Hi,

I thought I would share my experience with other newbies who are starting or thinking of starting to coupon. :)

I started couponing about 8months ago.  I’ll admit, watching that crazy coupon tv show got me interested, but only because I’m the geeky type and the strategy of it all was what was interesting to me.  The next day I purchased Kathy’s book, read it twice, reviewed the entire website and was off and running.  I started small like everyone said to do, and before I knew I had a pretty nice stockpile.

The part I never expected was how it has changed certain aspects of my life for the better….not just the savings, but having a reasonable stockpile means that I’m not running out every two seconds to grab a roll of TP at 7-11 or cough syrup or advil, etc.  As a working fulltime single mother with two kids in Soccer, Girls Scouts, Dance, Basketball, CCD, Peer Leaders and Ice skating, time is extremely limited.  Couponing has made me look at our needs and plan appropriately while saving money.  I love saying “Run downstairs and grab a new toothpaste from the cabinet”…woo hoo…no running out at 9pm for me!

The second part is donating.  I always wanted to give back to my community or friends…but in all honesty, there is no time between work and the kids to commit to something else on a consistent basis.  Couponing has given me that ability to donate on a budget and limited time.  I can take and drop off supplies to the local nursing home, senior center, food pantry, school, animal shelter or friends in need while I’m out doing other things.  I had a friend in need at Christmas time and I mailed her over 50lbs of food and supplies from my stockpile….she was so grateful and it made my day.  Certain people I know having financial problems love the bags of food I leave for them on a regular basis. My goal this year is to accumulate much needed supplies for our local animal shelter.  Finally….a way to do something good for those in need without feeling the time crunch! Love it!

It’s also funny to watch the boyfriend become interested…..he was the type that will buy the “brand name hydrocortisone at the highest price, not on sale, with no store card” for a mosquito bite, because of the pretty packaging.  Since he has watched me save (and now never runs out of razors, deodorant or shaving cream), he will actually say “so, I need xx….got any coupons hon?”.  I let him use my SS card for gas one day and he saved $1.90 per gallon – I thought he was going to start doing the happy dance right there.  He kept saying  “How is that possible??”.  LOL…gotta love gas points.

And finally – something I like to do that “stuck”….. I can coupon anywhere, anytime and I love that.  I love matching the ads, checking out the website…all of it.  Having a hobby with 2 kids who are in everything under the sun is hard….I always feel like I start something (jewelry making or whatever) and could never spend enough time doing it – but this…this works for both my “geeky, I feel the need to calculate savings and strategize” personality, as well as my limited schedule.

Anyway, the point of my long winded newbie story is that I am thankful to Kathy and Cardinal, and everyone on this site.  Your help, expertise and generosity is much appreciated and really – you helped change my life for the better!

Thank you!