It all started with ketchup. When I came out of the grocery store with a bottle of ketchup for 16 cents, the wheels started turning. That was when my world turned upside down. Everything finally came together in a way I had never understood before. The savings kept adding up the more I researched blogs, deals, coupons, and store policies. I had many sleepless nights devouring everything I could possibly find about couponing. If I had discovered all this back in college, I could have saved so much money!
But really, I didn’t know exactly what I was doing. As I started purchasing several items each week at a really low price, I began to notice that little by little I no longer needed those products. Unbeknownst to me, I was actually building my pantry. Then I found myself needing to buy only the necessities each week, then only purchasing the items my family used that were really cheap or free. Before I knew it, a couple of months had gone by and I had stocked my pantry with more food than I had ever shopped for without coupons and had paid half the price for it.
My papa always liked to say, “You are always better off when you keep your own money in your pocket.” At the time, I just didn’t realize how profound that statement would be to me later on in life. The truth is that all these savings from couponing have added up to a part-time job so I don’t have to work outside our home. I kept my money in my pocket and spent my time with my children.
I’ve taken everything I’ve learned and put it in an easy-to-understand format so everyone can enjoy the benefits of this knowledge without the pressure of it taking too much time. After all, I know how it feels to be stressed with life’s responsibilities and burdens, especially the financial ones. With all we have going on, who has the extra time to spend hours a day clipping coupons? I certainly don’t, and I’m sure you don’t either. I’ve learned how to balance savings with having a life and without it becoming an obsession. I’ve never woken up singing the praises of a coupon; I’ve just sung the joys of saving a ton of money.
But it’s not just about the savings. When I started sharing tips with others through the Time 2 $ave workshops, I saw a need in the community. Well, I saw lots of needs. I saw families who were broke or were going through an illness. I saw elderly people who needed help with their groceries. I saw single mothers who couldn’t afford diapers. I saw people who lost all they had because of a tornado, flood, or hurricane. I started looking outward and helping others through the money I was saving and the deals I was getting. I haven’t stopped since.
I’m not just about getting more for less; I’m about making a difference.