Extreme Couponing: A Love/Hate Relationship

Last night, TLC began another new season of Extreme Couponing.  I have come to have a love/hate relationship with this show. 

I hate this show because it is a skewed sense of reality.  These stores bent policies, allowed multiple coupons to be used and waived policies for "good savings."  Not only that, the TLC crew would use their own members to make things seem more believable.  

What has now happened as a result is that more and more people feel a sense of entitlement for free -- or nearly free -- items at thier store.  So many are now clearing shelves and boarding on the line of hoarding.  And for what?  Another free tube of toothpaste? 

How many boxes of cereal can one family eat before it goes bad?  How many bottles of mustard do you really need?  It seems people think this is the only time they will ever be able to get these deals.  If people learn to pay attention to the ads and keep track of prices, they would quickly learn that ads cycle around. Deals will come back again.  Sadly, many do not lack the patience nor will power to wait.

I find that stores place couponers under a bigger microscope.  Not because most of us are trying to get a good deal, but rather because of the way that some are ruining it for the rest of us.  They try to cheat the system.  They try to pass of bad coupons.  This has forced many stores to change their coupon policies, which affects my own bottom line.  It makes me sad.

Now, I did say that I love this show. Why?  Well, because it is helping increase awareness in people to learn how to shop more wisley.  It is teaching people that there are coupons out there and they really can save money on the things they need.  I love that people who once couldn't afford very many groceries can now do so - by learning the right way to save money.

My love/hate relationship with this show goes on......I just wonder how long the series will survive.