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 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?
they potrayed us wrong….it should have been better if they bought few things around $200 and got them for free…..thats what couponing is all about….yes it is an addiction but it should not hurt anyone…
I had 2 thoughts on this show. The first was those are the kind of people that take all the product away from the average couponer. I go to the store and many times the shelves are empty. It is very frustrating. Secondly, I was glad to see that he donated the cereals however much more could be donated and wouldn’t even make a dent in their stockpiles.
I don’t understand how they could use all those products before the expiration dates.
I agree! I just want to buy 3-4 items while those people are walking out of the store with 100!
I watched the show, keeping in perspective “extreme”. I want to say the retired nurse – I thought they did a great job on her profile. She reaches out into her community. Encouraging others to coupon save. She took another young lady with her to teach her how to coupon shop. If you listened in between the extreme hype, there were some sensible tips to coupon shopping.
I agree! She was helping others learn to save money. How rewarding would that be to take low income families and teach them how to get the most for their money. We used to be on food stamps many years ago and I still used coupons to make our food stamps stretch from month to month.
This show gave us couponers a bad rap! I DO get stuff for free, but I only buy what we need for 2-3 months at a time. I don’t know where these people live, but here in AZ we have limits on items that you can buy and a limit of how many coupons you can use at on time.
That first lady on the show has a SERIOUS problem! How can she live with herself knowing she is HOARDING all those groceries when there are families going without food! I would definitely be donating items like the one guy did on the show.
I would think alot of that stuff would go bad or get stale after sitting for so long. What a waste!
Colin what you wrote I couldn’t of said it better. I totally agree!!! I have let deals go & have not given it a 2nd thought. Time w/my family is more important than getting a deal. I watched the show last night and I was appalled, disgusted & outraged. These ppl cleared shelves, hoarded & will never use what they have. When I think of all that stuff going to waste & so many ppl in need these days it just makes me sick. The 1st women could of donated 1/2 of her stuff & she would of still had to much (tho I did like the fact that they showed the guy donating all that cereal). I’m happy they @ least shoiwed that. These ppl are the extreme & not the norm. I wish too they would do a show on how to coupon, save money in the right way & how by couponing we can donate to the needy.
I havent read through all the comments becuase there were just too many, sorry if I say the same thing as many before me. I was taught through mulitple websites that I read when I started couponing that the rule of thumb was 3 or 4, so that you are not a hog and take everything off the shelf and you can be courteous to other couponers or shoppers. I do follow the Krazy Coupon Lady’s website as well as Hip2Save (which i find most of my deals), but I would not go dumpster diving for a coupon, that is extreme. I do agree that these people could definitely donate A TON of their items to a charity or even open their home and let some families in need come and shop and get basic tolietries that they could not normallyu afford. My husband would have my head if I had an entire room dedicated to a huge stock pile like that. I agree they should have shown people how to coupon rather than how insane these people were at getting these deals. If I spent 70+ a week on couponing I wouldnt do it. So that is whay I thank you for your sight and all of the hard work you put into to help busy people like coupon easily 🙂
I think couponing in the right way is a wonderful thing… but I think that these people are abusing the coupon ‘system’, as that is obviously not how coupons were intended to be used – and I’m loving that the new P&G coupons are specifying in RED lettering now that you can ONLY USE 4 LIKE COUPONS PER TRIP (not transaction)!!!! Hopefully all of them will have that specified soon!!! That show only showed 4 people, but I’m sure there are more out there, and the more of them that are brought to light with a show like this, the greater chance of it ruining the modest savings on necessary items that we enjoy. Addiction is an illness, and these people need help. when you need to get seperate insurance for your stockpile, you have a SERIOUS PROBLEM!!!!!
I went down to Tennessee at the end of July and an avid couponer introduced me to your site and gave me tips about couponing. At first I would beat myself when I would miss a deal or I would wear myself out driving all over town everyday of the week. Since then I have learned the concept of “no big deal” and have learned to find enjoyment in couponing.
What I am most excited about is what I am able to do with my couponing. I am a single mother to three children. One in Bible college, another taking a break from college and a son graduating from high school this year. The past couple of years have been extremely hard financially but with my couponing I have really been able to provide better for my family. And though that is wonderful, it is not the best thing. Due to my couponing, I have been able to provide for several families who have been out of work or having a hard time. I have been able to help my elderly aunt, and other family members that are on fixed budgets. I have been so blessed to be able to do what my own pocketbook wouldn’t allow me to do before couponing. Of course, I have been able to share the deals I learn from your site (and others) to my co-workers and family so that they can provide for their families better. Though I do like to get 20 deodorants free, so I can have a stash to give to those less fortunate, I have come to realize that it really “isn’t a big deal.” I must say I am building up a small stash but it merely is to 1. Have enough until the next sale and 2. To be able to give to those in need. I am so blessed how could I not share.
Keep up the good work and know that the time that you spend sharing the deals has not only blessed those that read your blog but those people your readers are able to help.
Cynthia
I think the show should be re-named: HOARDERS! What a sad life Amanda to spend 70 hrs a week on couponing to buy and fill the rooms in your house like that? Disgusting! I think the husband is even worse. She never mentioned at any point that she was donating any of this stuff. 218 boxes of pasta?
exactly. it will go bad before they use all that stuff.
that’s what i thgouht…. Amanda’s life is soo sad and empty that she has to use stcokpile food and toiletries to fill it up! She was the only true hoarder in the show as she was the only one who wasn’t helping anybody else by either donation or by sharing her couponing tips with others. Her husband was better than her- at least he realizes that they don’t need to kepp buying more & more.
I watched the show last night…. thought to myself… if the first lady worked on her appearance and her weight like she does her couponing… she would be a model.. don’t mean to be mean..but come on…you need to get your priorities straight ….. most of the stuff they bought was high in sodium or enriched flower… I do coupon save, but not to that level… most of the stuff that coupons put out are not very nutritious … The pasta itself will go bad with bugs if they don’t eat it in a certain time.. and space wise.. I don’t know how they can use every bit of space in their home to store the stuff.. In my area we are only allowed up to 4 coupons for the same item..so I don’t understand how these grocery stores are allowing hundreds of coupons to go through their registers…even if the order is split up… There is a local restaurants in my town that on the weekends will have piles of paper advertisements and coupons that people leave behind when they have read the paper…. I admit..If I have been in there will go and pick it up and take it home..however.. going through a dumpster for coupons..is a bit much.. but who am I to judge…when people are out of work… they will do what they have to survive. The lady that asks her neighbors for their unwanted coupons is more reasonable… Finally … if they want to do good..they should share and donate to a food pantry…not everyone has the know how to coupon shop..
I didn’t read the over 1000 entries ahead of mine, but my kiddos and I watched the show last night and while their savings were very impressive my kids and I both were disappointed in the level of “hoarding” by the four people on the show. Accept for the last guy, there was no mention of how these people could be helping others in their community. All I could think of were the people who were struggling right in their neighborhoods and the children who “went without” again that night. I was also disappointed in the apparent focus of all four like Colin…too much on a deal whether they needed it or not and not on teaching how to coupon. (you know the saying about teaching a man to fish…) I come from a giving family though so my mindset is on others. I would be overwhelmed with enough toilet paper to last 3 years! Seriously?? I’d be standing on street corners giving it away!
Colin,
I love your blog, you already know that. I have five kids (four of them teenage and four of them boys) and a hujsband who doesn’t always understand. He’s a big bargain shopper but in my opinion “cheap” not “frugal”. It sounds like these folks are a lot like that… I didn’t see the show, but I know that when the Sunday ads come I don’t use all the coupons there. I clip the ones for products I use, products that look similar to what I use and new things I might like to try. Beyond that… off they go to the recycling. Does that make me a “bad” couponer? I don’t think so. I am nuerotic, compulsive and probably OCD although not diagnosed and I always feel like you’ve got my back. So in the end… my response is, I couldn’t agree with you more. Where’s the reality, ya know, people like me?
Thanks again for all your hard work.
An I the only one who thought the show was great?! It honestly keptmy attention the entire time…heck I was gettin a coupon high after watching what they came or with….and I don’t coupon!! Basically that first lady knew she had a hoarding problem, otherwise she wouldn’t have been crying while telling her story…the total man at least donated his goods, the diva only bought what she needed, and the crazy coupon lady…well she was a bit extreme and ocd..i thought they did a good job at showing what could be done using your time and wits…cuz yes, smart people can only figure out all them calculations! Lol!
I honestly don’t think it was ever advertised as a show that was meant to teach one how to coupon…they said many times to go online and check out sites for that info.
Anyways I def enjoyed it.I’m not sure if it was a one time show, but id watch it if it continued as a season show
I totally agree! I loved the show and was happy for the 4 with their huge savings. I think Amanda did the show because she knows she has a problem and maybe she thought it would help her to admit it on the show. I really liked all of them!
iI too loved the show .i just wished they would have showed a little more on how to save not just show them saving ..i also liked the fact that the man gave to his food bank and think they showed all the levels of couponing,i will keep watching the show .
I loved the show. I was soooo motivated! And I LOVED seeing them buy things and use coupons that I did a few months ago! Obviously the show was extreme and was named correctly because of it! Aside from the first lady, who seemed a little empty inside and just overall sad : ( everyone made me laugh and boosted my coupon confidence! I hope they continue this special as a series and show more details, similar to the videos that you have posted, collin!
I really enjoyed the show also. I am a mom on 4 girls, I quit my job this year to stay home with my kidos and I told myself I would learn couponing and I am hooked! I LOVE a bargain, couponing is exciting, challenging and if I have a bit of a stockpile I do share it with my friends and family. I let many things expire but also if it’s a good deal, I’m there, 2 &3 times to use up all of my coupons I have taken the time to clip and sort and file. I hope I am teaching my girls a thing or 2 about money management and being smarter with their money. I do think there should be a limit on how many items can be purchased, that way others can encourage more people to take advantage of the coupons each week and stores would not be out of the items.
I enjoyed the show..it did what is was supposed to do, entertain and yes there are lessons to learn about couponing, sharing and going overboard.
I loved it! I DVR’d it and will watch it over and over!
This show is not about who I am or who I know Collin is. This show is making what we do seem “crazy”. I think we all know that what we do is save our family money. I will not watch anymore of these episodes.
I quit watching TLC a long time ago because of their “reality” programming. If it’s not hoarding kids, it’s hoarding now through coupons. TLC is to “reality” shows what Jerry Springer was to talk shows back in the day.
hoarding kids…laughing so hard right now. So true.
Love your “Rambling” lol… i didn’t watch the show, but it’s all about ratings…best thing anyone can do is not watch, that will make it go away.
I have seen some of these extreme couponing people on different shows. It is a waste of time and room IMO. There is no way a family can go through 1100 boxes of cereal before it goes bad. Spending 70 hours a week to go through the internet for sales and coupons is not possible for 99% of the world. Im lucky if I spend a hour a week getting my coupons and sales together. And why would anyone need to buy 40 years worth of TP? It seems like these TV shows want to get the most extreme odd people for ratings. As for not using a coupon and have it not being a big deal, I do that all the time. My big one is I’ll print/cut out coupons for something I need, but manage to forget that 1 coupon at home (and its always a high value good one). But because I need the item I still buy it full price.
I personally think that the first woman needs an intervention. To let your emmotions get you to the point of tears from couponing is beyond what I consider to be “normal”. Her couponing scores are taking over her house. I thought this was very sad. I only get what I am going to use and will fit on my shelf in the garage or in the fridge/freezer
This show made couponers look like nutjobs. Great. Just great. People already roll their eyes when I use coupons, now I’ll have to put up with snide comments about hoarding. I can see it now. I admit to buying extra when there are deals, but by extra I mean 5 or 6, not 50 or 60. And the reason I buy extra stuff is so I can help other people out. I don’t have the money to donate, but I can give some of my time and energy to provide items such as soap and canned goods to others. The guys and gals at the nursing home love to get nice body washes/shampoos/lotions, and all the extra office supplies I get go to the local elem. school. Baby wipes, etc. goes to the pre-school and pet food goes to the animal shelter. I think they should do a show on giving. Maybe it would inspire others to help those less fortunate.
Couldn’t agree more, Sharon. My hubby and I couldn’t possibly even begin to use everything I buy. I’ll get extra items just to donate. Even with only getting an extra 3-4 items, I still have tons of stuff to give away.
COLLIN – PLEASE OPEN A POST REQUESTING US COUPONERS TO SEND SUGGESTIONS TO TLC ON THIS SHOW. SUGGESTIONS OF TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO COUPON EFFECTIVELY, TECHNIQUES, COUPON ETIQUETTE, AND/OR ANY OTHER SUGGESTION WE MIGHT HAVE.
Very good idea ..
Why does Collin need to do that? Whether you like the show or not ( I enjoyed it), we all know how go to TLC’s website, http://www.tlc.com and dash off an email stating what we think and how to make it more appealing to us. Collin is wonderful, but does she really need to add to that to her list of things to do?!
Ha. Well I was thinking more of the ability to get a lot of people to respond, that is how it would get done. The more people that would email them, the more they would listen. What better way to get voices heard, but from a popular site like this giving everyone the idea. I could just get my 3 couponing friends to send an email, but doubt that will really make a difference.
Thanks, Collin. Your comments are so true and so appropriate. Using coupons to save money is a precious thing, but should never take over your life or become a priority over–well, your priorities (like the people in your life). It’s sad that TLC has to focus on the extreme, out of control couponers who need to chill out. Honestly, these people are not money-savers, they are hoarders and belong on another type of show that is about accumulating stuff, rather than one about saving money. Thanks for encouraging us to have the right priorities–and thanks for encouraging us to be givers, rather than hoarders.
First when I heard about the show I thought “shopaholics”? Why is that all couponers are classified as “shopaholics”? That just gets under my skin.
Secondly, I have a coupon blog www(dot)savvycouponclippers(dot)com. I totally disagree with a lot of the things on the show. 1) I started couponing because of necessity not the sport of it. I agree, when you find a good deal you do get excited but that’s not why I started couponing. 2) I do have a pantry that is organized but certainly not 3 rooms in my house or my garage) 3) I have never gone to any grocery store that had 200 plus boxes of pasta. Nor had everything I went for. I think the store must have know what they were going for and how much they needed to have on hand. And all those toothbrushes? Really? Every store I have ever been in had maybe 10 of each brand/style.
Collin, I agree it may have been reality tv but it certainly wasn’t realistic. I have been couponing for years and the average person doesn’t have that much time in their day. I certatinly don’t with 3 kids, a husband who is out of town more than he is home and a coupon blog.
I always appreciate your posts and your points of view.
Blessings!
Holly 🙂
Ugh, I missed the show. I turned it to TLC and there was some show about strange addictions. One lady slept with her hair dryer. The other woman ate toilet paper for the last 20+ years. Wish I could have seen the OCD couponers. 🙁
They will be airing another show on January 4th. I don’t remember the time though, I set my dvr to record it.
I just found this video on The Krazy Coupon Lady’s facebook page. She was the second woman they showed on the show that spent $230 and paid $2. It shows her donating some of the food she bought to a local food pantry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=872klP3pqc8
Yah! I haven’t seen the show yet but I’ve been following Joanie for a little bit! She seems really sweet and funny and definitely not a hoarder! She shows you her stock pile in one of the videos and it doesn’t look like anything crazy to me!
I hate that they all use the donating as an excuse. Yeah it’s great when people donate, but it just seems fake to me. I feel like they are donating some of what they get to make themselves feel and look better about how greedy they are the rest of the time. I mean seriously, it’s not like their main motivation for couponing is to be charitable. And why do they feel the need to keep talking about donating on their blogs and other blogs and posting videos to show themselves donating. We get the point already…. not that I’m buying it.
Also when that lady said her stockpile is her legacy, I laughed out loud. That’s pathetic. Just my opinion.
I think ANYTIME you can donate to help others its worth it. (As long as your not hurting other people to do it of course – which these couponers are not) Before couponing my family had a accept food donations from pantries and help centers so I’m GRATEFUL that they would give whatever they are willing to, even if it wasn’t their main motive for couponing and even if they DO keep most of what they get for themselves! My main motive for couponing isnt to give it away to other people, its to feed my family and prepare for my needs in the future – but when I do have sufficient for my needs I give mine away to!’ I wouldn’t be so quick to judge!
some couponers, collin included, actually do have the goal to be able to not only provide for their own families, but also to donate to the community. For most who donate Its not for show nor to “justify” their shopping trips. Its not an excuse, its something that makes them feel good because they are really helping out people who need it! I think when people blog about donating items it is to encourage other people to also donate what they can, not for selfish or boastful reasons.
All I can say is my cashiers aren’t nearly as nice as this. I get eye rolls with 15 coupons. I know this was because they were filming for a show. And my store never has the excessive amounts of product available – and again I’m sure they ordered extra for the show. But when my coupons don’t go through – they tell me – nope these don’t work LOL
Thats what I kept thinking! I have never encountered a cashier as nice as the one on the show! I wish!
This is way beyond couponing to the extreme!!! This was an episode of Hoarders! These people make me very sad to see how couponing (or any one thing) can consume such an important part of their life. The first 2 women just made me mad for many reasons, but the main one was how greedy and self indulgent they are. There is no possible way for them to consume the amount of “stockpile” they have before it expires, so to have all this stuff and keep it and never use it rather than donate to the needy or community shelters is sooooo sad. How many homeless, hungry, needy people did they drive right by on their way home with all their stuff.
At least the last guy donated the cereal he bought, but come on all those personal care items he will never use, give back and you get back. I would hate to think of ruining my blessings, by giving back when I can, by succombing to glutney and greed.
I saw a little bit of that show and my husband, who finds my couponing embarrassing 😀 was a little bit disgusted at those people…I was too!! I saw all that ‘stuff’ they hoarded away and thought to myself what a shame!!! There are services all over their towns that could use that stuff and these people are sitting on it and by the time they get to it that ‘stuff’ won’t be any good anyways!!!!
This show shouldn’t be about couponing, it should be about hoarding. For that’s all those people did…hoard!
I don’t tell people outside my family I coupon because I feel it is embarrassing for reasons like this show. I don’t have a stockpile I buy what I need for the month/time and go on. That word makes me think I am waiting for a war to start.
I found this show made me feel LESS embarrassed about couponing! I know I’ll never be like them, but theres nothing wrong with being a smart shopper!
I have the show DVR’d but I keep hearing about it. It is funny because I went to Publixs last night and got 7 boxes of cereal (1 wasnt on sale that my daughter wanted LOL) and when I got home I realised that I already had like 10 boxes of different cereal tucked away and it made me feel funny! For the first time since I have been couponing (4 months now) I felt like I was being obsessive! Didnt mean to be but it was a weird feeling I have to tell you. I will be giving some of it away now since there is no way my kids will eat that much cereal!
The bottom line is you only need to stock pile so much, especially food items. If it starts taking over your house and all your time YOUR A HOARDER!
My husband and I both enjoyed the show last night! Although, we felt the amount of items they had were extreme, our jaws both dropped when we saw the amount of money they saved. In fact, part of me was envious since the stores in my area do not double coupons. The best part was that that my husband after the show was very thankful of the work I put into cutting coupons and the amount I have saved for our family! By the way, Collin, you are awesome and I have to thank you so much for your website!
I was feeling sad for the first girl and her husband, she obviously has an addiction, and no addiction is fun. The greediness and wastefullness really bothered me. I wish it was done on a realistic level; no store would allow the purchase of so many of the same items , with coupons! Haha , Im wondering if those companys will actually reimberse the stores for those coupons????
Did anyone notice the “Coupon Diva” stealing someones paper right from their step??????? Aside from that , I did like her, she seemed to be helpful to others.
I made my husband watch with me and he was impressed with their final totals, and looking at me like… why cant YOU do that? lol.
The show did make me want to get more organized. I havent yet stockpiled anything, I usually just get 1 or 2 of whatever the deal is. I havent bought more then 2 papers at a time, and never paid for any coupons ( I cant afford it).
I watched the show. It would be a good show if it were just a contest to see how much you can get for very little. There is noway that I could get groceries like that since our stores don’t double/triple coupons here. It would be better if it would teach people how to coupon like Collin’s videos on here. My husband was worried that stores and Manuf. might change because of this store in a way to hurt the regular couponer. I did like the fact that the guy in the show was atleast donating all his cereal. He was the only one who seemed to be giving anything away. I am sure he probably ends up giving more than just the cereal away.
As for myself, I like to try and be stocked up on a year’s supply of stuff when I can get it. I live in a small town, and some sales DO NOT rotate here. But, trust me, a year’s supply really doesn’t look like much if you really figure how much you use in a year. That might only be 12-14 detergent or so. It might only be a few of each of our deodorants, 12-15 toothpastes, etc. All else I usually get rid of. I like to know I have enough since my husband’s work has been so sparse the past few years. Those people have so much stuff that it is going to ruin before they can ever use it.
First – these people have an illness to need to buy and stockpile that much. It probably is embedded in having a void they are trying to fill just like shopaholics, all they are doing is filling their boring lives with the research couponing requires. It is repulsive because those goods (not goodies, goods as in products) will waste/expire/never be used and they should be donated like everyone here has said. I do think though TLC is giving people a taste of what the media and greater population perceives extreme couponers to be like. I love to save money on things I HAVE to buy like toiletries and groceries, but if I don’t have time I don’t have time. I haven’t bought a paper since Thanksgiving because I have been too busy and half the time forget it is Sunday. I let the olay mail in rebates expire so I returned the items. In the end it’s okay, I think God I have the money to pay full price or shop regular sales and go on, knowing that when I have the time I will pick up a paper and print off some coupons. When I am in a store and I see someone binder in hand with a gazillion of one item in their cart I get disgruntled immediately. I can’t help but wonder WHY they need that much. Are they donating it? I can’t help but wonder what their stockpile looks like. In my opinion if you have under the bed storage for shampoo, tooth paste, etc….your stockpile is too big. You know more deals will come and you know you will buy them, so your stockpile never actually dwindles…For example if it is a great deal on toothpaste I buy a few as in two or three. Until those are gone or about to be gone I don’t buy another toothpaste deal I leave them for others who need them. In closing, myself and all of you are doing exactly what TLC wants…free publicity and getting people interested so the show will be watched, TLC makes money and the revolting people in the show will make a buck too.
I love and agree with everything you said Collin. In fact, I took 2 weeks off from couponing to enjoy the holidays w/ my family and friends. And it felt great! Like you said, the deals will be back. No big deal if I miss a few in order to spend time with loved ones. 🙂
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this post–it really sums it all up and i THANK YOU!!
The show was entertaining. The 1st lady has self-esteem issues. It seems like her husband is trying. She needs to realize “pride comes before fall.” The 2nd lady(Krazy Coupon), I follow her blog and it helps but it is still a bit much. The 3rd lady(my fav Ms. Joyce). Her story was true and most realistic. She did not have a stockpile. All the items she purchased they were either what she needed or for others in her neighborhood. The guy, was ok but I wonder how much of it did he donate and what he decided to keep for himself. The only concern I see from this show is how the stores and companies plan to change their policies to make it hard on us.
I watched the show and found it entertaining. However, these people are really giving people false hope. I have been using coupons for over 30 years and using this awesome website for about a year. I love getting a great (or free) deal, but let’s get real. Getting $100’s worth of stuff for a few dollars is the exception, not the rule. Furthermore, you cannot live on free or cheap toothbrushes, salad dressing, and cereal. Someone show me how to get $100’s worth of meat, seafood, produce, canned and frozen foods for a few dollars on a regular basis, and then you will really have my attention! Collin, thanks for all of your hard work and your voice of reason. You save me money on a weekly basis, and that’s truly the benefit and realistic use of coupons.
I will just bet u a lot of policys where changed today!!!!!!, the show needs to be changed a little, show the extreme ( which was last night) , and then the teaching part. Not the I NEED HELP PART, THEY GONNA COME UP WITH A SHOW NOW ON FIXEN US!
As a result of the show several of my friends have asked ” How can I do that” well I told them that what was on the show was NOT reality, but that by getting the sunday papers and hooking up with this site, which i linked them too, and coupons.com.. I went thru several situations and told them places to really AVOID cause the prices were so high most coupons still did not help.. So I feel a TINY bit like you COllen, helping the younger ladys of my area.. They are most of my daughters friends and young moms… Just today they were thrilled to get the target up and up diper coupons! YEYY!
I have the same comments about the stores themselves. There is NO WAY in heck that my local Vons or Ralphs would let me use 1,000 coupons in a transaction for the same item. Heck, they usually get huffy if I try to use more than 4 like coupons in a transaction!
But I generally agree with everyone else, that the first lady has a serious problem, the second is a bit OCD, and the Diva rocks. 🙂 The last guy was funny – he’d be fun to go shopping with!
(oh, and I didn’t think the Diva was stealing a paper, she was taking someone’s Red Plum package? At least that’s what I thought.)
I watched the show last night and some of the “savings” are really not savings. I do formulary for personal care products. Seeing someone buy hundreds of deodorants or bottles of shampoo and lotion really is a BAD thing. The preservatives in these products only last up to 2 years maximum. That means after that amount of time the products break down and fill with bacteria and molds. Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean that they are not there. Some of these bacterias can cause you to go blind. So I cringed when I saw the one guy state he will never need to buy deodorant ever again! Having to go to the doctor because you have a rash from using expired product is NOT a savings by any means. Those doctors visits and prescriptions to get rid of the rash will be far more expensive than if he had paid full price for those items.
Now when I shop and save, I buy only what I can use in a reasonable amount of time. I know that if I miss a sale and the latest and greatest deal, that it is OK because soon enough another sale will come along that I just can’t miss. I only purchase products that we will really use. I don’t buy just because it is on sale or cheap if I don’t use that product. There are a few times that I have purchased a lot of toothbrushes, hairspray and other personal care items I don’t use or need but all those went to the local emergency battered woman’s shelter.
Another thing, the local stores near me do not allow double coupons nor do they allow thousands of coupons to go through their registers. When it says a limit of 4, they stand by that limit. I am fine with that because I save in other ways by not buying a lot of pre packaged foods and cook a lot from scratch and grow a lot of my own produce. (which is healthier anyway)
Thank you for posting about this. I have been couponing since July when I was on maternity leave with my son. I was really excited about it and how much money I have saved in the beginning. However, I noticed how consuming it becomes and how much time it can take away from your family. I am learning to cut back and catch the deals that I NEED rather than the ones I don’t. I am also learning (the hard way) that PLANNING is very important to saving money. If I have five boxes of pasta and nothing to go with it… How can I prepare supper for my family? I think the ultimate thing to remember is most of your stockpile needs to be FREE and not pennies here and there. Those pennies add up to dollars if you have bulk items that you don’t use.
THANK YOU for this reminder that helped me remember that it’s okay to let some of those deals go and some of those coupons expire in order to preserve precious family time!
This show is the true defination of “extreme”. The first lady, poor thing, is a hoarder. She could donate tons and tons of that stuff..there is no way they would use it all. And it will expire before she ever comes close to using it…so what a waste of food and time.
The second, she too, needs to donate.
At least the other two will either consume or donate their goods.
After watching it, I can see how they could stockpile a years worth, IF I HAD ROOM to do so.
If you stockpiled for a year and being a SAHM if something happened to my DH’s job or to him, at least I would have helped and stockpiled food for us to eat while he was unemployed or disabled.
I still do not understand how the man “ordered” all of those boxes and then was able to use so many coupons on them. My Publix or Target would never do that. I have problems all the time with my Target even using more than 2-3 of the same coupon (which I shouldn’t but do) so there is no way that I could ever use 100’s or 1000’s of coupons for the same items.
AND those cashiers were not HAPPY to see them coming in….they knew they were going to be on TV and so they put a smile on their faces and acted like they were enjoying scanning thousands of items. All of us everyday couponers know, the cashiers aren’t “happy” to see us coming. lol
the second lady does donate… a lot… all the time. she has a couponing blog. also she has a youtube video on her trip to the foodbank with all that pasta sauce, etc that she bought
omg! I thought I was bad…ha. I feel better. I thought I did good getting 5 1 loads of tide. My husband would fall over if I had that much stuff. I watched the rerun at 1 am here in west virginia. My mouth honestly fell over. I think Nathan (i think that was his name) was too extreme on his cereal. I know he says he will donate it, but I found a problem. He said that when him and his wife got married they were in huge debt, but they now only have the student loan and house to pay off. Why in the world would you pay so much for that cearel even if you’ll donate it?! That money could’ve went toward the debt left. I was rolled over about that. I think he is addicted to couponing too much. I think it is great what he can save. I also wouldn’t have the guts to have employees at a store to push the buggies for me…I would feel way rude about that.
The krazy coupon lady…I don’t think it was bad dumpster diving…it was just recycled papers. I just couldn’t let my kids in it or a pregnant friend. I was surprised to find she was 27 and had gained the smarts of couponing though. I wish I would have known about it at 27! I’m like her sorta…I want to raise my children to coupon so they will hopefully save a ton of money and put it toward schooling, house, car…ect. Of course I also hope my son becomes a basket ball player for the NBA since he loves to watch it with my husband, lol!
I think the first woman who spent 70 + hours couponing was way to into it. I know first hand that I have trouble balancing time as it is. I have a 2yr old, a 3month old, house to clean, errands to run, working online for companies, blogging, researching deals. I can’t imagine having to pile my house like that with that much stuff.
I think some people get so much because it is free. When I seen Nathan get all those tooth brushes my first thought was that no body else will get any. Then I remembered how I felt when people had hogged everything when I go to get one or two things on sale. Makes me mad. That’s why I try not to take all of the stuff when I go, especially the trail section. I feel too bad that I am taking from someone elses family. I think some Nathan and the first woman were hoarding. 300 rolls of tp?!!!! wooo!!!!
I went to rite aid last night and bought a bunch of the office stuff that gave you $2 ups and made sure it would be used and I didn’t take it all. I started with 17 ups and left with 43. I paid 1.76 oop. I was proud till I seen last nights show.
I bore my husband half to death with coupon talk. After reading Collin’s comment and then the show I think it is natural men feels this way ha ha. When he starts in and ask him when was the last time you paid for diapers, wipes, shampoo, and body wash? That ends it quick and we both laugh. It feels good to use your money on bills and keep out of debt!
This is a little off topic but my walmart in south charleston, wv has 7 count taster chice sticks for a dollar. There is a $1.00 off any coupon inside…makes the next one free…you keep rolling it over and over! It was in the house blend and original flavor.
Anyways, I am not really trying to put any of the people down. I think it is awesome they save so much, but for myself I never want to take it as far as the first woman (with the big red cheeks) and Nathan. But that is just me. I was hoping that I would learn something from the show, but was quickly disappointed. They should have a show where a couponer each week take syou along and shows you the ropes. Funny thing…just a few nights ago I thought it would be great they made a show about couponing since it is so big and they already had one getting ready to air. I didn’t know it until last night reading collins post.
Thanks collin for your honesty. I’m tired of reading so many coupon blogs that sound so unemotional. I would love to see a pic posted of your stockpile if you didn’t mind! Maybe if we asked nicely she’ll post it! After the show I am curious as h**!
I think her cheeks were red cuz she was embarrassed about what she was doing!!! That and she worked up quite a sweat clearing those shelves!! Shees! Hoarders not couponers…hopefully America will see the difference! 🙂
It was an interesting show!! I think it showed the power of what coupons can do. Some parts where a little extreme. I think the key to any of this is moderation. Its good to have a supply of things on hand, in case of emergency, job loss, illness, etc. but to have enough on hand for 150 years is a little bit over the top. Although I think the produces wanted these people to go over the top. It has more entertainment when its over the top vs. normal and mundane.
I feel bad they were so greedy with the deals. That is the worst feeling when I go to get a deal like a buy one get one and there is only one on the shelf because people were greedy with the deal.
I would like to see all of these couponers get a health assessment from all the processed and junk food they are buying and possibly eating….yuck! Plus I think they should look at the cost they are incurring from the gas and taxes that are required to do all of these deals on a regular basis. There has to be a lot of money spent on buying the coupons online too…….. and I can’t imagine all the time spent to sift and organize all of that stuff! It takes me a while to just keep tabs on a couple shelves worth of stuff………….they have to be constantly be going through it and throwing stuff out. No thanks!