Extreme Couponing

Does 80 cents off of a box of Frosted Flakes sound like a nice discount to you? Or how about 2 dollars off of a bottle of Tide detergent? Maybe $ 10.99 for a twelve pack of Heineken, now that gets you happy (as it should) right?

 Well, if you think those are some scores on deals, then watching “Extreme Couponing” will make you think some customers are holding the cashiers hostage with the absurd amount of money these people don’t have to spend on these massive “saving sprees” that they just call shopping trips.  

“Extreme Couponing” is like a hybrid of a docu-series/reality program that showcases the biggest thrifty shoppers out there who are absolutely crazed on getting the best deals possible.

Shoppers on the show go to extreme lengths like getting dozens of Sunday newspapers for the ads/coupons, also they print out the those not available in the newspapers at home via the internet.

Since this can be a long and tedious task of gathering hundreds of the best coupons each week, it is often described as a part-time job for many of these frugal people. So, some common strategies couponers use to help organize are using spreadsheets and binders as thick as college chemistry books each trip they embark on to the grocery store.

It all pays off in the end however, with many customers (if you still want to call them that?) saving well over 90 percent off of retail prices. A prime example would be from an episode I just watched when a Missouri woman ended up only paying $ 4.84 for $ 857.63 worth of groceries, a 99.4 percent savings. Now that is what I call mastering a system to your advantage.

The show’s concept is pretty simple, as I found out early on from watching it the first time. It is certainly entertaining, easy to follow, interesting, educational and insightful. “Extreme Couponing” also sends a strong and direct message that everyday people are able to greatly reduce their expenses for groceries with some simple help from newspapers, the internet, a printer, and of course those coveted scissors that are like a chef’s favorite blade to a dedicated couponer.

On the other hand, along with the bountiful savings, this show also depicts some mixed messages too.

As mentioned in a few reviews I’ve read of “Extreme Couponing,” it seems as though a good amount of these people aren’t actually in need of this excessive coupon barrage from their apparent financial situation. Many of these housewives return from their shopping trips by pulling up in their near new Chevrolet Subruban to their massive five bedroom home. Then proceed to stack up their 78 rolls of paper towels, 52 frozen dinners, 24 bottles of mustard, and 112 chocolate milk mixes in their Master suite-sized pantries. Really now?

Even a majority of people on the show who use coupons consistently will admit it is a sort of addiction. Getting a rush from seeing the grocery tab fluctuate, then being able to take heaping piles of desirable products, yeah I can see that being fun for some.

Another show with similar habits as “Extreme Couponing” that might need help controlling is “Hoarders.” I see parallels with the two programs as they both feature hobbies that people enjoy, but that can get quickly out of hand if not monitored.

To me, “Extreme Couponing” sends mixed messages with its show. The obvious message is that it shows a template to save a considerable amount of money, and that’s great for those who it genuinely benefits. In addition, it exploits people who some may feel the need to facilitate a random and needless urge to save, and the reason is, just because. 42 packs of staples anyone? They’ll almost end up being free!