Jill Cataldo


Nationally-syndicated money-saving columnist
Blogger, workshop instructor & savings enthusiast
Read by more than 20 million people each week

Smart ways to save on shopping, home, travel and living well!

Jill’s shared her savings methods with:

General Mills and Shrek Giveaway!

By:

CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED! The winner is NewTogs.

General Mills is celebrating the May 21st release of “Shrek Forever After,” the final chapter of the Shrek films. This time, I’m giving away a “Shrek-Tacular Savings Prize Pack, which includes…

A Shrek-tacular tote bag filled with:

  • General Mills “Big G” cereals
  • Fruit Roll-Ups Minis
  • Betty Crocker baking mix
  • Shrek water squirter
  • Shrek highlighter
  • A $10 Shrek-tacular Savings coupon book
  • A $25 gift card that you can use to purchase tickets to see the new “Shrek Forever After” film

Participants entered by replying to this post in the comments section with a note including how they’re saving lots of “green” with coupons! Entries were funny, smart, serious, and irreverent.

Without further ado, our winner is NewToQs, and here’s her story:

Shrek is a member of my family
Submitted by newtoqs on Wed, 05/05/2010 – 01:23.

When my husband and I were newlyweds of five months business sent me to Denver – on Sept. 10th 2001. Needless to say the world literally fell apart the next day. I had no idea how I was going to get home. The manager of my Denver office offered to drive me to Omaha, the halfway point to Chicago. My husband met me there. After an emotional reunion, due to the circumstances, we settled into our hotel room and rented Shrek off of the pay-per-view because we needed some comic relief. I will never forget that night because 9 months later my son was born. A year after that my husband became very ill. He spent a year in the hospital and lost his job. It has been a long road back. He is still not working and I had found (I thought) every way to stretch every penny. Then six months ago I found Jill and super-couponing. I now shop smarter and can afford the “luxuries” of namebrand products that I thought were going to be beyond us for awhile yet. I have even donated to the local food pantry. We own all the Shrek movies and this one is top on our list. Shrek helped to keep me sane back then and Jill does that now.

Congratulations to our winner, and thank you to ALL who entered! I enjoyed reading every single one of your posts! :)

This giveaway was sponsored by General Mills to celebrate the release of “Shrek Forever After.” You can visit the Shrek-Tacular Savings site to watch the movie trailer and print coupons for General Mills products. Product, program information and prize packs are being provided from General Mills through MyBlogSpark. I have received a Shrektacular Savings Prize Pack, as well as information to help promote this program..

This giveaway began May 5th, 2010 and ran for one week, ending May 11th, 2010 at 11:59pm, CST.

Comments

  1. I think this would be awesome for my son – he loves Shrek!

    My hubby is finally getting on board with the coupon thing because we realized that this month we will be able to buy a bed for our second bedroom! YAY! guests will have a real bed to sleep in :o)

    My son and I have had fun getting the clearanced toys, free toothbrushes and toothpaste and so on to put in out operation christmas child boxes. We already have three boxes started and if things keep going the way they have, we will have plenty more by the time christmas boxes are collected in November :o)

    Oh, and my son and I got to make our first ever trip to the food pantry – I really want him to enjoy the spirit of giving to others when ever possible and I know we wouldn’t be able to do this without super-couponing!

    Thanks for all you do Jill!

  2. With only two weeks of couponing under my belt I may not be the most “accomplished” couponer, but I am certainly addicted! I think one of my favorite things is seeing the percentage saved after a purchase. It’s hard to beat 99%! Now thats saving some green!

  3. My family would love to win this giveaway…we love the Shrek movies and love couponing. I am about 6 weeks into my couponing and I already have the family saying “Do we have a coupon for that?” We even went out for dinner last week and my son said with a shocked tone…”Mom!!! We don’t have a coupon.” Thank you so much for helping a family that truely benefits from your coupon tips. Thanks! and Happy Shrek!

  4. Couponing has changed my whole perspective of money. I have learned to value every cent. I find joy in giving and I can give so much more now to my church preschool and local pantry and my kids have gotten into it and give me coupons whenever they see or find them. It is really cute. The nice thing is, when money is tight I can live off my cereal or oatmeal stash! I have had so much support from my family and friends and sometimes people behind me in line :-) It really has changed me for the better.

  5. When my husband and I were newlyweds of five months business sent me to Denver – on Sept. 10th 2001. Needless to say the world literally fell apart the next day. I had no idea how I was going to get home. The manager of my Denver office offered to drive me to Omaha, the halfway point to Chicago. My husband met me there. After an emotional reunion, due to the circumstances, we settled into our hotel room and rented Shrek off of the pay-per-view because we needed some comic relief. I will never forget that night because 9 months later my son was born. A year after that my husband became very ill. He spent a year in the hospital and lost his job. It has been a long road back. He is still not working and I had found (I thought) every way to stretch every penny. Then six months ago I found Jill and super-couponing. I now shop smarter and can afford the “luxuries” of namebrand products that I thought were going to be beyond us for awhile yet. I have even donated to the local food pantry. We own all the Shrek movies and this one is top on our list. Shrek helped to keep me sane back then and Jill does that now.

  6. I’ve been supercouponing for a year now and have saved enough green to take my hubby to Mexico for his 40th! Can I get a Woot?! It’s the two of us, so we won’t be watching any Shrek for 5 days…ha! But I know my kids would love this prize!

  7. While I love saving money, couponing also fulfills the competitive part of my personality. When I walk into the grocery store armed with my little coupon folder, I feel like I just entered the playing field. I weave in and out of the aisles, making plays and dodging overpriced unnecessaries. When I get to the checkout and she finally starts inputting my 16 coupons, at the end I pay $.87. Goal! The crowd (in my head) goes wild. I put my loot in the car and drive home, calculating my win in my head. I walk through the door and pump my fists in the air, and replay my big win for whoever will listen. Finally, I go up to my computer and add my savings score to my spreadsheet. Game over.

    I have never played a sport or had a hobby that makes me feel so in control. So powerful. I even get this rush of adrenaline at the checkout. I know its a little crazy, but it’s that fun for me. While couponing has saved my family and I a lot of money, it has also given me a hobby that makes me feel good about myself.

  8. Gotta tell ya – with the hundreds of shades of green ~ there are just as many coupon-saving deals out there. It truly amazes me – again, and again, and again! Thanks a hundred shades of green :)

  9. Part of the fun for me is the organization of it all. I like making all my lists and clipping all the coupons. When I first started, I spent way too much time with this. But, now that I am used to the process, I can sit down once a week and print all the coupons I need as well as clip the others in less than an hour. It has been so worth it to me AND as an added bonus, I have not had to shop at Walmart in a really long time.

  10. Since I attended your class last October, I have stockpiled a LOT of food, medicine, toiletries, and cleaners! My 23 year old son was teaching in Port-au-Prince, Haiti this past school year which was unexpectedly cut short in January due to the earthquake. He is back here in Joliet, and my super-couponing has allowed him to still live with his buddies without having a job. I have also been able to help two families from church that are dealing with unemployment and send items to our church’s food pantry once a month. I feel blessed to take my limited resources and increase them exponentially to help not only my family but others. THANK YOU! You are making a difference in so many people’s lives. As for Shrek…my 7 year old daughter would LOVE to see the movie!!

  11. A month ago my friend found out he has 3 blockages, he needs to change his eating habits, excercise more, etc. His daughter who does the couponing told us about it, and sent us to Jill’s site. In the last month we have already saved on average 69%!! We are eating healthier, and he is excercising more, he helps look for all the deals in the store! Tomorrow he goes in to have 2 of the blockages fixed. I lost my job about 7 months ago, and he is helping me raise 2 of my grandchildren. Other than my unemployment, I have no other income, so things have been really tight. But thanks to his daughter helping us get started with this, sending us to Jill’s site, and all the helpful hints and sceneros from each and every member here, things are looking up. We have also saved enough that we have been able to help a few of our friends.

  12. I started super couponing because I bumped into a bunch of coworkers in the copy room talking about how much they were saving and these things called “deals”. I knew how much we’d been spending on groceries. It wasn’t uncommon for me to spend $400+ a trip for our large family. So, with the advice of a friend who said to check out jillcataldo.com, I jumped in. I’ve only been at it 5 weeks, but I’m loving the results. So far… I’ve saved an average of 43% on EVERYTHING I’ve bought for the last month. Totally worth the time that I put in. So grateful for this site!! THANK YOU!!!!

  13. For many years, I’ve struggled to pinch pennies wherever I could so that I could counterbalance my husband’s spending habits. I was so frustrated because I knew I had it in me to lower our grocery/household goods costs…I had just accepted that the only way was to buy generics at supercenters. I had long-since stopped shopping at Jewel/Dominick’s. Now, after supercouponing for only 2 months, with Jill’s class, this website (and all of the VERY helpful posters), and a slight obsession with printing coupons — Jill’s proven me right that I CAN do it!

    It would be nice to take all the “green” we’re saving and tuck it away for some greater purpose such as a vacation, kids’ college, an emergency stash. At this point I can’t, so I’m happy to just have a little breathing room in the weekly budget. And I’m excited at the prospect of giving to the pantries; something I’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t have the resources.

    For a long time, I considered myself to be “cheap.” But that’s such a negative connotation, that I changed my mindset to “frugal.” Now, my definition is “wise!”
    I biggest regret is not having taken the Super Couponing course about a year ago when I first saw it on the LITH billboard on Randall Rd.

  14. Remember Kermit the Frog singing how it’s NOT easy being green? Well, he obviously never met Jill Cataldo!! I love saving money!! My husband accuses me of being obsessed, but I don’t care =) He doesn’t seem to mind that “my obsession” has allowed us to “shop” out of our basement pantry or to eat out if we choose or to be able to write those checks for our children’s extra curriculars without panic attacks. It’s that crazy high you get when you’ve just accomplished the deal of the day! Some people choose booze or cigarettes, my drug of choice is SUPER COUPONING!!

  17. My kids would love this! We all quote so many of the lines from these movies, they are hilarious. But besides that, I am very grateful to Jill for all the information I learned and continue to learn from this site and from having attended the classes. We have not only saved a ton of money, but I also, like others on here, feel empowered by this experience. It’s such a rush to walk out of a store with bags of things for close to nothing OOP. My jaw drops everytime I’m in line at the store and someone in front of me will spend $100- and up on groceries. Incidentally, I have also become a math genius from couponing. It was my worst subject in school and now I always have “coupon calculations” running through my brain, LOL.
    Thanks a million Jill for all your effort and time!

  18. I have been super couponing for about a year and love it! It has really saved me A LOT of money. I have a nice stockpile that lets me help family memebers and food pantries. Thanks Jill!

  19. Jill and couponing has been so important to our family. When my husband lost his job, it was supercouponing that put food on the table. Thanks to this site we had 4 full bellies with nutritious food. Thank you Jill!!!

    Our whole family loves the Shrek movies. They are perfect for the young to the old to enjoy together as a family. We would love to win this prize. 4 smiling faces and 4 full bellies…what could be better. :)

    -Thankful Mom, Roselle, IL

  20. It all started with a class at the library. Now I am crazy for super couponing! That one class has changed my life – and my shopping habits! Thank you so much for teaching that class and posting all your great finds each week.

  21. In 2008, my husband and I decided to model our budget after Dave Ramsey. This meant that I was going to be paying cash for EVERYTHING. Once the grocery $ was gone…it was gone. A year after that decision I gave birth to my 4th child. I was wondering how I was going to stretch the grocery budget to include diapers and the like again. Well, after attending the Super Couponing Class that was no problem. I have a closet full of diapers, a pantry overflowing with food, a freezer stuffed, and plenty of leftover “green” in my grocery envelope. My husband and kids get excited to see how much I save when I shop. In fact, my husband is even into the lingo…catalina, rolling, black belt deal…cracks me up! Thanks so much, Jill! :)

  22. I have attended both of your Super Couponing classes and am really trying to save, save, save since our 2 youngest are in diapers. My oldest, though, has decided that if it’s on sale we need it. :) We will walk through the store while I grab the items that match my sale and coupon list, while she goes through and looks for any bright tags on items and yells “Look Ma, it’s on sale! We need it!” She doesn’t even know what some of the items are at times, but she thinks we need it. :) I haven’t decided if I’ve created a monster….or a helper!

  23. Our family cannot express our thanks enough for the helpful hints and tips your website and classes have provided to our expanding family. There is no greater high then the beeping of coupons at the end of our grocery shopping trips, which leave my husband speechless and ecstatic! We have “gone green” in many ways, but super couponing is certainly the best by far. From my little ogres to you and yours, thanks again! You truly are “shrek-tacular”!

  24. Jill-Tacular – My Dad (RIP) taught me about coupons, way back when…And as a kid I thought it was a waste of time…but wow, was I WRONG – whenever I use coupons today I think of my Dad and now YOU have takin it to a whole new level. And that’s why you are Jill-Tacular

  25. Just new to couponing, but I feel like its an onion just like Shrek and full of layers I have yet to discover! And, I do love the extra green in my wallet after a successful coupon trip!
    Thanks to Jill!

  26. I’m new to the Super Couponing idea, but have always used coupons and watched sales. The green I’m saving with this new method is making friends “green” with envy!

  27. Wow, I can shop at name brand stores for name brand products and still save money. I have saved so much over that last several months that I now have extra cash to splurge on “extras” that we always wanted!

  28. Although I am not an ogre, I do have a baby donkey named Daisy with a sparkling personality. Her mother’s name is Loreal.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/8743032@N02/4581995272/

    I guess I would say that what Jill is doing is positive thing for a lot of people in a tough economic situation. Whether it’s helping food pantries or helping families reduce their spending on food, it’s great to finally have something that seems too good to be true be true.

    I started about 6 weeks ago and my spreadsheet of savings is hovering around 85%. After working for Jewel for a short time I finally feel like I win when I go into the store. Thanks Jill!

  29. I am so excited about this coupon thing… I am a rookie, just started yesterday and I feel like its a drug lol… i went to CVS yesterday and got 4 bottles of 16oz body wash for free!!! I couldnt believe how easy that was … I so excited about rethinking the way I shop that my family thinks I have gone coo-coo in a day… i told them we have to be good stewarts of the cash that we are blessed with… with so many people out of work and having it hard… i am gonna stretch that dollar so far and help alot of people…. I am going back today to get 4 more free bottles :)
    Thanks …

  30. To quote Shrek yelling at Donkey “STOP SINGING” Donkey says ” Well can I hummmmmm?” That’s me and my family. Singing all the way to the store. I hum while looking for those deals and as I’m walking out with my cart of cheap groceries. Hmmmmm Hmmmmmm hmmmmm. We would love to win. Shrek movies are a favorite of ours since we can all watch. Thanks to Jill we have TONS of O.R. popcorn to eat while watching our collection.

  31. You know you’ve got the coupon bug when . . .
    *You’ve had at least one instance that you have felt like the “crazy coupon” lady/or man at your local Jewel :).
    *You can identify another “coupon” shopper by what’s in their cart.
    *Instead of getting a high from drugs, you get your high from waiting and watching for the Catalinas to come out of the machine.
    *You’re child says loudly as your walking up to the line, “we’re getting all this for free?” and you turn around and tell them “shhhh”.

    Thanks for all the great deals-my kids are definitely enjoying them!!!!

  32. I used to think that I was an expert at couponing. I would clip the coupons, watch for the deals and save some money. I recently found out that I am not even related to the the Princess’s cousins step sister brother. I am so excited to have this knowledge and be able to use it for the good. It has only been a few weeks, but already I have seen the savings. I have people now calling ME up on Sunday to say what’s the good deal or did you see that deal. Jill, you are the COUPON QUEEN and I thank you for all your hard work and wisdom!

  33. Hi Everybody!!

    It’s been only 3 weeks for me – On Monday 5-3, I went to Jewel and brought home $123.00 of groceries and spent $43.00!

    I have had the misfortune of being laid off due to lack of work and this has been the one instrumental source that has helped me cut back on my expenses!

    So, I have started to TRACK my savings based on my receipts.

    but… I really want the ice cream, so If I buy the cereal.. I have $5.00 CAT and $3.00 in coupons, it will cost me $3.00 (plus tax) and I will get back $7.00 cat to use on the ice cream – that combined with the $4.00 coupon I have leads me down the road of paying $1.00 for the ice cream (which was my goal, by the way – and met in 3 weeks!) but… the P&G laundry detergent promo ends today and I have the $3.00 coupon for Tide and $2.00 for Downy that can be added with the $4.00cat from the ice cream…. I will pay $11.00 plus tax and get back $5.00 cat for next week…

    BUT WAIT – There’s more !

    The Jewel flyer just came… and I’m making my list…

    my daughter is standing in front of the door going NO Mom, NO… I can’t eat all this food! I dont’ want anymore Ice Cream, we have so much food – how are we going to eat it all?

    Can we do something together? Let’s go to a movie? Just DON’T go to Jewel!

    So, I pulled out my swifty reciept from Monday’s P&G purchase and the receipt from my Capri-sun purchase and said… okay.. I have 7 free movie rentals at REDBOX.. what would you like to see, honey?

    She rolled her eyes.

    Quality time with your teenager, with OUT cooking for under $20 bucks.

    Seriously, ladies… I would LOVE to see a link somewhere in ‘my account’ that allows for the capability of having a

    “Shrek-Tacular” time “Shrek-TRACKing” our individual savings from week to week!

    Thanks Jill!!

    ps.. I think I need a freezer :/

  34. My husband and I bought a house about two years ago. It was perfect except for the ugly kitchen. I did a little painting to make it livable since a kitchen remodel is so pricey and we wouldn’t be able to do one. I’ve saved so much money using Jill’s methods that I’ve saved enough for a brand new kitchen! I can’t wait for the new cabinets, granite countertops, new sink, etc.

    My savings not only come from lower grocery bills, but from a new perspective that Jill gave me. When I can get a bag of high-end coffee for a few dollars at the Jewel, the idea of paying $4 for a single latte is out of the question. So I don’t buy those sorts of things anymore. Those savings coupled with lowered grocery bills have got my “kitchen fund” to the point where we finally had enough to redo the kitchen.

    Thanks, Jill!

  35. Before I was introduced to Jill’s couponing ways I never knew I could get so much for free. One of the many things I don’t pay for any longer is razors and shaving cream. My husband reminds me that then isn’t any reason why I have stubble. I have so many razors I could even give Donkey a clean shave. All joking as side, this new way of shopping has let me share my wealth with others. I love to give to those in need. Thanks, Jill.

  36. For some odd reason, I never enter these contests…but our family LOVES Shrek and I thought WHY NOT!!! First of all, I love how this site has changed my life! As a stay at home mom to 3 kiddos (5, almost3, and 8 months, I always felt like I could do more to help my family! I was always looking for some other ways to MAKE more money! Then my sister in law introduced me to super-couponing and, of course, I fell in love, haha! And I have found that finding ways to SAVE more money is almost more beneficial than MAKING more money. Jill, you have given me a sense of worth and accomplishment within myself! I know my job, as a stay at home mom, is VERY important! But now I have the feeling of helping out financially as well!!! Thank you for all you do and GOD BLESS:)

  37. When I first started Super Couponing, I was GREEN with envy hearing all of the great deals the more experience couponers were getting. Then after a while, I got the hang of it and started getting those same great deals. It was then that I became GREEN around the gills when I would see someone paying full price at the grocery store.

    My shopping bags have gone GREEN too, no longer am I bringing home countless plastic bags, I have reusable bags that I have gotten free thanks to Jill. I love to garden and my GREEN thumb has gotten in on the couponing action too! Last year I planted eight new rose bushes that I got for free with a rebate, and this week I bought $40 worth of new GREEN plants and flowers at Jewel, paid for not with GREENbacks from my wallet, but Catalinas!

    Not that all GREEN is good…LOL…my family may never forgive me for making them endure a month’s worth of Marcal 100% recycled toilet paper just because it was free with coupon. :0)

    The best part of all this GREEN shopping? All the other colors…. There’s no more RED in the budget from paying full price for the things we need. There’s the YELLOW from bringing a little sunshine to those in need by donating to food pantries and family members who are struggling. No more bill paying BLUES…with all the money we’re saving it makes paying everything else much easier. And of course…those beautiful WHITE pieces of paper we lovingly call Catalinas!!

    Thanks for bringing out the rainbows Jill!

  38. Hi Jill,

    I recently started super couponing and boy, has it been a money saver but even better, a life saver!!!

    I have always wanted to be the person with my own grocery bag and shopping all “green” like but honestly the budget that I am on just did not allow for it!! I still looked at ingredients and labels but I was the person that always looked over at the other customer’s cart and said, “wow she can buy yogurt,Silk milk and all this organic stuff and fit it in that little cloth bag!Haha”
    Thanks to your methods of smart shopping, I have been able to not only cut my grocery bill drastically, I also have improved the overall health of my family. My son is lactose intolerant and I was breast feeding him and boy, I had to watch everything I ate and drank! As a Latina, all our foods contain some dairy some way or another! Coupons saved my newborn’s life! I’m very very happy with being able to buy items like 7th generation cleaner and detergent because he is also allergic to those things! If he was born before I learned to super coupon, this shopping list would have taken us to foreclosure, now super couponing saved our family! Thank you a ton for the wonderful tips for “green and healthy”!

    Sincerely,

    Silvia Vega

  39. We are savings lots of “green” THANKS A BUNCH, Jill! Your approach and “coaching” made it simple to follow and understand. Going from a 2 income family to a 1 income family – this savings has helped a heap! Thanks again!

  40. Hi! I took your beginner class a few months back. I learned so much about the power of couponing. While I used coupons before, I never realized how much green I was missing out on. Every time I shop, I get smarter and save a little more. WHile I have yet to get my entire trip for next to nothing… this is a goal of mine :-)

    I need to take your class again as there was so much info to absorb and I am sure I can learn more. I also have friends who also want to come along!

    Thanks Jill. You ROCK!

  41. My daughter has nicknamed me LMC, little miss coupon!

    I have tried unsucessfully for several months to stick to a $100/week budget that would pay for groceries, gas, diapers, haircuts etc…to try to make ends meet. I was completely frustrated and told my husband it couldn’t be done. A few weeks ago I saw you on TV and was captivated! I went to your website and I was hooked :-) What a rush getting such great deals week after week.
    My freezer is full, my pantry is full, I have back up Pull-Ups and $10.00 left over for the week. Did I mention that we just hosted a birthday party for my youngest daughter? Yep, all paid for with money to spare. THANK YOU!

  42. Just took your class in Algonquin last week. I was one of those shoppers who thought that shopping exclusively at Walmart was the best way to save money. I’ve seen the light and am loving the money I’m saving by following your couponing tips! Thanks!

  43. Jill has changed the way I shop. I have really reduced my grocery bill, and speaking of green, my latest great find was energy efficient light bulbs at next to nothing.

  44. By saving money, we have some wiggle room in the budget and my DH and I can have a fancy date-night out together.

    Thanks Jill!

  45. Thanks to the recent C.H.I.L.L. deal and multiple ConAgra Catalinas (and with the help of some Save-a-Lot coupons with generous print limits), much of our freezer is now a wall of green-boxed Healthy Choice dinners, and the pantry is stacked full of those green Healthy Choice soup cans and SmartPop pocorn boxes!

    Only problem is that eating too many of those greens at once can hit you back with some rather ogreish aftereffects!

  46. I am new to this and I have only just begun this week. Already I cannot believe the savings I’ve seen. I am so excited and am finding myself addicted to this saving venture. I have told many of my friends about this wonderful super couponing and they too are joining in on saving the green! Thank you!

  47. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF WORK FOR 2 AND 1/2 YEARS NOW AND I KNEW WE HAD TO DO SOEMTHING TO CHANGE OUR EXPENSES OTHERWISE WE WOULD RISK LOOSING OUR HOME, OUR VEHICLES, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. EVEN AS A WELL EDUCATED SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER MY INCOME JUST WASN’T ENOUGH. I WENT TO A WORKSHOP OVER A YEAR AGO AND JILL’S ADVICE AND GUIDANCE SAVED MY FAMILY $300-400 A MONTH…ENOUGH TO MAKE A HUGE DENT IN OUR MOONTHLY EXPEDITURES….I AM SO GRATFUL AND HAVE TOLD EVERYONE I KNOW ABOUT JILL! THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO FROM THOSE OF US WHO NEED IT MORE THEN JUST TO SAVE SOME MONEY BUT FOR SURVIVAL!!!

  48. Me and my family are currently Mom’s only working, almost all of our husbands are not working right now because of the economy. We all got together and learned through your seminars and your website how to shop smart!!! Now we all have mini marts in our homes and save thousands of dollars on our groceries which helps us all take care of our families and we are greatly appreciative of the knowledge you are willing to share and all the great savings we are made aware of!! Cheers to coupon freaks like me and my family!!!

  49. Wow! I attended Jill’s class last week at the Palatine Public Library and left there even more energized about saving money. Her class and tips are FANTASTIC, and her personality is infectious! I started couponing slowly over the years, but with the economy now, who couldn’t stand to save a few dollars? Over the weekend I put some of Jill’s tips to use and bought 4 huge boxes of Kellog’s cereal, a gallon of milk and a package of Chips a’hoy cookies for about $4. It took 4 coupons, and I received $7 back in Catalina. I have been telling everyone!!!! My coworkers laughed when I started, but now they are asking more questions and “hey did you see any coupons for…” LOL!

    I have a two and a half year old son and a 33 and a half year old husband that would absolutely LOVE to see Shrek – me too of course! =) What a wonderful giveaway! Thank you Jill. You’re such an inspiration and wonderful teacher of skill and patience. BRAVO!

  50. Like so many others, we have been hit hard by the ecocomy as well. My husband is working again but in a VERY low paying job (But it’s still a job, yippee!) Couponing has been a real “saving” grace for us. I love all the free/cheap stuff that benefits my family and it becomes somewhat of a challenge or a game that motives me as well….how much can I save on groceries this week. I have heard about other sites but my, hands-down favorite has to be your site. THANK YOU so much for teaching us all how to save a lot of money. Also, love all the regular followers and their comments…almost like a family in itself.

  51. After attending your workshop just last weekend, I’ve found myself addicted! My first attempt today was to Walgreen’s where I purchased 2 bottles of Pert Plus, 1 Dawn dishsoap and 2 Oxy face washes for just over $6! With my coupons, I saved over $16! Not bad for my first attempt.

    Thanks Jill!

  52. I have become addicted to “couponing”. I get up at 6:00 am on Sunday’s just to collect all my newspapers on the front step. Then I spend the next two hours cutting out coupons and matching up ads. I have so much food stocked up in my cupboards my family makes fun of me. I have donated about 20 boxes of cereal to my church for the nursery snacks. I am having a ball! I just love good deals.

  53. I have really enjoyed being able to save our family money over the past few months. We don’t live by any stores, so I started out by saying “I’ll just do the Jewel deals on my way home from work”. Then I added stops at Walgreens, then a few weeks later CVS. I broke down this week and am adding a trip to Dominick’s as well. Thanks for “sharing the wealth” Jill!

  54. Hello and Thank You..I am brand new to your website. I appeared at my grocer for the first time ever THIS WEEK with my coupons in hand and saved a big bunch of cash. It feels great!! Keep up the good work.I hope to attend a seminar very soon. I’m telling all my friends..they don’t know what they’re missing!!

  55. This past week was my first time at Jewel armed with coupons and the circular….oh, and my husband and 2 kids. I’ve been “collecting” coupons since 3/28 and felt ready to give this super-couponing thing a try. MY shopping cart was filled with everything that would create a catalina, and I had a coupon for almost everything. I just had to make sure that what was in my cart was worth over $100 because I had a Jewel coupon for $10 off $100 purchase. Anyway, when I went through, I got tons of catalinas for so much off my next order. The cashier said “Wow, you’ve got some great ones here.” I told her to hang on to them because my husband was right behind me with HIS cart ready to use those catalinas. We spent $150, and saved $82, which I didn’t think was too bad for our first time. And I’m really proud that we were able to do it with our 5 yr old daughter and 3 yr old son in tow.
    Thank you so much for your tips. I’ve tried signing up for 2 of your workshops, but they were both already filled to capacity. I’m going to keep trying, though!! In the meantime, I’m reading your blog every day!

  56. I’m new to super couponing and have been LOVING the great deals I’ve been getting lately. My family is excited for the new Shrek movie too – so I’d love to win this prize pack! :-)

  57. I found out about your site from one of my daughters friends mom. I went home that day read and learned. After that I explained to my neighbors – we ordered and watched the video to learn even more. We now exchange coupons and compare our reciept to see who saved the most for the week. We have turned it into a neighborhood game. I have to add that two of the neighbors that enjoy this contest are males. I never thought I would come home from a full day of work to one of my male neighbors yelling to me ‘You better come over here and see how much I saved today’ or going over to watch the Hawks game and my male neighbor pausing the game to show me that he saved the most yet on his shopping trip! So I would love to win so I can yell ‘I saved the most this week and I won the Shrek Giveway’ : )

  58. I am a new teacher and spend endless time with children – who just love Shrek! I work with special education students, and after a long day there is nothing more relaxing then hitting up the store with coupons in hand. THANK YOU for all of your assistance in finding so much great deals! I have loved getting items for free, to share with my students in need. It just feels good when you leave the store feeling like you have done well!

  59. In a land far far away there was a store called jewel. It was beautiful and lusious and green, far different from the swamp in which I grew up.  To this ogre jewel was way to expensive, only befitting of rolyality.  I was an ogre stuck in the swamp of walmart.  Where I had a wall build around my land, thinking that there is no way to live in far far away .  

    Then I meet a princess who showed me the love of saving with qs.  My first trip to jewel was like a trip to the inlaws, be it the king and queen. Awkward and scarry..  I had my coupons,upcs, add and calculator in hand.  I was looking for the potion to make it all work happily ever after. I filled my cart, and made my way to the register .  Item after item was scanned and the total went up and up…  Then the coupons, Lower and lower the total went..  I was so happy, it was indeed a true love, the total was 60percent less.. Then the magic came..  The GREEN light was one of the best things I saw.  I thought that there would be more and more and they would keep pouring out, but in the end my three triplet perfect catalinas came out!!!

    So now I take my three little babies intow shopping around far far away, occasionally making stops at some other lands, such as the highest room of the tallest tower of target, looking for items of need of rescue for their retail prices stacking the coupons higher and higher to the awaiting zero plus tax total. Then to have overage applied to the many onions and parfaits, because everyone loves parfaits or maybe cakes. As long as the dragon of not knowing the coupon policy stays in, and doesn’t breathe it’s firey breath on your well planned trip. The rescue is complete.

    From this ogre to the wonderful coupon princess
    ,I thank thee now and forever after.    

  60. I started couponing about a year ago when I had my first child. I was desperately trying to still afford food for myself with the cost of diapers and formula! I guess I became so obsessed with coupons that even my co-workers started noticing. I got teased EVERY day because they are non-couponers and just dont understand :) One day, I guess someone was trying to get my attention and I was not listening so they yelled “I have a coupon for that” out and of course I turn my head to look. They of course had no coupon and proceeded to laugh about it the rest of the day. Now the funniest part for me… the one co-worker who teased me the worst, now coupons more than I do! After seeing all my deals she asked me how to do it. I directed her to your site and now she is even begging me to take a class with her! I love that I am helping others save and it even helps me because now I have people to share coupons with! I still get teased at work a little bit but since about half of them now ask me for coupons all the time, I dont feel so bad.

  61. I have done this now since I first heard you on Johnny B back in Sep of 08, so I have been at this a while. My kids (Daughter is newly 7, and Son is now 4) are well trained it’s not coming home if I don’t have a coupon, and it’s not on sale. Well tonight my son thanked the grocery manager at Jewel for something being on sale. Too Cute! But my proudest moment was my daughter going up to the Customer Service Desk at Jewel by herself to have them right out a rain check all by herself. I am so proud…tear falling. LOL. Thanks Jill!

  62. I love super couponing. The other day I was at Jewel and need to get cash back from my Discover card. However, I had so many coupons that I was only paying sales tax. They wouldn’t let me get cash back with that! So, I had to pick up a pack of gum. Never would have paid that much for it, but since I needed the cash, I needed to do it. Now I think it was really funny that the coupons let me do that!

  63. My family has been looking forward to the new Shrek movie since we first heard about it and thanks to super couponing we will be able to afford to go see it in spite of financial changes in our lives. Better still if we win the Shrek giveaway! Fingers crossed.

  64. I started couponing about three months ago when I lost my job, I feel so accomplished when I shop (even though I’ve gone through my trials and errors with coupons at different stores where I wish I could disappear when things have not gone right) and spend $10 to $20 with coupons, saving lots of “green”. My kids made fun of me at the begining of my couponing until I made them watch the Nightline clip of Jill and the other guy, now when I come home after my shopping trips I try to make them guess how much I spent which I end up telling them before they can guess, then I say “I am getting good at this” to which my daughter replies, “not as good as Jill”. Couponing is great, it’s like the sport I never played and now wish I would have started playing in HS because I LOVE SAVING!!! Thank you Jill =)

  65. Last summer my sister asked me to attend Jill’s couponing class with her. My husband, the perpetual skeptic, wanted to know, “how much is this going to cost us?” He was happy that the class was free, but didn’t think we could save that much money with coupons. Well, wasn’t he surprised when I started bringing home bags and bags of groceries for mere pennies… or better yet, when I was “PAID” to bring home tubs of ice cream!!! Now he brags about how much money I save using coupons! This has truly been a life saver for us as I am considered an independent contractor with the state and well, let’s just say that over the past 8 months Illinois has not exactly been paying providers on a regular basis. We have enjoyed cereal for dinner on several occasions. Jill, you have saved us from having to use credit cards to buy food!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

  66. Well, Jill.. I have to say. I started something and I really didn’t think it was going to go THIS far! hahaha
    It started when I was couponing about a year ago to save money for my wedding. I started showing girlfriends how to do it since their husbands were out of work. It completely snowballed on me. In a good way! I was just told by my hair dresser on Tuesday, who I forward my savings on to every week, that she forwards my emails to 6 different women, all of which have become fans of yours as well. After I went to your first seminar, and then bought the dvd to show my husband, I doubled my savings and applied new rules. Yes, I made my husband watch it and throughout the video, he kept pausing it and saying “Are YOU doing this??” or “Are YOU doing that?”
    I really wanted to get HIM involved so after 5 transactions last week, I laid out all of my groceries in the living room and showed him what I saved and what I spent. NOW.. every week he wants to grab something to drink, sit on the couch and for me to lay everything out and show him “the goods” (it was kinda hard with the Edys)

    Thank you for changing the way I shop….Yes, Im passing it forward and my girlfriends are doing the same. Can’t wait for your class tonight!

  67. Jill, after following your site here, I have cut my food bills by about 80%. My wife and I are not real picky eaters, and I have a decent imagination to be able to blend things together to create interesting dishes for our family. When I spot a great deal posted on your site, we make plans to hit the stores and come back with bags of food to last us a while. When I hear any of my friends or neighbos mentioning that they are in a tight spot, I mention your web-site and if possible, my wife and I take them shopping with us and show them, that if you watch what you are buying and the right way to do it, Groceries become a worry of the past. Thanks again for hosting this site and helping all of us to save in these hard times.

    Bob

  68. Jill, I have found your site so very helpful to me! I have cut my grocery bill by almost 1/2 so far and it is more every week! It is such a high going into a store and picking up items that should cost me $18.00 and going out with only paying $1.20! That is what I did yesterday at Target with coupons. I just love it. Makes my day! Thanks.
    CSchossow

  69. Jill,
    You have saved my family from going broke. Your site is so informative that I have been able to learn just by following your site. My average weekly savings are now between 75%-95%. I will finally be able to attend a class next Friday to learn what I’m missing. I’m so excited!
    THANK YOU!

  70. Jill-

    My husband used to comment, negatively, on the amount of items in our pantry and basement. He told me I was going overboard. Until. . .he happened to notice a receipt I left lying on the counter that showed I paid $1.86 cash for over $24.00 worth of product at Jewel. Let’s just say he doesn’t comment anymore.

    Thanks,
    Debbie

  71. When I started following your super couponing ideas, my husband was greatful that no more coupons were clipped and in piles throughout. He thought of it as no big deal until I over heard him talking to a guy friend of his and asking if he had ever heard of you, in which he has. He was bragging about me gettin cereal for .50 a box. Whoa!!! Thank you for sharing your super deals.

  72. I love this way of shopping!! I was going to the discount stores, buying just what we needed. Shopping at Jewel was not in the plan, too expensive. But now with Jill’s help not only can we shop at a “full-service grocer” (baggers, deli, bakery, etc) we can afford to get the extras- ice cream, convenience foods, even health and beauty items we would normally go without. Thanks Jill, for sharing your hard work with us all!

  73. Our family is just me and my husband, but I am a full time grad student and we are living on his income alone. Supercouponing has changed so much for us. Before couponing I just tried to shop sales and thought I was doing pretty good. Now that I have started using coupons I can’t believe how much extra money there is left over in the monthly budget. At first my husband thought I was nuts until I showed him over a hundred dollars of groceries that I had bought for just $8! I am still learning and expect it can only get better from here! Though we don’t have any children of our own we do have a few young nieces that we would love to treat with a trip to the movies. Thanks Jill for all you do.

  74. I just got back from the grocery store and have to admit that I am a bit proud of myself! Living in the Pacific Northwest I am not able to take advantage of many of the deals you blog about, but HAVE learned a thing or two! Safeway is running a promotion, “buy $50, get $10 off”. I looked thru the sale add, got my coupons and list together and went to the store with the goal of staying as close to $50 as possible. As the checker was ringing up my items I was begining to worry that I miscalculated somewhere, I was up to $100.85! After I used my Club Card, store coupons and manufacturer’s coupons my total was now $50.06 :-) subtract the $10 promotional store coupon and I was out the door for $40.06 !!! THANK YOU, JILL !

  75. If you try to look up “supercouponing” on dictionary.com, it’s not there. Instead, it will ask, “Do you mean sapogenin?” For fun, I clicked on that definition:

    sa·po·ge·nin definition
    Pronunciation: /ˌsap-ə-ˈjen-ən, sə-ˈpäj-ə-nən/
    Function: n
    : a nonsugar portion of a saponin that is typically obtained by hydrolysis, has either a complex terpenoid or a steroid structure and in the latter case forms a practicable starting point in the synthesis of steroid hormones

    Interesting enough, it’s a starting point for steroids and that’s just what I see supercouponing as. Taking what we need to do for our families – shopping – and super-charging that on steroids. As I like to tell my husband, saving 80% is like giving him an 80% raise!

    Thanks, Jill. I’ve been following your blog for over a year now and I have saved so much and have been also able to donate much.

  76. I have been following your blog on & off for about a year now. I still consider myself a major novice when it comes to couponing, but I have gotten some super-sweet deals thanks to you!! My husband brags about my purchases to people sometimes & I just say I owe it all to you. I’ve learned that some people just don’t “get it” when I try to explain to them how it all works. I can’t keep up with ALL the deals ALL the time, but I do get the major ones on the things that my family needs/uses most. We have over 30 boxes of cereal in our house right now, which my husband thinks is hilarious. I told him he should have seen the 96 boxes you talk about in your class!!! Thanks Jill for all you do!

  77. I can’t begin to tell you how super couponing has changed my shopping. My brain has been totally reprogrammed. I walk into the store and like a robot I start scanning for sales, blinkies etc. Even if I’m out shopping with freinds (who by the way make fun of me because I can’t do ANYTHING without a coupon) it won’t turn off! It’s not a bad thing…I’ve been doing this for 1 year 4 months and have a stock pile in my home so that I only go to the grocery if it’s free or close to. I can’t thank Jill enough for what she has taught me. THANK YOU JILL!!!<3

  78. Ok, seriously… I think couponing has become my addiction! I can’t wait for the ads to come in the mail each week, not to mention the Sunday paper. I get so excited to go grocery shopping each week and see what deals I can get, it’s like a kid in a candy store! I have even gotten a few friends to join in the fun and change their shopping habits. My only regret is that I didn’t know about this sooner and start years ago! Even my hubby is couponing now…. he finally understands that he absolutely cannot buy anything without checking with me or coupontom first! LOL…

    Jill, you are FABULOUS and I thank you again and again for introducing this to me!! It’s just SO FUN!!!!

  79. I attended your session in Bloomingdale a few weeks ago and started couponing right away! I am a school teacher, with a disabled husband and 2 children. I have been able to stock up on the necessities for a lot less than I have spent in the past. I LOVE you Jill! You have saved my family’s budget!!

  80. I have been with you from the very start, Jill. August of 2008 is when your first Super Couponing class was held in Huntley.
    On a tip from an insider, I signed up, although I had been using coupons for over 25 years.
    Hoping to learn a few new shreds of information, I was amazed at how the couponing world has changed with the use of the Internet!
    You have revolutionized my shopping habits and those of thousands of others. For this we don’t have enough words, but we will express our thanks and remind you where we are because of you.

  81. a new way of thinking forever. My husband works full time, so I can stay home with my two boys (who are under the age of 3.) I cherish each moment I have with them. I have learned that we never have to pay full price for items that we always need like diapers, wipes, formula, veggies, meats, and the list goes on and on. My 2 1/2 year old has recently started talking a lot. As his vocabulary grows, he like many children, has picked up funny things to say and do. When my husband gets home from work, all my son wants to do is have him play “coupons” with him. My wonderful husband sits on the floor and they trade coupons, instead of going outside to play ball. The other day I walked downstairs and both of the boys had spread out the Sunday paper in living room so they could run and slide on it. As my 11 month old attempted to put some of the coupons in his mouth my older son yelled at him, because he wasn’t supposed to touch mommies coupons. I thought it was hilarious. As my kids grow, not only will I teach them good morals and values, but I will also be teaching them a new way of “saving a buck.” Thank you Jill, you are wonderful!

  83. My family and I have used GM products for years, love them! We also think Shrek is hilarious. GM & Shrek a great combo :)

  84. I am looking forward to starting my couponing and living with more for less. Thanks!

  85. Yes, we have all saved money and Jill’s supercouponing has “changed our lives”…we can afford more and do more and don’t hurt as much financially. We have stockpiles that reach the ceiling and donate frequently to food pantries… But isn’t there even more to it? Doesn’t it just make us feel GOOD…I mean selfishly good…I mean “Celebrity” good?

    Yes, Jill is the true local celebrity…but I think we have all become mini-celebrities in our own rights…at least I feel like one quite often…(and I secretly always wanted to be one so the attention can be quite fun.)

    Countless times I have been stopped in grocery store lines to be asked, “How did you do that?” “Can you teach me?” or just a “WOW!” There are so many clueless shoppers who become quickly impressed with my shopping prowess…that my confidence spikes just a little…and I pat myself on the back and smile from the attention :) (and Yes, I always reference Jill and jillcataldo.com…credit goes to where credit is deserved.)

    Conversations with my friends and colleagues have changed. It is almost daily that someone wants to share with me their “great deal”….how they clipped that ONE coupon and saved 55 cents on their dish detergent. They are so proud that I am forced to say, “That’s great!” “Good for you!” …when secretly inside I am SCREAMING at them, “YOU ARE DOING IT ALL WRONG!” “GET IT TOGETHER!” “COME ON!” But I do find it funny how many people feel the need to tell me about their “couponing”…almost like they need my approval…It does make me smile.

    In all seriousness, what really makes me smile is going downstairs to my pantry and shopping for what I need. Every time, I do that I am thankful at the savings and convenience this new life has given me. THANKS, JILL (our true local celebrity!)

  86. About 2 months ago, I was able to watch your dvd and since then I have been saving so much money. My girls tease me about my coupons and what I spend on cereal. But my one daughter doesn’t complain when she visits here and goes home with deodorant, cereal and whatever great deals I found that week. My niece is also following your site and saving money. It seems as if where ever I go I am talking to someone about your website and super couponing. I am so glad you are sharing your talent for couponing. You have helped so many people in this tough economy save money. I used to tell my husband, I can’t cut back on what I spend on groceries, the prices are what they are. Boy was I wrong and I am so glad to admit that. Thank you for showing me that.

  87. I am fairly new to Super Couponing but I have fallen in love with it! The day I got my first free item I was hooked! I want to thank you, Jill, for working so hard to put this out for everyone. It has been a blessing to our family.

    When my husband lost his job we had no other choice but to apply for food stamps. With three growing boys and a hard-working husband the monthly allowance we were given would barely make it through the first 2 weeks of the month. Now that I am using this system to coupon shop the allowance lasts the whole month with excess for the next month. Super couponing truly does feed my family! I think everyone on public assistance should be taught your class.

  88. I am fairly new to Jill’s website but i have already received quite a few deals.
    My husband is way impressed and loves to share his new found coupon knowledge with anyone who will listen.

    My twin boys love to eat cereal and this site has been such a blessing to our family because we would go through 3 boxes a week if i would let them. I now have a little stock pile started and i can’t wait for Sunday morning to see what kind of coupons are awaiting me at my front door.

    I just took the 2nd coupon class last night and I can’t wait to get out there and try a few deals. I’ve realized that January is going to be my new favorite month. Woohoo! I just wish that our local stores would stockpile more sale product.

    Thanks Jill for all that you have done and are doing!

  89. Ooooh, oohh, ooooh! PICK ME, PICK ME!!!

    You know, before I went to one of the Super Couponing seminars, this family had been silently “boycotting” Jewel and Dominicks for years because of their inflated prices that we could not afford! Now…we’ll, it’s been about four months and now those two stores are the first place I visit when I do the weekly shopping! I can not believe that we have missed out on all these bargains all these years! All thanks, to God for bringing us our “coupon buddy”!!! We save A LOT now, and it also feels GREAT to pass on all the secret strategies of our fellow couponeer’s to family and friends!

    So, “Fire up the ovens, Muffin Man! We got a big order to fill.”

  90. We love Shrek almost as much as we loving all the savings we get from checking in on your site Every Monday.

    Thanks for helping us save so much money.

  91. My 7 year old has been helping me clip coupons and helping me in the stores finding products to help save money over the last 3 months since my husband was laid off. Things were tight, but with your help, we made it and even ate name brand foods. I was truely impressed that you make it soo easy to do. My husband has now found a job and working hard and we still just keep on saving, so my daughter has been wanting an electric scooter like all the other kids on the block. I have been giving her the extra money from the savings and she finally has enough saved she was able to get her scooter. We now ride bikes and scooters to jewel for the little things we need to not waste gas. Saving even more money… I feel as green as Shrek!!

  92. I went to Jill’s super-couponing class in July last summer. It was a lot to digest, and I didn’t start right away, but I did start keeping my coupons. A few months later I was ready to give it a try and I was BLOWN AWAY by the amount I could save.

    It is amazing how inexpensively things like cleaners, paper products, cereals and toiletries can be! Thank you Jill… for now I know that $1 for a roll of paper towels is not a good price, and that if I play my cards right, I may never have a net cost for fruit snacks or deodorant again, lol!

  93. I was at your Glen Ellyn Library presentation, Jill, and I’m HOOKED! I’m so obsessed with learning this it isn’t even funny. I had no idea that I could use manufacturer coupons and Store coupons together AND in conjunction with store sales!!!! Whoa! You are one smart Oreo Cookie! LOL I so can’t wait to get the Sunday inserts!!!
    Julie Moskal :-)

  94. I recently learned about your site when in a woman in front of me at Jewel pulled out 50 coupons (not exaggerating!) and then apologized. I told her not to and asked how she was able to find so many coupons that were actually USEFUL! At Jewel I normally receive offers for baby products, my youngest is nine, and I am never sure if I am getting a good deal buying something name brand. She told me about your site and about the system. I was so excited, I recently had to stop working due to medical reasons, so any $$ relief is VERY welcome. Thank you for finding this information and sharing it! I think it is an amazing thing that can help so many people!
    ~Am

  95. I actually had the cashier at Jewel say she was proud of me for my coupon savings this week! I just started using your strategies for the first time, so I was psyched! Thank you for making it so easy!

  96. I’ve always used “retail therapy” to make me feel better. I didn’t care what I shopped for, I just wanted to shop, but it better be a decent deal because I’m not made of money. Ever since I’ve started couponing I have been feeding my addiction almost daily and I love it. My friend and I even joke about the fact that we shoudln’t buy, there has to be a way to get it for free. My kids even ask, “Do you have a coupon for that?” I really do love couponing, and it’s worth all the time invested. Thanks Jill!!!!

  97. Thanks Jill for everything you do to help all of us save some green. Love this site, saving money, and of course love Shrek!

  98. Thanks so much for all you do. Putting all the information for this “hobby” in a more concise, easy to access way, has helped so many people. With the internet, everything has changed, and is still evolving with coupons and refunds. I still remember the old days of refunding, when you needed to use a refund magazine and almost all the info needed to be exchanged by mail, but the internet has certainly made things much more interesting.
    Sharon

  99. I used to think my frugal ways were just cheap. Now, I realize they are eco-chic! Not only do I save the environment by watching our families consumerism but I also (with a little help from Jill) save some green!

  100. I am always looking for ways to save the green! Jill, you make it so easy for families to do this, especially in this economy! I love getting all the wonderful deals!

  101. Jill you are an all star!
    Hey now you’re an All Star get your game on, go play
    Hey now you’re a Rock Star get the show on get paid
    And all that glitters is gold
    Only shooting stars break the mold

    It’s a cool place and they say it gets colder
    You’re bundled up now but wait ’til you get older
    But the meteor men beg to differ
    Judging by the hole in the satellite picture

    The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
    The waters getting warm so you might as well swim
    My world’s on fire how about yours
    That’s the way I like it and I’ll never get bored

    Thanks Jill for Saving Me LOTS of Green!!!

  102. I have used coupons to save since I was in college and I thought I did pretty good. My husband has always given me a hard time and even called me cheap. Well, my husband has been on reduced hours for over a year (basically laid off). We (a family of 5) do not qualify for any assistance and I was running out of ways to have enough money for bills, let alone for groceries. Recently I was told by a friend about you and WOW! I can not believe how much I really save by following your deals. You have made my life a little less stressful and my husband a believer. Thanks a bunch!

  103. I teach Kindergarten and am a big kid at heart. I love
    Shrek and the new chubby Puss in Boots. :)

    Our newspaper just started carrying Jill’s weekly
    column. I’m already a couponer and ad match at
    Wal-mart each week. I can’t wait to learn how
    to save more of my school teacher and bus driver
    salary. :)

  104. Jill has saved me countless dollars over the last year and I am sure many more to come! Proud to be a super couponer!

  105. Jill has saved me tons of money and I’ve only been at this a few weeks.

    I’m so excited by this that I’ve now got my boyfriend, family and coworkers “supercouponing”.

    Thanks Jill!!!!

  106. Jill couponing has changed my life! I go into work every week and tell all my friends how much money i save and they just laugh, but I’m the one who is really having the last laugh because i still have money for clothes and entertainment when everyone else is broke:) I love saving money! It is very addicting:)-

  107. Just want to say thanks! A friend sent me to your site and I have never looked back. I felt a little guilty when I became a stay at home mom, but couponing has become like a second job to me (the first one is taking care of 2 year old twins!). I love it and I have so much fun and I’m a little obsessed! I hosted a Super Couponing DVD watching party. No one could believe the deals you were getting, I set them straight!
    Now I feel guilty when I spend 50 cents on a box of cereal, and 6 month ago I never thought twice about paying $4!
    Thanks for teaching me the ropes and posting your deals every week. I love it!

    We just used some of our extra “green” to green up our lawn with some much needed TLC to our landscaping!

  108. Jill’s methods, advice and insight have helped my family drastically reduce the amount of “green”backs that we pay out each month. We are planning to use our savings to help buy a larger piece of “green” for our new house!

  109. Hi Jill,

    I’ve attended your SuperCouponing seminars and have to thank you for sharing your secrets. Over the last 3yrs, my husband and I have lost our jobs several times and almost lost our house due to the lack of income. We have a son who has special needs and have been trying to tighten the budget as much as possible in every single area.

    I’ve always used coupons at the store and truly thought my grocery/household bill was decent for our family. I didn’t think I could do better. After your seminars, I am now feeding a family of 4 (including our 4 legged Lab) for less than $100/mo. Some of the deals I have scored on, I’ve donated to the local food pantry to thank them for helping us keep food on the table previously.

    Everyone on this forum has great ideas, tips and I enjoy reading them as often as I can. Keep up the great $$ savings!! Thank you!
    BrokebutHappy

  110. I am loving all this General Mill cereal and food!
    With all the coupon and sales I am really stocking up THANK YOU!

  111. Jill you have helped me just over the past month on saving some green. I’ve become more green too in the process. By using reusable shopping bags on my trips saves a few pennies for me, and the environment for everyone else including my family. Just a few small choices that I’ve changed just in this past month, since I’ve learned about you have made a large difference. Thanks for all you share and teach to us. Going green rocks, and so do you!!

    Susan T.

  112. I recently started the Supercouponing program and I am saving a minimum of 30% each time I shop. Yesterday I saved 60%! With a child heading to college in the fall, I need to save every dime I can….

    Any great coupons for college tuition?

    NiCole B. East Lansing MI

  113. I’m a Greenie! I host a Meet Up group called 2 Live Greener, google it if you are interested in connecting on Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. I’ve always been thrifty, but Jill’s opened my eyes to a whole new level of thriftyness – you go Jill!

  114. Hi Jill,

    I needed you 2 years ago when I gave birth to my twin boys, buying diapers and formula my expenses went up quite a bit. I have just started couponing….the right way and I’m still in awe of the savings. I can not hold a conversation with anyone without bringing up my new tools I’ve learned about supercouponing. I thank God for crossing our paths.

  115. I’m new to using coupons and excited to get started saving money. Have never submitted anything like this. However my husband and I (near retirement age) are caring for and our guardians our 2 month old great granddaughter, and as you new moms know our expenses just went through the roof. Need to cut corners wherever we can. Here’s for “going green” in a big way.

  116. I’ve only been super couponing for 8wks but already I have:

    – Saved so much money that I am now almost able to cover my daughter’s monthly private school tuition with my couponing! My monthly grocery bills were averaging $550 for the six months before but, in April, I spent just $270 oop which means I’ve saved $280 using my coupons. That means I only have to spend another $20 to cover the rest of her tuition payment. I know it’s not as low as it could be but, after such a short time couponing, I am still amazed. It certainly helps when it comes to buying the rest of the items she needs, like uniforms. With more ‘practice’, I’m hoping to be able to cover all of her school expenses.

    – Picked up $65 worth of food and cleaning supplies for my brand-loyal senior citizen parents and it cost them only $15 after coupons! My mom now saves me their coupon inserts … as long as my dad doesn’t throw them away.

    – Brought one of my girlfriends to the dark side. :) She listened to me talk about how much money could be saved with coupons at my daughter’s ballet class and then at her spa party using examples like the Windex deal or the Scrubbing Bubbles deal. Her aunt at the party, who just lost her job, was going to try too. I told her that if there was something she wanted but didn’t have the coupons for she was welcome to mine if they weren’t used. Her first time out she spent $18.66 oop after $17 in manuQ and two Walgreens coupons and she got $3 RR. One of the other moms now wants to go shopping with me.

    – Donated 2 bags of food to Stamp Out Hunger with all of the free or almost free items I’ve picked up … and, during each visit, I only pick up one free or almost free item that I will never use just so I can give it away (why take it away from the people that would save the money to use it for themselves??).

  117. I have had SO much FUN with Super Couponing!!! It has become all I talk about with friends and family. It’s become a bit all consuming – I sleep, breathe & dream about saving ‘GREEN’ and clipping coupons! I have really enjoyed feeling so empowered to have the resources to help my neighborhood and others in our community with all my free or next to free items. Super couponing has completely changed the way I shop for everything. It has made me so much more conscientious of what I am spending our money on and if it’s being spent in the proper way. I know we end up with LOTS of things that we don’t need or use but it’s given us this awesome opportunity to give away those items to families that are in need of them! I am humbled and so thankful for this website and for all the people involved with this ‘Coupon Revolution’ of sorts. It’s truly an awesome experience to be Super Couponing! Thanks to Jill for taking your time to teach all of us how to be smart shoppers and encourage us to all have giving hearts! God Bless!

  118. Shrek and coupons, say it ain’t so! First you tell me that I can get shampoo and toothpaste for free. Now you tell me I can go see Shrek too! Is this what heaven is like? Speedstick is free, Nivea is free, Gum is free, dare I go on? Buy one and get one, use this coupon and that one. Save this and that, cutting coupons, there’s no way I once said. Yes, I admit I was like the others. I’d leave my coupons at home. For goodness sake, I’d even shop at Wal-Mart! I know, it’s hard to believe and I hate to admit it but I did. It was so cheap I thought. Two dollars for cereal, what a steal I’d say! Never again will I step foot through those doors! Hilander is the place for me, savings galore. Manufacture coupons, e-coupons too, cereal for quarter! I’m so proud of me. I thank my cousin and my mother in law too! They are the ones, the ones that saved me from that dreadful place. Hmmm, free movie tickets, I’d surely take them and come to think of it, I wonder if Jill would go to?! I’d have to take her; she is the one with the info, the one who set me free from grocery debt. How could I not share this moment with her, couponing has changed me. She is so smart, telling her story and sharing her tips. That solves it, a cousin, a mother in law, and Jill too! Free movie tickets and with a little searching I bet we could get free popcorn too!!!

  119. Jill, I am new to this and am DETERMINED to figure it out!!! I am starting small and learning slowly, but my children and I will save save save!!!!!!! I stood in line at Walgreens and was a little nervous but I spent 8.95 and rec’d 7.00 back in coupons and saved over 45.00!!!! I walked out feeling proud of myself!!! I shared it with my siblings!!!!! Thanks for all the help and your website is so helpful!!1 It makes it easier to comprehend what super couponing is!!!!

  120. It’s so easy for me to remember a time in my life when the only green I was seeing was the envious shade, it was so obvious to see in my eye’s. It was the constant new hand bags, cars, clothes and oh so glorious shoe’s that I soo didn’t need, but soo needed to have that had me seeing not only green but red. everywhere I turned there was a new reason for me to be oh so jealous, friends and family members alike were walking around in the latest new thing, and I wanted in, but with my 2 toddlers and 2 teenagers, who needed the latest gear all there own, it was whatever fits and wasn’t stained for me. oh sweet, sweet, motherhood. It became fairly obvious to me that if I didn’t find a way to save up some splurge cash for myself I was gonna go nuts, and not even the salted, honey roasted kind they sell at the carnival either, they were much too expensive, I was gonna go, store brand only big enough to make me more hungry sized pack of nuts. Alot less fun. So it was determined to find a way out fast, better job, shut off a phone line something somewhere could surly be cut, and to no avail I found nothing in my budget that was expendable. And then a co-worker unknowingly changed my life, she mentioned a coupon class that was far but free, and free is my favorite 4 letter f-word so I jumped on it. Eurekea! I saw the blinkie light my darkend budget was looking for. Never in my life was I so thankful for my lazy habit of throwing the sunday coupons in a “recycle” bin that never gets taken out to the curb on wednesday night, because “it’s dark and they’ll come around again next week” I got home that day and labled all of a month and a half’s worth of uncliped premium quality money saving goodness! And, yes there’s an and, I was able to start up right away because I already had so many inserts. I went shopping the first week and brought so much stuff home and had money back to buy the essentials like milk and produce. I am so proud to say that well I used to spend upwards of $600 a month on groceries, I now pull off an amazing $250 which is my new budget. And well unfortunatly the money spent doesn’t all go to the mom fund I’d like it to, were now able to save for a house, and as of August/2009 the only green in my eye’s is the reflection of the green in my wallet and those need to have shoe’s I’d been eye-balling for a month now. Thanks jill, for making my life and the life of everyone around me, who had somthing I needed to have, a million times easier.

  121. As a family we have been looking forward to taking our daughter to see Shrek, as her first movie. She became attached to the movies last winter…
    I would like to thank you for you site and valuable info on couponing. It has given me the knowledge and “power” when I go to the store, as a sahm any way to save money and help provide for my family is a great feeling.

  122. Thinking on how I am enjoying my green, and being it is mother’s day, I shall split credit with Jill and my dear mother for how I’ve cleverly learned to use coupons. A compliment I never thought I’d say is that I have finally become my mother. Although I work as a full time teacher, she was a stay at home mother, as well as an avid couponer and refunder starting in the 70s. Her savings took our family of 5 to Orlando FL three times- twice by air, provided me tons of free samples and items for high school and college. She sent an endless stream of extra rebate checks to me at college which became my grocery and spending money. I remember saving wrappers, receipts, UPC codes, etc. always watching for the next deal. It was always a blast to go shopping with her and see the bill drop, especially when there were the BOGO weeks where she’d use BOGO coupons with the sales and come home almost making money! If we ate out, there was a coupon, if we went to the mall for clothes, there was a coupon. At the museum, movies, or dry cleaner’s, coupon! She really saved! She had her clipping system down to a science (but with the dawn of the internet and facebook, I think she’d love Jill’s clipless method for the inserts.) She passed away before I was an on-my-own adult although I feel I carried on her ways pretty well, until along came Jill’s column in our PennySaver. Daily I research the blogs for some great deals that otherwise go unnoticed. Weekly, I look to Jill’s methods to guide me further into this realm. I search, print, file, date, collect, tear, scan, email, blog, send, and do just about everything I can to take advantage of coupons, sales, rebates, rewards, BOGOs, and stack, stack, stack.

    My intent is to pay it forward. Using coupons and rebates I anonomously stock, generally for free or pennies, my teacher’s lounge and 2 staff bathrooms with candy, gum, dental care, feminine products, hair products, air fresheners, paper products, cleaning products, magazines, lotion, snacks, and so much more.

    My husband, daughter and I typically bought toiletries and perfumes to make stockings and goodie bags around the holidays for the seniors in a nursing home where his mother lived for many years. She recently passed and we are now using Jill’s wisdom and that of her followers, to stock up year round and make larger donations to them- not just travel sizes too!

    As a teacher, I am also asked often to help students with community service drives, such as for homeless shelters and food pantries. I now have a regular supply box waiting to go when they ask and it is not hurting our budget in any way, and I save the receipts for taxes too.

    Couponing has not only saved me money, it has given me many ways to pay it forward, to honor and remember those who taught me lessons of generosity, gratitude, and savings, and to make the world a better place.

  123. There once was a girl who looked sad.
    The grocery stores were driving her mad.
    Then along came a fairy with a magic gift,
    who said, “Cheer up! I’ll show you how to shop with thrift!”
    The girl felt so lucky when she rolled up her cart,
    and at seeing her total she had quite a start.
    As she looked from her purchases to the catalina machine,
    the girl couldn’t help but see green, green, green!

  124. I took your class in February Jill and couldn’t wait to begin. Now 3 months later, my 2 and 4 year old girls are “mini coupon queens”. Just yesterday we drove past the local movie theater and my oldest asked if Shrek was out yet, so we could go see it with Daddy. I told her a couple of more weeks and we would see if we could save some money these next couple of weeks to go as a treat. She replied “Lets get home and look at them coupons”. I had to smile.
    I took your class because my husband had lost his job along with so many others. He now works on a farm, while looking for what we call a “real job” (i.e. one with health insurance). The kids love that he is a Big Farmer. But, as you farmers know, he has to work 3 times as hard to make even a little. The kids see him usually on Sunday morning for a couple hours (thats a late start day). Or on a rain day. That is why we are so looking forward to seeing Shrek with Daddy. It will be a couple hours that I will make him take off to give our family a little treat.
    Your coupon class really opened my eyes to a new life. I am now not only teaching my girls good shopping habits, but my recently retired dad has been shopping with us and learning the secrets. I never thought he would be a couponer, but he calls me everyweek to see what deals we can figure out together.
    It really has been an exciting (I cant wait to call someone when I score something free) experience and my kids and I are closer than ever to my dad, now that we nave a coupon bond.
    Thank you Jill for so many things.

  125. I am adjusting to the “new normal” after leaving an abusive marriage. One of my friends patiently directed me to your site . I have enjoyed the many bargains i have discovered, and even get my teenage boy involved as we look for the exact match on the coupons..size, brand, etc..and then are able to fill the car up with gas and get a meal out and rent a redbox movie ..sometimes for free! My son even chases down some of the cats in the parking lot … I am still a novice . Love all your info , Thank God you are there with all your money saving tips. I never paid attention to the store cats before – just thought they just want me to come back in and buy buy buy… Had no idea I could take them to another store!! Now I see them as money in my hand!
    I would love a shrek outing with my son!!

  126. I am really excited that I was able to find out about your site. I just started about a month ago and have saved a ton of money. I had no idea where to get good coupons until a lady from my church pointed me in your direction. I have had so much fun couponing I look forward to mondays when I can find out the awsome deals I had missed for so long. This has becoming my new hobby. I am a stay at home mom and have yet to find something that gets me excited to do and I love figuring out what coupons I can spend and where. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this site.

  127. Thank you, Jill! I watched your Super Couponing 1 DVD last week and have been super couponing for one week. I saved about $65 in my first week and I only shopped at one store. This is exciting. As I figure out what I’m doing, I look forward to even greater savings.

  128. I love couponing! It saves us a lot of money, and we also get to try a lot of new products.But, especially, I hope to teach my 3 kids how to use coupons and sales and save some green. I think it’s getting in their heads, because for Mother’s Day, my 7 year old son gave me a present he made at school, and the bag was decorated with big letters. It said FREE SAVINGS COUPON on it! Thank you Jill!

  129. Jill I have to thank you so much for offering classes and teaching people how to save so much money with coupons. My husband has been out of work for 15 mos. without unemployment and you have helped me save so much money for our large family. I was so excited last week when I ran into a woman at Jewel that the cashier introduced me to. She showed me how to use coupons and jewel bucks to walk away with 8 boxes of cereals for $3.98. I was told when I come to Jewel to look for her and she will tell me all the deals. I am certain she learned from you, Jill.

  130. I love how couponing has changed our family. We are so much more aware of how and where we spend our money. I especially love that my 2 year old and 4 year old daughters play shopping. My daughter had her pretend cart filled with a bunch of her toys and she said, “Look mommy, I have coupons for all this stuff!”

  131. Using coupons has made it possible for us to share with the food pantry on a regular basis. I think it is great lesson for the kids to see that we can help others.

    It has also shown that shopping and math can be FUN when putting together catalina deals…..

  132. My daughter can’t wait for this to come out. I have her cutting out coupons from the mail, flyers, etc, on items that we need now and in the future. She thinks its cool. I also explain that us doing this help Mommy and Daddy save money and get more things for us.

    Ed

  133. We had always got the Sunday papers but never used the coupons with any real consistency. One spring day I said I will use coupons and with the money I save I’ll buy a Mountain Bike. 2 bicycles later and a ton of savings my friends now call me Dón Coupón.

  134. that make couponing so worth it for me. Teaching the kids the value of a dollar, having ice cream as a treat after dinner that is FREE and taking a day-cation to a local indoor waterpark using the $$ I saved in TWO months on groceries! The kids ALWAYS ask me if I have a coupon for something they want at the store LOL!

  135. Not only do I worship Jill, I only buy what she suggests, and I’m recruiting converts! About a month ago or so, Jill had one of her life-changing seminars at Gordon Tech. Earlier that day, my neighbor had called me to ask if I had a couple of spare coupons: Tide and Bounty. I could have just handed over the coupons, but I made him to take me to Jewel and “forced” him to do a P&G Cat for Black Belt. I went through the line first, then handed him the cats and my preferred card. (Mine had the $1 off Bounty on my Avenue!) He was pleasantly surprised that he could spend less than he had planned, and still get the $10 cat back! He reluctantly gave me a ride and became my “date” for Jill’s class. He was pretty skeptical, entirely overwhelmed, and adamantly opposed to buying “things I don’t NEED!” He took notes, he said a couple of the things were interesting, but he was never going to use all of the info, and buying things you don’t need is just ridiculous. When he got home, he must have spent the entire night on Jill’s site. The next morning, walking my kids to school, I met him in our alley. He was tossing out “lingo” like a pro. He had already been to Jewel for the C.H.I.L.L., and was going back for more! I suspect that he has started to purchase “things I don’t need,” because he got little .39 cent backs of candy at Walgreens for “filler!”

  136. This really has sort of nothing to do with couponing. I’m just out of my MIND! My son is five. I’ve been trying to not buy another package of diapers. I ran out about a month ago, and I’ve been trying to just wake him up in the middle of the night. It’s not working, and I’m doing a lot of laundry. I STUPIDLY said to my husband, “I don’t think this over night potty training is working. I’m CONSIDERING going back to pull-ups.” Now, keep in mind, my husband doesn’t listen to ANYTHING I say. When I talk, he hears a buzzing sound . . . like a bee or mosquito or something. Not only does he not listen to me, but can’t remember anything that has to be done.
    He just walked in the door, with one package of pull-ups – $19.99! No sale. No coupon. No gift card if you buy two. No buy pull-ups and get something else free. No .05 cent discount for using your own reusable canvas shopping bag. I don’t think that I spent $20 on six months worth of diapers! ARGH!

  137. Hi, I just joined this website because I used to be a coupon clipper but couldn’t find the time to do it in an efficient and effective way. My SIL told me about how her friends all rave about it, so I HAD to try it! I’m so excited that I will get to really save with coupons again! I just started back in the workforce, so this will save me lots of time AND money! Can’t wait to get started again!
    Camilla

  138. I have always been green,
    and to NOT use a coupon is mean.
    It pleases my honey
    when I save lots of money
    all thanks to the “Coupon Queen.”

    I also have a picture that I will email you because it is not uploading.

  139. Congrats NewToQ’s! There was an ad in this month’s Family Circle magazine that from May 18 – June 14th McDonald’s has four Shrek “limited edition” glasses. $1.99 each with any food purchase. (“Any” = dollar menu! LOL) :)

jillcataldoheadshotI'm Jill Cataldo, founder of Super-Couponing® workshops and author of the nationally-syndicated newspaper column and video series "Super-Couponing Tips" enjoyed by over 20 million people each week.

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