TLC Extreme Couponing

I have a question for you all.  Do you watch this program?

 I do. 

I so have a love hate relationship with this program.  I love reality TV (guilty pleasure #5) some day I will share 1 - 4.  What I have to say is entirely my opinion.

This show has inspired so many people to begin couponing or get back to couponing and that IS GREAT!  The downside is, TLC which should be (The Learning Channel)  really does not teach people how to coupon.  They use the program for Ratings.  Well why wouldn't they it is all about money right?  What bothers me the most is how they intentionally portray people or put people on the show to be hoarders, have compulsive shopping problems, tend to be a little CRAZY (well that part is up my ally) people shopping orders being Thousands of dollars and only paying a few dollars.

What a new couponer does not realize is how UNREALISTIC AND UNATTAINABLE that is!  Yes, you can get items for FREE all of the time but unlikely 100 bottles of mustard.  Why would you need that much?  Great if you donate but come on people...it is reality TV  they want and expect that WOW factor. 

Most stores bend or eliminate their own policies in order to get the WOW factor.  Wish my local grocery store would do that for me!  You see most stores limit the quantity of how many coupons they will double per transaction.  Part of the reason for this is the backlash from this show.  Now, I DO multiple transactions (3) not (33)  so I can stock up on 8-10 items NOT 100.

So the moral of this story is!!!  It is wonderful that you have been inspired to save money by couponing but be REALISTIC!  You are not a reality show (thou you may feel like it some days).  You will get items for free, you will save money, you will have a stockpile.  You just won't be able to do it in ONE 10 hour shopping trip.  Who would want to???? 

Follow this link to read an article published by the Charlotte Observer from Lowes Foods.  (a store that participated in the show)  Gives you a little bit of a reality check.

What are your thoughts on this show?  Do you watch? 

Do you love it or hate it?  OR just don't care!

I crave your comments....give me comments please!!!!