Extreme Couponing: TLC Style

Now, I will admit..I love me some shows on TLC.  A Baby Story, DC Cupcakes, Say Yes to the Dress...but my allegiance stops when it comes to the new show, Extreme Couponing.  I've already had many people ask me if that's what I do, and thankfully I can say without a doubt that NO, I am not like any of those people.  Now, I understand that these people are going to the extreme, hence the name, but they are giving couponers around the country (and maybe even world...are there coupons in Scotland, JM?) a bad name, for several reasons.

1) In both shows I've seen so far, the couponers make a comment about clearing the shelves and feeling no remorse.  That is just bad coupon etiquette and common sense. The twins in the 2nd episode even proclaimed they cleared the shelf themselves so they couldn't use an extra coupon they'd just been given...umm hello???

2) I was reading up last night about Jaime Kirlew, the first couponer on the show...she is now being checked out for coupon fraud.  I know that many beginners make mistakes as they're learning the system...but Jaime was not a beginner...she knew full and well what she was doing.  Yes, you can save alot of money with coupons...but sometimes if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.  Check out the CIC if you think a coupon might be fraudulent...and if it comes in an email from a friend, it probably is!

3) There is no reason to have a lifetime supply of anything!  If it's been on sale once, it will go on sale again, likely in 6-8 weeks, not 6-8 years.  I coupon enough for my husband any myself and give away a ton of toothpaste, deodorant, and other items that I regularly get for free.  This is strictly my opinion, but if you have shelves in your bedroom with thousands of dollars worth of toiletries, maybe you should do some thinking...I know that wouldn't fly in my house!

4) Most grocery stores have limits on how many of one item you can buy.  Thanks to the show, I know Publix has really cracked down on how many of a BOGO item you can get, which I honestly think is a good thing.  I think the most I've ever bought of something at one store, at one time, was the 10 Pregos, and they all got donated. (Although, donating is still no excuse for clearing the shelves!)  Because my Publix knows we have alot of couponers in the area, the shelf was still full, and I barely made a dent in it.  But, I can't see myself ever buying more than 10 of one item, even if it is being donated.

Anyway, I could go on and on.  I don't want to watch the show knowing that it's highlighting the wrong way to do something, but I also can't help it...it's like a train wreck you can't turn away from!  Let me know ya'lls thoughts and feelings and if you have any questions, hopefully I can answer them!