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.
i say when your doing this much with buying, using coupons or not, it is excessive, if your not donating it or co-oping then whats the point??? When couponing becomes out of hand like this, you lose yourself in it. Couponing should be fun not overwhelming, and this looks overwhelming for sure. I would not be able to breath in my own home if one of my rooms looked like that with a huge stockpile. it is hoarding. if it becomes an obession then theirs a problem. never buy more than you can handle. and never buy more then you need. and if you do buy a few extra of one thing it’s fine, cuz most likely your gonna use them or give them to family/firends. but this is ridiculous and everything should be looked at in minimum. i still have a few extra shampoo & conditioners that i bought months ago that i never used yet. theirs no way for the tolerance of over-doing it. i looked up some clips of this show on youtube and these people should be on the show hoarders instead. it seems to be a illness…..just my opinion. theirs no need to let it run your life and smother you. and most of all take over your home.
Also to mention my mother has been a hoarder most of her life. So i have seen what something like this can do to you and a family. People should not let marterial things become their life & they should not look for happiness in stuff, cuz thats all it is, is just stuff. Value your family & friends, not you things. 😉
Wow, I am sad, but not surprised by the way they portray the couponers in this show. I will not watch it that is for sure. Thank you Collin, for this post. 🙂 And the reason I enjoy your blog so much is BECAUSE you are a real person who does the best she can to balance life and spending elss money. 🙂 I commend you for it, and thank you for opening my eyes to ways to so many save money. 😀
The other thing I wanted to say is, most of the stuff I get free or through deals usually ends up being given as gifts or something like that. It helps me givbe to people in a way I never could really. i’ve never been “well off”, there are 7 kids in my family and I wish my mom used coupons more, we prolly woudl have had more to go around actually, but you know what, I’m okay that she didn’t b/c there are more important things, and its not easy to raise 7 kids and hold down a full-time job, even while married. Anyway, I try to remain very balanced with coupons, sometimes I am sad I miss deals, but what you say is so true Collin, deals come and go, and the same deal will most likely pop up again in the future, it is just a matter of time. 🙂
I just hope people watching this show realize that it is not at all indicative of what a typical couponer is like. 🙂 Or that they end up on this blog and “see the light”. ;P
God Bless ~Amy
wow. just wanted to be one of the 900+ comments :). didn’t see the show as it isn’t one of the 12 channels my antenna picks up 🙂 but I don’t have a cable bill!
LOL! Hilarious!
I was completely annoyed by the show. But, I guess that is why it was called “EXTREME COUPONING” It was ridiculous. I do not believe the average stockpile couponer is that ridiculous. At least I hope not. Most of us, just want to save for our family, friends, and donate a few items.
I hated the show and what it stood for.
I agree! It was organized hoarding. My husband watched it with me…and he no longer thinks I’m crazy. We don’t even have a stockpile, just 4-6 of all HBA that we use and a 12 week supply of pantry staples.
Completely agree! All of the couponers that I know get things for free, and close to free, and donate TONS of stuff to our church pantry, etc. I even use lots of it for gifting, which saves our family tons that we can use towards bills, and saving for home repairs! I think they’ve missed the point, and I appreciate Collin’s comment about it’s not a big deal! I remember when I was a newbie, and it was – the shift in thinking was a life saver! I love deals, but I love being able to miss them without stress! Let’s be honest – next week there will be more free body wash!!! LOL!!
It was not rambling at all, you made a lot of sense. I have always held the opinion that unless I am buying a product we use (or my family wants try using) or it is a good foodbank item I do not buy it. Yes, I too could go in and and get a bunch of things for a few dollars, but instead i like to grocery shop like normal and save 50% on things I would normally get/use. Plus who has the space, I have enough trouble stockpiling things we normally eat….
I’m glad to hear I wasn’t the only one unhappy with the show! It’s great if they get all those deals, but why are ALL the products still sitting in their house? Can they seriously say they will use all of them before they expire? Why aren’t they donating more? If they have enough deodorant to last for the next 150 years then why can’t they donate 50 years worth to charity?
I totally agree with you. That’s the thing that bugged me most about this show. I’m all for a great deal but NO ONE needs that much stuff. There are so many people out there that are struggling to live day to day….DONATE some of that stuff. When you have to constantly rotate your “stash” so things don’t expire before you use them it’s a problem.
I agree what about the food and/or products expiring- I would hate to live in the same town since every time there would be a sale All the items would be gone! Think the dollar soap 60 bottle gone now no one can even get them for a dollar.Its a sin to be so greedy!
Watched the show – don’t think I will watch it again. That first lady seemed like she needed some therapy – she misses events to go out shopping?? She leaves her house at 11:00 at night to not miss a deal she just read about?? She really needs help. That is sad and like Collin said – it is all about balance.
The first lady obviously has no children, no job, and no life! She did NOT need all of those candy bars she was hoarding! Sad……
oh God the first lady lives in cincinnati Ohio too….no wonder my store shelves are empty when i go there to grab two boxes of pastas…
btw guys seriously she need some help….her husband was also frustrated/annoyed with her behaviour….he was saying more pasta?? do we need it :$
i dont know how the bought so much of one item. Where i live you are only aloud to use 4 coupons per like idem , they obviously dont have that rule. I also would like to see them donate more stuff to charity
I agree…Where do they live to buy so much of a single item and what store carries that many of a single item. The store must have been in on this??????? I guess when I am in the store shopping with my binder that people will now think my son and I have been crawling around in the dumpster and have 200 boxes of pasta at home. LOL.
Like everything in life there must be a balance. If you dedicate yourself to only this you will become obsessed and that in itself is extremely dangerous.
The show was interesting to say the least. There are a couple of “super couponers” in my neighborhood who are doing something that concerns me……they sell the extra/free stuff they get with the coupons at their garage sales all summer long and the prices are only about 25 cents less than the drug store regular prices. Thanks to this blog and someone I met at the commissary, I am able to consistently save 19-26% on my grocery bill that is stuff that my family uses. Thanks so much Colin!
Oh my goodness, I know what you mean! We have a few people in my town who buy up all the CVS stuff and then sell it at garage sales allll yearrrr lonnnng at their regular retail prices. I should say they “try to” sell it at garage sales because it looks like they are hauling out the same stuff year after year. I always wonder if it’s even safe to store some of that stuff in a non-temperature-controlled garage, anyway!
I agree – this site has been wonderful!
Your are so right! Couponing is great fun and great savings, but lets keep lifes priorities in the right order.
I didn’t watch the show just read comments- for my family that started couponing to find a cheaper way to live spending $254 on toiletries worth $5,000 is not saving money! My budget is $100 a week- so it is not realistic! Thanks for your great “normal” deals 🙂
that was my point exactly! Where is the $254 coming from because if we are low on money I could never put out that type of cash no matter how much you save on the deal!!!
Yes, that was what I was thinking!!!! That’s a lot of money – who cares what its worth???
I was thinking that too! “GREAT DEAL! but I don’t have $200 to spend this week… and what about the rest of the groceries I need. My budget is $100 for EVERYTHING!”
I thought similarly. Its great that he was able to donate over 1000 boxes of total to his church, but he spent over $200 on his shopping trip and didn’t get anything I need. Sure, having 100 plus years of HBA will allow him to spend elsewhere or donate, but not realistic for my home. I also thought it was silly to buy however many liquid soaps he did. He spent $18 on that, yet I am able (thanks HIP2SaVE!) to get that for free so to me it was a wasted $18 that I could have spent on items I needed more.
I was disappointed in the show. And, really- if I tried to buy 9 cartloads in my store- no way would the employees be following me around pushing my extra carts!!! I would also have thought that a seasoned Extreme Couponer would know how many transactions she’d need to do. . . I know at each store how many coupons require manager override and know that it saves myself and the employees hassle to break up the orders before that point
I definitely think this is more of a Hoarders show than a couponing show
Heather, I thought the same thing about the soap. Why would anyone put out $18 for hand soap when you can get it for free. So much about this show bugged me.
I agree with you. I am still learning how to coupon effectively through your site. I appreciate all of your tips and advice. I have mssed deals here and there, and I don’t feel like it’s a big deal. I do not work, but I still don’t have the time to invest in extreme couponing! Keep up the good work! I try to check in on Hip-to-Save at least once a day. Sincerely, Rosie
I’m just jealous that these people have such great stores to shop in! It’s so much easier to coupon when you have access to stores with double coupons, great sales, liberal coupon policies and great inventory – none of which applies to my stores. I cant imagine any of my stores allowing me to use 1000 coupons at once, take 2 hours to check out, and load my groceries for me. And none of my stores would ever have 300 toothbrushes or 250 boxes of pasta on the shelf!
I know one was Kroger if not 2 of them..I think 1 was Safeway too…but yeah i don’t know where they keep that much of any product even in the back. There has to be more to those particular stories than they were letting on. They should have included that in the monalogue.
The show motivated me to get back in to couponing a little more, but do you really need 1100 boxes of cereal! I couldnt understand why these people had so much deodarant, hand soap and toothbrushes. They should be donating the majority of that since they by themselves will never be able to use it all! Thank you Collin for helping us stay focused, but not making it extreme to where we have to have 1000 papers just to get the deal, lol!
I watched the show and was actually in awe by Nathan. LOL However, ITA with you and your comments about it not being a BIG deal. I’ve had to try to balance as well. At first, I was overloading our house with boxes upon boxes of items, and my husband felt like he was being pushed out of the house by Nabisco! So I had to cut back some. I still save, I still coupon, I just don’t need to buy everything because it is a “deal”.
What is wrong with people? 220 boxes of pasta, You couldn’t eat that much pasta in a year unless you have a family of 20. Plus she was shopping at a Kroger store, You can only use 3 like coupons, She had a coupon for every box, Then you need to figure out, Did she buy 220 newspapers to get the amount of coupons she needed. Add that cost to her pasta and she probably lost money. Then her husband complained on why do we need all this, as he carried all of the items up and down the stairs. I think the show should be named, “Extreme OCD Couponers on the verge of being hoarders”
You mentioned about “did she buy XXX amount of papers?” At some point in the clip, it mentioned that she bought coupons from a coupon clipping service for $70 (I think!), so they should also be adding that to their total (the amt. that they spend buying coupons to “save” money). I have bought like 2 extra papers in the past if there was something really good like diaper coupons etc., but like you said, who need 1 million deodorants etc. It was a pretty crazy show, provided some good entertainment!
It may differ because in the Cincinnati area, there isn’t a limit that I know of. Our Meijer only doubles two “like” coupons, but Kroger doesn’t and you can use as many as you want; I was very happy when I asked that question. Two of the four featured last night were shopping in Cincinnati area Krogers (Villa Hills is considered greater Cincinnati, it’s just across the river).
the show said that she spent $70 to get coupons from a clipping service before the trip, so that brings the total up by that much, which I consider a huge waste when you are hoarding perishables.
I haven’t watched it nor do I want to. Llike my husband said it is called ‘EXTREME couponing’. They are not normal and they are showboating. They wouldn’t do a show on a normal family who uses coupons to their advantage. In the beginning I was a mad woman and bought every bargain to be had. Then I remembered I have a family! Now I just buy a reasonable amount of coupons for our family. I just don’t want this show to give us ‘normal’ couponeers a bad name! I already get stares when I bust out my binder at the stores. I also don’t check out with the cashiers who act like I am stealing. I am also a ‘coupon fairy’ I will leave coupons by the items to help out another family. Now I am afraid I will have people ask me if I am an extreme couponeer and if I have watched this show! ughhh…..
That is great that you are a coupon fairy. I have come across some useful coupons by some great fairies. I always pay it forward and do the same with mine.
I know – I love this practice! I do it, and benefit from it! Real couponers are givers!!
I love that and I do it too! If I have something that is expiring soon and I’m not using it, I put it right next to the item – especially if it’s high value. Then I just hope that someone else that needs it gets to use it.
Colin! I have an even greater appreciation for HIP2SAVE after watching those ridiculous and unrealistic “extreme couponers”. Perhaps TLC should consider adding this to their “hoarder” episodes. HIP2SAVE has changed my entire mindset about how I spend $ and in turn has literally changed my life. I am forever indebted to you and cant thank you enough for the time you put into helping us be better stewards of what we have…the normal way! Too bad TLC hasn’t discovered you! We need people like you showing the world that “you can do this coupon thing”,
So true…I know what I want for coupons and use – no reason to hoard pasta if you don’t eat it – maybe they should donate some of the toilet paper and food to local food pantrys – sounds like a good plan. But thanks for reminding people don’t get obsessive and be hard on yourself if you miss something. We are all busy people with families and they come first!
Thanks!
All I can say is at least Nathan was donating all the cereal to his church and not wasting it but I bet there are homeless shelters who could use the toothbrushes, deodorant , and body wash .
I do know that people who get food stamps cannot get taxables with them, and some people really do need it! Not everyone is looking for a handout – there are still people who get help that are embarrassed about it, and want to work as hard as they can, I know some!
I watched the show and it was beyond extreme couponing. I feel blessed to have enough canned goods, toiletries, etc. to share with my family. On the flip side, I enjoyed giving and sharing before I learned how to use coupons efficiently. The “extreme couponers” unknowingly touched on self diagnosis last night. Having all that loot in storage did NOT bring assurance or pleasure (but for a moment). Otherwise, they would not be off in search for more………at the expense of every other aspect of their life.
I watched with my DH and when one of the women said “it’s like a high to get a good deal” my DH asked me if that’s how I feel. I had to say yes, but add the disclaimer of “I only buy what I know we will use and I don’t spend 70 hours a week researching.” Are these people living on spagetti? Because they have hundreds of boxes of pasta and bottles of sauce. I prefer to pay a couple dollars and have variety in my life. I couldn’t imagine having a 40 year stockpile of toilet paper. Seems like such a waste, I hope they donate more than they let on during the show.
I even admit to having a stockpile that would probably last several months – of canned and dry goods and things like deodorant and toothpaste (I don’t buy things I know we won’t use, even if they’d be free after coupons). I too am willing to spend a little extra to have something good or varied in my life – I bought my husband 3 pounds of shrimp on sale with some of my grocery savings last week. I never make him seafood at home so it was a special treat. I still came out saving half on my order because of smart shopping and well-placed coupons.
I enjoyed the show, but I felt like they needed to donate more because a lot of the food products have expiration dates. Collin I enjoyed your take on the show because it is so hard when you discover you missed a great deal. I do agree in the big picture it isn’t that big of a deal. All the stores around me have coupon limits.
I did not get to watch it, but I have been an “extreme” couponer for over 20 years I took a break until my daughter started me all over agian, I now also have a stockpile in a pantry in the garage, where I have well over a years worth of supplies of HBA and cleaning supplies. I get it all for free, the difference is we actually use it, we are a family of 4 with two small children, I can never have enough soup or detergent, so if I can get it for free why not, I say more power to all the extremists out there. I have spent over 5k at CVS YTD and 128.00 out of pocket. We are a one person income, my husband is disabled and I worked contract until something permenant comes along. So we do what we have to do, my claim to fame is 450 worth of groceries for 28.00.
I had the same thoughts as you all did. I’m just beginning thinking of couponing and just found this site by accident. I’d love to learn more about how to coupon and get better deals. But as i tried to explain to my husband last night as he was telling me i need to do that, that its just not possible. (here atleast).
Our stores dont double coupons. We dont have discounts where if you buy 4 you get $4 off or whatever. Theres no discounts for brinign your own bags, which is kinda dumb anyway since you have to pay like $3 for the (nondisposable bags) to begin with. I even pulled out some coupons and showed him. Most coupons i find are save 35cent if you buy 2 or 3 items. Even if its onsale how is that saving??? i dont need 2 or 3 at a time. and if i have to spend $10 to save 35cent what am i accomplishing?
The show was interesting to me cause i’m a beginner. But i just dont understand how its possible. Hopefully now that i’ve found this website it can help me with these questions cause i need to save money.
You have found the right site! I found Colin about a year ago and have saved so much on products my family and I use. You don’t really need a store that doubles coupons to save. If you have a CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid or Target near you, you will be amazed at the savings. Colin is truly amazing and makes it easy for us to follow her lists. I usually print out her lists and get most of the items she highlights as good buys. Watch her videos, not only are they informative, but she is hilarious. Good Luck!
I agree with Beth! I found this site about a year ago as well and have saved so much! We do not have a Kroger, Safeway or any of those grocery stores in MN or CVS/ Rite- Aid nearby so I follow her Target and Walgreens posts. The grocery stores where I live also do not double/ triple coupons and I still have saved SO much money.
I think it’s a bit much.
Yes, I love saving – it’s a complete and total high. I saved 80% on four bags of food and household items last night and I’ll admit that I was totally psyched.
There’s a difference between doing it for the sake of scoring the deal and for the sake of spending money on something you’ll use – this show takes the first path while most of us here take the second.
I personally use couponing to stretch my food budget, try to teach my brother in law how to survive within his income (he’s like a big child with money and tends to waste it within minutes of getting it) and to stockpile the items which my husband and I use (canned soup – he loves several brands, canned and frozen veggies, baking mixes, health and beauty products like deodorant, and other shelf-stable goods). Originally when I came home after an especially good couponing spree (I think I saved 70% that day) with 70 cans of soup my husband looked at me funny. Then he realized that it meant never having to go hungry again (and he has gone hungry in his life before).
A lot of us are not rich and we do have to spend time on the internet getting the good deals or we are not able to get the food cheap. And if we don’t get the food cheap we can’t pay all our bills so for me it is a necessity.
how the heck did they get all that toliet paper for free??? i never get any coupons that would be even near those big rolls for free.
i guess thats why they stock up for years.
i got my toilet paper for free yesterday but i got only one pack:) it was charming basic 18 rolls in their buy 4 get $4 off deal so it was $5.99 – 3 (coupon saved in my card)-1(paper coupon. So it was $2 and i had overage from other items …so finally i got my paper for free yayyy!!!
Where was the free tp deal?
I enjoyed the show for what it was. It did make me want to get back into my couponing. However, I’m going to be very careful with my stockpile because yesterday, I cleaned out my pantry, and threw out way too much food that we didn’t use. The pantry is looking pretty bare. I’ve donated some of my stockpile in the past, and given it to friends, but clearly, I didn’t give away enough. I agree with several of you. These people should be donating more of their stockpile. No one needs 40 years of toilet paper or 125 years of deodorant.
my mils neighbor use to shop like this but than sell it to people as a personal shopper. so at least she was making a living doing it.
or donate it!
I agree with you ! I personally had to start selling some of my stockpile because my husband had a heart attack and was out of work for almost 6 months ! He has found work but now makes 50% less than he used to. So I stockpile and friends,family & neighbors buy things from me for almost 50% less than the store . I don’t feel bad doing it because I’m saving them money and making some for me.
I don’t plan on watching the show so this isn’t a very imformed opinion, but TLC seems to have a knack for exploiting what sounds like mental illness.
And hoo-rah about letting deals go! Accepting that I was going to miss some good deals definitely helped me balance my life. Couponing is not a be-all, end-all!
Who would use that much,before it expired,or got stale?? Nathan’s story was more like hoarding!
Thank you for the “It’s not a big deal” if you miss a deal. I’ve started to give more balance to my couponing in the last couple of months. I’m not an extreme couponer by any stretch but I’ll have to say when the bug bit me I was gettting a little obsessive with getting in on every deal I could. You are right that there is always going to be another deal. In the mean time, it will be quite some time before I have to buy toothpaste or deodorant!
Who would use that much product,before it expired,or got stale??Nathan seemed like a hoarder!
I agree with a lot of the comments already posted.
The show really annoyed me because it seemed like a real gimmick. At least two of the couponers mentioned that this would be their “biggest trip.” So it really left me wondering what their usual trips look like.
I thought that, too. Someone posted yesterday that the show had to pre-arrange all of these trips with the stores, so that they would have the items in stock and employees available to help. That’s why I thought the “drama” was so silly. One woman said she had to “checker profile” and was worried the checker wouldn’t take her coupons. Well, I’m sure that can be an issue normally, but I’m also sure that for the show, it was already set up that she go to THAT checker.
I wondered, too, if any of the stockpile items in the homes were donated for product placement. Aren’t we all wondering today if Cotonnelle REALLY has coupons THAT GOOD? =)
Oh well – at least it made me feel like my coupon binder isn’t NEARLY as big as I thought it was!
This “extreme couponing” is nothing more than an organized hoarding-30,000 rolls of toilet paper will last the average couple 40 years!
They should perhaps donate some of their “extras” to their local soup kitchen or food pantry. I am not saying that they should not be stocked up on the items that they need but this is really an obsessive compulsive behavior.
Being prepared is great being obsessive not so much.
Before I get to be an extreme couponer which i can see myself getting to that obession. I just scoar the coupon ads keeping in mind the experation date and if I REALLY will need this item by the experiation date…. So, far it works for me, PLUS i live in a small apartment no room to store 1000s of toilet paper rolls!
Before I watched the show I was prepared for the worst. Comon’ it aired right before the lady who eats toilet paper! Was that on purpose? Yes. That TLC’s twisted sense of humor? LOL But I wasn’t as bothered by is as much as I thought. It is only the reality of the four people portrayed. I think most cashiers who watched the show should be glad that most couponers do not show up at their lane with cartloads of stuff, hundreds of coupons and cameras everywhere. And do cashiers applaud for you after your coupons cause the system to crash?! NOT! Most of us are a little obsessed in the beginning. We have not accumulated a stockpile yet But in the beginning we still don’t have the skills to completely overdo it, at least I didn’t. Just like any new hobby or interest eventually the novelty wears off. However; there will always be people with addictive personalites. TLC just chooses to expoit them. IMO that’s worse than the stockpiling of these four individuals combined.
Did anyone notice that all of these extreme couponers have websites on couponing (except I am not sure about the first lady that appeared)? They all mentioned their websites indirectly “coupon diva” “krazy coupon lady”. I think the free publicity for their websites was also a motivator for these people to be on the show.
yeah i did remember hearing krazy coupon lady before..and the diva one…hmmm u bring up an interesting point:).
Yep! Joanie has a site https://thekrazycouponlady.com I have been following it almost as long as Hip2Save!
the guy at the end did too – his website was on his car. I do not think he mentioned the name of it on the air though. But, my husband pointed it out on the guys car –
Wow… and I thought I was being “extreme” when I stop by a CVS on the way to work each morning (I have 2 directly on my regular route to/from work) when the magic coupon machine was spitting out a coupon daily for something I could get for free with it! Except for TP, paper towels, really good shavers and diapers (currently stockpiling for #2 on the way), whenever I realize that I have more than I could use of something for 3-6 months or so, I donate it! Aside from the diapers, my stockpiles rarely get larger than 1 shelving unit plus maybe 2-3 shelves in our linen closet (about 3′ wide). Even with the diapers I’ve slowed way down, only picking them up now when I can get them 75% off or more….
Yeah. I know I can get crazy getting a good deal at times, but I try not to let it interfere with family time (though every now and then I’ll spend a half an hour to an hour hunting and printing coupons for the week’s adventures). These people must have some wierd combo of OCD and Hording….. I’ve never bought more than 20 of 1 type of coupon unless it was for something my church was specifically collecting for one charity/pantry or another….these people just plain need help!
I know there are some who need to go more “extreme” than I do to help stretch the budget (I don’t see a problem of keeping a year’s supply or so of anything non-perishable on hand so long as you have the space, especially since many great deals are cyclical on a yearly basis), but when you spend over 70 hours a week on couponing or buy 1,000 boxes of cereal you won’t even eat, or have 40 years worth of TP that’s a bit much. It’s total addiction… there WILL be good slaes on the same type of stuff again, so why that much overload???
I think that they should show people that run homeless shelters how to shop like this and then they could be stock piled with stuff that we know they will use
I do go to two shelters to teach couponing. When I go, I bring lots of things that I got free (and are donating to that shelter). I spread them out on the table to show the people what I got and how they can do it too. It is funny because half of the people shortly leave my class when they find out I am not giving these items to them directly. About another quarter of the people leave when they find out that they have to do some work couponing. But my reward is when a mother, who has a baby crawling all over her and looks exhausted, stays and actually learns what to do to stretch her food stamp budget. So some people choose to stay and change their shopping habits. But most, in my experience, just want the freebies handed to them without doing anything for it. Sad but true.
Diane- Good for you! Unfortunately, we can’t change everyone, but you do affect a few people’s life at a time! That’s great!
There needs to be more people like you in this world. Thank you for being you.
Sign up for the show! We would love to see this!
Wow, way to make the rest of us look crazy. Like I don’t already get enough of that at stores.
I watched the rerun this morning at 1 am and was shocked by the behavior of some of the people on the show. I was extremely dissapointed by Nathan’s behavior in taking baskets and armfulls of items like deodorant and tootbrushes to prove that he can “beat the store” at its game. His attitude was one of greed and selfishness. As for Amanda, I felt bad that she has let couponing take over her life and its simple joys like dinner with her husband. Time at the supermarket with your husband is not quality time. I think Amanda needs an intervention to save her marriage.
I could never clean shelves of items that I know other people can use just as much as I do. Even when my stockpile gets to 10 of a specific item I feel obligated to give back because I am blessed and truly will not use everything before it expires. I think the show portrayed couponers as selfish and unethical (not following coupon or store policy) people which is far from the truth.
I miss out on deals all the time because I work all the time and in my area there seems to be alot of couponers so by the time I get to the store, they are already out of the item I need. At first it bothered me, but I’m getting used to it. Getting the deal is a plus but not a must 😉
Maybe they should have called that show Obsessive-Compulsive Coupon Disorder!!!! I agree with you totally, Collin! And did they mention giving at all???? In January, it will be a year of couponing for me! YAY!!! But I have given away almost as much as I have kept!!! Everyone who was in need was sooooo grateful and the rest were so surprised and appreciative.
As for letting the deal go??? I sing and teach music. So between teaching music at school, having Christmas programs, caroling at a nursing home with my students, rehearsals performances for the Christmas program at my church (over 3000 attended), Christmas gatherings etc……….I have missed soooo many deals!!! And you are right ……..NO BIG DEAL!!!
I didn’t watch the show. I haven’t checked this site in a couple of days. I’m glad I didn’t see the show!! They should have put Collin on there!
Thanks for the great reminder Collin! I’ll need to come back and read this post every time I feel guilty for “missing a deal”. 🙂 I’ve recently stopped clipping coupons altogether and just put the whole insert in a marked file in the file cabinet. Most of the coupons I use are online anyways so why spend the time? Thanks so much for all you do!! It helps our family so much!
I found out thru WE Use Coupons.com site that the food was donated as two of them are regulars there and it was a special Krogers order.
I watched the show and I do think that first lady has a huge problem….she was crying while she was talking so she obviously knows it, too. And the second woman, dumpster diving? I don’t think so! However, I am in awe of how they were able to save 98% of their grocery bill? i am new to couponing and feel so grateful if I can save 50%!! Is that real, can you really save 98% of your total grocery spend? From 600 dollars to 2 dollars?? What???
Sure, Donna- you can save 98%– IF you are only buying the featured sale items that you have coupons for OR you have lots of coupons giving overage. The problem is- I didn’t see a lot of produce and meat items in their carts. Mostly unhealthy stuff (sodas, candy bars, sugary cereals, etc). It’s great to have SOME of the canned/ boxed stuff on hand, but if that’s all you shop for/ eat– well, needless to say, it’s not healthy. I’m thrilled to go to the grocery store and buy some of the sale items + meats/ produce/ other items that we use weekly but may not have coupons for. Rarely do you get these items for “free” or super cheap. Sometimes I’ll buy things that may be giving overage to help reduce my bill, whether I need them or not (can donate). But I try to buy nothing that is not a need by our family. I’ve had shopping trips where I’ve saved 90%+- but it was when I was only buying sale items. My typical trip is more like a 25-60% savings where I’m getting “healthier” foods we use weekly. If I can feed a family of 4 on a grocery budget of $50 – $100 each week (some weeks are more than others), I am tickled pink. Thanks for all you do, Collin– I HEART hip2save!!!!! 🙂
PS- I enjoyed the show, actually. Gave me some serious perspective. I made my dh watch it with me so he’d understand I’m “normal”. lol My two small bins in the garage with extra shaving creams/ cleaning supplies seem pretty “light”. And I’ve sent him to the store with coupons before (which he hates), but after seeing those people check out, it certainly made him appreciate our “checkouts”. I felt the people on the show were rude to get that many things at once. Of course, the producers probably called the stores in advance and gave them a heads up. You wouldn’t see so many smiling cashiers in my store if I tried to do that. One more point… SERIOUSLY– more hand soap??!? Did you see how much that guy already had in his garage?? And he bought another 4 years supply (or whatever it was??!) Time for him to reduce his bill to $0 and just live off his stockpile!
Did anyone notice how all of them handed over their Kroger (or other store loyalty card) last, after the coupons came off? This allowed huge overage! I can’t believe the stores allowed it.
Yeah, I didn’t get that either. My stores always ask to scan the card first?