When does couponing equal greed?

Like other bloggers who use coupons, I enjoy looking at different coupon blog sites to see the great deals and savings that other savvy coupon shoppers were able to score. It can be inspiring, informative, and a way to discover a deal that you may have missed.

Today I stumbled upon a blog where the shopper bought over twenty tubes of toothpaste and was able to purchase them all for free due to coupons. While I think that's amazing, I wonder about the need for twenty tubes of toothpaste. I understand the reasoning behind stockpiling, and in these tough economic times, the need to pinch every penny in the family budget but does one family truly need over twenty tubes of toothpaste even if it will last over a year?

How long does a tube of toothpaste actually last? Well, according to the World Wide Web, a 4 oz. tube will last the average person, who brushes twice a day, about one month. Based upon that estimate, a family of two would go through 24 tubes a year; a family of four would need 48 tubes, and so on. I can't help but think that calculation is just slightly over inflated since one tube of toothpaste lasts our family of three at least two months.

The shopper on the site I visited also encouraged other shoppers to get in on the same deal and to not miss out on the free toothpaste as long as they were in possession of the correct coupons. If the store received 400 boxes of toothpaste for the sale and every coupon shopper purchased over twenty tubes only 16 shoppers would be able to take advantage of the savings. If the store should receive 800 boxes for the sale and other couponers' were to follow a similar shopping scenario only 33 would get in on the deal. If the store were to limit the quantity to only four boxes of toothpaste, to each shopper, the number of shoppers who are able to get in on the deal jumps to 100-200, depending on the shipment the store received.

Such an excessive quantity of product made me wonder, at what point does couponing equal greed? Should just a few couponers' get in on the deal to add to their stockpile or should there be quantity limits on items to allow a larger capacity of shoppers to have access to sale items?

Our local store, Publix, also had toothpaste on sale this week for $1 a box and while I wasn't able to get it for free, I was able to purchase four boxes for $1.25 or. $0.31 cents a box. I actually had enough coupons that I could have purchased several more, but four boxes of toothpaste will last our family over six months and I couldn't imagine buying more than that. Also, we get tired of the same old flavor and like to switch to a different taste and/or brand. Moreover, I think it's important that other savoir-faire bargain hunters have the ability to find the special sales and purchase a few of the sale items for themselves. We all love the thrill of the hunt, and how finding that "sweet deal" makes us feel. Happiness is contagious and I think more customers need to be able to share in the "coupon euphoria" experience.

Many couponers', who purchase in bulk or stockpile, might object stating that a majority of their purchase was going to a food bank, shelter, or safe haven. While I agree, a donation of personal hygiene items or any item for that matter are much needed and is very commendable, I also think that it would be better to allow twenty people to be philanthropic by donating one box each to their local shelter than one person donating twenty boxes. Am I asking too much from my fellow man? Maybe I am. I'd like to think though, that if given the chance, more people might give a "free" box of toothpaste or food item to their local shelter if they were able to find it at their local supermarket.

So tell me what you think. When does couponing equal greed? When is too much, too much or when is it just right? Should stores enforce quantity limits on sale items? Should coupon shoppers consider the other customers when purchasing large quantities of sale items?  Does couponing lead to or encourage hoarding?

I look forward to hearing what other shoppers who use coupons think and all opinions are welcome.

This Weeks Savings at Publix

It may sound silly but coupons make me happy.  Today I picked up half a gallon of milk for $0.50, four boxes of Crest toothpaste for $1.25, a toothbrush for $0.50, a pizza that could feed a family of four for $0.75, and that's just a few of the great deals I was able to get all because of coupons. 
 
On today's shopping trip, I only paid $31.86 (before tax) on food that normally retails for over $111.00.  That's a savings of almost $80!  All by just spending an hour or so last night making my shopping list from the current Publix sale, and pulling my coupons together to match those items on sale.  I had a coupon for every single item that I purchased except for one splurge item requested by my daughter. 
 
While I admit coupons can be work, I can honestly say that it's work that pays you back.  I personally don't make $80 an hour for my normal hourly rate of pay so by just spending an hour, and doing a little organizing,  I was able to save $80 that my family can use on other items in our budget. All that for just an hours worth of work last night.  Don't need four boxes of toothpaste you say?  Well buy it anyway, and donate it to a shelter or food pantry.  A $1.25 is a small price to pay to help someone in need. 
 
Listed below is a photo of everything I purchased along with my spreadsheet that shows the price breakdown of each item along with the savings.
 
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions and happy shopping!