With the current economy, clipping coupons to save money is a must for some of us. The media has taken couponing and gone wild with it, making reality-based (“reality” is used loosely here) shows that feature people who use coupons to the point where they get hundreds of dollars’ worth of groceries for only a few dollars. While they’re showing a way for folks to save money during these cash-strapped times, what kind of message are they sending?
Pay Less Money, Eat More Processed Food
The thing about coupons – and I’ve noticed this as I’m sure you have – is that most of the food they’re good for is usually processed and not whole. Most of the coupons are for the big name-brand products that are mass produced and aren’t whole foods like meats, milk, or whole produce. Extreme couponers might be able to pay very little for their food, but as a diet, it’s completely unsustainable.
Where’s the Charity?
What these extreme couponing shows don’t cover is the fact that it’s possible to donate some of the products they rake in. What family of 3 or 4 needs 100 boxes of cereal when there are food banks and homeless shelters where families are barely subsisting? There doesn’t seem to be any room for charity work or even a hint that saving doesn’t have to mean hoarding.
You Don’t Have to Go So Extreme
Shows like this are supposed to be “entertainment” (another term used loosely) – but the reality element of it sends the message that it’s possible for the average person to be able to coupon like that, when there’s actually a learning curve. A little couponing can do a lot for your budget if applied to products you use on a regular basis. Add in the fact that it takes a lot of planning to use the coupons effectively, plus learning all the lingo, plus the time it takes to learn the sales cycles to make the most of the coupons, and in the end it’s really not worth the stress to go that extreme. Even when it comes to coupons, knowing how much is enough for you changes everything.
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