On Sunday I was making a final exam (such fun, the life of a teacher). I was home alone and wanted some background noise and something to watch when I needed a quick break. For reasons unknown, Netflix wasn't working. And Sunday afternoon TV is awful. So I put on TLC, and watched an Extreme Couponing mini-marathon.
I hadn't actually watched the show before, but knew the premise. People use more coupons than any single person should have, and save ridiculous amounts of money. Seriously, people were saving 90% or more on their grocery bills. I was impressed. In Canada, or specifically, Ontario, I don't know if there is the same potential for savings, since some coupons and offers are restrictive, and cannot be combined. But, I was intrigued.
I began thinking about the motivation for the planning, organisation, and time invested in these savings. Could these shoppers afford their groceries otherwise? Is this done out of a need, due to low income, normal family expenses, or unemployment? Or are extreme couponers motivated by having a larger disposable income?
The impression I got from most of the people featured on the show was that couponing wasn't a need. For some, it satisfied a shopping addiction without creating a financial hardship. Others got a thrill from saving so much (to the point where they stockpiled items they had absolutely no use for, simply because they were free or ridiculously affordable). One individual was a teenage girl, and the savings she gained for her family were used to save up for a car. But really, no one seemed to have an absolute need to save this much. To me, it seemed kind of greedy. Were they interfering with anyone else getting a great deal? Probably not. But the reason for saving all of this money (and accumulating massive amounts of grocery/household items) seemed to be simply the love of things, and having more things. In one episode, the grocery items were donated to a charity, but this was only because the shopper's husband was fed up with the crazy couponing lifestyle and insisted his wife donate because he was annoyed that his entire home had become a stock room.
Is Extreme Couponing bad? No. I just think it should serve a better purpose than having more stuff (or money). It should fill a need (for yourself, or others). Of course this is only my opinion. I, myself, use coupons when I can. But I don't obsess over saving money or having more stuff (some of the couponers seemed obsessed/addicted - not very healthy if you ask me).
