The truth about extreme couponing...

[Sandy61]

The only coupon I will buy is the Iams dog food coupons on Ebay. I can usually get a set of $8 off coupons for $8. I usually buy a set that has 8-10 coupons so they are worth $64-80. This is all my little Beagle can eat before I worry it will go stale. I will use each $8 off coupon on a bag of food that is around $11 dollars. I think this is a pretty good deal especially since it is usually free shipping.

I was just told today that there is no where in Iowa that doubles.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have never seen this show as I dont have regular tv, does anyone know if they get paid for doing this? Do they use the same people over and over again?

 

[beansmom]

I have never seen this show as I dont have regular tv, does anyone know if they get paid for doing this? Do they use the same people over and over again?

i don't know if they get paid but they don't use the same people. Each segment features a different 'supershopper'. However, there is a HUGE flap over alleged misuse by one of the coupon queens which, if true, will make her #1-guilty of coupon fraud which is a crime and #2-real stupid for doing it on tv.

 

[vwlizard]

I WAS an extreme couponer. I even taught some classes locally. There were many times I could save 80-90%. I was able to do this by being very organized with my coupons, maintaining a stock pile (though never more than I would use in the next 3 months), utilizing my freezer, making my own baked goods and having a garden.

Back then I had more time then money and I thought couponing was fun. Now I have more money than time, so I no longer coupon. I also got sick of maintaining my stock pile. I am very ANTI-hoarder and like to just have on hand what I need.

My suggestion is that if you want to start couponing, start with one theme (canned goods, pantry items, or health and beauty). My favorite is health and beauty. That way I can just concentrate on the CVS/Rite-Aid/Walgreens that are all within 5 minutes of my house. I usually MAKE money on these products (in the form of a discount to use on my next trip). There are cleaning supplies, paper towels, some snack items and batteries as well as the usual health and beauty products. Plus, OTC medicines can be really costly, and often have big coupons. If you just do this for a month, you will often be able to collect all the health and beauty items you need for the next 6 months to a year (depending on expiration dates).

 

[LaurenT]

Exactly that is what my husband and I said the first time we watched the show.

I use coupons and I agree with the OP there is no way that you can get all of your grocerys for free or close to free each and every week.

That's true..but a $1 coupon will cost you about 12 cents from a clipping serice..if you can get that doubled at your store, then it's only costing about 6% of your savings....still...buying 100 toothbrushes for free - when it actually cost you $6 is a little silly....how about spending 72 cents for 12 ...that should last you a while....

 

[LisaNJ25]

I think what we all have to remember is that this is a reality show. And like every other reality show on TV very little is real.

Would anyone watch a show about us doing a rather routine shopping trip. LOL.

lol yep.. so true.. I would not be as interesting to watch. I ran in tonight for a few things and spent $2.00 and got 13 items including 2 bottles of organic juice and 4 ghiradelli chocolate bars, 2 boxes of character band aids (they have cute adult mickey ones), 2 bottles of marinade, 1 bottle of salad dressing and 2 luna bars. Considering the chocolate bars were originally $2.29 each I was a happy shopper

 

[dd50]

I haven't seen the show but have seen some people that do it. There homes look like grocery stores. I am quite happy with saving about 20% off when I go shopping. I usually do pretty good with health and beauty. My kids go through so much shampoo and conditioner that it doesn't last that long and there will always be another sale and more coupons.

My DH once bought $10 worth of sponges because they were 10 cents a pack. We had them for so long and he did that with Windex once because it was B1G1. We had that for about 3 years. Thankfully he didn't go shopping by himself much.

It would drive me crazy to have to store all that stuff and worry if it was going to go bad. I think any thing "extreme" usually isn't a good thing.

 

[cajunbaby1]

Our Krogers here will triple coupons up to 35cents and double the 50cents ones. Those are great when they run those 10 for $10 sales and u can triple those 35cent ones. But I think its silly to buy all that useless crap; unless you donate to the shelters or your church or food bank. Lord knows those guys could really use things.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

Honestly, I don't mind if someone else can coupon their way to free groceries. I however do not have the time nor inclination to do so

 

[Darcy03231]

These shows also don't take into consideration areas of the country that don't double or triple coupons and/or don't take internet printed coupons.

I happen to live in an area that doesn't do either one. The coupons that come in my newspaper are, for the most part, for brand name products I don't/won't use. Very rarely do I find a coupon that I can actually use.

I envy those of you in areas where you (1) have good coupons and (2) can double and triple them.

 

[Marionnette]

I have never seen this show as I dont have regular tv, does anyone know if they get paid for doing this? Do they use the same people over and over again?

You can watch video clips on TLC's website. AFAIK they don't pay these people to appear in the show but I would bet that TLC arranged the shopping trip and got permission to roll the cameras inside the stores. The alleged coupon fraud by the one woman is just unreal. Especially since she had been accused of it before and pleaded ignorance at the time. No wonder cashiers and front end managers give you the stinkeye when you hand over a fistful of coupons! People like her give all couponers a bad name.

 

[starwood]

There is an interesting article about one of the women in this show here http://www.jillcataldo.com/. It claims that many of her coupons werre used fraudulently.

I only watched the first episode a few months ago and was sick to my stomach to see the addictive behavior exhibited. It is out and out hoarding. No one needs 100 boxes of pasta in one shopping trip.

 

[LadyBeBop]

These shows also don't take into consideration areas of the country that don't double or triple coupons and/or don't take internet printed coupons.

I happen to live in an area that doesn't do either one. The coupons that come in my newspaper are, for the most part, for brand name products I don't/won't use. Very rarely do I find a coupon that I can actually use.

I envy those of you in areas where you (1) have good coupons and (2) can double and triple them.

Actually, some of the manufacturers have caught on and offer different coupons for different parts of the country. I do live in an area that offers double coupons up to a dollar.

As a result, you'll get the coupons that offer $.50 off any one item. We'll get the coupons that offer $1.00 off any two items. Making our coupons useless for doubling, and for you to get savings on two items, you need two coupons.

 

[DawnM]

See, sponges and windex are things that, even if you have 3 years' worth, you will use! I end up sticking my sponges in the dishwasher to wash them to make them last longer. I would love a huge stockpile for cheap.

I did buy a 1 gallon jug of all purpose cleaner for $3 at a yard sale. The directions say to mix it with water at a ration of 1:200. It will last FOREVER! But it shouldn't go bad and I am thrilled. I got a couple of spray bottles at Home Depot and have one in each area I need to clean.

Shampoo I need to start couponing for again. I buy the 80oz Kirkland brand for $6, which is still a great deal, but I would love to get free or close to free.

I think my 13 year old needs to start using something for oily hair too Any brand recommendations?

Dawn

I haven't seen the show but have seen some people that do it. There homes look like grocery stores. I am quite happy with saving about 20% off when I go shopping. I usually do pretty good with health and beauty. My kids go through so much shampoo and conditioner that it doesn't last that long and there will always be another sale and more coupons.

My DH once bought $10 worth of sponges because they were 10 cents a pack. We had them for so long and he did that with Windex once because it was B1G1. We had that for about 3 years. Thankfully he didn't go shopping by himself much.

It would drive me crazy to have to store all that stuff and worry if it was going to go bad. I think any thing "extreme" usually isn't a good thing.

 

[englishteacha]

This concept reminds me of the woman who wrote the Tightwad Gazette. She once said that every time she was interviewed, they wanted photos of her doing something frugal. Usually the pics were of her hanging laundry because a photo of her driving past the McDonald's with a car full of kids just wasn't "interesting" enough! TLC is only going to focus on the extremes that make good TV. I remember when "A Wedding Story" was popular. I would have loved to be featured...but my $1500 wedding (church, Legion hall reception, pot luck food, homemade cake, etc.) just wasn't interesting enough TV.

 

[DawnM]

I would have loved a potluck!

We did our wedding for $5,000, but almost $2,000 alone was photography and another $1,500 was catering, which was still quite good (150 people for a luncheon and cake.)

The other $1,500 went to pay the pastor, the church, the singers/piano player, and my dress was $50 at a thrift store (had a stain that came right out when I soaked it and the manufacturer told me their dresses start at $800 and the average dress rant around $1,500) and I paid $60 to get it altered and customized.

Dawn

This concept reminds me of the woman who wrote the Tightwad Gazette. She once said that every time she was interviewed, they wanted photos of her doing something frugal. Usually the pics were of her hanging laundry because a photo of her driving past the McDonald's with a car full of kids just wasn't "interesting" enough! TLC is only going to focus on the extremes that make good TV. I remember when "A Wedding Story" was popular. I would have loved to be featured...but my $1500 wedding (church, Legion hall reception, pot luck food, homemade cake, etc.) just wasn't interesting enough TV.

 

[KigerKat]

Wow. I just read the article about the coupon fraud, and I'm shocked. If she didn't realize that what she was taught to do was fraud, then why does she still do it?

I think it's funny that she has turned comments off on her FB page to keep people from bashing her, yet they are still able to comment on her posts. She's going to get caught with this much publicity and TLC will probably screen their "stars" a little more during casting from now on.

I think the show is a joke. Who wants to live in a house where there is crap stock piled everywhere? Under the beds, in all the closets, and in the shower? That's a mess! It will go on sale again...no need to buy a year's supply during one shopping trip.

My "stockpile" is contained in what my pantry will hold, and that is plenty of room for DH and I.

And yes, TLC needs to include the amount of money spent on multiple papers and clipping services into the total amount spent each week. I would also like to see the amount of time put into each shopping trip and see if the hourly wage was worth it. Especially for people like the couple that had to call their friends in to stand there while the clerk rang up the order for the $10 off per person. There's no way I would run down to the store and do that for a friend, and I would be embarrassed to ask someone to do that for me. I would try to get that friend some professional help instead. I wonder how much of their frozen/refrigerated food was starting to go bad after waiting in line for so long?

 

[DawnM]

Yeah, she knows....but it is advantageous to her, so she continues with what she can get away with.

This is one reason the deals just aren't as good as they used to be.....coupon abuse! This show may make it even worse for those who really could use the savings and do it properly.

Dawn

Wow. I just read the article about the coupon fraud, and I'm shocked. If she didn't realize that what she was taught to do was fraud, then why does she still do it?

I think it's funny that she has turned comments off on her FB page to keep people from bashing her, yet they are still able to comment on her posts. She's going to get caught with this much publicity and TLC will probably screen their "stars" a little more during casting from now on.

I think the show is a joke. Who wants to live in a house where there is crap stock piled everywhere? Under the beds, in all the closets, and in the shower? That's a mess! It will go on sale again...no need to buy a year's supply during one shopping trip.

My "stockpile" is contained in what my pantry will hold, and that is plenty of room for DH and I.

And yes, TLC needs to include the amount of money spent on multiple papers and clipping services into the total amount spent each week. I would also like to see the amount of time put into each shopping trip and see if the hourly wage was worth it. Especially for people like the couple that had to call their friends in to stand there while the clerk rang up the order for the $10 off per person. There's no way I would run down to the store and do that for a friend, and I would be embarrassed to ask someone to do that for me. I would try to get that friend some professional help instead. I wonder how much of their frozen/refrigerated food was starting to go bad after waiting in line for so long?

 

[MrsPete]

actually, 2 of the chains near me double up to 99cents unlimited (as of my last trip...who knows what this Extreme Couponing debacle will do to that). And I still cannot get a no-expense trip.

The thing is, you COULD do a no-expense trip IF you bought only your coupon-able items . . . and then went back the next day for your other stuff. That'd mean you'd go home without, perhaps, your bread and cheese or other necessities, but you'd have big bragging rights on your first trip . . . if you didn't tell about your second, regular-priced trip.

I'm not recommending it, just saying that's how these super-couponers make their trips appear to be essentially free. 'Cause we all know their families aren't living on mustard, so they've gotta be buying some meat and vegetables at some point.

When people say $300 of food, the viewer thinks, "Oh, that's about two weeks of food for my family! Great!" But it's not $300 of well-rounded food -- it's a bunch of the same stuff.

 

[MrsPete]

This is one reason the deals just aren't as good as they used to be.....coupon abuse! This show may make it even worse for those who really could use the savings and do it properly.

I don't know . . .

Why do the companies offer coupons? It's to convince you to buy their name-brand instead of choosing the less-expensive store brand, or it's to entice you to purchase a new product with which you're not aware. It's advertising.

A few people'll do this extreme thing, a bunch will use the coupons as they're intended, and the majority will be aware that they could've had a few cents off but won't bother. So I don't think the manufacturers are going to lose money overall.