Extreme couponers

I’m all for getting a good deal. I’ll even admit that I’m one of those annoying people that will tell you exactly how much I paid for this shirt if you compliment me on it.

But if you’ve ever seen the TLC show “Extreme Couponing,” you know that some people have taken getting a bargain to a whole new and completely unhealthy level. These people are crazy. Seriously, crazy. They stockpile ridiculous amounts of shave gel, Top Ramen Noodles and shampoo because they were able to combine 10 coupons to get each item for pennies.

One guy had 150 years worth of deodorant. Wow, a steal at any price.

And most of these extreme couponers spend the equivalent of full-time jobs cutting coupons, Dumpster diving for unused newspaper inserts and going to multiple stores to max out buying limits. Sure, they can argue that saving money helps the family’s budget as much as a second income would, but does the family really need 200 jars of pickles?

To me, it seems like some of these couponers are battling an addiction. They like the control of buying things at a cut-rate price, and they can’t stop themselves. Some even put getting a deal above their family members, their time and their sanity.

I’ve never known a true extreme couponer in real life, although I have had friends who kept coupon binders and ordered multiple Sunday papers to glean as many coupons as they could. It all just seemed like a lot of work to me, and although I like a good deal as much as anyone, there are better and more valuable ways to spend my time.

What do you think of extreme couponing? How do you know if you’ve crossed the line of bargain shopping and become a discount junkie?

Erin Stewart is a regular blogger for Deseret News. From stretch marks to the latest news for moms, Stewart discusses it all while her 4-year-old daughter crams Mr. Potato Head pieces in her little sister’s nose.