One of the hazards of working from home when you are feeling a bit under the weather (actually just too chicken to brave the -28 degree wind chill outside) is being subjected to numerous mindless television programs.
Today it’s Extreme Couponing.
I’ve watched a woman go dumpster-diving, use three different computers and printers (why she couldn’t have networked a single printer, I do not know ) and sift through mounds and mounds of newspapers, circulars and brochures to accumulate coupons. She didn’t do this alone…she had her entire family, including sister, aunt and their kids and even ex-husband work with her in this process.
She spent many days and nights preparing. I think the total hours of all involved would have to be close to a hundred hours.
She ended up purchasing $625.00 worth of stuff for $17.56. Lovely! Good Job!
Apparently this woman stock piles this stuff. She packs away her “personal items” from her cupboards and closets so that she can store/display all these items.
She has enough diapers to last three years (she has no babies).
She has enough deodorant sticks to last 7 years (aren’t they going to spoil before then?)
She has enough Jello Snack-Paks to last 4 years (why would anyone eat anything stored for that long?)
I’m skeptical…
Is all that work worth it?
Would you do it?
she is mentally sick N so are her family members. they need to see a psychiatrist for addictive, compulsive behavior.
she is like the lady i saw on TV who was suffering from garbage keeping disorder. her single room dwelling was littered with garbage [non rotting] that she kept for years…sheesh!
I know a few people who do “extreme couponing”…with 2 of them, I don’t see the worth, because they heavily stock pile canned goods and other useless stuff that has taken over their garages..but the 3rd person I know who does this, actually does it specifically to help out charities, food banks and shelters. She donates tremendously to those who need it the most, and in that case, I say it’s definitely worth it.
when nuclear freeze hits canada and toilet seats get too cold to sit on, she’ll be the only one in town with all the diapers needed. don’t knock something until you’ve tried it.
I have seen that show few times and have seen people paying measly change for hundreds and hundreds dollars worth of groceries, after going through hundreds of hours of trouble as you mentioned Muzna.
My thought is exactly the same as yours. Would it not be easy to actually go to work (maybe for the same supermarket as a grocery clerk or cashier), and instead of cutting coupons for eighty hours, earn some good dough, buy only what you need, save the rest of the money, live in a clutter free home (instead of using flush tank to store cat food, use it to flush your toilet), and enjoy life.
Plus I can’t believe that stores, manufacturers and the coupon designers are so stupid to publish coupons that could somehow let you grab all the stuff for free. I believe that at the end, you are somehow moving stuff from the shelf that they already want to get rid off. You can’t fool marketing people, no matter how genius you think you are.
I thought about how the US differs from Canada in this regard. I think that whole “emergency preparedness” is a much bigger deal down south than it is up here.
We really should have some supplies put away … but years and years worth? There’s something wrong with that.
TLK makes a good point. I wonder how much of that stock is just material that the stores and the manufacturers want to get off the shelf…
Plus you are tying yourself to a coupon, and not to your need. I like coke, but new I have to buy sprite because the coupons are only available for that brand.
As the joke goes that the problem with coupons or sale is that you are often stuck with two of something that you did not even need one of.
The extreme couponers are crazy. They end up over buying stuff they may not even need. Isn’t it at the end of the day wasting money and food?!? I saw a lady with a pantry in her garage which was could easily pass for a mini store but she said she helped out her neighbors by sharing her stock if needed. For these couponers, I think it’s more of a rush that comes from saving money. I looked at my measly coupons after the show and pretty much felt insecure about my bargainsta self.
I’d figure that the extreme couponers in the show are doing it for the show…and are not repeating that behavior in real life on a regular basis. It doesnt make sense to do this as a lifestyle.
And if they are really doing this, could it possibly be to resell (at least the non-perishable) stuff for profit?
) and sift through mounds and mounds of newspapers, circulars and brochures to accumulate coupons. She didn’t do this alone…she had her entire family, including sister, aunt and their kids and even ex-husband work with her in this process.