Almost 2 years ago, I wrote a post about Stockpiling vs. Hoarding. Since then, so much has changed in the Couponing community and what was once considered a "smart" way of shopping (stockpiling) is now, thanks to TLC's Extreme Couponing show, being called "hoarding".
If you have watched Extreme Couponing, you will notice that almost every person on that show has said something along the lines of "This is my biggest shopping trip ever!". They are going for maximum savings and not "real-life couponing". Because they are trying to save as much as possible, I do agree that there are a few people who have been on that show who seem as if couponers ARE hoarding. The problem is, people are starting to confuse stockpiling and hoarding...and smart shoppers are being accused of hoarding by friends, family, cashiers and even complete strangers in the store.
:: What is the difference between stockpiling and hoarding?
Stockpiling is buying things that you will use, preferably at the lowest price possible, in sufficient quantity to hold you over until the next sale and before it will expire.
Hoarding is buying things just because you can get them free or super-cheap. Hoarding is bringing them home, adding them to your pantry where they sit until they have expired. Hoarding is buying things that you know you will never use, just because you can get them for free and then not donating them or giving them to people that can use them because all that free stuff just looks so PRETTY sitting on your shelf.
Last year there was a deal at one of my local stores that enabled me to get 10-packs of juice boxes for $0.25 each (with no coupons!). I ordered and purchased 100 boxes. To anyone watching me in the checkout lane or loading them in to my car, I must have looked crazy. I can guarantee you that if I did that transaction on TLC's Extreme Couponing, people would be screaming about me "hoarding". But guess what? Within 8 months, they were all gone. How can it be considered hoarding when I used them all up?
I know some people who can honestly be called a hoarder. Their homes are downright scary to visit. Even though I have seriously "used down" my stockpile recently, there are probably people who would look at my recent trips to Walgreens and Target, looked at the 12 bottles of Body Wash that I got for free in 2 days and accuse ME of hoarding.
Frankly, I am getting sick of people confusing stockpiling with hoarding....they are NOT the same thing. It is fine to buy 12 (or even 20) bottles of body wash one week if you can get it for free or super-cheap AND your family will use it. It is fine to buy 30 jars of peanut butter one week if you can get it for $0.16/jar (especially if your family is like mine and you go through 1-2 jars per week). It is fine to stock up on things in order to save money (Frankly, since I have been stuck paying $1-$1.50 for juice boxes lately, I am wishing that I bought MORE than 100 boxes on that trip).
It is NOT ok to buy things that you don't need (unless you intend to donate them) just because it gives you a little "high" to get it for free. It's especially not ok to clear the shelves to get those things just because you can get them free.
Steve Zussino - Canadian Coupons
I think it is a fine line between stockpiling and hoarding.
You brought up great points but it is a relative term. Some of the people on Extreme Couponing have 7 children so it is worth it to store these products.
jerry
The Mrs. and I made an agreement that we would stock up in no more than three months worth of products (since this is how the sales/coupons cycles seem to run). The only exception to that would probably be something like laundry detergent. With a family of 6, we can use all that we can get in detergent.
Everything that we have "stockpiled" so far will be gone by probably July.
Jasmine (Dealicious Finds)
Agreed. We all get a 'coupon high' from all the great savings we can pick up. I draw my line when it's products I feel are junk, or won't use. I haven't even picked up FREE toothpaste in 6 months because I knew I had enough in my stockpile. Could I have picked it up? Sure. But the fact that it wasn't worth my gas/time because I have enough makes me a smart stockpiler and not a hoarder.
Last summer I bought 20 bottles of FREE BBQ sauce. I'm Texan, and that means we use ANY excuse to barbeque. 😉 I thought maybe I bought too much, but sure enough I only have 1 bottle left and I'm trying to hold out buying more until the middle of the summer again. My boyfriend thought it was way too much at first, but it's nice to know it worked out exactly right!
Will Coupon for Shoes
Thank you for this post!!! I bought 20 bottles of laundry detergent one time when I was able to get them for FREE and was practically persecuted for it, but guess what... I didn't clear the shelves and it's all used up now!
Vikki
I just bought 12 the other day and got scoffs. I just gave birth last week, have a 5 year old, and a husband that works in a factory. We wash a lot of laundry, why not save money where I can?
When I see someone get a good deal I tell them.. and want the scoop 🙂
Terra
When I first started using coupons and building a stockpile I bought things I didn't need or wouldn't use just because they were free. I realized very quickly that I was being foolish. I donated all the items we couldn't or wouldn't use to a church near by and re-evaluated the way I stockpile. I love my new system and I don't buy anything that I "might need someday" because I save enough money on the things that we do use that if I have to pay full price for that item someday it is better than having 20 of them collecting dust in my home!!!
Caroline
I would add that "hoarding" often entails a certain behavior after acquiring material goods -- not using them or "rationing" them for fear that they will "run out" and you won't get them again. If you stockpile and then use the items as usual, then you're not hoarding.
The one who stockpiles may make only one trip for an 8-month supply of peanut butter, and another person may make 32 trips for an 8-month supply of peanut butter, and the difference between them is that the stockpiler saved money and did it all in one trip. They both use the same amount of peanut butter over the same amount of time, and one person is just wiser with her use of time & money.
tiffany sexton
soooo agree with you! I was/kinda still am made fun of by my 'hood. I was constantly asked if I had a " problem " but now most of us trade coupons.etc. And guess where the ones that made/make fun of come for something they r out of?? my sons friends still think I am weird for having all this food but I am the 1st place they come to when they r hungry. We are just being smart- why run out of something and pay full price ( breaks my heart every time THAT happens! - lol )
Super Saver Joe
When I feel I have too much food I donate to the local food bank, that should be what you do with free or very cheap items, heck make it its own shelf for that specific reason. DO the same if you bulk buy something and say your kids dont like it. I have even gone as far as food pantrying my friends. Hey do you need....I have extra and I know they are not financially well off either.
tiffany sexton
I agree! I have the food pantry and the Vets stop by every 3 weeks. They , haters n such, dont realize all we do. Thank u for all u do!
Vikki
Ragu here was 10 for 15. If you bought all 10 then they'd be 10 for 10. I had .50 cent off coupons for them and used all 10. I asked ahead because they had a store name on them but they were manufacturer coupons. I was told if they didn't beep they were fine, the cashier still gave me the run around and only scanned 9 jars.. what a mess. I paid 1.50 for the 10, they should have been free but whatever. The people in line behind me were so rude, but its free and we use it.. people are so stuck up anymore. 🙁
christine
I do joke that it looks like some of the shoppers on EC will be on one of the Hoarding shows eventually! I'm guessing the shows kinda play that up, bc drama sells. I feel like couponing has made me more mindful of what we use and how we use it, bc I've started tracking ---- how much t.p., ziplocks, foil, soap, etc do we use in a month? Could we easily use less? How much would get us through 6 or 12 months? this all helps me set the 'stockpile' limit for a given item. Am I embarrased to have a year's worth of laundry detergent? heck no! who wants to run to the store when its packed on a saturday afternoon and pay full price for that bottle? Next step for us: adopting the local women's shelter. If they don't need to buy non-perishables, maybe those women can eat better-quality food, or the shelter can help more people!
Ruth
Extreme Couponing is making couponers look like hoarders and I can understand that the average person who see it as hoarding. However, seasoned couponers know that sales come in cycles so in order to maximize overall savings, there is a need to buy as much as you can when there is a sale.
Kathy Bampfield
I think there is a balance between what people see on the television and reality. The couponers are putting on a show and they are getting paid to do this. We can't forget that. They are always smiling as they are shopping asnd exclaiming how much they are getting and that can be seen as selfish or giddy. Most of us are not like that. I am so busy trying to fit my shopping schedule into my daily schedule so, I don't waste gas, time etc. I want to get in and get out as quickly and quietly as possible. Couponing saves money and I think the statistic is only like 6% of coupons are used. So why not. When someone is annoyed with me. Oh well they can throw away the 10 - 50 dollars if they want to. I don't. The other thing I want to mention is if you listen to their stories almost all of them have had a catestrophic event propel them forward to the point they are at. Job loss's. It can be pretty intense.
I just thought I'd put my two sense in.
Kathy
Kelli
This is a great post. I have 8 week old b/g twins and last week was buying baby wipes by the 20's because I had ordered coupons off of ebay and got a great deal. I did 3 trips of 20 each and every time someone in line commented about extreme couponing. The sad thing is that I go through at least a box a week and this will last 10 months or so, but we really need them, and I will use every box, and saved some money in the process. I am not extreme couponing, I don't have stockpiles of stuff I will not use, I am saving myself money, time and gas, and I did not clear the shelves any of those trips, so why do I have to justify my purchase now?
Nancy
I bought $80.00 worth of Similac because both my daughter and daughter in law both have new babies. I have coupons for them so I bought a lot of them cause I knew they would use them. I only paid $1.19 for all of them. Some people might think that is hording but it is called being smart. They could use the extra help and I had the time to get it for them. I don't believe in hording and when I saw that Extreme Couponing show I could not believe it. I know people give the looks when you do buy in bulk and some cashiers are not so nice either, but they should be thankful that people are shopping in their stores. So many business have failed and closed they should appreciate our business.
Jenn @ Frugal Upstate
Another point about Hoarding (as opposed to stocking up) to me there is a certain element of selfishness to hoarding-where you are snatching up a resource that is in limited supply and not allowing others the opportunity to purchase it.
tiffany sexton
lol! I agree. Such as a certain somebody clearing the shelves on the show of over 60 bottles of mustard that they DONT EVEN EAT! Ok done gettin cranky about her
Laura
Recently I bought 20 bottles of LifeWater for 25 cents each. I felt no shame and wish I could have gotten more. My 3 daughters will go through that in less than a month!
Thanks for your post.
Nancy
I buy things that I will use and don't go overboard just because it is free or cheap. One thing I do is I put all my bargains in a box, and then at Christmas I divide all the products up between my 3 adult kids and their family. I then give it to them as a Christmas gift with all the products they use. They really appreciate the gift boxes and I feel better about sharing the bargains that I get with them. It all helps when times are tough like it is now.
Monroe on a Budget
I support the concept of having some groceries and personal care products in reserves for your family's use.
The "preparedness" blogs and sites are a good additional resource to the tornado safety / power outage reminder lessons I post every year (Southeast MI / northwest OH is in tornado alley). It's also true that having groceries in reserves will help your family get through a tight cash week or month - and many of my local readers have been hit with layoffs, furloughs or pay cuts.
That being said: make a decision as to what is your inventory point and stick with it. I keep about one or two months' worth of groceries and that's fine with me. I don't have a deep freezer or the pantry space to go beyond that, but that's my comfort zone anyway. Some people aim for a three month stockpile. Some for six.
But when you hit the goal you wish to provide for your own family, stop. The surplus needs to go to another home. I live in a community where volunteer service and charitable works are part of the year-round local culture, so a typical family needs to be able and ready to respond to civic club and classroom-hosted donation drives in the first place.
Dana @ the Coupon Challenge
Loved this post! I recently had someone ask me if I was like the lady on Extreme Couponing and why do I need all that food. People tend to have a hard time separating what they see on tv with what couponing is really like. I just bought a bunch of free pasta. I have a healthy stockpile for my family, so everything I bought went straight to my donation pile. AND I left plenty of boxes on the shelf for other shoppers while staying within my stores coupon policy.
Peanut Butter is a staple in my house too. That, I would buy 100 jars of
Carla
The show Extreme Couponing is giving anyone who uses coupons a bad image. I used to love using coupons and now get looks or comments made about using coupons. I tell the people who make the comments that they must not like saving money and that usually shuts them up. I'm a single mother on a fixed budget, so any money saved is great. I will continue using coupons and stocking up on only the items we use 🙂
Lesa @ Coupons Equal Cash
Thanks for the great post! I have been thinking about this a lot lately and think that many people are confused about stockpiling now.
Maria
I'll have to admit that when I really got into couponing, I loved the high that came with getting things free, whether I needed them or not. Now, I have no problem with passing up a really good deal if I'm still working through my stockpile. Like many others, space is a consideration, and I can't get crazy with too much stuff. But I'm always giving things away to the local food pantry. I love giving them staple items and things like cake and brownie mix, jello and kool-aid. I'd like to think I'm giving a child a birthday party they wouldn't have otherwise gotten. So many hard working people need some help. Extra baby formula, pet food, toiletries and staple items go a long way. Then there are the places that take the extra produce from my garden in the Summer - it's a great way to share!
Rick
I think warning signs are in the words people use to describe their stockpiles. I "love" my stockpile. It "looks so good, it makes me happy." Are phrases I have heard on TV. These people have fallen on hard times and were scared. Then, they started couponing and felt more "secure." The stockpile is a buffer from what scares them (not providing for their loved ones). The bigger the stockpile, the bigger the buffer.
christy r
Hi,
I frankly think it's no one's business if it helps you take care of your family and if anyone said anything to me I would tell them that !
Jenni
I disagree. If you are clearing shelves or practicing unethical couponing, then you are crossing the line. Just because you can does not mean you should.
Yes, take care of your family. Save as much as you can, but when you hinder others from doing the same, then you've gone too far.
Kelly
Hi, love that you posted this. Since this show came out I have been getting a lot of comments when I am out shopping and I bust out my binder of coupons. I have had people ask me "Do you watch that show??" "Are you an Extreme Couponer??" I respond everytime with the same answer. "Nope, just a mom trying to save some money for my family, shopping smart." Do I look extreme? I am not buying 50 bottles of Mustard, or 100 bottles of TUMS. Just smart shopping. I hate that show! I really do, it's going to ruin it for all of us that coupon for the right reason!
Kathy
Who cares what people think! If my friends want to raise an eye brown at me and say I'm hoarding, well, I can raise an eye brow right back and say, so what!! I spend a lot of time couponing and studying sales, so when I walk away with free items, well, GOOD FOR ME! I'm tired of the jealous nay sayers.......let them think what they want, but in the end, I am having the last laugh with a lot more money in my pocket!!! : )
PAT
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHY IT IS ANYONES BUSINESS WHAT I BUY, HOW MUCH I BUY, AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS. STORES KNOW WHAT COUPONS ARE COMING OUT AND WHAT SALES THEY ARE PUTTING UP. THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH STOCK TO ACCOMMODATE THE SITUATION. THEY ALL HAVE LIMITS AROUND HERE SO I CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU CAN BUY IN QUANTITIES SO LARGE. BUT AGAIN, WHY IS IT ANYONES BUSINESS. NO ONE WOULD FAULT YOU IF YOU SAVED $2000 ON A CAR PURCHASE, WHY GET EXCITED OVER BODY WASH.
Jenni
because when you clear a shelf so you can have 'x' number of product at a great/free price, you are preventing others from getting the same deal. sales run in cycles, the same deal will come again in a couple months; there is no need to clear the shelves; that is just plain ole greed.
there is also this thing called self control, being conscience of others needs and the 'golden rule' - if more people took this three theories in practice ilo being self-absorbed our world would not be in the state its in.
PAT
I THINK IF THEY SHOWED COUPONING AS IT REALLY IS, THE SHOW WOULD DO SOME GOOD AND HELP SOME PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO SHOP WITH COUPONS. DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY
STORE THAT WILL LET YOU BUY THAT MANY SAME ITEMS WITH COUPONS AND I DON'T KNOW ANY STORE THAT GIVES YOU CREDIT FOR MORE THAT THE ITEM IS WORTH. NONE AROUND HERE DO THAT, THAT I AM AWARE OF. AND NO, I AM NOT YELLING, I JUST DO EVERYTHING IN CAPS. THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT.
Lily
And let's not forget - some of these people clearing the shelves aren't doing it to take care of their families, stockpile OR hoard........they are RESELLING these items they get for free or dirt cheap and making a huge profit.
REBECCA THOMPSON
They must have been having a marathon of Extreme Couponing last night on TLC so I watched a couple of them. Saw one that was twin sisters. The one sister has a years worth of diapers but she doesn't even have any kids. To me that's hoarding! Yes, she might have kids one day (don't think they were even married not that that is requirement) but to stock pile something you might need one day is silly.