Extreme or Average Couponing?

I missed recording the second half hour TLC Extreme Couponing episode!  Darn!  Let's talk about the first episode.  Tiffany, the mother of 7 from Texas, and her husband were (imo) the more 'realistic' shoppers of the episode I watched.  Okay, I say 'realistic' in a very tongue and cheek way.  As the mother of eight myself, maybe I could relate to her!   I've often wished I'd had access to the internet when we were spending more on groceries than our house payment.  When she said she felt the walls of her home were closing in on her I was reminded of our days with 8 kids in a three bedroom house.  Just having that many children (with their accompanying clothes, toys, books, friends, etc.) can give you that feeling!  Having said that, who spends days planning a shopping trip?

Who wants to be that kind of couponer?  The definition of extreme - 'of a character or kind farthest removed from the ordinary or average; exceeding the bounds of moderation.'  By definition, TLCs Extreme Couponing lives up to it's name.  But what can the 'average' couponers learn about what to do and what not to do from the show?

1. Start your couponing on the internet.  You have available at your fingertips (and not true for all parts of the country) the Grocery Smarts list of weekly sales WITH coupon matchups from coupon inserts!  Take advantage of this great tool to realize greater savings.  The work is done for you.  What a time-saver.
2. Buy products your family uses.  Why do we even have to say this?  Don't buy 62 bottles of mustard when your family doesn't like mustard!  You can't save money when you spend it on products that sit on your shelf and take up space (and nothing else)!  Don't waste money on something you will never use.  Do you notice how the TLC show always films these shoppers in front of their stockpile?
3. Stockpile.  Let's redefine your perception of this word.  It doesn't mean hoarding!  It does mean buying as much product as you can afford and can store when that product is on sale, not when you necessarily 'need' it.  Who needs a shower filled with paper towels?  I need a shower for a shower!  You are the only one who can determine the size of your stockpile.  Having said that - don't buy items if you don't already know where you're going to store them.  You need to manage your stockpile and not allow your stockpile to manage you.
4. Protect your time like you protect your money.  With the Grocery Smarts tools and shortcuts you learn at a Grocery Smarts class, you know you don't need to spend hours and hours (or days!) planning your shopping trips.  The goal is to save MONEY and TIME!  Guard against falling into that 'extreme' category by setting realistic couponing goals.
5. Plan to save at least 50%.  Okay, so people won't be standing at the checkout cheering your deal because you took 2 hours to checkout and bought $1000 worth of groceries for $54 . . . but I can almost guarantee you'll be excited.  I always am!  And your cashier may compliment you on your shopping skills.  Please don't buy sale items just to increase your savings (remember the 62 mustards?).  When you're buying what you need and use (including dairy, meat & produce) AND stockpiling, your can average a 50% savings easily.
6. It's okay to miss a deal.  Again, only buy what you use, what you need and what you have the room to stockpile! 

I applaud your couponing efforts.  Whatever you're saving by using coupons - remember you ARE saving.  And isn't that ultimately the goal of couponing?