I watched the first episode of Extreme Couponing months ago because I was hopeful that it would shed some light on a legitimate way to save money for your family. I know that there are many families who can use the information to help them in these difficult times.
I have made it pretty clear that I didn’t care for what I saw.
This past week TLC decided to take the shows’ success and turn it into a series. I chose not to watch because I was pretty sure that I would see nothing more than a company trying to profit off of sensationalism without showing the true side of couponing.
Well, it appears that for the sake of ratings they have chosen to facilitate crime in the public eye for all to see.
I received many emails and comments from the Saving Dollars and Sense community wanting to know how it was possible to buy $1900 worth of stuff and only spend $100.
This morning a friend shared a very thorough article claiming that one of the couponers from the show had actually committed coupon fraud. After reading the article myself I must say the evidence is there for all to see and it does indeed appear that fraud was committed.
You can read the article on the Extreme Couponing Fraud and decide for yourself.
I am praying that as this story continues to unfold it will make it clear that there are some who practice illegal couponing, but the majority of us are law-abiding, and simply looking for ways to save money. My stance has always been that you should only buy enough for you and your family. If you have the opportunity to get more, then bless someone else with it.
It doesn’t make sense to me why anyone would go to the lengths of using coupons in a fraudulent way when there are so many ways to use them legally to get great deals!
I guess I don’t care about being an Extreme Couponer if this is what it is all about. I would rather be an Expert Couponer who knows the ins and outs of couponing legally!
Remember I am sharing my Couponing 101 course over the next few months. Make sure to check back in here every Tuesday for a new lesson on how to become an expert couponer and legally use coupons to save your family thousands of dollars a year!
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rosie says
I’m a disabled senior who raised three children and fed many of their friends over the years all alone. I bought in bulk, went to the dairy for all dairy products, and bought meat from a meat plant but I only bought what we would use and don’t understand the extreme stockpiling I saw on TLC today after watching Extreme Couponing for the first time. I have just one question—–WHY?????? Time, energy, time away from the family and all that waste made me sick. People need to get back to some common sense and realize what is really important–the people in our lives. Thanks for listening. Venting helps sometimes.
Diane says
Most all stores I know limit the amount of items you can use with coupons. I could never shop here in WV or Md they way they show on TV. I can not believe extreme couponing would allow so much questionable shopping practices to be shown.
Judy says
I have watched TLC’s extreme couponing show and am amazed at how these shoppers can “purchase” so many items for so little money. Having worked as a cashier, I know that my store would not allow a coupon for an item that wasn’t purchased, and accepted only so many “free” coupons. Please address on this show how we can all save money. We want to see how these shoppers are doing this. Of course, if the stores that they are shopping at and being filmed are allowing this, it should be noted at the beginning of the show. My local grocery store doesn’t allow manufacturer coupon to be combined with a store coupon, Thankfully they do double coupons and have in store specials, etc. so we can save as much money as possible. I didn’t really see the tips, etc. how they “saved”, so please include this on the show and show the complete face of the coupon, not blocking off parts of it, I noticed this at several parts in the show.
DeAnna says
This just posted on Entertainment Weekly website. http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/04/14/tlc-coupon-fraud-extreme-couponing/
Louise says
IT’s stories like this that make stores look down on us so much for using coupons. I hate going into a store with my coupons and have the cashiers treat me like I’m stealing when I’m following all the rules. It’s like the money is coming out of their paycheck somtimes. I really hope that TLC doesn’t ruin things for those of us that do follow the rules, sometimes I find it hard enough to use coupons as it is. I really need coupons to save our family some money.
Jackson says
I think this show is another way that some people can take a good thing and turn into something unhealthy socially, mentally, and emotionally. I am all for saving money for your family and using coupons responsibly but I feel the people on this show go too far. How can anyone even use the products they are stockpiling in a lifetime? It is a waste and causes hoarding and clutter in their environment.
ICStarzz says
wow. Thank you for posting this!
And while I am psyched to learn how to save money like these people do, I do remember thinking while I was watching, that they have all this stuff that probably won’t be used, they should donate some…
marybeth @ babygoodbuys.com says
I haven’t seen Extreme Couponing, but if this is true, it’s pretty despicable. I’m hoping, at the very least, that Extreme Couponing isn’t promoting or explaining this way to use coupons. It’s people like this who make shopping difficult for the rest of us!
Cori Westphal says
I completely agree with you. There are the “extreme couponers” out there that are happy to get 2 free boxes of crackers or yogurt, and maybe some close-to-free meat for dinner. that’s what the show should be about. There’s no reason to praise “food hoarders” in all their gluttony. The show should follow real people using coupons on real products their family actually uses. If extreme couponers keep this up, companies are gonna catch on and quit offering coupons altogether. Makes me mad. Thanks for sharing your opinion!
Lee says
I appreciate that you are always here to teach us the right way to do things. It sucks when one person messes it up like that. I’m sure TLC is in ratings heaven right now.
Lee
jenn says
Didn’t one of the cashiers have to punch in every coupon? So the cashier could have just put the coupons in the system without really knowing if they bought the real coupon deal or not. I love saving money the right way.
Teresa says
Am adding you to my sidebar…you have a GREAT blog
jessica matthews says
I have never seen this show and to be quite honest I think I am naive I had no idea that it was possible to be fraudulent in using coupons like this.
I do want to learn to use coupons but am positive not that this show is not how to learn doing it.
mandee says
ok is it wrong to say that i cleared the shelves of different walmarts to get baby formula. i mean that has to be justified right? its expensive and it was smaller bottles. i only extreme coupon on baby stuff like diapers wipes and d very rare occassion of formula.
Kristie says
I can totally understand something like this and would do the same because I can remember how expensive it all was. Wish I would have known how to use coupons back then!
Emily says
Wow, I didn’t realize that! I started couponing a few months ago, but I hope to never get to that level. I don’t need 75 bottles of mustard and food items in every inch of my house. I definitely think that is hoarding and there are some psychological issues there!
Alison says
Isn’t J’aime sad. Even while I was watching the show I was like damn 77 bottles of mustard.. .no thanks. Well actually only 60 something cause they didn’t have 77 on the shelf.
I really hope that some J’aime is taken to the dryers. She is a horrible role model for new couponers and really just needs to face the cold hard truth that she is a douche.
Sorry I’ve been ranting about this all day and my husband thinks I am crazy now.
Annie @ Mama Dweeb says
First, thank you so much for sharing your tips on couponing LEGALLY. I really need to learn a few things about using coupons cause I don’t use them at all. I look forward to seeing what TLC’s repsonse to this uproar will be. I am shocked they didn’t do more research on that Jaime girl first.
Lori says
Sadly because of people like that, we will suffer the backlash. I hope this is being investigated and someone is pusuing this matter?
Emily Carty says
I never watched the first episode and while I meant to watch the new one, I missed it. I read the article you are referring to this morning and I was sincerely disturbed by what I read. I was VERY happy to see the writers throughout the article, say “let’s assume.” The reason is because we, as viewers, are at the mercy of what the producers of a show WANT us to see. So, while the evidence that was SEEN on the show tells us there was fraud, I liked the fact that the writers kept reiterating that it may not be true. However, that being said, I FULLY believe fraud was committed and I am just heartbroken. I am so afraid that TLC has opened a can of worms that is going to effect the coupon world VERY negatively (although I do believe those who commit the fraud deserve to be prosecuted). The whole thing is just sad and it is people like this that ruin it for the rest of us (and that is not just in the coupon world).
Marianna says
Wow, I didn’t even know you could fraudulently use coupons. Obviously I know nothing about couponing! I hope this doesn’t ruin it for everyone who is doing it legally.
Reagan says
The sad part about this whole thing is that this tv show could single handedly ruin couponing for us all.
kristen says
I, too, am extremely disturbed by this! I cannot believe anyone would get up on national TV and commit a crime like this- and it IS a crime!
Feel free to check out my post on the subject
http://funbeingfrugal.com/2011/04/coupon-fraud-on-extreme-couponing-this-is-unacceptable/
Julie says
I just started using coupons (with the help of a couple good friends) and taped the show in order to “learn” more about the in’s & out’s of saving money – but maybe also being able to give to others less fortunate. I’ll definitely be following your couponing 101 series… I *need* help! 🙂