For All the "Extreme Couponers" Out There

I completely agree with you here. I liked it better when it was teaching.

I honestly believe that it has just become extreme couponing horders! I mean really, how much do you REALLY need before it becomes excessive?

100% agree, it is crazy! I am an avid couponer myself and this show has no purpose other than showing who can get the most for the least amount. It is not normal, everyday couponing that you do to save money on a week to week basis.

I think they should educate people on how to save money, seems like that would serve a more useful purpose.

I don't remember it really ever being "teaching"! All the "tips" they ever showed (I think) was a book with a store layout, how to ask for & check written coupon policies for each store, dumpster diving for additional coupon fliers, and matching coupons with sales for items they already have and don't really need! I don't get it.
Are the NOT hoarders because their stuff is in neat rows and stacks? Are they just OCD Hoarders?
Who wants to be cracking open that 402nd bottle of Maalox bought in 2001?

I have not seen it personally, but I think TLC is no longer "The Learning Channel" it should change to TRC "The Reality Channel" ... I do not see any learning shows on there any longer with the Kate &8, Quints by surprise, Say Yes to the Dress (Big), My Big Fat Gypsie Wedding the list goes on ... If you want to learn how to coupon shop there are pleanty of online places to go.

It irks me! I was at the grocery store the other day and Cheezits were on sale plus a little more if you used a store coupon. I picked up one and then a couponer/lady hoarder came along and emptied the shelves. I don't know anyone who needs 8 boxes of cheezits... seriously?! It's not like they weren't on sale again 2 weeks later.

I do stock up on things we eat regularly or personal hygiene products. I probably have 3 - 6 months worth of hair and body products and razors. Still, those things go on sale in cycles about every 2 months or so.

Also, I don't believe just because you can get something for less than a dollar that you should buy it! If you have no need for the item, don't take it home. You end up spending on things you won't use and wasting money! Even if it's free, does it really need to take up space in your home?

These things drive me crazy!!! :-P

I'm a late poster but wanted to add my two cents! I haven't seen the show but hubby told me about it. I am a HUGE couponer and have had people in line clap and ask me how to do it. We're a family of six on one income so coupons are a life saver for someone like me. The first thing I tell people is that you should never buy 100 of something just because there is a coupon for it. Anyone can do that and claim to save money. I do stock certain things like toilet tissue, laundry detergent, and a few other things that we never have enough of. Coupons are supposed to save you money, not trick you into buying 80 can of air freshener for a penny.... LOL! I agree with other posters that it sounds like these folks are hoarding. I would love to see a coupon show that donates the excess products to charity. Now that's a great show idea! Maybe I should work on that. I've been working on a curriculum for teaching a coupon class at the request of friends and co-workers, so I may reach out to the mama community for feedback when I have the time to get it done.

Organized hoarders of new, usable stuff for (nearly) free is REALLY what it is about. I am a couponer, but that sickens me!

BTW Jean C: the 'someone' that will pay for it in the end is the MANUFACTURER!! THEY put out the coupons to get their products in people's hands and build brand loyalty. Did you know $65 BILLION in coupons go unused each year? The stores get the full amount of the coupon PLUS 8 cents for processing. The stores only get their price from people paying cash, and they get CHARGED for people using credit cards. So in truth, couponers make the stores MORE money! The people hurt by this show will not be Joe and Jane....it will be the couponers.

I coupon and have a slight stockpile. Not more than a half a pantry full, and it's just enough to last us until the items go on sale again. :) I agree it's just Hoarders with nicer shelves. I don't agree with wasting food any more than I agree with paying full price for things that are overpriced. Today I was very happy to get my free dial soap (4 bottles free plus 36 cents overage) I don't think that is to excessive, we are not going to stop showering anytime soon and those bottles won't take up to much extra room. :)

As for the person that said the comsumer is going to end up paying for the coupons, stores actally get paid back plus (i think its) 8 cents for each coupon that is used correctly. Store coupons, the store eats the price on those coupons just to get you in the store, because you will probably be spending more money there than what the person is saving. Stores want you to use manufactor coupons because they make money off of them. Many people don't know that.

In ragards to the show, I've never seen it. One of the things we do to save money was cut out cable, and it was great decision!

There's a couple odd things to me about the show ...

1) Here the stores, if they double coupons, will only double 2 coupons - after that, additional coupons are face value only

2) Also stores that double coupons will only double up to the cost of the item - if coupon is 50 cents to double to $1 and item is on sale for 75 cents, you only get the 75 cents (item free) - you do not get to "keep the quarter refund!"

So - how do your stores do??

I would like it better if they actually showed how these people do it, I rarely see coupons for meat, fresh veggies and fruits but the people on here say they get all this stuff with coupons or with a discount. show me how Learning channel!

I think it is wrong and companies are starting to put a limit on how many same coupons you can use at once. I am sure the hoarders will just go from store to store so they can use all their coupons.There are people that take everyting to the extreme and these are just a few of them. Coupons are great though. Every week I get something for free and save around $30.00. So because of my coupons I can now go have my Starbucks with out breaking the bank! :)

It must be an obsession with some of them. I can't imagine the hours they put in doing this. Some drag the poor kids along for this grocery store adventure. Some are at home with their kids, but spend 4 or 5 hours a day doing this, so who's watching the kids? I saw one show where people bought hundreds of snickers, bags and bags of cheetos, hundreds of koolaid packs, and tons of ramen noodle dinners. This is what they are then feeding their families - and a lot of it since they have so much! I cannot imagine being proud of buying 150 boxes of noodle dinner. I say no thanks to those "deals"!

Ha ha ha Denise P!! Yeah, I really want to be eating that 100th box of cereal bought 10 years ago too. I actually thought about the show this morning when I went to the grocery store and (GASP!) paid full price for garbage bags. $5.99 for 80 garbage bags. And then I thought about the fact that I only buy garbage bags about once every 9 months or so. Do I really want a stockpile of 50 boxes of garbage bags? Not really. And those things don't even go bad!! UGH. Don't get me started.

My 12 year old watches that show and I get so annoyed with it. The show is very unrealistic . . . and I found out that many of the stores make exceptions for these extreme couponers just so they can get their store on the show. For instance, almost all stores won't allow you to use multiple coupons for the same product so it's really impossible to get it for free. Yet amazingly, on the show these extreme couponers do it all the time. Really?

Personally I think these folks are hoarders. There is absolutely no reason for one family to have dozens (if not hundreds) of certain products. And how about the ones who go buy things they don't even need -- like the sisters who were buying up tons of diapers and neither of them are married or have kids! I've seen only one instance where one of the couponers then turned around and donated the items to charity.

I coupon and I've even started doing some price-matching, but there is no way I could spend 50+ hours a week doing this. Get a life!

I have nothing against people using coupons to save some money. But when they get $1,000 of groceries for near nothing that is wrong. Somebody is going to have to pay for it in the end. Joe and Jane consumer.

That show drives me crazy. However, I do like when they show the people that do their shopping that way and then contribute it to a food bank or homeless shelter. Some of the items I will absolutely not buy without a coupon.... cereal, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, makeup, and yogurt. Those things are so overpriced to begin with, so I must have a coupon. Just a personal rule with myself.