Tomorrow the internet will again be buzzing about TLC’s Extreme Couponing television show. Many people will be inspired to start couponing, which I applaud. Paying full price for items with coupons is absolutely silly!
The media sensation about this show has me rolling my eyes and shaking my head at the same time. To me, this show is one of those events where I want to turn a blind eye, yet I am so curious about what will actually happen that I feel compelled to watch. I am still uncertain if I will watch. I mean, I don’t want to contribute to the statistics of those who are watching…..but I do want to know how accurately coupon users are being portrayed. My very silly wish is that I could watch it without being a statistic of actually watching it.
Many, many, many issues bug me about this show. My list includes (but is not limited to) the following:
1) TLC did not put a disclaimer on the show. No, these results are not typical of coupon users.
2) The average coupon user does not have carts overflowing with groceries.
3) Limits? What limits? Apparently when there is a camera crew and the potential for your store to be on television normal coupon limits are thrown out the window. TLC and the grocery stores were in bed together on this and it is incredibly misleading.
4) Most typical coupon users do not have stockpiles that take up their whole house, their entire garage, or even a whole room.
5) Most couponers do not have hundreds of copies of coupon inserts. That is just insane.
What you should know about coupon users:
1) We do not buy 50 (or more) of the same item each time we go to the store. We are not hoarders.
2) We often shop for items that we do not have coupons for. Gasp!
3) Coupon users do purchase things they do not need when they can get those items for free. Many times those items are donated to food banks, homeless shelters, overseas soldiers, disabled veterans, churches, or friends in need. We are generous with the things we purchase.
4) We often share our coupons with those around us. My girls do not wear diapers (pull-ups yes, diapers no), but I still print the Huggies coupons to give to people in line or to leave by the product on the shelf. We are generous with our coupons.
5) Coupon users take the time to match up their coupons with the items to make sure that they are purchasing the correct item with an unexpired coupon. We are honest.
6) Coupon users do not save 90-99% off their total bill every single time. Yes, every once in awhile we get have an amazing run, but that is not every time. We are not extreme.
I thought, and rethought, posting this post. Obbviously I decided to go ahead and publish it. Sometimes I feel that my “voice” is silent and that I do not have an opinion. Everyone’s opinion is that just that….an opinion. You may agree with me and you may disagree with me. I will respect your opinion and I hope you will respect mine.
Leandrea is a married mom of two girls, ages 13 and 12, living in Atlanta, GA. She is passionate about helping people save money one coupon at a time. Read more
I am totally against this show. I have already started to see coupon backlash at my local store!
Yay, Leandrea for posting this! Everything you said is so true and most of the things are exactly what people who don’t coupon think of coupon shoppers, which is so inaccurate! I want to link this post to everyone to read!
I just started a coupon blog to help my friends understand why I coupon. Many of them have brought up this show. I think you did an excellent job explaining how most couponers shop. I buy what I need and if I have a few extra coupons I donate what I don’t need to the local food pantry. I’ll be linking to your post today!
I agree with almost everything you posted. I don’t think, however, they need to use a disclaimer because the title “Extreme Couponing” should give a clue that this is not how typical shoppers use coupons. As for the show itself, it’s like watching a train wreck. I don’t want to see it, yet I do and I can’t stop watching!
I totally agree with you! My husband and I were talking last night about how bad this show is for people to be learning about couponing. We don’t spend two weeks planning our shopping trips, pay $75 a week to order coupons, or dump the whole box of 300 toothbrushes into one of our 7 shopping carts!
Maybe they could do a “Real Couponing” series and show people using their regular newspaper coupons (5 Sunday papers, not 50!), checking out in 5-10 minutes, and not clearing the shelves (to add to the 100 boxes of pasta already at home).
I actually watched an episode a while back and was floored at the people in the episode. One girl worked 40 hours and spent every other waking moment surfing for coupons, printing and clipping coupons, ordering coupon batches, and shopping. She even gave up spending time with her husband because there was a sale and she had coupons.
And I couldn’t believe the no limit thing. I’ve sometimes been hassled using 3 of the same coupon. Forget trying to use a dozen or so of the same one.
I’m glad too! A few online friends started going off on a preview for this show and were upset about how “rude” it is to shop like that and wasteful to hoard that much food. I tried to explain that I use coupons but NOT LIKE THAT. That’s why they call it Extreme but I don’t think they really listened.
And I’m totally glad you wrote this blog entry. I’m in complete agreement with you!
I’m with you in that I’m happy the show will inspire people to start couponing, but it is called EXTREME couponing. I certainly don’t have 100 bottles of Kraft dressing or 200 boxes of jello in my garage. It’s not a far stretch to think some of the people protrayed on the last show could use a bit of therapy.