing trade from the show. Since I started using coupons about a month ago I have saved a great deal of money in the store and I always welcome new ideas to save more.
Becca
I couldn’t agree more. I have followed you for over two years and you have shown me a new way to shop for my family and help us save a great deal at the grocery store. I used to get every deal, every time, until I realized these were taking too much time, and weren’t things my family needed. I am scared to see what coupon policies will change due to the show and how tight things become, which is very frustrating as with sensible couponing many of us are able to be stay at home moms.
Aidelis
Well said….It’s just sick to see those people emptying the shelves at the stores..As the name said is “Extreme” and just “insane”.
Candace
I do have to say my husband and I watched it once and we were wondering what they do with all that stuff. This one guy finished his basement and put shelves up. It looked like a store, but the only problem is he wasn’t sharing. He was saying he had between $50,000-$75,000 worth of stuff in his basement that he paid $5,000 for. That is just silly! Who has room in their house for that and who needs that much stuff. It is just organized hoarding if you ask me. This particular guy bought 300 toothbrushes on his trip to the store.
The thing they don’t show is the people’s trips to the store to buy real things like MILK, EGGS, BREAD, FRUIT, VEGGIES, etc. the necessities in life. That show is CRAZY!
Mary Sanders
I feel the exact same way–I am a single mother without the benefit of child support. I already work a full-time and a part-time job, but I “coupon” as another part time job. I dont do anything extreme–I give my excess spoils to a food pantry–but that is a rare case. I try to buy what I will use in 6-8 weeks. Thank you for this statement on behalf of couponers.
Michelle
I began following you in order to gain knowledge and technique in couponing. As a new wife I’d like to save money where I can or get a sample of products I’m interested in, and thanks to you, I’ve become more “sales aware” in the stores I enjoy, and even subscribed to newsletters that help me in areas I need it. We don’t go coupon crazy, but I like finding coupons for items we use. Great post, and thank you for your help!
Ashley
Thank you so much for saying this. I agree that we should be practical couponers. There is no need to buy things, even if they are $.05 if your family never uses them. I was always intimated that I could never have my grocery bill under $5 because I would buy fresh fruit and veggies. I am starting to understand that this is really unrealistic, and while you definitely can save a ton of money especially on items for personal hygiene, it is an unrealistic goal to try and spend only $5 when you go to the grocery store if you plan on buying wholesome food items. Thanks again for the blurb!
Nina
I agree with you also, why buy all that stuff if you don’t need it. I coupon for the things my family needs and I think I do pretty good for a beginner. I have saved alot on the things we use. And it can be very time consumming.
Emily
I think you have a very valid point in saying that to do anything to an extreme can be dangerous.
So here’s the thing … I AM going to watch. I think this will be great entertainment!
Making a dedicated post to announce that you won’t be watching is cool with me if it’s because you aren’t into it.
It takes another face when you announce you’re not watching because you don’t want your family and friends to think of you that way. Isn’t that akin to a LDS Mormon posting a blog about how they won’t be watching “Sister Wives” because they don’t want their friends and family to think that they have extra wives and children tucked in their guest bedrooms.
As practical couponers, I think we can enjoy watching and roll our eyes at the true ‘extreme couponers’ with our friends and family in the room.
Tara Kuczykowski
I understand that it’s about the entertainment factor for most people, and I can appreciate that.
However, I’m not watching because I think it perpetuates a myth that couponers are greedy and obsessed. My family and friends have nothing to do with it — but I still wouldn’t want them to watch and get the impression that that’s how all coupon users are.
I think that’s the difference, and I’d imagine that many LDS Mormons probably feel the same about Sister Wives. Such high profile shows can influence people to generalize their beliefs about a population.
jen
I agree with Andrea & others ;)
I started coupling because of those shows, we were cutting our budget in other places & when I saw the original show I started looking around the internet for some good pointers.
I’m glad I found your posts that way I can still clip the coupons I need and go get the products that our family uses, without spending my time off of work obsessing about coupons.
Thanks for your great site!!
jen
Couponing!!! Darn spell check :(
Lori D.
Thank you!! I agree with you 100%! Seriously, unless you’re a family of 10, do you really need 200 toothbrushes??
Diana
Especially when you can get a free one every 6 months from your dentist?
Tracy N.
I agree with you 100%. Everyone that knows me has been “calling ” to let me know Extreme couponing will be on TLC. I did see the episode a month or so ago and I was disused, even if charity is invovled. There are Ethics to couponing and I Do Not agree with those people who abuse the use of coupons to get a “rush”. No one household needs 100 toothbrushes or deodorant in their stock pile.
Kathleen
I totally agree. And nothing is really free. Ultimately, the stores and manufacturers raise prices to cover the cost of what they give away with coupons, which means the rest of us pay more.
Courtney
I agree wholeheartedly. While I believe in saving as much as possible off of my monthly grocery budget (including toiletries, etc) I don’t believe in going to such extremes as spending 30 hours a week prepping for shopping trips.
I also balance couponing with living healthy. I don’t want my family eating out of cans on a daily basis, mostly because most of the cans are lined with BPA, a toxic chemical especially for children. And I don’t want my kids eating packaged “foods” that have a shelf life of 1 year and are loaded with artificial ingredients.
My couponing modus operandi is to use the money that I save couponing (and in a modest fashion) on toiletries, household items like toilet paper and paper towels, razors office products, clothing, etc and put it towards purchasing organic, wholesome foods for my young family. Yes, my grocery budget may be bigger than most “couponers” grocery budgets, but it is totally worth it to me to know that what I’m putting in my kids’ bodies’ is natural and healthy.
I’m also wary about the show because I think it will ruin the whole idea of couponing. Manufacturers will see these shows and think all of us couponers are going to go crazy like these extremists and impose stricter limits (like P&G already has begun to do with their 4 like coupon policy).
I think anything in moderation is good, yet this show is anything but.
Leila
For me the title does not bother me, so much as the content of the programming. I work in media, so I understand that you have to have catch titles for viewers to tune in. Most Americans would not tune in to the program if it were called “The Coupon Clipper”. TLC has to add a little sensationalism to the title. To be honest I won’t be watching the program and not because of the title, but because I couldn’t care less about watching a program about couponing. I wouldn’t get defensive about a title. I say watch the program and see if it really is extreme couponing or if the moms/families that participated in the program clip and save and save BIG!
amy
I know where I live, that I will never have that great of “savings” because none of my stores in west michigan doulbe or triple coupons – while yes I can get lots of stuff free or close to it, there’s no way my bill will ever come down from thousands of dollars to under $100, or get bags of groceries for under $10. I wish our stores doubled coupons, but there’s a lot that those shows don’t show – like stores doubling / tripling coupons/ previous catalinas for $ off that she used on this trip / how many separate transactions, etc…. I will still probably watch it just to see their store – I mean stockpile of items – don’t understand how you have time to take care of that and rotating your items, because you’re never going to go through it all.
Wendy
Very well said, I couldn’t agree more!! Although I love a great deal, it isn’t a great deal if it isn’t useful for you or your family. We won’t be watching either (in part because we cut cable to save money! lol).
Jen Knox
I watched the first installment of the show and was pretty turned off by the show. The thing I hate the most, people who clear shelves just to clear them, was glorified.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worked hard to put together a list, pull coupons and then I get to the store and find the shelves cleared on the very first day of a sale. I know it’s likely due to many people, not just one, but when one person hoards deals so that others can’t access them…eh, pretty tacky. Not sure why that’s an accomplishment when the chances of using all of that by the time it starts to go bad is pretty slim.
As for donating to charity via couponing…why not donate time to the charity to show THEM how to do couponing rather than take it upon yourself to clear shelves for an organization that may or may not need that resource? There could be needy people out there couponing who would like a deal too.
Grr….I’d better stop my rant now before I get mad! LOL! ;)
I agree, Tara….I won’t be watching either.
Clippie276
I won’t be watching because I find it very distastefull that the network has chosen to take what is a great opportunity to educate people on a valuable and fun skill, and sensationalize it into an oddity. How many single mothers or fixed income seniors could have been helped with the knowledge of the practical use of coupons? Instead they have focused on candy bar grabs and dumpster diving. Pathetic.
Tara Kuczykowski
Exactly, sure there will be people that are intrigued by it — but how many will be absolutely just turned off?
Lisa H
Well said. :o)
I like my coupons. But to me that is just not right. I love the “obsession” comment. From the commercials on tv and the ads online I have seen, seems like this will be all about making couponing an idol in your life.
That is so not for me. I won’t be watching.
SAndy
I only coupon for things my family needs and eats.
Debbye
I’m with you! There was a show on last year about the subject and when my aunt overheard me saying that I “coupon” she let me have it! She told me that I was an “obsessive hoarder” and that I made other people pay more for their groceries. It took me quite a while to get her settled down and explain to her that I do things differently. I also keep a small stockpile. I have 1 5-shelf bookcase that I use for my stockpile. I use it for toiletries, food, paper products, etc. If it’s full I don’t allow myself to buy more even if it’s a good deal. I also never get things (even freebies) that I don’t need unless it’s something my mother or grandmother could use.
Debbie
Some of the promoters for this show on TLC contacted me and asked if I’d blog about it to get viewers for them. I shot of a very lengthy email stating WHY these people of psychological problems and the show should have an economist and psych. with them during their interviews. Many ‘overdue’ it all to compensate for something in their past, and truly have an addiction or hoarding problem. I explained to the guy what a REAL ‘coupon queen’ is, and it’s NOT someone that will clear a shelf of something so other can’t benefit from it, just because they can get it for free. Most true ‘coupon queens’ have a stockpile like you suggest, for 2-3 months of items, and we replenish as needed, not ‘as we get it for free.’ By the time I was finished with the email to the guy, he responded and was like ‘um, thanks for the education,’ rofl But he reflected that they use the word ‘extreme’ in their title, because they wanted to depict the people literally as an EXTREME example, not necessarily the ‘norm’ for couponers. But I let him know that the show is kind of giving the REAL coupon divas, a bad name, when we go to the checkout, people are like, ‘oh, you’re like those people on tv.’ and I always say, ‘uhhhh, NO,nothing like those people on tv.’ I told him people watch because it’s like watching a train wreck, you don’t want to see it, but it’s hard to take your eyes off such madness.
Victoria
Finally!! You couldn’t have said it better. One of the blogs I belong to agrees with me!! So many things are already changing in our coupon world because of this show, I believe. I visited a blog a friend of mine belongs to and couldn’t believe some of the pictures I saw… A barn full of products…. who really needs that much. For me its a matter of taking care of my families financial needs. Most sotres do not even allow you to use that amount of like coupons at once anyways. I haven’t watched an episode of this show yet and don’t think I will because I just think its all about greed. Thank you for all you do to help save me and my family money.
Mari W.
Second the motion!!! I have been telling my friends and family who intend upon watching this that they will see a side that is clearly “not me”. I also believe that if taken in by the show, many will find themselves in the throws of addiction-not extreme couponing. Anything that has a negative affect either financially, emotionally or legally is considered an addiction, (World Health Organization), and I believe many of the individuals profiled on this show are addicted. It is sad! Thanks for posting Deal Seeking Mom! GOT YOUR BACK!!!
Myle
Thank you so much for posting this! I agree 100%! I think so much waste is created by people rushing out and stockpiling things they will never use and probably won’t even donate to a worthy cause. Keep up the great work!