Extreme Couponing Series Premiere – Wed, April 6 at 9/8c on TLC
I think by now most of you already know that TLC’s Extreme Couponing Series Premiere begins on Wednesday, 4/6. I have received a lot of email from you guys asking my opinion of the show and how it will effect us using coupons, store policies, etc.
Here are some of the emails I received:
From Jennifer:
Are you concerned with the new reality show that is coming on soon about couponing that it might cause any issues with manufactures and/or stores and the current process’s of couponing? More people will be exposed to the strategies and more people may try to abuse the system and cause negative consequences.Just wondering what your thoughts were on this.
From James:
I’ve been curious to ask someone else who coupons their opinion on the TLC series Extreme Couponing that is starting April 6th. Do you think its a bad thing? I’m really worried for a few reasons. The biggest being the stores and/or manufactures seeing the show and changing the way they distribute and allow coupons to be used because of it. Secondly every week the show is on more and more people are going to be doing what we do, making it harder to find things (example being reach toothbrushes…I can’t find them anywhere!). I’m afraid it is going to have a negative effect.
First, I’m going to say that I was actually contacted to be on the show. But, after much thought, I decided that it was not something I wanted to do.
Yes I do teach you guys “extreme couponing”, however my version of extreme couponing is walking away with $100 worth of groceries for $25 or less. Buying and stockpiling what we need for our family and making donations to food banks and shelters with the excess. My goal is to get you to look at sales differently and to be a strategic shopper. To buy things for free or cheap when you don’t need it so you will have it for when you do need it. To show you ways to make purchases with catalinas on items that you can stockpile so that you can use them to purchase meat and produce.
So, when I was contacted, I thought, will I be shown as a strategic shopper or will they show me in a negative light? I wasn’t sure so my gut told me not to do it.
But, I do know that a lot of you are concerned about the kind of exposure that will come from the show. Do I worry about it? A little. But, I remember that this level of couponing is not for everyone. And, I can tell you, from my own experience, that not everyone understands it nor has the desire to do it. So, will there be more interest? Probably, but my guess is, interest will spike and then die down.
As far as the stores and manufacturers changing their policies or coupons, well, time will tell what happens there. But, I am honestly not worried about it. We are always facing new and revised store policies and when they do make changes we just move on and adjust our strategies.
What are your thoughts?
If you are new to couponing you can learn the right way to become a Strategic Shopper and Extreme Couponer.
Cindy Livesey is the force behind Living Rich With Coupons which provides its readers with all the resources they need to shop smart so they can get life’s luxuries for a lot less. Her family of 5 has saved over $11,000 a year in groceries. And you can too.
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not worried. The last extreme coupon show i watched the person they had on used a TON of the same coupon( or half a ton) haha. Who does that???? I think we are all safe, and that of course people are going to try to get the best deals. As far as the reach toothbrushes are concerned, i thought i couldnt find them too, then realized they were in the travel section area a few feet down from where the regular toothbrushes were displayed!
I was very worried at first. I also think there will be spikes and then it will die down. Kind of like gyms at new years. This kind of savings and stockpiling takes alot of time and dedication. If you don’t do your homework in the previous weeks/months, you will not have the coupons for the deals that you might find on say saturday, the one day you decide to “extreme coupon”.
Brandi I was thinking the SAME thing about it being like going to the gym after new years! LOL
What confuses me is the people who go to ShopRite and do multiple orders with so many coupons. At my local ShopRite in Mansfield, NJ they will only double 4 of the same coupons-and I think you can only use 4 of the same coupons. Also, one time when I wanted to separate orders they told me I could only do it if I had different price plus cards.
I have actually done some multiple orders (usually two) in ShopRite (in east brunswick) and i was told i could do two orders at a time on the same card, but no more. So if there is a REALLY good sale (like .40 cents for cereal with coupons) i’ll do a double order, but otherwise i stick to the basics.
At my Shoprite the maximum amount of orders I do at once is 2. However, if it is a REALLY good sale. I just checkout go to a couple of the other stores on my list, then come back and do 2 more. I have never had an issue so far…knock on wood. lol
Extreme Couponing last year had only had 1 lady do ShopRite but she stuck to the rule and didn’t have a mass shopping cart. Her trick was lots of rain checks and giving her price club card at the end which sometimes works with taking more money off. Every shoprite is different depends on cashier and up front manager. I stick to 4 of the same coupon and I can break my order down in different transaction I try to stick to 2 different transaction per order plus my shoprite is only 10 mins away from me so if it’s a good deal I’ll go back
I personally think that its because of extreme couponers like that, that already force stores to change their policies. I mean look at P&G, only 4 like coupons allowed in one transaction. The show intrigues me but also kind of makes me mad. I mean who really needs to buy 100′s of toothbrushes all at once just to stick in their basement?! I only watched one show where the person donated something to the local food bank and it was a couple hundred boxes of cereal. I will watch the show but I will probably be shaking my head at the people who have 12 carts of stuff they will never be able to use yet keep in their house. I think people like that border on hoarding! In my honest opinion if you are going to coupon like that, great, but donate it to a good cause- don’t just keep it.
I agree. I have a stockpile, but its about a years, maybe year and half of detergents, worth of stuff. What were they going to do with all that deodrant they had on the show??? And the lady with all the pasta, seriously, I keep maybe 10-15 max of food items and when i get to about 3-5 I buy more. But 150 boxes of pasta in one trip…to pile on your couch??? what in the world!?!?
I’m not sure if there will be reprocussions as a result of this program but I doubt it.
I will tell you that watching that 1 time episode has motived me to be a smarter shopper. The people profiled on that show are mega-extreme couponers. I’m just looking to save a couple of bucks.
And thanks to Cindy, since January my family has saved about $1600 on grocery and household items.
Cheers!
Thanks Cindy for your comments. I think you made a wise choice. TV crews can film hours and hours of footage and only show what they want to when they are done editing. You are great at what you do and we all know it who read and follow your blog.
You have taught me so much with your specific strategies that makes my job so much easier and way more fun. Yes, people laugh at how happy I am when I talk about my new hobby or I dare show them my beloved binder. It is so rewarding to let them know at how it impacts other areas of my family life. Only after a short time, I can notice such a BIG difference in many positive ways.
I think that using coupons will rise after this show airs, however, people are not interested in investing the time and effort to continue it. So many people are amazed I can “find the time” with my kids etc.
I love using coupons and saving money, but I have mentioned before that Cindy gives us realistic views and ways to use our coupons. If you need to start paying for a storage facility to keep your stockpile, you are no longer a coupon savy shopper, you have become a hoarder. I also think there will be some increased use of coupons, but from previously trying to help people learn how to “coupon” shop, they get weary of playng the “game.” People see the show extreme couponing and it makes them think that it is soo easy just get some newspapers and free stuff rains from the heavens. This show fails to enlighten people that “extreme” shopping trips required weeks sometimes months to build up your catalina and coupons before getting such a huge savings. Most people want instant gratification and using coupons isn’t instant, it requires time and effort. Soooo, thank you Cindy for being a REALISTIC coupon savy leader and not a hoarder. You rock!
One woman on the show last night said that she spends up to 70 hours per week planning and shopping. 2 different couponers last night spent OVER 2 hours JUST IN CHECKOUT! I think when I saw this, I was not worried about what it would do to me. So many people say they don’t have the time. And if they see th is show, it’ll only confirm that for them! 70 hours!?!? They even talked about the cycle of sales on the show saying that if an item is at a rock bottom price now, it may take 3 to 6 months for it to be that low again and they even said, so stock up for 3 to 6 months worth of the product. Why on earth did the one couponer have enough deodorant to last a human being 150 years????????? MAKE A DONATION ALREADY!
I am more worried about the stores changing limits, ex.. currently limit is usually 4, will it be down to 1? I am also worried that the manufactures will decrease coupon values or make more of the coupons save $1 on 2 instead of $0.50 on 1. And then you get the cashiers who always think your trying to “get over” on them. I believe store will encourage more cashier scrutiny, which makes them nervous about our coupons. They call their supervisor who is also nervous, and they deny valid coupons. More frustration for everyone involved. That being said, I do not think the show is realistic at all. What store allows you to buy 100 toothbrushes at a time, on sale and still doubles every coupon? Unrealistic expectations for those who want to get into couponing.
I don’t think manufacturers will think of changing 0.50/1 coupons to 1.00/1 BECAUSE, they still only pay the store 50 cents. The stores may stop doubling because they are the ones that cover the cost of doubling. Perhaps they will limit like coupons to 4 per person per day and maybe only double a certain amount in a transaction?
I’m not worried either but I have had a lot of cashiers ask me if I learned from watching that show. I just laugh and tell them, No, I was doing this long before that show came out!
I can’t control what other people do, so do I worry about it no. I am not sure how the manufacturer’s will react, but will they really risk making a lot of people happy, in order to decrease what a few people actually do? And like others said, the show isn’t realistic, I have never been to a grocery store around me, that will take more then 4 of the same coupon.
I do the best with what I can, and use the coupons the way they will benefit my family. I am not out to have the biggest stockpile in the neighborhood. I was raised by my parents to use coupons and shop on sale, so I will always do that, no matter what everyone else is doing around me.
I have been an avid coupon user and deal seeker for over two years now. I do nothing like they do on the show, like having an entire garage filled with free deals. On the particular show I watched, one man purchased an entire crate of cereal, getting it all for free. It was well over 100 boxes. He had enough in his garage to last him about 3-4 year of EVERYTHING. No one could possibly use all of that before the expiration dates.
I love nothing more than a great deal to stock up for a few months (when I know they will be on sale again), but my husband and I honestly finished watching this show with the attitude that it was ridiculous. If I didn’t already use coupons and realize how much more effective they can be, this show would have turned me off from using coupons, not the other way around. Also, the amount of time that they have to invest in their extreme shopping is pretty much a full time job, and I think very few people that watch the show would consider it worthwhile!
I agree with Cindy, though, that in the beginning people will be excited about it and will want to try it, but will give up after a while.
I think you made the right decision.
I’m convinced that 99% of the people on the extreme couponers show have a hoarding disorder. Who can use 1,500 deodorants before they expire? No one. If it’s more than you can use or reasonably donate, then it’s waste … not a deal.
I feel the extreme couponing show has a negative effect on all the “good” couponers out there who are following the rules and being strategic about their purchases.
I am not worried a bit.
I bet, once I see their extreme, as in extremmmmmmme couponing, I would thank them for making me feel normal with how I coupon.
Nicely said!
I also want to add that when I pick up deodorants for free or cheap I send them to my niece who just graduated from Navy boot camp a coupl months ago. Anything like razors, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. I’ll send to her and let her share them. I sent her a box a couple weeks ago with all the “junk” she couldn’t have in boot camp. Poptarts, candy, popcorn…Yes I know, they don’t “need it” but after boot camp she surely deserved it. Guess what? It cost me more to mail it then it did for all the stuff I sent! Now if only I could get the Post Office to give out coupons. lol
I’m not that worried that more people will coupon as a result of the show. Hopefully, it will motivate some people to coupon. But I work with a women’s group on a weekly basis. I have tried to do couponing classes with them, especially because they are low to middle income, working families. But in the 2 years I’ve been tuning in to your blog and a few others, I have tried to get these ladies to coupon. We even did a CVS class with a field trip to get a card, buy ECB freebie items, etc. They simply think it’s too much work, that they don’t have time for it.
Hopefully more people will do couponing; with the economy the way it is, we all need it. But I doubt the show will motivate THAT many more to do it.
I need someone to take me on a “field trip” to Walgreens, because I can not figure that place out. Or when I do, they don’t have the stock. Kudos to those who can work the drug stores.
Thanks goodness you turned them down Cindy!
I think that this show is not going to show us couponers in a good light… I have a family of six so it is not out of the ordinary for me to buy 20 boxes of cereal when it is on sale (20 boxes=10 week or less stockpile). I sometimes feel scrutinized when I have a lot of a particular item in my cart though I never buy more than a 6 month supply. My mother and I coupon together and she buys what will supply my dad and her for 6 months which is a great deal less than what I would need for that same 6 months. I check my stock pile before I shop to see what items I need so even if ex. hamburger helper is on sale for a steal I won’t buy it unless I am running low… I hate how cashiers treat you as though you are stealing from them personally. I have even had to kindly pull out the coupon policy and point out things. I try to mention my 4 kids who eats like horses. I feel like that softens them a little. =)
I have noticed that since the first TLC show every store in my area is out of baseball card holders. I myself am grateful for the first run of the show because though I couponed it taught me how to get the best deals…
I am glad you turned them down too. The people that have done the show, many are now labeled as hoarders. I have seen online posters attacking people’s comments and defending those being called hoarders. I don’t know anything more than what I read and it’s a shame if what I read isn’t true.
Since the show started I have had issues shopping at Rite Aid. We are talking about 20 stores in the area being wiped clean at opening. A few employees have described the same woman. The employees are frustrated and so are their other customers. I hope this fever dies down and people shop within reason again.
The description on the show “extreme couponing” is this:
Reality. Profiles of shopaholics who go to great lengths in their use of coupons.
I think most of us on your site are just looking to stretch a dollar and donate what we can in these difficult times.
I would have to say that, while I don’t even have TV, therefore won’t be seeing the show, I’m sure it will cause a surge of couponing. But like all new things to people : only the dedicated will keep it up. I can say that for me, when I started to coupon I was slightly obsessed….that died out after a while ;o) I take advantage of it when I can and I don’t worry about it when I can’t…so for all of you really savvy shoppers, I’m sure that after a while things will go back to normal for you! Keep up the good work!
I had to said I was very disturb with the first show, very sad seing such a waste of food when there is so much hunger not just across the ocean but righ here in our own country
. Im very glad to see you didn’t accept Cindy it makes me feel good that I follow a great blog and a wonderful person who loves what she does and does an awesome job! thank you!.. and that you keep it realistic! and humble!
I wish they would show the whole picture — REAL TV, not REALITY TV. Show how much they spent buying coupons and newspapers and how many weeks of deals they had to do to obtain all of the catalinas & Kidstuff book & Entertainment book coupons they use in the one “extreme” shop! That expense (along with the coupon printing expense) is never substantiated anywhere…while it may be “nominal” it surely isn’t zippo.
I want to know how much money these hoarders spent on the coupons they used to buy 100′s of items they’ll never be able to use. How much money are you actually saving when you buy that many items? Surely they didn’t get all of those coupons for free. Crazy people! Thanks for teaching us how to use coupons in the most reasonable and beneficial way. I am loving saving money. It’s definitely an addiction for me, but I would never go to the extremes that are portrayed on extreme couponing shows.
Never! Coupons are money, and what sane posren, rich or not, would throw away money!
I just read an article on xfinity about the show and I was appalled at the woman that was portrayed as so proud of her purchase of 62 bottles of mustard. She “generously” left one on the shelf for someone else. And her husband was reminding her that he doesn’t even like mustard. 62 bottles – really – that would probably last my family 20-30 years. And then the woman using the space under her 2 year olds bed for toilet paper – the only thing under my 2 yeard old’s bed is her toys (and some dust). I think these people suffer from some combination of OCD, fear of not having enough, and plain old greed. And just in case I come across as unsympathetic, I all too clearly understand the fear and stress of unemployment, having been out of work more than my share in the past few years, as I am right now.
I believe that these people are truly “the extreme”, and shouldn’t affect us “nomal” couponers. I have yet to acheive the greatness of some of you with under $5.00 out of pocket but hope to someday!
I could not believe my eyes when that woman bought all the mustard and only left one on the shelf. 62 bottles of mustard? Unless you own a chain of hot dog stands, how are you going to use all that mustard?
I haven’t seen the show, but from what I’ve heard, it seems to show couponers in a bad light. It seems to focus on shelf clearing (even when it is just staged for the camera and the stuff was all ordered in advance), and hoarding. The public just doesn’t get it and think that people who use coupons to get stuff for free are just mentally ill. The show should also show how people use coupons to help their family, food banks, soldiers over seas, battered women’s shelters, animal shelters, etc – but i guess that doesn’t get the ratings. Not everyone who stockpiles fills every space in their house.
So here’s my take on it… These ppl are crazy! While most ppl are just trying to save few dollars off their grocery bills, these extreme couponers are trying to make a grocery store in their houses! Did you see their stockpiles! This can’t be healthy. Can they really use 1500 sticks of deoderant before it expires? Cindy, I’d really be interested to see a picture of your stockpile, and I’m sooooo glad you said no to this tv show
I just recently cleaned and arranged my garage and started building my stockpile. I’ll tell u that much though… its nothing like they showed on tv and it would never look like that!
Watching the show made me annoyed. What amazing rudeness and selfishness to CLEAR the shelves of sale products! And how odd that the staff was clapping their hands after the couponer/hoarder paid a few dollars out of pocket after using hundreds of coupons, over dozens of the same ones, when most stores in the area where I live and shop get suspicous when I use more than a handful of coupons. I’d love to know what store allows dividing your transaction into over ten separate ones so that you can get the $10 off a $50 purchase over and over again — even when bringing in a few friends to stand beside you and act as a ‘new’ and separate shopper when you hand over the coupons!? Where in the world do these people shop??? Overall, watching selfish hoarders shop in stores with apparently no coupon policies does not have any resemblance to actual couponing. Even the pretty ‘extreme’ deals that some people on this blog manage to successfully (and impressively) do at times don’t come close to those insane shopping trips of the TV show. The way I see it, couponing, whether moderate or extreme, is REAL shopping that is frugal, fun and brings a sense of accomplishment. What I saw on the show was none of that.
Did anybody notice that when Jaime on Extreme Couponing purchased her cereal (kix and cheerios) every single fiber one cereal coupon that she used beeped as the cashier rung it. It looks like she is overriding every single one. I had to rewind it to see. But I am pretty sure that is what she is doing.
Other couponers have been blogging that Jaime had committed coupon fraud- she used the wrong coupon for the product she bought, hence the .75 fiber Q’s being used on kix and cheerios. Many other coupons and size restrictions have been noted on her shopping order. Hopefully TLC will hire a coupon expert to check and verify Q’s to product since misuse such as this only confirms that couponers are thieves.
Although now I am realizing that she does it with every coupon. I don’t go to Safeway..is this normal to have to hit two buttons after every coupon at Safeway. My shoprite or cvs doesn’t have to do this.
I think extreme couponing is more of an addiction. Getting 62 mustard containers, gosh!! You know I do stock up on stuff that I use like shampoos, conditioners, soaps, detergents, baby diapers and so on but enough to last me like max 6 months. Just buying the stuff because you can get it for free, seems crazy. what do you say guys!
Its a beautiful thing to live in the land of no limits and where God bestows 2 million dollars worth of coupons on the greedy. I unfortunately live in NJ where we have limits…sales item quantities and number of coupons allowed. Reality show…not so much!
My opinion….what I saw on that show…was a form of Addiction.
Not true couponing at it’s best.
Greed….and the *High* of getting all those things practically free. There is NO NEED for 62 bottles of mustard. Especially when your husband doesn’t even eat it. Pathetic !
Not to mention…the one who got cat treats…and doesn’t even have a cat . C’Mon
I like the guy who gives his stuff to the military and the couple who donated a whole garage full of items, including clothing. Although my extra stash isn’t that big (I only get enough for a family of 3 for one month of an item), they inspired me to save 1 of my limit of 4 coupons for my local churches food pantry.