TLC’s Extreme Couponing Season 3 starts tomorrow night. As most of you know Tiffany (MyLitter aka OneDealataTime), and I were the  premiere episode for the first full season. I can honestly say that I thought we were portrayed accurately and that I feel we represented the Coupon Community well. Since then there has been a lot of good and bad on the show. If you are in Houston be sure to watch the show and tell us if you see anything unusual!

What people that LOVE the show see:

They see a group (of what can be described as normal or average Americans) that go to the store and get items that they spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on for basically the cost of a Big Mac Meal. I can admit that none of us on Extreme Couponing come across as the brain that is needed to figure out how to cure cancer. That is basically all they see. They think to themselves: “Really? If those 2 morons (us)who can’t figure out why they have seven kids can save all that money, I know I can do it.” That may be a bit EXTREME , but they definitely want to try and save some money.

Reality Check:

These are EXTREME trips! In our season you heard person after person say this is our biggest trip ever. The idea is to show what is possible, figure out what is right for your family and give couponing a shot. Read some reputable blogs, clip some coupons, be patient, and save your family some money. It’s free, why not?

What people that HATE it see:

The biggest group of people that loathe  Extreme Couponing are Deal Bloggers and long time couponers. When I say Deal Bloggers, I do not mean the people that started a blog because they were on Extreme Couponing.  I am referring to people that have been doing this for a while and have a loyal following. Here’s why:

Extreme Couponing shows person after person clearing shelves using hundreds of coupons and paying next to nothing for it. It shows people with enormous stockpiles of products that are impossible to use before the product will expire. For the most part, Extreme Couponing portrays the coupon community as people with borderline hoarding mentalities and other OCD issues. The fact that it was followed by “Hoarders” was not an accident or coincidence. The biggest problem of all is that they see an enormous increase in competition for deals from new couponers that for the most part have ZERO clue about coupon etiquette or regard for the welfare of their fellow shoppers. They also see every person on the show that had never even had a blog now has a Facebook page with 15,000 likes on it.

Reality Check:

These same Bloggers the are repulsed by Extreme Couponing have been working frantically for weeks on every SEO trick they can muster or buy to capture the frenzy of search engine traffic that will commence this evening. They are also probably teaching “Extreme Coupon Classes”

Closing Thoughts:

I am probabaly a lot like you, I Lovehate Extreme Couponing (I invented a new word). Couponing is wonderful and in many cases an extremely important necessity for people to be able to place food on the table for their families. I am inspired by the people that tell me everyday how I help them, and they don’t know how they would be able to survive without all the deals and coupons that we help them find. We are in awe of thousands of people that have attended our coupon classes and want to learn the right way to coupon. We LOVE all of you and are truly honored to serve you. The problem is the super minority of people that think they “deserve” free stuff. They look at coupon fraud as a victimless crime and rationalize their actions with thoughts of “the manufacturers can afford it”. Let me assure you, your actions do have consequences. Coupon policies have changed and will change to adapt to those that abuse them. It may take a while for the beast to catch on, but when he does, he is bigger, badder, smarter and far more EXTREME than you could ever hope to be. Your actions and consequences will not only effect you. If coupons ever stop getting produced, newspapers will shut down, food banks will close and children will go hungry. That may seem a bit dramatic, it is a true statement.

I encourage everyone to coupon, PLEASE do it ethically and honestly. Take your time to learn your store policies and read your coupons. There are plenty of deals and coupons out there if everyone does it the right way.

Head over to Facebook tomorrow night to discuss and comment live on the Premier of TLC’s Extreme Couponing!