14 Thoughts on the Reality of Coupon Shopping
Reality television over the past few years has taken a look at saving money coupon shopping. The show, “Extreme Couponing“, is just one of the reality shows out there following a “coupon lady” from store to store. But what happens when the reality of real life competes with reality tv? 
Because I can never pass up a reality tv show (yep, I really need to get a life), I sat down and watched several episodes. If you aren’t familiar, Extreme Couponing follows a “coupon lady” around as they show us their couponing routine and how they can save ridiculous amounts of money at the grocery store. We get to watch them collecting coupons, we watch them shopping and we see their grocery stashes of piles and piles of free or next to free stuff. And we come away with the idea that maybe, just maybe, we can do this too! With the economy the way it is today, saving big bucks at the grocery store is definitely appealing.
1. Reality TV– Mrs. Freestuff collects her coupons by printing off of the internet, and hoarding unwanted newspapers from dumpsters. She spends up to 8-10 hours a day on the internet on various sites, collecting and printing and then cutting those coupons. She prints the maximum number allowed and sometimes has as much as 100 of the same coupon.
2. The reality– First of all, I do not have the time in my day to add another 8-10 hours of internet couponing. My husband would totally divorce me. I did find a user friendly site call Coupons.com that offers daily printables. This site is a time-saver, so if you are thinking about taking this on, I would suggest starting there. You can sign up for emailed coupons which can save even more time. As for dumpster diving. Really? Isn’t that illegal? Reality TV or not, I think I will pass. I instead went to the store and bought two Sunday papers. And when I got home, I discovered that some coupon lady had already taken the coupons from my papers before I bought them. Turns out that is a common occurrence according to the grocery store. Already I’m learning things the hard way.
3. Lessons learned– Find a user-friendly coupon site that will email coupons to you. Check your newspapers before you purchase them.
4. Reality TV– Mrs. Clipomaniac organizes all her coupons in massive filing cabinets by product. She then peruses all the sales papers and organizes her coupons by item and where they are located in the store in huge binders. She makes up a list of sale items in the store, how many coupons she has for that item and what her final cost will be. She shops at many different grocery stores in order to take advantage of all the current sales.
5. The reality– Do I really want a divorce that bad? Seriously, I do not have this kind of time. Instead, I purchased a three ring binder and some photograph insert pages so that I can put my coupons where I can see them. I only clipped those coupons for items that we normally buy, so no need for the huge filing cabinet. I really hate to grocery shop and can’t imagine spending a day going from one grocery store to another, so already I know that I am not cut out to be a coupon lady.
6. Reality TV- Mrs. Grab-it-all goes to the store with her 100+ coupons for Strawberry flavored Pepto Bismol and because she is double couponing and the item is on sale for half price, she can get that bottle of Pepto for free. So she empties the shelf of 100 bottles of Strawberry flavored Pepto Bismol. What? Somebody else has a coupon and wants a bottle? Too bad, so sad. Extreme couponing is for the thick-skinned. Tough it up.
7. The reality– Really? One family needs 100 bottles of Pepto Bismol? Mrs. Grab-it-all must have a major intestinal issue. Aside from the guilt for taking an entire display of products before anybody else can take advantage of the sale, I doubt that anyone can use up 100 bottles of stomach medicine before the expiration date. In my opinion, this is gluttony 101.
8. Reality TV– Mrs. Shop-to-you-drop spends eight hours shopping in the grocery store, collecting hundreds of items in multiple carts. She then spends an additional 2 hours at the check out, carefully monitoring each item as it is rung up and correcting the cashier when needed.
9. The reality– My husband would never last past the first ten minutes. He would be checking in on a cruise to Acapulco with his new wife by the time I got halfway through the check out. I would probably need those 100 bottles of Pepto about now.
10. Reality TV– Mrs. Buyitall is apparently allowed to bypass some of the coupon restrictions that us real folks have to follow. Seems that some of the stores represented on the show are allowing such things as doubling coupons they don’t normally double, using coupons for incorrect items and even giving cash back if the coupon value is higher than the product. Why? Because they want to be on the show, silly. See this enlightening article by Jill Cataldo regarding potential coupon fraud on Extreme Couponing.
11. The reality– A bunch of stores do not double coupons. Those that do, generally will not double over 50 cents. Some have restrictions on number of same coupon in one sale. There are rules folks. And nobody gives you cash back from overages. At least not in my state. Leaving the store with $1,100 dollars worth of groceries for $6.50 is not reality.
12. Reality TV– Mrs. Monsterstash has food and products stored all over her house. She has more products than she and her family could ever use. Some she doesn’t even know what they are. She says, “Those cases over there are some face stuff that I got for free a year or so ago. I just had to pay tax, so I had to get them”. She has moved the hubby out of his study and created a new stockroom there, because there is no longer any room left in the bedroom for her monstrous stash.
13. The reality– Yep. I’d be living alone with my dogs, my knitting and my stash of Strawberry flavored Pepto Bismol.
14. Conclusion– There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying to save money and clipping coupons is certainly a great way to do that. Just remember that what you may see on TV is not always the case. Sometimes reality TV is not really reality. Know what I mean?
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And u probably got a cashier that didn’t know any better..
OMG This is hilarious. Back in the 80’s it was “refunding.” We would save packages, UPC codes and what have you to mail in with official rebate forms to redeem our manufacturer’s refund. It appears that refunding has now been replaced with couponing. What will it be next?
Correction! They do give overages at some stores. I just got paid $1.68 from my local dollar general yesterday because of coupon overages.
I am a crazy coupon lady, but they really are extreme & like you said, do so many things illegally. The worse I ever stocked up on was my husband's deodorant one time – I bought 6 (the max with coupons) & made hubby go through the line to buy another 6. He has allergies, & this is the only deodorant he can use without breaking out, & all 12 were free. I was unemployed at the time, so I looked at couponing as part of my "job", along with the job of finding a job. (oh, & just as an fyi, I was buying about $125 worth of groceries a week for usually $40. I think that's closer to reality. I wasn't spending 8 hours a day on it, nor used filing cabinets worth of crap, but man, I did spend a lot of time on it!!)
Is it sad to say that we spend more than three-four hours in the grocery (W-M) store? If I have coupons, it is because I found one for something we already buy. I no longer get the paper, because I use so few brand names that the coupons are pointless to us.
In those 3-4 hours, we end up with 2-3 carts, 1-2 of staples (dry goods etc) and one of cold stuff. We go with two adults every time. It only takes 30 minutes in the checkout, and that is due to lines & arranging the bags as we go. (Cloth bags all the way!!)
WHY… because we are an hour from the store & only go once a month. Fam of 4 = $400 for the month! Pre-planning is the key. Go with a list of meals you want for the month & STICK TO IT!
You know, I tried my 'version' of extreme couponing about a year ago. Followed a lot of blogs, clipped my Internet coupons, went to multiple stores for coupon match-up…it was exhausting and I found myself buying stuff I normally would not so in my mind I wasn't really saving (and I'm sure my 'version' of extreme was a joke compared to true extremists).
Now I just watch my grocery flier. They have 50% off sales weekly and I've tried to get a feel for their 'schedule'. I'll check the on-line coupons just in case but honestly, maybe it's because I don't have kids but I rarely find a coupon for something I actually use (and as others have said, the coupons available have really gone down).
One of the things that turned me off on the blogs were the people who would clear a shelf of a sale item. There favorite excuse was "well I give it to charity" or just a blatant 'I got there first'. Well, I don't care if you give it to charity. What about the others with maybe limited income that needed that item??? I have one Facebook friend who does a good job on couponing and great for him and his wife–except he will clear and shelf and then turn around and sell the items he got free etc for a premium on eBay. *grrrrrrr* All right, all right, I'll shut up now……..
I hate that show. I've only seen it twice but it is so stupid. They have ruined couponing for everyone else! I used to be able to use coupons and now can't even get them and when I do the stores have changed policies because of this show.
A few really greedy people have ruined it for everyone!
Love your entry today. I work at a local Walmart and see women come in with huge binders filled with coupons. I wonder just how many they do use. I've never taken more than 10 at the register. But, we do have to notify management if someone wants to check out with handfuls of coupons.
Watching some of the people on this show make my skin crawl by their greediness and their "all about me" attitude. I went on and read the link article and was horrified at the fraud both the shoppers, store and TLC seem to be perpetrating.
I am actually going to be interviewing a "Coupon Queen" latter this month who has a great sense of humor, I'm going to send her a link to this article.
Thanks for a good laugh!
I love this, blogging is already taking a lot of my time and then there are this coupons. Just like you, I will look for daily printables and maybe newspaper but that's just about it and would not hoard either.
Great thoughts.
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Longtime fan, first-time commenter here…Unfortunately, I know someone in real life who is just like that coupon-clipping mutant on TV. My ex-husband's current wife is a compulsive coupon fiend and hoarder, to the point that her house is stacked to the ceiling with cases of rotting groceries. It's sad that television feels that that is just "entertainment"…
I'm totally with you. Saving a few bucks is one thing. Making it your life's goal is completely another!
Yep, I watched the show and had to write down my thoughts before I exploded. I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. Ha!
suzy
I think these people are crazy! And other's are right…they're hoarders. This 'extreme couponing' is just another addiction. The only time I've seen it where I thought was ok was a guy who had coupons for hundreds of free boxes of cereal…he let the store know he'd be buying a them ahead of time so they could order extra, and then he donated everything to his church food bank. THAT'S what should be done with all the extra food.
I'm always amazed that anyone would buy a hundred of anything to hoard in the house. I have enough trouble keeping up with the expiration dates on my little pantry. I cannot imagine how these guys do that kind of thing.
I do know that at least one of these shows was about someone who made major donations of the items, but still, it seems wrong to clean out the shelves.
After watching a few of these programs I felt pity for these extremists rather than admiration. Most of them exhibit serious obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. Often the food purchases are for items that just are not healthy–especially in those quantities.
LOL Suzy! I knew this was going to be a good one when I saw the title, I've seen about 15 minutes of the end of a show. And I LOVE the Tide coupons ad at the end of your article 🙂
I was in a mood and knew I could come here and find something funny! Love the names you gave all the shoppers. Thanks for the laughs!!!
-Molly
Wow-you hit on a nerve! I work at a retail store and I am always impressed with people who do what I call "household couponing". However, we have people who come in with the "Extreme Couponing" mentality and I think part of the mentality is to have a poor attitude! And I get miffed to the point of being fired when I see a "hoarder" or someone who is going to resell (<-true story and illegal in Virginia) the items they got with their coupons. The extremists usually wipe out our shelves on Sunday (the first day of the sales) and when our Senior citizens come in for a few items they can use their coupons with to save a few dollars to help stretch their fixed monthly income…guess what? There are no items left in stock! It really irks me!
Opps..sorry. I will climb off my soap box now…*blushing*
Love your comments about your reality, because truly that is my reality most of the time. I work and keep house, after 8 hours at school with 25 kindergarten students, I don't have the patience to spend 2 hours at the grocery store let alone 1 hour and that includes check out time. I have to look at these ladies on reality shows and laugh because it is the best entertainment ( and that includes all reality shows ).
I've found that since that stupid show started airing, the free newspapers have been shut down, coupons are less common and more people are stealing them, grocery stores are even less happy to see coupons then they used to be (because you know when someone walks up with a thousand coupons, the poor cashier is thinking what the hell is wrong with you) This show has ruined normal couponing people like you and me who use coupons for things we're already buying and not for more than our family can use. Those people on the show seem like hoarders and very very selfish. I'd hate to be that person. I'd rather have a useable shower than fill it up with bottles of mountain dew (actual example) or have an entire room full of toothpaste. Really people?
Ugh, totally agree! Normally I'd say these people need a hobby but it looks like they already have one…. I use coupons for items I would buy anyway, but I wouldn't buy an item just because of the coupon. And on a side note – I'm pretty sure my bottle of Pepto dates from 1982 or thereabouts.
Oh hilarious! You said it well!! And at the very least you were entertained! I sometimes feel guilty for not doing more 'couponing' but then ya… I get over it. Thanks for reminding me how funny that can be!
Ha!! I love how here name kept changing…my fave is "Mrs. Monsterstash." Alright, while I haven't actually watched the show, I'm familiar with the concept and have used coupons maybe half a dozen times in the last year.
Oh, and NOT a fan of stockpiling all that free stuff (#12). How about donating some of those free items to shelters, food banks, overseas, military families, etc?
I don't like that show, because it makes it harder for people like me who want to save on a reasonable amount of weekly groceries. I like krazycouonlady.com because they encourage you to build a stock by buying 4 items at a time, and only getting what you can use before it expires. Walmart gives you money back, but the coupons for that are few and far between 🙂
Hilarious! Personally I can't get past the math of trying to figure it all out.
Number 9 on your list is my favorite!
Hilarious Suzy! And true to boot!