Extreme Couponing… What are Your Thoughts?
As many of you have emailed, there is a new show airing tonight at 8pm EST on TLC called Extreme Couponing. The show profiles four coupon-obsessed savers (as TLC calls them) trying to get as much as they can for as little as they can. The show sounded pretty interesting, but as I started to read the description… well, I am not sure if interesting is the right word. Why you ask? Well, here goes…
*Important Note: The statements I make below are just my opinions. You do not have to agree with them and I have no problem with you sharing your points, even if they differ. I do, however, have a problem with disrespectful comments, inappropriate language and just being downright cruel. Those type of comments will be deleted. Thank you for your understanding.
So now my thoughts on this new show… I personally do not like how couponers are portrayed on the show. Now before I go on, I know they are portrayed like this for ratings… I get that. They want people’s jaws to drop and eyes to be wide open. But, it still stinks.
Meet the shoppers of TLC’s EXTREME COUPONING:
Nathan started clipping coupons four years ago when he and his wife took a closer look at their finances. Now, debt free with more than 10,000 items stockpiled in his garage, Nathan is preparing for the biggest haul of his life. On his latest visit to the supermarket, Nathan is leaving with over 2,000 items – his most massive checkout to date. With 1,100 boxes of cereal, 300 toothbrushes and 60 bottles of hand soap, Nathan is looking forward to topping himself and saving thousands of dollars in the process!
Retail value: $5,743.00 Nathan’s cost after utilizing his coupons: $241.00 – 95% savings!
Amanda is a full-time Storage Facility Manger in Cincinnati, OH who spends up to 70 hours a week researching in-store promotions, clipping coupons and surfing the internet for the latest and greatest deals. She already has a stockpile of products from previous couponing ventures worth up to $15,000. But this extreme saver is most proud of her collection of toilet paper – over 3,000 rolls – enough to last the average couple about 40 years! Now, with the help of her husband, Amanda is preparing for her largest checkout ever consisting of nine baskets of food, beauty and pet products including 218 boxes of pasta, 268 containers of noodles, 100 bottles of sport drink and 150 candy bars.
Retail value: $1,175.33. Amanda’s cost after utilizing her coupons: $51.67.
To me a great show on couponing would be a show that is teaching the average person how to coupon. A person that doesn’t have 70 hours a week to scour ads and clip coupons, a person that doesn’t have access to an entire garage to store all of their “goods”… and really, who needs that many “goods”?!
It’s called reality TV… but in my opinion, it’s definitely not realistic. As a coupon blogger, I hope Hip2Save motivates and inspires all of you. I try to make sure the videos I make ARE realistic and with that I mean, you will be able to go to the store and snatch up the same deals shown in the videos.
Again, I know this show is called Extreme Couponing, but I’m just not getting the point of the show and maybe that’s because I coupon in such a different way.
I don’t coupon so I have a receipt to frame… OK, so that may be a little bit of a fib. In the beginning, when I first started my couponing adventures back in 2007, I was very excited about the savings displayed on all my receipts and I did proudly show them to everyone I could… even people who didn’t want to see them! 😉 Yes, I was annoying like that. And I do think that’s normal, as I would assume most newbie couponers are very excited about their new-found talent! …But I quickly learned that couponing can become all too consuming. From clipping and organizing coupons to going through the weekly ads and then planning your trips… and on top of that, planning your days around when you need to go to the store. Too consuming!
I am still learning how to have balance in my life, but one thing I have learned along the way… well, it’s quite simple. When it comes to couponing, Nothing is a BIG deal!
Example: I let my high value $2/1 Pampers Wipes coupon expire and I would have been able to score FREE wipes at Walmart. Guess what? Not a BIG deal! Do you get what I’m saying? Start thinking like that and all the annoying stress you feel about rushing to the store so you don’t miss that oh so amazing deal will be gone!
I love my hubby. Random, right?! Well, not really because he is the one who taught me to really understand that most things are “Not a Big Deal”. And as you may know from reading my blog, I am a neurotic, high energy and very spastic woman… so for me to be able to step back and say, “It’s Not a Big Deal”… well, it’s HUGE and if I can do it, so can you!
Now I know I’ve kind of veered off from the topic at hand, but what I really wanted you to get out of my post is to not let couponing and deal hunting consume you. The same deals always come back over and over again.
Before I finish this post, I have a challenge for you – miss a deal this week and remember, it’s NOT a Big Deal! When you’re missing that deal, do whatever you like… take a bath, read a book, play with your kiddos, laugh, love, smile. Life is wonderful, so take full advantage of it! 🙂
Thanks for listening to me ramble.
They only thing that bothers me is this: These couponers are extreme hoarding thousands of rolls of toilet paper (for sport? show?)… I wish they would donate their excess goods to those who cannot afford toilet paper and cereal and soap and the like! If donating the excess was their end game, then I would be all for this Extreme Couponing!
I agree, DMC1. I allow myself to fill my pantry with stockpile stuff…once it’s full, before I coupon again, I clean it out and make “bags of blessings” for friends and people in need 🙂 It’s a wonderful feeling to give, rather than be such a hoarder!
I agree, that is just hoarding, not storing! A great is a great deal, but it should still be reasonable!
This is how I feel too!!!
I also agree – take a lot of that and donate it!!
I did read that the participants do donate and at least one does not like the portrayal of herself in the show – Don’t beleive everything you see on TV either.
True – but at the same time all of them show their stockpiles/hoarding piles.
I agree…my idea of a stockpile is enough to get me thru to the next sale or maybe some things as much as a 1 year supply. I follow another site and it ANNOYS me the amount of things that these people are hoarding…yes hoarding. Just seeing the previews I have mixed opinions. One guy was taking cereal out by double digit case loads. Really? Is that necessary?
Thinking about it… perhaps if I see something for “free”/cheap with coupons that I don’t need, I could grab it and donate. I can’t afford to donate very much money but this could be a bit of “volunteering” I do!
I totally get what you are saying! I had to come to the point where I too would say “It’s not that big of a deal” to miss a deal 🙂 Some things, like spending time with your family during the holidays, is more important than running to Walgreens for a deal. It isn’t a deal when you’re sacrificing something that’s actually more important 🙂
Great Post!!! i have really gotten out of the loop of couponing i was working and just could not do it and take care of my family i am now home again but still have not got back to were i was i really need to do it to save money but i am glad i am not the only one that thinks it is ok to miss a few deals ! thanks
Well I love your site & I love the deals I score. And yes I do show off my reciepts. Actually 2 of my friends & I text each other our Target, CVS, Wags, etc trips! We are addicted. But I don’t have that much Toilet paper or Toothbrushes. I think I do know when enough is enough sometimes. Until last pm when I put away more free Hot Cocoa and seen I already had 5 unopened boxes. Do I really need 9 boxes of Hot Cocoa? LOL! But I do donate alot each month to Harvesters at my church. So I feel like my coupon addiction is helping others.
I think you have the right idea of donating your “extra”…..we can all do that & any food bank or charity would be thrilled withe the donations whether it’s one box of cereal or 1100 boxes! (SURELY that person will be either donating or giving the cereal away on that show! I’m going to tune in and see what it’s about.
I sorta look at couponing as my hobby, I like to see what I can get for free. Use what we can we are a family of 6 so we use alot. But donate what we can’t use or have too much of. I look at it as a way of “paying it forward”. I was once in need of food from these type of pantries so now I help out. Sure wish I would have known the skills of couponing back then.
Exactly! I am still new to this and Ive felt bad at times where Id let coupons expire, but I know that I dont have to get every deal and to save money on items I do use! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing this Colin. I agree completely! I just started back to work, and I am a full time graduate student, wife and mom-so when I didn’t have the time I had before to shop every store every week, I freaked a little. Now I still look for deals, but in moderation and making sure nothing else is falling to the wayside. Priorities are important, and I think these extreme couponers have them mixed up a little (or a lot!).
1100 boxes of cereal? Seriously, who can eat that much? It would all go bad by the time you actually get to it. Thats just ridiculous.
Three words: You. Are. Awesome. I love your down-to-earth, realistic look at couponing. Yes, that show is very extreme – and I don’t like the thought of that, either. Maybe the show will surprise us – who knows. But I love your website, I LOVE your deals, and I love the fact that you recognize that there are times when the time is not worth the coupon.
Thanks for being such an inspiration to us couponing newbies. And thanks for saving me a bucket of money on my Christmas gifts!! 🙂
Well said Kim V!! =)
very well said. i read your blog daily (sometimes 3-4 times a day) but i dont let it consume me. thank you for all the help you have provided my family. i am happy with the $600 a month i am now saving at the grocery store! thank you collin!!
Amen Collin… Well said 🙂
I agree. No big deal. I have let many deals pass me by the last two weeks and have not done any after Christmas shopping for deals or anything else. My kids are home from college, my family is here, I need them way more than gift sets at Wal Mart for cheap (although I think reading about those deals are the ones that are killing me the most!) Enjoy what you have, and skip a deal or two and spend it with people you love.
So right on, Collin. I think these extreme couponers are just hoarders which anything in the extreme is not good. 😉
I started couponing about a year ago and at first I was really obsessed. I was so excited about what I could accomplish for so little that I wanted every deal. After a year I have been through all the sales each month and now I know when things are going to go on sale. I also know that most items go on sale over and over. I used to think I only had one opportunity to get a deal so I was all over it. Now I know most of them come around again.
I got tired of having an overstuffed freezer and too much stuff in my stockpile. There are also a lot of items that expire (all of that guys salad dressing is going to expire) and the food pantry doesn’t even want them then.
I found myself buying stuff because it was cheap, not because I needed it. I did a big purge and I feel much better. Now I know what time of year to stock up for certain items and I will stick to the schedule. Couponing is a big benefit for me but sometimes I find myself driving around for deals thinking “what am I doing???”.
I get so much that I need for little money, that I can afford to miss a deal (or even a week of shopping) and we don’t suffer for it. We still have a stocked pantry even if I take a week off. I couldn’t do that if I didn’t coupon other weeks though. Thanks Collin, for all you do. I agree with you 100%!
Simply stated – “Great post”
That was just great! and perfect. Im getting off here and gonna hug and kiss my babes and hubs!
I began to wonder if I could continue couponing after my first month. I was running to the store everyday…sometimes more if a deal was posted that I missed! Finally getting the “Not a big deal” attitude as made couponing much more enjoyable 🙂 Thanks Collin for all you do!!
i got way into couponing and would spend almost all day on the computer and at stores so i just had to stop!! i still look for good deals but my sanity and my kids were more important. i still check for deals here and there, but most of all i just am more conscience of the price of an item, i don’t just buy when i need something if its more than my price point i pass and when its a good deal i buy a bunch! its easy and i don’t spend all my time on the computer searching for deals and i still save a ton!
I love your article. I am so thankful that I have learned how to coupon and save my family money this year, but I have also learned that things are just NOT a big deal. It can get very time consuming to coupon, but as long as you are able to provide the items your family needs at a price you can afford, the rest is not a big deal. I have to remind myself that I do not need a ton of stuff stockpiled in my cabinet and so, if I miss some great deals, it is OK! 🙂
The new show should be interesting, but it sounds wayyyyy over the top and doesn’t sound like it will be portraying your average couponer!
I think that type of couponing is close to OCD an hoarding. Also people who clean out store like that give the rest of use legitimate couponers a bad name. If a store doubles coupons and someone “takes ” the store for $100 worth of doubling in one load, well the manager may look at that and decide to change their policy.
I agree. I got really annoyed when I watched the preview. I see what they do as wasteful, but then I also wonder if they really do donate and kept a big stockpile just for the show. Either way, they should feel ashamed of themselves for portraying couponers as nutsos!
Taking a break from couponing this week (obviously I’m still having fun looking at the blogs) has been the best decision I could have made to get some much needed holiday rest and balance in my life. And thanks, Collin, for all you do so I don’t have to spend hours doing match-ups and looking for deals. You’re wonderful.
Thanks so much for posting this. I can get bummed when I miss a really good deal, but being a Mom of 3 small kids I have to appreciate my time with them. I really just try to get the best deals that fit my family needs and not every deal that’s out there. Who really has all the room for a large stockpile anyways. It’s a good thing I don’t have cable or satellite so I can’t watch the show anyways.
Realistically no one needs 1100 boxes of cereal so to me it sounds like hoarding or he is reselling them which is not what a real couponer would do, I will not watch because I think this will give the rest of us who are really doing this to save money for our family a bad name.
Why do you think reselling is horrible? Isnt that what walmart, target, good will, consignment stores do? They get items at a low price & then jack up the prices. Its all the same concept!
I never said reselling was horrible I said it was not what a real couponer would do. I bet 99.9% of people who coupon do so to save money for their family or donate not resell for a profit.
I was very interested in this new TLC show Extreme couponing until I went on line and read a few clips about the show. I completely agree that they are already highlighting people who use coupons as shopaholics and extreme. I definitely dont use 8 baskets and an entorage at the store just to cop a good deal. I still look forward to the show, I will use what I can from it and the rest is entertainment. Thanks Collin for sharing your thoughts.
I agree with you (Hip2Save) this does kinda make couponers look greedy. I have just recently started couponing and found out quickly how consuming it can become. I had to stop and ask myself – do you really need it – even if it is free or almost free – do you really need it. I also gave away alot of stuff over the Holidays to people who were not doing so well financially – alot of soap and lotions – as well as food. There is a point where it is just being greedy. Thank you for your blog – I appreciate the hard work you do.
Nope, extreme couponing is not for me. My husband has to change jobs frequently and so its best not to accumulate stuff, even though I am a hoarder. For eg, we might have to move within a few months, so I passed on the diapers deal Collin posted today. When I started couponing, I used to get stressed because I forgot to take a particular coupon from home or hand out the coupon to the cashier even thought it was in my bag. My husband helped me to deal with it saying you are going to spend the money on unwanted stuff with the money you saved anyway. Yeah, my husband – the big joker. 🙂 And you know a few months into my couponing, I realized he was right. So I started to let go, even though it was hard to. Now if I miss a deal, I tell myself its no big deal. 🙂
And yes Collin, I can relate to you totally…..
I also wish they would show the average person, and show us donating our excess, not hoarding. I miss deals all the time, because I don’t have time some weeks to hit multiple stores. A full time job and family come first. I used to get upset if I missed, but now I don’t worry about it all. We do the best we can!
I like your comments and agree with you. I looked down on coupon before I understood that the ladies were using it as a means to pass on blessings to friends and surplus to charitable organizations. I’ve always wanted give more to my church and support local organizations but giving money wasn’t an option. Now I can enjoy my coupon hobby and give too.
I agree 100%…..I am recording this show to see what it is all about, however I can already see from the clips that they are going to make “couponers” look silly. I mean we are all in it to try and save money not to hoard whatever we can. I always miss deals, sometimes not by choice but just don’t remember about them. I survive though, I’m so glad that I did find your blog though it saved us lots of money…..Thanks Collin!!!
I completely agree. I love saving money for my family and being able to purchase things because I found a great deal that I may not otherwise be able to buy. However its just “stuff.” I have to think of it as a game…sometimes I win sometimes I don’t, but its fun to play!
Collin, your awesome! I love what you’ve said. I know people know I love to save money, but I am also glad they know I am a good mom, wife, and friend first of all.
I thought too “Oh no, they’re going to make everyone think couponers are crazy.” But then I realized that most people are going to see this show for what it is, a few extreme and sensationalized cases.
I did read that one of them goes dumpster diving for coupons, which gave me a laugh because when I leave the self-checkout at the grocery store and see the little trashcans full of discarded catalinas it’s all I can do not to sit down right there and pick them all out! Don’t those people know they’re throwing away money?! 🙂
I did miss a DEAL yesterday with Kohl’s Dockers Men’s sweaters at $3. It would have finished with my gift shopping for my yearly trip back home next month but I missed on it just by few seconds (items were in cart but by the time I placed the order they were sold out). I am so bummed but I guess its ‘no big deal’ 🙂
Collin will find me another awesome deal soon 😉
I agree with you it’s about finding a balance. I saw the previews for the show and I don’t think they have a balance at all – their extreme couponing is an obsession for them. It has overtaken their lives. The one wife frequently cancels plans with her husbands to shop more or plan more deals. NO ONE needs a garage of stockpiles – it’s too much and what good is the savings if it takes every inch of your house to store your stuff and every minute of your life to get those deals? The one guy spent a year planning one of his big shops! I don’t spend that much time couponing and don’t have that much more room to stockpile – we have three multi-packs of toilet paper in our closet not nearly the 3000 rolls that one lady has and I feel like we have enough stored. I’m most disturbed by the one lady who takes her YOUNG kids dumpster diving to find more coupons and even had a pregnant friend join in her dumpster coupon diving!! That is so dangerous for everyone’s health. I rather spend more money than put my kids and family at that type of health risk. Their health is worth far more to me!
I also wonder how much of their stockpiles go to waste – the one guy had probably over 100 bottles of salad dressing alone! The first couple also has so much stockpile they have insured it – wonder how much the insurance balances out their savings on the items?
Sounds like a dumb show! I have been couponing for about 18 months and the biggest lesson I have learned is that my kids are WAY more important to spend my time with than at drug stores stocking up on enough bodywash to fill the Mississippi River! I used to be drug store shopping nightly, and now I have cut back to one day a week. Moderation is key!
Yea I’ve missed a ton of deals, like a free bag of food of Innova valued at 16.99 here in NYS. And i was okay with it. Life moves on, whether you hit the deal or not. I’m not over obsessive but getting things cheaper, so you have more money to enjoy things like movies or dinner is pretty awesome!
I agree!! When I was a rookie couponer, I would get obsessed with every deal out there which took precious time away from my family. Now I know what is important. Couponing is fun and it saves my family money, but no freebie is worth missing out on free time with my kids and husband!!
YOur thoughts line up exactly with mine. In the beginning it is all so new and exciting (well, it still is), but over time you learn that other deals will come around, and it’s not the end of the world! There have been deals that I have not persued because I simply couldn’t get to the store. It hurts-literally hurts sometimes, at the time, but after the fact, I actually get a good feeling about it. It feels “good” sometimes to let a deal slip by that you really wanted, or you knew you could get for free. It’s kind fo a wierd sense of gratification.
Love your site, love your personality, and thank you for the time you put into helping us all save money!
I’ve have read these couponer’s (on the show) comments on another blog and it sounds like this was a rare occasion for them and they were shocked at how the GMA segment turned out. I know one of the couponers donated most of her items! I think you can spend to much time on couponing….you just have to decide what is right for you and for newbies it takes time to find a balance!
Thanks Collin for all you do, it saves me so much time and I can do a lot more!
Personally, I think the show Extreme Couponing is over the top for ratings. I coupon and when the stockpile begins to get full, we make a donation to the food bank and help out family
members also. This is a great tool to use to help othersl as well as your own family.
I haven’t done CVS or Wags since Thanksgiving. $6 in RR’s have expired and ECB’s are going to soon. I just don’t feel like doing it because I am devoting my time to the holidays and my family… as I should be. I’m glad Collin has said it’s not a ‘big deal’ because I completely agree!! Oh and btw, I can’t wait for the craziness to ensue after the show airs!! lol
It sounds to me like these people are obsessed with couponing AND are also hoarders. I don’t understand why these people are not donating some of their goods. I mean 3000 rolls of TP, REALLY????
people have to remember this is the extreme where it can become as bad as a drug addiction. When you are sacrficing your family to save a buck here and there thats where I draw the line. But also I do have to make my husband understand the reason to my madness for couponing. I mean with coupons, promos, rebates etc. We’ve been paid to buy stuff that we use day to day. Having another baby in a few months I’m not worried about diaper costs because we have a stockpile (yes CD is an option but for our own personal reasons we are not doing CD). We dont’ have to pay full price to stuff anymore, and all that money saved ads up.
Anyone see this article from last month’s Wired?
https://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/11/ff_hackingretail/
It’s a more accurate portrayal of “us,” but boy, there’s a brutal quote from some coupon association in there.
I love this post Colin!! I really have to make an effort not to stress over missing a deal or not to drive my husband crazy because I need to make it to CVS and Walgreens!! I work a full time job and have 16 month old twin daughters and you know what?!! I realized that getting all stressed out and obsessed over great deals defeats the blessing of saving a penny in the first place. Thank you for all you do
We began using coupons when my husband was laid off (twice)!! I buy only what we need not to hoard. This site has helped me to save money and feed my family. Buying in excess actually makes you lose money, its great to save but come on people. This show is a little embarrassing to me and I will not watch.
Amen, I couldn’t agree more! Thanks for always showing us that you are a real person with a real life besides couponing!
I think we just have to remember the famous quote, “You can go broke saving money.” I coupon and deal shop for food and save between 20% and 40% on items, and we don’t stockpile in any way, shape or form, we have a few extras of most things that I scored for low prices, but I’ll see ahead that we need something, check to see if I can get a good deal on it, and then get it, whether or not the deal is present. I’m happy with the mediocre job I do of coupon clipping compared to some, but it works for our family, if I can turn 60 or 80 dollars into 100 worth of food, I’ve done my job!
Collin, I totally agree with you. I coupon to enhance my quality of life not so it can take over my life! I also have a thrill when I score an amazing deal (like paying only $.56 for a Gilette Fusion Razor and Dawn dish soap), and yes, when I walk out of the store as what I like to call “victorious over capitalism” I will sometimes post it on my Facebook status with a picture. But, it sounds like this show is not really about couponing but about hoarding! I mean, how needs 60 bottles of hand soap or 218 boxes of pasta!? Like you, I love to share my victories with people!! I want to see them save as much as I do. Well, there you have it. That’s my two-cents. And you didn’t even need a coupon…
Totally agree with your opinion. I can be totally obsessed with the couponing, but at what expense. It is NO big deal! What is a big deal is my family. I think it is a good thing I don’t have cable because I’d probably be yelling at the people on the tv and getting frustrated the whole time. I’m sure I’ll hear comments asking if that is me. =) 1,100 boxes of cereal- I don’t think even my son could eat all of that before it went bad.