watching "Extreme Couponing"...

EbethM0231

I think it's pretty awesome that these people get so much for less, but... isn't this almost like hoarding, but with food, household supplies and beauty stuff?  I can see why they like having all of this stuff stored up for emergencies, but I think it would be more benificial for them to donate some of this stuff to homeless shelters and other places of the like.  KWIM?

mandolynn81

I watched it last night and was in shock. While i consider myself a pretty frugal and experienced couponer - that is a little too much. the one guy had 100 years worth of deoderant...just to have it. it was neat that he said he donated some of the cereal to his church, but he didn't mention donating anything else. 

Coupons are great and most people don't realize how beneficial they can be. I shop at target for our houehold and baby items and save 50-100.00 per shopping trip by buying things on certain weeks and doubling up the coupons i trade all over online or print. I love saving 30-75% on one shopping trip. but going to the degree they go to is over the top. 

2-Step

I agree. There is a point of obsession. No one needs that much stuff, no matter if it is free, or only costs you 10 cents. If you think you need that much stuff you have a problem. Donate it or don't buy it! Even if it's free it's still consuming resources for no reason, who need 100 years worth of deodorant? I get that saving and stockpiling can be somewhat beneficial, but most of that stuff will expire or become obsolete before it can be used and will end up in a landfill.

Ivana_Stolichnaya

Thanks for reminding me...I DVR'd it last night.  The preview looked nuts so of course it sparked my interest.  I think I'm going to go watch it.

sgrl

I haven't seen that show  ..  I do have a friend who works the coupons, but she doesn't hoard or anything. She does get groceries for four people for something like $70/week - I'm in awe of that.

easyBreezie

I haven't watched it but I've heard all about it. Yes, they are hoarders and have an addiction. This is not how the normal couponers are. I coupon pretty heavily and have a small stockpile that may last 3-4 weeks. I now spend $200/month for household/groceries/baby supplies down from the $400 I used to. This show is portraying the extreme hence the title and these people have issues and yes, should be donating everything they won't use in the next few months or so.

macchiatto

mandolynn81:

I watched it last night and was in shock. While i consider myself a pretty frugal and experienced couponer - that is a little too much. the one guy had 100 years worth of deoderant...just to have it. it was neat that he said he donated some of the cereal to his church, but he didn't mention donating anything else. 

Coupons are great and most people don't realize how beneficial they can be. I shop at target for our houehold and baby items and save 50-100.00 per shopping trip by buying things on certain weeks and doubling up the coupons i trade all over online or print. I love saving 30-75% on one shopping trip. but going to the degree they go to is over the top. 

I didn't see the show; we're too frugal (or too poor, but too frugal sounds better ) to have cable. But you sound a lot like me I.T.O. couponing. I get amazing deals all the time, esp at Rite Aid. I do have a bit of a stockpile, especially right now of diapers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. But I totally give away any excess and what we have left is reasonable for us to use up ourselves (especially if store policies become less coupon-friendly in the future, which I think is likely to happen with a show like this coming out and more people becoming coupon-savvy; I'll be really glad to have my stash of toiletries I got dirt-cheap or free when I had the chance!).

desmerelda317

macchiatto:

mandolynn81:

I watched it last night and was in shock. While i consider myself a pretty frugal and experienced couponer - that is a little too much. the one guy had 100 years worth of deoderant...just to have it. it was neat that he said he donated some of the cereal to his church, but he didn't mention donating anything else. 

Coupons are great and most people don't realize how beneficial they can be. I shop at target for our houehold and baby items and save 50-100.00 per shopping trip by buying things on certain weeks and doubling up the coupons i trade all over online or print. I love saving 30-75% on one shopping trip. but going to the degree they go to is over the top. 

I didn't see the show; we're too frugal (or too poor, but too frugal sounds better ) to have cable. But you sound a lot like me I.T.O. couponing. I get amazing deals all the time, esp at Rite Aid. I do have a bit of a stockpile, especially right now of diapers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. But I totally give away any excess and what we have left is reasonable for us to use up ourselves (especially if store policies become less coupon-friendly in the future, which I think is likely to happen with a show like this coming out and more people becoming coupon-savvy; I'll be really glad to have my stash of toiletries I got dirt-cheap or free when I had the chance!).

But that is completely different than what the folks on the show are doing.  They're purchasing hundreds of tubes of toothpaste JUST because they have a coupon for it.  It isn't because they need it or will be able to use it within a reasonable amount of time (say a month or two), it is just because they can.  That's it.  No other reason than addiction and ability.  I saw the preview and these people are definitely hoarders and they're definitely addicted.

caserko

I watched it too and was in shock as well.  The thing that struck me is how much time/energy they all spent doing it, especially the woman who works a FT job and spends 70 hrs/wk couponing?!  I'm quite sure if she got another job working 70 hrs a week she could make more money than what she saves couponing...

 I was just imagining myself spending SIX HOURS in a grocery store with DS around, laughable.  It just doesn't seem feasible to me with kids around.  And I'm so not hyper-organized and detail-oriented like that.  But I loved the AA lady in the store--you could tell she was soaking up the attention, and I loved her telling other people in the store how to shop, hilarious.  

Macchiato--just wanted to say your siggie pic is so freakin cute.