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Today is the first day for the new series on The Learning Channel, TLC Extreme Couponing.
I am curious what the fallout for this TLC series will be. I do know that Nathan Engels (he is the forum owner for We Use Coupons) is very excited about being featured. He has sent quite a few emails detailing what he did for the feature. We Use Coupons is a great forum and I hope this turns out well for them.
There are also a few couponistas who believe this will hurt the “extreme coupon” group.
Here is what I think:
- Extreme couponing is just that, extreme, but as long as it is not hurting anybody then it is fine. Nathan Engels gave most of his stash to a food pantry, great! If you have a hoarding problem and find that much of your product (free or not) expires before you can use it then extreme couponing is not for you.
- It is hard to be an extreme couponer if you can’t play the drugstore games! Shopping at places like CVS and Walgreens help you get things for free, and that is addicting.
- The Learning Channel likes to feature “extreme” people. Of course, I like to watch it. The site is calling extreme couponing borderline OCD and honestly, I can’t argue with that. But, many people deal with “borderline OCD” with one thing or another. Just make sure it is not interfering with your life.
- Couponing can be addicting. Once you see everything you can get for free it is not much of a leap to jump into the world of extreme couponing.
- I think Nathan Engel’s TLC feature will go better than some of the others. First of all (like it or not) he is a man. People see couponing differently when it is done by a man, even if it is extreme couponing. Secondly, he gave most of his stock to charity. I am not so sure about the other features.
Couponing can change your life, but make sure it is for the better, not for the worse. If you save money couponing then give back to your community. And, never let it consume your entire life.
You can save money by couponing, but you can also save lots of money using other frugal tips. TLC Extreme Couponing can be done at your local grocery store or when playing the drugstore game. If you plan out exactly how much you need then it will help save you from going to far.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Actually it is not a series. This was a one time show.
Oh! I didn’t realize that – how did they fit everybody in? The TLC website said that they had four episodes planned with two features in each (Nathan Engels and Krazy Coupon Lady were first). That was about a month ago though, did they end up putting all eight in the one episode?
I watched last night’s episode and really enjoyed it. I do not think my local stores would allow me to use that many coupons.
I think it is great that Nathan is able to do this and donate the items.
I hate to see people stockpile and let it go to waste.
I do not use a ton because I stop myself with what I can use within a month or two or I can donate quickly. Food donations are harder for me to get out the door quickly so I tend to stick with household supplies donations.
It is a fine line between good saving and going to far. It is just one of those things that everybody has to figure out for themselves (sometimes with help from friends and family members, LOL).
I’m actually disappointed that they have now picked this up as a series, starting in April. The commercial looks like “regular” people have sent in their videos where they’re bragging about their hoarding stockpile. It’s hard to teach people to coupon successfully and help them with their budgets when they see people clearing shelves and buying 1,000 of something at a time. That’s not realistic!
I completely agree! I am not one to purchase large amounts of one item (at most I MAY have two coupons, but usually I only have one). It also looks a bit, ahem, crazy to see people hoarding food. If that was what couponing was about I would be doing it!
I totally agree. When people see my binder in the store and ask “oh do you watch Extreme Couponing” I just want to say “I’m not one of those people”! 🙂 They won’t find 40 years worth of toilet paper or mustard in my house…just enough to get us through a few months until the next sale. While I do watch the show, I feel it’s not portraying us couponers in a very good light and is making stores change their policies. 🙁
A person who works with my husband asked about the show today and I get quite a few emails about it. I also think it can portray couponers in a bad light and it also shows things that really cannot be easily done. You can easily (less than 2 hours a week) cut your bill by 50-70% while still eating healthy. The people on the show save 90-95% but they end up with lots of stuff that will sit in their home and never be used, plus many of them work on coupons 20 or more hours each week. I’m glad it is getting new couponers on board, but I hope that they have realistic expectations of what can be done.