couponing hobby or mental illness

[captainQpin]

Ok here I the whole story everybody keep pressureing me to find a "hobby" for 6 years I have not had a hobby but then while I was on bed rest with baby # 4 I found couponing not just going to the store with 1 coupon going with muliples and doing gas deas and FREE PRODUCTS/MM stockpileing ect I was so excited I have been doing this since Nov/dec Well I just had everyone (family) call me and tell me that I need physicatric help Its not normal to have 6 montss worth of blank or a years worth of blank and that what I thought was a hobby Is not a hobby it is a addiction and a mental illness If I do get too many of a ceritan Item (that i got for free /cheep)I give it to the food bank Is this a hobby or am I crazy and need help? I feel like crying.

[michaelg0104]

If you're mentally ill then I guess that makes about 90% of us here on HCW...Sounds like some people have nothing better to do than talk about you,There is nothing wrong with stockpiling or giving it away imo,Couponing can be addicting but I think in a good way.As long as you dont slack on your other "duties" as a mother and wife there is nothing wrong with couponing.Dont listen to negative people...They will bring you down!I try to stay away from people like that.

[brandasa]

omg gosh no! You are totally fine! Do any of your family members buy tons of clothes and go on shopping binges that way? How is ours any different. I will agree chasing deals can become addicting - but you just need to find a happy medium. And when I say happy medium I mean for you - not for anyone else to judge. Just you wait - those same people are going to want to take x b/c you have so many or y b/c you get them free. YOU ARE SO TOTALLY FINE! It's an amazing hobby.

[uummm]

I used to be a lot worse than I am now (well it comes and goes) and maybe once the novelity wears off (it took me a year or two) it won't be quite so time consuming. BUT to address those others....tell them to Kiss your hiney. I like to hang on HCW because other like minded people hang here too...
So is the problem your stockpile or your couponing? I guess I am lucky and my family either doesn't say it to my face and/or they think I am mildly insane but not hurting anyone. But really I know my mom comes and looks at my stockpile and likes to help herself (which I am 100% ok with), and she will even give me money to buy stuff for her (like Hellmann's mayo) when she knows she is coming by (in the spring or fall). Also I will add, my husband is my biggest cheerleader! He KNOWS the money I have saved and he is 110% for me couponing/stockpiling. He has even let me turn what should be a formal dining room into a HUGE pantry (well we bought shelves and moved our freezers in). If I were to go ask him right now to get me another shelf, he would have no problem with me finding another to put in this room.

Our friends moved 2 houses up and within a month of them moving here the husband wanted his wife to buy like me. They have purchased a 9cu ft freezer and shelfs to put in a room dedicated to stockpile. And yesterday I showed them how to pressure can the soup they like and now he said he wants to fill his stockpile room up with jars of food!

Tell them to mind thier own beeswax.

[gettinrevvin2007]

You're not alone. We've never had cash to throw around on hobbies. Seriously, you won't find any collections here, at our house, of any sort, other than coupons. So when I took up couponing, it was the perfect thing to collect, because it saves us boo koo bucks, instead of draining the finances. It took awhile for hubby to 'catch on' to my madness, but he doesn't care now, 'cuz he knows it WORKS.

When hard times come upon your family and friends, who do you think they're going to turn to, in THEIR time of need?! They might just seek you out, to hit up your stockpile.

You have plenty of company at HCW, and it's cheaper than therapy or Prozac.
Try your best to ignore them.

[kval07]

One word: JEALOUSY!

Tell them all to bugger off!

[aquene27]

First off, HUGS to you!! And secondly, you're not weird, crazy or anything other than being SMART. Stockpiling allows us to put the things we use most away for when those "rainy days" come and we need them to float us til the next sale. It saves us MONEY in the long run and allows our familes to live better lives without having to scrimp on necessities. Don't let them get you down. Keep your head up, and like gettinrevvin2007 says, they'll be coming to you when/if they get into trouble and need stuff.

[shelleyf]

You are not crazy. You are very smart to do this. I don't have much money and then I lost my job. I was preparing for a "rainy day" and it came:( but I know my family will not starve at least. I did go through another disaster on Monday and lost everything in my freezer/refrigerator and it was hundreds of dollars. Yes I am upset but by having the dry goods it will be at least a little easier to get more stuff. I cried and was scared but I am a trooper so I just keep trying.

[$Saving!]

You are not crazy. You are very smart to do this. I don't have much money and then I lost my job. I was preparing for a "rainy day" and it came:( but I know my family will not starve at least. I did go through another disaster on Monday and lost everything in my freezer/refrigerator and it was hundreds of dollars. Yes I am upset but by having the dry goods it will be at least a little easier to get more stuff. I cried and was scared but I am a trooper so I just keep trying.

Shelley - if you have homeowner's insurance or renters insurance, the food loss might be covered! You might wish to check out your policy if you have one, you just never know!

[$Saving!]

Ok here I the whole story everybody keep pressureing me to find a "hobby" for 6 years I have not had a hobby but then while I was on bed rest with baby # 4 I found couponing not just going to the store with 1 coupon going with muliples and doing gas deas and FREE PRODUCTS/MM stockpileing ect I was so excited I have been doing this since Nov/dec Well I just had everyone (family) call me and tell me that I need physicatric help Its not normal to have 6 montss worth of blank or a years worth of blank and that what I thought was a hobby Is not a hobby it is a addiction and a mental illness If I do get too many of a ceritan Item (that i got for free /cheep)I give it to the food bank Is this a hobby or am I crazy and need help? I feel like crying.

Oh Rosebud, you're not crazy, they are! When is it EVER not acceptable to save money and plan ahead??? That's the problem with a lot of society today, it's living 'in the moment' and never planning for tomorrow that has shown what a short sighted mindset has done over time. How many people live paycheck to paycheck and if/when a rainy day comes, don't have food to last a week, or toilet paper to wipe their sorry behinds?

Too many! There is nothing - EVER - wrong with getting ahead and stockpiling necessities, especially when you didn't pay full price and by stockpiling, you avoid ever paying full price again. And better still, have top brands and don't need to panic purchase anything that is regularly used or needed by a family such as yours!

My father, a wise and frugal man, provided for 6 kids, lived like he didn't have two dimes to rub together but his net worth would shut the mouths of those who are critical of you. And he revels in my shopping trips, hearing the numbers, knowing I have a stash that could last years. He sees the value of planning ahead. He's going on 87 years of age and lived some rough times as a kid and young adult, struggled to get ahead but he did it by being smart with his money.

You, my dear, are SMART WITH YOUR MONEY.

Ignore the ignorance of their statements, go on your merry way saving a small fortune and knowing that you are doing right by your financial situation and your family in what you do.

I applaud you and they should too, if they only took the time to see what you do, which they won't. It's easier to find fault in others than to look at oneself.