TLC’s Extreme Couponing Season 3 starts Minday night. Paul wrote a very good assesment of how we personally feel about the show.
“As most of you know Tiffany (MyLitter aka OneDealataTime), and I were the premiere episode for the first full season. I can honestly say that I thought we were portrayed accurately and that I feel we represented the Coupon Community well. Since then there has been a lot of good and bad on the show. If you are in Houston be sure to watch the show and tell us if you see anything unusual!
What people that LOVE the show see:
They see a group (of what can be described as normal or average Americans) that go to the store and get items that they spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on for basically the cost of a Big Mac Meal. I can admit that none of us on Extreme Couponing come across as the brain that is needed to figure out how to cure cancer. That is basically all they see. They think to themselves: “Really? If those 2 morons (us)who can’t figure out why they have seven kids can save all that money, I know I can do it.” That may be a bit EXTREME , but they definitely want to try and save some money.
Reality Check:
These are EXTREME trips! In our season you heard person after person say this is our biggest trip ever. The idea is to show what is possible, figure out what is right for your family and give couponing a shot. Read some reputable blogs, clip some coupons, be patient, and save your family some money. It’s free, why not?
What people that HATE it see:
The biggest group of people that loathe Extreme Couponing are Deal Bloggers and long time couponers. When I say Deal Bloggers, I do not mean the people that started a blog because they were on Extreme Couponing. I am referring to people that have been doing this for a while and have a loyal following. Here’s why:
Extreme Couponing shows person after person clearing shelves using hundreds of coupons and paying next to nothing for it. It shows people with enormous stockpiles of products that are impossible to use before the product will expire. For the most part, Extreme Couponing portrays the coupon community as people with borderline hoarding mentalities and other OCD issues. The fact that it was followed by “Hoarders” was not an accident or coincidence. The biggest problem of all is that they see an enormous increase in competition for deals from new couponers that for the most part have ZERO clue about coupon etiquette or regard for the welfare of their fellow shoppers. They also see every person on the show that had never even had a blog now has a Facebook page with 15,000 likes on it.
Reality Check:
These same Bloggers the are repulsed by Extreme Couponing have been working frantically for weeks on every SEO trick they can muster or buy to capture the frenzy of search engine traffic that will commence this evening. They are also probably teaching “Extreme Coupon Classes.”
Closing Thoughts:
I am probabaly a lot like you, I Love/hate Extreme Couponing (I invented a new word). Couponing is wonderful and in many cases an extremely important necessity for people to be able to place food on the table for their families. I am inspired by the people that tell me everyday how I help them, and they don’t know how they would be able to survive without all the deals and coupons that we help them find. We are in awe of thousands of people that have attended our coupon classes and want to learn the right way to coupon. We LOVE all of you and are truly honored to serve you. The problem is the super minority of people that think they “deserve” free stuff. They look at coupon fraud as a victimless crime and rationalize their actions with thoughts of “the manufacturers can afford it”. Let me assure you, your actions do have consequences. Coupon policies have changed and will change to adapt to those that abuse them. It may take a while for the beast to catch on, but when he does, he is bigger, badder, smarter and far more EXTREME than you could ever hope to be. Your actions and consequences will not only effect you. If coupons ever stop getting produced, newspapers will shut down, food banks will close and children will go hungry. That may seem a bit dramatic, it is a true statement.
I encourage everyone to coupon, PLEASE do it ethically and honestly. Take your time to learn your store policies and read your coupons. There are plenty of deals and coupons out there if everyone does it the right way.
Head over to Facebook tomorrow night to discuss and comment live on the Premier of TLC’s Extreme Couponing!”
roxana says
Well said. We have to be thankful for the deals we get.
I appreciate all your help!
Lisa says
I am not a blogger or hoarder. I follow some sites and those already had way more than 15,000 followers before the show. My problem is that since that show, companies that put out coupons, have cut back on the value and stores that had great deals have cut back on those deals. The economy has caused many more people to be interested. I used to be able to donate hundreds of dollars of groceries and personal care products to the local food pantry and troops overseas for just a few dollars. That is no longer possible. PS I followed your site before the first season of EC.
Tiffany says
Thanks Lisa! 🙂
Christina says
Well said and thank you! I too share that love/hate or perhaps grateful/hate relationship with the Extreme Couponing show. It was that first episode with you and your coupon binder that brought me back to couponing. I had tried several times over the years but would get so frustrated with the little coupon organizer wallets that I would give up. Once I saw the binder method I knew that would make the difference.
With each new episode I realized that this was not how it should be and grew more discouraged and disgusted with what I saw on the shows. I have never even watched all the 1st season and none of the rest of the seasons. But your episode was enough…I began following this site and found others that I enjoy as well. I quickly learned how to do things the courteous and ethical way and it has made a huge difference in the financial life of my husband and I. Thank you for this post and for all the hard work you both do for people you do not even know.
PS I also love hearing about the antics of the kids…we do not have any children so I live vicariously through reading about your children.
Take care and thanks again!!!
Christina
Jillian says
I love extreme couponing — it helped get a lot of my friends excited about couponing. However, I hate it at the same time because the people that got interested came in with unrealistic expectations. In 15 minutes you see somebody get thousands of dollars worth of items for a couple bucks — what you don’t see is the 20-40+ hours a week it takes them to do everything involved with couponing! It sets up people for disappointment, that is why I encourage people to read blogs and get a better grasp of what couponing really is. Thanks so much for your site. I love reading your “personal” posts (ones like this & about your family).
mary says
I have been couponing for years and honestly i enjoy watching the show. Will you and Paul be on this season? Thanks for the heads up on the show. The extreme couponing show will be premering tonight in my area at 10:00 p.m. hopfully i can stay up that late. LOL.
Tiffany says
No we will not be on this season.
Peggy says
I also have a love/hate relationship with this show. I think it is mostly hate since I hate to see people cheating, hoarding, and just being nasty & rude but it is like a train wreck…you don’t want to watch but you can’t pull your eyes away…
I came across your website when someone left your web site info on my desk at work. After your show, I remarked to my husband “now, that is more realistic & they are following the rules.” Nothing irks me more then to see someone cheat at couponing…..I have been couponing for over 40 years and at one time I did the extreme. Mostly it was to help others….I worked at a church and people were always coming in for food. We didn’t have an “official” food pantry nor any money to open one so I couponed and was able to help those in need. Before I retired, one of my goals was to get a food pantry up and running and I accomplished that goal. They now offer a coupon class also.
Bottom line is I will be watching and it will probably make me angry but just maybe, I might learn something….
Keep up the good work….
Jan says
Since the show I’ve seen the change in the value of coupons. What used to be .50/1 or .75/1 is now .50/2 or .75/2. The value of coupons have not only gotten smaller but require you to buy 2 items. I would have never imagined 5 years ago that manufacturers would be printing a 25 cent coupon for Charmin! I’ve been couponing for more years than I can remember and everything about coupons stayed pretty much the same until Extreme Couponing started airing. A lot has changed since then!
Jaime says
Tiffany, I wish you and Paul would go back on “Extreme Couponing”. If all the “good” couponers abandon this show then all they will have to put on are the “bad” couponers. Then no one will learn good couponing habits. We will be overrun with shelf clearing bad couponers in the stores. Please go back on and give all your fans an update on you and Paul. You can then further educate more pepole on good couponing habits. Most people don’t realize that you pre-order grocery items from their local grocery store. Perhaps, you could show more of the background work that goes into couponing to the extreme. I also love seeing your organization methods for your stockpile. PLEASE, PLEASE go back on!!!
Ingrid says
I also have a total love/ hate relationship with the extreme couponing shows. I did meet one of the ladies on one of the shows last year.Very nice and normal young lady! Unfortunately, since I lost my job we now watch “antenna t.v”. Please show us more of what goes on behind the scenes in couponing. I see mistakes from people in regards to how they coupon, from not understanding the coupon policies with each store and clearing shelves. The lady at our CVS tried to explain it to this poor woman, that extra bucks are like customized coupons, perfect way of putting it. You have a terrific family!
Jaime says
FYI: For those who now have only “Antenna TV”, you can watch episodes of “Extreme Couponing” on http://www.hulu.com, if you choose to watch at all.
Julie M. says
Not all have fb can you keep us posted thru this site
Tiffany says
I am in China and can’t get on FB either…. so I will try and recap as best as possible.