Something that I found is interesting about couponers

[flaminicecube]

A lot of people who coupon and stockpile have kids on the autism spectrum. Is it out of necessity(picky eaters, buying food that they'll eat when it's on sale, not wanting to go out in public when they have a meltdown), or as some people believe with autistics-that OCD behavior runs in the family?

For me, my father stockpiled(he didn't call it that) and I learned how to do it from him.

My son actually enjoys shopping with me. I organize my list with the coupons and point out pictures on the coupons for him to pick out the item on the shelf. We count out how many coupons and how many items we buy. We go on the off hours so that we can take our time and he can bag the items for me. He used to be a picky eater but adolescence changed that.

[sandmike123]

I do it out of necessity to a point and the rest is pure enjoyment. I love knowing that all I have to do is reach into my pantry when something runs out in my kitchen. I also shop for my grandma and mom. And my sister "shops" at my house on a regular basis so everything is always up for grabs. The only things in my stockpile that I don't sell or give away are papertowels, toilet paper, laundry soap, softener, and dish soap. We go thru these like water so my stockpile could never be big enough.

[pittsburgh24]

I do it out of necessity but, since finding HCW, I can now have more than enough for other people I know who are struggling. I also have a really, really, really great friend in VA who is able to get me q's for really cheap (not to mention the extras she gives me all the time - fortunately, we very rarely ever need the same q's LOL). And, that doesn't even take into account the friends here who keep me supplied in pepsi and pet q's.

I shop for an elderly couple (they pay for their own groceries but, I pass on all savings and the hubby always says - "do you have xx or xx in your stockpile?" They have not had to pay for any cereal, salad dressings, cashews, juices, aspirin, shower gel, dish soap, baggies, cleaning supplies, shampoo, soap, etc since they met me. And, they haven't paid full price for ice cream in a really long time (which is good because they are ice cream freaks - I picked up 4 1/2 gallons of breyers last night for them and will get them 4 more today LOL).

My sisters have not had to buy laundry detergent (my sister only uses Tide HE), health & beauty, paper goods, candy, canned goods, toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, fabric softener, frozen food, hot sauce, steak sauce, soda, chips, crackers, frozen veggies, salad dressings, bbq sauce, chicken nuggets, lipton sides, sugar, tea, cereal, pop tarts, tuna, soup, etc. in a long, long, long time.

And, I still have tons to give to a couple other families that I know of that are really tight for money and donate to the food bank. This doesn't even count the stockpile I have set aside for my nephew and his roommates at college (fortunately, I can get rid of most of this stuff on Saturday)

Even with giving away a lot of my stockpile, my family could probably go without shopping for a couple of months.

Most of the stuff I have, I couldn't even afford to buy before, let alone have extras for later. I have very limited funds each month for groceries but, between CVS and GE, my money stretches far and beyond where it normally would go.

Thanks everyone for all the deals you have found for me in the last 16 months - oh, I'm not gonna thank you for the extra few pounds I've gained from all this food though LOL

[sagesonamabuster]

I do it out of necessity and also the pure enjoyment and exhilaration of it! I actually had my first great q experience at the register today. The older couple in line behind me were absolutely amazed that I got my entire buggy for $2.65! They were going nuts!

[frugalmommie22]

I do it because I can help others. When I stock up on Body Wash, I know I can go take some to the homeless shelter. When I stock up on free dog food, I know I can take it the animal shelter. I also do it out of necessity. I can go to my stockpile and not over pay for things when I don't have the money!

But, I had one old man say I was OCD. Ha Ha! I guess if I am, this is the positive that comes from it!!!

[loladooder99]

No one in my entire family has autism. But we stockpile because buying things at their cheapiest and stocking up on them saves us enough money to were we can afford the neccesities like laundry soap etc. Otherwise I couldn't go to the store every month and afford to buy the stuff regular price.

[janatberry]

Don't it just make you fell sooooooo...good knowing you can help everyone. It does me! I do it for the pure enjoyment !!! I have told so many people about how to save here lately. They can't believe the things I have gotten with coupons. It is amazing when you think about it.

[couponwitch]

I coupon for two reasons.....
1. saving money.
2. Enjoyment.
Our household is just DH, me and an old fat cat. We live on a fourth of what we did 7 yrs ago. We both had very nice salaries... DH in the comfortable 6 figures and mine was approaching 6 figures. The stress and weight of DH's job was a bit much and he had a series of strokes. The Corp. he worked for early retired him. So....He found a job that paid a fourth of what he use to make which now he has retired from... about yr after all this with him...I found a lump.... and after chemo and and complications and losing a lung... I have been at home for the last three years. I couldn't go to the casinos like I loved to.... so Couponing filled that. The grocery and chain stores say to me every week that my groceries are gonna cost me X amount of dollars.... and then I bet them I can get what I want to aleast 50% of what they are asking.... then my coupon strategics make it happen. It is a game with wonderful rewards.....
Oh, Yeah.... raise 3 kiddoes... none with autism. But... My mother was a stockpiler and packrat. My Dad added a room to the house with shelving and racks in it for her stockpile. He made a sign that Hung on the door... "Joyce's Store"

[PrincessCoupon]

A lot of people who coupon and stockpile have kids on the autism spectrum. Is it out of necessity(picky eaters, buying food that they'll eat when it's on sale, not wanting to go out in public when they have a meltdown), or as some people believe with autistics-that OCD behavior runs in the family?

Maybe it'd be more accurate to say:

"A lot of people who have kids on the autism spectrum use coupons and stockpile"

for I don't think your statement ("A lot of people who coupon and stockpile have kids on the AU spectrum") is accurate at all. I have many (real-life and internet) friends who coupon/stockpile and none have children on the AU spectrum.

As for why I do it: 1) I love cheap & free! 2) I love the thrill of the hunt!

[PeachySteph]

None of my family has ever had autism, OCD, or anything like that. None of my family ever stockpiled either.

Reasons I stockpile:
1. to feed my shopping addiction
2. it's fun to figure out the best deals and walk out of the store spending a lot less than most others
3. it just makes sense. better safe than sorry.
4. (my newest reason and actually #1) to help others. my stockpile is finally large enough to where I can give it away to help other families while still remaining in the "safe" zone for ours.