* Stockpiling is done with a clear goal in mind, such as preparing for emergencies and/or saving money.
* Hoarding is done mindlessly, collecting stuff because it is there.

* Stockpiling is done with specific items in mind, particular ones that are needed/useful and generally will need to be replaced regularly with use (like food).
* Hoarding does not discriminate between useful and useless. Hoarders will collect garbage, knick knacks, you name it.

* Stockpiling is done carefully with money in mind to minimize expenses.
* Hoarding is done compulsively and screw the budget.

* Stockpiling is done in an organized fashion so that you can find what you need when you need it.
* Hoarding is done haphazardly. Things are put wherever they’ll fit — even if it’s just the top of a pile. Just try to find something when you need it! Hoarders will often buy extras instead of move the piles!

* Stockpiling is done with much care to preservation and reducing waste.
* Hoarding promotes waste when there are too many things to use and you can’t even get to things you need when you do need them.

* Stockpiling is smart, rational way to plan for the future. It reduces stress about what might happen.
* Hoarding is a mental disease. It is irrational and compulsive. It is an addiction. It causes great stress in families and often the hoarder becomes socially isolated.

I could go on and on. And yes, I’ve seen hoarding. It’s very sad. I would not wish that on anyone, whereas I do wish more people would stockpile responsibly.
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Sandy´s last blog post..Benefiting from The Recession

My husband and I have both been out of work for several months, so the fact that I have a couple years’ worth of shampoo/lotion/soap/etc stashed away is turning out to be handy.

When we go to the store and I try to buy extra of something that’s on sale, he looks at me funny, and I always say: “I don’t know about you, but I’m planning to live long enough to use up [three quarts of almond milk | a 12-pack of toilet paper | 4 cans of diced tomatoes | etc].” Good thing I do most of the shopping. He’d wait until we’re out of something and then go pay whatever they’re charging that minute at the nearest store.

Except lotion. I have years and years worth of lotion…but that’s not a frugal thing, it’s an obsession thing.

Grace´s last blog post..Tiny Shiny Things

I like to think of myself as a frugal hoarder. We stockpile things we use constantly when we find good deals (ex: diapers, which, btw, you have convinced me to do cloth for #2). We only buy a lot of things we know we will use and when it doesn’t bust the budget. I have a list of things we buy in bulk that I keep separate from my shopping list and I keep an eye out for any deals..

Great post!

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Stockpiling, hoarding, whatever you call it, I have been raised to “prepare for a rainy day.” I have a supply of basics (legumes, flour, wheat~yes I grind it & make bread, as well as many other items). I regularly “rotate” my food storage, meaning I store what I eat & eat what I store. Do I think of it as hoarding…NO, as hoarding implies I am taking from another. I never leave the store shelves bare! I hope to never have to use it, but if I do, our family is prepared to live on what is stored with just supplementing with fresh produce & milk. I’m not a fatalist or religous zealot, I just believe in the Girl Scout motto…”Be Prepared”……

We have limited space but have become creative, using space under the beds or in nooks & crannies. I take advantage of sales & coupons to acquire my supply. Large companies buy in bulk to obtain a great price & in turn, attempt to be fiscally responsible…(well, not so much recently)…I’m just trying to use my funds to keep my family comfortable as needs may arise…

I have tried to learn from her without going overboard and balance somewhere in the middle. I don’t like to be caught without (can’t tell you how many times growing up we got down to 1 roll of toilet paper between 2 or 3 bathrooms before more was purchased). I try to buy in quantity things we use often when I can get them on sale and always be ahead of the game. Works nicely for us!

jodi @ bpr´s last blog post..Bless this Nest

jpritchard – i find lots of coupons for healthy food and products i actually use, including milk, eggs, yogurt, tomatoes, healthy cereals, whole wheat bread, etc. but i find most of them through Canadian Living & Homemakers magazines (i’m canadian) and also on the boxes or packaging of existing products, like on the plastic milk bag, inside the cartons of eggs, inside the box of contact lens solution, etc. however, it is true that it’s hard to find coupons for organic and natural products – but not impossible. try googling around for them, look through magazines at your health food store, or write the manufacturer. Kashi was giving out free product coupons for a while – in fact I got a free regular size box of flax almond cereal that way. Don’t know if that helps, but I hope so.

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