Extreme Couponing premiered on TLC tonight. After watching the first two episodes I have to ask, why? I’m all for saving money, but these people are pushing store policies, maneuvering around them, and stockpiling food in every nook and cranny in the house. Yes, a few customers get extreme savings, but the result of them going around policies means stricter store rules and the rest of us suffer. Also, the stores in my area don’t double let alone triple coupons, so most of us will never be able to match the savings.
One couple came home with $562.81 in groceries for $25.91, but they spent 5 hours in the store. That doesn’t count the hours finding the deals and matching coupons or the fact that they shop in the wee hours of the morning in order to scoop up everything on the shelf. And it doesn’t count the humiliation of calling in several friends to get around the store’s policy of one $10 savings per person. Another extreme couponer split up her basket into 18 separate transactions that took over an hour to process.
I think it’s like anything else, some people go to extremes. These family’s are organized hoarders with food and toiletries taking over their homes. There has to be a balance. I’d be more impressed if they were able to do this, within the rules, and without inconveniencing others.
What do you think about extreme couponers? Want to become one? Visit the links below to find others who have dedicated themselves to getting it for free.
UPDATE!
Apparently there’s a lot more fraud than I realized going on on the TLC Extreme Couponing show and one of the women featured has been caught making fraudulent purchases before.
Earlier this week, I posted an article about Jaime Kirlew, one of the shoppers featured in TLC’s new season of “Extreme Couponing.” Jaime made a name for herself last year when she posted YouTube videos showing her shopping at Target and fraudulently using coupons for one product on another (coupons for Crest Whitestrips on Tide, coupons for Olay Body Wash on Secret deodorant, and so on.) When commercials for the new show began airing, many members of well-read messageboards among the couponing community recognized Jaime from her YouTube videos and raised concerns about whether she would use coupons in a fraudulent manner on TLC’s Extreme Couponing.
– View the complete text and photos at Jill Cataldo’s site – http://jillcataldo.com/node/16258
I must say that I was amazed at the amount of money these people saved. I have since started my own coupon binder, and spend time gathering info abt sales and matching my coupons to the sales. In the past 3 wks I have spent less and less time sorting these things out, but I have been taking every advantage of getting items “that I need/use often” for free or close to it. While I do think that it is very extreme the way some of the ppl on show shop…(40 yrs worth of products), I think it is great to find an awesome sale and stock up on it for 6mo-1yr. Heck,I realized just how much money I was throwing away bc I never took the time to use coupons and shop sales.
@ Lisa, my family and I struggle as well, but I have cut cost a great deal already by couponing. I see nothing wrong with couponing within reason, and some ppl actually donate items from their stockpiles to charity.
I am all for couponing but I was really bothered by the whole mustard thing. Who needs to stockpile that much mustard? Her husband doesn’t even like mustard! The whole time I was just thinking how helpful some of that stockpile would be for shelters and people in need. Both food and toiletries. I really can’t see going to such an extreme every month.
I don’t think they were cheating in any way. I have split orders before for other reasons. Orders for different people for instance. And, I know if a store doesn’t take my 3 coupons for my 3 products, I am calling management.On the other hand, I don’t know why they need 3 years worth of toothpaste, but that’s their business. I would love to save like they do. I would donate to the food bank and shelters. We all have our thing and mine is the computer right now.
I watched the show and while I think it is amazing what they were able to do and how much money the saved by using coupons, I do not agree with greedy people. Clearing the shelves of 62 bottles of mustard is just ridiculous! I agree that maybe this is a form of hoarding. It is definitely an addiction. These people eat, breath, sleep couponing. They admit to ditching their friends and families to coupon shop. Maybe someone should start a Couponers Anonymous group!
I found the first episode pretty interesting and have yet to see the second. I think it’s impressive the ways that people are able to save so much on groceries but it’s just not for me. Time is money and I don’t enjoy spending 5 hours in the grocery store or countless hours online trying to locate and buy coupons to get stuff for “free”. I start feeling guilty when I use a manufacturer AND store coupon at Target.
I’m just not a fan of anything in an extreme form, and if they’re hoarding and breaking rules, that’s just not ok with me. I’m not impressed with the show if that’s the kind of thing they’re going to show.
@blueviolet @ A Nut in a Nutshell,
I feel sorry for people who are obsessed with anything. Life is too short for it to be all about one thing. 🙂
Connie
It’s kind of a moot point for me, since where I live I could never coupon like that anyway.
As it is some of what they do is just smart. If there is a 24 hour store and they have 25 coupons for something that makes it nearly free or free, and they want to go a 2 am to be sure to get the stock on hand, how is that unethical? That’s just smart really. And what they do with it isn’t any of my business.
I’d never go to that extreme but I don’t begrudge those who think it’s worth the time or effort to save the money.
@Tammy,
But that’s the rub. Coupons generally say one per person. They get around that by splitting up their order into 18 purchases in order to use the 18 coupons. That’s the issue I have. If they did it within the rules I’d be thrilled for them. Instead they’re calling in friends to come stand in line with them and doing all kinds of other crazy things that in my thoughts is stealing from the store and the manufacturers.
To me it’s unethical to do these things in the name of getting stuff free.
I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.
Connie
@Connie, Actually coupons generally say one PER PURCHASE – meaning that you can get one product for each coupon you have. So if I have two coupons for 50¢ off one detergent, I can buy two detergents and use two coupons.
If it is 50¢ of two detergents, I’d have to buy 4 to use both coupons.
The one per purchase means I can’t use one coupon and expect to use it on two items in my order if I have the same item.
Some stores limit like coupons in a single order, but I’d stand my ground on any store that wouldn’t let me use 3 like coupons if I’m buying 3 of the product.
@Tammy,
My issue is not with them couponing within the rules stated on the coupon or within the store. Most of their shenanigans centered around store rules. Calling people to come stand in line with you so you can get around the store’s rules is pathetic. So is breaking up a sale into 18 so you can get around another rule.
Again, we will have to agree to disagree on this issue.
Connie
Sounds like it’s one more reality show that I’m not gonna watch!
Thanks for the great post!
@RJ,
I think that I’ll be skipping this one from now on as well.
Thanks for commenting!
Connie
I used to do some couponing but not to the degree these people do . Unfortunately once I moved down here they stopped having the nearest big paper with coupons available stopped being available around here.
I’d get about 20 to 40 dollars off each trip depending on sales.
@Tamara Burks,
I’m all for couponing. Just not cheating and these ladies are cheaters. Stores tighten their rules and we all suffer.
Connie
I didn’t watch, but have heard about all kinds of things that people do for these amazing coupon deals. I ABSOLUTELY agree with you!! 100%!!!! It is dishonest and hurts the general public. It drives up prices and makes store policies very difficult to deal with. We struggle monthly and could definitely use lower prices. It is unreal the amount of time people put into these coupon crazes. It is sort of sick. Glad to know I am not the only one who feels this way!