The Coupon Queen

How Couponing Is Changing My Life For The Better

Last night, a friend I'll call "Jim" dubbed his wife the "Coupon Queen" because she saved $700 on groceries last year by clipping coupons. No offense, Jim, but your wife's coronation is a fraud. My next door neighbor, a stay at home mom named Suzanne, is the real Coupon Queen, saving over $7,000 in coupons last year.

          

My mother clipped coupons. I always admired her for that, and I really do want to be like her when I grow up. However, the coupon clipping thing just never turned me on. I resented being in the check out line behind coupon clippers who were just holding up progress (it is all about me, after all) and honestly, I just never saw myself as "needing" to clip coupons.

When someone started gabbing about how much money they saved using coupons, I quickly found an exit from the conversation. I'm not sure why. Could it be I was just jealous that someone else wasn't as lazy as I was and actually didn't mind spending an extra hour a week making grocery lists in order to save a few bucks? Imagine that .... Me? Stubborn and unteachable?!?

That was then. This is now.

I Got A New Attitude [Hum to the tune of Patti LaBelle's hit.]

My attitude changed a few months ago when Suzanne, my new next door neighbor and the real Coupon Queen, came over with a batch of "welcome to the neighborhood" blueberry bread. Of course, I invited her in, and don't you know the first thing she started chatting about was coupons.

Coupon Queen explained that she saved tons of money every year by clipping coupons. Furthermore, as a stay at home mom, it was her job to make sure that her family never ran out of anything. How nice.

The bread was delicious and such a thoughtful gesture. For the next few months, our daughters developed a nice friendship while Coupon Queen and I chatted now and then about anything having to do with little girls.

Then early this month, on Triple Coupon Thursday, Coupon Queen and I ran into each other in the driveway. She proudly showed me a receipt for $1.50 from our local grocery store. Here we go again.

Upon further inspection of the receipt, I saw that Coupon Queen had paid $1.50 for $120.00 in groceries.

In invited her in again. This time, for an inquisition.

I Am Now Officially Frugal

After spending several hours with Coupon Queen, I have managed to save about $300.00 on my grocery bill in just the last 3 weeks. That's right, before Coupon Queen, I did not know how to grocery shop. Here is some proof of my newfound frugality:

• Using coupons, I paid .25 for a large bottle of brand name household cleaner
• Using coupons and an immediate in-store rebate, I got 4 tubes of free tooth paste
• Using a coupon, I paid .75 for one of my favorite brands of deodorant (regularly priced at $4.99)
• Using a mail-in rebate form, I got 2 lbs of fresh salmon for just $6.00
• Using a mail-in rebate form, I got $3.00 back for buying pizza. That's right, I got 2 family sized pizzas, and after coupons and mail-in rebate, I got $3.00 back (well, $2.63 after counting the stamp).

So what does this have to do with being Indie? Only everything. See, the whole idea of managing a home and a business simultaneously is that to stay afloat, you have to save more than you spend. You want to pay yourself, of course. But if you can pay yourself a little less because you are a good steward of the money your business pays you, then you'll have more to invest in expanding the business.

And isn't that what we have to do as Indies? As we manage our businesses and our homes, in the end, it's all about keeping more money than we spend.

Back to Coupon Queen

Coupon Queen is a little on the shy side, hence the generic picture at the top of this post. Coupon Queen seems to think that everyone already knows this exciting coupon stuff. I'm not sure why she thinks that. Is she right? Was I the only person in America who did not know this stuff?

Would You Like To Talk To Coupon Queen?

Do you coupon? How much do you save in coupons? Can you beat Coupon Queen? Would you like me to have her as a guest on Indie Business Radio? Please tell me what you think because Coupon Queen will only agree to be a guest if you tell me you want to get all of her tips.

If you don't, that's fine with me. Just mail your Sunday coupons to my address, which I will gladly give you if you ask. I will reimburse you by trading some consulting time.

Meanwhile, Coupon Queen will be reading your comments to this post in between time spent planning her next island cruise, made possible of course by clipping coupons. Please tell her what you think.

Related Posts

Indie Business TV Episode 2: Real Coupon Queen
Real Coupon Queen Cometh
Don't Get Punk'd
Keep More Of What You Make
You Have Not Because You Ask Not

Comments

[Anne-Marie]

I finally was able to find the time to listen to this show. It's fascinating and I know when our family expands with children that these tips will come in very helpful as our grocery bills grows expontentially!

[dM]

Angel, it's never too late to let others know about something that makes your family life better. Thanks for sharing! Last week, I had a prescription filled for $10. I used a coupon and got a $30 gift card from the pharmacy for transferring it to them. They gave me $20 for shopping with them. Even in good economic times, it's stupid (yes, I said it) not to use coupons.

[Angel]

I know, I'm late. My family would not be the least bit surprised.

But anyway, I almost always save 50% off my groceries by watching sales and matching them with coupons, rebates, and so forth. In fact, I work for an in-home parenting program and I always teach my families what I know, because money or the lack thereof is a HUGE source of stress and it can contribute toward domestic violence, substance abuse, child abuse or neglect, mental health problems, and who knows what else.

It does take a commitment of time and energy but just like anything else, with practice you get more streamlined and it gets to be second nature. I have accumulated a backstock that has kept the current economic cool-off at bay for longer for my family than most. It's been well worth my time.

[TBSF]

You've got my attention! Since the kids have gone off to college..I'm living spending too much on grocery.
Please Please show us how to save up to $7000!

[dM]

Funlayo:

I know what you mean. I always looked at people with coupons in the store and wondered if I had the patience to stand in front of a wall of cereal boxes and hunt for the one that was on sale and which I had a coupon for. After being trained by Real Coupon Queen, I can say that the $500 I've saved in just one month makes it worth it. Just think of what you can do with $500 more a month, saved not because you worked harder but worked smarter doing something you have to do anyway -- buy groceries.

I am no longer a consumer. I am a business colleague with my local grocer. I respect the grocer's need to make a profit in the grocery business and I expect the grocer to respect my need to make a profit for my family.

I'm on a roll now!

dM

[Funlayo]

I want to hear from this lady. I have never been much of a coupon clipper just because of the time involved, but if I could save a couple hundred $$$ a year it would be well worth my while.

[Anne-Marie]

I want to hear more too! =) Wow, I've never saved more than a few $$ at the grocery store. That really is an amazing story!

[Rachel]

I would like to hear more too!! I use grocerygame.com and save a decent amount of money, but all these rebates?? I'm definitely not getting those. Tonight I was at Bunko and one of my neighbors was buzzing about something kind of like grocery game that sounded even better so I'm contemplating the switch to sistersofsavings.com. She heard one of them speak and said she's an incredible, dynamic woman and you know how we all love that! I hope your neighbor embraces her inner grocery diva and shares all soon : )

[Tisha]

Amazed!
I definitely would like to hear more from the Coupon Queen. I need a grocery-shopping make over now that I hear it is possible to save so much by clipping coupons. Please share more!!

[Kristine]

I'd love to learn more! The grocery bill is our biggest budget leak, and I've been on a mission to learning how to cut it. I would love to learn more about The Coupon Queen and how she saves so much on groceries using coupons!!

[Chris]

All I can say is, "Wow!"

I used to be a coupon clipper when I was married, but since my divorce I've gotten a bit lazy.

I have to say though, to save $700 per year would be enough to get me clipping again, so with a potential for $7000, you've definitely got my attention.

[Coupon Heaven]

$7,000 in savings - WOW! I love to save money with coupons, too, but I don't think I come close to that. Kudos to the real Coupon Queen. I think it would be great to have her on Indie Business Radio.

[Jen]

I've always wanted to "coupon" but honestly am such a bad shopper (I have this thing with crowds and strangers bumping into me *shudder*) that I have stood in front of the Sunday papers before...frozen...because I didn't know if I should pick up one paper, or all the papers, and which paper would have better coupons and where they can be redeemed. It's all really confusing to me!

[Christina]

I'm shocked that Coupon Queen can save that much money. I'm a believer because on average I save about $35 each week using coupons or buying brands that are on sale but $7000 a year? I'd love to learn more!