Are you wondering where all the deals are lately? Wondering why in the world stores are cracking down and changing their coupon policies?
Could it really ALL be because of TLC’s Extreme Couponing?
The truth is, I’m not sure…
If you had asked me a few months ago, I would have said a show on TLC wouldn’t have that much power. Now though, I’m not sure I can call it all a big coincidence.
Us couponers have always kind of been in an underground culture of our own. Oh, the cashiers at Walgreens and CVS might have known us by name, but the general public knew very little about our coupon binders and coupon clipping services.
Now though, couponing has gone mainstream by going primetime. The show (which originally was titled “American Coupon Masters”, and the original participants had no idea they were signing up for a show titled “Extreme” anything) follows coupon experts on their shopping trips where they purchase thousands of dollars in groceries for the amount of a Starbucks latte.
While many ridicule and accuse the participants of hoarding and of fraud, many others admit that they want to learn the tricks of the trade.
The problem is, this show starts new couponers on a very unrealistic path. The examples given in the show are extreme for a reason. Many of the participants even admit that their normal coupon trip hauls are never as extreme as what is depicted on the show. We already know that in at least one episode, coupon fraud was committed. In other cases, it seems that at the very least, store policies were relaxed for the filming.
Several bloggers and site owners that I personally know and respect have been on the show. Which is why I’m a bit hesitant to throw all the blame on the participants. If anything, TLC’s desire for a hit show has resulted in some creative editing, and perhaps missed the point that the couponers had hoped to make by agreeing to take part in the series.
Regardless, there are a lot of new deal seekers out there nowadays. Many whom are trying to get something for nothing, without really knowing how. Don’t get me wrong, I have tons of new couponers who understand that they need to build up to that kind of savings (and it’s arguable if consistently saving that much without compromising your families health and integrity is even possible anymore), and who come to my site and other sites like mine looking to learn and grow into the coupon lifestyle.
There are also those, that although hopefully well intentioned, are jumping into this head first and asking questions later. These people are clearing shelves and using coupons not as intended and copying printable coupons and pretty much just pushing limits wherever they go.
Us couponers have always had a kind of unspoken promise to tread lightly and even though we knew we weren’t doing anything wrong, we also didn’t really want to rock the boat of the powers that be. So we ranted on our forums about uneducated cashiers rather then losing our cool in the middle of stores. We ran scenarios past each other to make sure we didn’t make mistakes that could hold up checkout lines. We passed on our knowledge willingly to those who desired to learn.
In short, we became a community that stood together and even though policies are changing and things are getting more difficult, I have faith this community will pull through just fine.
Meanwhile, all we can do is strive to educate and promote ethical couponing whenever and wherever we can.
It’s frustrating.
I understand.
Especially for those who don’t coupon by choice or for the thrill of it; to see some make things more difficult for all is incredibly irritating.
However, it’s what’s happening. We will adapt and we will find other ways to ethically save money.
I am committed to helping my readers through these changes. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. We might have to work harder to get the good deals, but they’ll still be there. I promise to help you find them.
Are you a new couponer? Be sure to check out my ongoing series, Strategic Shopping! Or just cut right to the chase and download my free ebook, Save Money in 7 Days!
What are your thoughts on the recent store policy changes? Has your budget suffered? What can I do to help?
I couldn’t have said this any better myself. I agree with you 100% on every single statement.
Thanks Stephanie! I appreciate you commenting and I’m glad you agree!
Agreed!
Thanks for commenting Janelle!!!
WOW! Great writing! I’ve tried to use coupons my entire married life (which will soon be 15 years) and I would always forget about having them! I got interested in trying to figure out a way to use coupons correctly way before the show came out, however, I did learn about creating a binder from the show. After seeing an episode, I started looking for information online. I found so many helpful sites, blogs, etc! I’ve never thought that getting thousands of dollars worth of anything for free was realistic and that has never been my goal. I just want to do what I can to save my family money. I can honestly say that I will never cheat or knowingly do anything wrong or unethical. I will not clear a shelf in a store unless there is only 1 or 2 of something left. I will never take or have more than my family needs. As for the show, I don’t blame the people profiled (except the ones who know they’re doing wrong), the problem is the stores changing rules because there are camera crews in the store. That is so wrong and leads people to think it’s ok to use 70 coupons to get 70 bottles of mustard!
Ok. Sorry, my rant is done. Thanks for all you do and for all of the information you provide! I know I appreciate it greatly, as I’m sure lots of others do!
That’s awesome! I’m so glad that you are educating yourself and committed to couponing the right way! You will (and already sound like you are) do great!
Thanks for commenting and reading!
I will admit I am very new to coupon world and did start because of the show. It opened my eyes into a new way of trying to save money. I would never in my right mind try and push the rules or even try to commit coupon fraud. I have never or would feel right clearing a shelf, guilt I guess. It was aggravating trying to pic up a few things last week and everything I was trying to pick up 2 or 3 of was gone. Thank you for all you do to keep us well informed.
I hope I didn’t make you feel like you weren’t welcome into the couponing world! You are most definitely welcome with open arms!!!
Thanks so much for commenting!
I had noticed the last couple weeks that all the coupon flyers in my store are gone and all the peelies are pulled off. And the deals are not quite as good. 🙁
Couponing for significant savings takes work and planning. I am hoping it’s a fad. Once people learn it’s work and the savings on the show are exaggerated, they will get tired of it and move on to the next big thing.
Perhaps. I do wonder what the next big thing will be though LOL.
Extreme gardening! That would be fun.
Gardening is even harder. It’s 101 outside, I need to weed the strawberry patch for fall planting – but it’s too hot. I battle the stink bugs and catapillars for my tomatoes and other produce. I love gardening in the spring and fall, that’s why I keep doing it, plus it does save money. By the way it’s time to prepare your gardens for the fall planting of tomatoes, potatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, and squash.
I agree with you totally.
I agree with some of the people who already posted and you of course Heather. I see the show Extreme Couponing and I just don’t think its realistic. I live in Arizona and it is just impossible to store that much unless you’re going to store it in the house (between the heat and the bugs…nothing can be in the garage and we don’t have basements).
But when I’ve seen some of these stockpiles that these people have I think “Why don’t you DONATE that stuff before it expires!” Yes…some of the stuff like toilet paper doesn’t expire…but who needs 500 rolls sitting around their house when another good deal will come in the next year. One episode showed the man who donated $21,000 to a local food bank and I thought that was wonderful.
I just officially started couponing. The blogs, sites and girls on Facebook are wonderful resources! Yesterday I got boxes of the bandaids for free with coupon. I kept 2 boxes for myself and donated the rest to my son’s school. They were so appreciative.
I just hope people start realizing that keeping that much food is nearly a hoarding-like issue…I understand why they’ve done it…but they need to think outside of the box…if they aren’t going to use it…they either should donate it or should not buy so many…even if they’re free. (That’s my personal opinion of course). Nobody needs 70 mustards…I don’t think my family could go through that in 20 years…
Thanks for the great post!
-Kimberlee
Mom to Sam (4) and Joe (3)
That was Nathan and he donates a lot! Many of them do actually. That’s why I’ll never be on a show like that (although I admit, they’d laugh at my measly stockpile) is because you are pretty much made into who they want you to be in the editing room.
Much agreed….some people come out as crazy…its all for the ratings…so sad there isn’t actual stories…no editing. Thanks for a great site! 🙂
I am thankful for bloggers like you who are helping us newbies. The show definitely piqued my interest, but I know that it’s Extreme and I just want to learn how to save my family some money. I’m having fun just reading it all, getting a few good deals here and there, and organizing my coupons. My husband says it’s annoying, but he’s tolerating it…as long as I keep getting better…haha!!
Oh just wait. Mine rolled his eyes a bit when I started and now he’s like, “um you are going to the store without coupons? Why?” LOL
What a great write up! I am still fresh at couponing, but I believe as the longstanding members of the club, it should be done ethically, legally and with regard for others. Even with some of the changes taking place, I am still saving an immense amount that before, I didn’t even know was possible. I appreciate blogs like yours who share the richness of these savings and who taught me better, smarter ways to shop.
That’s awesome Jessica! I’m so glad that my site has helped you. It’s amazing what savings we can amass when we play by the rules!
Great post! I agree that we may have to work harder for those fabulous deals but everything that is worth it takes a bit of work!
Have a fabulous night!
Yes m’am! Anything worth doing well is worth the effort!
I have always used a few coupons here and there, but because there are so many good resources for using them smarter now, we are doing it a lot more.
So what do people feel is the reasonable limit? Is it bad to buy four of the same things with coupons? Six? I would never want to be unethical about it, but am I crossing any boundaries unintentionally? I got about six Lunchables last week because I had six coupons. Was that bad? What if there are only three items left when you get there. Is it bad to take the last three? How do you know they don’t have more stock in the back?
That would be a great blog post for newbies.
Well said, Heather. Well written. Couldn’t have said it any better myself. Kudos!
I started couponing a few months ago and I honestly only watched one show of Extreme Couponing. I thought wow I could save money and help out my husband. My husband got laid off and I just finished college so we are on a tight budget! While I see a lot of my friends starting to pick up on the couponing I also see them starting to give up. For mostly the same reason. Cashiers being rude or A big line of people giving them the evil eye.
I am glad that some is coming out to say that it is EXTREME and that people who are new don’t quite understand. I know that many of the shows are “loaded” as far as going for the drama and entertainment value. I am worried about different aspects of it at the same time. I think that the blame for cleared shelves, out of stock items, coupon policy changes and everything else is everyone’s problem. Not just a TV show or a person, but both. Some people decide they can do what people had done on TV. This is not correct. it would be ( and I apologize now) like saying that David Koresh, Charlie Manson, or Jim Jones were completely 100% christian. it is the few extremists who take it to far that makes if harder.,difficult for the rest of us. Knowledge is important and it needs to be on everyone’s part. I wish the show would state in somewhere (other than the title) that this is extreme and not an everyday thing!
One thing I noticed as well is that many people now believe that all stores will double and triple coupons and they don’t. Prices in one’s area affect your bottom line! Not everything is going to go as smoothly as you think so be prepared and knowledgeable but also don’t be a pain in the but!
I started couponing because of this show. There is NO WAY I could ever dream of attempting it to the level they do on the show though. My husband and I are trying to stockpile a little because he faces a couple of furloughs at work and we need to be able to go without buying groceries for a little while.
I will also admit that I got more interested in couponing because of the show lol. My husband and I were watching it and he got all excited and told me that my new full time job needed to be couponing lol. I know darn good and well that some of this stuff is staged a bit for the show and hoping to get mass amounts of things free is unrealistic. I also had a feeling that once stores caught wind of people finding ways to save big bucks that they would start changing policies…
I am now paying more attention to the sales and coupons and work a little harder to find a good deal. If I can get a little freebie every once in a while and stock up on some things my family needs while saving myself a few bucks, I’ll be thrilled! Some of the ideas from the show make sense, but on a much smaller scale… Who REALLY needs 200 bottles of soda or 1000 toothpastes!? lol…
Thanks so much to all the helpful bloggers who are guiding the newbies like myself!!
I’ve used coupons my whole life, my family never had money and every little bit helped us make it through and still does. It worries me that people think they can get deals like the people on the show. People in my community are finally beginning to use coupons and they really don’t get it yet. I think the most I ever saved from coupons and such is $60 or so. I’m a vegetarian, so finding coupons for a lot of the food I eat can be really difficult. I haven’t noticed any changes yet around here, but now that more people are using coupons, I worry that it will. I’ve had very rude store clerks when I use coupons and it does seem to be getting worse.
I totally agree with everything. I started couponing before this show came out. I am a mother of 5 kids under 8, lost my job because I was pregnant with twins, and had to go out on long term disability. It became worse for our family when I underwent brain surgery back in December. We have a family of 7 relying on 1 income, and that is really hard. So I took up couponing. I, myself have a stockpile, but it is small, and it is all things that we will use. (I found that the cereal goes the fastest). But these people are Extreme!! I really hope that most of them donate these things. Especially with all of the devestation i these poor communities that have been hit by tornados. I do watch the show, but I get angry when I see some of these women using the coupons in the wrong manner. If I am not mistaken, the Starkist Tuna Coupon stated it was ONLY for the gourmet. I remember this because when I first started couponing I though I had hit the Jackpot with that coupon, especially since my local store had it on sale for cheap! But that wasn’t the case…Ok I am done ranting. I think you get the point. But I do feel bad for the couponers that have been on the show that have been edited to look kinda crazy!
I have to admit, I blame all the changes on the show. I was hesitant (and hopeful) for awhile that it was just coincidence but im at the point now I think it all started with the TV show. Im sure you’ve seen my many rants on my wall about it, haha, I have a hard time holding back my distaste for it now.
A year ago when I would shop I could still get deals a week into the sale, now if im not there Sunday morning im out of luck for the entire week. My coupons are being scrutinized more so than they’ve ever been, a manager friend of mine has been spit on.. yelled at.. cussed at… none of this went on before the show. Before the shoe aired most couponers understood the basic etiquette and looked out for eachother, now its being treated like all out war.
I see almost every store I shop at changing their policies and it all relates to she’ll clearing (which im actually happy about) and limits limits limits. I can’t even buy two of a deal with store coupons at my favorite grocery store now.
I’ve spoken to a few that were on the first episode and they blamed it all on editing… yet the show didn’t “edit” their stockpikes that overrun their home. And these same people went back to do a second episode… that’s what kills me, if editin was all to blame why go BACK?
I know a few may have been misled when it first aired.. but most knew what this would do to the couponing community and were more worried about some 15min of fame and it shows when they constantly talk like they’re some sort of celebrity, not even carig they make the normal couponers look like a bunch of crazies.
This show strikes a huge nerve with me, lol. Now I feel in my coupon classes im spending more time trying to unteach what TLC has shown people.
Good write though! Sorry for the rant.
I’m just getting started with learning how to coupon and I don’t expect to do extreme shopping like the show portrays but I want to save, I need to save! I’m so thankful to those who are experienced who share their knowledge, it means so much! I have a lot to learn but I’m willing to learn how to become a smarter shopper for my hard earned money. I’ve always wanted to learn how to coupon but when the show came on, I really wanted to understand it because of necessity.Thank you for all that you do in educating others!
I agree with you and the others and I think the whole thing is a fad and will disappear as fast as it started. Couponing well takes a lot of time and practice and most people wont keep up with it. Lets just hope the stores and manufacturers don’t change to much.
I hope so too!
You said it! I’ve been an “extreme couponer” for over 10 years, and now with the show, I can hardly find anything. Not only has my favorite store changed their coupon policy dramatically, the store managers and cashiers look at me now as though i’m stealing. Hopefully the hype will be done and over with soon.
I agree with you. months ago I was using a coupon from inside the toothpaste box of crest. It was $7.oo off any crest 3d vivid product. well I had two store managers maybe it was three tell the cashiers that I could use them on any creast product toothpaste, because if it goes thru then it is good. So I had been getting them at dollargeneral I thought I would just get the item for free cause the price was less than the coupon. I got several boxes to donate to charity. I am not a hoarder. well they actually take off the whole $7! which I was told by store managers employees that it was ok! now I just found out from a friend that her friend works in a dollar general and said my picture was taped up in the stores and they are watching me for fraud. I had no idea this was fraud. I saw it on tv and was told it was ok. this girl told my friend that there is a glitch in the crest coupon and it shouldnt be scanned and that I know about this, but they are watching me. I am a law abiding citizen retired nurse on disability. When I was told this, I just cried. why didnt they tell me not to use it and just explain why. I dont like the idea of my picture being pasted to a store wall. I think I am going to contact an attorney. I know the time I encountered a problem with it, they had to call in the store manager in this small town, to void out my order. she came in smelling of booze and throwing a hissy fit. then tried to say i didnt hand my money to the cashier! I told the cashier that he should remember me paying him otherwise I wouldnt have gotten my merchandise, that I had to return per her request. talk about embarssed! I think she is the one that posted my pic. help me what should I do? !!! very upset and embarassed. I am not a thief!!!
Krogers in Columbus, Ohio only allows 3 like coupons to be used per transaction. They have dropped the ball, and Walmart and Giant Eagle have picked it up!