TLC's Extreme Couponing

As I embark into couponing one of my favorite things to do is to watch the new show on TLC Extreme Couponing.  For the most part (at least for me) its unrealistic and over the top, yet VERY entertaining, plus you can learn some new helpful tricks or learn what not to do.  Most of the show is for people who spend a lot of time and effort into collecting, clipping, organizing and researching deals. As a stay at home mom to 2 young girls its hard for me to spend 40 hours a week couponing. I have no need for 62 bottles of mustard.  I know a lot of people think the people on the show are hoarders, and I think some would come up with a good argument for that.  Sometimes I watch the show and think "when is do they have enough?" On the other hard there are positives to it.  I love the last show that showed the gentleman giving away most of his stockpile to charity.  I think its WONDERFUL to see how generous people are and how saving money can really help not only you but your community.  Also you can learn "tricks of the trade".  One being on the last show, ALWAYS READ YOUR COUPONS DO NOT GO BY THE PHOTO, the cashier tried to tell the couponer that it wasn't the right product but if the coupon states that you can use ANY then it is valid.  One thing I will always do and preach is FAIR COUPONING, do not do coupon fraud.  Coupon fraud is when you make a cashier push a coupon through even when it is NOT for the product stated on the coupon.  If us couponers do not use coupons properly then there will be stricter policies or making stores change their policies.  Which leads me to my last observation of the show.  MOST of these people are lucky, now I say this because you have REALLY research your stores and just be lucky that you live near a store that doubles coupons or that doesn't have a limit.  For instance I have a store by me that double up to a dollar which is AWESOME but their policy is no more then 3 like coupons per person per day. I can't always have my husband go with me or go everyday because the store is 20 minutes from my house.  So I do what I can.  In the end the TRUE goal is to save money so whether you save $2 or $2000 you are SAVING money!