I must confess I have never really been a coupon clipper, and for some reason I feel compelled to say, "Sorry." There just never seems to be a coupon for a product that I buy, but then again, I don't go out of my way to search for relevant coupons either. And whenever I do have a coupon for something I buy, I usually end up forgetting that I have the silly thing. I can just hear the gasps of horror from all the coupon queens out there. No, instead, I study the grocery stores' sale papers to get a feel for their sale trends, so when items go on sale, then I stock up as my budget allows. Coupons seem to me to be a waste of my time, and a company's merchandising ploy to get me to buy their products. I think coupons are good for people who buy convenience foods and name brand products, so I have nothing against that, and apparently there are actually food coupons for meat and dairy, and veggies; I have yet to see such a thing in existence. Also, being a California resident, it seems to me that this state frowns upon the notion of saving money with coupons via, double coupons or extreme couponing.
Now enter the crazy world of 'Extreme Couponing'. I am familiar with the concept, and admittedly I haven't watched an entire episode of 'Extreme Couponing', but I have seen a few clips on Youtube, and what I saw in those little snips of video was eye-opening to say the least. What I find alarming about this behavior is that people go crazy with coupons, so crazy, they spend hours collecting, sorting, and filing their coupons. One lady said coupons are the first thing she thinks about when she wakes up in the morning, all day and before she goes to bed. Obsess much? Another coupon queen freely admits to suffering feelings of anxiety and failure if she doesn't preform at her couponing best, and she gets an adrenaline rush and euphoric high after shopping and seeing all her savings. Folks, she sounds a great deal like a drug addict to me. You know...I enjoy a good deal as much as the next person, but a euphoric high? Really?
What do these coupon queens do with all the loot they acquire for pennies on the dollar? Do they give to those in need? I haven't heard any of them say they give to the needy. No, it seems most of them stock pile their goods, so many goods in fact, that they may never use them all in their own life time. Sure, some of them neatly stock it on shelves, which I'm sure they got for free by using coupons, but in reality they are hoarders. Some have even said that their friends call them hoarders, which they deny of course, only because their merchandise isn't thrown in disorganized and festering piles I suppose. Are they perhaps playing a grown up version of that childhood game - "Store?" But unlike the concept of a store, I seriously doubt they would give, or sell their trophies to anyone. I could see the justification for this behavior if they did in fact open up shop and sell the stuff out of their garage at cut rates, or if they gave the stuff to charity. Well, I hope at least some of them give to charity. One lady's boyfriend joked that they were ready for any natural disaster, and that they would be set for at least 2 years. Something tells me they wouldn't be inclined to help relieve the suffering of their fellow neighbors, if such a thing did occur; I hope I'm wrong.
I believe in balance, and this behavior seems to lean toward the out of balance side of the scale of life. Hmmm, I think some counseling is in order, especially for the lady who put the beauty of her store room just under that of her family - wow! I hope her family doesn't eventually slip into last place in her heart. Some say this is a gift they have, but I don't see it that way. God gives good gifts without any sorrow added to them. Well to be fair, any gifting they have or perceive as being from God may be good, but they use it for evil, and let me explain what I mean by that.
On the surface, this practice sounds extremely profitable for the participants in monetary savings, and that is good. However, it seems unprofitable in other aspects of life. Jesus said that life is more than food, and clothes. Have these extreme couponers ever taken into account all the time, physical and emotional energy, and expense they invest in this addiction, they call a "hobby?" I don't care what Switch Foot says, time is money buddy boy! One lady said she only spends 40 minutes a day on her huge files of coupons. Uh...no, I don't think so. Of the few clips I saw on Youtube, I witnessed these women bursting with pride as they saved lots of money for themselves [ooops] I mean their families, but what is the spiritual cost that they haven't calculated? I try to look at things in this life through the exacting lens of Scripture. The Bible would classify the practices of extreme couponing under the sins of: greed, pride, selfishness, lust, cheating/stealing(some people counterfeit coupons), and last but not least, idolatry. And that, my dear readers, is the heart of the matter.
The Extreme couponers who worship at coupon sites, treat store employees and other shoppers with contempt, steal newspapers for coupons, and hoard goods are idolaters who justify their behavior by claiming they are good stewards, because they save money. My question is in what place do these couponers rank their Maker in their lives? Fifth? Maybe tenth place? Or is He even on their shopping list at all?
The Extreme couponers who worship at coupon sites, treat store employees and other shoppers with contempt, steal newspapers for coupons, and hoard goods are idolaters who justify their behavior by claiming they are good stewards, because they save money. My question is in what place do these couponers rank their Maker in their lives? Fifth? Maybe tenth place? Or is He even on their shopping list at all?
Don't get me wrong, these ladies and gentlemen have the right to their extreme couponing practices, I just don't think the monetary savings they achieve out-weigh the emotional, and spiritual costs; it's just not worth it in my opinion. I choose to be a good steward and save money by purchasing things on sale, and by not purchasing more than my family needs. Also by using everything we have to its fullest by not wasting anything, this is also good stewardship. My more sane saving practices also takes careful planning and creativity, but are performed without the need of filing cabinets and massive shelving space, not to mention it avoids the loss of one's soul. Sure, anything can be taken to extreme and pride can seduce anyone, even yours truly. We are all responsible for our own behavior and we will all have to give an account for ourselves before our Maker, the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because he paid a very expensive price for our sins, especially the sins mentioned in this article, with His precious blood. You can repent and accept His gift of salvation, or you can reject it, either way, he won't force you. When that judgment day finally comes, and it will, rest assured He won't be accepting any coupons. Please, think very carefully about that.
What are your thoughts about extreme couponing?