Let’s Get Real About Extreme Couponing!

Extreme Couponing will be airing tonight on TLC, and although I am a big couponer myself and recommend it to others,  I encourage you to watch this show with open eyes.  I think this is a great way to get motivated and get some great ideas, but keep in mind that the individuals that have appeared on this show are truly “Extreme” couponers and the savings and the bulk purchases they are showing, are not the norm when it comes to couponing.

I know from personal experience that you are probably not going to see those types of results, but I also do not want you to get discouraged, because once you start saving any amount, your finances are going to be for the better.

CLICK HERE to check out my tips on Couponing.

I personally started really couponing back in September of 2010. I have cut my bill by almost 2/3, and to date I probably save about $250 monthly approximately.  Part of this is due to couponing, visiting the store only one a week (vs 2-3 times) and part of it is due to not buying things that I don’t need. However, I usually spend $40 -$70 each time I go to the store.  I purchase meat, fruits, vegetables, and items that I would consider healthy for my family.  I am perfectly happy with a shopping cart full of groceries each time and I tend to have a few items stocked,. However, I do not have the space to bulk shop, nor do I have the desire.

From being a Christian, I feel that you should have enough to fill your own cupboards (Take care of your family first obviously) and any excess should be given to those in need. Especially things that may go to waste before you even have an opportunity to eat it. Food banks, the Salvation Army, and even a neighbor will benefit from these extra items. The episode with Nathan donating the boxes of cereal was very inspiring to me. Plus, I believe in sharing coupons.  If you have extra that you are not going to use, hand them to the person who is also shopping for the same item next you to or leave them with the product for someone else to benefit from.  You don’t realize how rewarding it is to give, until you see the smile on their face.

Ruth over at Shopping Tips and Tricks wrote a GREAT ARTICLE and I want to share it with you:

“I will begin by saying that I asked my father-in-law to video tape the TLC Extreme Couponing show so that I can see it. 🙂 To me, as a couponer and frugal blogger, I am interested to see what they do. But, these are my thoughts…

First, TLC Extreme Couponing is a TV show. ‘Nough said, right? In order to “sell” this show to the public, they have to make it bigger and better. They have to make it “Extreme”. Remember, it’s a show! They want to wow you so that you will continue to watch each week and they can make the big bucks, ok? 🙂

Just think, it wouldn’t be as dramatic or exciting to follow a frugal blogger say, like myself, to CVS on Sunday and watch me get $30 worth of products for FREE when they can have someone buy almost $2,000 worth of products for $130! But really, how many normal, everyday frugal shopper goes out and buys almost $2,000 worth of groceries, huh? I mean, I have four kids and they eat a whole lot of food each week, but we couldn’t ever eat 100 cups of yogurt or 90 packages of cold cuts before it went bad!

Second, not all couponers/frugal shoppers are hoarders. I think the show focuses too much on the stockpiling (and there are definitely some extreme stockpiling going on) and not enough on the GOOD that many of these Extreme Couponers do with their stockpile! So, I think the show portrays us couponers all as hoarders and gives a bad image. Many of them, like Nathan from the first show, donate thousands of dollars of food to the needy! I tip my hat to them! In fact, even in the midst of our toughest months when we had NO income coming in, we were able to give groceries to a family who was in worse shape than we were because we have a small stockpile. *Someday, I will show you my stockpile. NOTHING like what you see on TLC. 🙂

Always remember that they had to BUY all those coupons! She/he didn’t just “Happen” to have 100 yogurt coupons! So, to give a more “honest” assessment, they should include the cost of all those coupons!

Most of us don’t dumpster dig! I don’t! Never have and never plan to! 🙂 I do get extra coupons given to me because I ASK. Yep, I ask friends and family and I get lots and lots of FREE coupons besides all the coupons that I buy from getting newspapers each Sunday, print online, get in the mail and so forth!

Finally, my main concern is that we will see stores get tougher and tougher because of this show and checkers/shoppers will become more unfriendly to couponers assuming that we all are hoarders. We have already seen since this show Kroger getting tougher on their policies. I can’t help but think that this could be a trend.

So, watch it. Learn a thing or two or three. But remember, it’s entertainment! ”
 
To see the original article, CLICK HERE.
 
What are your thoughts on TLC’s”Extreme Couponing”?  I would love to hear what you have to say!

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