Watching the Extreme Couponing previews makes me feel guilty. The show makes grocery stores nervous, so much so that many have changed their coupon policy. I don’t have cable so I can’t watch the entire show, but the previews haunt my grocery runs.
“I should be buying everything with a coupon,” I think to myself.
“But I don’t need 87 bottles of mustard,” I think back. “I don’t even like mustard!”
I put a $1.50 bottle of ketchup in my cart as images of coupon binders and overloaded grocery carts and savings in the ninetieth percentile pummeled my brain.
“I hope nobody sees me buy something that is only on sale.”
When I got to the pasta aisle, above, I lost it. Barilla pasta was on super sale for $.69 before coupons meaning if I had coupons they would be almost free. But I already have a six month supply of pasta – maybe even a year! And I’m trying to buy as few processed foods as possible.
So what it really comes down two is two things. Is it okay to buy food without a coupon? And how much is too much food to have stockpiled?
Below, the latest Extreme Couponing video. I couldn’t help it!
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
Well, I use coupons on every single thing I can, but one of the largest problems with my stores is that they will double to 50 cents and triple to 39. The stores these people go to will double up to much more than that. Also we are limited to 3 coupons then that’s it, so naturally I have been known to do more than one transaction! I never see anyone mention meats, breads, milk etc. You still have to purchase that! I agree with you, what in the world would you do with 50 bottles of something? Will the stuff even be good in a year? I mean things like BBQ sauce, Ketchup etc.
I think you’ve reached the point of too much of stockpile only if you’re buying things you don’t need, buying things that will go bad before you use them or if you’ve run out of room. So what if you have 6 months of pasta sauce? What happens in month 7 when you need pasta sauce? Are you going to spend three times as much because it’s not on sale and you didn’t want to buy a couple of extra jars?
I’m an extreme couponer. Maybe not AS extreme, but I’m extreme. However, we eat fairly healthy so our grocery bill is still up there. But the way I look at it, we don’t have to buy any hygiene products so I can splurge a little bit on food.
No you don’t need 87 bottles of mustard, but if I had that many coupons for something, I would get them all free and then donate to a food bank. I donate a TON of my things and it really does help others, I’m not just in this for myself. Friends come shopping in my closet etc.
I buy food without coupons all the time. Food I don’t stockpile too much (besides some cans and pastas) but hygiene products I will stock forever! They will last forever.
Although I have a large family (8), I don’t foresee us using 87 bottles of mustard before it expires! I use coupons when I shop and much like Patti, there is a limit on how many you can double and I find myself making more than 1 trip to the same store to really get a deal. On occasion, I get coupons for meats and milk, but it’s rare.
Some of those stockpiles are excessive. I would donate the items I can’t use to local food banks before I was that glutenous(sp).
I also wondered about milk. And we all don’t have the storage for all these things. It’s pretty amazing watching the show (as I do have cable) but sometimes I wonder where the line between hoarding and extreme couponing is.
Sometimes stores have produce, meat, bread, and even milk coupons or too-good-to-pass-up sales. Milk can be frozen, as can butter and cheese. I have a wonderful local produce stand that offers prices much lower than my regular grocery stores, so I spend most of my produce dollars there.
My only gripe about couponing where I live is that the stores where I live (Washington State) don’t allow double or triple coupon values. Sometimes Albertsons and Safeway do but I am limited to items I wouldn’t ever purchase or there are only 3-4 double coupons up to 50 cents. Woo-Hoo! So, I do take advantage of store card savings, store coupon/manufacturer coupon stacking, and any other discounts I can get my hands on. I only see a need to stockpile when I find great deals, but even then, the stores in my area put limits to the number of items you can purchase at that special price per customer. Many times I can get around it by making separate trips in a week to get what I need, but it better be worth the gas to where I’m going. Stores know the coupon game. It’s like gambling in a casino. They set the odds so that the casino makes more money than they have to pay out in winnings. And, this is why you don’t see very many people getting $1000 worth of groceries for $50-100 at every register in a store. Not to mention, many of us just don’t have the time or energy to do this to the extreme!
A few of the women say they will donate to various things but most do not. I just cannot understand why someone would want 100 boxes of cereal (that will most likely go stale) and especially if they do not even eat that kind, as one lady said in the last episode of extreme couponing. You also notice the items they get are high fat items, lots of coke products (and who needs all that for the kids?), lots of candy etc. Where are the staple items such as flour, cooking spices, meat etc?
That show just keeps coming back all the time.
Look, the show is sensationalist and not what normal shoppers do. I mean, no one on that show is buying meat, milk, veggies, etc. Or if they are, very little.
What you should consider is popping through and keeping a normal size binder of coupons for use when you need them. I have a 1/2″ binder and a traditional small coupon organizer I’m down to, because we’re continually honing what my husband and I need (and add to that associated people like my baby sitting kids, the food pantry, etc.).
Keep the coupons for stuff you actually buy (or that your food pantry says they need), pair them with the local sales and don’t feel guilty. Even only 25 cents saved is 25 cents you wouldn’t have without the coupon.
And further, it is absolutely okay to buy without coupons! I love almond milk, those neat little Healthy Choice mixers, and ice cream, and I’m excited to get them with a coupon, but its okay that I buy them without. I coupon to afford those things that I want to buy without coupons. Since you don’t have a large family or a required need to coupon, you need to look at it as a bonus to yourself. Every dollar saved here gets you a dollar somewhere else.
And BB, I hate to see you spreading the stereotype that coupons are only for processed foods. I get plenty of them for yogurt, cheese, alternative milks, bagged salads, chicken, 100% juices, whole grain breads, etc.
I also belong to a forum of couponers that had a great article on how to coupon AND eat healthy: http://goo.gl/4VSs2
Thank you Patti, finally someone that sees what I see & wondered about all the huge amounts of certain things when just “on sale”.
I can see where a large family can benefit, but as a single individual, the large amounts are useless.
The twin ladies (Chicago I think) buying diapers & no kids……oh please.
My main store has stopped doubling/tripling coupons so I’m looking for other ways. I have been investigating the store in Texas that offers “buy this get these free”.
I have read several books written by so-called coupon queens but have been unable to put their advice into practice. None of the stores near me seem to offer double coupons these days and most limit the number of coupons you can use for items. When I have tried to take advantage of the “buy 10” get it for less offers I usually end up with a lot of stale products that nobody wants to eat and where is the savings in that?
The show is really making things hard for the average couponer I have to driver a 100 mile round trip to coupon because I live in a rural area. The Target store is going through the coupns witha fine tooth comb because they said the show had people coming in there trying to use coupons for things they don’t have. They said they will be fired if they don’t. Cashiers are becoming more rude and think we are just out to cheat the store. Other people come up to me and want to know if I have 1000 tubes of toothpaste in my basement. There is no store in my area that would let you do the things they do on this show, if this keep on alot of place will stop taking cou
pons all together.
I’m sorry, I believe there is such a thing as overkill. I too am a single person and know that things do go bad. I just found cans in my pantry that expired in 2007 and 2008. I know that canned goods that are not bulging are supposed to still be good but I also know that they lose some of their flavor…
Remember this show is a “reality show”. It is edited so that people will watch. The stores suspend there coupon policies in order to make for good tv. I am a hugh couponer and I refuse to watch this show. I believe that atleast one person from that show is now being investaged for fruad.
I also don’t think you need more then like a 6 month supply of anything. The sales and coupons go in cycles, so you will also find a deal
Another thing is that you would NEVER catch me dumpster diving. Those women need to get some shrink counseling. I would go for the neighbors giving you the coupons, but to climb into a dumpster?
I agree with you, Linda, canned products are only good for just so long. How Why stack up soup “as high as your head” when there is absolutely no way in the world you could use it all?
I also agree with Robyn where it is just for a TV show that they can use that many coupons and the stores just want to be on tv. You notice they are continually screwing up the registers? My store would probably kick me out if that happened.
@Patti I agree. I think a lot of the stores cooperate because it’s so exciting to be on television. But I don’t think I’ve heard the name of one grocery store mentioned – at least in the previews. Maybe they don’t want the publicity.
The problem with clearing the shelves, even if you are going to donate some to charity, is that then there is nothing for the next coupon clipper who comes by. I’m all for donating to food pantry’s, but seems we should remember others want to take advantage of the same great deals and steals too!
Oh, and I’ve dumpster dived before. Depending on the dumpster, they can be surprisingly clean.
Now, I do couponing, I have a binder, but I only buy the things that I need and what my family will use. Yes, I stock up on toilet paper and other household things, but I have coupons for the other things as well. If I see a great coupon for something I know we will use a lot of, I will even go as far as get extras from a Coupon Clipper service. The only time that I will get something with a coupon that we don’t use is if it is free and then I donate it to a local food bank or shelter.
As far as meats go, I only buy what is on sale and I get enough to last a few months in my freezer. My butcher sees me coming and knows that I am going to ask him to grind 20 pounds of London Broil when it goes on sale for $1.99 or cut up whole chickens when they hit 67 cents a pound.
There is only one store that doubles coupons around me and I don’t shop there because their prices tend to be higher than everywhere else. Also, they will only double 2 coupons per item.
On average, with coupons and doing sales, I save between 35% and 55% each week. For me, it is worth the 2 hours I put into it each week.
Oh, and I love watching Extreme Coupining. Have gotten some great ideas from that show.
I’ve started comparing this show to Hoarders – and it seems the only difference between the two is that the couponers tend to be organized, and the hoarders just have stuff everywhere. (A generalization, I know.) Something that also bothers me is the amount of time consumed by collecting the coupons, planning the shopping trips, etc. When do they spend time with their families – doing somnething other than cutting coupons together?
@Susan You’re not the first person to mention Hoarders and Extreme Couponing in the same breath! The couponers are organized, almost obsessively, but you have to be that way to make it work. I’m guessing they spend a lot of time planning meals and cooking together with all that food – not a bad way to spend time together!
I use coupons but I find this TV show to be repulsive.
@Linda O. Why repulsive? Such strong words!
@evie you use ground london broil for your ground meat? How lean is that?
I’d share my opinions but they would basically mirror Evie’s. sure hope the stores do not get frustrated with all of the newfound interet in coupons.
I recently started couponing and I am constantly trying to match up coupons to what is on sale. The show referenced is exactly what it is called…”Extreme”. These people have ideal situations for one thing…as many of you have said, I also do not have grocery stores that do the insane doubling of coupons. Most will double your first coupon and any multiples after that will be face value. And many stores in this area put limits on how many products you can purchase at sale price. Of course you can do multiple purchases but it is on some levels rude. Not only because there are other customers that would like to check out….but also rude to completely wipe out the stock on shelves so that other customers can’t purchase things they may want or need. There is a misunderstanding though because many of the couponers on the show do explain how they get their meat, produce and things like milk. Because their stores double coupons up to such high rates, many of their double coupons end up exceeding the price of the item (something that our local stores also do not allow)…that overage basically puts you in the black and allows you to use what is basically the equivalent of them paying you to take those items out of the store, towards other items you may not have coupons for. For example, you have a coupon for 75 cents off a pack of gum and your store is one that doubles all coupons up to a dollar…maybe that gum only costs 75 cents so now you’ve got an extra 25 cents that they basically are giving to you that you can use towards the rest of your purchased items. I think that this Extreme Couponing show and the people that are starting to follow and mimic it is going to eventually make those stores that have no limits tighten their belts….which will in turn hurt the people who really need to use coupons and who don’t take it to the extremes.
Yep, I had forgotten some stores will give you the money over the price of the item. My store will not do that, they just take off the extra percent so it is free, but you do not get any money added. Perhaps that is how they get meats and stuff, hadn’t thought of that. Good point. But still, I virtually never see meat coupons. Occasionally some for lunchmeats.My sister in law’s brother is a hoarder and these people seem the same way to me.
I would go ahead and purchase the sale items combined with my coupons and donate the excess to a local food bank. The store receives the price they asked and a family who is in need gets products they can use. I sometimes use this process to exchange the items in my cupboard for ones with a shorter “use by” date since the food bank customers are much more likely to use the products quickly (i.e., they do not have a 6 month stockpile of pasta or canned goods). Of course I would only purchase products with a reasonably long shelf life and no specific storage requirements (rice, pasta, canned goods, etc.).
@Jenni…according to my butcher, the London Broil is 7% and sometimes less. The only thing that you can’t use it for is burgers because they come out tasting really dry. For burger meat my grocery store as a small section that they fill each morning with half-price meats. They don’t always have ground beef, but more often than not they do.
BB, think of all the $$ you are saving not having cable, good for you!
I only buy what my family needs (always with coupon), but if it is free or insanely cheap (like less than 25 cents), I will get it and donate it to either a homeless shelter, food pantry, or crisis center. That way I’m not stuck with a 5-year supply of pasta.
A lot of good comments and ideas here. When I saw the show the first time I wondered about the expiration dates on some of the items they were stock piling. I use coupons and carry them in my purse all the time as I never know when I might need one. If I can get a good deal on something I would not normally use then I donate the item. Especially pet foods/treats. Animal shelters are always needing this. It all comes down to what you are comfortable with doing. I cut out all the coupons I can get and what I don’t use I send to “coupsfortroops.com”. Coupons are sent to military families overseas to use and save money. Please everyone check them out instead of throwing them away. They even take some expired coupons.
This too will end…One day some of these people will wake up, wonder what have they been couponing for…they have no life…I like coupons…ones that allow me to buy something I really like for little money…but not 15 cans of soup…finding a 25 cent coupon for product I like is very nice…it’s like seeing a quarter on the street, I will pick it up…but not start to look to see if I can find more… I would rather , read a book, take a walk, visit with friends, watch a DVD…then spend all my time clipping and visiting stores.
Honestly, I’m not impressed. Now if I ever see an extreme couponer save that kind of money on healthy foods, I will become a devoted follower.
As it is, my family has done a complete turn around and are adopting a healthy lifestyle. Losing weight, exercising, going for non-processed and organic foods as much as possible etc.
If anyone can show me that they can save like that on organic chicken, wild caught fish, beans, whole grains, fruit, vegetables and certain dairy products, I will really be impressed.
It sounds like she is spending as much, if not more time, researching, cutting coupons and shopping daily, as I am spending on exercising, planning and cooking nutritious meals.
The difference is that by the end of the year, I am going to have all of my extra weight off, and my body is going to be fit instead of fat. And my overall life style, for both myself and my family is going to be healthier.
A lowering of our blood pressure, cholesterol and lessening chances of diabetes, heart disease and cancer in all of us. And we’re teaching my teenage son some invaluable lessons that he will carry on into adulthood. I can’t imagine settling for saving some money and giving up all of that.
Watching the extreme behavior of the people on this show leads me to believe that they are suffering from a type of obsessive compulsive disorder, hoarding, if you will. If the food would be donated to a good cause, then it is worth it, but these people are greedy and OCD in my opinion.
I don’t use coupons. On the other hand I still like to find good deals by focusing on fresh foods and produce. I base my shopping on which store I feel will best serve my needs. As for stock piling, when it comes to the basics I try to only buy what I have room for. I don’t want food spilling over into my closets etc. That way I can enjoy a more simplified lifestyle. Great post!
Great insights everyone. I would like to see the Extreme Couponers tackle a more well-rounded grocery trip that includes buying fresh produce, meat, and milk, for example. There are plenty of ways to save money on these items aside from coupons, but it would lower their overall percentage off.
As for expiration dates, some of the couponers have shelving systems (wonder how much those cost to build?!) that push the oldest can out first to minimize food expiring.
Yes, the shelving and all those storage containers surely must have cost a fortune. The real nut jobs are the ones that have turned their entire house into storage for their hoarding. All of them use the entire garage, but one lady was using every room of her house. She even had cereal stuffed under her daughter’s bed! They have no room for themselves. Now tell me you could use all that stuff before it expired! That’s not hoarding??
These women are obsessive about paying little or nothing for items. They get a high from the experience and then have food they can’t use. I work and can not spend 60 hours a week cutting coupons, making long shopping lists, shopping, loading, unloading and putting asway $600.00 worth of food and hygiene items. Just another form of hoarding.
I don’t feel as though criticizing their chosen lifestyle is what this post was intended for. It’s not for us to judge whether or not they are using their time wisely. I think it’s great that a mother of 7 is teaching her children to use coupons instead of running to the grocery store and swiping a credit card. Or that sheis very much aware that education costs a FORTUNE these days and is tryig to be prepared. Most of those on the show came across hard times at one point and if this became a way to cope. It may be excessive to one person, but i think everyone has something they take to the extreme.
Every time I watch an episode of this show, I think, “Why don’t the food banks hire these people full-time?” If they can get the food banks this much food for free every week, their salary would be more than paid for. Everyone wins.
@Julie B That is such a great question!
Yes..Julie B you have hit on really good idea. ..that would be an interesting show…Coupon collecters battling it out to stock Food Pantry shelves. and a prize to the winner…and the Food Pantrys would also be winners…Don’t forget Sat. May 14 is National Association of Letter Carriers STAMP OUT HUNGER food drive. 1. Bag non-perishable food items. 2. Leave at mailbox for pick-up & delivery to local food bank. To find out more go http://www.helpstampouthunger.com
Oh Julia, this is a stupid show. I for one do not want anymore stuff cluttering up my house. If I dont need it, I dont buy it. We do just fine and these people on this show have a lot to be desired!
I’ve watched these shows, and I am horrified by the extreme excess, to the point where I think most of them are addicted to the high they get from using coupons. Most of the items are just stockpiled in room after room. Most of the items they buy are soda, processed foods, or tons of toiletries. Sure I like having things handy, but this is just too much.
“what should I wear with this blouse, the skirt, the corn pops, or alfredo sauce…
Who cares, I get that its greedy when ends up going to waste but some of you are being “extremely” rude theyre not taking the food in your kitchen so you shouldn’t be offensive.
Majority if not all of them said they at some point were out of jobs or money desperate times call for desperate measures and having felt they could not afford food they went to the other extreme.
Same thing with near death experience or a homeless winning the lottery. Those judging have skeletons of their own but because the stores is in public or on the show you feel free to criticize and youre just as repulsive as your describing them
you sound like bitter haters cause you’re not getting the free stuff and no I don’t coupon but don’t frown on others for it
I was wondering why the stores let them clean out the shelves…I remember that the manufacturers give the store anywhere between 5 cents to 10 cents over the price when they take the coupon…so if they accept 100 coupons on an item the store will be paid back, 5cents on each item plus add’l 2-7 cents for handling and mailing…with some coupons the stores just read the bar code and the Manufacturer applies credit to their account.
What does it matter how big someone else’s stock pile is or how many bottles of mustard they buy? Alot of that can be donated to churches who pass food out to families in need. I don’t see why people criticize others who are extreme couponers, and I don’t like the arrogance of the extremers. You stock what you want to stock, let others do what makes them happy.