Ep 5. Desirae & Stephanie

In season 1 episode 5 of Extreme Couponing, we follow the shopping strategies of Desirae and Stephanie as they use coupons to save money and accumulate large amounts of products.

Desirae, a mother of two from Idaho, has been couponing for eight years. She started couponing to be able to provide for her family while her husband was in law school, and now it has become her full-time job. Her goal is to save over 90% on her grocery bill and to stockpile products for her family and friends. Desirae has an impressive stockpile of products that she stores in her basement, garage, and even a rented storage unit. She is so passionate about couponing that she has even started her own couponing blog to help others learn the tricks of the trade.

Stephanie, a stay-at-home mom from Pennsylvania, is a newbie to the couponing world. She was introduced to couponing by her sister, who has been able to save thousands of dollars with it. Stephanie's goal is to provide for her big family and donate products to her church's food bank. She has been couponing for three months and has already saved over $1,600 on her grocery bill. Stephanie's strategy is to only buy items that are on sale and to only use coupons that give her the highest discount.

Throughout the episode, both Desirae and Stephanie take us through their couponing methods. Desirae starts by showing us her big binder of coupons, where she keeps the coupons organized by expiration date and product category. She then goes to her local grocery store and buys $1,030 worth of products for only $78. She saves over 92% on her bill by using manufacturer coupons and store coupons, and she even gets some items for free by stacking coupons on top of sales. Desirae is also a pro at adapting her shopping list to what is on sale, which helps her maximize her savings.

Stephanie, on the other hand, takes us to a store that doubles coupons, which is a big advantage for her. She buys $550 worth of products for only $30 by using coupons and buying products that have already been marked down. One of her best buys is a box of diapers that is normally worth $34.99, but she was able to get it for only $2 thanks to a sale and a coupon. Stephanie also uses a lot of online resources to get coupons and to plan her shopping trips.

Throughout the episode, we see how couponing has become a lifestyle for both Desirae and Stephanie. They dedicate a lot of time and effort to finding the best deals and to maximize their savings. We also see how couponing has helped them provide for their families and give back to their communities.

However, couponing also has its downsides. Desirae's husband is not always supportive of her couponing, and he wishes she would spend more time with the family. Stephanie has also become a bit obsessed with couponing and sometimes spends too much time planning her shopping trips. Despite these challenges, both Desirae and Stephanie are passionate about couponing and want to continue to perfect their strategies.

Overall, season 1 episode 5 of Extreme Couponing is a great introduction to the world of extreme couponing. We get to see how ordinary people are able to save thousands of dollars by using coupons, and how couponing has become a lifestyle for some. It is a fascinating look into how strategic shopping and careful planning can result in huge savings and stockpiles of products.