TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” returns for a second season September 28th. After all of the coupon fraud and misuse, store policy-lifting and rule-bending depicted in the first season, many of us hoped that there would be a little normalcy if the show returned — or at the very least, show coupon shopping in a more positive light.
But why? Crazy couponers apparently equal big ratings. Here’s a preview clip of the new season featuring Michelle, a proud and self-proclaimed “shelf-clearer.”
TLC has been running an all-day marathon of the previous season again, as both my inbox and this blog’s Forum have received comments and questions from new coupon shoppers wanting to learn “how to do Extreme Couponing!” too.
If you’re one of them, understand that yes, you can save a great deal of money with coupons. But it’s important to understand too that much of what you see on the show isn’t “real,” and getting everything in the store free is not our goal as coupon shoppers. Cutting your bill by half or better is a much more realistic, achievable goal!
Want to learn more about TLC’s “Extreme Couponing?” Recommended reading:
- Why your shopping trips aren’t quite like the ones on “Extreme Couponing”
- Shopper admits committing coupon fraud on “Extreme Couponing”
If you’re interested in becoming a coupon shopper without all of the craziness, you may like Super-Couponing: Changing the way you shop… forever!
Desert Debbi says
I wish another network would pick up on this and do a show called REAL couponing.. payback in the form of REALITY.
iteachcomputers says
Really ticks me off. And the reactions of the women in the video was unbelievable. This only makes things harder for those of us who legitimately use coupons. Why does anyone really need over 200 bottles of body wash? How does anyone legitimately get over 1100 coupon circulars a week? How is this any different than hoarding?
jamieng says
Kroger has announced that all Dallas/Fort Worth Kroger stores will stop double/tripling coupons effective Wednesday, Sept. 14th. I can’t help but want to blame this show. I won’t be watching…and now I’m on the search for a new grocery store.
oliverhog says
Seems like these people get caught in a cycle. You start saving with coupons and getting catalinas on your first few trips. Then, the next sale comes out with more catalinas and you find yourself starting to buy things you don’t need or have enough of already because the deal is just too good to pass up. I’ve never cleared a store shelf. We bought boxes of Nature Valley Granola bars when they were on sale, we had coupons and we were getting catalinas. After eating them for some time, and you do have to remember to eat them, it starts getting boring. How many bottles of body wash can a family really use unless they figure they got it so cheaply they can afford to waste? I don’t know. But since this show aired, I’ve notice a lot more shelf clearing than before. It’s wrong. Just plain wrong. Thoughtless and inconsiderate as well.
Coupon Maven says
There’s another preview online today with one of the shoppers from Extreme Couponing, and this one is quite different from the “shelf-clearer” promo — discusses giving 5 items a week that you get with coupons back to a food bank, which is a great message.