Former Hoarder and couponing and stockpiling

[Charise820]

I so wasn't sure where to put this if it needs to be move please move it but sometimes hoarding can get hot.

Anyways I am a young recovering hoarder (man that sounds like it was a drug) Anyways part of over coming it is being careful in what I bring in my house and if it has a home and how much I will use it and such. and I am having a hard time couponing living to this list. I am also finding it hard with the kind of food we are trying to keep ing the house.

I have one friend here who has faith in me that I can get great deals and everything but I am not sure. I just went shopping for the next two weeks didn't get everything and spent 218.00 but it was 328.00 before our wic and coupons (which they didn't take one of them)

I feel down on this. I feel rushed in the store with my dh and rushed to get out of the house the morning we went he likes that I saved the money just wishes i went faster. ugh. Anyways I see great deals but I have a hard time justifying the stockpiling of them as it's normally something I won't use all of in 3 months. 3 months right now is my cut off unless it's holiday stuff. If I buy these shoes will they get used at least once in the next three months. If I buy this much rice will it get used in three months. if I buy this much yeast will i used it all up in time. Oh I want xyz do I have a home for it. everything has to have a home as well.

So I am wondering is there someone else like me here and is there someone else that maybe can help me through this and not go over but still find good deals. This is a struggle for me everyday and I can't let it get me again. anyways any help would be great.

I am going to say I am proud of some deals I got not great but workable

[moxi]

If I am reading this correctly, you are seriously a former hoarder, right? I would think stockpiling and the whole "get the deal" would trigger all the old habbits you have worked so hard to overcome. Did you get any of the old heart thumping compulsions to collect? I have never had the hoarding problem in the past. But since couponing, I can understand how people can get going with it. I have to watch it and I discipline myself to give stuff away so I do not end up with a problem. I hope you are very careful and wish you the best of luck!!

[Charise820]

Yes I am. Nearly lost my children to it. I do feel a need for a stock pile but for a small amount incase their are issues with a paycheck. I have this mental list that takes some of the deals fun away. and it doesn't go in the cart unless its a need that will be used or a want that has a home and will be used in three months.

But all the really hot deals I read on here are things we won't use (sucks but I pass) or they work if you buy lots and that is something I can't do. I guess I wonder if there is a way I can coupon like many here get the food we need and things we need and not go over board. it's a struggle I gave up couponing to get help I was just getting into it when I had to get help.

[Charise820]

Sorry it's all over the place it's one of those start and stop posts with your hubby calling or one of your kids needing you

[Kulis]

Just an idea here. . .
Could you give yourself a dollar amount (or a percentage of your grocery budget) and use only that much money for stockpiling?

[moxi]

I really feel for you here. I totally understand your need for saving money. But many of the people here, are aimed at stock pilling. Most of the posts, that I read anyway, and the way I take it, could easily lead to hoarding behavior(especially if already prone to it). Not that I am a counselor, or in any way qualified to comment on any of this, lol, but you seem to have such healthy thinking about it all now. And with so much at stake(almost loosing your kids) I would hope you are very careful or just refrain from doing any stockpiling at all. Maybe just be a middle of the road couponer. Only get one copy of the sunday paper, so you only have one coupon of an item, so it prohibits you from stockpiling and "awesome" deals, but you can still participate on a limited basis and still save a little money and normal grocery and HBA items. Maybe you should call your couselor and get some guidelines from him/her. Does your couponing friend(the one that wants you to get into this know your history and the severity of it's consequences?). Keep us posted. I have often wondered if anyone on here had these issues. I would imagine there may be others that have tendancies.

[Charise820]

my friend knows. And yeah I am very careful. I think I am going to take it one day at a time I saveint about 35 with coupons at heb yesterday and that's good my best is 50 at heb. and since you can't stack i think that's good. I get more than one paper because we are big family and somethings like doubles of things but we use everything we have I think I will stick to it no stock piling. but I will try and wait for a good sale for my hair dye.

[tylianna]

Another idea or two...

Keep track of how much of something you use in 3 months. How many tubes of toothpaste. Hw many boxes of cereal etc. Keep a chart of it. Whenever there is a good sale, count how many you have and then only buy how many you need for that 3 months.
Sales cpcome in cycles. Three months is the average cycle, I think. If you start running low on something, don't worry, chances are that before you run out, it will be on sale again (with a coupon!).

DONATE! Do not bring anything in your house that you don't need, but if you happen to have the extra coupons or it is something free, go straight to a homeless shelter, womens shelter or church and donate it. Be careful that you are not spending money just to shop. Unless you can afford it, only get free things to donate. If you have extra money and can use the tax deduction, then you can buy 10 packs of diapers for 2.50 to donate, then you get the full 8.99 as a tax deduction. I can't afford to do that and I don't itemize deductions anyways, so it would not work for me.

But, make sure you do NOT bring it into your house. Make a home for your personal stockpile. I have shelves in my basement. Not many, but it works for me. If you use 5 tubes of toothpaste in 3 months, then you can get an idea of how much space it will need. A little basket would be sufficient for toothpaste and floss. Maybe even a couple bottles of mouthwash if you use it.

Keep stuff organized! Rotate your stock so you don't eat expired Mac and cheese because you stuffed the new boxes in front. Keep a set limit of how much space is going into your stockpile and keep it there. Don't sway from it. A 10x10 area with shelving would be enough for a three month stockpile. Sort by category, bath stuff on one shelf, paper supplies on another, boxed foods, beverages, etc. If that shelf is full, you're done.

Dont make my mistake and store bathroom supplies in the bathroom, because where are you going to put your towels? Lol! I agree that things need a home. It is the best way to keep the house clean and clutter free.

If anything stays in your stockpile for more than three months, donate it! Unless it's garage sale season, then try to sell it. If it doesnt sell, donate it. Goodwill will take anything that a shelter or pantry won't take.
I sympathize with you, since I know what it is like. I know someone that is like that, but is in denial. Not as bad as the tv shows...

If couponing is causing any problems, then cut it down. Only buy what you need that week. Having a stockpile is not worth the heartache or losing your kids.

Good luck and I hope you succeed and have fun!

[Smee]

Honestly? I think it sounds like a bad idea. I wasn't a hardcore hoarder like you see on tv, but clutter was seriously and very negatively affecting my life. I'm still a work in progress. In trying to attain a more minimalist lifestyle, I have all but given up couponing and instead focus on saving money by reducing my overall consumption. I only coupon for things I need and would probably otherwise buy without coupons, not what seems like a good deal or something I could find a place or use for. If I had the problem to the extent you describe, I would totally get the idea of stockpiling out of my head unless I had some space away from my home to store it.

I know a lot of people believe in massive stockpiles in case the worst happens, and for those with the space and organizational skills, I agree. I have neither. For me, the choices are to live with the daily anxiety of clutter and disarray indefinitely or have the survival skills to otherwise make it through tough times if the need should arise. I do have those survival skills, so I find comfort in that instead of any stockpile. For most people, they may not be mutually exclusive, but for me, they are.

I vote "no way" based on what you describe. I don't think that just because something is good for a lot of people or even most people, it's good for everyone.

[taylordvd]

Keep track of how much of something you use in 3 months. How many tubes of toothpaste. Hw many boxes of cereal etc. Keep a chart of it. Whenever there is a good sale, count how many you have and then only buy how many you need for that 3 months.

I think this is a good specific way that you could keep it down. My mom is a hoarder and I know just how easy it is for her to go overboard. One is good, so ten must be better and fifteen is like hitting the lottery. Do you have a specific area for a stockpile? I would challenge you to keep a very small stockpile, maybe even just a month worth. Trying to build a stockpile may just be asking for trouble. I am so glad to see that you are really thinking about this and trying. I wish my mom could see the mess she's in.