I don’t know maybe I am alone in this area of couponing but I just saw a blogger post their stockpile of laundry detergent. They commented, ” I have been slowly running out of room for all my laundry products…” This person has over 200 bottles.
This makes me want to scream.
Anyone else out there?
First let me say. I get it.
The high of how much you can save and once you realize you can get things for so cheap or free you think why not… and it goes on and on and………
There comes a point when too much of something is a bad thing right?!
Why does any one person need 200 bottles of Detergent? Even if they got all those bottles free, you have to figure in time and the cost of shelving. And I would assume they are buying coupons as well.
If they were going to donate them all or most of them that’s one thing.
But why take up all the space and keep so many if you are going to give to others anyways? Give it right away.
This is America.
We want stuff.
We want to show off our stuff on social media.
We want to take pictures that reflect something that may not be real.
“I bought all these things look at this, see I may coupon but that does not mean I am poor.”
Couponing makes you rich with stuff you don’t need- if you let it.
Yuck.
We don’t need stuff.We don’t need hundreds of anything.
I am doing this blog to help you. In what ever small ways I can.
Please if you are starting to coupon do not get caught up in the extremeness of couponing.
When I first started I couldn’t believe I could get cereal for free or $0.50.
It was shocking. I probably went over board.
I went overboard.
When I had 20 boxes of cereal. It felt weird, almost wrong.
Than I got addicted.
I had 28 boxes of cereal and I started to think that’s not so many. I reasoned with myself that we do go through it.
Guess what? I still have 2 boxes of Cheerios from 2 years ago..hmmm..
You know what also happens if I stockpile too much for my family. I run out of dish soap and go to the store and buy whatever is on sale. Than one day I clean out my cupboard and boom there is dish soap….
Last week when cereal was $0.10 it seemed tempting at first but then I looked in my cupboards and I have 6 boxes of cereal. That will last us awhile defiantly until the next sale cycle.
Balance.
When it comes to couponing you don’t need to have it become an obsession. Time is precious to so many of us these days. Plan what you need.
It is important to grab a few items of a good deal. You want it to last until the next sale cycle which really is only a couple weeks.
The thing I have really learned this last year with couponing is there are always sales. There are always times to get things 50% off the original price and more.
The other night my husband and I watched the documentary on Netflix called “Living on One Dollar.”
It is about 4 college students who go to Guatemala and live off a $1 a day. This is in relation to the amount that many people at poverty level live off of there.
Many of them do not know when they will be getting paid from their jobs.
It is always a humble reminder of how much we have here in America. Even those who are considered in poverty here have way more than many people in other countries.
Why are we a country that needs so much stuff?
Do you know that the thrift stores are having a hard time because people are getting rid of things so fast they can’t keep up with the clothes? Store are marking their items down and thrift store prices are as low as the clearance items at big box stores. Why would you get a used t-shirt for $7 bucks at Volunteers of America when you can get it for $3 at Target?
We are a country of wanting it and then tossing it for something that seems more appealing at the time.
Kinda like how we view marriage.But now this is getting into a whole new topic for a different day different post!
I feel THANKFUL. GRATEFUL. JOYFUL.
I love couponing. And I love getting things cheap.
Living a frugal lifestyle has really saved my family money.( You can read our start of debt free living here) But I also like to ask myself, “Why do I coupon?” This year in 2015 I am learning balance. I have never really been extreme as far as clearing shelves and buying 100’s of one item. But I now feel that I do not need more than 5 of one item.
So let me ask you, Why do you coupon? Should we be stockpiling hundreds of items??
Jodi
Very well said. I want what I will need and use cheaply, but I don’t need way more of something because it is cheap!
Katie
I love this, very well said! I too have some cereal that has now expired and I remember at one time buying like 40 boxes of mac & cheese. We got so sick of it! I’ve scaled way back.
Tasia
Thanks Katie! Yes that too you end up getting sick of it! Thanks for stopping by!
Hollie
I think extreme couponing and stockpiling like that is great if you have a family of 15 kids in the home, like the Duggars or if you live in a commune or a tight knit community. If I had the time to devote to extreme couponing I would share my groceries with homeless shelters and friends and family for free and keep only what I need.
Tasia
LOVE The Duggars! I love that you would share all your goods with others Hollie!
Brandi Clevinger
i agree. I have a stockpile of things we use, but it’s only for the next few months. Not years. Some go overboard.
Kristy
I agree! I’m not extreme either. There was a time when I bought coupons and tons of like items (not 100, but a bunch). I still have stayfree from like 7 years ago (and two kids later). LOL
I agree, It’s all about that balance and finding what is right for your family. I have learned to control and not buy things even if they are free if it’s not something I will need or use right then even if I feel I can find someone to use it.
bataviasbest
It really is about balance. I admit it is hard when you see free items but it is really important to ask will I use this? Especially wen you have kids and your time is more limited as well as space! Toys become EVERYWHERE!!!