I'm speechless.......

[MamaBird06]

It took me a while to get a decent sized stockpile, and even now there are things that i wish i had more of, (almost out of white flour at the moment). I've been couponing since Feb 2008, so still pretty new compared to the veterans. I began couponing and ultimately stockpiling in order to continue to stay home with my ds and try to save money so we could get out of debt. Yes, couponing and stockpiling is fun and a nice hobby, but most people are doing it out of necessity rather than just for 'fun'. Once we get out of debt, will i continue to coupon and stockpile? You're darn right. I have a 3 year old that doesn't have a college fund, we just only began putting in to dh's 401 k this year and I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch (ie, not relying on social security, in old age) I do plan to get a paying job once we are done having children, but right now, my job is taking care of my ds, and couponing has helped me continue to do that and not constantly feel guilty about it.

[cintinative]

When I first looked at the pictures, I was so surprised too, but now I'm in the same boat! I can't imagine paying $3 for dish detergent now, when I got all that Electrasol for $0.50 a few months ago. It just makes sense to stock up on things you know you are going to use when they are at a good price. We go through a lot of fruit snacks here (my kids love them) and they can be pricey, but at one point they were free with coupons and catalina offer at Kroger, so we bought a bunch. I bought a bunch of Steamers when they were free after coupon. Otherwise, it would be $2 plus a bag. It's about buying things when they are cheap to save for when they are not. It really just makes a lot of sense. And, as others have mentioned, there is always the risk of my dh losing his job, and it makes me feel better knowing we could survive off that for awhile.

[jeweltea]

I have a good stockpile now but it took awhile. I always used a few coupons but about 2 years ago I lost my job (it was only part time and didn't pay much but still...) so I started couponing in earnest to save money. I still haven't gone back to work and really don't need to. I can't see why I should pay full price for things if I can get them for pennies on the dollar or even free. For example I bought ten boxes of saltines today for $9.78 and will send for a $10.00 rebate. These will last me through the winter. We eat a lot soup in the winter. I also worry that DH could lose his job (he is a contractor) and we would have to live off the stockpile so I like to have a lot of non-perishables on hand and a full freezer.

[Sally C]

I stockpile because I have ambitious goals. I want to pay off my mortgage, pay cash for the next car, put my daughter through college, have money to retire AND live a joyful life while doing it. All of this is to be done without incurring any non-mortgage debt.

Getting products at rock bottom prices so that I can nearly always avoid paying full price is a means to that end. All those pennies add up.

Here's a little evidence: Two months after I started stockpiling our TV broke. Our goal was to get a new TV without incurring any debt. So began our adventure in saving up for it. All the money I had leftover from my grocery and non-food budgets was transfered into the TV account. I think it took about 16 weeks but we were able to save enough to buy a lovely, flat panel TV for cash. At the same time, I was still building my stockpile. We needed to buy fewer of the products we used because the took from the stockpile. It was so much less that we had money left over.

Since that time, our savings had accelerated. We've saved up for many significant purchases and increased our retirement, car fund and college fund. We have never felt and discomfort over the economic ups and downs that occur all around us.

A stockpile is insurance against rising prices. It is also a guaranteed investment: I can assure you you will use that toilet paper. It's a good place to park a small amount of cash on a weekly basis and expect a return.

Overall I'd answer the question of why to stockpile with: Improved quality of life. (Perhaps I should have stuck to the short version.

Sally

[cjnelson]

My Mom always had a full pantry. She stockpiled because she worked at a grocery store. She never wanted to spend her time off shopping in one. She passed this on to me and I've always stockpiled too.

HCW has just made it easy for all of us to find the deals & pass on tips. BTW TY HCW. My job has been cut back 2 days & my ability to stockpile has allowed me to make up the loss in wages with my coupon savings.

[dsilva51]

I pretty much only stockpile things I use, I just don't buy to buy! For example, I use a can a coffee a week, a few weeks ago, my food store had chock full of nuts coffee on sale for $1.59 a can, even without a can this is fantastic! But with the .75 cent off coupon, I got a can of coffee for .9cents! I bought 12 of them. When this is normally $2.99 a can, I'm saving $35!

[meems]

There is no better feeling than to have your nephew move into town...and tell him to help himself...or your DD come home every weekend & fill bags to feed 4...keep 90 YO MIL stocked, share with friends, My paper delivery person (ok, we trade for Q's, but still)That doesn't count the donations I drop in the church barrell. Giving gives me great pleasure, this allows me to give much more than I otherwise would be able to.

[couponfanatic]

I started stockpiling to save $ as other mentioned.
Then once I got very unexpectedly ill. I was out completly out of commission for about 8 weeks.
Thank heavens for the stockpile, because in that whole time, DH who has NO idea how to shop, only had to buy the persihables (milk, fresh fruit etc.).

[coupondink]

I stockpile because.......
it is free. Why not? And most of the stuff I get for free has long expiration dates so it will last a long, long time.

I stockpile because.......
it is fun. It is a game to see what I can get totally for free.

iI stockpile because.......
it is easy. Once you know how. Stick around here, you will learn so much. Start small, build up to an extreme couponer soon enough. I can't help myself it is so easy.

I stockpile because.......
um, because? If someone offers you an enormous bag full of free stuff and offers to pay you $5 to take the bag, you would, wouldn't you? Well, when Riteaid offered me hundreds of dollars worth of freebies in october and offered to pay me $60 profit for all of it, I said "yes please" and "see you next month".

I stockpile because.......
I pay nothing or little for groceries. Each year since I started extreme couponing, I spend $0-$50 a month for groceries (yes, one year I challenged myself and survived the whole year for $0! I've loosened up a little, and now I allow myself to splurge with $30 a month for a family of 2 that enjoys daily homecooked delicious meals and entertains a lot and donates alot). 5 years ago, I was spending $400 a month, WITH coupons and sale shopping. It is easy to spend that much, let me tell you.
That is $4800 a year. I am saving $4500 a year, by stockpiling.
$4,500 x 5 years = $22,500 (without interest)
$4,500 x 10 years = $45,000 (without interest)
Do you see now why we all stockpile?

I stockpile because.......
I can donate tons to the food pantry and help others. The good we do comes back to us.

I stockpile because.......
I never have to run out to the store because I ran out of tp. Ever. In fact, I hardly ever have to run out for anything. Love it.

I stockpile because.......
I creatively use my stockpile for gifts. I hardly ever have to buy gifts. save money good.

I stockpile because.......
I love saving money. Love it love it love it. It makes me happy. I don't worry about money and that is priceless. We have two very, very nice cars fully paid off, no non-mortgage debt whatsoever, emergency fund nicely stocked, retirement padded, ability to save for mutual goals.
#1 reason for divorce? Arguments over money. We don't argue over money.

I stockpile because.......
I learned from my parents that way.

I stockpile because.......
it is SMART.

I stockpile because.......
when we hit hard times when this recession was raging (the beginning of this year), I was getting practically no work (I freelance). I did not worry. I had two freezers full of food, closets brimming, pantry full. About a year's worth of food, HABA, paper products, cleaning supplies..everything... stockpiled. I did not panic, things were tight, and things got better..eventually.

My friend......that is priceless.

I am glad you are speechless. Looking at the stockpile photos is exactly what hooked me 5 years ago. I too was speechless. I still am.

I stand in awe at the experts and strive to learn more. I am glad you are in awe too. Join us. You can do it too.

[Amy21499]

Originally Posted by coupondink I stockpile because....... it is free. Why not? And most of the stuff I get for free has long expiration dates so it will last a long, long time. I stockpile because....... it is fun. It is a game to see what I can get totally for free. iI stockpile because....... it is easy. Once you know how. Stick around here, you will learn so much. Start small, build up to an extreme couponer soon enough. I can't help myself it is so easy. I stockpile because....... um, because? If someone offers you an enormous bag full of free stuff and offers to pay you $5 to take the bag, you would, wouldn't you? Well, when Riteaid offered me hundreds of dollars worth of freebies in october and offered to pay me $60 profit for all of it, I said "yes please" and "see you next month". I stockpile because....... I pay nothing or little for groceries. Each year since I started extreme couponing, I spend $0-$50 a month for groceries (yes, one year I challenged myself and survived the whole year for $0! I've loosened up a little, and now I allow myself to splurge with $30 a month for a family of 2 that enjoys daily homecooked delicious meals and entertains a lot and donates alot). 5 years ago, I was spending $400 a month, WITH coupons and sale shopping. It is easy to spend that much, let me tell you. That is $4800 a year. I am saving $4500 a year, by stockpiling. $4,500 x 5 years = $22,500 (without interest) $4,500 x 10 years = $45,000 (without interest) Do you see now why we all stockpile? I stockpile because....... I can donate tons to the food pantry and help others. The good we do comes back to us. I stockpile because....... I never have to run out to the store because I ran out of tp. Ever. In fact, I hardly ever have to run out for anything. Love it. I stockpile because....... I creatively use my stockpile for gifts. I hardly ever have to buy gifts. save money good. I stockpile because....... I love saving money. Love it love it love it. It makes me happy. I don't worry about money and that is priceless. We have two very, very nice cars fully paid off, no non-mortgage debt whatsoever, emergency fund nicely stocked, retirement padded, ability to save for mutual goals. #1 reason for divorce? Arguments over money. We don't argue over money. I stockpile because....... I learned from my parents that way. I stockpile because....... it is SMART. I stockpile because....... when we hit hard times when this recession was raging (the beginning of this year), I was getting practically no work (I freelance). I did not worry. I had two freezers full of food, closets brimming, pantry full. About a year's worth of food, HABA, paper products, cleaning supplies..everything... stockpiled. I did not panic, things were tight, and things got better..eventually. My friend......that is priceless. I am glad you are speechless. Looking at the stockpile photos is exactly what hooked me 5 years ago. I too was speechless. I still am. I stand in awe at the experts and strive to learn more. I am glad you are in awe too. Join us. You can do it too.

I LOVE this reply!! VERY motivating and inspiring!! THANK YOU!!