TLC Extreme Couponing

I watched the TLC show Extreme Couponing.


They showcased four people who did extreme couponing as a lifestyle choice. In addition to the couponing, they brought their own bags (save 5 cents per bag) and used store loyalty cards for additional discounts.


They have to check out through several registers as there is a limit of 500 purchases per register.


The way the items have to go through the register is all planned out. They have to know what they are doing but to most, it is like a game.

I could not help notice the stuff they bought, lots of soda, energy drinks, candy, jarred spaghetti sauce, pre-packaged items, all products containing lots of sugar/perservatives.


Then there are the household products (cleaners, laundry), beauty products (soap, shampoo, toothpaste) which are all chemical based and do have a shelf life. (please, no lit matches near the stash!)

The first gal, she said she spends 70 hours a week making a plan: coupon use, then shopping.


Shopping takes four hours. And on top of this, she works outside the home. When does she sleep?


Her husband seemed supportive but after the shopping spree (register crashed and they had to start over again), they had to physically haul all the stuff to the car, and then in the house, then organize it. It was at this point we see how angry the husband was over the stuff taking over the living space.

Also mentioned that they PAY for a coupon clipping service to get the coupons and that was $70. so really, are you saving if you have to pay for the coupons? Where is the logic?

The lady who was on the Ellen Show, walks through the neighborhood everyday collecting the circulars for her coupon fix. She collects $200 of coupons per day from people in her neighborhood. She has a stockpile but shares with those less fortunate. She says she only buys what she needs or uses.

A young couple who started this found how it saved them when they were out of work. The gal said she scans the registers for young male cashiers since they are more tolerant and easy going than the old lady cashiers.

The last guy, he got $4000. worth of cereal (had to order it) and brings a TRAILER to the store to bring home his stash. He keeps it in the two car garage all orderly like a store (hope he does not have mice). He says he helps his church out by sharing some of his stash.

All of them had half the store employees push their goods out to their car and this happens on a regular basis.

So in all, this is a lot of time, planning, orgainizing to shop, then the hours of shopping, gas to get to the store, moving the stuff from the store to the car to home, sorting and storing the stuff in the house in an orderly fashion and keeping track of your "inventory".

Seems like a lot of time, effort, and work.


Where are your relationships if this is all you are obsessed with do?


One person had enough toilet paper for 40 years! Would you like to be using 40 year old toilet paper from the bottom of the stash?

I think I just will go to the dollar store and get just what I need for the time being.