Last night TLC aired a new show, Extreme Couponing. I have a bad feeling that many people will be turned off by this show. Clearing store shelves, obsessive couponing, and other habits that I can’t imagine aren’t the kind of thing that will entice people to test the couponing waters. And we – as couponers – may have just had our reputations tarnished a bit. Check out the online description of the show from the TLC website:
Extreme Couponing profiles four shopaholics who use coupons to save thousands of dollars and amass huge stockpiles of goods.These shoppers go to the extremes, dumpster diving for coupons and spending hours a day searching the internet for great deals.
Couponing is like anything else people do. It can be done well or it can be done to an ugly extreme. My hope is that you’ll continue to coupon well…. ethically, within your means (both money-wise and time-wise), and using common sense. Hopefully those of us who are ethical, everyday couponers can counter some of the scenes from Extreme Couponing.
So out of curiosity… Did you watch Extreme Coupoining? I’m curious to know your reactions if you did – or if you’ve just been listening to the conversation about the show.
Kelly says
I watched, and as I mention in my own blog, I was intrigued and disgusted all at the same time. I’m all for finding the deals that save you the most money, and while I was very impressed with the amount of money these folks are saving, I can’t believe the sheer amount of product in their homes. A stockpile is one thing, but the first woman and only man could run their own store out of their homes. And the first woman obviously has a hoarding problem and her husband is miserable.
I will admit, it made me want to get more organized with my shopping and couponing!
Jennifer says
Their stockpiles make mine look teeny-tiny! I just like to have enough on hand for our family to use for a couple of months. If we aren’t going to use it up in that amount of time, I usually donate it to our local food pantry. They love getting both food and personal care items. I do agree that this will bring couponing to the front of people’s minds and make us all want to kick our couponing up a notch.
Lara says
I did watch it, and actually felt a bit moved to try and do couponing (to a much lesser extent, of course.)
I felt like some of the people they profiled were normal about it (like the retired nurse and the young mom) and others were a little cuckoo (like the couple that bought a cartload of candy bars just because they were free.) I also couldn’t help but think that if their stockpiles were less organized they would be on hoarders!!
Jennifer says
I’m hoping that more people walk away with the feeling that they want to try couponing, Lara. Couponing can be a HUGE help to our families! I’m also hoping that they profile more “normal” couponers in the future.
Jennifer says
I watched the show. I really didn’t like seeing how these people kept clearing the shelves and hoarding all this stuff. It was ridiculous and I think will give the rest of us couponers a bad name. There were a few good moments in the show and I did like the older lady they called the Coupon Diva.
Jennifer says
Clearing shelves is definitely one of my pet peeves. Courteous couponing makes it much more fun for everyone!
Tricia says
I did watch the show last night and had mixed emotions regarding it. They definitely focused on the extreme, I guess that makes for better tv.
I do believe in using coupons, I feel it is worth my time to plan, clip and then shop. I too get a little excited when I get a good deal and see my total go down.
However, I do not buy things just because they are free. I buy what my family will use, within a reasonable time period. I’m not a shopaholic that ‘needs’ to feel the rush of a great deal.
The amount of product purchased last night was extreme. Perhaps that is what I found disturbing.
I was somewhat inspired to better organize my coupons and to stay focused on items we need.
Jennifer says
Sounds like you’ve got the right idea, Tricia!! I do pick up some freebies if I find them and think the food pantry can use them. But I only buy 2 newspapers, so it’s usually only 2 freebies… not a whole shelf full! 🙂 I’m glad you were inspired to organize and clip. I think the new year is a great time to get reorganized and inspired!
Patty Coleman says
I really felt sad for the lady with the extreme obsession, and her husband. She has taken over most of their home and there is no way they could ever use all of those products in a lifetime. The biggest concern I had for Nathan’s shopping spree was the manufacturers. Has anyone stopped to think that this show, having seen one person buy cases of cereal for free, might prompt the manufacturers to stop issuing as many coupons. I think storing up more than you can ever use is not a good thing for anyone to do…it becomes more of a psychological impairment than a savings for the family. I just hope this show does not go on for other episodes. It really gives a bad view of really great couponers who save money for their family.
Jennifer says
Good points for sure, Patty. I can’t imagine trying to store all of that in our house… let alone insuring it!
Rhonda says
Oh I watched it and I was not impressed with it. I already get the feeling from some of the cashiers that have waited on me that they dislike my couponing and I do nothing at all like the majority of the ladies on the show did (minus the Coupon Diva, she was great!). My only hope is that those cashiers didn’t watch it because now they’ll dislike us even more!
Jennifer says
We’ll have to just keep proving ourselves to our cashiers, won’t we? 🙂
gina says
One of the reasons I like your site is because you focus on saving AND giving. It wasn’t until the very end that we saw Nathan donating his cereal. I kept thinking…why in the world do they need it all for themselves? I guess the show is called, EXTREME Couponing afterall and so they are showing the extremes. I completely understand the rush though that comes from walking away saving a ton! I don’t understand how they use a bunch of the same coupons though…none of my stores allow me to use more than 2 or 3 like coupons.
Jennifer says
I was very glad to hear that the cereal was donated. That’s what I love most about couponing…. the way it maximizes our ability to give without breaking the family budget.