Ok…I interrupt my little blogging break for a quick post about last night’s Extreme Couponing show on TLC. Did you watch?
When this show was being cast, I actually received an email from one of the producers asking if I was an extreme couponer and letting me know that they were going to air a special on this type of person.
My first thought: “Oh fun! I could be on TV!”
My husband’s response: “But are you sure this is a show you would like to be on?” (It was shortly after my whole debacle with the Nightline show that ended in my recognition that possibly I do not fit in the classification of Extreme Couponer–or at least in the media’s version of what one looks like.)
So I decided to be completely honest in my response to the producer. I asked what she meant by ‘extreme couponer’.
The producer’s response: “I guess the real question is, are you an extreme couponer? Do you have mountains of stockpiles?”
To which I replied:
“Ah yes…the mountains of stockpiles. I have a pantry and a closet that are pretty well filled. I guess the issue is that I am not a hoarder, so I choose to give much of my ‘loot’ away! I’m sure I could coupon with the best of them though if given the opportunity. The drugstore is my playing field. I regularly walk away from drugstores having paid pennies for bags of health and beauty and grocery products.
But if you are looking for someone who has a garage full of three years of toilet paper, then I guess I wouldn’t fit the bill. :)”
And I never heard from them again.
And now I see why.
What were your thoughts on the show if you watched it? I had mixed reactions, but I’d love it if you leave a comment and share your thoughts!
Note: If you didn’t get a chance to watch the show last night, check out the schedule to find out when it will air again.
It frustrates me the way the media paints a picture of “Couponers” like myself. All I’m trying to do is help support my family, being a stay-at-home mom and without a way to myself bring in a second income. I have seen people judge us couponers by saying we’re greedy and cheap by trying to get “Something for Nothing” when in reality, we’re just trying to survive in this economically difficult time WHILE at the same time doing what we can to help those in need by making donations. I mean, coupons are there for a reason…to save money and for companies to get us to use their product or a way for us to shop at a certain store. Why should we be punished or judged for doing something that is out there and available for ANYONE to use?
Please, please, please go to youtube.com and search for Joanie the krazy coupon lady’s videos. You can see her donate 300 pounds of food to the food bank. Curious they didn’t show THAT on TLC.
Ok. I think I’ll chime in now. My take on the show is that TLC wanted to get people to watch and then talk about the show afterwards. So they did what media does best–they sensationalized the stories.
A few things that were left out:
I know that at least two of the people involved have couponing web-sites and therefore couponing literally is a job for them. (For those of you feeling like you should be spending hours a day on couponing, breathe a sigh of relief.)
I also think they intentionally said very little about how much each person donates. It’s easy to assume that they don’t when we see their large stockpiles, but that’s a piece of the story that was conveniently left out.
That’s not to say that I agree with the philosophies of each couponer featured. When couponing turns into a game just to get a high and when stockpiles become so big that there’s no way you will ever be able to use the items in your lifetime, then I think there may be other issues that need to be dealt with.
Was just on Nathan’s website and his father posted what he donated that day 700-800 boxes of total cereal, 600 sticks of deodorant, 60 cartons of oatmeal, 400 boxes of jello, 100 pks of floss, 200 toothbrushes, 100 cans of chili, 300 bottles of gillette b.w., 200 bottles aspirin, 150 bottles salad dressing, 100 pks Rolaids, 50 cans of disinfectant spray, 50 diabetic meters and various other household items in smaller quantities. Saw pictures his father took that day of the filming and people from the food bank picking up items and loading them in the van. He got a letter from the place where he donated and they valued that donation to be $6000. All the while TLC was filming and they conveniently didn’t show that on t.v.
I won’t get into much about the show, because most of it as been covered by other comments. Regarding Nathan, however, I’ve chatted with him via email before. They didn’t say this in the show because it would ruin the “shock value” but it’s worth noting that he & his wife set a goal to donate more than what they make annually.
Does he donate that much cash? No. He donated the value of the products he gets for little to nothing. Some might argue that it doesn’t count then. I disagree. Take a combined income for a couple…pick the amount. $40,000? $65,000? Who knows. But imagine donating enough food & non toiletries. It’s awe inspiring when you think about it.
You may think he was over the top, but rest asured….there were a lot of people eating Total ceral & smelling nice because of the deodorant he donated. At the end of the day, that’s what matters.
I thought the show was, well, a bit extreme. Ethics should come in to play with couponing. I try to always leave some for the next person even if I have enough coupons to keep going. I’ve been on the other end and get very frustrated when everything is gone, even if I’m there bright and early. I like to refer to myself as the “Balanced Couponer” Besides, there’s no way I would have enough room to store everything or use it up before it expires. I do donate more and pass things along to friends and family too.
This show just made me ill…I couldn’t help but think how people from other countries would view this show and think what fat GREEDY slobs we Americans are.
Even the 2nd lady – the black lady from Philadelphia – was so obsessed and yes she tried to help people and she didn’t have the ridiculous stockpile but she was pretty doggone self-righteous.
I was amazed not to hear the word “donate” until that last segment and yeah, why JUST donate the cereal? And dumping the whole BIN of toothbrushes and deodorant…just awful.
I did like the young couple and the retired nurse. But the first lady and the guy at the end were not the typical couponer. And I can’t imagine a store allowing 3 registers and all those employees to be tied up for 6 hours! That is actually the kind of thing that will cause the stores to limit the usage of coupons. And even I on my best day, I’ve never paid approx $250 dollars for $5700 of stuff. The last guy was beyond extreme. I wonder what the store chain and the manufactor of the products that he hoarded thought about it??
I thought I shopped wisely with my coupons but I really don’t understand how he did everything he accomplished.
My comment is this. i’m glad you didn’t do it. Would you really want people to think your mentally ill? That’s what I thought about the last guy on the show. Did you all see the salad dressing in his garage? How many salads do you think 2 people eat on a regular schedule? That stuff will expire in his garage & that is sick. I agree w/another person who said just because you can doesn’t mean you should. ITS HOARDING PEOPLE!
I did catch the episode and I thought of you! haha. It is amazing how much they can get for how little money. But it seems like a full-time job to get all those coupons and then go shopping. But it really got me motivated to get back to couponing and do more than I normally do. I need to find out how these people get all that toilet paper for free! (or so they say they did)
Oh, Kaley, I have so many comments I could write a book. Bottom line is I’m so glad you didn’t get involved 🙂
I’d Like to support you in your decision. I would love for you to be on the show! But perhaps, for the ratings they are going for is it. What I’d like to really see is the Real Champion Couponers like us: Yes go and get the good deals because we are savvy and mentally fit. It should be that us Champions that get represented in giving our loot to good causes, neighbors in need and our communities. That’s what should be showcased, our abilities, our timeless effort to charities and neighbors. Personally, I always seem to have on hand something new to give someone or a sample because I pay attention to the deals out there and I get your email everyday. thanks.
I have to give you credit for having the insight to know what to tell the producers. You would have had some recognition, but it would not have been worth it. Good for you!
If they had told about the people’s donations, then the show would not have seemed as extreme. It’s a shame they had to portray them that way when some of them do donate.
I just don’t understand this “Buying” coupons through a clipping service. That just doesn’t seem right to me.
Some of these people have “issues”……It’s simple buy what you need and what you will use and save some for everyone else.
I could not believe the stockpiles some of these people had. Nathan had more things than he could ever use in a lifetime. Too bad he doesn’t donate his stockpile. Even though he saved all that money,how much does he throw away that has expired? I think some of these people will need to be on the show “Hoarding: Buried Alive” . These people give couponing a bad name. I know I will Not watch the show again.
My family watched it. At first I thought…this is incredible. I need to do a LOT better with my coupons! Then, after the first 5 minutes, I had to explain to my kids that these people were mentally ill…not super shoppers.
I do appreciate the man that bought all of the cereal b/c he was donating it to his church’s food bank but most of it was just sad.
I do hope to learn to use my coupons more efficiently but I never want to look like one of the people on that show.
We all watched it as a family and thought these people were NUTS! This is extreme couponing and hoarding combined. I thought it was very sad actually and the only one I thought was close to normal was the older woman from Philly. I’m putting my money on the first woman profiled being divorced within 2 years. I didnt like how the show was done and I was looking forward to something a bit more uplifting with tips etc. This, in my opinion, did not even come close to fitting that.
I log on to the man’s (Nathan’s) coupon website. The other day I was on the website and someone asked him a question about the show and in his reply he stated that the people producing the show told him several times to be extreme and that the purchase he made for the show was his largest. All that cereal in his driveway went to his church’s food pantry. He does donate a lot. I also thought the lady with the wall of toilet paper went a bit far but then toilet paper doesn’t have an expiration date that I know of and she may share with extended family, friends and donate. She does have a problem because she said that she has put couponing ahead of spending time with husband and she has skipped out of planned activities to shop. That is a shame.
I totally get that the show wanted to turn him loose and go really extreme. And I dug that he said he was donating his cereal to his church (though, seeing what he has in his basement, I still doubt he donated all of it). Awesome!
But why the need for a stockpile of deodorant alreadylarge enough to un-smell-ify a small army, which the show even stated was enough for 2 people for 150 years? And why 300 toothbrushes? Assuming he and his wife both go through the ADA recommended 4 toothbrushes a year, that’s 37 and 1/2 years of toothbrushes! In one shopping trip! Note, he only mentioned donating the cereal, not any of the other cartfuls of items he purchased prior to the cereal. Why not donate ALL of that?
My personal opinion is that he is too obsessive and borders on hoarding tendencies. I’m not a doctor or anything. I’m just a girl who watches a lot of Hoarders.
I watched. Missed the first segment, thankfully, but might try to catch that just for the shock value. I liked Joanie (follow her blog) but Joyce was my favorite. I’ve never liked that Nathan guy and seriously doubt he donates as much as he says he does. He seems like a hoarder to me too. 150 years worth of deodorant?? 300 toothbrushes?? Seriously?
It’s those couponers who really get under my skin. I shop with coupons, trying to keep my family fed on a budget and trying to get a few really good deals. Recently, there was a price cut at Target for Airwick candles when combined with a coupon would make them free. I had one coupon and wanted one candle. Do you think I could find just one? Nope. It’s the people who come in and clear out shelves with 50 coupons that drive me nuts! Just because you CAN get a lot of something for free, doesn’t mean you should.
So, while I’d love to see you on TV doing your thing, I think you’re definitely better off not. 🙂
I hear you on the Target thing. I wanted two – one for me, one for my mom. I even called Target before I went to see if they had them. Over a monthish period, nada. I checked every single time I was near Target and there was never even one candle. I even asked employees and made them check in the back for them! If you aren’t seriously going to use 100 candles WHY buy them?
My DH and i watched, but we only saw the guy, the one who got 1100 boxes of cereal. Does he really need all those toothbrushes and deodrants, thats what i thought. I mean he saved a LOT of $$ but is the stuff useful, will he doante any of it (other than the cereal). I’d like someone to show me how to coupon for what i NEED and save $$$…
Yes, he does donate. He donates to several food banks and his church gives food monthly to different families.
Thats great he does that….i only saw snip its so i wasn’t sure. I saw a pic of his storage area and thought WOW….glad to hear he is givingto the community too….
I was disappointed with the show because it made it look like everyone who uses coupons are a little crazy. I really thought the first woman has other problems and is using coupons to cope with it. There are 2 of them and the stuff she bought could feed a lot of people but it seems like they keep it for themself. Even if they donated to a food bank I think they are exteme. I really liked the lady from Philly she bought what she needed and helped others save money.
I’d say you were wise to not be involved. It was, as I’m sure they intended, a ‘freak show’.
I reckon a lot of people watched the first segment and turned it off in disgust. That’s how they’ll see all of us from now on. That first woman was awful! My first impression was, why do they always pick the fringe elements to represent? (What I said to DH was probably phrased a little less tactfully).
I can relate to Joanie, though I don’t have anywhere near that large a stockpile. Shoot, I wouldn’t hesitate to rummage through the recycle bins. And I really liked Joyce and her neighbourly approach. Of course, they had to end it all with another fringer. That was so wrong on so many levels.
Notice, they put the two ‘normal’ people in the middle, starting and ending with the shock-and-awe. Yes, I was impressed at the savings, but who, in their right mind… ah, reckon I answered my own question there, huh? ;-}
So, I also had mixed reactions. I think some non-couponers will be convinced, but a lot more will be repulsed. I would’ve loved seeing you on TV, but I’m kinda glad, for your own sake, you weren’t included.