I really thought TLC’s Extreme Couponing show would be over after all the fraud and abuse that has been exposed on the show. Really, nothing on the show shocks me anymore. There is more talk of participants using counterfeit coupons on the show.
Saving 50% on your grocery bill doesn’t make exciting television, I suppose. Then again, maybe the producers of the show should be at some of my coupon workshops to hear the excitement that attendees get at the prospect of saving 50% on their grocery bill without dedicating their life to couponing.
Here’s why I don’t “Extreme Coupon,” I coupon realistically:
- Time. My time is valuable. To create these shopping trips portrayed on the show takes hours upon hours. I have a life. I have a job. I have a blog. I have my family. I can 50% or more on my grocery bill by only spending a couple extra hours a week. It actually all works itself out in the end because when you stockpile reasonably, you will be making less trips to the store when you shop your stockpile. Less trips to the store means less unnecessary purchases being added to my cart as well as the time it takes to make those additional shopping trips.
- Money. To get all the coupons in the show, you probably have to purchase coupons, which costs money. There is also the matter of catalina coupons. How did the person get those? Did they have to spend out of pocket money to get a catalina coupon to use on their next purchase? Smart couponers will “roll” catalinas, Extra Bucks, Register Rewards from week to week. Most realistic couponers do not have thousands of dollars of these in their stockpile at one time. These costs need to be factored into the total cost.
- Space. We don’t have the space for some of these massive stockpiles. As it is now with a reasonable stockpile, I feel a little overcrowded. We don’t have room for a whole room of stockpile items so at a certain point you have to stop stockpiling items.
- Use. Will I ever use the product? Can I donate this product? Does anyone want this product? These are some things you have to consider when stockpiling. Yes, maybe I can get a whole truck load of Gas-X but will I ever use that? There are some items that are just a little too personal to start handing out to friends and family without them taking offense! ;)
- Ethics. There are so many deals out there to get that I don’t need to resort to using coupons unethically or illegally. I’m saving 50% or more on every grocery shopping trip and more at the drug stores so why would I even ever consider using coupons in a unethical way? The couponers are the show are encouraged to make their shopping trip spectacular so they often have to resort to purchasing coupons on Ebay without doing research on the coupons they are purchasing.
Those are the reasons why I don’t “Extreme Coupon.” However, the fact is most stores aren’t even going to allow you to coupon the way they are allowing participants on the show. Let’s take Coupon Doubling as an example. Most of the stores in Central Indiana will double up to 2 like coupons. On the show, the stores are relaxing their coupon policies and allowing unlimited doubles. If normal folk try to do this in their store, they aren’t going to get that extra doubling. This makes it a bit harder get that huge score.
What do you think? Are you still watching this show?
Most people can save HUGE on their grocery bill but a realistic goal is going to be 50% saving. You can see my methods and learn how to get started in the 15 Days of Couponing. You can also get started by printing coupons or searching the Coupon Databasefor more coupons.
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Sometimes I watch the show if there is nothing else on and for pure amusement. I know that extreme couponing is not realistic, plus none of the stores in my area double or triple coupons. I coupon pretty much the sameway, If I need it, I get it, if not, I might know someone that does and if not, I don’t get it., I do have a blog, family and love to do other things besides spending most of my time in the store.
If they are using all that hot sauce I think we know what they are doing with all that free toilet paper.
I’d love to know what these people do with 700 bottles of hot sauce. And how do they get all that “free” toilet paper and paper towels? And when they check out after “spending 10 hours” in the store, doesn’t all their frozen and dairy products start to go bad? I think the best tip I learned from this website was to combine a manufacturer’s coupon and a BJ’s coupon. It makes it worth buying in bulk.
I actually still DVR it to get a good laugh. Luckily my Kroger is always very nice about my coupons. One cashier even told me I rocked because I wrote in the value for my free coupon. My girls are too picky so I usually can’t save more than 25-40% depending on what we need but every little bit helps! I cracked up at the lady on the show the other day saying it was like life or death about something not going right…um really??!!
I’m so relieved that I’m not the only one suspicious of these “deals”. I buy what I will actually use, not what I might want to.
You hit the nail on the head! Honestly, I got into couponing because of the show, I watched it a few times and thought, WOW! I can do this !??!?!?! Then after following a few blogs and finding out how couponing REALLY works… that show just makes me more and more mad with every episode. I’ve been couponing for a year now, and cant stand the people on there.
I also HATE when people at the grocery stores say to me (after watching me save WELL over 50% on my bill).. have you ever seen that show on TV, extreme couponing!?!? Now that’s AMAZING savings! SO FRUSTRATING! I have to hold back from snapping and trash talking the show, and say… ya ive seen it… but it’s unrealistic, unethical, and stores have to throw away their policies for the show to let them do this.
Another one that I hate is when people say… “I don’t have the time to do that, it takes a much time as a full time job” … NO it DOESN’T , I probably spend 3 hrs a week putting my shopping trip together, I get all that I need, am able to stock up on necessities and for a family of three that eats VERY healthy i STILL only spend about $50 a week ((and thats including a ton of fresh produce and meat)).
UGHHHH… if you can’t tell… THAT SHOW MAKES ME SO MAD!!!!!!! :)
I agree! The show just isn’t realistic at all. I have a friend who tries all she can do to get it free…her husband growls at her if she has to pay because of that show. It isn’t REAL people! I love my stockpile….it’s realistic for my life but it is also just the items I use on a constant basis!
You forgot to mention expiration dates. When I started couponing/stockpiling (over 11 years ago), I picked up evry single deal, thinking I would be able to try new products that I’d bought cheaply. But I found myself donating over half my “stash” just to keep it from going to waste. Which was, itself, a waste because all that stuff cost me at least “some” money.
I never did watch the EC show. While the “newbies” think you can actually DO those kind of deals, the seasoned couponers know better. And why should we support or watch any show that promotes fraud and public deception. I’m just surprised that the FCC allows the show to air since so many of the deals and coupons used are illegal. Isn’t that tantamount to broadcasting a show that instructs the public how to engage in illegal activity?
Thank you so much for posting this! I live in North Central Indiana and deal with the same doubling rules. I get so tired of cashiers acting like I am stealing my groceries when I hand them coupons. 3 years ago, I never had that problem. It makes it very frustrating to coupon now that this show has been around. It brought all the wrong attention to couponing. I refuse to watch it because of that fact!!
I finally sat down and watched the shows from Monday night. I was more than angry at BOTH episodes… funny… my husband and I discussed this on the way to work this morning. The first episode showed a woman that had FREE everything coupons… how unrealistic is that? Then the fraternity brother that had a $6 Q for generic cereal? The second episode is the one that really got to me. The young man featured shops at the same Remke that I do and I know they are REALLY tight on their coupon policy and do NOT give overages. I had stopped watching the show but wanted to see the local guy…. I won’t be tuning in again. Like you… I am proud when I save 50% or more. I’ve only scored 100% savings a few times and it was a really well planned trip for specifics… not a real shopping trip.