Thoughts on Shelf Clearing vs. Family Size

I'm a rule follower by nature, so I get anxious and feel guilty if I take more than four of an item off a store shelf. In the case that I do, it's a special order (recently Vitamin Water and Purex Crystals) or there are hundreds available.

There has been a lot of talk in the blogosphere lately about shelf clearing, especially after the Extreme Couponing TV show. As an ethical couponer, you should not clear shelves (I'm not saying when there are 3 left and you take them...I mean when you take the last 25!)

Does your store ever look like this?? (Photo: reefbuilder.com)

 Of course if you're couponing for a small family, you don't need to clear shelves anyway! And if the store is low on stock, you're not necessarily entitled to clear shelves just because you have more kids than the next person.

What do you think? Is having a big family a good excuse for taking 10 boxes of cereal? When you see a mom with five kids in tow who has just taken the last 20 cans of Chef Boyardee, I personally have a hard time feeling sympathetic. Then again, I hopefully won't have to feed my future kids Chef Boyardee anyway! :-)

And remember, another sale will always come around in about three months (the typical sale cycle on most items). Who knows, another store may even have the item(s) you have sweet coupons for on sale next week!