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?
rebecca
I’ve recently come to the point in my couponing where I too won’t jump at every sale or freebie because I just don’t need it. I find the people in these shows to be mentally ill or worse, morally bankrupt. I think coming home with a great bargain is a real “high” and I can see how that rush can be addicting but the extremes to which these people go to is just plain scary! I hate to think anyone would believe most coupon users act this way.
I do find it very interesting that this show is creating a division of sorts in the couponing world. There are the newbies which is a given but now the term “extreme” couponer is becoming the new term for those shelf clearing, crazed shoppers so the Deal Seeking Couponer has to come up with a term that is somewhere between the two. Interesing!
Lauralee Hensley
I didn’t watch. I coupon, but not to the extreme. Some of these people are the ones causing coupon policies to change and be very limiting to those who really do need the little bit they save with the coupons they use.
Jvkrthanks
couldn’t agree more, I won’t be watching it either, I feel sorry for these people who have a serious addiction problem… and dare I say a greed problem…hey, If the shoe fits…
Janey
EXPIRATION DATES! 70 boxesof cereal? 120 bottles of mustard?
My kids would never eat cereal they did’nt like just because I had a coupon or it was free…That’s a product that would sit on the shelf until it got thrown away..WHAT ABOUT LIMITS? My store would not allow a purchase of 120 soaps with coupons..they dont stock 120 soaps to begin with! THE NAME OF THE STORES WERENT SHOWN!
Melissa
the one store was a krogers. i didn’t notice if they showed the others.
Amanda
This show made me sick. I did watch because I was curious. A woman bought all the mustard on the shelf and her husband doesn’t even eat it! They make anyone who uses coupons look crazy, and in my area a lot of places are already unfriendly about using them. I wish it had never aired!
deb
I so agree with the comments posted. I watched and found each episode to be the same, just different cast members. (obsessive ones) I use coupons but do not shop at midnight to ensure I get 65 of any item. I do donate to our local food pantry but even they do not have accessive storage for 100 cases of cereal that would expire before they could be used. My stockpile will get us through maybe 2 months, and my brothers tease me about this much. Thanks…I keep my closet space for clothes.
Linda
I did watch the show last night, and wondered… WHY? I have a family of 6, laid off a year ago, and shop with coupons. I save about 75 % off of my grocery bill. But this does not happen every time. I buy to feed my family, with a small stockpile when the opportunity arises. I do not see why anyone would buy the quantity that I saw on the show, and I have never seen any store stock so many bottles of mustard on one shelf.
I agree that the show should teach people to shop coupon wise, but as with other “reality” shows it is only made for the effect it may have on the viewer.
Chelle
Everything TLC does disgusts me and this show is no exception. The people on this show have a real problem with obsessive tendencies, shopping addictions or hoarding. They need HELP, not to feel like what they are doing can make them famous or something. Grrr. TLC exploits people and families to make a few bucks and it makes me sick. Not to mention from the comments I read, it’s not realistic at all. Just like most of TLC’s reality shows (“Jon & Kate, etc) are known to be almost entirely scripted. So much for reality. Yuck.
Jessica F
Tara,
Thank you so much for this post! I’ve shared it both on my personal Facebook and my Page, which is also a deal finding blog.
I have had friends of mine accuse me, even jokingly of being an extreme couponer because I can go to CVS and walk out with a couple tubes of toothpaste and some laundry soap at a 92% savings. That is NOT extreme couponing! That is buying what we are going to use anyway and being smart enough to not pay full price!
I have received poor treatment from a Rite Aid store manager who no doubt sees all couponers as these extremists and so I find it frustrating that they do exist and ruin it for the rest of us.
I also want to tell you that your site was the first site I started following to start learning about couponing. It is still my favorite and I can’t thank you enough for helping me and my family save big on the essentials! And also, you inspired me to start my own blog and I’m having a great time with it!
Much love and respect,
Jessica
Lisa B.
Yes, I did watch Extreme Couponing last night, and when it was over I regretted my wasted time. These people need to get a real life and stop trying to make a career out of shopping for things that they will never use before they expire. I mean, come on, who in the real world would spend 70+ hours per week preparing for a shopping trip. Sounds to me like she should be able to hold down 2 full time jobs. Thanks TLC—But No Thanks! I’m done with this series and hope that more people are too.
Lisa
I did watch the show because I wanted to see where these people live, i feel like they should be on the show hourding buried alive because they are clearly out of control. I hope they do not ruin couponing for everyone else with their awful behavior. Really how much mustard do you need in a lifetime!
beri
I challenge everyone to watch the documentary Food Inc.. and the go to the store>>>> I try to shop primarily at Trader Joe’s because of the no preservative ..Not much more expensive there for organic as apposed to Target ( my fave)…I shop Aldi’s for produce and Walmart,rarely, as I work at Target and can use my discount of 10% on top of clearance price plus xtra5% for using my Target debit card and the of course COUPONS!!!)
Bonnie
I tuned in to see if I could learn how to use my coupons correctly to help my family save money on our grocery bill.I found it also interesting that no mention that some of these so called stock piles are being used to make money at their garage sales also known as stockpile sales. I know a woman here that goes to stores and takes all the peelies off products and takes the full tear pads so she can sell and share with her internet horders. She has stockpile sales every sat and Sunday in our neighborhood where the garage sale shoppers park on my grass and block my driveway on a continus basis. This woman needs to open a store to do this.I would like to see a show that teaches the proper use of how to use coupons the Legal way to save money for a family. I guess there is no more normal here in America, It all has to show us in a Extreme light which is embarrassing to our country. I just want “Normal” back again.
Bob
Extreme Couponing, (EC) is like anything else; you can still get some useful information from it. Do you need to jump in with both feet? No. I think couponing is great especially since I’m not working and presently looking for a job, luckily my wife is working. So, until I can find work I’m a full time househusband, (yes, I share in the housework when I’m working). My wife and I started watching EC a couple weeks ago. EC did draw my attention to the art of couponing. I used to clip a few coupons from the Sunday paper and saved a few dollars but I didn’t pay much attention to the great deals out there… if I had just looked a little harder. A few days later I purchased some clear plastic note book sleeves and made a coupon note book, I also purchased a paper cutter, ideas I got from EC. My wife’s little coupon holder wasn’t big enough for all the coupons I was gathering from the paper and the Internet. The paper cutter saves me a lot of time and arthritis pain. Of course my wife rolled her eyes when she saw this and said “Let’s not go over board and turn into Colonel Mustard, OK? Just get things we need”. Of course I shot back with quotes from EC, “I’ll never pay more than a dollar for a box of cereal or pay full price for anything ever again!” My wife and the kids looked at each other as if to say; Daddy’s not well. I decided to continue to ham things up and let them all think I was going to the extreme. A few days later after hearing my wife remind me several times to “Just get what we need” I got my shopping list and coupons together and went shopping. I think I did pretty well for a beginner; I saved 34% which includes the meats and produce I also purchased. I’m sure I can do better once I learn more about the system. My wife was very pleased when she found out I didn’t go nuts on mustard and I saved 34%. I told her, “I’m not Colonel Mustard…I’m Mr. Mayonnaise, I got 40 jars of mayonnaise for $8.00 so where do you want me to store them?” Followed very quickly by, “I’m just kidding…I’m just kidding!” So the family is relieved that daddy isn’t nuts and we are saving roughly $200.00 more a month. I’m working on saving more but I think I’m off to a good start.
So, I still watch EC and if I notice a good idea I might try it. I also get ideas on the Internet. I’ll stock up on things but its things we will use and NOT throw out because it’s expired, I really hate wasting food.
beri
I challenge everyone to watch the documentary Food Inc.. and the go to the store>>>> I try to shop primarily at Trader Joe’s because of the no preservative ..Not much more expensive there for organic as apposed to Target ( my fave)…I shop Aldi’s for produce and Walmart,rarely, as I work at Target and can use my discount of 10% on top of clearance price plus xtra5% for using my Target debit card and the of course COUPONS!!!)….I agree with the mustard comment and as a Christan, I would donate most of!!!! Military care pkgs, homeless shelters and food pantries are in need……
amy
I like the fact that the person who special ordered 1100 boxes of cereal did donate it – but c’mon 60 or 70 bottles of mustard?????? I will never go through that much in my entire life probably. Even if you are a big mustard person, do you really need that many bottles – with all your savings from allllll your groceries and stockpile, if you happen to run out – couldn’t you afford to go pay a buck for a bottle of mustard???/ And 300 toothbrushes – I do like free toothbrushes, but each of us gets one every time we go to the dentist, that I would never touch that amount. I do like their stockpiles of laundry detergent, cleaners and paper products – that stuff isn’t going to go bad, but some of their stuff is just out of control.. That one lady spent like her entire day in the store between 9 carts and checking out for over 2 hours, then hauling and unloading it at home. Sheesh!
lisa
Let me first say, I am a long time couponer. I will not watch that show, because I feel it exploits couponing & takes advantage of manufacturers. I am thankful for savings opportunities, but I am worried they will dwindle with people obnoxiously taking advantage of the deals. Hope they don’t ruin it for normal couponers…..
Jennifer
Yep! And I was wondering why the Krogers in Tx and La have stopped 2x and 3x coupons! ): It seems like it happened as soon as this show aired!
Kellie
I watched the show and was amazed that a store would allow one person to do 5-18 seperate transactions! I would never DARE do that, very rude to the cashier and the other people in the store. M boyfriend was teasing me (I have a mini stockpile in the bathroom and run to CVS every Sunday AM to grab a few deals). I love saving money, but the folks who buy up entire shelves of product just because they are free have a major problem. And keeping toliet paper under your child’s bed is just plain dumb. That is your child’s room, not a store room!
My least favorite “extreme couponer” was the blond woman who kept putting on make-up so she looked good at the grocery store. If she wanted to maintain a lifestlye where she could spend like a rich person, she should have gotten a job. Who grocery shops for hours in high-heeled boots like that??? What a nutjob.
Melissa
exactly! the whole get a job part! at least she isn’t in pj pants though.
18 transactions? she should have to get back in line or go to a separate line. that was a waste of the stores time IMO.
Jessica
I’m all for couponing and having a small stock pile of items you will use, not 52 mustards. That is absurd. I may not be the best couponer our there, but I am completely happy when we save 50% on groceries we need that trip. Sure I will pick up a free mustard or 2 while we are there… but that is it. My husband watched these shows with me and said it would be a cold day in hell when our stockpile ventured out of the 2 closets. I couldn’t agree more with him.
Jeanine
When I saw the show was coming on, I was a excited, I am new to couponing and don’t do it very well. I was expecting good tips, not insanity. I love the idea of saving money, I am a new stay at home Mom and want to cut corners as much as possible. I bought a Sunday paper the other day and someone had slipped the coupons out, I’ll know now to check ahead of time! What I’m finding though is most of the stuff that has coupons, is stuff we don’t use. Another thing I’ve learned is when I have a few coupons the clerk acts like it’s no big deal. But I recently lucked up and had about 10 and the clerk was aggravated with me.
Bob
I help bag my groceries, joke around a little plus I’m a regular customer so the clerks don’t ever seem to get aggravated with me. I see a lot of customers simply standing there doing nothing and not saying very much, not saying you are like that, but I guess it tends to make for a long day for the clerks and they seem to like to chit chat too. Hey, who knows maybe they mutter, “What a moron” after I leave…
Shannon Driscoll Stout
I totally agree with everything you said. Stockpiling for a month or two is totally acceptable. Clearing off store shelves and having food storage in all rooms of your house is not. Couponing should be about getting a good deal on the items you regularly use or are willing to try, and/or donating items to others in need. It’s true it is hard to find coupons for all the ingredients in wholesome,healthy family recipes, including meat and produce. But the idea is not to get free meals, it’s to be able to save and support your family in this way. This article, and the rest of the buzz about the show, helped remind me that I should be happy and proud to save any percent…be it 5% or 50% OVERALL. Sure, we could all use 20 of the same coupons and buy 20 deodorants (that aren’t our favorite), toothpaste (that we’ll never donate), spagehetti (that’s made from the stripped grains), butter (that will only ‘let’ us use more than we need), and taco seasoning (that we have no meat to use with!) But for me, I want to be a responsible couponer and mom who teaches my children the right way to save money, prepare meals, and help others in need. I don’t feel that show does any of those.
renee
Thank you Shannon. You said it all for us. I back you 100%. I don’t care to buy 72 jars of mustard and ect. I just would love coupons for the everyday items that we use. If I save 5% or more that would be GREAT. That is just more money to put toward other bills……
Patty
I haven’t seen the show yet, but I am hoping I will learn some tips. I read someone’s comment here about “who needs 60 boxes of cereal?” I have 3 boys, and I THOUGHT I went a little overboard at the last awesome cereal sale at the local store. Boy was I wrong. I donated some & stored the rest. It is now gone way before the next deal has come around. It was really fun to get all that cereal, and now I am wishing I had more to use and give away. What’s free and helps my daily life is a great thing!
LeShelle
I saw the show last night but I do agree with what you said. Most of the items were not edible items, mostly household and shelf items. No produce was seen at all on this show and only one women showed that she bought a ton of steak. These women are not shopping to save money for feeding their families healthy items, but instead to show how much “crap” they can buy for the smallest amount of money.
Having said that I do think this show does bring more awareness to couponing and even show ways to go about doing this.
Deb
I agree that extreme and couponing do not go with each other. It is a way of life. I have been couponing since my children were small, they are now 30 somethings. I enjoy finding a great deal but if it doesn’t fit my families needs I pass it up or try and find someone who can use the coupons I have. If you ask me extreme couponing is a form of hoarding!
Ginger
Very bad! I believe those people that get 30 bottles of Malox or 70+ bottles of mustard are wrong! I believe it puts those of us who use couponing as a way of meeting a household budget in a terrible light.. . and we (the ones that are respectful and not hoarders)are the ones that get the bad wrap (by other shoppers & store clerks). Sheds a terrible light on couponers in general. Will not watch any add’l shows.
Melissa
don’t even get me started on the mustard! they were still paying 39¢ for each container! doesn’t anyone else see store specials for mustard for 10/$10! they could have been free if they waited for a sale. and who is ever going to use 77 containers of mustard! i mean they’ll never need mustard for years…but who has room to store all that? it will be on sale again and there will be more coupons…hope there’s not a natural disaster where they’ll have to live off condiments!
Carolyn
I totally agree! Plus, these extreme couponers WIPE their store OUT, so regualr people like us can’t even purchase the items!
Denise H
I was only able to catch the ending of one of the shows last night. I have it on DVR waiting for me. All I can say is ‘hoarder’. I love saving money and using coupons. The one lady I saw was nuts. She loves going home and looking at her ‘stock’? Well I love going home and looking at my Coach purses! There is definitely something wrong here.
I work full time and don’t have enough time in the day to search for deals. I subsribe to sites like Deal Seeking Mom to help me find great deals (thanks by the way!) I will skim them to find deals that may work for me. I only clip coupons for things that my family uses. We really do try to watch what we spend though. But the lady I saw last night I think is way out of line. Who needs that much stuff? And I do agree with what others say about wiping out the shelves of what other people will need. I hate when I get to the store and an item I need is gone!
zeventplanner
Watched – it was exciting for a few minutes, thinking about saving all that money. I don’t use coupons that way. In fact, I think that I am more extreme on getting coupons, but I don’t shop like the people on the show. I don’t buy things I don’t want, even if I have a coupon. I feel as though when I use coupons, I am saving about $30 an hour. I feel that going to shop and spending $50 and it only costing $10 is a good way of gauging how I’m doing. I agree with a lot of your thoughts, and think that this is showing an extreme way of doing something and that is what makes reality TV.
Amy G
I did watch 2 episodes of E.C. last night and I found it to be a little interesting and exciting. But I do think that it is way over the top to have a lifetime supply of toilet paper or pasta. When I shop (yes with coupons) it is only for items that my family will use or maybe for a new product that has come out that I may be interested in and do not want to pay full price for. I think my husband would have my head examined if I started going to the “extreme”.
Dea
I watched Extreme Couponing just to see what it is about and I was appalled that these women were buying 35 containers of Malox just because they had a coupon and got it for 37 cents. When your “stockpile” is LITERALLY taking over your house, it may be time to rething your priorities in life. Saving money is awesome and I wish I were better at it, but spending quality time with family in a home that is comfortable for the family means more to me than buying something just because I have a coupon for it.
Dea
I meant rethink not rething lol