Has any of you seen this show? Its amazing what these women can do with all those coupons. I love to clip'em.. but here is my problem and what I have observed.
All or most of these women are overweight.. and there is a reason for it, actually 2 reasons.
1) long hours of sitting down clipping and printing coupons.
2) the food that the "food industry" offer with these coupons is horrid.
I have tried to get a big grocery cart or carts like they do, but being that more then 80% of the coupons I find are for food we don't eat in my house, well.. it makes no sense to me. These "foods" are very unhealthy, processed, frozen, sodas, sugary stuff... they are a slow killer.
Another thing, I don't understand why anyone would want to have a "supermarket" looking room in their home. I can tell you this, if I had a spare room to make a food pantry like this I would be packing all that food that I bought for so cheep and sending it to people that cant afford to eat... now that's an idea :)
I am not criticising women that do all they can to save money, I think that is great and I do it too... Im one to clip and to get online and find out what family activity is out there for free (or cheap), I am one to ask for discounts on everything I buy... from vacations to electronics and everything in between... but watching this show made me see how obsessed some people can get and how unhealthy it is.
Are you a coupon juncky? :)
It's definitely an obession. However, I also have several thoughts on it:
1. I think that A LOT of these people are either Mormon/LDS influenced. It's my understanding, in the LDS church, they are "Strongly encouraged" to have 1 year's worth of stockpile groceries in case of a major disaster -- so they can sustain their own families and their neighbors. Many people buy freeze dried stuff and more non perishables, but I'm thinking that the people on this show took that little bit of advice and ran with it totally overboard!! But I do know several Mormons and they all attest to having large stockpiles of food and how the LDS church really encourages it (someone said "requires" but I'm thinking that it's just very very encouraged).
2. I've heard MANY of them talk about how they give A LOT of their stuff away. Especially things that are perishable. One guy said that he gives away 85-90% of the stuff he "purchases" (I use quotations, because in his episode, he bought over $800 worth of things and paid NOTHING for it!) Another person was doing a major shopping trip to complete 1000 care packages he was sending to the troops. So, I think that they do give a lot of it away.
3. I've come to realize that these are VERY extreme people (hence the name). Like 1 in hundred of thousands. And even their shopping trips on the show are extreme -- they always say how so-in-so is prepping for their biggest shopping trip yet. So I'm thinking that they don't normally do this kind of shopping -- it's all for show, you know?
Overall though - it's totally insane!! lol I totally see an issue with it , when doing things (anything really) to that kind of extreme. It's like that hoarding show, you know? BUT with that said, it has caused me to start couponing myself!! :) The first trip I did, I saved 58% of my bill and yesterday I paid $2 for an entire chicken, 4 candy bars and 2 sticks of deordant!! :) The deodorant actually MADE me money (21 cents per stick). :) I was so stoked walking out of there!! lol I can see how it can become an obession though (Especially when you can get things for so cheap or even free. ) -- I really enjoy doing it and I totally get excited when it's Tuesday and I get my weekly store ads!
oh and also -- I TOTALLY see though about the unhealthy foods. I never buy candy bars, but just yesterday I bought 4 candy bars (all free) and 2 bags of candy minis (cheap). So now I have them in the house and trying to hide them so the kiddos don't find it! :) But yes, a good majority of the coupons (for food) are for processed stuff. And although I haven't seen too too many overweight people on the couponing show, I can totally see how someone would be overweight if living totally on that kind of diet. bleh....
Yes!! lol... i agree with you.. you do get obsessed lol.. i just wish they would promote more healthy foods and give us the choice of good coupons for food that is actually good for you. wow thats great you saved 58% thats more them half! :)) I love to bring coupons and see that number go down.. it give me a sense of accomplishment :) and i also agree that some religious groups do it in case of a disaster.. i have seen it too. I would def. do it to give the food away though.. its a great way to help others.
I know - I wish they would give coupons for fruits and veggies and stuff. Tht would be AWESOME! I knwo that some healthfood stores accept coupons -- like Sprouts, Whole Foods and even Trader Joes. And if you have a favorite brand, check out their website or facebook page, becaue a lot of times they give coupons. I've even heard of people going so far as to write into a company and ask if they'll send them coupons!
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- yvonne37
on May. 18, 2011 at 9:23 AM