I am always asked how did I become the couponDIVA, and why did I begin to coupon. Well, honestly I began to coupon out of necessity. I found myself in the midst of a divorce, suddenly a single mother of two children that deserve the world. As a single mom without adequate education, and an over abundance or wealth I had to make due. If I couldn't make money grow on trees, I had to make ends meet with the income that I did have.
I started shopping at discount stores, and to be honest, the selection wasn't that great. After working anywhere from eight to twelve hours a day for minimum wage I really didn't feel like being creative and making odds and ends match. I began to coupon, and in the beginning I did OK, nothing like what I do today. I was a meek person, somewhat shy and intimidated by cashiers, embarrassed because of the stigma attached to coupon users. You know the one, that they are down trodden, poor and living below poverty. However what most people don't realize is that 75% of coupon users have an average salary between $25,000-$50,000.
I started seriously couponing and stockpiling about three years ago. I have always used coupons here and there, but I became dedicated to saving money after seeing a South Carolina mom featured on the local news. I thought, I can do that! So off to the Internet I went, I researched the art of couponing. I watched YouTube videos, I read articles, I weighed the pros and cons of the box versus the binder.
I began with my son's old trapper keeper, it had a two inch ring, a side pocket, and a zippered closure. I filled it with 10 sheets of baseball trading sheets, and I began to clip and print coupons. To think back on that now, it was a pitiful collection lol, but I was saving a tremendous amount of money. I now have a four inch binder that is actually a CD case that is filled to the brim with coupons, all organized with tabs and dividers.
I started shopping at discount stores, and to be honest, the selection wasn't that great. After working anywhere from eight to twelve hours a day for minimum wage I really didn't feel like being creative and making odds and ends match. I began to coupon, and in the beginning I did OK, nothing like what I do today. I was a meek person, somewhat shy and intimidated by cashiers, embarrassed because of the stigma attached to coupon users. You know the one, that they are down trodden, poor and living below poverty. However what most people don't realize is that 75% of coupon users have an average salary between $25,000-$50,000.
I started seriously couponing and stockpiling about three years ago. I have always used coupons here and there, but I became dedicated to saving money after seeing a South Carolina mom featured on the local news. I thought, I can do that! So off to the Internet I went, I researched the art of couponing. I watched YouTube videos, I read articles, I weighed the pros and cons of the box versus the binder.
I began with my son's old trapper keeper, it had a two inch ring, a side pocket, and a zippered closure. I filled it with 10 sheets of baseball trading sheets, and I began to clip and print coupons. To think back on that now, it was a pitiful collection lol, but I was saving a tremendous amount of money. I now have a four inch binder that is actually a CD case that is filled to the brim with coupons, all organized with tabs and dividers.
This is the beginning.
I first began buying four papers each week. I saved a little, but I knew that I could save even more with more coupons. I now save a minimum of 60% each trip, and many times more. To make it simple, I want you to think of it this way for every $100 you can keep $60 in your pocket. If for every trip to the supermarket you could buy groceries, and have enough left over to pay your monthly bills or even to pay down debt. Would you pick up a pair of scissors and a few Sunday papers? I know I would, in fact I do every week!
This is the evolution.
No comments:
Post a Comment