OK - so who is watching Extreme Couponing?

[ThisIsJason]

What network is this on? Seems like something that I would DVR and watch when I can't sleep...

 

[MnMomtoboys]

what bugged me was that the first couple started in the dairy dept and at the end they said they were there for a couple of hours. The one lady who kept checking her makeup said she was there for 5 hours. How are the dairy products still good?

 

[Piecey]

Would be great if they donated what they can't use to feed the hungry.

I coupon.... DH just had a food drive at work and I sent 4 diaper boxes full. He said his coworkers just stared at him (said what he brought in was 2x what everyone else combined had brought) and he told them, proudly, I paid $2 for all of it.

It feels good to be able to give back.

 

[Aisling]

Those people aren't normal, they're obsessive. That lady who had 72 coupons for mustard and she cleaned out the whole shelf AND got a raincheck when the shelf didn't have 72. How can I admire that? Her total before coupons was $1,900 and she got it down to like $199, but look what she bought! It's not like she bought $1,900 worth of items that she needed. If she only bought what she needed plus a little more to stock up on, she may have had her order total $500 and got it down to $50, but that isn't enough of a wow factor for a tv show.

I wish they'd show normal, average people who know how to use coupons smartly so that I could really learn something to benefit my family budget. These people have their own freaking stores down in their basements!

I'm just afraid the stores are going to stop doing the double coupons because of people like her. Around here, there are so many supermarkets but only one still does double couponing. People are taking advantage and it doesn't even help them. So what, you have 50 bottles of Maalox and paid 1 cent for the lot, but what the hell are you going to do with 50 bottles of Maalox??

I'd rather save that little penny and put it towards a head of lettuce or a steak, not 75 boxes of cereal that will go stale before I ever have a chance to eat it all.

I want to be like her, but in a normal, practical way. I want to do my $200 food shopping and, with coupons, get the bill down to $75. Now that would make me happy.

 

[katesorad]

I don't get couponing. I've tried it a few times before, but most of the coupons I find are either for very expensive pre-packaged produce (sugary fruit cups, etc.) or junk food. I wouldn't ever want a huge amount of junk food sitting in my house, either. I'd rather donate the boxes of sugar cereal or cans of soup to a food pantry.

 

[LuvSulley]

Oooh! I hope those people join this thread because I'd like to know how to get those types of coupons.

I did see a segment on the Nate Burkus show that had some crazy coupon ladies on and they said they get coupons for some items for. more than the purchase price. Then, they use the difference to buy fresh items. But even with that logic, you still need to buy the junk first. Also, those crazy coupon ladies weren't buying the organic produce, they were buying the cheap potatoes.

So I'll all ears if you can tell me how to get a coupon for fresh healthy stuff

They have those coupons in the Sunday newspaper sometimes. Last week they had coupons for those yummy Cuties tangerines and I forget what brand of salad bags. A few weeks ago there was Foster Farm Chicken.

 

[DaParkers]

We have a grocery store that will double coupons, but only up to 5 coupons, and you need to spend 25 dollars minimum and THEN anything after that can be used with the coupons.

Somebody mentioned that it's not moral to coupon like these people are doing. I completely agree. Wouldn't this extreme couponing eventually bump up the price of everything? If companies are virtually PAYING people, costs must rise in the long run?

No! Because not enough people do it to make a big difference. If they did, then the stores would come up with rules against it. No show or promise of savings will get people to do this because it takes a personality type that most of us don't have.

 

[LuvSulley]

Wow, I just started watching the show. I feel bad for the cashier with the make-up lady couponer. I love self-checkout cause its fun to scan things but that looks like torture!

 

[beaucoup]

They have those coupons in the Sunday newspaper sometimes. Last week they had coupons for those yummy Cuties tangerines and I forget what brand of salad bags. A few weeks ago there was Foster Farm Chicken.

I just cut several weeks of coupons tonight and we never have fresh chicken or fresh vegie or fruit coupons. Coupons for frozen chicken prepared products from Perdue, Weaver or Tyson sometimes. Or ham slices. Deli and regular milk also rare. Instead, soy milk coupons.

I don't coupon like I used to 25 yrs ago. We had good coupons back then. Not anymore.
I used to belong to a monthly newsletter that came in the mail. Refunding Makes Cents. More than once articles about how people took advantage of the system and ruined it for others. Companies started cutting back, prosecuting the cheaters, and writing more rules on the coupons and rebates.

 

[Imzadi]

I think some do...but it seems some sell their "stockpile" of deodorants, toothpastes, etc. at yard sales.

I used to coupon a lot. I was considered a coupon queen, especially when I left the store with a bag full of products and only paid 12 cents for it all.

I did not go overboard though. I got only what I basically used and needed to tide me over from one great sale to the next sale with coupons.

I woud get extras of shampoos, conditioners, deodorant, moisturizers, tampons, pads, toothpaste and toothbrushes and razors. I'd donate them to the battered women's shelter.

One year, I donated a dozen Mrs. Smith's pumpkin pies, so they could have pie on Thanksgiving.

I just cut several weeks of coupons tonight and we never have fresh chicken or fresh vegie or fruit coupons. Coupons for frozen chicken prepared products from Perdue, Weaver or Tyson sometimes. Or ham slices. Deli and regular milk also rare. Instead, soy milk coupons.

I don't coupon like I used to 25 yrs ago. We had good coupons back then. Not anymore.
I used to belong to a monthly newsletter that came in the mail. Refunding Makes Cents. More than once articles about how people took advantage of the system and ruined it for others. Companies started cutting back, prosecuting the cheaters, and writing more rules on the coupons and rebates.

I used to belong to a couple great coupon sites. But I moved from the "Land of Doubles," so it hasn't been worth couponing so much anymore.

Still a dollar coupon here and a dollar there adds up. It is still free money, as far I am concerned. It doesn't look like a green bill with a president on it, but it works the same at the register.

 

[mickey&arielsmom]

I don't understand why they have to buy so much. I only watched part of it, but is there some reason they have to buy 60 toothbrushes or 20 bottles of hand soap? If they have the coupon and are getting it for free, why get so many? Just because it's free?

 

[Imzadi]

I don't understand why they have to buy so much. I only watched part of it, but is there some reason they have to buy 60 toothbrushes or 20 bottles of hand soap? If they have the coupon and are getting it for free, why get so many? Just because it's free?

I haven't seen the episodes, but I know the basics of couponing and stockpiling. Stockpiling is different from hoarding as one does use up the supplies, and does not buy more than they will reasonably use. Hoarders buy stuff and don't use them.

The principle of couponing is that the person is NOT going to buy hand soap every week or even every month. The next great sale on hand soap, particularly if it is a brand they like and can get nearly free or completely free may be another THREE - FOUR months away.

If they are a family of 6, with 4 grubby, little kids, 20 bottles of hand soap isn't going to last 4 months. Especially when there's one in the bathroom, one in the kitchen, maybe one in an extra bathroom. They could easily use up all the hand soap in 3 months.

Also, soap is soap. It doesn't matter if it is designated as 'hand soap.' I know people who use soap to clean the tub and tile. It works great on soap scum, as does shampoo. No need to buy an extra tub cleaner when you get something for free.

Also, free shampoos can be put in hand soap dispensers. They often smell better than hand soaps. Shampoos are designed to clean grease and product. No reason to double up on liquid soaps.

As for the toothbrushes, that number does seem excessive. But, toothbrushes are non-perishable. They certainly won't have to buy any for quite a while. Plus, they have extra for overnight guests and sleep-overs. If they travel, they don't have to worry if they leave the brushes. They can do crafts utilizing toothbrushes. Clean grout, etc.

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

Frankly, I found it disgusting and stingy When that lady was demanding that her reluctant husband “clear the shelf” of mustard, I wanted to scream. What happens when a normal person with one coupon and a desire to buy a bottle of mustard comes to the store?

I had to laugh when the lady said she “didn’t want to give up the finer things in life”. That is why she is couponing. Then it cuts to a shot of her clinking wine glasses with her lady friends….surrounded in a kitchen of overflowing shelves of processed dry goods Thousands of boxes. Sounds classy to me

She is delusional saying that people think she looks rich. She has her shower stocked with food. Her dingy wallpaper (in the bathroom where she gussies herself up to go shop) could use a scrubbing. To be honest with you, I would scrape that garbage off and update the bathroom. It was worn and tired. But, she needs to spend 6 hours a day preparing to by 50+ bottles of mustard. I guess she doesn’t have time to fix her home

Don’t get me started on the lady who has food and paper products shoved in every square inch of her bedroom and even in the kids’ rooms


I do hope stores implement coupon rules to stop these obsessive people. Twenty coupons per visit sounds good to me.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I should watch an episode just to try and understand how this works. I don't at all understand how you can end up spending $100 on $1000 worth of groceries. I can't wrap my head around the math.

 

[graygables]

My tag says a lot about how I used to be an aggressive couponer. Back in the day, Priceline had a grocery shopping element and the store used to pay me .50 jar to take picante sauce home. I was never quite to the extreme as on the show, but I spent several hours a week preparing for my shopping trip. I could usually get around 75% off my bill. Non-perishables, obviously, are the best, but part of couponing is also pantry management, so rotating stock is important. If an item was nearing an expiration date, I'd donate it. At that time, we also grew a lot of our own produce, so we'd eat fresh in season, then I would can it for the winter months. Most of my grocery budget during the winter was spent on fresh produce.

Something else we did was to co-op and trade perishables if someone had a surplus, we'd get together and swap for things. I knew a lot of people who would have garage sales and sell their non-perishables at a discount, but I generally donated things like toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.

I finally stopped when I started my own business and didn't have the time to dedicate to it anymore. I only watched the last part and got a little bit of a rush remembering how good it felt walking out of the store with 2 carts full for $50.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I have certain nonperishable items that I "stockpile," and I only buy when they are buy one get one free. Sometimes I'll also have a good coupon and that makes it even better. I have bought 10 boxes of pasta before, but I can't imagine buying 50+ of anything. I'm giddy when the "You saved $XX" at the bottom of my receipt is 1/3 of what I paid!

 

[DaParkers]

Frankly, I found it disgusting and stingy When that lady was demanding that her reluctant husband “clear the shelf” of mustard, I wanted to scream. What happens when a normal person with one coupon and a desire to buy a bottle of mustard comes to the store?

I had to laugh when the lady said she “didn’t want to give up the finer things in life”. That is why she is couponing. Then it cuts to a shot of her clinking wine glasses with her lady friends….surrounded in a kitchen of overflowing shelves of processed dry goods Thousands of boxes. Sounds classy to me

She is delusional saying that people think she looks rich. She has her shower stocked with food. Her dingy wallpaper (in the bathroom where she gussies herself up to go shop) could use a scrubbing. To be honest with you, I would scrape that garbage off and update the bathroom. It was worn and tired. But, she needs to spend 6 hours a day preparing to by 50+ bottles of mustard. I guess she doesn’t have time to fix her home

Don’t get me started on the lady who has food and paper products shoved in every square inch of her bedroom and even in the kids’ rooms


I do hope stores implement coupon rules to stop these obsessive people. Twenty coupons per visit sounds good to me.

If her obsessive couponing is the problem, why talk about her wallpaper?

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

If her obsessive couponing is the problem, why talk about her wallpaper?

Don't forget her dingy shower shoved with food

It was her “side act” of “I appear rich to others” and “stopping to apply makeup” in the store aisle. All the while, her real life does not reflect what she is trying to portray.

She is using all of this time to save money on 100+ yogurts and 50+ mustards, all the while, her house could use a bit of attention Just my opinion, of course.

Her husband really doesn’t seem to be into this. He had the common sense to know clearing a shelf of mustard (he stated he doesn’t even eat it) was somewhat whacky.

Again, I do hope stores see these shows and tweak their policies to stop the Shelf Clearers

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I didn't see the show, and never will, as I hate this kind of TV, BUT can someone explain why they have to get so many of an item? I don't understand why you get them free if you have 100 of something, but not if you have 1 of something. I've been curious about TV stories on the news where people have a shopping cart filled, and they say the paid like $10 for all of it.

How does the whole premise work? We clip coupons... and we might save 10% off our bill.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I don't understand why they have to buy so much. I only watched part of it, but is there some reason they have to buy 60 toothbrushes or 20 bottles of hand soap? If they have the coupon and are getting it for free, why get so many? Just because it's free?

I didn't see the show, and never will, as I hate this kind of TV, BUT can someone explain why they have to get so many of an item? I don't understand why you get them free if you have 100 of something, but not if you have 1 of something. I've been curious about TV stories on the news where people have a shopping cart filled, and they say the paid like $10 for all of it.

How does the whole premise work? We clip coupons... and we might save 10% off our bill.

My mother is questioning the same thing - like the woman with the antacids; why did she have to buy 30 or 35 of them in order to get them free? If they were $5 and change and she had a $5 coupon...?