On July 7, 2008, I launched this blog after a series of Chicago Sun-Times articles focused on my coupon habits. Last year in June, the Sun-Times ran a story on my shopping skills, focusing on the enormous cereal stock-up I’d made for $5 and change (which so many of you have seen detailed in my classes!) After that story ran, over the next three weeks, the Sun-Times kept publishing follow-up pieces, interviews, and questions from readers interested in my story. And people kept telling me to start a blog. I wasn’t really sure if I “needed” one, but on July 7th, I launched the blog and began talking directly to everyone who wanted to learn to use coupons.
You might wonder which came first, the classes or the blog… definitely the blog! I began teaching coupon classes about a month after the blog launched, and the rest is history.
Whether you’ve been with me since the beginning or just joined recently… we’ve now entered year #2 of great savings! :)
twnspls2 says
You have helped my family sooo much!!! Thank you for your website and your talent to find great bargains!!!!
J.R. says
Happy Blogday!
aline0578 says
congratulations! Your blog is something really special, you have helped a lot people(my family and I included), thanks for everything that you do for all of us!
prea says
I can’t believe all the money I have saved, all the food I have donated, and all the things we’ve been able to do around the house this year because of the savings you’ve taught me to bring my family over the last 11 months! Thanks so much!
(And to think, I was going to cancel the GS meeting and go on a different night too, what a mistake THAT would have been) ;-)
AuntDiane says
Congratulations and Thanks for all you do!
doodlebug1970 says
I wish I have been following since the beginning, I always ask myself why haven’t I been doing this all along!?! Congrats to Jill for making it a reality and to her family for their support through getting it going. Here’s to many, many, MANY more years to come…keep up the great work, we are all looking forward to what you have to teach us next!! :)
Best Wishes!
kensbaby93 says
And Thank you for all you do!
winehappy says
I’ve been around for about 11 months, and am very grateful for the information you have shared here. Congrats and thanks for teaching me to fish!
stampinmom says
I also wanted to congratulate and thank you! I have been a Jill follower for 10 months and am so incredibly grateful for all that you have taught me to save money for my family. You make this fun and addicting and I have shared much of it with friends and family. Thanks & Congrats!
bluedemon20 says
Congrats to you! And many thanks from me and my family…and my extended family and anyone else that would listen. =)
You have changed my attitude on shopping; I used to hate grocery shopping; now I LOVE grocery shopping. I used to hate Jewel; now I LOVE Jewel; I used to buy generic and shop at Aldi; now you’d be hard-pressed to find anything NOT name-brand in my house! I never used to treat myself to smelly lotions, nice body soap, or fancy face cleaners; now those are helping me pay for my groceries.
As Doug suggested, you are teaching people patience. And in this “instant gratification” society in which we live, that is a wonderful lesson to pass on. Congrats again…and I can’t wait to celebrate MY one-year anniversary with you at the picnic! (hint, hint!)
lovecoupons says
I have only been following your blog since March, but I am so glad you decided to start it. I love that it is local, the info on here is a tremendous help. I feel I have learned so much so quickly, I understand how to do the black belt deals at Jewel, the only thing I don’t really have yet, is totally finding the deals myself, so I am so grateful to everyone’s postings!
THANKS AND I HOPE IT GOES ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME!
recam says
Thank you and congratulations! You’ve changed my life, for the better, of course!
yamiagemini says
Just when I thought that I couldn’t cut another corner or save another penny…I found you. It’s been a great couple of months following you your blog and you can’t imagine (sure you can) the savings I have had in just a few months. I am like a little kid coming home and looking at all of my goodies. I have sent a few pictures of my “loads” to friends and family so hopefully they will help themselves too. Happy Blog Anniversary and I look forward to your insight each and every week.
p.s. If Kmart keeps running these doubles, pretty soon they will know me on a first name basis
Jeszka says
Thank you so much! Happy Anniversary! I just gave your website to someone today at work! Hopefully they will start saving as much I have been able to thanks to you and your blog posters! Thanks!!!
jtlt10 says
Congratulations. I can’t believe it’s only been a year. It seems like you’ve been doing this forever! :) Thank you for the amount of money you save my family and the endless stockpile that I can donate or pass along to other family and friends. Can’t thank you enough!
Savings R Us says
The two words “Thank You” seem so small. But those two words are said with such heart felt feelings. You have helped to mold us into Super Couponers! From our overflowing pantries, to our ability to share with family & friends, to helping fill the shelves of our local food pantries this could not have been done without you. THANK YOU and God Bless!!
Kelley says
Thank you so much for changing my family’s life. A friend that I hadn’t seen in awhile told me about your blog. I jotted it down, but second guessed myself. After reading for a few days, I decided to give it a try, and never looked back. Now I teach my mom, friends, and brother. Most of my family is laid off due to hard times, and you will never know how much this has helped all of us. I have gone from spending $150+ to $60 or less a week for our family of 5. We took in a teenager a few months ago that fell on hard times with his abusive family, and without this savings we never would have made it. Hugs and kisses to you for all the time you put in.
newbie2couponing says
Been with you since October & am I glad! Lost my job less than 2 months later & had it not been for you sharing your skills, I honestly don’t know how we would have survived! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Dirk Deal Diggler says
Almost a year we been with u now and I can’t tell how many thousands of dollars we have saved but I know it is over $4000. My gf used to keep track and now……..we just enjoy grocery bills that are like $25 a week. I am proud to be one of the coupon “MEN” on the blog and are really grateful for the things u taught us. We both had work cut backs this year and still had money to burn in our budget. Why, no grocery bill, that’s why. Keep up the great work coupon Maven!
NWIsavingmoney says
I can’t beleive the amount of money I have saved over the past 6 months! You have changed the way our family shops forever. Even my 7 year old tells everyone that if we don’t have a coupon, we can’t buy it! :)
bkg92504 says
I really appreciate all you do! It is amazing the money that we have saved and all the food, etc we have in the house. Thank you so much!
arstella says
I am so happy I found a link to your blog on a thread in the talk section of Yelp! It really has changed my life, as well as my family’s.
Thanks, Jill!
shoptiludrop says
You’ve done SO much to help others. I’ve enjoyed donating to the food pantry as well as recommending your website/classes to hopefully help others as well. We have saved so much money already…it’s now our 1/2 year…can’t wait to start my spreadsheet (still need to get that going) and actually SEE how much our family has saved overall. Much deserved thanks and congratulations to you!