Have you seen the television show on TLC called “Extreme Couponing“? The show follows people who use massive quantities of coupons to get rediculous volumes of products. Honestly, is it necessary to keep 100+ tubes of toothpaste in your home at one time? I do give these people credit for the time and effort put into the planning of their shopping trips, but you have to consider what you will do with the product when you get it home. Some of the featured couponers (I think I may be coining a new term here!) have created storage systems in their basements or garages. Others have taken over their homes with excessive product. I am all for saving money with the use of coupons, but I have to draw the line when the volume being purchased is frivilous.
The part that kills me more, is when people purchase products they don’t even use or have use for (such as a women with hundreds of diapers and has no children). When using coupons, consider the volume of product that must be purchased to be able to save. I have frequently chosen not to use a coupon because I would have to purchase a number of an item that would take me a long time to use. Additionally, I have limited storage space in my home for extra products. I have to weigh the cost and benefits of bringing home multiples of an item.
Consider the impact exccessive shopping has on your home environment. Will you still be able to function comfortably in your home? Do you have space to store all of the product? There is a reason coupons are distributed in realistic volumes.