Extreme couponing show: Saving in theory vs. saving in reality

[MrsPete]

So, I watched this show again, and I'm convinced that these folks don't understand the difference between saving in theory and saving in reality.

The couple on the show I watched had no children, and their second bedroom was jam-packed with well-organized food storage. LOADS of food for two people. Probably more than a year's worth.

They explained that travel is their passion, and they coupon so they can travel -- fine, I can understand that. They wanted to take a cruise for the husband's birthday. After checking their accounts, the wife announced that they could afford the cruise IF they could save $500.

So what's the LOGICAL way to save $500? It seems to me that any reasonable person would say, "Well, we've stockpiled this food for just such a purpose. We will not spend anything at the grocery store for the next month or so" -- or, more realistically, "We'll just allot $10 per week for fresh things like milk and eggs. By not spending anything at the grocery store, we'll painlessly accumulate the $500 that we need."

INSTEAD, they headed to the grocery store and spent -- I might be wrong on the exact number -- $540 on groceries and only paid $40 for them. They announced that they had "saved" $500 and now could go on their cruise.

In what parallel universe does this make sense? Yes, they have more food for their hoard, but they do not have $500 to give to the cruise company (unless they're sailing on a cruise line that accepts Ramen Noodles as payment). In fact, they now have $40 LESS in their checking account. Yes, they have more food in their already-large stockpile, but it doesn't bring them closer to their immediate goal of taking the cruise.

I personally call this "spaving" -- spending to save. Or spending so you can claim you saved.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Lol, no kidding. A friend went to work for cold water creek and saved tons. But had no paycheck by the time she hit their outlet every month.

You can't save by spending.

 

[Marionnette]

So, I watched this show again, and I'm convinced that these folks don't understand the difference between saving in theory and saving in reality.

The couple on the show I watched had no children, and their second bedroom was jam-packed with well-organized food storage. LOADS of food for two people. Probably more than a year's worth.

They explained that travel is their passion, and they coupon so they can travel -- fine, I can understand that. They wanted to take a cruise for the husband's birthday. After checking their accounts, the wife announced that they could afford the cruise IF they could save $500.

So what's the LOGICAL way to save $500? It seems to me that any reasonable person would say, "Well, we've stockpiled this food for just such a purpose. We will not spend anything at the grocery store for the next month or so" -- or, more realistically, "We'll just allot $10 per week for fresh things like milk and eggs. By not spending anything at the grocery store, we'll painlessly accumulate the $500 that we need."

INSTEAD, they headed to the grocery store and spent -- I might be wrong on the exact number -- $540 on groceries and only paid $40 for them. They announced that they had "saved" $500 and now could go on their cruise.

In what parallel universe does this make sense? Yes, they have more food for their hoard, but they do not have $500 to give to the cruise company (unless they're sailing on a cruise line that accepts Ramen Noodles as payment). In fact, they now have $40 LESS in their checking account. Yes, they have more food in their already-large stockpile, but it doesn't bring them closer to their immediate goal of taking the cruise.

I personally call this "spaving" -- spending to save. Or spending so you can claim you saved.

You're correct that they spent $40 insteading of "saving" $500. But then, they wouldn't have had a reason for the show.

But OTOH, if I eat out of my pantry/freezer for the next week, am I really "saving" on my groceries when I will need to replenish those items the following week?

Or are they really "saving" $500 if it is their routine practice to never spend more than $40 on their weekly grocery trip?

Either way, you really have to do a lot of mental gymnastics to make it seem like you "saved" that much money.

 

[huey duey & luey]

lol, totally agree!!

Also, I couldn't understand the lady last night who has a budget of 80/month for 6 people. She spends 30 hours a week couponing. 30 hours a week, go get a PT job. I'm sorry but the logic isn't very logical

 

[tweedlemom]

So, I watched this show again, and I'm convinced that these folks don't understand the difference between saving in theory and saving in reality.

The couple on the show I watched had no children, and their second bedroom was jam-packed with well-organized food storage. LOADS of food for two people. Probably more than a year's worth.

They explained that travel is their passion, and they coupon so they can travel -- fine, I can understand that. They wanted to take a cruise for the husband's birthday. After checking their accounts, the wife announced that they could afford the cruise IF they could save $500.

So what's the LOGICAL way to save $500? It seems to me that any reasonable person would say, "Well, we've stockpiled this food for just such a purpose. We will not spend anything at the grocery store for the next month or so" -- or, more realistically, "We'll just allot $10 per week for fresh things like milk and eggs. By not spending anything at the grocery store, we'll painlessly accumulate the $500 that we need."

INSTEAD, they headed to the grocery store and spent -- I might be wrong on the exact number -- $540 on groceries and only paid $40 for them. They announced that they had "saved" $500 and now could go on their cruise.

In what parallel universe does this make sense? Yes, they have more food for their hoard, but they do not have $500 to give to the cruise company (unless they're sailing on a cruise line that accepts Ramen Noodles as payment). In fact, they now have $40 LESS in their checking account. Yes, they have more food in their already-large stockpile, but it doesn't bring them closer to their immediate goal of taking the cruise.

I personally call this "spaving" -- spending to save. Or spending so you can claim you saved.

 

[Katy Belle]

I watched that same episode and thought the same thing! If you get 63 pkgs of croutons for free, that you never would have paid money for in the first place, then you have zero money to put in the vacation fund! So strange!

 

[Jill in Chicago]

I sooo agree. I've only watched the show twice and that is it for me. When I see the stockpiles of things like toothpaste.... How much toothpaste can you use in a year? Have they checked the expiration dates on things? Will they actually be able to use these items? And if not do they have them marked some how so they can donate them before they go bad?

 

[Marionnette]

I sooo agree. I've only watched the show twice and that is it for me. When I see the stockpiles of things like toothpaste.... How much toothpaste can you use in a year? Have they checked the expiration dates on things? Will they actually be able to use these items? And if not do they have them marked some how so they can donate them before they go bad?

The toothpaste guy donated his stash to the troops. Some of the others donate to homeless shelters and food banks. Just about every couponing website I go to has articles and links on how to donate your stockpile to worthy causes.

And one of the recent shows featured a woman who puts expiration dates on the packages in sharpie marker so that she can see it and identify things that are going to go bad soon.

 

[MomToOne]

I suspect they are selling at least some of their haul, at a flea market or something.

 

[ilovemk76]

ITA

One show the women bragged that she saved about $60K and put 40 hours per week into couponing. She said that was better than most FT jobs.

Who do you know who spends $60K on food, toiletries and cleaning supplies in a year? For most famiies that number is less than $10K.

 

[Kycha]

I watched that episode and I could have sworn that the wife said that they were going to use the money in their grocery budget to go towards the cruise. So if their monthly grocery budget is $250, and they bought 3 months worth of groceries for $42, that leaves them with $708 to put towards the cruise.

 

[rentayenta]

lol, totally agree!!

Also, I couldn't understand the lady last night who has a budget of 80/month for 6 people. She spends 30 hours a week couponing. 30 hours a week, go get a PT job. I'm sorry but the logic isn't very logical

ITA.


My time is worth money.

 

[ceecee]

DH and I sat at Starbucks (having our happy hour fraps) which is in the middle of Kroger and watched some extreme couponing. The man sat at the table with a bag with 30 envelopes with coupons and the cart, sent the wife to go get the item and bring it back. These people I knew from work many years ago, kids are all grown and he sold his business and is now doing real estate. It was amazing how much time it took, they had a cart full so they must have been at it for a while. DH asked how much food can 2 people need.

 

[21yankees]

I watched that episode and I could have sworn that the wife said that they were going to use the money in their grocery budget to go towards the cruise. So if their monthly grocery budget is $250, and they bought 3 months worth of groceries for $42, that leaves them with $708 to put towards the cruise.

Glad I'm not the only one that saw the show like you did.


steph

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Totally agree with you!

But if they just bought eggs, they couldn't get on tv.

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Many of these people are really extreme hoarders and need psychological help. Plus a lot of the scenarios are set up. No store I go to will double 100 coupons for the same item, some won't take more than 3 or 4 of the same coupon per transaction.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

I have to admin, I am really grossed out by this show. If it takes you 2 to 3 hours to check-out your purchases (some check out more than once), do you really want milk? It grosses me out just thinking about foods that should be kept cold (or frozen) simply sitting in that basket warming up to room temperature!!!

 

[okeydokey]

I watched that episode and I could have sworn that the wife said that they were going to use the money in their grocery budget to go towards the cruise. So if their monthly grocery budget is $250, and they bought 3 months worth of groceries for $42, that leaves them with $708 to put towards the cruise.

But they don't need 250 for food for the month as they have a years worth of groceries already in the house. So why spend the 42 at all. I swear, these people have mental problems. Addiction? OCD? Not sure what, but something.

 

[scrapquitler]

INSTEAD, they headed to the grocery store and spent -- I might be wrong on the exact number -- $540 on groceries and only paid $40 for them. They announced that they had "saved" $500 and now could go on their cruise. /QUOTE]

That in no way helps them to pay for their cruise because their bank balance didn't magically increase by $500.

Logically, you are correct. Don't buy any more groceries, take the money you would have spent into a savings account (or a jar, or under the mattress, whatever) and THEN you will have saved it.

 

[Sagginit]

my local foodstore started doing triple coupons for two days during the week. they've done it twice in the last month. i see people in the aisles with BINDERS of coupons.......the max per person is 10 coupons! i needed a toothbrush and had a coupon for colgate and the shelves were wiped clean of colgate toothbrushes, some of them were like $5, with only 1.05 off with the coupon thats not a deal to me. people seemed so gosh darn stressed trying to find the best deal or free stuff it was like willy wonka had hidden golden tickets in any food product that had a coupon in the last month. i usually don't shave a huge amount off my foodbill with coupons, instead i get extras like candy or chips for free so its a nice treat.

and if anyone finds a cruise line that accepts toothpaste or ramen noodles let me know.