Extreme Couponing on TLC

There is a new reality show premiering Wednesday (12/29) at 8:00PM called "Extreme Couponing." Click here to watch a preview from Good Morning America.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I am feeling extremely inadequate because of the size of my stockpile.

The highlights from the preview are below. My comments are in italics.

Amanda:

• She spends 70 hours a week couponing. (She obviously doesn't have children or grandchildren).
• Her stockpile, valued at $35,000, has it's own insurance. (I can barely afford car and health insurance.)
• Her stockpile makes her feel secure. (So I can only assume that my insecurities revolve around the fact I don't have 3,000 rolls of toilet paper.)
• She used 1,000 coupons on one shopping trip. (She obviously doesn't shop at my Harris Teeter or my CVS or my Walgreens or my Rite Aid. My least favorite self-appointed Coupon Police-woman at Harris Teeter would have a heart attack if I gave her 1,000 coupons. And the sour-puss at Walgreens would probably quit her job!)

For some reason, her story made me really, really sad.
 
Nathan:

• He has 10,000 items in his stockpile. (That makes my five bottles of dish detergent look pretty slim.)
• He has 1,500 sticks of deodorant in his stockpile. (This guy must smell bad to have to stockpile that much deodorant.)
• His stockpile is valued between $50,000-$75,000. (I'm speechless!)
• He "bought" over 2,000 items in one shopping trip, including 300 toothbrushes and 1,100 boxes of cereal. (So THAT'S why there are never any toothbrushes when I shop. And my store never has 1,100 boxes of cereal on the shelf at one time.)
• He says he donates a "share" to the church food bank. (My guess...three boxes of cereal!)

His little segment really ticked me off!

Joanie:

• She dumpster dives for her coupons with her toddler son and pregnant BFF. (Did you notice...Joanie is wearing gloves and knee-high boots in the dumpster, while her toddler son is sitting in the dumpster WITHOUT gloves?)

I can relate to her...only about couponing when her hubby lost his job. As for the dumpster diving...she is NUTS!

I am going to watch this show just for the laughs. I love to coupon but I don't think I am as compulsive as these people. But I feel I need to defend myself...I gave away A LOT of my stockpile at Christmas. I do spend time cutting and filing coupons, checking grocery lists and shopping...but I still have a life!

I must go now...I'm going to call my therapist and cancel my next appointment. I have found the secret to a secure life...I NEED TO BUY MORE TOILET PAPER!

**Pinch**

Product Review: Renpure Organics Shampoo and Conditioner

We all know that using coupons can save us tons of money on products we use and love. Coupons also allow us to get products we have never used before at very little cost, sometimes for free, and sometimes we even get paid for buying new products. Sometimes these products are great and sometimes these products are not so great. From time to time, Sleeping Beauty and I do a review of products we would never have bought unless it was a good deal because of coupons.

Our ranking will be:
Two Coupons Up - I love this product and will buy it again at full price...even without a coupon...even if it were not on sale.

One Coupon Up - I love this product and will buy it again when it is on sale or when I have a coupon.

One Coupon Down - This product is okay, but I would only get it again if it were free.

Two Coupons Down - No way will I take the time to even pick this product up. I don't care if it is free or if I get paid to take this product home.

Today's product review is Renpure Organics Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner. This is taken directly from the bottle of shampoo..."My luscious hair needs lift! Made with 100% certified organic extracts and safe, fresh, natural ingredients. No sulfates, parabens, color, dyes."

I have used the shampoo and conditioner for a week. You know how your hair squeaks after you wash it? My hair never squeaked. It never felt clean. After I dried my hair, it was limp and had no body. It definitely had NO LIFT! Even after I washed my hair, it looked and felt like I had not washed my hair in a week. This shampoo and conditioner is terrible!! As soon as I took the picture, I put it in it's new home...the garbage can.

Each bottle is $6.99 and I bought it at CVS when it was B1G1. There was also a hangtag for a try-me-free rebate. I sent the rebate in and received a check for $6.99. The final cost is the tax I paid, the stamp and envelope. I will NEVER get this shampoo and conditioner again even if the cost is reimbursed. I will not buy it to donate. I will close my eyes when I pass by it on the store shelf.

Renpure Organics Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner: Two Coupons Down

**Pinch**