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This is Why We Hoard Toilet Paper

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with IDTheftSecurity.com Inc

Remember that whole lack of toilet paper thing? If you are like most of us, you have noticed the shortage of toilet paper in stores near you. But, is there really a shortage or are we just natural hoarders?

Before we get into this, it’s important to recognize, that if you ran out of toilet paper, then it must be acknowledged that you might be lacking a certain proactive mindset that is necessary to maintain a basic personal security posture.

Having plenty of food, water, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, even a generator, back up heat source, and essentially anything that you might need should the grid go down for any period of time, is what it means to be a “prepper” and be prepared.

Is there Really a Toilet Paper Shortage?

The first thing we want to look at is if there really is a shortage of toilet paper in the US. On average, each person uses about 100 rolls of toilet paper a year, or one every 3-4 days. When you use that stat and multiply it by the number of people in the country, as a whole, we need about 3 billion rolls per year.

With more than 150 different companies manufacturing toilet paper in the US, we are not at risk of running out, so why are people stockpiling it?

The Psychology Behind Toilet Paper Hoarding

A number of experts have been weighing in about why people are suddenly hoarding toilet paper. Here are some of the suggestions:

  • Other people are hoarding, so I will too – A lot of people are falling into that lemming mentality where they think “I will do whatever everyone else does.”
  • I see photos of empty store shelves – If you have been on social media recently, you probably have seen those photos of empty toilet paper shelves. This creates a sense of urgency that you, too, must fill up in case the supply is not replenished.
  • I am worried, so I want to do something – There is so much about this pandemic that is out of our control, and this can make people feel even more fearful and stressed. To fix this, we want to do something, and stocking up on toilet paper is something that can make us feel more secure.
  • Toilet paper is an easy thing to hoard – There is also the fact that toilet paper is a thing that is easy to hoard. First of all, it isn’t a perishable, so you can keep it for many years. Another reason for this is that it is fairly inexpensive. Plus, you probably don’t have a ton of it anyway, unless you have room to store it. There is also the fact that you can use toilet paper for a tissue or even a paper towel, but we generally aren’t comfortable using paper towels or tissues as toilet paper.

The message about coronavirus that is presented to us is one of cleanliness and hygiene. You are told to not touch your face, always wash your hands, and don’t get too close to other people. Another thing that is all about cleanliness and hygiene is toilet paper. So, when you think about it that way, it makes sense that people would want to have it in their homes.

ROBERT SICILIANO CSP, is a #1 Best Selling Amazon author, CEO of CreditParent.com, the architect of the CSI Protection certification; a Cyber Social and Identity and Personal Protection security awareness training program.

Comments (21)

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Robert - yes, it's an issue that extends beyond toilet paper.  

Jun 10, 2020 09:43 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Robert - I would concur with Michael Jacobs .  It is crowd mentality.

Jun 10, 2020 10:01 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Robert Siciliano  I know many used the shortage as an excuse to get out of the house  just to shop for toilet paper 

Jun 10, 2020 12:24 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

I kind of figured the TP hoarding thing was because, unlike other things, there's no substitute for it... unless you want to go back to using leaves or moss.

Jun 10, 2020 03:56 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Hello Robert Siciliano generally people like to fallow a trends.

Jun 10, 2020 08:24 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

most people are followers.... when a few begin a task, it becomes a trend and a mission for the rest...

Jun 13, 2020 02:48 AM
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Thank God this article is historical, the hoarding ended a month ago in San Diego, CA. Your point #3 is the main reason. We want control, so we do very primal, asinine behaviors (hoarding) when viewed through a civil lens. As you pointed out, there is no shortage of supply, just a shortage of maturity and common sense.

Jun 13, 2020 04:18 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

The toilet paper thing was quite interesting. I'm sure the reasons you mention are the cause of the lack of supplies on the shelves.

During the beginning of the shortage, a lady passed me in the store with a big package of toilet paper. She looked at me and said, "I don't need this, but everyone else is buying it so I did too". Which proves the first bullet point above.

Another comment - contrary to some popular opinions I've seen, preppers aren't hoarders. If you know enough to have enough to last through a major crisis without running to the store during a crisis, that's just being prepared.

Jun 13, 2020 05:14 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Apparently the hoarding craze is ended - at least in my area. As to toilet paper the reason I buy  serveral at once is when Costco has it on sale - and that's what we've done for years.  No need to hoard.  What I find unavailable at Costco is organice chicken.....so I shop local for that.

Jun 13, 2020 10:34 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Great post and glad that Carol Williams featured it in her Second Chance Saturday Series. Now that everyone sees toilet paper is stocked on a regular basis in the stores I don't see the hoarding of it as a huge issue anymore. So many consumers are stocked up they probably don't need to buy any for years!! LOL!

Jun 13, 2020 03:39 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Robert- I always have a supply of the necessities at home...it may come from having lived in hurricane areas and having really learned my Girl Scout lessons! LOL The only items that I was low on were hand sanitizer, alcohol, and Disinfectant Spray (Lysol). I made adjustments.  Part of me likes the hunt so I enjoyed it when I found a supply of what I needed. 

Jun 13, 2020 05:20 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Jun 13, 2020 07:06 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I had to laugh at your post, given the situation we were confronted with a few months ago but which seems to have changed dramatically for the better in the last few weeks. Being prepared always makes sense so you don't run out of key items when an emergency hits!

Jun 13, 2020 08:57 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

We believe in abundance and therefore, never got caught up in the recent hoarding craze.  I'm glad it's easing up. It's a strange phenomenon, but it is easy to understand why it happens. 

Jun 14, 2020 06:53 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I don't usually shop ahead...generally buying only what I need for the short term due to storage issues.

I was irritated when I had to buy one of those huge 16 roll packs of tp due to it being all they had at the time.

Two days later when all the stores were showing bare shelves I couldn't believe my luck!

I guess timing was right for me!

 

Jun 14, 2020 11:38 AM
Kathy Schowe
California Lifestyle Realty - La Quinta, CA
La Quinta, California 760-333-8886

I get it... really I do.  But when this all started, my husband told me that he was waiting for the Costco coupons to come out, so hadnt restocked on toilet paper.  And yes... we were low and there was a definite shortage!  We both ordered some online and what finally came was from China... and defintely not up to US standards.  (But it would work in a pinch. ). Funny thing is, 2 months later, I found an entire large package of TP in a storage closet that we didn't know was there.  Emergency averted!

Jun 14, 2020 08:49 PM
faye schubert
Retired - Branson, MO
Living the Branson Lake Life

I found the "hoard" mentality quite entertaining, especially with toilet paper.  I've always noticed that people look in other's carts to see what they're buying . Also we had a paper towel shortage also. I guess that went along with the toilet paper. 

Jun 15, 2020 04:46 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

We didn't hoard anything. Our freezers and pantry are always full enough to feed us, even if it might not be exactly what we want that day.  But I sort of wish I had hoarded some coffee. My favorite brand is STILL not in our store.

The toilet paper is back - but I didn't look to see if it was all brands.

Jun 15, 2020 12:27 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Necessities become necessities when it’s too late usually—even in my experience from a young age

Jun 27, 2020 08:13 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Is it a pretty smart through this whole thing doing things your way, if I do say so myself, Marte Cliff

Jun 27, 2020 08:16 PM