Tonight it happens. Another season of TLC’s Extreme Couponing kicks off. I know many of you are fans of the show and many are not. I am actually not a fan.
What you see depicted on television is just that — television. The deals are put together to increase ratings. The shoppers are using coupons on the wrong products (called bar code decoding), the stores are bending rules and in extreme cases, the coupons they are redeeming are fraudulent.
It saddens me because there are people who are just working hard to save money by using coupons. They work hard to put together their money saving deals. They coupon ethically and honestly. Then, these extreme types of couponers come in and are doing things which question store policies and that results in changes. Changes that hurt people when it comes to saving money. Many have had to limit coupon redemption, eliminate acceptance of Internet printable coupons and even changed their entire policies just to avoid shelf clearers.
MY LATEST VIDEOSI have people ask me if it is possible to get deals like you see on television. I say that it depends upon where you live and where you shop. It also depends upon the products you purchase. When I shop at CVS, it is nothing for me to save 85 – 95% off of my purchase by using Extra Care Bucks, CVS coupons, regular coupons and the deals (learn more at CVS 101). However, when I shop at my local grocery store, if I can save 35 – 45% off of my grocery bill, that is great savings (no double coupons here).
We all can save money when we shop. We just have to do so honestly and ethically and not end up so extreme. If you are looking for help with learning how to coupon, I’m here to help. Here are some articles to help you get started:
Getting Started on Penny Pinchin’ Mom. This helps you learn about some of the feature on this site and how to help you find them.
CVS 101 or Walgreens 101. If you are wanting to learn how to shop at CVS or Walgreens and get items for free, this can help you learn the lingo and how to do just that.
Coupon Ethics. When coupons beep (or do not), there can be reasons. Sometimes, it may work for you, but that doesn’t mean it is the right way to use coupons.
Fake Coupons: How to Know If Yours is Real. Sometimes the fake coupons look as good as the real ones. Learn how to tell the difference and learn why it hurts us all when fake coupons are used.
Finding Coupons. This can help you learn about all of the resources available to help you get multiple copies of the coupons you will need to help you save.
How to Use Coupons. Of course, this is the most important! It isn’t just clipping some coupons that saves money, it is using them wisely – and to your advantage!
If you really are struggling financially, you can follow our Debt Free Challenge — where I share how my husband and I paid down more than $37,000 in debt in 27 months!
couposha says
Ive tried to see some shows, looks like freak show.
ikaties says
it would help if we stop giving them any more press! What they are doing is paramount to shoplifting. Not only is it dishonest, but it is not living up to the Golden Rule and not being fair or honest to your fellow man. Because of that show, I stopped couponing. I might redeem a coupon or two, but no longer do I attempt to do big orders. I, for one, am tired of being ridiculed and cursed at because I have more than 3 toothbrushes in my cart. NO, not everything in life is free!
shannon says
I have to agree that what you see on tv is ‘created’ or ‘allowed’ by stores for the publicity. I lived in Michigan for years and doubling coupons was a normal part of my shopping trips to save $ as a single parent. I used to be able to save 65% on groceries and 80-90% on personal care/household products by combining coupons and sales.
I now live in West Virginia and couponing here is ridiculous. There is no Kroger here that allows more than 2 of each internet coupon and no Kroger will allow you to clear a shelf. I may be able to work a 60% savings at Kroger on groceries but that may be once or twice a year. Normally at Kroger I can manage a 30-35% grocery savings. CVS here is great and we have some great employees who actually make coupon use enjoyable. Walgreens however normally has shelves cleared! If I go to get one of the great deals on Sunday afternoon, I have to wait for at least 30 minutes to checkout as people are doing mulitple orders (4 or more separate transactions) and won’t let other people checkout until they are completely done with all transactions.
I will continue to coupon but have chosen to be very selective of products purchased. I refuse to coupons just to acquire products that I will not use, just to donate to others. It is better to teach someone how to save money. I regularly give all of extra coupons to co-workers and even show them where to use to get best deal.
More people need to think about what they are seeing and ask themselves if they have ever seen such shopping trips take place while they are shopping. People also need to ask themselves if using coupons inappropriately now for the deal is worth the long term effects of coupon limitations/refusal to take coupons/higher prices.
Jcoupons says
I have noticed that the new magic number for sale items is 3. I believe the show had a great deal to do with this. The show never discusses the rudeness of shelf clearing or how they can get that many like coupons to go through.
It is also really sad to see giant stock piles of items that one could never use, and the way some of these people obsess over their stuff is really sick. Perfectly good items that someone should be using, but they are sitting in a garage. I purchase things for a rainy day too, but not 100 of something. I believe this has also led to lower coupon values. Anyone else noticed that lately?
Susan says
I have used coupons for over 23 years, since the first days of my marriage, and always considered myself to be a pretty excellent couponer until this show, and similar websites, came on the scene. I love watching the show (with my girls! Fun! 🙂 ), but don’t have any idea how anyone could get the kinds of deals they claim to get. I don’t save 99% like some of these people claim, but I DO feel like I get my items for the best possible price I can when you factor in a normal, busy life. I try really hard to be efficient with my coupons, but I feel like I always have to watch that I am not overdoing it and ignoring my kids and family in the process. I think my attitude is that I want to do the best I can, and use our grocery money wisely, while still maintianing a normal life!
My feeling is that this fad, like any other fad, will reach its peak and will fade away, leaving only the regular couponers like myself. Nothing that crazy can be sustained throughout a lifetime, but honest thrift, hard work, and intelligent, careful spending will be around forever!