Reader Spotlight – A Life With Coupons

Today’s Reader Spotlight comes to us from Kathy, who has been using coupons for 35 years. She got serious about couponing when she was stationed overseas, so she has a wealth of couponing-related experiences that are really interesting.

Take it away, Kathy!

I have used coupons on and off over 35 years as we have moved around the world. Where do you get coupons when you live overseas? Great question. When we lived in England, both my husband and I were active duty members of the Air Force, stationed at two different bases about five miles apart. My husband’s boss, had coupons mailed to him a couple times a month and he would bring in a huge manila envelop with them in it to share with others.

That was where I got serious about using coupons, as I had the opportunity to find coupons I could use on items I bought every one or two weeks when we grocery shopped. The local newspapers in England did not contain any coupons so we were unable to get any that way. I called my family (1987-1989) and asked them to send us coupons as well. The local Commissary and Base Exchange had coupons from time to time hanging on items in the stores, so we could grab one or two at a time. I usually saved $15-20 and thought that was decent.

We moved  back to Georgia where we have lived for the past 20 years. Over the years, I have changed how I shopped from buying just what we needed with maybe one extra tube of toothpaste to now stocking the items we use consistently with a small stock pile. The internet has helped me seek out web sites that have great information like I Heart Publix, as well as two other web sites I look at a couple times a week. Their information has helped me buy toiletries and snacks to send to my friends that are deployed for a fraction of the cost of the items, and then in turn I can use the money I saved to mail the packages.

Now I am couponing for just my family (husband, daughter in law, and son), and I buy some items for donation – our church has a food pantry we donate to each week, and sometimes I buy things for my daughter in law’s classroom and/or school.

At this point in my life, I still enjoy the hunt for great deals, but I do not go overboard as far as having a stock pile in excess of $2000 and up, nor do I buy the entire shelf of an item when I go into a store. I used to shop at many stores, but now I am pretty much dedicated to Publix as they have the great buy one get one free deals and in Georgia, I only have to buy one item as it rings up half price.

Couponing enables me to take the money I have and stretch it a lot further than if I paid full price and really make a difference in my own way. Some of my friends see couponing as bothersome or unneccessary–but to me, it is a way of life and something I enjoy doing.

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

Reader Spotlight – More Couponing Success Stories

Like last month, I have a bunch more coupon success stories in my Reader Spotlight folder…so today I thought I would post these little spotlights together. I think these three stories are a great encouragement to new couponers in particular….just stick with it and you can have your own success story!

Corey from DoinItWithStyle writes:

First I would like to say Thank You to I Heart Publix and it’s readers for giving me the knowledge and information that I need to save my family money. Because of your site, I regularly save 50% to 80% on my groceries and have been able to create a pretty good stockpile. Not only do I get great information from you (I LOVE Friday’s Share Your Savings in particular), I have stared my own blog to share my savings. I regularly pass on the knowledge that I have gained from you to my family and friends.

After climbing the corporate ladder at a large bank I left my job last August when my daughter Chloe was born. A few months later my husband made a career change too, so our income has been reduced significantly. We have learned to live on a budget and I do that mostly by saving ALOT of money on groceries. And also thanks to your site I save money on formula, diapers, wipes, clothes and everything else it takes for a newborn. I would never have known about so many of the programs that new parents can use such as the Publix Baby Club, Pampers Gifts to Grow and many more.

I surf your site daily to make sure I am not missing any deals or steals and to keep up on the latest. I also use my couponing for good to donate food and other non-perishables to our church who runs a family center. So Thank You again for your efforts and I will keep on following your site!

Anonymous writes:

I started couponing summer of 2009 because I wanted to find new ways to save money on things we were currently buying. I found it exciting, but I really didn’t need to coupon. While visiting family at Thanksgiving, I was so excited about couponing that it really piqued my sister’s interest. My sister was a struggling college student with an 8 year old daughter. She was receiving public assistance at the time and was running out of money for her food allowance in two weeks.

Over the next few months, I taught her how to coupon. Soon, the money that used to last her two weeks began to last the entire month (with a few dollars to spare at the end of the month!). My sister has since finished college and now teaches Family and Consumer Science at a local high school. She is able to share her couponing experiences with her students.

Valerie writes:

I’ve been couponing for a little over a year and I love your coverage of Publix. Using coupons has enabled me to really stock up on items that are super cheap or free. Yes, I’m the one at the register with 100 coupons. I always get my store’s maximum 10 for each sale item if I have the coupons. We have 5 computers in my home so that helps. I do have a stockpile of food, etc that I keep in my spare bedroom. I love to be able to give it away though.

My niece left her abusive husband with not much more than the clothes on her back. I was able to supply her with enough food/toiletries for several weeks immediately, and I have since been able to help her several times. When we had a tornado in January that devastated a community a few miles from me (way to close by the way) I donated all the non-perishable items that I had stored. I love being able to do these types of things with little out-of-pocket expense to me. I love that couponing has enabled me to do it.

Including everything I have spent this year I have saved a little over 50%. That includes my gas, food, household supplies, everything! that I have spent for anything. I love that!

Thanks Michelle for helping me with my list each week. Also, thanks to all those that write in with coupon matches that they have found and for all the tips.

Thanks to Corey, Anonymous, and Valerie for sharing their stories! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

Reader Spotlight – Scouting For Food, The Sequel

Today we’re going to hear from Laura. You may remember Laura from her Reader Spotlight last year…Laura’s son is a Scout whose Troop did an outstanding job with their yearly Food Drive. Coupons made a huge difference for a second year in a row and they donated over 5,000 pounds of food!

I once again come to you to report a wonderful job our Scouts from Troop 323 in Land O’ Lakes, Florida did on the 2013 Scouting for Food food drive.

Like last year, Publix was instrumental in the troop’s success by allowing them to ask for food donations during a Saturday and Sunday at the beginning of February. Publix also let us come back and coupon with the monetary donations the Scouts received.

Last year our Scouts donated 3584 pounds of food….but this year they surpassed that total with a whopping 5089.5 pounds of food!!! The donation went to a local food bank that was in dire need.

Coupons were instrumental in our donation. The Scouts collected  $443.57 in monetary donations, which we turned into $3,303.08 retail value or over two thousand pounds of food (2030.5 pounds, to be exact).

These young men really went out of their way for a second year and are an asset to their community!

Thanks so much for sharing with us again this year, Laura! I just love that you can really see the great value that couponing can offer not just to an individual family, but to the whole community!

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

Reader Spotlight – Slashing The Grocery Budget

Today’s Reader Spotlight comes to us from Theresa. Theresa thought she was spending a ‘normal’ amount on food and groceries. She was shocked when she realized that she was actually spending twice as much as her mortgage payment on groceries, dinners out, and takeout – so she decided to do something about it!

Take it away, Theresa!

I began my coupon journey six months ago in response to a crisis in our family. My husband lost his job of 15 years when his employer closed its doors. Two-thirds of our income evaporated overnight. We definitely had grown comfortable and secure with our 2 income lifestyle over the past 20 years so this was a rude financial awakening. It was scary and we needed to cut our spending asap.

About that same time I read an article that said the average family of four in America spends about $150 a week on food. I remember thinking, “well, we’re probably a little higher than that – maybe $200 a week, but nothing outrageous.” Hubby said he thought it was much higher. So, as an experiment (and to prove hubs wrong) I went back over our food purchases (we use debit card for everything) for the previous 6 months. What I found absolutely stunned me. Out of those 6 months, our lowest monthly food expenditure was $1953 and our highest was $2388!!! This was *double* our next highest monthly bill, our mortgage.

There were numerous lunches and dinners out, multiple trips to the grocery store because I only meal shopped, sushi takeout to the tune of $80-$90 several times a month. I never used coupons or paid much attention to sales. In other words, our food bill was out of control and the money to cover it was no longer there. To make matters worse, we were actually sick and tired of eating out and coming up with last minute meal ideas every day.

Enter Michelle and I Heart Publix – my lifesavers. Honestly, I was about to give up on couponing before I even began because the first “coupon” website I encountered changed my toolbar and put malware on my computer. Hubby was not happy!

Thankfully, the second coupon site I encountered was I Heart Publix and everything fell into place. I could not believe Michelle was giving us all this information (and for free!). I was a kid in a candy shop and I spent hours those first few days printing coupons. It has been a learning curve, but I really enjoy it and now I actually look forward to Monday mornings (thanks Michelle!).

My first month couponing I brought our food expenditures down to $1274. Second month was $903, then $757. Now, I easily keep our food budget to around $600 a month – a 2/3 reduction from where we were. This has literally SAVED our family.

And the benefits don’t end there – I now have the kitchen of my dreams – organized and fully stocked. Psychologically, that brings us much peace in these tight financial times. I am well on my way to a 3 month stockpile. I cook so much more and I really enjoy it. Our diet is much healthier. I meal plan so we never have to ask “what’s for dinner?” Life just runs smoother now. The chinese/japanese/pizza/italian delivery all must think we moved!

Thank you Michelle, thank you from the bottom of my heart! This is one family that sure appreciates all that you do.

Thanks for sharing your story, Theresa! Theresa is so sweet to credit me for her success – but I really think she should be giving herself that credit. I simply put the info out there…SHE is the one who did the work and made all the savings happen. I am very proud of her and what she has accomplished!

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

Reader Spotlight – From Little to Plenty

Today’s Reader Spotlight comes to us from Sarah. Sarah grew up with very little and learned that you have to work for your food. Now couponing helps to keep her pantry full!

Take it away, Sarah!

As a child I grew up in a large family with a small income. We had very little to eat at our home for many years, and I become accustomed to the fact that if you wanted to eat, you would have to help work for food in the garden. Although that time was hard for me and my family, the experience made me grateful for what I have today.

Flash forward 15 years and you will see an apartment so full of food that it is overflowing. I started couponing one year before I got married. During the years prior to couponing, I was commuting to college with a snack or no food hoping I could just skip lunch until I made it back home for dinner. I knew that eating out was expensive and I did not want to waste all my money grabbing a lunch 5 days a week because that really adds up. I could only handle that lifestyle for about a year until I caved. I wanted food, and I wanted food when I was hungry.

The next year went by and I was eating fast food every day. I got a part time minimum wage job and spent most of the checks on basically any and every fast food restaurant joint available in the area. I tried bringing larger snacks with me to school, but because I lacked creativity, resources, and time I still ended up eating out most days.

One day I came home to watch television after a tired day at work. What I found was something that piqued my curiosity and supplied me with an answer to one of my largest problems. The show of course was “Extreme Couponing” and I was hooked. I sat at the television for a few hours watching the marathon and said to myself “Hey I could do that.” Of course my head was also screaming to me you are not going to get everything for free, but my heart still wanted to try and save money because I believed that it could be worth it.

The week before I got married we moved my things into the new apartment that I would be calling home. What did those belongings consist of? Nine large 10-25 gallon tubs of food that I had collected from couponing that year. Not only did I learn to coupon, but I learned couponing so well that 2 years later I am donating food to others because it is too much for me and my husband to eat by ourselves. Although I used to shop at Kroger and Publix, I now only shop at Publix due to the fact that there is no Kroger in my area and by using the IHEARTPUBLIX website I still have plenty to eat even with only one main grocery store. I am so thankful for this site and the few other couponing sites that have helped me on my way. Thank you!

Thanks for sharing your story, Sarah! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

Reader Spotlight – Coupon Success Stories

I have a bunch of coupon success stories in my Reader Spotlight folder…so today I thought I would do something a little different. I think these four stories are a great encouragement to new couponers in particular….just stick with it and you can have your own success story

I also love that this set of spotlight highlights the fact that, while we’re all in very different circumstances, couponing is the thing that makes us all the same. No matter where you are in your couponing journey, it’s impossible not to read these stories and nod along in agreement. How cool is that?

Jennifer writes:

I started couponing after I lost my job of 12 years and began nursing school to become an RN. I was supporting my four children with my unemployment check because my ex was also unemployed. Nursing school is 24 months and I had to cut every corner I could to make it through. I was watching TV and came across… the show… Well, I was amazed. If these people could do it so could I!

I started small buying 2 or 4 papers a week and just tried to get some sales and FAILED, I was just buying things I didn’t need because I had a coupon or a sale price. I started really looking around and found your site, found your weekly sales listings and the Happy report. I committed to spending a certain budget per week and used half of my budget to stock up and half for the necessities, bread, milk, lunch foods, dinners. As each week passed the expense of my necessities went down and my stocking up budget went up. I started making shelves and spaces where I could keep my canned items and my juice boxes. I work with the grocery manager of my local store and he orders items for me so I never have to clear a shelf. It’s been awesome.

Now almost 2 years later I am still in school, managing on a tiny budget but I have some help from my fiancé. Living with my fiancé is a blessing in itself but she partners with me and helps me with my papers, my clipping, sorting, stocking and shopping. She has no problem running out to grab a deal for me and she is proud of herself when she gets home with 10 items that she paid 1 dollar for. I am completely committed to couponing and even when I get my degree and am working as an RN I will still click my weekly shopping list for I Heart Publix and cut my coupons….I just need to make sure I have Thursday mornings off!

Leah writes:

I have been couponing for about 3 years now. After finding your blog, I have started saving more money than ever! I now have a stockpile that is still growing, but can last my family for about 2 months. My husband works for a very small roofing/construction company. There are weeks/months that are REALLY good, then weeks/months that we may get lucky to have a paycheck. I’m a stay at home mom, so living on one income is hard at times.

Couponing has made it possible for me to be a stay home mom, for us not to stress so much when times are tough (AT LEAST BILLS ARE PAID AND FOOD IN THE PANTRY!!!!), and has fixed my shopping addiction. I used to go shopping (for clothes or anything) and not care about the price. Now, I’m a smart shopper no matter what I’m buying. I never ever want to pay full price for anything again . Now, I go in looking for the deals!

Couponing is just not a phase that I’m going through in my life at 22, its a way of life for me. I’ve realized I can save money (lots!) and still live happy and comfortable! Our next goal is to be DEBT free of all our college loans….couponing will one day allow me to accomplish that!

Cindy writes:

I have been couponing for about 2 years. It has taken me awhile to get going on couponing, but I now save from 50 to 75% each time I go shopping. My daughter and her two sons stay with me and they all have been giving me the “you are coupon crazy” because I do my shopping by what is on sale.

One day I took my daughter and one of my grandsons shopping with me…and were they surprised when we went to check out an I saved over $100 on my groceries by using coupons! When the total come up even after all of the coupons came off they were like “WOW”. They couldn”t get over how much money I had saved using my coupons. We got home and they were happy to see all the groceries we were able to get for so little. I live on a fixed income so learning how to coupon has really saved me alot, not just on groceries but on everything. I just love my coupons !!!!!!

Ramona writes:

I have been couponing for two years. It started when my husband and I got pregnant with twins (we already had three children); making our household count 7!! I had to step down from a salaried management position because daycare was too expensive and we had no family near us. We made the decision for me to work nights and weekends, but it really hit us hard financially.

I began to look into everything I could to cut our costs. It wasn’t until I began watching “Extreme Couponing” that I realized maybe I can try couponing myself; the grocery bill was one of the most expensive things in our budget. I started looking into some websites and my couponing venture began. I saved roughly 25%-30% weekly, and I was happy with that. One day I stumbled upon I Heart Publix and my grocery bill has never been the same.

I now save at least 50% or more weekly! Most of the time it’s more…tee-hee. I’m not extreme, I get what my family needs and will use. I try not to clear shelves, but sometimes it’s inevitable. I don’t have to work full time again (if I choose), and our finances and pantry have never been in better shape!

Thanks for sharing your stories, Jennifer, Leah, Cindy, and Ramona! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

Reader Spotlight – Couponing Kapow

Today’s Reader Spotlight comes to us from Joceline. I just loved her story and I bet you guys will too!

How could a square piece of paper covered in complicated restrictions actually heal a person?

Let me take you on a journey. Come along with me to a place in which life wasn’t so sunny and vibrant. The world was one giant mistake. Okay, stop right here. Feels miserable, doesn’t it? I started here too. Even though I am young, I’ve done a lot and I have a lot to look forward to…I didn’t see it. I knew I needed to find something that I liked to do. I rarely felt compelled to finish what I started. I liked to shop, but always felt that I overspent, which made me feel guilty. Then, I saw the lady.

This lady was ahead of me in line at Publix. She had 10 of the iconic orange boxes of rice. The cashier looked as happy to be there… as a child waiting on a lecture. The cashier told the lady her total. Kapow! The lady whipped out 5 or 6 coupons. She waited patiently. Then, she was rung up, with a minimal balance. Finally, she walked away. I never saw her again. The point was that lady was so cool, man. Wow. Kapow! No, the real point was I want to do that. I wanted to be that lady. In just the few minutes of watching her, she exuded so much confidence, but in a quiet polite manner. She wasn’t there trying to please the cashier because she felt sorry for her coupons or for existing. She did what she wanted to do and was on to more important things like spending time with her family…eating rice.

So, I started couponing. I tried a couple of sites. They were great but (shameless brag) I love the specificity, activity, and correctness of ‘I Heart Publix’. Yes, I was one of the people that thought, “Pft! Publix would the last place on Earth I would shop for a deal!” Boy was I wrong. First, I noticed the BOGO deals and stocked up on items my son and I really enjoyed. Then, I started slamming the coupons. Manufacturer. Kapow! Store. Kapow! Even though I started in late September, I have already learned so much from coupons and about myself.

I learned what I really like and I don’t like. I know that sounds silly, but when you have a lot of stress, you don’t allow yourself to enjoy fancy things or to pass off cheap ‘that will do for now’ items. I learned how to deal with difficult people. I knew I was good at keeping quiet, but patient? Oh, that was another story. I learned to deal with all sorts of people, from scared cashiers to impatient customers stuck in line behind me. I realized that I have choices. I can ignore and remain calm (I don’t have to please everyone I meet). Do something small, but nice make a joke, apologize, offer another person in line to cut ahead (but don’t bend over backwards).

Another big thing I learned was: it is okay to make a mistake as the world won’t come to a screeching halt. I think couponing is one of the few hobbies in which you cannot end up mortally wounded over a mistake. You forgot a coupon. You had match up mishap. They ran out the free napkins! How am I going to survive!? Well….you still had a good haul right? You still got what you needed and you really wanted? You can always return a mistake item next time. Are you really going to complain over 50 cents or 2 dollars in the grand scheme of your yearly take home pay? Next time, double check your coupons before heading to the cashier. Next time, copy and paste the needed coupons on the list and take it with you. Next time, calculate your out of pocket expense before you hit the register. There will always be a next time….because for once in your life you didn’t actually quit on something you really love to do.

I can actually say I love couponing and I love my new found self confidence. I accept those compliments from people at the store, when I pay 20 dollars for 60 or 70 dollars worth of groceries. I feel ok with telling people where they can start couponing, even though I make mistakes. I feel better after a little chat with nice strangers I bump into or block in those cramped aisles. My son actually likes to go shopping now. Well, because of the free samples, but also because he likes nag me about what is or isn’t on sale. “Let’s go, mom! You don’t need it.” You are right my little man. You are right.

Thanks for sharing your story, Joceline! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

Reader Spotlight – Saving Time As Well As Money

Today’s Reader Spotlight comes to us from Odalys, who learned that her time was just as valuable as all those deals out there. Take it away, Odalys!

I have been using coupons since I got married in 1998, not so much out of need but because I thought it was the grown up thing to do! Fast forward to 2005 when I was pregnant with our first child and on medical bedrest, and my husband tells me that he is going back to school full time to get his masters degree. That’s when I joined BJ’s wholesale club, feeling it would be our best savings. Two years later in 2007, when my husband graduated with his masters, we found out we were pregnant with twins. A blessing, of course, but a scary financial prospect. Our money was stretched thin. BJ’s was okay, but I felt we needed more. We cut down on everything: no eating out or fast food, movie rentals instead of movie night out, no vacations, no extravagances. Not much fun.

Then in 2010, I saw the first episode of TLC’s Extreme Couponing. Enter my obsession.

I used to spend about 4 hours A DAY reading all the blogs for every store, printing every coupon, cutting every coupon and shopping about 4 to 5 times a week, trying to catch every deal at every store. I think I did this for about a year. Then in Summer 2012, as I was about to walk out the door to Publix while my family was having dinner, my 6 year old daughter asked me where I was off to. Before I could answer, one of my 4 year old twins cried out, “she always goes to Publix!” All three kids started crying. Then and I there I decided to change. Getting all the deals wasn’t worth looking at my babies sad eyes as I left them with daddy yet again.

Now, I use the whole insert method. I barely glance at the coupons on Sundays, other than to check when the last coupon expires. I use the shopping list from I Heart Publix on Thursdays, usually only the Super Deals and Advantage Buy flyers. Thursday nights is pizza night so that I don’t have to cook in order to clip coupons, and organize them in $30 or $50 increments (or as needed due to coupon requirements). Fridays I shop, usually only one store, at maximum 3. Oh, and I haven’t set foot inside of BJ’s in over a year. What used to take me 20 hours is now down to about 2 hours. So basically I couponed my time! Best investment ever!

Thanks for sharing your story, Odalys! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

Reader Spotlight – Retirement With Help From Coupons

Today’s Reader Spotlight comes to us from Renae, who just retired in part because couponing keeps her monthly expenses so low.

Take it away, Renae!

I  never thought I’d be writing a “how couponing saved my family” but here I am.  My life was going along swimmingly – husband had a successful plumbing business and I been a postal worker for long as I can remember.  No children but three dogs we adored.  I used to get off work several times a week and go to Walmart and throw items in the cart, use a few coupons I cut from the Sunday paper and spend several hundred dollars and think that was  “normal.”

Flash forward to a few years ago. When the economy took a downturn, so did my husband’s business.  Now all of a sudden we were living on my income.  While I do consider us extremely lucky that we were never in danger of losing our home, it was becoming impossible to make ends meet. There was literally no money left for groceries after paying the house note, utilities, insurance, etc.  My precious little dogs who ate organic and natural dog foods were now getting used to Ol Roy and Alpo.  I’m telling you EVERYONE’s standard of living changed.  I knew I had to do something!!

I wish I could remember the exact moment I discovered I Heart Publix.  I know I had been searching for couponing online and found my way there.  At first I didn’t understand.  People were actually saving money and getting groceries at Publix…the nicest but most expensive grocery store around.  How could that be?

I think my first time on the website I spent hours just reading page after page.   Then slowly but surely I begin to comprehend the concept – BOGOs, doubling, competitor coupons, using more than one coupon per item, $5.00 off $30 purchase…. EUREKA  – I understood.

I remember my first visit I was rather intimidated. What if I did something wrong?  What if I embarrassed myself?  I think I saved $15.00 my first trip. I was so excited. I originally started with my coupons in an envelope, then one of those small pocket size coupon holders from the dollar store… and now today I carry the coupon “suitcase” (as my mother calls it).  I always save at least 60 percent but usually in the 80-98 percentile range. Although I try not to get “paid” to take groceries out of the store I have miscalculated and made money a few times. (I usually try to just absorb overage in other groceries).

I also have made some wonderful friends at my local Publix store. If I’m not there on a certain day they inquire why. If I’m there on a Wednesday and buying my mom’s groceries they give me the senior discount.   They are so great to order anything I might want and write a raincheck for something they don’t have. I do not think there is a finer grocery store in business today.   I also caught onto the rolling ECBs at CVS and haven’t paid for shampoo, vitamins, makeup, toothpaste, etc., in years.

The Postal Service recently offered an “early retirement” opportunity for some of its employees.  In looking at this opportunity and trying to see I could take it, I made a list of our monthly expenses.  Groceries were not even a consideration. Even though my husband is still not working steadily, I did take the retirement offer and in January of this year I retired at the age of 49.  I am having a blast!!  The first thing I did was to get my stockpile organized.

I really don’t think I could do this week in and week out if it were not for the fabulous Michelle, Happy and all the dedicated people on this site who are so quick to share a good deal or a great coupon.  You all rock!!

Thanks for sharing your story, Renae! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

Reader Spotlight – It All Started With A Text

Today’s Reader Spotlight comes to us from Mary, who is doing a lot with a little in her community. Take it away, Mary!

My coupon way of life started a week before Mother’s Day in 2011…the day I got fired from my job!! I was having a normal day at work and nothing out of the ordinary happened all day, until I got home and received A TEXT, yes, I said text, informing that my services were no longer required.

That text couldn’t have come in at a worse time either….in this economy, most families require at least two incomes, mine included. So, I decided to do what any other grown woman/wife/mom would do in this situation… I grabbed my large tub of Ben N Jerry’s, crawled into bed, turned on my T.V. and proceed to dwell on my future financial insecurities all while sitting on my pity potty trying to console my pride with extra chocolate sprinkles! Luckily, I had an extra large bottle of sprinkles!!

While I’m shoving ice cream down my throat and onto my hips and wallowing in self pity, I’m still managing to change the channels on the T.V.( I’m even multitaskful at my low points…lol)…and there it was…THE SHOW…..”Extreme Couponing” on TLC.

I sat and watched, and watched, AND WATCHED…..(it just happened to be a marathon of that show…lucky me!)….the more I watched, the angrier I got! After about 3 hours of tormenting myself with the show, I made a decision……I PROMISE I WILL NEVER PAY FULL PRICE ON ANYTHING EVER AGAIN!

I got out of bed and started researching how to coupon, couponing 101, etc. There were so many sites and it was somewhat mind boggling. I was already very intimidated by the information that was out there, but I couldn’t give up because of fear. Besides, I’d only been on the computer for about 4 minutes at the most…that would have been a record breaker for promises broken!

After doing some research for a few days, I decided to go out into the world and spread my coupon wings. What I didn’t realize was, a bird needs to break out of its shell before spreading its wings. Needless to say I had a very bad day, but it was also VERY informational and educational. My first day couponing gave me so much incredible information about all the mistakes I made. For example, always bring the store policy with you (most employees, including managers don’t know their policies), and don’t bring your husband and/or mother in law with you (What was I thinking!?) I still live by these two rules!

All in all, after a few months of learning, making mistakes, licking my wounds (by eating ice cream), and starting again, I started to notice that I made fewer and fewer mistakes, paid less and less money out of pocket and came home more and more with a smile filled with self-esteem again. My back straightened and my head was held a little higher. I was starting to provide for my family again in a very unique way!

I live in a very close, tight knit town called the Florida Keys where everyone knows everyone. People in my town started hearing about what I was doing and how I was able to buy things for nearly nothing. One person in particular, who just happens to be one our Publix general managers came up to me one day and asked me what I do with all this “stuff”….I replied by telling her that most of the stuff is given away to friends and other people that may need it. She gave me a few phone numbers of people I might be interested in calling to help out charities…one number was for “Keys United Way”!

To make a long story short, after months of trial and errors, today, not only do I keep my own house full of food, I take care of 6 other families AND fill one of our churchs’ food pantry for their soup kitchen. Thanks to websites like  I Heart Publix, I’ve not only learned the tools and skills that are needed to do this, I save on average $2000 A WEEK! So, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU I Heart Publix! All the work that you all put into your website helps people like me make a difference!

Thanks for sharing your story, Mary! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so pretty please with a cherry on top…please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

This is one of my favorite features on the site! Be sure and check out all the past Reader Spotlights HERE.

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