Read an interesting article on "extreme couponers" not too long ago. Gist of it was that it's just a manifestation of a "hoarding" mental disorder. Interviewed people who had entire rooms filled with toilet paper, etc etc etc. "But it was Free!!" is the excuse. Except that you can't enter rooms of their houses. :-)
I like to keep an extra bale of paper towels, or TP, or something - particularly if it's a consumable, and won't spoil. And, I'm not above stocking up when things are on sale. But thousands of rolls of Charmin? Not likely.
The local Harris Teeter that I shop at has "free" promotions, frequently. Typically, its a way to get people trying new stuff. Mrs WBill and I get the Free Offers, occasionally. And as often as not, we try the stuff and say "BLEAGH! We overpaid for it!"
I have a bone to pick with ‘extreme couponers’ and it has to do with that hoarding/greed mentality. Here in Arizona there’s a fee-based coupon system called Coupon Sense. I used to belong to it and would save 50% or so. However, some women became so obsessed with it that on some Wednesdays, when the new food ads came out, certain items that were on special would be wiped out in a matter of hours. One woman I saw had a shopping cart filled with 30 or 40 boxes of Cheerios. Another woman I know personally is a teacher and her classroom gets a set of 25 Sunday newspapers. Guess who takes all the coupons? Yep. That means that she can get 25 “free” toothbrushes at one time or 25 of whatever. Another strategy some of them have is to have multiple “individual” purchases when grocery stores have a policy that allows only three coupons per item at a time. Have you ever stood behind someone at the grocery store who’s buying 12 packages of cookies in four separate transactions. It’s enough to make you hate couponers, unfortunately.
With some people I think it has more to do with, “Look what I just accomplished!”, than a real need for what they are actually purchasing.
If others knew it could set off a revolution which is why I am keeping that detail to myself. Anyway as to "hoarding," I keep it under control. Right now have about a 6 month supply of both coffee and marinade. My wife gave away most of our vast canned tuna fish supply without thinking that the REASON I hoarded so many was because we were entering hurricane season and needed an emergency supply of canned food. Now have to restock that again.