Extreme Couponing is an activity that combines shopping skills with couponing in an attempt to save as much money as possible while accumulating the most grocer items.

The concept of “Extreme Couponers” was first mentioned by The Wall Street Journal on March 8, 2010 in an article entitled “Hard Times Turn Coupon Clipping into the Newest Extreme Sport”. 

On March 25, 2010, ABC Nightline followed up with its Season 31 premiere with a segment entitled “Extreme Couponing Competition: How Far Can $50 Go?”

In December of 2010, TLC (The Learning Channel) shadowed four “extreme couponers” in a show entitled “Extreme Couponing.” This show highlighted the extreme methods these four shoppers used to drastically reduce their grocery store bill with the use of coupons. It was previewed in December 2010. After surpassing network expectations with more than 2 million viewers, it received series orders and it began regular airings in April 2011.

The television show and a difficult economy have led to an increase in the real world practice of extreme couponing. Many online websites offer tutorials and services necessary to extreme couponing, which involves stockpiling of coupons, close scrutiny of grocery store sales, and even the use of coupon clipping services. Some see extreme couponing as a positive practice. Fanatics’ enthusiasm increased dramatically because of the huge savings they can accumulate from mostly free coupons. Clipping, printing and sorting cents-off coupons until all hours of the night, the average coupon-user can easily save $15 to $20 for every $100 spent at the grocery store. Extreme couponers carry couponing to the next level by saving anywhere from 80 to nearly 100% of their entire grocery bill.

On the other hand, many people question its effect on average couponers, the lines at store checkouts and other concerns. Negative results of extreme couponing sited by consumer psychology experts were newspaper theft, hoarding of stocks at home, shelf clearing at grocery stores, buying with false reality, excessive amount of time consumed in cutting real coupons, coupon wording restrictions and radical changes in store policies on couponing.

With its growth in popularity, the overall effect of extreme couponing remains to be seen.