My Take on TLC's Extreme Couponing

This show aired and profiled four people who coupon.  The first woman coupons so much that it's overtaken her home and her husband has had to give up his own space for her.  She admitted it is an obsession and that she often sacrifices time with her husband and family to go shopping.  The second woman actually dives in recycling dumpsters just to get coupons.  The third woman collects coupons and helps others.  The final couponer was a man who has to pull a trailer behind his car just to bring his purchases home.

The thing that bothered me the most about this show is that it showed people who literally do nothing but coupon.  Their habits have resulted in a stockpile that has taken over their homes.  They spend tons of money on coupon clipping services and could probably be diagnosed as OCD.  But there are people who have lost their jobs and are not sure how they are going to eat their next meal.  There are people that are so overstretched because of the economy that buying groceries is nearly impossible.  These people need to know that they can truly coupon without getting to the point of needing to visit the mental ward of the nearest hospital.

So to debunk a few myths; couponing does not have to consume your life.  When you first get started, it does take some time to learn a system that works for you. You do not have to create such a stockpile that takes over your home.

The truth is that couponing can change your life.  You can free up room in your budget to help you get out of debt, save for the future or just have some wiggle room.  You can have a small stockpile that will allow your family to weather a crisis.  You can feed hungry children without having to worry about having enough on hand for them when they want to snack.

Don't let this show stop you from couponing if you haven't started. There are plenty of sane individuals like myself who help their families by couponing.  It can change your life for the positive if you just give it a try!