Sigh, I am going to set the record straight on the truth about Extreme Couponing. Today there was a marathon TLC Extreme Couponing day on one of the local stations, which means I get all the standard comments and claims on my Facebook and social media pages about how it was rigged, or fake, or EVERYONE committed some kind of COUPON FRAUD. Etc. etc. etc.
After 5 years you would think people would get their facts straight. But no, they read something 4-5 years ago by some blogger(s) who wasn’t (weren’t) on the show, but are just trying to get traffic by posting bait articles to get you to click. Congrats, you clicked and made them some money… but you are just dumber for reading their made up “facts” and speculation.
My husband and I were on the very first season, the first episode of TLC’s Extreme Couponing. You can see our episode HERE.
I am going to answer a few of the rumors or claims that ALWAYS go around that are completely false or mostly untrue:
Stores changed their coupon policies because of the show:
FALSE. OMGosh, this one gets so old. Stores did not change their policies because of EC. It was not that big of a show. Stores do not change their polices based on a cable TV reality show. It also takes months or years to get a policy change into effect. The week our episode aired in Houston, the Kroger Southwest region changed their policy to exclude doubling and tripling. Kroger is the LARGEST grocer in the country. They don’t make a major change to a policy in a few days. It takes FOREVER to make a change like that. Our episode just happened to air the week they did it. Which then, for people who have no idea how a grocer or corporation works might assume that a tiny show had something to do with it, when in fact, corporate wasn’t even aware of the show at that time.
Kroger is the LARGEST grocer in the world. The WORLD people… They are even considered larger then Walmart as a traditional grocer. They don’t give a crap about a cable TV show that only lasted 3 seasons.
Also, if you know anything about our story, you know that our local region actually TIGHTENED the policy for our shopping trip. At the time we were able to double and triple three of any coupon. The day we went shopping they only allowed us to double or triple ONE of any coupon.
Grocery stores, Kroger in particular, changed their coupon policy in 2011, & 2013 because the massive polling they do through Neilson showed that the average consumer used under 10 coupons in a trip and wanted a gas program and prescription drug program over a coupon program. You see, stores PAY the doubling and tripling amount. Not the brands. That marketing money was switched to gas and prescriptions.
Customers voted. The majority won.
The trip is staged or fake:
FALSE: What does that even mean? I am not even sure what people are implying here when they say this…. TLC sets it up? LOL, not a chance! I was given about 4 days to get ready for my trip. People usually have the opportunity to pick the store they want to shop at. Because mine was such short notice we didn’t get to choose, but sent out requests to all my local stores. The one who said yes first was the one we were using. Thank GOODNESS it was Kroger!
I was given (0) ZERO help. They don’t do anything but send a local film crew and one 20 year old “producer” to ask you questions.
I had to sign a contract that I would not pitch companies for coupons, and that I would follow my stores coupon policy.
Some people had time to plan a trip longer then I did. They are able to order product ahead of time. Good for them! I was not. We only had a few days to get ready for the trip. So I did the best I could with a new baby, sitting on the floor of my grocery store nursing her, planning a shopping trip for TV.
Yeah… but, but, but, some people committed coupon fraud!:
TRUE: Yeah, a few did. Just like they do all day long at your Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and every grocery store. Some did it on purpose and some did it on accident. There are about 180 episodes of EC and out of all those there are a few where the people actually did commit coupon fraud. But it was not that many. AND, if they did, they had to go against the contract they signed and against the stores coupon policy. That isn’t TLC’s fault. That is a moral/ethical issue of that person. Just like it is with the people who commit coupon fraud everyday at your local stores.
Lumping everyone who was on the show into that “fraud” category is irresponsible and ignorant on your part. It is like saying, “Oh, so you are a couponer? Then you commit coupon fraud!” People who think that are idiots, just like the people who think everyone or even most people on the show committed fraud. That is just stupid.
In conclusion:
Complaining about the show, or ignorantly making claims that you have no idea about are offensive to those who were on the show, who busted their asses to have a good trip and show people what can be done. It is offensive because we worked hard to give you a cool trip, with lots of good food and useable items, cleaning, hygiene, and even milk and produce. For crying out loud, Paul had 14lbs. of steak! instead of asking “How did he do that!!?” People assume that you did something fraudulent because they are ignorant of how to coupon.
I find that the people who speak out against the show usually have tried to Extreme Coupon and failed at it or were not very good at it. So, they have to disparage anyone who is good at it.
Extreme Couponing is an awesome show for a few reasons. It got people excited again about couponing. It has helped THOUSANDS of people provide for their families. It reminded people how fun couponing was and got them thinking about doing it again. There are so many positives!
If you want to go to a FREE class, you can check out the dates and times HERE. Class is totally free and taught by me.
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
Love this! Thank you 🙂
Thank you Tiffany, for setting the record straight. My daughters and I started watching EC in 2011. We would hurry home from Wed. night church and turn it on as soon as we got home! I had always used coupons for our family of 7, but I credit that show for making me learn to take it seriously. What a blessing! Without increasing my grocery budget in well over 5 years, we have a wonderful stockpile of food and many other supplies. Thank you for helping folks to save money and still live abundantly. You and Paul are an inspiration!
Such a good way to straighten out misconceptions about couponing. I get this all the time. Thank you!
Tiffney:
I have to admit before this show I did not coupon but after watching it I started trying it and I became pretty good of stockpiling. But know I have a daughter with Celiac and unfortunately I am not able to do too much stockpiling because of purchasing gluten free items there is not a lot of coupons but on house hold items I can still stock pile so I am grateful for it. Thank you.
I wish you would come to Atlanta!!!
Would love a e-class about couponing
Please come to Mississippi soon! Preferably near Tupelo or Ripley! LOL. Have tried couponing before but definitely need more teaching! #forouremma
Love this! Can you come within a reasonable distance of Marion, VA? I would love to learn more!
Tiffany you don’t know this about me but back in sept 2012 I had a bad car accident. That is why when I met you, I walked with a cane as the dash board went up into both my knees. I was in SICU for 2 weeks then in a nursing home for 3 months. Because I had seen your show I had started gathering coupons again (though I had been couponing every now and then on a very small scale for 35+ yrs.). While I was in the nursing home doing rehab, I anxiously watched the show and had my daughter bring coupons so I would have something to do and they would be ready for her to shop. It actually helped me want to do more rehab so I could go home and go shopping again ! All my hard work must have paid off because instead of going from there to the rehab at a hospital facility they sent me home saying I was doing so good they couldn’t do anymore for me that I hadn’t done for myself. So I just want to say THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO and thank you for all you did for ME !
I totally wish you would come to Rexburg, ID to teach all of us interested in learning how to coupon the correct way… (There are a lot of us by the way) I’ve tried but can’t seem to get it down. Love u and your family!
I too would like to chime in. My neighbor actually saw EC first and told me about it. I was so interested to know how such things could be done. She was interested, but only has one child and her passion died out soon..but for me and my herd of 6 (4 boys who eat ungodly amounts of food) I needed to keep digging and find out the truth. Tiffany, you were my inspiration and my motivation. You and your site helped me to figure it all out. I’ve been extreme couponing since 2012 and haven’t looked back since. I have a noce stock pile of most essentials and i know how to follow the store’s policies and be a polite couponer to all those around me that aren’t. I think there is a group of us that know the truth about fraud too. It’s not easy to fool the computers. I can’t say how many times I accidentally give an expired coupon and it is rejected. Those nay sayers just don’t have the facts. I love that you preach the truth about it all. I love mylitter.com
Would love to go to one of your classes, but I live in NC. If you areally ever close to Lenoir, NC let me know. I love to attend a class.
I think the TV producers are at fault for some of those rumors by selecting the stores that will offer $100 in Shop Your Way Rewards points or several catalinas and then not disclose it. But there are always going to be the doubters and haters too!
I will say in disagreement. The episode shot in Colorado at a King Soopers (kroger affiliated store) the couponer got money back on a gift card. That has always been against the stores policy so whether the couponer or the store was at fault it did make everyone think the show was not exactly on the up and up. I am an extreme couponer, within the rules! LOVE it! Saved thousands with help from you and Paul and many other sites! But there are a lot of people cheating the system out there.
PS Thinking of you and your family everyday, GOD bless your sweet EMMA.
I actually rewatched that episode and felt so bad for you because I know it made you so sad to see your daughter in it. That’s all I could think about as a mom.
I have used coupons for many years to try to get things for a better price. After I watched several episodes of EC, I realized that buying enough to hold us on some items till they went on sale again was the trick to making them work so much better. I don’t carry an actual stockpile in my home, but I do buy several of items we use often. I prayed and felt led to open a food pantry in our church, that is where my stockpile grows. We opened in January 2014, and have fed several hundred families from this room full of food and toiletries that have been donated or bought with coupons. I don’t really need 120 cans of chunky soup, but 20 hungry families can have 6 meals each from them. The EC show was the kick-off of a ministry that I hold so dear to my heart. Thank you, Tiffany…. I check your website often and pray for you… I know these last few months have been difficult. God bless~~
very well said!!! thank you for all you do!!