I have a confession to make. When I first moved into my own place, coupons became my best friends. Whether they were from newspapers, mail-in programs or the grocery aisles, to this day I still carry a stack of them around with me in my purse. Hey, if I can save a buck or two, I’m happy.
But for one family in particular, who had to rethink every aspect of their living situation thanks to the current economic collapse, coupons have become a necessary way of life.
Downsized is a new series airing on WEtv in the U.S. that follows the Bruce family — a nine-member clan who believe they are “more interesting than the Gosselins” as they rethink the way they handle money.
Todd, the father, was a general contractor in Phoenix and had built a business from nothing to about $1.5 million four-and-a-half years ago, a business that fell apart when the economy dropped.
“I didn’t make very smart business decisions from the fact that I was also employing families that I wanted to take care of,” he says. “So I started to put some of the payroll on credit cards, which just compounded the problem.”
Including bringing coupons with them to the grocery store, the family also times their showers (five minutes and the water shuts off), has cut off their cable, and stopped paying for expensive after-school activities for the children, choosing to have family time instead.
“I have to make a sacrifice for the family, so my family comes first before my sports,” says Danielle, the youngest, who admits she had to give up cheerleading. “It was just really hard, but I know I’m helping.”
Downsized begins this fall on WEtv. To date, no Canadian broadcaster has announced a pickup.
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