Rumor has it that TLC’s Extreme Couponing has been renewed for a second season.
I really only have one response to that: WHY????!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Personally, I feel like Extreme Couponing has given people a false sense of what couponing is really about. While there have been a few people who have done “realistic couponing”, most of them just do not represent reality.
I guess if the apocalypse comes, I might need 100 bottles of mustard. Who knows. I am not trying to bash anyone, I just don’t want people feeling discouraged when they aren’t saving 95% each week. Saving 95% at the grocery store is almost impossible on a regular basis. Sure it can be done from time to time – but it is ok if you only save 35% too!
I hope you all realize that couponing can save you a ton of money and be rewarding. However, Extreme Couponing just isn’t realistic. If you want to learn to coupon, check out my learn to coupon in 30 Days series – a REALISTIC look at how to coupon and what you can save.
Your Thoughts?
Mookie says
Fortunately, I’m very lucky with my cashiers. It turns out cashiers don’t make 6 figures and they understand more than you know. You can pass along some secret savings to cashiers and they might learn to love you when they get get their toothpaste for free.
I also try to make processing the coupons as easy as possible by figuring out how each store likes to ring up the coupons and items and whether they want to wait until the end or do it with each item.
I had multiple transactions a few weeks ago when Albertsons was spitting out Box Tops for Education catalinas. I warned the cashier I was in it for the box tops and would have 4 transactions to maximize my net. She was very helpful and pleasant. The whole thing maybe took 10 minutes extra to get my debit card and coupons figured in and I walked away with 175 extra box tops for our school.
ELAINE says
I AGREE WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE ARTI LES ABOUT COUPONING. I ONLY WISH THAT THE GROCERY STORES AND MANUFACTURERS WOULD LOWER THEIR PRICES TO EQUAL THE COUPON AMOUNT. IT WOULD MAKE LIFE A LOT SIMPLER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED AND ALSO STOP THE FRAUD THAT IS GOING AROUND ON COPYING COUPONS.
Ty Johnson says
I have to say initially the show did inspire me to get off my lazy butt and trully get into couponing. In the past, I had the income that could afford my grocery bill, and even tho the thought of saving money was there, I’d rather pay more than to put in the effort it takes to coupon. Now that my budget is significantly smaller, couponing has literally changed my life. I regularly save 50% which I am perfectly ok with, and often I can get up to 65-75%. Last week I did my first 100%! It was only for 30 bucks worth of stuff – that we will use quickly – but it was ZERO oop and that was pretty cool. I think the ONLY benefit of that show being on the air is to get the people who TRULY need their budget to go farther inspired. Once they get going for real, everyone realizes that show is just too much. I have a small stockpile of stuff we eat alot of, and for the first time in 2 years I can afford our groceries and necessities.
Cyndi Jorgensen says
I think it has been detrimental. Not everyone thinks it is OK to get something for nothing. I have had several comments from clerks at the stores and have noticed many stores tightening up their coupon policies. I enjoy watching for my own entertainment, but I think as a whole, it has given couponing and couponers a bad name.
Tabatha says
I do watch the show and I actually kind of enjoy it. Are the techniques shown and used realistic 100% of the time? Not really but I find it encouraging and somewhat inspiring. It gets me going every single week to save as much as possible. Especially when I see some of these people who literally live in the boonies and still manage to save massive amounts of money. I can’t say I live in the boonies but I do tend to think we don’t get great coupons and sometimes really crappy sales which makes it really hard to save. The most money I’ve ever saved is around 80% of my bill which I was ecstatic for! I’m always happy for a little bit of savings but who doesn’t get happy for 50% savings? I’m kind of glad the show is coming back for a second season and if people can’t see that what this show is really about and that its not realistic to save that amount of money all the time or ever depending on your area than I say let them get burned out.
Seana MacCallum says
I have to say at first I watched the show! That was before I knew what it was about. Then once I realized that it was people that spend 30-40 hours a week finding the deal of the lifetime and using every inch of their house to store, a ridiculous amount of ketchup and candy bars. Who needs that much stuff. I get having a stockpile of laundry detergent, we go through it fast here. But really get serious!! I just don’t like the show!! Who the heck is going to go through 60 plus things of cream cheese and the lady who bought 67 bottles of mustard, I had to laugh when her husband looked at her and said “I don’t even like mustard”. That was GREAT!! What they need if they are going to keep this show on is everyday people that are out to buy groceries for the week for their families and can teach you how to save a good amount of money on the things you will actually use on a daily basis. I mean do any of these people eat regular food, like fruit?
Kathy says
I had a complete opposite experience at Target the people in the line were intensely watching me and I first I thought it was them being annoyed and then one of them said her bills 100$ let’s see where it goes and the next thing I know they are chanting 90$, 80$ 70$ 60$ 50$ 42$ OMG YEAH! LOL! I was in shock and their energy seemed to even make the cashier lighten up. It was kind of fun.
We have a local guy that just did the extreme couponing show and he was interviewed by the local paper. He said they asked him to hold on to all his stockpile and that he normally donates about 1/2 of it but they asked him to hold it to make it look larger for the show and that they had gotten the supermarket to lift all coupon restrictions while taping the show. He said on average he saves around 50-60% and he thinks that’s good and that he was a little upset that the show made it seem like so much more. Like all things this craze will pass and then things can go back to normal. I hope.
Kathy T. says
This show is the worst show ever. The couponers featured on these show need help!!
Rachel Mains says
I hate to say it, but I got started with couponing because of the show. Now I did realize from the first episode that stuff like that doesn’t happen every single day and I also noticed that most of them always say that its their biggest haul to date. I buy only what we need and am proud to say I have a little stock pile going. I’m glad for the show simply because it gave me a way to help my family as I don’t just shop for my house, but I help out my father and my step father and other members of my family as well now. I couldn’t do anything to help them before and I hated that. They were there for me when I needed it and now I am finally able to help them. Most of my family is on disability or was forced into retirement and the government checks are small. Not enough for people to realistically live on. I do see the problem the show is creating though. My store has now changed its coupon policy and making it harder on couponers and the attitude with which I’m treated is horrendous. All because I want to help my family. My boyfriend told me his bosses wife works as a cashier and that they are trying to get their store to designate one register only for coupons as they feel they don’t get paid enough to deal with us. I told him I found that statement to be offensive. But unfortunately this is the backlash of the show. It needs to end simply because of that.
Samantha says
I really dislike this show. For the first time ever, last week @ CVS I was told I could only use 1 like coupon per transaction. I pressed them but they stood firm and in the end it made no difference to the deal, so we did 2 transactions. I’ve also discovered if I’m not at Rite Aid b4 10am Sunday morning the deals are done for the week.
I also was walking through the aisles of Giant with my coupon binder in my cart and was stopped by some workers doing inventory. The guy yells to the others “look we got an extreme couponer right here!!!!” I was so embarrassed. I made sure to tell him there was no extreme couponing going on at this store. Only 1 like coupon doubled per day….doesn’t really lend itself to saving the big $$$’s.
The one positive is that it did get my husband to help clip coupons 1 week. lol.
Jessica says
When I first started watching Extreme Couponing I was like NO WAY, that is not possible at all!!! To get everything FREE? I didn’t pay much attention to it till we (my 5yo daughter) watched an episode with a lady from Seattle. I had actually met her at our local library a week or so before. So I watched and then realized it is possible. Other people are just selfish about what they buy. I can see somethings to stockpile with but do you really 100 toothbrushes? 100 bottles of mustard, 100 boxes of cereal?
I would like to start a small stockpile on things we use. If I see a good deal then I can get things really cheap or free and donate them. Look at the people in Joplin? They need food and personal items but you don’t see the people on the show donating to them. I might watch the second season but like other people on here are saying they are not showing the REAL couponers who are just trying to save money for their families. We are in a recession people. Saving money is great to do but don’t ruin it for others just trying to live paycheck to paycheck.
I used to only save a couple dollars and didn’t see the point in using coupons. I have learned things from the show, blogs, and a couponing class how to get more out of the coupons. I love saving over $20 in a trip. I look forward to saving more but I am not going to just buy things because I can. We still have a budget to stick to and debt to pay off. That is where my savings go.
christy says
I watched one episode where the shoppers were using overage to pay for items like produce and meat. I don’t know any stores here inMI that do that!!
Kristy says
Personally, I like the show. It’s entertainment to me and that’s all it should be. Not everyone shops like this and so what if these people do? It’s opened a lot of peoples’ eyes about couponing whether it’s good or bad. I just take it for what it is, entertainment.
Cmat says
Just keep painting a more realistic picture of couponing ;)
I’m not surprised the show is airing a second season, mostly because there are so many people who want to figure out how to do that, not really thinking about how unrealistic it is.
Alison says
Agreed! They also don’t show the fact that the people only buy 4 different items in mass quantity which they get for free but don’t buy any of their actual ‘staple’ groceries like milk, eggs, meat, etc. I think most of them are hoarders of have major ocd.
Annette says
Personally, I love the show. But I know its tv. I would love to get everything for free of course, but, I am doing all right saving about 50% using my coupons. And I”m still learning through sites like these. I think the only thing I dislike about the show is the way empty the shelves without a care about any body else. But hey, its tv…….
Amy says
To me, the extreme stockpiles border on hoarding (and there might be some sort of psychological link there, too), and I disagree with buying more than you will ever possibly use and keeping it for yourself. I appreciate the stories of those that buy just what they need, or those that buy enough to donate to those that need it, but I definitely am not a fan of those that clear out the shelves just for the sake of doing it. I just wrote a post on my own blog about this: http://queensassybritches.blogspot.com/2011/06/coupon-phonemenon.html – so of course, I was very interested to see what all of the comments on here had to say. It’s nice to know that I have the similar thoughts of others. :-)
Thank you for the work that you do. You save the rest of us a lot of time and energy by looking up & telling us the deals that you find!
Danielle says
I do watch the show. I am not really sure why, it IS the same thing everytime. My husband and I do couponing together and we only buy 1 Sunday paper. I do get together with my Mother in Law and Sister in law everyother week and we all swap coupons and my brother’s girlfriend gives me her Sunday coupons. We go through the ads and see if there are any good deals and IF WE WILL USE THEM! We have 4 kids and another on the way and we do order coupons online of the deals we want larger quantities of. Like the pasta. We did end up getting like 45 boxes for free. One week 1 store had it 10/$10 and we had .55 cents off 1. and we ordered 20 coupons online. Then we had the coupon swap and then the next week another store that doubles had the same deal and we ordered 20 more. Now we did that about 6 weeks ago and have already gone through 10-15 boxes. So we will definetly use them before their experation date, BUT have couponed like this before the show aired. We are poor! My husband was the only income and was laid off for almost 2 years and JUST got a job 3 weeks ago and its making the same amount as when he was laid off. So we are still on a TIGHT budget. I do get weird looks and comments to begin with because I have 4 kids and my belly is now showing….but when I pull out coupons…I rarely get mean comments. I did get one cashier joking with me when I bought 25 tubes of toothpaste for free, but I gave a tube to every member in mine and my husbands family. So we do have a small stockpile of the things we will definetly use everyday. We just bought the Bar S coupons online and are waiting on the 10/$10 sale on those. We bought them before the sale because of the 4th od July and hot dogs usually go on sale then for BBQs. If it does not…then yes it will expire and we will be out of $4 for the 40 coupons we bought. It is a gamble sometimes. My kids are hotdog freaks, but we will freeze them and use them as needed. Over the summer we go through at least 2 packs a week. Go Gurts are another thing we go like crazy. So since a local store is having them 2/$3 we bought 20 coupons to get each box for $1. I will freeze those too. My kids go through 4 boxes a week with those. They like them more then ice cream! Anyways….I do stock up on things like crazy sometimes….but it will save us money in the long run and we use them. I guess thats my point. Other then the pasta deal and the toothpaste I have never had anything over a 90% savings and we spend maybe 5-10 hours a week on couponing. These blogs make it that much easier!!
Tina says
I completely agree. It seems like it’s harder to teach people how to coupon when all the remember is that some lady bought a million mustards and they would never need that. I also don’t want to see people disappointed when they can’t save 95% all the time. I shop at stores that do not allow doubling and yet I can regularly save bout 50-60%. The show should be showing people how to save money by teaching them the proper way to coupon instead.
Joanna says
My question is:
If store policies only allow you to double/triple up to 3 like coupons, how in the world are they allowed to purchase so many of the same item in a single transaction using like coupons? So let’s say they have a coupon for 50 cents off a stick of deoderant that is on sale for $1.00 and they have 15 of those coupons…according to the the store policy wouldn’t they have to have 5 transactions to get all 15 deoderants? Well in the show they’re only making 1-2 transactions. This is misleading to the public. The show isn’t very realistic at all. And really, how much more can we learn? The show isn’t “Teaching” anymore. It’s just following a person as they shop. It’s really just a competition to see who can get the most for the least amount of money.
Tiffany says
Thank you for posting! I do not watch the show at all! First off, I do not have 80 hours a week to spend on this let alone 20 hours a week. I would hate myself if I put that much time into it!! I get great deals at my local rite aid and occasional ones at Giant and Walmart. Every cent helps, but please I have one computer and a couple hours a week to do this. Oh and um, since I am broke we live in a very small apartment so would not have room to have a 100 of everything, LOL.
jill says
I can’t stand the show, for the various reason already mentioned. But the thing I find really unbelievable is that there are really enough people out there in the general public who want to watch it??!!! I coupon, and am interested in coupons, but I even find the show incredibly BORING!
One thing that does give me hope is that perhaps before they can ruin it for us all, most will quit and it just will be a “phase” and give up because it actually takes work and organization. And thats just to save in the 60% range assuming you buy actual well rounded food your family eats. To pull off those TLC “hauls” it has to be close to a full time job the weeks before the transaction.
Julie says
Oh Shannon, you know you need 150 bottles of BBQ sauce….
Traci says
The show is not realistic and unfortunately, it paints us all with a very broad brush. I hate it. Because of that silly show, I am, oftentimes, forced to defend myself to a cashier or to a manager when I buy 2 of something. I stand my ground but I walk away embarassed.
JoAnn says
I’m new to couponing. After watching that show a couple times, I came to this conclusion: Extreme Couponing = Hoarding & Greed! Anyone who devotes 60 hours a week & obsesses nonstop about coupons while digging through dumpsters to get free Jello is way over the top! I was shocked to see the ridiculous items overflowing on their stockpile shelves. Every item had an expiration date – I imagine most of them were already bad. Just think how many people could’ve benefited from sharing. The retailers are getting tips on how to stop shelf clearing from that show too. I imagine they’ll have coupon policy changes in every state very soon. I agree with all the ladies who’ve commented that the show gives couponing a bad name! ~ I’m learning so much more from your website & others like you who don’t take this to the extreme! As with everything in life…..moderation is key. Thank You!
Kim says
I agree…I refuse to support this show in any way. I believe it has created an even more hostile environment for those of us that coupon responsibly.
Diana says
I feel like that show is leading to MORE obesity in America. It’s crazy to watch people not even step foot in the produce department but get excited about 50 bags of candy for .24. Drives me crazy!
Also, my ShopRite has changed some of their coupon policies, or is at least making sure the cashiers follow them – I’m sure it’s because of that show!
Adele says
I couldn’t agree more and you couldn’t have said it better as to the why. I watched that show for 5 minutes once and had to turn it off I was so disgusted by what they were showing. I have been couponing for 25 years and that show just made me sick. Yes, I have a realistic stockpile of things that are family uses and what we don’t need gets donated to local food banks and womens/mens shelters on a regular basis. TLC get a reality check please, they are ruining it for everybody who is trying to save a little money and feed their families.
Kim says
I have to admit that I watch the show. I have picked up pointers on couponing; however, I will never have a stockpile like them. I also have a family of 7 to feed. I enjoy saving money. My area does not double coupons like the stores on the show. My only store is Apple Market which only doubles up to $ .49. Apple Market is never on any blog that I have found. I enjoy saving money, but am only starting out. I want to learn more about couponing.
Toni says
To be frank, I’m kind of okay with “bashing” when it comes to buying a g’zillion mustards, working the “system” with bar code fraud, stockpiling endless packs of diapers when you don’t even have any children, and claiming you’ll “donate if the items are near expiration” (imo, an excuse for hoarding because a) you cleared shelves knowing full well you could NEVER use all the product you took and b) if one had a true donating spirit, he/she would have couponed with that IMMEDIATE goal in mind, not “I’ll donate if it’s going to expire.”)
I’m new to couponing and really do desire to do it ethically. That show exploits the exploiters for the most part (though I did see a few more realistic and responsible examples, like Treasure). It bothers me that stores might adjust their policies in an inhibiting manner because of the examples portrayed on that show. I read a newbie post the other day where the person was very upset because she couldn’t “get anything free.” So what she took away from the show is that we should expect handouts. How sad. What I took away is that it’s typical tv sensationalism and exploitation for ratings, iand that the examples are unrealistic for the most part. But I also took away the curiosity that just maybe, I could save some money on my family’s weekly grocery and personcal care tab. For that, I’m thankful because it has become a reality.
Annette says
Hi Karen, I am another one that has had problems at Krogers. I went shopping and when I was checking out, there was a problem with the Hot Sauce. So she called the MAnager, he went off on me, embarrassed me in front of everyone, I feel like he took out his frustrations out on me for the so called shelf clearer couponers. I HATE THAT SHOW WITH A PURPLE PASSION. I wish they would get rid of it. And it just go back to normal for us REAL COUPONERS. I was just totally crushed since that has happened, and I haven’t been back couponing for the good deals. I’d like to shake TLC’s sinceless for doing that. Yes, I am upset, yes I am hurt for what happened to me.
May Dry says
There was an episode a while back that afterwards, the store admitted to “bending” their coupon policy for the show….and wasn’t it kind of funny how Kroger “revised” their policy to where they don’t allow for coupons to exceed 75% of the sale price anymore, as well as a few other limitations, RIGHT before the show aired where BOTH of the ladies were “extreme couponing” at Kroger? LOL!
Linda C. says
It’s boring. It’s the same formula over and over. Show the couponer’s huge stockpile. Follow them to the store. Watch them clear shelves throughout the aisles. Get to the checkout counter…and….CRISIS! Coupons won’t scan, register locks up, store changed policy…or something that gives the show a moment of drama. It was fun to watch for the first time or two, then the Coupon Fraud Woman was on with her mustard, then I realized a lot of those couponers might be decoding UPC’s when I saw what products they were buying, and we all know what coupons are out there. I don’t care to watch anymore.
Karen Mullin says
I can’t find any store in my area that would allow me to use that many coupons during one trip. I feel as though these stores that the extreme couponers go to are contacted by the show and asked if they could film a customer and allow that customer to redeem as many coupons as they want, just for the purpose of the show. I do like watching the show, but everything they buy is only with coupons and come on how many frozen dinners can u eat. I do use alot of coupons on my grocery trips, but there r alot of items that I need too in which I don’t have a coupon. It’s a great way to get people interested, but the reality is it’s not going to happen on every grocery trip.
Shay says
I understand how viewers can get so caught up in the thought of being able to have 2 year supply of Hand Towels or 100 bags of Potato Chips. But HONESTLY no one needs a Stock Pile like this unless you had 20 kids. I have to say that I have always been a couponer my Grandmother taught me to always shop for a bargin. But it seems like this show has made people have a negative opinion on those using coupons. I have walked away with small amount of FREE items. Yet I just like to see some savings on my receipt at the end at any transaction.
Zina says
I like when they show people that do it for a good cause & donate the items they dont need. I think there’s too many people on the show that buy way too much of something they dont need & dont donate it. I hate when i’m checking out & someone see’s my coupons & says something about the show…most of the time they dont understand that most people do it on a normal basis. I was standing in line the other day & heard a couple behind me talking about how everyone that uses coupons is a horder bc of what they have seen on the show…which is sad bc most people do it to save for their family on a realistic level.
Cmat says
Ditto. I liked when they showed the one guy with the huuuge stockpile, then the end they showed it being hauled off to be donated. Every last bit of it.
I’m glad at least the grocery store here is coupon friendly. I only seem to get looks when I have my binder.
erin key says
I don’t like the show either. But, realistic couponing doesn’t make for good TV. The producers don’t even care if the people are committing coupon fraud, which several of the people have done on that show. I don’t think the show alone has caused so many people to start trying couponing. It’s the explosion of coupon blogs that have appeared in the last 2 years. Facebook has also helped in the tremendous newfound interest. I personally think that all is wonderful. I would never be able to coupon the way I do w/o the internet and the awesome blogs I follow such as yours. Thank you for all you do!!!!
jennifer says
Anywone can go here… http://corporate.discovery.com/contact/viewer-relations/
and leave comments about the show. I would suggest we all send a not about our discontent with the on-air coupon fraud and non-realistic view of couponers.
Beth says
Yes, and they say they are getting these items for free, but they don’t mention how much did they pay the clipping service for the hundreds of coupons they are using on that order.
Frugal Momma @ Live Joyfully says
There are times when this show really frustrates me. You see somebody with 60 bags of potato chips in there stockroom, and knowing that chips are no longer fresh after 6-8 weeks, wonder what on earth somebody is doing with 60 bags of chips they’re never going to eat. Stocking up on paper towels and toilet paper is one thing (eventually you’ll use them), but 340 bottles of hot sauce??
The other problem I have is when the register shows, for example, $50 in tax, but the bottom balance says $0. We pay tax here. Most stores won’t even allow overage. I’m wondering if they are editing something out.
Finally, if people are buying these things to donate to bless somebody else, I wouldn’t mind as much. But, to see people hoarding diapers and formula (when they don’t even have a baby) is just frustrating.
Sal says
This just in: All reality TV poorly represents reality.
Shannon says
he he true true.!
Laura says
I will admit, I started couponing because of seeing the show. I will also tell that I have been laid off for a little over a year still trying to find a job. Couponing has made our grocery bill each month be cut in half and we are now able to do more things outside our home that we consider extra. I will never stop couponing because of the savings I get and joy I receive from being able to give away something that I get for free to someone else who really needs it. I donate items that I get for free that I don’t or can’t use to our Mission Central hub at my church. I also recently started sending my expired coupons overseas to military families who live on bases. Couponing for me goes full circle…I save money for my family, help out the community, and share my love of couponing with military families.
Casey says
Yes!!!! This is the kinda stuff people should be knowing!!! COUPONING IS NOT BAD! It is useful for people for situations like yours!
I didn’t know that you could send them over seas! Give me info on that!!!!!
And for all you people out there who still arn’t convinced:
WHO SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HUGE STOCK PILE!!!
Why are ya’ll saying that coupons are bad? There purpose is to save money!!! Why are newspapers printing them if they want us to pay full price!?!?!
Think about the other side of things before you take on that couponing is bad!
Bonnie says
Another thing is I noticed they pull out the big stop at the end ……which are their money of next shopping trip coupons. Well yeah…….if you save all of them up from items you paid for in all of the prior weeks…….of course you will not owe anything. But it isn’t pointed out that they had to buy items to get the OYNO coupons…lol
Shannon says
Right, they are using like $50 in catalinas.
Amanda H. says
They also don’t take into consideration how much they pay for all of those coupons that they purchase online.
I think there is gonna be some new coupon policies coming out after this show. There aren’t any grocery stores in this area that double more than 2 alike coupons.
Chris says
Our stores will typically only double 4 alike coupons and usually, when there is a good sale and something is cheap or free with a coupon, you’re lucky to get four. I can’t believe the store even has that stuff in stock. Seems like they are calling the store ahead of time to pre-order all of that volume. It’s frustrating to watch because real couponers would enjoy watching a realistic couponing show but this is just staged mostly for television. I find it funny also that they don’t ever show you the name of the store – if you are paying attention you can pick it up from the logos or the cashiers name tag. None of these stores are near me but I find it hard to believe that they are all following the rules anyway.
Mel says
This gets a big ol’ sarcastic GREEEEEAAAATTTTT from me. This show is causing some many people to think they are entitled to getting things for free when they don’t even know the proper “rules” to couponing. It’s really ruining it for old couponers in our area because there are only a couple stores so tons of people clean them out when there is a good deal. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in my store recently and when a deal doesn’t go as planned, they start yelling “but so and so said online that it should work like this…” Ugh.
Bonnie says
I agree with you. I don’t think people really need 500 boxes of cereal and 100 bottle of mustard. Personally I think that is over doing it. I do believe buying what you need and maybe even giving the family a few items that you got and helping out. I have a small stock pile of personal items….but my family would never go through 100 boxes of cereal in a given day. I am all for a good sale and sharing the love…….but I personally don’t want my house taken up with items I will never use or will go bad before someone can even use them.
Sarah says
I am so dissappointed to hear this! Although it has sparked more interest in couponing which I think is good, it has also brought out a new crowd of uneducated, unrealistic want-to-be couponers (shelf-clearers as well) which is forcing stores and manufacturers to change their coupon policies. So frustrating!
VANESSA says
I agree with you, its just not possiable to save like that in our area with all the restrictions on coupons that can be used and limits on items or how many of them can be doubled..its hard work to save the 35% weekly…. Im exicted with 50%.. anything more is awesome!.. but its hard work for any type of savings.. but at end of course its worth it.
And Ive been couponing for a long time before this show came on air and NOW everytime I use anything more then 2 coupons at the store I am asked “do you watch that show on TV”, or “are you doing that extreme couponing thing”.. ha..all i do is laugh..
has that happened to you??
Lauren says
My thoughts exactly!! I was contacted by the show and turned them down, when they asked me to be on they asked me for pictures of my stockpile and they said “the bigger the better chance you have at getting on the show”. I told them that I would be on the show if they wanted to show a realistic mom shopping for her 3 kids on a regular week saving 50-60%….
Shannon says
Ditto Lauren. I have no interest in being made to look like a hoarder. I might save 90% one week and 30% next week. I buy real food – and not all of its perfect healthy food — but a good balance.
Joyce Hoffman says
I would like to see one of you guys at this show, I´m not a big couponing but evertything that I learned untill now was with you. I did all my wedding invatation, decaration and favors with coupons (at Michaels and ACMore) but I didn´t know where to start to save on grocerys (all this coupon it´s really new for me, I´m from Brazil and unfurtunately we dont have so many coupons there, or people didnt learn yet how to do it lol), so I friend of mine give me the link to Lauren videos 101, and I start follow her on fb and her website, and I was looking for some blog from PA and I find FTM and this was perfect, I love both and I have learning a lot. I´m having my first baby and I´m starting saving a lot in diapers and wipes and of course grocerys.
I think both of you can show how the real couponing in the real life works. Like Shanon said save 90% one week and 30% next week. Because this show people are starting to do crazy things, I saw couple news of people stealing paper for neighbors and stores, cuz they think they need buy all store products are free and always save 95%.
Rebecca says
I have been a couponer for a long time, but thanks to your website, I have been saving even more! I don’t find that show very realistic. There are still items you need to buy all the time, not 500 sticks of deodorant every time you go to the store because it is free. What about milk, bread, produce and meat? I watched the show when it first started, but now I don’t watch it at all.
Dot says
I agree! especially when you only have stores around you that only accept a certain amount of like coupons…I started couponing a year and a half ago and I save about 35 to 50 percent and that is gr8 for me I have extra money I didn’t have before…thanks for all your hard work….
Darla says
I watch the show. I haven’t done “extreme couponing” but I have learned a general idea about couponing because of the show. It lead me to research online and in one month I saved 496.00. And already this month saved 300.00. Have I gotten some stuff that I didn’t need or will use? Yeah, but I am donating it and it didn’t cost me anything or very little. We got helped out alot during rough times and I am happy to pay back in anyway I can. I live only near weis, county market, giant, walmart and target, so getting the crazy deals the extreme couponers get, doesn’t happen, but when I can save at least 50% I’m happy. Will I watch next season, probably. I think like you said, people should be realistic and know that coming out doing what they do, is not going to happen alot.
Andrea Johnson says
Darla,
I’d like to know how you are saving that much. The smaller town I live near only has a Country Mart and a little non-chain grocery store. Neither of them take internet coupons anymore and they only double up to a $1 off an item.
I do, however, live 25 mins from Dillons (Kroger), Walmart, Target, K-Mart, and Walgreens.
I’m just wondering where you get the bulk of your savings as I have limited places to shop also and it’s going to get worse once we move at the end of July.
Any advice would be great!!
eliza says
Yuck! I thought the show would be great, until I saw most of the people hat they were buying- ridiculous quantities of items that that they will never use. The least they could do is donate it.
Michelle says
They do it for one reason and one reason only: they are making money.
Gina Moffett says
I agree with you, now when you tell someone you coupon the first thing out of there mouth is “just like the show right” and I say no. Yes I have a stock pile but I also have a family of 7 and we go though alot of stuff. Couponing has let me save everytime I hope not how much I shop. 35%-65% it great to me. I wish they would take it off the air but I wish they would take most of there shows off. Thats my two cents and yes I have a coupon for that.
Gina
karen ayers says
I wish that show was canceled. I experienced yesterday some
very nasty attitudes and a ridiculous argument from a Kroger manager. I had two transactions, with 4 Santa Cruz lemonades,and the second, 3 bottles. I knew I was in for trouble when the cashier looked at my four coupons and myself as if I was trying to defraud the store(and himself) in the bargain.
The head cashier was called, and she said she didn’t have the “authority” to ok the coupons.Then the manager came over.She sniffed me up and down and then sent a flunky to copy the corporate coupon policy.
She told me I could not use the coupons. I said that I had 7 coupons, not the limit of 10 like coupons used in a 24 hr period. She then said that I could use two, referring to the 2 coupon doubling rule. I said that I had no coupons that doubled. Then she said that they did not like to take internet coupons. I read each requirement: expiration date, bar code, individually printed.
She then read on the coupon,”One coupon per purchase”, and said I could only use one.
I said that they could keep everything, and I would go to their competitor. I told the manager she should contact corporate and find out how wrong she was, because she would have many arguments with her customers. This is the second time in a Kroger(different stores) that I have been treated like a criminal. I believe it is solely because of the show. Any one else have the same experiences since this show has been on?
Toni says
I wish you would have stood your ground a little further (not a criticism; kudos to you for making each point clear to the manager). I only say that because the manager made a VERY undeducated “couponing 101” mistake in saying you could only use one coupon per purchase. “This is correct. Every single item I place on the belt is a purchase. I must purchase it to take it home. The coupon does not read “one coupon per TRANSACTION, which would be my entire tab today, but rather one per PURCHASE, which refers to each individual item.” So sad that the manager didn’t appear to know the difference. :(
Chris says
I’ve had a similar run in at Rite Aid. They got on my case about using a BOGO coupon with a BOGO sale. In my experience, they always cancel each other out. They insisted that I had to buy 3 in order to use one BOGO coupon because I was already getting one for free. But I said I am paying for one with a coupon. Many of the cashiers do not understand that coupons are money and that the store gets reimbursed for it. They seem to think that the coupon is money off the order which the store has to eat.
I haven’t been back to Rite Aid since which is sad because I was saving a ton of money but it’s the only one in my area. I know they have since changed the coupon policy but I didn’t even read it because I was so aggravated. I told her she made me feel like a criminal and she just snubbed her nose up at me. What does a 17 year old know about having to save money? One day when she has a mortgage, kids, cars, dogs and bills, she’ll understand.
irianais says
That is one of the reasons i stop buying at kroger cuz they have policy but they dont want to follow them i went to kroger yesterday to buy a few things and everything was a because of the breathe right coupon since my coupon was 1.50 and the item cost .99 they didnt want to accept my coupon i love the show but since it came out every store has new policies but i still wants to see the show cuz you learn something from it on each episode