I've read that at least of few of those people are reselling the items. That's really the only thing that makes sense, besides donating it.

I'm sure coupon policies are changing as we speak before too many other people start trying this out.

I think there's an OCD mental illness behind it in many cases. I takes tremendous amount of time to collect the coupons the way they are doing it. It seems they forget to figure in the cost (buying the newspapers for coupons, the systems they used to store the items-- how much do you think the shelving system that brings the newer cans to the front cost)? And storing the items all over the house, even in all the bedrooms, just isn't right.

Most jobs would probably bring in more money and take less time. These people aren't able to do these shopping trips every other day. It takes time to save up, clip, store and analyze their couponing system and each trip.

I think finding deals and using coupons is great.. but anything taken to this extreme, is not healthy. I think most people know one of the first rules of saving is to not buy things you don't need. The hoarding of the food (Maolox, etc) is excessive. It's one thing if they are setting out to do it for a charity or something -and take the food straght there- but they are not-they are doing it to save money. People have been doing the extreme shopping for years, just like hoarding. I personally don't think it will catch on with the general public as a way to shop.

I don't find it fascinating, I find it kind of sad.

I just need to get my printer out of storage... and I can join the ranks? LOL

But seriously, at this point I print out coupons at my daughters when I am there. It's major inconvenient.

Moni

I agree with the idea that this will hurt the modest coupon users. Policies will be changing because of this.
I can understand the paper product 'hoarding' in a way, it won't go bad, but the other items? How many meals a day do you eat cereal ? lol
And around here they limit the coupons printed off the internet, BECAUSE of these people.
There was a local blog that showed that on one of the episodes that the woman was receiving the newspaper inserts that were not used -delivered to her house, so she had hundred of coupons. That is illegal as well as the way she redeems her coupons, she uses the system of the old barcode --it just scans the code and will give credit for 'like' items, so she was using for example a high value coupon for cereal that the coupon was not even for. Many many examples were given.
VERY sad to hurt other people because you are cheat.

I was trying to coupon for a while and either I just don't know where to look or something but I wasn't finding anything all that great out there! Most of our stores won't even take internet printed coupons because of getting bad coupons from people misusing them. Most stores don't double over here. I really just don't know where they are getting all these piles of coupons?! AND if it's something that I just don't use, I'm sure not going to bother with couponing even if it is dirt cheap...even if it's 50 cents and sells for $5,it's still a waste if you do not use it! That's how my thrifty brain works. I've been penny pinching for as long as I can remember and I just don't get the whole couponing thing? Heck as expensive as gas is these days and driving a truck, it would be a waste of gas money driving all over town to cash in on these deals. I mean what the heck would I do with 85 boxes of cereal...it takes me 2 weeks just eat one box..I just buy the generic at ALDI and have done with it! Besides I have a phobia against clutter anyway! UGH!

I agree that using a coupon to buy a like product is abuse. I've seen some other abuses like scanning in a limited freebie coupon and posting it on the internet so more people can access it. It hurts the companies.

What these people are doing with the extreme couponing is nothing new. It's been going on for years. I'm not sure how much copycatting will actually happen because it is a lot of work to acquire coupons.

Here is a detailed example of how that one woman is blatantly committing fraud, right on camera. I'm sure fixing this loophole in the barcode system will be high priority now.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fraud on Extreme Couponing

I think it would be wonderful if these people would donate some of that food to a food bank...I'm sure there are people out there that could use some of that cereal....I'm with Arkansas girl, I go to Aldi, that's better than couponing.....

i don't think policies will change...they've had super coupon-ers for years....it's just now it's become a reality show....

I have seen some of the program, and wondered about all of the stock piling. selfish and wrong, plain and simple!! I do some couponing, but lately the coupon is only good if you buy 2 of the product. I don't seem to be doing much in the line of saving, because the house brand is usually cheaper, especially Walmart's brand.

I agree with you, Dot - the store brand is just as good, in most cases, IMHO.

I thought that it was ironic that the show came on right after Hoarding. To me it's very similar. I agree that somethings can be stored almost indefinitely, but Maalox and cereal? I don't think so!

I saw that one man did donate his groceries regularly to his church pantry.

After I saw this show, I looked at our local coupons and can't understand how they do this. Here we can't double coupons or exceed the limited value- I guess they live in places where you can? I also don't know how you can eat so much packaged/processed food either! Ick!

Blessings,
Haley

dotmom, I was just thinking about having to buy 2 of many things that the coupons are for now. Another thing is, my husband and I kind of have our only certain brands that we like...whether that is a brand name or the store brand and the coupon is usually for something different. Like we can only use a certain type of deodorant or shampoo (etc) because we are allergic or the other just doesn't do it for us for one reason or another. We only like certain coffee...that sort of thing and usually the coupon is for something we never use or like you said, you have to buy 2 just to get a bit off which would be OK if it were something we like/use. Then there's Sam's that doesn't even take coupons and Big Lots too...we get stuff there a lot.

I was once reading a couponing thread at one of those couponing sites and some woman was talking about having a closet full of Kotex? HAHA...WHY? To me that's just silly.

You could do couponing on a smaller scale and save some money. Years ago I did a lot of it but not to the degree those people do. I used to also do a lot of refunding, but don't do that either anymore. I seldom use coupons, never have taken a newspaper very much to get coupons from. Our store will only double two of like coupons so that would not work. I guess you could do separate orders if you wanted to. I think donating the extra things to a food pantry or church is a really good idea.

Sue

I saw two episodes and watched, with my mouth hanging open, at some of their "deals." Very few of those shoppers in the show actually came out of the supermarkets with enough food to make one dinner. Breakfasts were covered with cereal, but how many jars of Maalox or mustard can you use in a reasonable amount of time?

Helene

Ok I am a couponer~~I do have a small *stockpile*..Nothing like what they show...
Two weeks ago..Walgreens was having a sale on Maxwell House coffee.. 2/$4 I had coupons for 1 off when you bought two.. I bought 4.. got 4 cans of coffee for $6.00. Then last week another store had the large cans for $ 4.99. I bought 2 cans and used another coupon for 1 off 2...so I paid a little over 9 for 2 large cans of coffee. The price for 1 can.

Did I need it? Not at the time, but I will and I would rather buy it now instead of paying full price in 2 months.
When you coupon you cant be brand loyal..You have to be willing to try others to get the best money savings..
I have watched the show and what people must remember is It is a TV show..They are told to be extreme, to go all out. There is no way any average person could walk into a grocery store and use the amount of coupons or save that amount.

The article paula_pa linked was fascinating. I always figured there was some sort of scam being worked.

Stores around here never double or triple coupons any more. I do use the in-store coupons and "meal deals" occasionally, but only for items I know I will use anyway. Last week the "Meal Deal" was buy the fully cooked brisket, get white bread, a 3-pack of Kool-Aid, a bag of tortilla chips, a bag of salad, and a salad dressing.

I knew we would use the brisket, even if I had to cut it up and freeze in 2 serving portions, so I bought that, and got the tortilla chips (a treat I rarely buy, but enjoy) and the salad.

But I left the free bread, the free Kool-Aid, the free salad dressing. They're just not things I would use.

I will stock up on frequently used products when I find a coupon, but I'm not going to spend hours or pay for a newspaper.

I wish I could find a Maxwell House coupon but I have not seen one in ages, it's what we always drink. Coffee prices are just going up like crazy. The large "cans" are around $8 now! Then we drink Eight Oclock Bean French Vanilla occasionally for a treat and it just went up a whole dollar for an 11 oz bag OVERNIGHT! A whole freakin' dollar! Give me a break! Went from $4 to $5 for a tiny little 11 oz bag...that's just highway robbery!

Ark Girl
I will keep my eyes open and the next time I get Maxwell house coupons.. I will be more than happy to share..

You should be able to get Maxwell House coupons on ebay. If you want to buy them!

blubird made a good point. The bulk of my shopping bill is meat and fresh produce. I can always find a good sale on paper towels, packaged noodles, and mustard (I think we go through like 3 mustards a year at 69 cents a pop and I think I've taken Maalox once my entire life). Did the extreme couponers get enough real food to make meals or was it just packaged processed stuff?

Will they have to spend more money and go back to the store later in the week? Or, did they use produce coupons and have extra freezers and just freeze their lettuce and oranges, etc.? Doesn't that sound good. Possibly lack of fresh produce explains the need for so much Maalox.

I wouldn't doubt this extreme couponing looks a lot more amazing than it actually is.

I watched some of the shows and I thought their diets are either very poor, or they go back to the stores for their healthy food later. I sure wouldn't want to live on the food that was in their carts.

You can find coupons for meat and produce..You just have to look.Our Kroger sends out coupons to use on meats and produce. They also send me free eggs one all the time..
Many coupons are for processed foods, but I haven't paid over 50 cents for shampoo, conditioner, shaving cremes, razors, body wash and toothpaste for over 2 years now. When I run across a really good deal..like toothpaste for tax only..I buy as many as I have coupons for..usually no more than 4..but then when the kids come in with a drive of some sort at school I have something to grab and send with them that didn't cost me more than a dime..Or if my neighbor needs toothpaste or something I happily give it to her and say Dont worry about it..its on me.

The money I don't spend there is money I use to buy produce and meats..

OH, I've seen coupons for meat and produce but they generally aren't the kind that were used for this extreme couponing because... it's hard to explain but they were doubling up with manufacturer's and store's and sales, etc.. 50 cents off chicken breasts is only 50 cents chicken breast. The stores often give you those coupons instead of putting their product on sale..not both. They also generally don't double or triple the store issued coupons. So, the couponers can't easily play their multiple coupon games with most of the produce and meat coupons I've seen. They may be able to get a $1.00 off chicken, but they are probably not going to be able to bring it down to 10 cents like the Maalox or cereal.

and if you're not brand loyal, you can get most of your toiletries free through rebate programs at Walgreens and probably lots of other places. I always get free toiletries for the homeless drives they have at school and church. It's fairly easy but I wouldn't compare picking up a toothbrush when it's free to this extreme couponing. It's the stock piling and hoarding of it that is questionable..not having an extra Crest or two in the cabinet.

My daughter is a good couponer and saves a ton of money, though not to the extent of the people on this show (which I've only seen once). She gets a lot of extra items for almost no money and she uses some for gifts and donates the rest of the excess to local women's shelters. She lives in a small 2 bedroom apartment and certainly isn't a hoarder.

She does live in a major metropolitan area (Baltimore, MD) and I think that is important if one is to do this level of couponing. It wouldn't work around here either, because we have very few stores, and she gets most of her really good deals by combining manufacturers coupons with store specials and coupons. Walgreens is one great place for doing that, she tells me, but I'd have to drive over 2 hours to get to the nearest Walgreens here!

I have to wonder how the Extreme Couponer figured out all that bar code stuff.

I don't get many coupons but I definitely use the ones for products I use, and sometimes will try a new product because of the coupon. Did that with the FINISH dishwasher detergent. I had a coupon, I bought one small pack when it was on special; I like it so I watched the ads for ads where it was on special and now have several packs.

Kroger is my favorite grocery store. They do send good coupons if you have their Rewards card. And now they have digital "coupons" at their web site. You click on the item you want and it goes directly to your card; it's magic!

I appreciate good coupons; I'm a frugal shopper and do buy a few things to have on hand, but that extreme shopping just doesn't make sense to me.

Sue

In Washington it is illegal to use double coupon, if you have a store coupon/club card you can't use another one. Also all coupons have a limit.
I don't understand if the store says no double coupons, and the limit is 2. exactly how in heck are people getting so many?
I was in Safeway right after this show premiered, a woman had about 50 packages of cheese in her cart. As I was checking out, she was being told that wasn't going to happen.

The first week, a woman tried to buy 60 containers of yogurt, the store had only 57 on the shelf, so she sent her husband to get a rain check for the last three. Who can eat 60 yogurts before they spoil? Then there was a woman who had 1,400 rolls of toilet paper stored under her childs bed. Now that's an illness.

i guess i don't get it..the coupon says good on one container of xyz..how do they get 60 bottles of product??so do they print out coupons for 60 bottles?

and the twin chick buying diapers last night for future kids?? is she nuts? not every brand works with every kid...dgs has to use the huggie green (natural scent free) so some of the diaper dil recieved at the baby shower had to go back, and they had to pay the difference...

and it was cheating when the lady had to call 4 friends in to take advantage of coupons...5 hours in the store? isn't your time woth anything?

Its not unhealthy its a hobby Ive done it,its fun to see how much you can save.I loved it we went to coupon club wed allchat talk about everything...Its nothing wrong if they have the time why not.The most time it took was to organize.I would sit watch tv pull out coupons for things I know I needed.cheaper the better right?

I had one "great" deal using a coupon. My store had Daisy sour cream for $1.50 each. I had a coupon for $3 off two. So I got two for free. And yes I did have room and I did eat them. But Super couponing is beyond me. Those peiple print internet coupons (paper and ink), go to stores that double and triple, get extra newspapers delivered just for the coupons, spend 6-8 hours a day. Some "hobby."

I just saw this show last night and thought to myself a few things.
1. Its a waste when you buy things you don't even use how is that saving even if it was fifty cents you don't use it so fifty cents wasted.

2. Why not use these powers for good and donate, donate, donate instead of hoard.

3. You can't use it all so why not leave some for others to get the bargains too. Just selfish.

4. Its got to be some sort of disorder in operation here. Its a shopaholic hoarders dream job!

Quote: Then there was a woman who had 1,400 rolls of toilet paper stored under her childs bed. Now that's an illness End Quote

Not to mention a firehazard! Poor kid wouldn't have a chance of escape. :(

I think a lot of these people resell the products for a profit, of course the aren't going to say that on TV then the tax man will hunt them down.

They will buy 90 bottles of mustard (or whatever) with coupons and work it so they make money on the mustard. i.e. Mustard is on sale for $1. They have coupons enough for 90 bottles that add up to a savings of $1.50 on each. So, they make 50 cents on a bottle which in turns, pays for their meat. Then they either resell the mustard or give it away, or some just hoard it, why, I don't know.

I love couponing, and on Friday I had a nice haul of a savings at $80. Far from the extreme couponers but for me a huge and exciting deal!

If I get coupons for stuff like free baby formula (and there are no babies in this house anymore) I will either get the formula and drop it off at the food bank or leave the coupon on the shelf where the formula is, so that whoever sees it and buys that product can benefit from it.

I also do that with coupons that are getting close to expiry, just leave them on the shelves for someone else.

I do "hoard" some stuff, because I just can't refuse the great deal, but it's great to have for all the food drives that come around a few times a year, I always have lot's of stuff for them.

I would love to coupon on a bigger scale, but it is so time consuming. But it's nice to be able to save every a little something every week on stuff that you would generally buy anyway. No one leaves this house to get something without asking Mom if she has a coupon for it. Usually I do! Then there is groupon, omg, in love....!

Bluejeans, you're in Canada, aren't you? I didn't think we could do that well here! Good for you!