"Extreme couponing" show is ridiculous - Page 3

[jenP]

Originally Posted by velochic 

So, since the last thread that was started here last month regarding this show, I diligently scoured the coupons in the paper.  I quite literally did not find a SINGLE store coupon over 4 weeks that I would or could use.  Even things like jarred pickles, which we do eat, had coupons for only those that have artificial coloring in them (which we *don't* eat).  The yogurts (yes we eat this) was not for anything we would eat.  There wasn't a single coupon for a whole food.  There was one about getting a pound of bananas for free if you bought a HIGHLY processed box of sugary cereal.  Yeah, that helps.

This. My MIL happily takes the coupons from our Sunday paper. She looks at me incredulously: "You mean you don't use coupons??? Why wouldn't you want to save money??"

So I diligently look through the whole booklet. And once again, nope, not a single thing there that I would eat, even if it was free!

Our co-op does have coupons for real food. And there is a wonderful woman who works the check-out there who will tear out coupons from the booklet if I'm checking out with an item and I didn't realize there was a coupon :smile:

[mar123]

I use coupons as much as possible and still come no where in the same zip code as these people on the show.

I have been looking online lately for coupons and have been finding ones for clothes, shoes, etc, not just food. I do find I save the most money on toiletry items by combining store coupons (usually Target) with the manufacturer's coupon. I pay very little for toothpaste, deoderant, shampoo, etc.

[BetsyS]

We don't eat all natural or all organic or all local, so that's why I can use coupons.

And, like I've said before, I already get the newspaper (and live in a big metro area), they mail me coupons every week, and my local stores double.  There are blogs out there that link all the coupon deals for the week, so I don't have to think about them.  I tend to buy 5-10 items each week with coupons.  Some weeks, I might cut out 15 coupons, and some weeks, only 1.  Just depends. 

This week's items:

deodorant

Mt Olive pickles (we're brand specific on this, and their organic ones don't have any funky ingredients, not even dye)

chicken (just regular, raw chicken)

pasta (nothing fancy, just Ronzoni)

ketchup (again, just Hunt's)

almond milk

Our budget is tight.  I splurge some places (organic fancy coffee) and not in others (we eat grocery store meat).  I'm okay with that, mostly.  I do the best I can, always trying to stretch myself for new strategies to increase the healthy food, but still stay in budget.  One day, I'll be able to afford the fancy pork, the grass fed beef, the farm eggs, and the raw milk.  Until then, we do the best we can, and yes, sometimes coupons have a place in that.  If I can reduce my toiletries to next to nothing out the budget, then there's that much more money to spend at the farmers' market, you know? 

[Ldavis24]

Betsy, I don't think there is a thing wrong with what you said!

The title of the show says it all "Extreme" those women are just extreme...like OCD extreme and like a PP said it seems like it is way way more about how much they can "save" than whether or not they actually need the stuff they are buying...The thrill of the chase I suppose.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Originally Posted by redbirdlady 

One of the couponers featured on the show was "caught" by viewers using coupons that weren't intended for the products she purchased.  (There's something about the UPC code on the coupon and how you can match it to a product by the same manufacturer, but not necessarily the product listed on the coupon.  Wish I really understood the logistics of it, but then again, I am also one of those people who has a hard time finding coupons for stuff that we do eat, so I'm not all THAT into it.)

It has to do with UPC codes for each manufacturer.  She was basically using coupons in the same UPC "family" but it was violating the face value of the intention of the coupon.  For example: If she had a coupon for $1 off Hunt's Tomato Sauce, she was using it to buy Hunt's Pasta Sauce....I will find the link for a very extensive blog about how they feel she was doing something illegal.  That said, I believe the TLC network had talked to the stores ahead of time to "okay" this whole thing.

http://www.jillcataldo.com/node/16258

[Amys1st]

I dont have a problem witth someone using coupons and trimming some $$ of their grocery and household bill. I do have a problem with the people shown on the show though. The lady buying mustard who dosent eat it, took ALL of the ones on the shelf. That is terrible. So now it will sit and rot in her house and no one can buy mustard for at least 24-72 hours until the stock is replenished. I would be really PO if I ran in to get it and it was out.

I had a problem with one person featured who said, she wanted to keep the lifestyle she was accomstomed to. Not I was worried about feeding my family. It bothered me the greed and stockpile. It would take us years to use one lady's toilet paper. I would donate what I cannot use. I find that terrible.

Like Velochic has said, I too since the last thread started going thru the coupon sheet in the sunday paper before giving it away to a friend/couponer and came up for 4 weeks straight- Nothing.

Again, I hold up my NFliving membership card, I clothed diaperd, used rags, make everytthing from scratch etc and I also use most organics and do not shop at the big boxes or if  I do, stay on the perimeter of the store.

i will stock up on a big pasta sale, but I wont buy hundreds of boxes. Maybe 10 or 20 and we will use each annd everyy one of them and then do it again several months later. I monitor sales, buy local and seasonal and plan our meals around this.

Yes, there is the occasional stock up such as the 39 cent candy bars (limit 6) at walgreens this week. With summer vacation, I let the kids eat more candy after bike rides, on an outing so we will stock up and throw them in the freezer for such occassions. But we will buy the ones everyone likes. They also occassionaly have a $5 off coupon on a purchase. DD usually finds it and uses it for a $5 purchase. But that is my limit.  

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Amys1st 

i will stock up on a big pasta sale, but I wont buy hundreds of boxes. Maybe 10 or 20 and we will use each annd everyy one of them and then do it again several months later. I monitor sales, buy local and seasonal and plan our meals around this.

Yes, there is the occasional stock up such as the 39 cent candy bars (limit 6) at walgreens this week. With summer vacation, I let the kids eat more candy after bike rides, on an outing so we will stock up and throw them in the freezer for such occassions. But we will buy the ones everyone likes. They also occassionaly have a $5 off coupon on a purchase. DD usually finds it and uses it for a $5 purchase. But that is my limit.  

This is how I do it. I found great deals on deodorant and body wash this past week. I bought 2 of each. I didn't feel the need to buy 50 and I won't feel the need to buy more next week. My local grocery store has pasta for $1 each. I'll probably buy 5-7 of them and feel good about it.

[kayleesmom]

very interesting thread my mom loves this show. i personally hate it.

[Galatea]

Just want to clarify - I see nothing wrong with the normal use of coupons like BetsyS, and no one here should feel they have to justify their food purchases!  I was just grokking over the hoarding nature of the people on this show, and how unhealthy their diets are as a result.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Galatea 

Just want to clarify - I see nothing wrong with the normal use of coupons like BetsyS, and no one here should feel they have to justify their food purchases!  I was just grokking over the hoarding nature of the people on this show, and how unhealthy their diets are as a result.

There was one recently that was a bit more realistic...the single mom? She got almost $500 for a little under $50 (closer to realistic than $5 IMO) and didni't have an insane amount of random items...

[mnnice]

Originally Posted by Amys1st 

I had a problem with one person featured who said, she wanted to keep the lifestyle she was accomstomed to. Not I was worried about feeding my family. It bothered me the greed and stockpile. It would take us years to use one lady's toilet paper. I would donate what I cannot use. I find that terrible.

I saw that episode and I found her (the mustard lady seriously materialistic and annoying) But what is wrong with several years of toilet paper?  It's not like it is ever going to go bad (unless you would have a fire or flood or something).  I found a good deal on toilet paper almost three years ago.  After buying one or two four packs and determining that my family liked the brand okay.  I spent $3-4 from a clipping service on got approximately 80 coupons and used them to purchase 80 free 4-pack of toilet paper.  At one point it took some space store, but I had the physical space.  I bought them in over the course of a month as part of my regular grocery shop.  Right now they are just about gone and I am not excited at the prospect of spending money on toilet paper again.  Anyway my point is that for certain non-perishible items I personally up the ante on what I would consider hording.  If I bought 80 things of toilet paper every month when we only use two or three that would be hording.  But buying one or even five years of something non perishable that you knew you like and would use up makes sense to me.  Chasing deals to chase deals not so much.

[Hannah32]

Originally Posted by velochic 

So, since the last thread that was started here last month regarding this show, I diligently scoured the coupons in the paper.  I quite literally did not find a SINGLE store coupon over 4 weeks that I would or could use.  Even things like jarred pickles, which we do eat, had coupons for only those that have artificial coloring in them (which we *don't* eat).  The yogurts (yes we eat this) was not for anything we would eat.  There wasn't a single coupon for a whole food.  There was one about getting a pound of bananas for free if you bought a HIGHLY processed box of sugary cereal.  Yeah, that helps.

I honestly don't know HOW anyone who believes in natural family living, living sustainably, and feeding whole foods to their families can possibly coupon more than just the random coupon here and there. 

The show is a joke because it's not realistic from an MDC point of view. 

And I'm sorry, but I do donate to our local food bank twice a month, and I don't compromise my ethics to give crappy frankenfood just because I can get it for free.  I donate the same food *we* would eat.  Feeding your family one thing and then giving away food you wouldn't feed your family doesn't seem ethical, IMO.

I didn't realize that there was only one "MDC view" on things. Frankly, we don't make enough money to eat all organic natural foods. It's just not happening. But I appreciated the coupon for $1 2 grape tomatoes and $1 off Silk Milks and the $1 Fiber One cereal I just bought. It's not the ideal food, but it's not Cocoa Crisp either. 

[MsFortune]

Originally Posted by BetsyS 

We don't eat all natural or all organic or all local, so that's why I can use coupons.

One day, I'll be able to afford the fancy pork, the grass fed beef, the farm eggs, and the raw milk.  Until then, we do the best we can, and yes, sometimes coupons have a place in that.  If I can reduce my toiletries to next to nothing out the budget, then there's that much more money to spend at the farmers' market, you know? 

I hear you.  People who spend $15 on a gallon of raw milk and are on the Frugal Forum - are just poverty tourists.  Like, they want to try to see what it is like to have to save money, just for fun.  

Coupons rock.  If you are lucky, you get coupons for stuff that you like, want, need.  If not, you get coupons that you don't want and toss, or that you don't particularly want, but it makes the stuff cheap, so you buy it so you can have something to eat.  Your stomach does not care if your eggs come from cage free chickens.  

[swede]

Originally Posted by MsFortune 

I hear you.  People who spend $15 on a gallon of raw milk and are on the Frugal Forum - are just poverty tourists.  Like, they want to try to see what it is like to have to save money, just for fun.  

Coupons rock.  If you are lucky, you get coupons for stuff that you like, want, need.  If not, you get coupons that you don't want and toss, or that you don't particularly want, but it makes the stuff cheap, so you buy it so you can have something to eat.  Your stomach does not care if your eggs come from cage free chickens.  

This might be one of the best posts I have ever read on MDC :)

[syn_ack89]

Poverty tourists...love that term. I'm going to try and work it into something this week!

[HeatherAtHome]

Poverty tourist! 

Ok, question. I'm in Canada and I don't care what anyone says we don't have this sort of couponing going on here. (Sure, you can get the odd coupon through the store or from a product company but it's not widespread. )

A good part of it is because instead of using COUPONS our food just goes on sale. Does that not happen in the US? It's like having coupons without the hassle of clipping. I'm being serious. Honestly. For all you who mention that the "good food" never has coupons.... well that's because it goes on sale. So sure, you can't double and triple it up with coupons to get something free, but you're eating healthy food at a lower cost. I'm talking fruits, veggies, meat, etc. 

I swear I'm being honest here. There's so much focus on coupons in the US that I really don't know if you have regular sales where the price is just cheaper. 

[Youngfrankenstein]

Originally Posted by MsFortune 

I hear you.  People who spend $15 on a gallon of raw milk and are on the Frugal Forum - are just poverty tourists.  Like, they want to try to see what it is like to have to save money, just for fun.  

Coupons rock.  If you are lucky, you get coupons for stuff that you like, want, need.  If not, you get coupons that you don't want and toss, or that you don't particularly want, but it makes the stuff cheap, so you buy it so you can have something to eat.  Your stomach does not care if your eggs come from cage free chickens.  

I don't think that's fair.  I don't spend money for raw milk or even organic milk, but I do look for hormone-free milk.  I do care where my food comes from and how it lived and I don't see why that's at odds with being frugal.  Of all the things we put most of our money into, it's good food.  We certainly do not eat all organic but if I can find ways to save on more humane meats and dairy, why is that any skin off your nose?  Should we all be dirt poor to take care of our money and care about where it goes?  We all have different financial situations here and some are beyond our control.  Why should I be criticized for having money and choosing to be responsible with it.  We make a good living but I am a SAHM so I must be wise with what I'm given.

I also think that the difference between who feels coupons are useful is small.  If BetsyS is happy with her way, I support that.  I don't think it's at odd with MDC philosophies.  I also think that vehlochic is 100% justified in her thoughts too.  I don't see it at odds.  I see the show "Extreme Couponing" something none of us would want to be.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Originally Posted by HeatherAtHome 

Poverty tourist! 

Ok, question. I'm in Canada and I don't care what anyone says we don't have this sort of couponing going on here. (Sure, you can get the odd coupon through the store or from a product company but it's not widespread. )

A good part of it is because instead of using COUPONS our food just goes on sale. Does that not happen in the US? It's like having coupons without the hassle of clipping. I'm being serious. Honestly. For all you who mention that the "good food" never has coupons.... well that's because it goes on sale. So sure, you can't double and triple it up with coupons to get something free, but you're eating healthy food at a lower cost. I'm talking fruits, veggies, meat, etc. 

I swear I'm being honest here. There's so much focus on coupons in the US that I really don't know if you have regular sales where the price is just cheaper. 

Yes, the food is always on sale.  The best stuff isn't as much as the Oreos.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by MsFortune 


I hear you.  People who spend $15 on a gallon of raw milk and are on the Frugal Forum - are just poverty tourists.  Like, they want to try to see what it is like to have to save money, just for fun. 

Coupons rock.  If you are lucky, you get coupons for stuff that you like, want, need.  If not, you get coupons that you don't want and toss, or that you don't particularly want, but it makes the stuff cheap, so you buy it so you can have something to eat.  Your stomach does not care if your eggs come from cage free chickens.  

I have to agree. Granted, we buy raw milk ($6-$10) and raw butter (super expensive) HOWEVER it's the only dairy my son can have. He's lactose intolerant and can handle raw dairy but not pasteurized dairy...and the "alternative milks" (not soy...I don't do soy stuff) are more expensive per oz than the raw milk we buy. *shrugs* And it's because we spend so much on other things that I have to be super frugal in the grocery area.

We actually can't use most of the food coupons because of DS's allergy. So I have been trying to stock up on really cheap toiletries.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by HeatherAtHome 

Poverty tourist! 

Ok, question. I'm in Canada and I don't care what anyone says we don't have this sort of couponing going on here. (Sure, you can get the odd coupon through the store or from a product company but it's not widespread. )

A good part of it is because instead of using COUPONS our food just goes on sale. Does that not happen in the US? It's like having coupons without the hassle of clipping. I'm being serious. Honestly. For all you who mention that the "good food" never has coupons.... well that's because it goes on sale. So sure, you can't double and triple it up with coupons to get something free, but you're eating healthy food at a lower cost. I'm talking fruits, veggies, meat, etc. 

I swear I'm being honest here. There's so much focus on coupons in the US that I really don't know if you have regular sales where the price is just cheaper. 

We do have things go on sale...but sometimes it's only a $1 off or something. So, if I can stack a sale with a coupon it makes it dirt cheap instead of just slightly cheaper.

We also have store brands here (do they do that in Canada? lol I don't know) and most of the time THAT is the cheaper option...like, way cheaper than even the on sale item.