Saturday, April 12, 2014

Clipping Coupons Should Save Money Not Cause Anxiety

By Cornelius Nunev


We're all looking to conserve money in these troubled times. Coupon cutting is one method to conserve money on household goods and other items. But coupons have an unsightly side, too. Popularized by a TLC reality show, "Extreme Couponing" can, for some, become an obsession that takes over their lives.

Started with reality show

The phrase "extreme couponing" is well-known by many individuals. It came from a show on the Learning Channel. As reported by TLC, it is a show about "the world of bargain shoppers who have mastered the art of saving. Get tips to help you save Big." TLC first previewed the show in December, 2010. In April 2011, the show began airing. A second season starts this month.

Is hoarding a concern?

The show is, according to MNSBC's Allison Linn, about "bargain-obsessed people coupon-clipping for hours, and in some cases even Dumpster diving for more coupons." Linn said that whenever we see individuals clearing the grocery store shelves and then giving a ton of coupons to the register clerk, this is seen. These people start to show their pantry off. They show that they have a years' supply of household goods from the couponing.

Is this okay?

Recently, the show has sparked a backlash from retailers and manufacturers, who see more and more people taking bargain hunting to the extreme.

Bud Miller, executive director of Coupon Information Corp., said "a fairly large number of people are going into stores with really unrealistic expectations."

The trade group Food Marketing Institute warned retailers last month of a rise in fraudulent behavior among coupon users. Cashiers are sometimes intimidated while couponers will sometimes make an effort to use coupons on things other than what they're for.

Stealing

Newspapers across the country, according to Linn, are reporting increases in the theft of Sunday newspapers, which she attributes to coupon-clipping extremists.

Dan Schaub, a marketing executive for The Sacramento Bee, said several newspapers are taking measures to guard against these thefts. The papers are getting used by couponers. This was clear to him. Wed and Sunday newspapers -- the days that feature coupon inserts -- have been selling quickly.

Deception due to extreme couponing

In April, blogger Jill Cataldo posted an article pointing out several unethical and even illegal coupon practices featured on-air by J'Aime Kirlew, one of the consumers featured on "Extreme Couponing."

This matter is taken seriously by TLC, it said in a statement. It plans to look into the concerns. The brief statement closed with: "We look forward to sharing the tips and shopping savvy from all the couponers featuring in upcoming episodes."




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