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View Poll Results: TLC's extreme couponing good or bad?

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    37 8.96%
  • Change for the better

    48 11.62%
  • Change for the worse

    237 57.38%
  • too early to tell

    91 22.03%
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Thread: TLC Extreme Couponing

  1. #301
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    One guy bought 1100 boxes of cereal. Where would he get that many coupons??? He donated it all to his local food bank. That was the best part of the show. I love cutting coupons but this show is just weird!
    How many couples (one segement was about a couple with no kids) really need to 'stock up' on 40 boxes of pasta and 40 jars of sauce. The poor husband...rooms in his house stocked with pasta, sauce, toothbrushes, toilet paper and deoderant for years to come....Im all about bargain hunting and coupon usage, but wont spend my whole day off at the grocery store or hours upon hours planning the strategy ahead of time. I guess thats why its called extreme couponing. Good for them.

  2. #302
    * thecountess's Avatar
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    While I do think that it's problematic if people are spending so much time couponing and surfing the web for deals that it's having a negative impact on their life, I also think it's awesome that a lot of less fortunate people are helped by the Extreme Couponers that were on the show.

    This article says Nathan Engels and his wife were able to donate $45,000.00 worth of stuff last year and their next goal is $50,000.00. Having volunteered in a food bank myself I know firsthand the positive impact those donations must be having on his community.

    http://www.azcentral.com/business/ar...n-website.html

    I wonder how long he actually stores the stuff in his stockpile.... l had seen a video from earlier this year when him and Jill Cataldo were featured in a Super Couponers segment. He had pouches of tuna stacked halfway to the moon in that video, and yet in his latest video of his stockpile it's not there.

    So I wonder if he buys the stuff and piles it up mainly just to document it and show others how much stuff you can score if you set your mind to it, and then once he has taken photos and videos he donates it soon after. That's kind of the impression I'm getting.... and there are soooo many people in need who can use the stuff.

    When you hear that 58 billion dollars worth of coupons go un-used in the US alone every year, I think it's really a shame and I think if more people (here in Canada too) couponed and stockpiled with the purpose of donating a lot of it, no one in need would be going without.

    Last edited by thecountess; Sat, Jan 1st, 2011 at 09:20 AM.

  3. #303
    Smart Canuck Valiant's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by canuckshopper View Post
    Hi All

    A freind of mine told me about Couponmom.com and I decided to check it out.

    The claim is there that she urchased $189.00 woth of groceries for only $15.00

    In the USA they ahve coupon Thursday wehre the manufacturer issues a coupon, the sotre issued a coupon and the the item is on sale, thereby making the product free

    Can this feat be obtained in Canada? In my experience, no.

    I joined all the the groups for free coupons in Canada and note that the manufactureres only issue one coupon handled by a clearing house in NB. The stores rarely issue an in house coupon and then you have Red Plum and Smart Choice coupon boks that arrive in the junk mail or newspaper every week or two. Again the coupons are sent to the clearing house in NB.

    One of the best ways to save is to keep the coupon books and wait for the item to go on sale.

    Another way to save money is to look for deals on sertain items of necessity such as pasta. REcently No Frill ahd a brand of pasta on sale for $1.97 and there is 5lbs in the bag.

    Another expample is the coupons received from the manufacturer for Catelli Healthy Choice pasta allowed me to get two boexes for free.

    These are rare instances for saving a lot of money. Overall, to be an extreme coupon clipper, you must be dedicated and only purchase those items that you really need for your home, expecially in food items and cleaning supplies.

    No, we Canadians do not have the same luxury as those residents south of us with coupons galore. I now want to see the documentary made in Canada showinbg the Canadian experience


    Just click on "BRAG" on the top of this page, and there you go!

  4. #304
    Mastermind Natalka's Avatar
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    People should also realize that some people who donate do not tell about their donations, they just do it quietly, as something they want to do.
    As the countess said, food banks are in great need, and many people help out with their donations, without fanfare...

  5. #305
    Super Canuckelhead Bluntbabe's Avatar
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    When the show came on almost everyone I knew phoned me to tell me it was on. I am still amazed at how much groceries they can get for free in the US. I did feel better after watching however because I waited until my kids were 7 and 8 before getting them in the recycle bins with me! I told my husband, "see, she has her baby in there!" LOL!

  6. #306
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    Quote Originally Posted by mcminsen View Post
    Well, after watching that I feel so... small.

    And sane.

    Hey, was there something about their coupons that automatically sync with what was scanned and it either is okay or not and the computer determines that and not the cashier? That would be so good to have it like that. So much less stress and less time for all involved.
    Stores should be able to scan coupons in Canada too the coupons have a UPC on them.

  7. #307
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    Quote Originally Posted by QueenH View Post
    I must say I am jealous of the deal the Americans can get and all the coupon sites they have. I get so frustrated just finding some in my paper and especially online. Why doesnt Canada have great coupon sites and printable coupon sites. Why can't Canadian stores allow coupon grouping or staking? I would love to have a months stockpile of something. I hate finding a great coupon only to see its only good in the USA. I love SC and would be in a bad place without all the great info on deals and coupons. I really wish there was an easier way to get more coupons. How do they even get more than one anyways? (other than blue box diving)which Im not above doing except not in the winter brrrr.
    It's terrible Red Plum and SmartSource that put out coupon inserts in Canada have printable sites but only for U.S. I guess they don't have printable coupons for Canada because lots of stores won't take printable coupons.You could ask friends and family for their coupons.

  8. #308
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    Quote Originally Posted by Valiant View Post
    Thanks so much for posting the link so I was able to watch that show. Enjoyed it thoroughly; laughed immensely!
    I found the extreme-couponers to be very interesting people. Highly skillful, organized, dedicated and successful in what they do. Now if they were hired as managers of places that needed stockpiles, there would be no hunger and want there.

    Nathan looks like a man with a purpose. I'd like to meet him. Now if he could hire a big semi to take all of that stuff to out-of-the-way places, he could re-sell and make a little fortune. But if times get really tough where he lives, everybody is going to be coming to Nathan's to break into his stockpile. On the other hand, he could also become the neighbourhood provider for disaster assistance. I hope he has a plan about what to do with his stockpile, now that he had reached the pinnacle of success in acquiring it.

    Let's face it though, the truth is that some of us know what it is like to be insecure and in want, to be jobless or close to it, to worry and be afraid about where or how we are going to find the means to live on.
    Along come the coupons, and we learn how to use them so we can overcome the poverty, the fear, the rejection, the frustration of dealing with frightening unknown factors. Coupons are power; stockpiles are security in an insecure world.

    I thought it was 3,000 packages of toilet paper; it's only 3,000 rolls.
    I have about 6-8 24-pks. in my stockpile, and I'm glad for my stockpile. It's winter in Canada. Very difficult for me to get out and about with my walker. I only shopped 3-4 times in the whole month of December to get groceries, mostly milk and eggs. And it was so much easier having the stuff at home to use, instead of lugging it home through the deep snow. It's easy for a newscaster and therapist to judge (what's their salary)?
    Now if we had some people like these extreme-couponers in our government or community charities, we'd be better off economically, wouldn't we? I think their talents aren't being utilized for the best, but with all this exposure, maybe their phones will be ringing with offers from those who appreciate their abilities.
    So true what you say about having a stockpile for the winter.I get concerned about paper products like facial tissues getting wet because I get the bus so I stockpile for the winter months.

  9. #309
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    Its a power trip,and all about showing off the stockpile in the end.

  10. #310
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    I think the same can be said for anything really, some people blow a trumpet in front of them for any good that they do... and others like Natalka mentioned do their giving in a very quiet, anonymous way. I don't think everyone is just motivated by the need for praise or showing off though. I personally get a lot of inspiration by seeing the stockpiles of items that are destined for the foodbank, and it gives me ideas on how I can do the same. It is also gratifying for me when I drop off a bag to the foodbank, that I am able to help others even in the midst of my own financial challenges. I can't save the whole world but I can at least give this bag or two of food and toiletries. One of my New Year's resolutions is to increase my own donations in 2011.

    Another point too is that the Extreme Couponers don't do this type of mammoth shopping trip every time they hit the local stores.... they were specifically told by the producers that this is what they wanted to film. A lot of pre-planning went into the trips and stockpiling of coupons (and pre-ordering of products like the cereal) to make what was filmed even possible.

    The problem with most of these "reality" shows is a lot of footage ends up on the cutting room floor and random scenes are all strung together to appear to be consecutive events so as to be as dramatic and sensationlistic as possible. (This is why I tend to avoid them for the most part because they can make anyone look like a PMS Queen through the magic of editing.) There may be a lot more that went on behind the scenes that we don't know of.

    All I know is if someone is donating $45,000.00 worth of stuff in a year they are obviously donating most of what they stockpile. Like I said in my last post certain items that were in the Engels' garage in previous videos are no longer there. I think this is fabulous because clearly a lot of items are ending up in the hands of people who need it the most vs. un-used coupons in a dumpster that could have been utilized to help someone. To me those coupons represent a wasted opportunity for people to improve their own standard of living and those in their community.

    I have to say I think it's amazing that the show has opened up a dialogue on ways we can all increase our giving.... I'm noticing a lot of threads on SC where people are brainstorming on ways to give and are setting challenges for themselves in this way and they should be commended for this.

    Last edited by thecountess; Sun, Jan 2nd, 2011 at 06:55 AM. Reason: severe spelling deficiency due to tiredness lol

  11. #311
    PunkRockPrincess davidsprincess's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Valiant View Post
    I didn't think there were any more extreme couponers than us Smart Canucks, except for the U.S. couponers.
    And 3,000 rolls of tp isn't so much; a person could stack it against the inner walls, or in the attic, and it would serve as insulation, and cut down on the heating or AC bills. JK, although I did glance at my own stockpile of tp, and did some mental math, I'm WELL below that amount.

    i like ur train of thought. i need to buy more Tp so i can use it as insulation- love that lol
    PunkRockPrincess

  12. #312
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    I thought this show was disgusting and gave coupon shoppers a bad name! Maybe its because when i took my class about coupon shopping she made it clear we needed to be polite and not run the store out of everything!

    If you have to get 500 packs of toilet paper...then you should be special ordering it and giving the store notice!

    The lady who went through with 9 carts and 1000's of coupons and got mad because the till couldn't take it made me sad! I get how nice it is to have a small stock pile especially when times get rough (i mean I started coupon shopping when my husband lost his job) but some of these people are just OCD hoarders I swear!

    LOL...my rant is over LOL

  13. #313
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    Well it was called extreme couponing but I agree.
    I seen a forum where some of the people on the show were complaining about the way the footage was cut, one said they followed her to the food bank and she thought it would be great footage of the good work couponers can do but they made it look like she kept it all
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  14. #314
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    Quote Originally Posted by recessionisnotfun View Post
    tax on a tax on a tax No wonder so many ppl are trying to move to the states. Cheaper living all the way around. We have friends in Texas and went down a couple years ago, the prices of everything blew us away. Not easy to get into the states though to live. We've talked to many immigration lawyers and it's not easy My hubby is the one who wants to live there badly.
    Don't forget to though in the US you pay for your healthcare. I have lived in the states before and would MUCH rather stay in Canada. Healthcare is outrageous there. When I lived there per month we paid over $300 a month for the healthcare plan and you pay the $300 monthly. Then each dr visit costs $25, each specialist visit(OB/GYNS are considered specialists to) costs $40. To go to the emerg was $250. I had a baby in the states and the hospital bill was $10,000.00. So when you have kids it can be quite expensive to live down there.


    Quote Originally Posted by recessionisnotfun View Post
    lol, ya gotta have balls of steel to live in alberta lol. Actually where we live it's nicer, not like Edmonton. Born and raised there and miss it, but not the weather. We're 7 hours from Ed.
    Where in AB are you? I'm from AB to.

  15. #315
    Senior Canuck MelanieG's Avatar
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    I used to be from Taber but am living in red deer now. Yes I just thought I would join in saw that you were from the hat
    http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Melaniegreness click the link to sign up and search the web. You can earn things like free gift cards!

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