Why Do I Stockpile? Why Do You?

My dream pantry from Alfaplit.com

I recently read an interesting article about Dr. Ruth Westheimer in the AARP magazine. The 87 year old sex therapist talked about her extensive, life-long doll collection. She told the interviewer that the dolls were strictly for her and not the granddaughters as many thought. Her statement that “the dolls are something I can control” resonated with me.

Dr. Ruth remarked that her obsession with the dolls and doll houses stemmed from her childhood. At age 9 she was shipped, along with 100 other Jewish children to Switzerland via the Kindertransport when her father was taken by the Nazis. She notes that she was only allowed to take one of her numerous dolls with her in her flight to safety. During the trip she gave that last precious doll to one of the younger children to help fight the terror of the trip.

photo credit:  www.AARP.org

Reading about her plight and her absolute clarity in pinpointing the exact moment where her “need” for the dolls and the control they gave her began, got me to thinking about my own motivations. Most of us probably have a similar need of some sort in our lives. It may stem from an actual incident or deprivation, or it could just be something we perceived as missing or lacking in our lives.

I think my obsession to have a full-to-overflowing pantry is one of these types of “needs”. Don't get me wrong, we have always been very fortunate in that we have never really gone without our true “needs/necessities” in life – food, shelter, love. Of course we had “wants” that were never fulfilled, but true needs were always covered. 

BUT, I did grow up listening to my grandparents and uncles talking about the depression, the dust bowl, the war years and the challenges of feeding a growing family of 8+ with no income when Grampa was almost killed in a mining accident. 

They were first and second generation immigrants from France and England. They were very thankful for everything they had because they came over here with nothing and worked hard for what they did eventually have. They were proud to be new and legal Americans, though they had some very lean times when they weren't sure where the next meal was coming from.

I think these sparse times are one of the reasons my mom became an avid couponer and deal shopper decades ago before it was popular. She always tried to keep a full pantry, although she was never a canner like Gramma. When I was a kid, Gramma had a cellar that was usually full of jams and jellies, excess eggs, pickled everythings and many root vegetables. She also tried to be ready for any emergency and have contingency plans. 

I am starting to think that my need to stockpile stems from being taught by these wonderful women to be prepared, for anything. They were truly pioneer preppers.

photo by: radnatt@FreeDigitalPhotos.net

**Of course, the other factor for the food "hoarding" may well be my college years when I existed on cases of a really, really cheap noodle product that I unaffectionately call  "it that shall not be in my house ever again". Ugh.

How about you? Do you have something that drives you?

A little background on me...

My name is Julie aka Jules.  I've been an avid couponer most of my life -  long before (as in decades) it became the popular thing to do - or even had a title. My mom started us as kids clipping and collecting coupons and S&H green stamps and working on mail-in rebates. She made it fun and it became a challenge to see what kind of deals we could stir up, even 30+ years ago. We've come a long way since then. With the internet and smartphone apps, the world of couponing has exploded. You don't even have to ever wield a pair of scissors to save a bunch of money.

For me personally, couponing is a something I enjoy and have a lot of fun with. It is a challenge to match coupons to sales and promotions to fully maximize our savings. It is sort of a game for me to see if I can better my deals each time, with the ultimate goal of creating a money-maker or at least a FREE item. The thing I DON'T do is stress over it or let it take over my life. Couponing is a tool to save our families money and give us the ability to create a small stockpile of items we need and use. It shouldn't be something that takes away from our quality of life, but enhances it. If you make it fun, all the better.

As we go along, I'd really like feedback from readers as to what they'd like to see on Centsable Couponing. I plan on showing various deals that are available as well as providing some tips and tricks to make it easier for new and experienced couponers alike. I will also add resources and other helpful items as they come up. Let me know what you think. We are still building the site so any comments are welcome.

If you happen to be in the Central San Joaquin Valley in California (think Fresno/Madera/Merced), we put on regular couponing classes and would love to meet you. (The schedules will be posted under the Classes tab above or you can always contact me via the email link to the right) 

Until next time, Happy Savings!