Couponing/stockpiling syndrome

[thriftymomintraining]

Okay so I finished my laundry room-except the ceiling- and my dad came down stairs saturday night(he was over to watch football) and looked at all of the things that I have 'stockpiled'and got while couponing and he says why are you wasting your money on stupid stuff like this? I said I am not wasting my money-I have gotten them for free or nearly free! He laughed at me and says that I have way to much stuff that I will never need! I was sort of angry because I am not wasting my money! We will use this stuff or I will donate it or whatever....but hey is it really hurting anyone? :shrug7:THen he proceeds to tell me about my addiction to shopping....so I ponder that-if I were to go to the regular store(which ever one) and buy this stuff for full price or even sales-I would be spending like a couple hundred dollars instead of merely pennies sometimes. I love saving money and couponing-its my new hobby. I am all for reading an ad, deciding what to go for , get my coupons ready and go! Its exciting. Is there a point when it does become obbsessive? Is there a point when it is too much? I heard you are supposed to keep a years supply of anything(that wont go bad) on hand. Who does this? Is there a support group for stockpilers? Its like I look at my stash of free items and think wow! I look at my savings in aww! It makes me want to find more deals! Does anyone's DH or family member ever laugh at them or question it? Even if I show them the receipts-they laugh..... :hectic1:maybe they are just jealous!

[sostinkinhappy]

I heard you are supposed to keep a years supply of anything(that wont go bad) on hand. Who does this?

Most of us coupon users end up with a one-two year supply of non-perishables and are able to donate thousands of dollars worth of stuff a year. I personally don't think of it as compulsive at all, but planning well. In Proverbs 21:20 we are taught “There is…oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” Just tell dad that you are being wise in building a stockpile instead of using it all up.


For me, couponing allows me to have a hobby where the goal is to spend as little money as possible on as much as I can get. What I don't use, I donate to the food banks or give to neighbors. My church leaders know they can call on me at any time to put together something for the specific needs of church members and it will not affect my monthly budget at all, my kids like shopping at Mom's store, my neighbors know they can pop over and borrow something and not be bothering me, and most importantly, I like the peace of mind knowing that if my husband should lose his job today, we have enough food and non-perishables to get us through until he or I find a job again.

[CarolinaKid]

I get the same response sometimes from uninformed family members. My personal "rule of thumb" is (1) will my immediate household use this item? (2) was it 25¢ or less to purchase it (3) will it NOT spoil/go bad/expire in 6 months to a year?
If my answer to all three of these is "yes", then, by all means, stockpile it.
It actually sounds to me like your dad has no idea what things cost - evidently your mom is the one that does all the shopping

[Bonniem]

I get the same response sometimes from uninformed family members. My personal "rule of thumb" is (1) will my immediate household use this item? (2) was it 25¢ or less to purchase it (3) will it NOT spoil/go bad/expire in 6 months to a year?
If my answer to all three of these is "yes", then, by all means, stockpile it.
It actually sounds to me like your dad has no idea what things cost - evidently your mom is the one that does all the shopping

I like your thought process. I will keep that in mind from now on...

As for being compulsive...while I don't think it is a bad thing to stockpile, and I am all for a bargain, I do think that some people become compulsive with obtaining coupons...I've seen it and I know they are out there...

[thriftymomintraining]

yes she is but she laughs at me. Yesterday at my local grocery store ther had the ziploc freezer vaccum thing for $2 and a $2 coupon making it free-they were saying try it free- there was no limit. I told mom about it and she says did you get one? I said yes. she says did you get 12 I said yes :D

[frogmama]

Since taking couponing to a bigger level (since joining HCW) I've accumulated free air freshners (that I rarely use), Just for Men (that DH dosn't use) and other things like that. I've felt weird getting those, but the JFM was a double-dip rebate and the airfresheners I was going for the overage on. Are they necessary to anyone? No. So maybe thats why your dad was criticizing things like that? He dosn't understand those items MADE you money. Instead he probably put a value on each of $1 an item which seems like a waste of money/space.

I give away those items when I can. You can also have a yardsale in the spring and make more money on them.

I have some friends from church that have called me out on couponing. They're concerned its dishonest and hoarding. While that is a legitamate concern, I think they don't understand it. I am always checking myself to make sure I'm not getting greedy about it. And I look forward to my day when my personal pantry is stocked well enough I can pass extras onto others on a regular basis.

And the difference between stockpiling and hoarding is that stockpiling is putting away for later, when you need it (and locking in a good price on the item ) and hoarding is accumulating things you have very little chance of ever using (and "using" would include donating). I dont think people realize how much of a certain item they use within a year.

[loladooder99]

My brother came over last night and made fun of me and that i had a problem. Well my husband on the other hand loves it and loves the fact that I get so much stuff free or nearly free. You know what I say to anyone who make fun of me or says i have a problem . Well I just don't listen they are stupid for not using coupons and not finding such great sells on items they will use eventually. Who cares ignore em'

[faeryedark]

Since taking couponing to a bigger level (since joining HCW) I've accumulated free air freshners (that I rarely use), Just for Men (that DH dosn't use) and other things like that. I've felt weird getting those, but the JFM was a double-dip rebate and the airfresheners I was going for the overage on. Are they necessary to anyone? No. So maybe thats why your dad was criticizing things like that? He dosn't understand those items MADE you money. Instead he probably put a value on each of $1 an item which seems like a waste of money/space.

I give away those items when I can. You can also have a yardsale in the spring and make more money on them.

I have some friends from church that have called me out on couponing. They're concerned its dishonest and hoarding. While that is a legitamate concern, I think they don't understand it. I am always checking myself to make sure I'm not getting greedy about it. And I look forward to my day when my personal pantry is stocked well enough I can pass extras onto others on a regular basis.

And the difference between stockpiling and hoarding is that stockpiling is putting away for later, when you need it (and locking in a good price on the item ) and hoarding is accumulating things you have very little chance of ever using (and "using" would include donating). I dont think people realize how much of a certain item they use within a year.

I'm grateful to have had the opposite experience w/ my church. They know i stockpile, they also know that anyone who has a need that I can help with, only has to let me know.

[Macaela25]

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I have some friends from church that have called me out on couponing. They're concerned its dishonest and hoarding. While that is a legitamate concern, I think they don't understand it. I am always checking myself to make sure I'm not getting greedy about it. And I look forward to my day when my personal pantry is stocked well enough I can pass extras onto others on a regular basis.

I bet those friends would eat those words if they or their spouse lost their job and they had nothing to live on and no food.

[hopeless]

My mother in law thinks I should spend less than an hour a week. She says it is not worth it otherwise. I wonder what she would think if she found out I spend much more than that timewise. When I told her I got a giftcard for one of my first trades, she was surprised that I could make money at it. I will never have to pay for HBA again.