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.
My opinion is anything over a 1 year supply is totally unnecessary! I know some people say even that is too much, but my church urges it’s members to create a one year supply of all necessities to sustain life for their families. This can be used in case of a disaster or job loss or many other situations. I don’t have anything close to a one year supply but I hope to be able to create it someday. I do think the people on this show are WAY extreme and I agree with what Colin and most of you have to say. I think that people like this ruin if for the rest of us, because that is way out of control!!
So many comments are bringing up how this reality show doesn’t portray reality at all. Of course not! SInce when does ANY reality show these days show the true reality of any average type of person. That is the irony of reality tv. 🙂
So true Darcie! So true!
Colin,
I began couponing this past summer, and at first, it was all or nothing (and I intended to get it all – every good deal that came by). After getting worn out and feeling guilty because of my nearly all-consuming hobby, I realized that I needed balance. Hence, if I really don’t need something, or don’t forsee it being something that I can utilize as an appreciated gift, then I usually just pass. I still appreciate the occassional Victoria’s Secret deals on lip gloss and undies, but for the most part, I’m like you: NOTHING IS A BIG DEAL. When the day is over, I want to be able to rest in the fact that I have been a great mom and wife to my family, a good friend to those who need me, and ulitimately, the woman God made me to be! So…in saying all of that, let’s all keep getting those great deals for our family, but keep in mind that all of the amazing stuff we provide them are never a substitute for us! 🙂 Keep saving with a smile and a good heart!
This show really bothered me, I could understand buying in bulk if there were alot of family members or it was going to be donated, as Nathan was doing. But when there are only 2 people in the home and you are buying this much is going way over board and can be wasteful,if a food item isn’t used by the experation date then you have to throw it away, then it is a waste, reguardless if it was free or not. This is considered hoarding in a different manner as well as it looks greedy. For those households that only have a couple of people and go to extreme buying as was shown on TLC is really uncalled for, what do you think people that know you really think? ok, it’s great that you saved money but there so many people in this world that don’t get to eat every day and that are going hungry or can’t take a bath, these extreme couponers/buyers have all this food and supplies that they can just stand there and stare at and think they have done such a good job, but mostlikely will be throwing some of it away..I’m sorry but this is so wasteful and really looks greedy. If Extreme Couponing is being used as a hobby or a thrill, maybe those people that really don’t need all of these things need to either find another hobby and or get help.
i just read on the website of the second women (the young women with the incredibly organized stockpile) that TLC didn’t want her to mention her donating. And, I think I read that they even filmed her doing it (I could be mistaken on that). And, she bought coupons etc especially for the segment to increase the wow factor.
But the main thing, TLC is all about spin. All about ratings. Sensationalizing things. Editing. Not saying that there wasn’t some extremes in the show, there was, but that is what made TLC salivate. They are all about the ooh, and wow.
EXACTLY> This was mostly for show. Amanda is on UTUBE saying the show was difficult to film and she also donates to foodbanks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AcmLW1yCCQ&feature=related
Sounds like these people will end up on Hoarders soon. I am all about couponing and saving money but 1,100 boxes of cereal? Unless you are donating to those in need, why would you need all of that? Riduculous in my humble opinion.
Collin: keep up the great work. Your website gets better and better every day. Happy New Year.
I watched this with my boyfriend last night, we were both impressed with the third lady who was Legitimately buying for her use and sharing her tips/tricks. As a young couple that is the kind of couponing we would like to focus on once I am working full time and am not a student busy studying.
We also felt that the lady who filled her entire house with food that can expire could use her skills in such a better way, what a good idea it would be to have someone with those skills volunteer for a food pantry and use what little money they are donated to muliply the products by SO much. Such a waste to just do it for yourself.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Sarah! The retired nurse had only one cart of groceries for her own use; as well as teaching a Newbie how it’s done (never mind the other shoppers, LOL). Plus she gets up at 6 a.m. to start walking the neighborhood, getting coupons, and still trying to educate them on how to use them/what they are missing out on.
I also think it would be a great idea for an experienced “couponer” to be able to have access to some of the $$ donations, to go shopping for a food bank.
Amen ladies!!! My husband and I were staying the same thing!
I thought the show was very entertaining, yet it did sort of upset me as it gave the stigma that all of us ‘couponers’ are crazy extreme. At our house we stockpile (and I use that term loosely..does 4 or 5 of an item count ? :)) for the items we genuinely need and use. Not just for bragging rights, an adrenalin rush or as sport (chess, really?)
How could you possibly have enough time to coupon like that? I half expected the next show to be the exact people either on Hoarders or Intervention.
Additionally, the one key thing that irked me was the selfishness. Clearing the shelves of 1 item for 2 people? How rude. You will never eat that much pasta in your life, why on earth would you want to rob someone else the chance of having a good deal as well. Half of the fun is to hear others getting the same deal!
Did anyone else notice the ‘coupon’ logo on the side of Nathans car? Is he sponsored by someone?
I loved this show it really made me want to find coupons to save more money but i didnt like the extent of buying in bulk just for your self i wish ppl would donate more to help others but other then that i loved it!
they sure took the term extreme to a new level. there really is no need for that much excess
the only shopper that made any sense was the woman from Philadelphia
that first lady doesnt realize how much wasted money she is spending..
she walks around a store 6 hrs to find deals, comes home and orders $70 worth of coupons online..
then takes two vehicles to get the items.. that stuff will take up space and most will expire before she uses it.. have spent money for storage shelfs. that is alot of wasted time and money.. she isnt saving she is wasting money… pretty bad when hubby said they have insurance on thier stockpile.. ive seen and heard it all…
Why spend time judging these people?
If you’re an avid couponer – you have experienced others judging YOU for buying 4 bottles of soap or 5 boxes of cereal…so why turn around & judge these folks? It’s their time & their money & ultimately, their choice. Maybe they donate 99% of it to those less fortunate. Maybe they WILL eat 600 boxes of pasta. We don’t know their personal lives..we know the small pieces that didn’t end up on the editing room floor.
It’s called “Extreme” for a reason & TV is in the business of making reality nothing short of sensationalized.
Let’s move on…
my thoughts exactly!!! Since when has reality tv ever portrayed the true reality of average people?! and just by watching one show featuring a person doesn’t mean you know everything about them. lets not judge
Agreed!
ssssshhhhhhhh.. it’s okay. (smile)
Just like any other reality show, if you put yourself in front of a camera for the world to see, you invite judgement. Furthermore, if they’re dedicating ROOMS of their home to their “stock”, I doubt they’re doing a lot of donating. Collin asked for opinions, so I don’t know why you have a problem with people expressing theirs in this forum.
Agreed….
Is this where I admit that while shopping the Target 75% off Christmas items sale this morning I forgot to pick up my 14year old…. I got distracted by the choice of lights..LED, Solar powered…
I called the mom where my daughter spent the night and the mom laughed, she said she was heading to Target as soon as I picked up my daughter….
OMG that is too funny
I love that you miss deals. I thought you got every single one and I never knew how you did it. Way to be!!!!!!
This show made me REALLY sad! I believe in stockpiling what my family will use, but a couple of these people were overboard!
It made me really sad to see all of that food (that will expire before use) sitting in their homes when there are so many hungry people in the world.
Why not keep half of the free items and donate the rest??
I agree! I think most of that stuff that a couple of the people on the show got, would expire before they could use it! They should send it to food banks or something! I love couponing and all the help you have provided Collin! I think that some go a little overboard, but the show was interesting, in my opinion. The Philadelphia woman was my favorite, too.
Serious, what 2 people in the world need 100+ Butterfingers??? I was sad for any other coupon shoppers in the area that won’t be able to take advantage of the deals after these people cleaned out the stores! I loved the one that says she buys what they will use in 3 months only.
Just to let you know Joanie the ladie they featured dumpster diving for coupons has a similar site as Colin: https://thekrazycouponlady.com. Not only does she teach her tips, she does donate a lot of her goods TLC however did not show this. We only saw what they wanted us to see. Also Nathan did also donate to his church’s pantry. I would also believe that the young lady with her stockpile taking up rooms in her house donates as well.
I would hope that these extreme couponers are able to turn this into something good. Like donations for the multiple food pantries across the country that struggle to feed the needy. Do you know that a family of 3 is supposed to live an entire week on 1 can vegetables, 1 can of fruit, 1 box of pancake mix, 1 muffin mix, syrup and juice! I know that as a couponer, I am proud that I am able to donate more. I hope others are able to do the same.
Amen, Collin! Enough said. 🙂
I am all for “free.” However, I think some of those people crossed the line to GLUTNY. Did that last guy really need 1,000 toothbrushes? I think anything can become an addiction or a compulsion. It’s what we do with that addiction that makes the difference. I realize that he did donate cereal to a food bank- but I bet if he thought about it- there were a few 100 more items that he could have donated.
everything the last guy bought and then some from his storage was donated to local food pantry or it could have been his church. so no he didnt need 1,000 toothbrushes 🙂 it also said he does it on regular basis.
That’s great if he donates. The problem I would have with that is that it, too, could be a problem. If, for instance, he is clearing off store shelves so that others who NEED the deals to help their families make ends meet, can’t get the deals, then it’s a problem. Everything in moderation. And I have to think that the manufacturer’s are going to start limiting the sales/high value coupons if they see this kind of thing going on.
AMEN Colin!! You’re exactly right! Thanks so much for everything you do to help us–not only with couponing but also with “life” in general! You’re a blessing to me!! Gayle
Don’t let this idiotic television program make any of you feel guilty. Even more importantly, don’t fall into the trap that you have to stockpile items enough to satisfy a small country’s annual needs!!!
Coupon for what you NEED and what you routinely use. All of you ladies sound so very, very sensible, so ignore a show that highlights examples of psychological problems just for ratings. Apparently, none of the show’s producers seem to be interested in helping these folks deal with their overwhelming need to acquire and stockpile. They just want to exploit it.
I think all of you are terrific in working so diligently to make your families lives materially better by using coupons and saving money to pay off debts and put a financial cushion in your family’s piggy bank. Keep up the good work. You are also enriching the lives of strangers by sharing through food pantry and shelter donation. God bless all of you. What you give may be a material item, but it is a gift from the heart. You are sharing your talents.
Sermon over. Good job girls. Have a wonderful and prosperous New Year. May your prosperity be both material and spiritual.
Happy New Year All!
I definitely agree with you that missing deals is no biggie. I for one haven’t checked H2S all week! Which is huge for me. I’ve come to be known as the coupon lady in my family. I always have a coupon when we go out or for everything I buy. I was able to get my nieces and nephew quite a few goodies for Christmas with my savings. So I’m proud. And my New Year’s project will be to calculate everything that I save for the year on our normal stuff. It’s all thanks to you Collin! Thank you!
My husband and I watched this show last night and we also were disgusted that the first woman stockpiled so much stuff that she didn’t need or use when that could have easily gone to a food pantry or food distribution center. My husband works for the government and his department helps coordinate programs and services for low income families. His food distribution he organizes always needs food and the people who receive this free food are so genuine. They are honestly trying to make a living, sometimes working multiple jobs to support their families, but they still don’t have money for food. Nathan has the right idea – he donates his excess food/items that they won’t use before they expire to his church! What a great idea! Maybe if we all couponed with this in mind we could actually make a difference with our couponing skills. More power to everyone who wants to stockpile for a year or so, but if you have excess, why not donate it?
My 2 cents: I watched part of it w/ my wife last night. I am all for saving, but the show felt like an organized version of the show “Hoarders”.
Comment on the ramble: I agree, Collin. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Check out their video’s on YouTube under frugaltv. Amanda has a lock on her stockpile room!!!
I really enjoyed the show and my husband did too- He has always appreciated my time and effort I put into saving money at the store but this show actually got him excited about the great savings that are available. We live in an area that the cost of living is high and there is no such thing as doubling coupons, so even if I wanted to stockpile freebies I really couldn’t but I can still help save a lot of money, and that is just fun and good sense! I have also found that the “coupon people” are extremely generous people, sharing their coupons, knowledge and products with others, so I will reserve judgement and just appreciate all the generousity that I see as a result of using coupons.
I also watched the show and was saddened by a lot of it. Amanda, the first one, admitted she has a problem but doesn’t seem interested in doing anything about it. Couponing has taken over her life. Sad.
Krazy Coupon Lady- she is extreme but not as bad as Amanda, in my opinion. She has her stockpile nicely organized so its not taking over anything and they rotate stock, etc. I do think its crazy that it take so much of her time though. (She supposedly did donate stuff but the show wouldn’t show that to viewers).
The Diva- the most realistic of them all but I didn’t like that she took coupons without asking. Taking from the recycle bins is fine but grabbing the paper off people’s steps “oh they didn’t get them today,” maybe they aren’t home yet! That’s stealing and I didn’t like that. All in all she was the most down to earth.
Nathan- sure he donated the cereal, but nothing else? One toothbrush is supposed to last the average user 3 months. That’s only 4 per year, per person. The 300 toothbrushes he bought is enough to last him and his wife 37.5 years. YEARS! That’s too much. And the deodorant- “well I’ll never smell.” Really?
My husband and I talked in late November and decided to stock up on a years supply of toiletries for our small family of 3. This is only because we know my husband is losing his job in March (lay offs). We can survive off of just my income but having the daily necessitites already will reduce some stress. We have everything in the cupboards of one bathroom, no taking over of closets or garages or full rooms. With the stock we are mostly referring to my husband and myself’s needs for a year. I have toothbrushes and soap and stuff for my son already so the following list is just for the adults. We have 26 bottles of shampoo, 6 of conditioner, 13 tubes of toothpaste, 9 toothbrushes, 15 deodorant for my husband, 4 for me (still need to find good deals for myself). I have enough feminine products to last about 5-7 months depending on that particular month (sorry!) and contact solution to last about 4 months (we both wear contacts). I bought all of this stuff from August until now because we knew there were talks of lay offs. Now that we know its for sure we are fully prepping.
I still could never do a year’s supply of toilet paper or some other items, but knowing that we have what we have makes us feel more at ease. I plan on doing one more toiletries shopping trip this weekend and then am done until we actually need something. From now until March I plan on stocking up on canned goods and boxes of stuff with a longer expiration date.
We just got a chest freezer from my parents for Christmas so I will spend weekends making double or triple batches of food to freeze for dinners as well as muffins and such for breakfasts.
I coupon to help out my family. It started when I was unemployed and pregnant and living off of just my husband’s minimum wage income. Couponing and me finding a job has helped us immensely with finances. I am forever thankful for Collin and what she does of all of us each and every day. I have donated to a women’s shelter multiple times and now donate to an alternatives to violence home through my work (social services)- these women and children often show up at the home with nothing but the clothes on their backs so I like knowing that I’m helping, even if just helping to make them feel better about themselves in a hygenic way.
Crazy show, but I love coupons. 🙂
I would try to do cereal too and if you can find any rock-bottom prices on meat, chicken, turkey, etc. get it and freeze it. I’m so sorry he’s losing his job. I hope he can get a new one soon.
No big deal….to each his/her own. I don’t care if someone has 3 billion toothbrushes in their stockpile. Everyone has the right to do what they want to do. I try to think of it like Black Friday. If I didn’t get there early enough, I don’t get the deal, and there’s always a limited supply of everything. There are things you can do to control it if you happen to be nice enough to allow someone else to get a good deal, but that’s up to each individual. There shouldn’t be rules, or limits or judgement of anyone. All of the reality shows aim for two things: shock factor, and ratings. Most reality shows depict all kinds of people as “crazy”. You’re crazy might be my norm, and as long as its not hurting anyone there’s nothing wrong with it. If its doing actual damage, then yeah, fix it. I have probably a years supply of cleaning products, and I’m very proud that I paid nothing for them. That means I can use my money for something else. If it weren’t for couponing we wouldn’t be able to afford clothing. The hoarding thing I don’t get. Hoarders don’t really use their stuff they just keep it. They have no idea what they have in their house. Stockpilers actively use products from their stockpile, and throw away the trash. So its not really hoarding, they are using and disposing. Again, to each their own, time wasted worry about what others are doing is time wasted of your life. You can’t get that back.
Thanks so much for this post. I didn’t watch the show, but I have actually stayed away from “full-time” couponing in part because of the pressure I have felt to get the “Big Deals”. I think I will give it a try again! Thanks!
Love that you asked us to miss a few deals….No biggie right?!?!? I used to get so bummed if I didn’t get the free shampoo or lotion or whatever. Well, guess what, I didn’t even do any of the black Friday ads from the drug stores this year. Now that’s CRAZY! Not really though, my family is way more important than free toiletries. My brother and his family were visiting and my brother just left 2 days ago for Iraq. I knew it would be the last time I saw my brother for a while. I wasn’t even going to take the hour to organize my lists and shop…..couponing will not consume my life, but it will let my family enjoy some of the “finer” things that we may not have been able to aford if not for the money saved from couponing.
Thank you Collin for all you do!!!! You rock 🙂
Thanks so much for posting your review on this show. I didn’t get to watch it and was very curious about what would be on. I heard from another blogger that the couponers where NOT allowed to tell about any type of donations they make to churches or food banks. I think if they had mentioned donations then the show would not have been as extreme. They wanted people to think that these people kept everything for themselves. Maybe they did and maybe they didn’t. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the episodes play out.
I love this site. It allowed me to “stock pile” enough product to give away at Christmas to friend and family members. Just over 100 dollars worth of product. Each of these gift bags cost me about 10 dollars to buy. It took some of the weight that Christmas can bring with the need in most of us to please. I received the most thank you for theses gift bags because everytime they put in their hand and pulled out something new it was just like yes you guessed Christmas.
The other benefit is; I cleaned out my ‘stock pile’ so I could start again Yea!
I agree with you Collin.
Well said. I love couponing to help others.
WOW! That show opened my eyes to couponing!! Not that I would want to be as obsessed and dedicated as these individuals. However, it did make me search for coupon sites…. and I ended up here. I am hoping to get pretty good at it without spending too much time and energy searching for the best deals. Your site is my favorite so far! aaaand I am also a Marine wife!
i miss deals all the time. just bc its cheap doesnt mean you can afford it 1 and 2 seriously you will go crazy trying to grab everything. my hubby always says do we really need this and sometimes he is right.lol the show will be interesting but i would dislike being compaired to someone who bought 5000 boxes of cereal. WHY????
My relatives are visiting from UK and they were v. impressed, if not a little shocked by my ‘stockpile’. After seeing this program my family don’t think I am nuts and believe I have things in perspective. I do teach anyone who I find will listen to me how to use coupons, I always try to teach them to donate as much as they can. I felt quite sorry for the people on this program as all of us couponers know you do get a rush when you have saved ‘70%+’ but they obviously are going to the extreme. Collin, I do teach my ladies that if they miss a deal not to get stressed out, it will come around again and maybe even better the next time 🙂 Praise be for all that you do. We love you Collin x
LOL my mom was shocked when she saw my 30 boxes of cereal, but I was like—Do the math. 30 boxes of cereal with 6 kids in the house—seriously, the 13-year-old boy can polish off most of a box in one sitting—how long will it last? I’d rather pay $1 or less for those boxes—imagine what my grocery bill would be if I paid full price for everything?
I love your blog. Thank you for so many good deals.
I haven’t read the other comments, so hopefully I’m not repeating, but I think with the economy the deals for the good stuff are harder to come by. I’m not really stressed about it, but I just see the deals slipping. For instance, I used to shop at Rite Aid and get great deals with the SCR and coupons, but now they are going the way of Walgreens (a store I despise) and making it harder to get good deals. We might still get things cheaper, but the free stuff is getting less and less. That’s just my observation.
They were asked to do the big, big shop — for the wow factor. I read on one site (Krazy C) that she ordered coupons just for the big buy. It’s like getting ready for the Olympics — show the public what you have.
It was editing, and editing and editing — and TLC wanted to slant it their way. In fact one of them (the one with the young kid) wasn’t allowed to talk about donating. And, when her husband commented on how many hrs she spends — he was including the times she devotes to her business (has a site, wrote a book etc).
I loved what you said about it not being a big deal. I definitely let my couponing get the best of me sometimes… maybe I’ll practice just letting it go!
Yahoo
I totally get the NO BIG DEAL! I have been doing this already and I am a relatively new couponer. When I first started, I just went crazy and ended up with a cabinet full of things we will use! It has helped so much because my husband and I am now unemployed and I haven’t had to buy toothpaste for several months now. I still have 6 toothpaste tubes in my cabinet and passed up free toothpaste last week just because I have enough for a while! I have about 5 boxes of cereal and am waiting till we get down to a couple of cereal boxes before I go after more! 🙂 I am glad to know that others skip deals when they don’t need it!
I think the show is bull!!! and not at all true!!! the one lady was shopping at shop rite and they along with many other stores have to you can only use 4 of the same coupon no matter how many of the items you buy and it says it on many coupons. and the tax and bottle dept comes out to more then they paid come on I coupon all the time and I do get really good deals but if you are a true couponer you know that this show is BULL!! And Ppl like the ones on the show are going to mess couponing up for the some of use that do it right and fair. and I’m not being a nasty nacy but come on. and if Amanda is getting deals like that she should help ppl in need befor she has to put the stuff in the trash. and we all know she will have to. I have a family of 6 and we don’t use more then 12 jars of sause a month. and thats with having friends over for baked ziti .
Collin,
Thank you for this post. My hubby and I don’t own a TV (which is really nice) and didn’t know about the show. From what I have read in the above comments it does sound like there are some people that really need to take a step back and ask themselves ‘why’ they are stockpiling so much! We started couponing this spring because we weren’t even making it to the next paycheck and our savings was flying out the window. Since then we have snagged some awesome deals, but our stock is very limited. We give a lot of what we get to others. I think everyone got a toothbrush and toothpaste in their stocking, our church sends love boxes from home to our college students (so toiletries, cereal, snacks went in those) We stock up when we can. During December we actually stopped couponing because my hubby works 40+ hours during the day and I worked 40+ hours night shift, so that left time for either clipping and searching, or spending that time with the family. Family is most important and those deals, while they look really great right now, will probably come back around in a few weeks.
Thank you for all you do for us! Now that Christmas is gone we will pick back up our scissors. Have a great new Year!!
I think the help I get with shopping from reading these blogs has meant the difference between having the supplies I need and going without. It’s sad to know some people have taken this coupon shopping thing to an extreme waste of time and energy. Thanks Collin for all your help.
Well said Mary!
well…. i coupon shop first for the things we need. then it is my hobby.. what is the best deal. I am a old grandma and it fills my time up. I recently had to buy coupons for the first time. as the local paper has discounted P&G coupon booklets and if you have ever used the cheap stuff you know you are better off to look for deals and get the best deal on the named brand item. Sorry but this is fun and have enriched my life so much, I now find total strangers and tell them here use this coupon and get it for …… most people thank me and use the coupons I give them and so it is now another way to talk to people. so I am still searching for the next best deal. I can see for some of you who have a family and kids to take care it could be a chore but it just gives me pure joy.
Well, the show was interesting. I think it provided a good look at the potential of couponing, but it certainly was the extreme version of it. It was interesting to see how other people use their coupons, and their bounty’s from their shopping. Obviously, if everyone that used coupons could give to their local charities, it would make a major impact on our communities as a whole. What scared me about the show was the amount of things people had that they could never use in a lifetime!!! People should have a stockpile of normally used items on hand, in case of a natural disaster, weather issues, job loss, illness, etc. It was interesting, and certainly has created a buzz about couponing. In the end though people need to do what fits their lifestyle and fits within their own lives. Moderation is the key !!!
“There is more joy in giving than in receiving”. When I can score a bunch of lipsticks i donate them women that can’t afford them. Having a garage full of groceries and goods is a false stability or security. What about a flood or a fire?! Not worht it. Couponing is great with a balance…like everything else.
This show really bothered me, I could understand buying in bulk if there were alot of family members or it was going to be donated, as Nathan was doing. But when there are only 2 people in the home and you are buying this much is going way over board and can be wasteful,if a food item isn’t used by the experation date then you have to throw it away, then it is a waste, reguardless if it was free or not. This is considered hoarding in a different manner as well as it looks greedy. For those households that only have a couple of people and go to extreme buying as was shown on TLC is really uncalled for, what do you think people that know you really think? ok, it’s great that you saved money but there so many people in this world that don’t get to eat every day and that are going hungry or can’t take a bath, these extreme couponers/buyers have all this food and supplies that they can just stand there and stare at and think they have done such a good job, but mostlikely will be throwing some of it away..I’m sorry but this is so wasteful and really looks greedy. If Extreme Couponing is being used as a hobby or a thrill, maybe those people that really don’t need all of these things need to either find another hobby and or get help.
I loved the nurse! She was not selfish like the others, and I loved how she told everyone about couponing,so cute 😀
I agree completely. It is called extreme for a reason. However, i am confused as to how these couponers don’t know their cashiers or the cashiers dont know these so called regulars. collin i appreciate everything that you have done to help me save a buck and i am very thankful that there are people out there like us who do donate those extra items. even for our furry friends donations. personally i think after watching just one episode i dont think that i will be an avid watcher. again thanks for all that you do