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:

Must read: Super-Couponing Contest winner announced

By:

Last week, I announced a contest to win a Bisquick Pancake Nation Prize Pack, containing everything you need to make a great pancake breakfast:

  • Bisquick
  • Cast-iron pancake skillet
  • Spatula
  • Large mixing bowl

To be eligible to win, I asked my readers to share a story about how coupons have changed the way you shop or a funny or memorable story about coupon shopping.

What followed were over 150 incredible, moving, humorous, touching and heartwarming stories of how coupons — little pieces of paper — have literally changed lives.

I was truly unprepared for the magnitude of some of the stories that were shared — this very quickly became much more than simply a pancake gear giveaway. It was very, very difficult to choose any single entry as the “best” — and for the past two days I’ve mulled over which entry was the most memorable to me.

Without further ado, congratulations are in order to NicoleElaina, the winner of this Bisquick Pancake Nation Prize Pack:

Super couponing was my fortune, and its one I try to share daily

Submitted by nicoleelaina on Thu, 03/04/2010 – 11:59.

After walking out of credit counseling in Woodstock and being told that the only solution left was to allow our house to be foreclosed on, I was ready to give up. I had no hope, no options left, no resources. I had even joined groups about being frugal and saving money to no avail. Then later that same week I got an email from one of the groups recommending going to Jill’s super couponing class. I had my doubts. It was a free class. Nothing is free in life – everything has a cost. Was it like one of those timeshare classes where you get bullied into signing over your life at the end? I signed up anyways, only to be told that the class was full, but they would put me on a waiting list. Days passed and my depression worsened – I still had no solution to my mortgage going up several hundred dollars a month each month and being behind on it. I didn’t want to lose my house; I have 5 kids, and I felt like a complete failure to them.

Then on a Saturday morning, I got a call that there was an opening for that couponing class I signed up for, and could I come to it even though it started in an hour. I thought about it, pushed my doubts aside and said yes I would. I got there early, went in, sat up front and waited for the catch as Jill started to do her presentation. An hour went by with me feverishly writing notes about all the different things and ways she saved money, the resources she used and the math behind the deals. And I was amazed. I walked out with my head spinning and I was dizzy. But most remarkably of all I was hopeful. I had been given an answer on how to help my family and make ends meet. I was almost afraid to believe it; it seemed too good to be true. So, I went home and educated myself for the next week, and when I went shopping the next time that I had money, I saved. I saved and I saved and I saved some more. I bought cheese and cereal and peanut butter and bread and soup and I still had money left after stock piling for my family of 7. I couldn’t believe it the first time I did it – I stood in the middle of Jewel at 11 PM fighting back tears when I realized what I had done. I proved that I didn’t have to lose my house to survive or starve my family to keep it.

I took everything Jill said to heart about sharing the wealth and I even was able to donate to the food pantry. I started telling everyone I knew that would listen about super couponing. One day I was talking to a neighbor and had a sudden realization that I could pay forward the gift I had been given with the super couponing. They have 6 little kids, she is a stay at home mom, and he has been out of work for over a year and a half. The government denied them food stamps because of a mistake on a form they filled out. They were depending on the food pantries which were depleted already for food, and she would constantly struggle to make a meal from what they did get.

I quickly realized that she could make super couponing work for them too. I told her I would show her how she can get food for her family for almost free. She said she only had a couple of dollars, and I told her that it would be more than enough. She didn’t believe me of course, who can blame her? I took her to Jewel and showed her what to put in her cart and then we went to the checkout. I gave her my cats from an earlier visit. This way she could start the process even though she had only a few dollars and I promised her she would be giving it all back to me when we were done so she would owe me nothing. We went thru the checkout process and she couldn’t believe her eyes. It cost her 42 cents and printed out coupons for the same dollars that I had given her. I then explained we would walk to the car, drop off the food and she could try doing it on her own and I would help her if she needed it. She went back into the store, picked out the food, checked out, used her cats, paid another 42 cents, and when she looked at me there were tears filling her eyes. As she gave me back the cats, she must have said thank you a dozen times to me. It was so amazing to see the hope and joy in her, and I couldn’t help but cry with her, I knew exactly how she was feeling.

I have done this with other people since then and I will continue to share the wonderful knowledge of super couponing for the rest of my life, because it is a life changing skill, and it’s a gift. Most people look at me like I am nuts when I tell them to buy 5 ice creams instead of one or two because it will be free then, and about half of them try it and the rest just ignore me and spend the extra cash. I don’t let it get to me, because it’s the ones that try it and like it that want to learn more, and usually ask me where I learned about it. You can guess who I send them to – Jill. It’s a shame that no one ever thought to teach super couponing during Consumer Ed class in high school – it would have actually been a useful class then; Super Couponing Class is the ultimate Consumer Education!

Again, to all that entered, it was SO difficult to choose one winner. I enjoyed reading every one of these entries, and you guys really made me understand in a BIG way what I, one person, have done to affect so many. Thank you so much for sharing your stories.

This giveaway was sponsored by Bisquick Pancake Nation! Bisquick Pancake Nation is a very cool program that helps non-profit organizations plan and host pancake breakfast fundraisers. If you volunteer with a school, scout troop or other non-profit, you might be interested in this, because from now through May 31st, you can apply for a $250.00 grant for your qualified non-profit organization so that you can host your own pancake breakfast fundraiser in your community! Bisquick is giving away a total of $50,000 in pancake breakfast grants, so this is absolutely worth checking out :)

Now, the legalese: Product, program information and prize packs are being provided from Bisquick through MyBlogSpark. I have received a Bisquick Pancake Nation Prize Pack, as well as information to help promote this program..

Comments

  1. Couponing has helped our family out financially so much. Although we moved here from the south (the land of double coupons) I saved so much more money on groceries down there. I do miss Publix and Kroger. But I am learning the new rules of the cat deals up here.

  2. I’ve been super-couponing since last October after my neighbor, (Thanks Steph!),shared this great way of shopping. I thought that I didn’t have time to do it, but when our finances started getting tighter and tighter, I relented and said “O.K., tell me!” We have a large family (5 kids) and this has been an incredible blessing to us in so many ways. The savings are fantastic, but the encouragement that is shown here on this website by Jill and so many of her loyal readers has made this journey one that has been lots of fun as well. My favorite story is one I posted on the weekend in which my dh and daughter did a high level blackbelt deal. Our whole family is hooked. Thanks a million Jill!

  3. It has saved my family so much!! It lets us do other things that we would not otherwise be able to do on a limited budget with 2 young boys who, by the way, LOVE pancakes for breakfast!!!!!!

  4. Super couponing has become an awesome hobby! I’m stocked up on stuff that DH and I both use and love at awesomely cheap items. I love thrill of coming home with over 100 bucks worth of groceries and only having to pay 5 bucks. We’re trying to save up for a house! I keep track of how much I have saved and then every couple of month we put that amount into our savings account!!! Since January 1st we’ve saved almost $300 in just me cutting coupons and doing Catalina Deals!

  5. i love couponing, it has saved my family alot. my hubby has been laid off for a year . unemployment puts us on a tight budget. couponing helps alot. i also use coupons and get my mom and uncle who are on fixed incomes stuff. if it wasnt for jill showing me the ropes , we wouldnt have half the food we do. we also wouldnt be able to get all the extras we get. such as starbucks for 25cents. thank you jill from the bottom of my heart. also thanks to talking about jills site, i have met some very nice people and made some great new friends

  6. After doing a “coupon battle” with a Walgreens fill-in store manager on a power trip I was getting back into my brother-in-law’s car to try a different Walgreens. Even my brother-in-law at this point said that we needed “to win”. A beautiful lady that had heard my discussion with the manager rolled down her car window and said to me, “Just so you know, you were right! I love coupons! Do you know anywhere around here that has double and triple coupon days?” I was not only validated but felt a strange sense of camaraderie. I spent the next five minutes sharing my coupon knowledge and experience with her.
    Coupons mean a challenge. They have taken something I had to do anyway and turned it into a scavenger hunt with a sprinkling of math trivia. Not only does my family benefit from the financial savings but they benefit even more when I return from the store with a smile on my face and a skip in my step for the prices I just paid.

  7. I’ve been super couponing for about one and half years…I don’t even remember anymore the last time I paid more than taxes for shampoo, toothpaste, floss, between other things. In the past paying let’s say something like $1.50 for cereal was great, today, it is really expensive!!!! I’ve been able to donate some food too, and I’m really happy, and thankful for everything that you thought me. Funny story…I guess taking my brother(he lives in Brazil) to super-coupon with me, we did like 14 trips to Jewel…in the end he couldn’t take anymore…:)

  8. I started Super Couponing a year ago this month. Having just been laid off I knew I was going to have to work harder to put food in the pantry. Then my aunt told me about Jill. Now, as you may have seen by my recent posts, I have to actually stop myself from going to the store because I am out of room. We are eating better than we were when I was working. In addition I’m helping others in my family who are having hard times. Teaching them how to coupon “properly” (Super Couponing!), giving away items from my surplus, and thanks to the kindness of cg1, showing them how they can find great deals in their area.

    I came for the coupons, and stayed for the community. Reading the boards is almost as much fun as getting the deals. It is refreshing to see that there are still people who will go out of their way to help someone else. Each day is like an episode of “These Are The Saves of Our Lives”

    Will JOAN CASTILLO’s perseverance finally get her a super cheap Swiffer from Dominick’s?
    Will a8n3fan be reunited with her Peach Neihi?
    Will Prea and Preasbro decide who washes the Thanksgiving dishes with a battle of the Spreadsheet of Savings?
    Will Coke create a year round HFCS free version called Cataldo Coke?
    Will Tripletts07 surpass us all in savings by shopping with 3 Blinkie Spotters in tow?
    Will CollegeCouponer meet the girl of his dreams at the newsstand when they both reach for the last newspaper with 4 inserts?!

    I’ll keep tuning in to find out and I hope everyone else does too!

  9. Super Couponing has been so much fun. It is challenging and makes you think, which is nice when you spend the day with a 5 and 4 year old!

    My husband commented the other day that couponing was my new job! Cutting coupons was as good as going out to work and getting a paycheck! (and this job I like)

    Plus, I love shopping. I don’t feel guilty bringing home bags of food for a few dollars.

    Keep the great information coming Jill!

  10. I attended my first supercouponing class two weeks after buying my first home. It’s allowed me to control my budget and eat better. It’s also saving me time. I do one big grocery shopping trip a month and fill in the gaps when sales strike.

    I see so many people my age struggle with money, but laugh at me for my “old-lady” hobby. I laugh all the way to the bank!

  11. I have seen supercouponing change not only my life but so many oher lives as well
    Last spring I started on your site on the advise of a friend Her husband was unemployeed layedid off and they actually ate better with supercouponing.
    I started off just trying so save a little money and then got sick this fall. Supercouponing helped me not only to help defry some of the medical bills it also took my mind off the cancer.
    Today I completd my last round of cehmo for a while and reading the board made the time go by so much wuicker and aso made me a lot of friends at the hospital.
    Now I am using the opportuity to show everyone I know, espesially my kids the value of mone.
    Well have to run two of the four want me to take them to Jewel to get more free stuff.

  12. I used to think coupons were, to put it nicely, stupid. Reasons?
    1. Spend all this time looking for coupons and cutting them out; is the money you saved worth the time you spent?
    2. Get excited about a coupon and spend MORE money than planned just because “I had a coupon”
    3. Coupon value is usually no more than $1 or $.50. Didn’t think saving $1 per shopping trip was really worth it. “It’s just $1!! If you can’t afford $1 more you are in trouble!”
    4. You’re not really ‘saving’ money. It’s not going into a savings account is it?!?

    But… I work part time as a waitress and my DH works weekends dealing poker for charity events. We have a 2 year old and a 2br,2ba apartment. Due to financial mistakes in our first year of marriage we are currently unable to buy a house. (Did I mention we only have 1 car? Luckily we have parents that don’t mind helping out when we are both scheduled to work on the same day!)
    However my DH recently made the AWESOME decision to go back to school, a 12week program for Pharmaceutical Tech. As they are a newer school they need the total payment by week 6 of classes.
    Thank God my friend told me about Jill at about the same time he made this decision!! Before super-couponing I was at least good at budgeting, hitting my $80/week consistently. After 3 weeks of Supercouponing I spend 30-50% less than my pre-coupon, shop at the supercenter days, by matching sales with coupons, and, my FAVORITE couponing strategy, CATALINAS!! I’m attending your class in Cary this coming Saturday (so excited!) and hope to reduce that by another 30-50%!!
    Supercouponing means we can better afford to pay my husband’s tuition. His certification will hopefully yield a new job and a more reliable, loan-approving income!
    We can save more towards another car and a new house!
    We are increasing our monthly donation to my favorite charity ($5 at a time)
    I am giving to the food pantry for the first time in my life. (God knows I need the room in my pantry after the GM deal!! lol!)
    My DH has taken to calling me “his little saver” :)

    A few funny stories?
    My coworkers are continually making fun of me for talking about coupons ALL. THE. TIME.
    I could barely contain myself when the self-checkout aisle I chose had 3 catalinas hanging out from the previous shopper. CATALINA JACKPOT!!!
    I giggled all the way to the car when the associate helping me at the self-checkout had to give approval because “your coupon value was so high, it wanted manager approval”. WOO HOO!!

    Thanks to Jill, and all the other contributors on this site, for teaching me a new way to shop (and live)!

    (Did I mention my 2 yr old’s favorite breakfast is “pacays”??)
    edit: I tend to be long-winded. Sorry bout that ;)

  13. Couponing to me has meant, I needed more shelves for storage, another freezer in the basement, more friends to share food and items with, lots of ink for my printer, and two Tribune deliveries.
    It means I paid WAY TOO MUCH for laundry detergent in the past and
    now I need to build on a storage shed for razors! I can only hope the hair on my legs keeps on growing!
    It means I now recognize ‘couponers’ in the store and have conversations with total strangers! I know my mother taught me not to talk to strangers, but I never listened anyway!
    Love this new shopping experience, Thank you Miss Jill! Love you

  14. I started my couponing adventure in August. I will never shop any other way as this has allowed me to:

    *help my extended family with groceries
    *make bigger and more frequent donations to my local food pantry
    *feed my preschoolers when they arrive so that they aren’t trying to learn on an empty stomach
    *eliminate the dreaded run to the convenient store because now we are well stocked

    It started simple enough and has become my favorite pastime. I especially enjoy sharing my adventures with friends and family and getting them into couponing, too.

  15. Since attending Jill’s class and following along on this blog site I (as a single mother with just my income) have been able to afford all those things I used to have to tell me son we couldn’t afford. I often found myself saying “I’m sorry but we don’t have money for that right not”….”not this time, maybe next week” only next time and next week took months to come (you know, those months with 5 paychecks instead of 4). Now when my son asks for a special treat from the grocery store I can actually afford to buy it for him.

  16. I started Super couponing in Novemeber during the $30/$15 paper towel deal…and ever since then have been “learning the ropes”. Like someone said, it’s become a part time job!

    This week, especially, has been out of control. My phone has been ringing off the hook from friends and family asking for an explination of your buck and catalinas.

    I’ve posted all my savings on facebook and I even made two SUPER cheesy videos I put on youtube for my friends to watch. In doing those videos and posts on facebook, other friends have started saving BIG! I love hearing from other friends who’ve been inspired to start super couponing! (of course I point them all here!)

    Last weekend I did my first..on my own..black belt…it’s taken me awhile to build up courage! When I left jewel I was literally shaking with excitment. I got in my van, called my husband, my sister and my sister in law ;-) Oh and I texted my best friend who’s on vacation ;-)

    I love saving money and can’t believe how many boxes of fiber one I have in my basement storage!

    Love this blog and thankful to Jill!

  17. Couponing has allowed me to be able to purchase a lot more on a budget. I’m a young wife and mother (25yrs old) of two children who works part time and goes to school part time and at first I thought that I was wasting my time cutting out coupons and thought that I spent more than what I saved. After reading this blog I have learned a lot and have saved a lot more. My family members look at me like I’m crazy even my husband and ask how I find the time to do it. I just say that if its going to same me money I’ll find time :) However, my husband loves to see my receipts after a purchase. My kids even look out for coupons for me and when they want something they ask me “Where can I get a coupon to buy this cheaper?” Lol

  18. My sister hooked me up with Jill’s video for a Christmas present, along with some organization supplies for my coupons. Thus far supercouponing has meant that at a time when I lost my job, I am able to help my husband’s paycheck stretch further. We have a three month old baby as well, and I could not believe that my price point for diapers (a HUGE staple item for us right now) would get down to 9 cents a diaper! I still remember a recent trip to Mejier when the coupons scanned…and somehow they ended up owning me 15 cents, but were not allowed to give us money back off of coupons and I told the lady just to let the next guy have it…I loved getting stuff for FREE! :D

    Robin Bradford, Plainfield, working towards a black belt!

  19. i would have to say coupondad’s year end “how do i stop”…the “dad” is vey modest and would not enter…so i am doing it for “dad”…btw i just broke our old spatula making carmel…

  20. to a movie and out to eat on the same day, without feeling guilty about spending money. I do thankfully have a job, and go to school (tuition, YIKES!!!), and along with rent, gas, etc. and the way I used to shop, I would feel bad about spending $$ on just “fun” stuff, but now just over a year after finding Jill, I can do “fun” stuff and not feel bad about wasting money that could have gone to rent, gas, etc.

    funny story–remember the Breyer’s buy 1 get 2 free (October??) And it was part of the yet unadvertised spend $30 get $15 back? Well I had read about that deal and stopped one night on my way home, didn’t have the Breyers coupons with me but did have a $5 cat in my wallet (from what I don’t remember), so I did that deal and now had $15 of cats. Well, the next afternoon me and a friend of mine were at Jewel, I wanted to do the ice cream deal again but did not have room for another 6 in my freezer, so he was getting 3 and I was getting 3 (my “treat”), so while at Jewel I decided to get the taco fixins I needed for dinner, so along with the the ice creams, cheese, sour cream, tortillas and lettuce, and now with my Breyer’s coupons and cats….my total was about 85 cents…yes cents…and the new cats came spitting out. He was behind me in line (with his $10 pack of Charmin, and NO coupons)…and his jaw dropped! He had heard about my deals before but this was the first one he actually witnessed….I think he finally believed me about how I get tons of stuff for nothing.

  21. That’s usually what I tell my students when I just want a paragraph. But there is so much to tell about how couponing since Fannie Mae’s free ice cream in June 2009 has changed my life. So I’ll stick to the funny ones.

    My grandparents were in from Mexico this fall and my grandfather noticed coupons falling out of my jacket pocket. He said I looked like a ‘viejita’ (old lady) with all my coupons. That same night, my grandmother decided to go to Jewel with me. Before getting out of the car she said, “M’ija (honey), what if you get in trouble. What if they accuse you of stealing for using all those coupons?” I couldn’t stop laughing and went in. She saw everything I was taking and I told her to watch. She refused to even be in the same lane as me. Can you believe she turned her back when I handed the cashier my coupons, in fear that security was going to come for me? She couldn’t believe it as we unloaded the car and then she wanted to know how I did it.

    People at work call me the coupon queen, correction…”I’m the princess,” I tell them. To learn more about the coupon queen, go to supercouponing.com. I’ve been asked to do a workshop on the correlation between couponing and scholarships. I never noticed that I am as enthusiastic when I talk about scholarships as when I talk about my coupon finds.

    And lastly, I have learned so much from Jill’s site that I go picture happy with my finds. I put them on my facebook page and there are people that get sick of all my pics and others who have taken it upon themselves to call me for items they’ve seen in my pics. Really? Am I the family grocer now?

  23. – I no longer haul up to Wisconsin to go to the mid-priced store
    – My pantry is stuffed with name-brand productsm that were cheaper than the store-brand that I used to buy
    – A marked reduction in grocery bill
    – Jewel is 2 miles away….Woodman’s was 17 miles. Grocery shopping was an all-day event.
    – Increased variety of food in the house…things that “we couldn’t afford” before
    – Actual relationships with cashiers: I know them by names, what they are having for dinner, etc.
    – I met my fellow couponers (and your followers) in the stores. “I can tell my brother by the flowers in his eyes..”
    – I’m prepared for the “dry spell” that will happen come April 1st when DH’s contract ends. Last year he went for 11 months without work. Who knows how long it will last this time.
    – Amaze your friends and impress your parents :)
    – Give a lot of help to people for very little money

  24. I started super-couponing in October 2009. Usually we spent between $800 and $1,000 per month on groceries, personal items, etc. I became a stay-at-home mom a couple of years ago after our 3rd son was born, so our finances were a little tighter than they used to be with two incomes. Although my husband is employed, our budget during October was SO TIGHT, we only had a little over $100 for groceries AND gasoline for the entire month. If any of you have a minivan and run your kids to school, practices, and everything else, you know that the gas cost per month is over $60 easily. I started joking with my husband that we were going to have to go through the McDonald’s drive through and ask for free packets of ketchup, then head over to Wendy’s and get some free packages of saltines, and call ketchup and saltine crackers dinner for the kids. At this point, all I knew what to do was pray. The next day at preschool, one of my friends told me about THIS VERY WEBSITE, which happened to coincide with the beginning of the big Scott paper towel deal of which there were none to be found. While driving home at 9 PM that same day, lo and behold I sat at a stoplight behind the Jewel delivery truck. And guess where it was pulling in . . . Since my friend insisted this deal was great for starting out I gave her a call, we met up at Jewel. She told me that the Cat machines update at 11 so we needed to get those paper towels before then! Time was ticking, and we stalked the teenage employees who were stocking the shelves until they finally got tired of us and gave us two cases of paper towels from the truck that was unloading. In that shopping trip alone, I bought so much for so very little. The noodles and rice could tide us over, the broth worked great to make massive amounts of soup, the flour helped to make baked goods. Within days of my prayer, my once empty freezer stood stocked to the top full of hearty food. I was running out of room in my pantry, and I still had $40 out of the original $100 left – plus Cats to use! Fast forward to today. My kids know that I will not be buying anything without a coupon, and they play games at the store when I take them with me to see who can find the best deal of the trip. This whole experience is not only fun, but it has also been a personal blessing. This has brought me to the point where our family is blessing others through food pantry donations. Not to mention the friends and family who are amazed and coming to your classes to become coupon kings/queens as well. The best part about it is I am starting to notice some of my skeptical neighbors at the stores with very specific (You Bucks) items in their cart. On this last note, my grocery bill will rarely exceed $40 per week which I never thought possible. Thanks to Jill and everyone else who continues to share their deals and ideas here.

  25. I started last year some time after having my ‘lil girl, I stay at home with her and it was very hard going from two incomes down to 1, but with Super Couponing and Jill, I managed to do grocery shopping most months in under $150! I restricted a lot of what we used to buy and now as things pick up I feel like I can let loose and take advantage of some of the great stock up deals I have always wanted to! Thanks Jill!

  26. Is that a HUGE mixing bowl or a small box of Bisquick??? LOL!!! If I win don’t forget to autograph the bowl for me, Jill!!! ;-)

    My story,
    My big sis PREA was one of the first to take Jill’s class. She contacted me right after trying to sell me on this couponing thing. I thought, “Yeah, yeah- I don’t have time to cut coupons / I used to use coupons but the values just aren’t the same / STUFF FOR FREE?!?!?! Yeah, right”. I still wasn’t biting.
    So after MONTHS of daily harassing phone calls (j/k). So then PREA called me on a Sunday night, “PREASBRO, KROGER HAS 4-PACKS OF CHARMIN ON SALE FOR .99. GO TO COUPONS.COM, PRINT THE .50 OFF COUPON (coupons double here in Michigan), AND GO GET YOUR FREE TP!!!”
    Hmmm…. So I did that… Got two 4-packs… for FREE… Great way to start! Then I raided my mom’s two computers the next day for the same coupon and a GM cereal coupon- I got four 4-packs of TP and a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch for .25 +tax!!! I couldn’t believe that happened- I have now been couponing for just over a year now and it the madness hasn’t stopped! :D
    I have had both epic success -AND- epic failure (I call them learning experiences).

    Anyway, couponing to me has lowered our shopping bill dramatically, and it has also sharpened my:
    1. Math Skills
    2. Puzzle skills (OK, match up the MF Q the the MM or Target Q, go to this website, go to that website… you get the picture)
    3. Social Skills (When walking into the store and seeing all your favorite workers and then turning into a politician, “Hey, how ‘ya doin’? Nice to see ‘ya! Thanks for comin’! What are you giving away today?” and then I’ll usually get a smile and/or a quick conversation). Learning to tactfully deal with cashiers also falls under this category.
    4. Family – My sis has lived in IL for like YEARS now, and I have spoken to her more in the past year more than I can ever remember.
    There’s days we’ll talk two or three times… and that’s cool! When my Mom, Dad and other sister visit, I give them a bag and access to the pantry, “Go, ahead!”. I LOVE being able to that!
    5. Communiity – Donations to the food pantry and giving quick couponing lessons inside stores helping others understand how to do this and save money in their wallets (Sunday a.m. inside 7-11 is becoming an unintended, regular thing).
    6. Mental Fitness – I’m not elaborating on this! It can go either way. Both newbies and black belts know what I mean… ;)

    AND finally- I need to give a BIG thanks to both Jill and my sister for the knowledge shared to me about couponing. It’s both a necessity and fun!

    Shopping from home has become a true statement. If I can do this, anyone can- is also a true statement.
    So with all of the food and health and beauty items in my stockpile, it seems the only thing missing is a box of BISQUICK… Hmmm… Wonder where I could get one of those… lol! :D

  27. Super couponing means to me more money I can put towards my mortgage payment since my husband has been off work since Feb 2009. A common thought, I know, but without you Jill I (we) would be spending so much more money then I (we) do now on groceries. I no longer go and fill up the cart with $100 worth of groceries once a week. You’ve taught me the stock up method and it works. Your website is so easy to use. I’ve attended super-couponing 1 & 2 and have learned so much about buying at the right time. Super couponing means knowing I’ll have food on the table everyday and never never run out of tolieties, that were all free by the way :)

  28. I’m a stay at home mom to 3 (soon to be four!!!) crazy kids. I used to spend every Sunday night cutting coupons and trying to organize,etc… But then I got tired of spending so much time cutting coupons while I wished I was playing with the kids. So for months the paper inserts just piled up in my garage. Then right before Christmas time, some friends in my moms group were talking about Jill. My Mom also saw something on tv and told me about it. So I “lurked” for a few weeks here, getting the courage to actually try it. Over Christmas I got my folder, organized the coupons that piled up in my garage and started off slowly. Now I’m addicted. My husband loves it and the kids have fun seeing how much food we get for so little!!

    And in my family I’m known as “The Pancake Queen” lol. So I would LOVE a new pan for pancakes!! :)

  29. I started couponing a year ago and have been in love with grocery shopping ever since. I go shopping on my “night out”. My husband shakes his head when I am on the computer looking at all the latest deals late into the night. My kids love breakfast for dinner. We have it once a week. This pancake set would be a blessing to our family. Thanks

  30. I’ve been couponing now for about 6 months. I recently quit my teaching job to stay home with my two wonderful little boys. My girlfriend told me about Jill’s classes and I attended one in August. Since then, I’ve been a coupon-aholic. Super-couponing has literally changed our lives. Because of all the money we save each week, I am able to stay home and devote my time and energy to my boys and my husband. I LOVE IT. We have saved SOOOO much money. So…I decided you know you’re a coupon-aholic when…you go to check out and your three year old son looks at you and says “Aren’t you going to use a coupon for that, mommy?” Okay…now that’s an addiction! Jill…thank you for all you do. It’s amazing to me and I can’t thank you enough.

  31. It’s irrelevant how you say it.
    It’s a conversation starter.
    It’s a hobby.
    It’s an obsession.
    It’s invading my dreams.
    It’s sad when I screw it up, but it’s great when I do it right.
    It’s 20 boxes of cereal in my basement.
    It’s just a quick run inside to grab the free Ragu.
    It’s my bragging rights.

  32. I recently became a stay at home mom to my twins, and learning how to supercoupon has taken a big weight off of my shoulders.

    The funniest thing that has happened to me is that the cashiers know my twins! I am pretty recognizable as I walk around Jewel (or Doms on occasion) pushing the stroller and pulling the cart. I get a lot of comments. One time I went to Jewel twice, and the self check-out attendant was saying to the kids, didn’t I see you here earlier today?

  33. Supercouponing has opened my eyes to a world of savings. As soon as I stumbled across your website, I ordered the dvd! I can’t wait until you come out with a Supercouponing 2 dvd! I love watching the price of groceries drop as I hand over my coupons! My husband was skeptical but now loves it. Thank you, Jill, for passing on the information that you knew about couponing. I check you website daily for deals!

  34. Super-Couponing has meant a lot to me! It’s meant I have extra money to spend on other things. It’s meant that I always have food in the house. And it’s meant that I have something useful to teach my friends! Thanks, Jill!

  35. I started super couponing about 6 weeks ago. I feel I became an “official” super couponer when last Tuesday, after watching the first live episode of this season’s American Idol, I drifted off to sleep. I awoke at 2 in the morning from a horrible nightmare. I was standing on stage holding a Walgreens receipt and Simon Cowell was critiquing my shopping as “dreadful” as I forgot to stack his $3.50 coupon for razors with the coupons I used. I must’ve been staring at his hairy chest and thinking how a cheap razor with a register reward would help him. I slept soundly before super couponing. sigh……….!

    :)

  36. I started in August of 09 after I had lost my job and was trying to cut some $ off my grocery bill. I have a son with food allergies so I have to buy certain brands and couldn’t figure out how people could get groceries for almost nothing. I am proud to say I am now one of those people. My husband thought I was doing something illegal like steeling or something…He happens to work for our favorite store and last summer I had to have him buy oil for me because the stores went to were out. I told exactly what to do and to make sure to get my catalinas. He passed with flying colors and he also let me know none of his co-workers saw him. He then realized what I had been doing.

    I have more food in my house than ever and spent so much less. I joke with my friends about how I have 26 bottles of ketchup in my basement. People think I am crazy but with 2 little kids, ketchup is a food group in my house. I get so excited when I get lots of stuff and pay so little. I recently got a new job, my cabinets are full and so is my basement, along with my wallet. My parents are retired and I share with them too. I am so thankful for what I have learned and all the money I have saved. Thanks Jill for making such a difference in our lives.

  37. Supercouponing means that I can have the pride of saving tons of money while not only stocking my pantry but also helping out family members, friends, and the food pantry. I LOVE looking at the spreadsheet to see how much I’ve saved. This website has become an addiction! I have had so much fun supercouponing so far and can’t wait to learn more at Super couponing 2 later this month!

  38. Couponing has given me financial sanity… Something that I did not think that was possible especially in this economy.

  39. 10. Who doesn’t need to save money
    9. Taking classes at a library at age 35 is fun and an “Out of the box” experience.
    8. The economy sucks
    8. When I talk to my teacher friends at lunch about all my free groceries, they roll their eyes, but I know they’re jealous
    7. My best friend Super Coupons and we share deals all the time
    6. What other reason is there to call the Chicago Tribune 3 weeks in a row to make them understand you REALLY want 2 papers on Sunday
    5. With all this crazy late night hype Jay and David could duke it out over coupon deals on live TV to make us laugh!
    4. My husband has enough shampoo to last him a lifetime
    3. At a time of economic struggles, it feels so good to share this knowledge with the local food pantry and make a difference. (Remember the Healthy Choice Soup Pyramids?)
    2. Its DAMN fun when I save more than I spend. ($45.00 in Cats from Jewel this week was insane!)
    1. I feel like a better person, smarter shopper and am making a difference in my family budget!

  40. I started couponing about a year and a half ago in an attempt to save my family money just like everyone else. I have two little boys and the cost of diapers alone was killing my budget!

    A friend clipped an article about Jill and gave it to me hoping to help me with my couponing. I immediately signed up for a class after going to Jill’s website in amazement. At the beginning of last year, I began a coupon journal to see how much I could save just by clipping the coupons. I remember Jill saying how excited she was because every Sunday morning someone threw $40 at the end of her driveway…so I wanted to see how much I could save in JUST clipped coupons. I didn’t include sale prices, preferred cards savings or clearance item reductions. I was able to clip over $4500.00 in clipped coupons alone…I wish I had added up all the other savings too:)

    My husband and I were able to turn that savings into a finished basement in our small home…adding much needed space for our children to play in (and a little pantry for Mommy too!)My neighbors have even gotten on board..they save me their inserts every week and help contribute to my savings.

    Jill has truly changed the way I shop forever. I am so thankful for all that you do to help your devoted readers every week, you have changed so many lives and families with your knowledge and all your faithful followers are a testament to your devotion and passion for couponing. It becomes contagious…sometimes I come home with a coupon “high”. I continually sing your praises, brag about my “finds” and am always eager to say I learned it from Jill…My Coupon Guru. I think I tell people about your website more than I talk about my kids….maybe not, but you are a close second Jill. Thank you for helping to put much needed extra money back into our family’s pocket every month. We are truly grateful.

    One last thing, a very important thing. Jill has taught me the skills to help me give back to my local food pantry and contribute to the troops on a regular basis. Not only is the experience of giving fulfilling, but I am teaching my children a very important lesson and the joy of giving to others…it doesn’t take a lot of money to give a lot…just a little bit of time. I try to give every month and I think my proudest moment was when one of the volunteers asked me if I was a Super-Couponer and I replied “YES” with a giant smile on my face. They were also excited as they told me they were off to one of your classes the following day. Thank you for all that you do Jill, I cannot say it enough!!!

  41. I nedd to attend Jill’s class soon but I dont drive & take care of my aging mom who’s 84 & am not working @ the moment. Coupons have been a passion for many years but it’s been so time consuming. I’ve bonded w/ my best friend’s daughter over couponing as she’s taught me so much.(She attended a class) I thought I was good, but now I’m even better. I have yet to learn on cutting as I get multiples & need to get more organized in less time.
    My proud moment was shortly after I bought a freezer from Jewel w/ the coupons included. Bought some groceries totaling $60, & w/ my Jewel freebie coups, Catalinas, & Wags RR, it went down to $3.33. I’m officially a coupon queen. Thanks Robin & I cant wait to meet Jill!
    As for Bisquick that’s been a favorite of mom’s for a long time & she loves them still & she’s picky so that’s a good thing for us!

  42. I started this super-coupon adventure in January 2008 after I read an article written by Jill in my local paper here in South Florida. I told myself, I can do this! Now, down here we don’t have Jewel or Catalinas or the competition that y’all up north have, so I can’t do the mega awesome deals but I have gotten to the point where I don’t save anything less than 75% when I shop. It seems shameful when I see a good deal but pass it up because it’s not a super good deal. Pay for toothpaste? body wash? Amateurs. My eyes have been opened and I have seen the light! And it’s a blinkie! Ha ha! Thanks Jill for the inspiration – I owe it all to you! Now off to print more Q’s!

  43. This has to be the hardest question anyone has ever asked me regarding my couponing, with the exception of, “When is the last time you walked into a Dominicks?”. (Can’t recall that answer).

    As I think about the past 18 months of super-couponing, I think I’ll let you know how it all started for me. In June of 2008 I went to a mandatory training session for Girl Scout leaders – ugh. Everyone had to go around the room and tell who we were and what we did for a living. The minute this lively petite woman said, “Hi, my name is Jill, and I am a coupon queen”, my ears perked up and I heard practically nothing else all night, as I tried to keep an eye on her so I could “corner her” after class to find out what she meant. I had heard of people like her, buying carts full of groceries for pennies, but I never really believed it. So after the training session, I approached Jill and asked her how she does it. She told me to call the Huntley library and register for her free class coming up in August. Little did I know how that chance encounter would change my life and the lives of so many others. And to think, I almost rescheduled my training for another day! Yikes!

    In the 18 months I have been a super couponer, not only have I been able to stock my own home with everything I need from the store, but I have been able to teach others, help others, and give to others like never before. I have helped family members on the brink of financial ruin make a grand come-back against their pile of debt. I have been able to help countless people I see standing in check-out lines overcome the shock of that $160.00 grocery bill. I have been able to become a leader, and introduce them to the teacher – Jill.

    My greatest accomplishment through all this has been my ability to give and give and give to the food pantry. Every week, as the shelves at home are bursting, my freezer doors barely closing with family and friends storing perishables for me, and I could probably live on my stockpile for 6 months without ever stepping into a grocery store, I proclaim to my family, “I am NOT going shopping this week!” And it is then that I remember the food pantry. I remember the people who are there that don’t even have a days worth of food in their homes. The families that have been devastated and ruined by the economy, and it is then I feel guilty about my stocked shelves. I get up and drag myself to Jewel late at night just to grab one more deal, when what I really want to do is curl up with that book that’s due back to the library this week, or catch up on my favorite tv show. On my drive over to Jewel, as I recall the cereal castle, the ton of Progresso, the towers of toothpaste, the pallet of Wesson, the bags of flour, the months worth of eggs, the Ragu, the pasta, the shampoo, the soap, the paper towels, the laundry detergent, the Breyers, the razors, the dental floss, the Hellmans, the hotdogs, the yogurt, the ketchup, the peanut butter, the frozen foods, the meat and fish and all the items I’ve given over the past 18 months, it brings a little pep to my step. Because of the tools Jill has given me, another family will have dinner, another child will eat breakfast, another family might make it through. I can’t imagine any other way I would like to spend my late nights. Oh sure, my house cleaning gets put off and my laundry is forever piled up, but it is all worth it if someone else’s life is made just that much easier. The value of my donations for 2009 went well into 5 digits – and yes, there is a lot of out of pocket expense with this, but it is well worth it to me. Instead of saving my savings for something big for us, I spend it on something little – that’s big to someone else.

    None of my donating would be possible if it weren’t for Jill teaching me to save and the wonderful staff at my Jewel who are always ready, willing and able to order me whatever it is I’m looking for, and even giving me my own cashier for those huge purchases when I have cats I have to roll and roll. So as I write this and look around my living room, I see stacks and stacks of YB items just sitting, ready to go help a family get through, just one more meal – and I am humbled by it all. Who would have thought that it would be me, giving away, all that?

  44. To me learning to super-coupon has, first and foremost, meant saving money for my family. I remember reading the Sunday paper last June and seeing one of Jills articles. That night I went online and just found this unbelievable world that I never knew existed! I had started cutting coupons that I thought I could use a couple months previous to this and I would throw them in my purse and forget about them. But this whole super-couponing thing was amazing to me. No advanced clipping! Getting things for practically pennies on the dollar! It has 100% changed the way I shop. I do not look at buying ANYTHING the same as before Jill.

    The second thing it has done for me is an unbelievable self-esteem boost. I’ve been a stay at home mom for 7 yrs now and have always struggled with that idea. The fact that I don’t bring home cold hard cash has always bothered me. I always felt like I was not doing my part for our family. Like I was just the little wife at home wiping little bottoms all day. But I really do feel different now. As cheesy as it might sound I feel like I have a greater purpose in our financial future. Now I know that yes I am the little wife at home wiping bottoms all day but I contribute by saving us a whole boat load of money! I actually feel smarter every time I go through the checkout and the total just keeps going down and down with every coupon and special deal. And my heart warms when I come home and see that our cupboards are full and my hubby and kids never complain that we ran out of ketchup or toothpaste. I simply feel more purposeful.

    And for more then the saving money part (although that is awesome!) I thank you Jill for helping me feel smart and useful again.

    And I thank you for my bathroom cupboard being full of beautiful (free or close to it) shampoos and conditioners and hair stylers! My bird nest hair loves these so.

  45. When I started Super Couponing I looked at saving money for my family.
    It quickly turned into helping my friends, neighbors, my son’s daycare, and of course the food pantries.

    When I came up with the blog nickname, I didn’t think it would describe my addiction or obsession with it.

    I never realized how much money I could save. To even think that I am saving 50-60% on groceries and 80-82% on personal care items. I never thought I would see the days where I would pay only tax on items and get money towards my next purchase.

    Super-couponing has changed the way we spend money in our family.

    Thank you Jill for all your efforts and the bloggers who post the deals, you have become indirectly a part of our family and all the other bloggers.

    Good luck to the winner!

  46. My husband and I work hard and struggle every month to pay the bills on time and in full. In today’s economy, I know that we are not alone.

    When I started researching Super Couponing and reading about Jill, I felt inspired. I too have 3 children and I thought, if she can save some serious money using COUPONS (I grew up thinking coupons were akin to welfare, embarrassing to admit, but it’s true) well then, darnit, so could I. I took Super Couponing 1 and 2 at the end of 2009 and some weeks are better than others, but I am consistently saving 30-50% a week on groceries and household items, each week I strive to save a little more than I did last week. I remember the first time I got an awesome CAT deal at Jewel, I was so excited, I left my purse at the check out counter. The bagger chased me into the parking lot to give it back to me.

    I have a great coupon buddy that I shop with and, of course, I know I have the support of Jill and everyone who follows this site. Couponing has given me a sense of pride and I can’t help but giggle sometimes at the deals I’ve gotten.

    Thanks for all you do, Jill.

  47. My family can have almost anything they want at any time in my home. We never run out of food, drinks or extras. We can have friends over and not worry about getting food since we are stocked. My pre schooler brings extra since she states they do not have a snack! (I had to stop her because of allergies & parents need to know what their child is eating.) We also donate more often than in the past!

    It is my full time job!

  48. When you find that great deal and then leave the store, I am on such an exciting hi that I want to tell everyone about the deal that I just scored. I get home and show the dh and he just looks at it and says “Uh hu”. Hey a little more excitement here I just scored the perfect deal with my coupons, they paid me to buy it. My sister and I go out and we call it Free Shopping. I love to Free Shop. It drives me crazy when I am at the store and I look at other peoples carts and they are not buying the deals, are they crazy or dont they no about them or even care. Maybe it takes those special people to be able to juggle all the sales and on top of that know your coupons. Hale to the Queen:)

  49. I can’t believe how it has changed my life. It has opened a new door of opportunity which leads to a network of couponing friends, challenges and super deals! This economy has made life difficult for all, but because of super couponing, I am able to share food and goodies with my family, friends and strangers as well. Thanks to Jill and her caring nature, each of us super-couponers are making our world just a little bit nicer and a kinder place.

  50. My SIL filled me in on how she kept rolling her register rewards when they were still putting them on gift cards at Wags. A few months later I heard from another shopper in my line at Jewel, that had a wad of coupons in her hand, to go to Jill’s site. From there I started tracking the deals and starting slow. I finally made it to Jill’s class a few weeks ago. I have now done 3 black belt deals in the past week and am totally hooked. My SIL has always been the deal finder in the family but I think I am rivaling her now.

  51. with a clipped newspaper article given to me from my Father in law (who by the way is the Director of Finance for the city where I live).
    He saw the article advertising Jill’s class and thought it might be a “good day out of the house for some mommy time”. Little did he know that he changed my way of shopping forever. After attending Jill’s first class and seeing the blinkie light, I was hooked and told anybody who listened. I grabbed some friends and went to Jill’s second class. What an adventure it is to coupon. I love coming home with groceries to see the hubby wondering how much I spent on groceries and then to pick up his jaw off the floor when I tell him FREE or they paid me!!!!
    What a concept!! I love being able to provide for my family and have leftover moola for fun things!!!!
    THanks Jill!! I’m sending more newbies your way!!!

  52. I started couponing about a year ago when I read about Jill in the Daily Herald. My husband had just lost his job and I thought this might help. I can’t believe how much it help!!! I really believe we would not have made it through this past year with out learning how to coupon, because my husband is still unemployed. It has also been a lot of fun to save the money. A few of my friends and I go out every Wednesday “dealing” and are well known by the employees who work Wednesday night at Jewel and Dom’s. Thanks for all the help.

  53. Soon I will be cutting back on my hours at work so that I can spend more time at home. Making this change will also reduce my work-related travel time…….thus resulting in more time at home. However with this I will also reduce my take home pay. Super-couponing is helping me to make up for part of my income loss. I have always been a bargin shopper but this method just takes it to a whole new level……thank you Jill! Now I am confident we will be okay and I will be able to afford to stay home and spend more time with my kids!

  54. I just had to share with everyone how exited I am about what I have learned! I have always hated grocery shopping, but now every Monday I log on to see what kind of exiting deals are going on. After logging on to Jill’s blog site, I saw the super amazing catalina deals that were going on at Jewel. I spent about 32.00 and received $33 back in YourBucks!! Talk about LOVING grocery shopping now =0) Thanks Jill I owe you big time!

  55. Where to begin. I heard about Jill from a friend at work. Wanted to pass on the information to my parents, but I wanted to sit down and check out this Jill person. I logged on, and said no way does this work. Ok. I am going to try it, and see what happens since I have a family of 4 and sometimes 5, and 2 dogs to boot. I remember walking into Jewel with my step daughter, and I got 1 tide, 1 crest, and 2 Pantene hair shampoo, and conditioner. I walked up to the checkout very nervous, and coupons in hand, and I was trying to do a Catalina deal and….. IT WORKED…. I got my deal, and have been addicted ever since. Pulling people with me to go to Jills classes, and I have yet to go to Coupon 2. I really want to go though. My friend on Facebook asks me. What are the deals, what did you do? Did you go to her class yet. I think Jill has become my life, and I know she doesn’t even know me. I love all of the people on the website who try to make deals happen, and everytime I go to post something good… Someone always beats me to it. I need to get faster, but I now have a new hobby. LOL!!! Even if I don’t win this contest, I can at least say I appreciate everything from not only Jill, but to everyone who has helped me out with deals. I work part time, and my husband’s work was threatening possible layoffs. Jill happened at the most perfect time. I needed to do something, and fast. Turns out, no layoffs so far, and still one heck of a shopper… My blessings to all!!! Thank you!!!

  56. So I have just started out and already saved close to $200 in the past 2 weeks how exciting. From the adreniline rush, preparing my list for the store to the organizing everything once you get it home. I’m amazed at what I learned from attending one class!

    My kids are always so excited about checking in the trunk to see what as they say “crazy coupon lady” did today. They are enjoying their special treats and also love running their own transactions.

    Thanks for everything! I dream about my next coupon deal almost every night:)

  57. Super couponing has really saved our family. With both my husband and I being laid off, we only had about $50 a week to spend in groceries. Let me just tell you how said that is when you know nothing about couponing. But, thanks to Jill, if nothing else is going well for our family, they sure are eating well. So, many thanks to Jill.

  58. My favorite coupon moment was when I pulled up to my food pantry this past summer and ran in to ask if they had a cart or someone that could help me carry things in. The nice man came out with his cart and looked at the back of my minivan that was FULL (with the seats down). He looked at me and asked, “Where did all of this come from?” and I said “Jewel”. “No, no, I mean which group or organization is this from?” “Just me”. The shock on his face was priceless. I explained to him that I was not a hero, just a SuperCouponer, and that he too could do this. I am going to quote Prea here because one comment of hers resonated so strongly with me. “Instead of saving my savings for something big for us, I spend it on something little – that’s big to someone else.” Amen, Prea! Pay it forward.

  59. Super Couponing has meant so much to me!! I’ve been following this site for a little over a year (heard about it on Johnny B!). It has changed my life! I save so much money, and my family loves all the wonderful food I bring home. I have saved enough money by shopping with coupons, that I was able to pay off a $2,500 credit card bill over the past year! And, now I am able to put money into savings!
    And, not only that, but I have found a new hobby that I really do love!!

  60. I am new (only about a month) to super-couponing and a stay-at-home mother of two beautiful girls. The General Mills cat deal was my first. I had no idea that any of this existed until my hair stylist told me about you last summer. I was pregnant with our second daughter at the time and thought it sounded like a great way to save money since we would have two in diapers come July. I kind of forgot about it when she was born, as you can imagine, but then the Plano Library hosted one of your seminars for free in January and I was able to go see you in person. You are inspiring! From that moment on, I decided I was never going to shop my “old way” again. I started saving all of my coupons and got an accordion file to organize them. I love your “clipless” system because I used to just cut the coupons for things I used on a regular basis, but the insert would sit on the kitchen table for a few days or weeks until I got to them and it would drive me crazy. Now, I just mark the date on the front and put the insert in the file. No more clutter on my kitchen table!!
    I thought it would take a long time for us to feel the affect from super-couponing, but we have felt it nearly immediately. The first couple of weeks I saved almost half each week on our groceries and we even had some money left over at the end of the month. I used to feel “crushed” by our grocery bill, but now, I feel like I am in control of our grocery bill. I truly thank God for you, Jill! I feel that He has used you in my life to be a much better manager of our resources. I already feel much more able to share with our family and friends. It’s not about getting a box of cereal for $0.38, even though that is wonderful, it’s about having more money to use in a way that we choose.
    A cute story for you. My 2 1/2 year old daughter said to me the other day, when I found a coupon that I had been looking for, “Yay, Mommy, you found a coupon!” She’s the next generation of super-couponers. I’m sure she’ll be way better than me before I know it. She’ll be doing black belt deals by age five!

  61. What Jill has done for us is two-fold. My husband has only worked 2 years out of the last 6, so needless to say, she has changed my way of shopping forever, and helped us save money in so many ways. My kids now say to me when I come home from the store and I start displaying my “finds”, “What did you get from Jill this time?” :)

    Secondly, the town I live in has started its own mini-food drive. There’s a special lady in our town that is willing to keep the groceries at her house, and every weekend people from our town come and help themselves, or we deliver it to those who need it. Talk about paying it forward!! Jill, you have no idea…

  62. What super-couponing has done for my family is awesome. My husband and I have started our own bussiness with the money that I have been able to save. I have also been able to teach my 4 children about saving a dollar and about paying our good fortune forward to the local food pantry and soliders overseas. All of these things would not be possible without the help from super couponing. My children used to say ” Mom and her stupid coupons”. Now they say “Mom when you see a coupon for this will you buy it for me” or ” Mom where can I get a coupon for this”. It is a truly awesome feeling when you teach your children to stretch a dollar and how important it is to give back to the community.

  63. I’ve always been one to watch my money and clip and use coupons from the sunday paper. I’ve even always had my dad give me his coupons from his sunday paper each week. But my couponing was never as extensive as it is now since attending Jill’s class! I never even shopped at walgreens or jewel because in my mind, their prices were way too high. I was always a walmart/meijer shopper. I got started about 2 months ago following these coupon deals that are posted here and watching everyone’s comments. After each time i finish a crazy coupon outing, I am so excited about it I either call my husband or rush in the door to show him all the crazy deals I found. My favorites are finding free razors, shampoo, pizza sauce, etc and knowing that it’s ok if we won’t use it, i can always donate it and know that it was something i was paid to purchase! :) Just after 2 months, I’ve noticed a huge DECREASE in our grocery bills and the amount of food that is still stocked in our pantry. Thanks for all the posts and deals that we all can follow each week! It’s so much fun each week to look up what the new deals are going to be and shopping for them all. My 3 yr old is forced to come along, as we shop during the day. Because of this, I often need to let her pick something out as a special treat…this is no problem though, because i make a big deal out of the “treat” and she chooses from one of the special deals! Sunday she picked out 5 BOXES (wow mom, that is so many!) of fruit snacks (needed to work up to get my cats!) Monday she got to pick out strawberry milk, her own bottle that she could drink the whole thing, and Tuesday she got to pick out Cinnamon Toast crunch with a free car inside. (we had to get 2 of these so her brother could get a car too…) Anyway, part of our new daily (or every couple days) routine includes stopping by walgreens or jewel to take advantage of these deals. I even tried to “Share” my knowledge of coupons with another mom who was shopping with 2 1.50 coupons on cereal, and she looked at me like i was crazy. I was trying to explain how she could get 6 larger boxes of cereal (it was a black belt deal!) with the $7 coupon back, her 2 coupons, she would be down to about $5 for 6 boxes of cereal, and she said “no, i think i’m going to get 2 each of these smaller boxes because they are cheaper. So she bought 6 small GM cereals, used her 2 coupons, lost out on the $7 coupon, sale price, and paid way more! I wanted to follow her in line and prove what a deal i had found, but i didn’t have time because i had to keep shopping! It’s so exciting knowing how to save money, i want to share your ideas with anyone i see shopping!

  64. My brother introduced me into Super-Couponing several months ago and we’ve come closer to eachother and others in our family. My brother is 7 years older than me and in a different place in his life than I am, but we have coupons in common. We talk nearly every day about one deal, coupon, store or another. We even shop together when I go to visit and it’s fun. I’ve never been one to care about how I look to other people, but both my brother and I are huge nerds when it comes to couponing and when we are together, it’s just funny. In addition to building my relationship with my brother, I’ve become closer to my in-laws by sharing my stories, good or bad, and the obvious, sharing my food or other products that I buy in bulk. The only downside is that my husband is having a hard time dealing with the amount of food and such we have in the house. He’s even had to put up new shelves to store some things, but that gives him something to do while he is home all day (another innocent victum of lay-offs). I’ve never been good with money, and before couponing I used to spend all my extra money on clothes or shoes that I would wear once, but now I get things I will use, someone else will use or at the very least won’t go out of style by the time I am ready to use them. A lot of positive things have come since I began couponing I could go on for days. The main point is, I am happier and that usually makes the people around me happier, because I feel good about helping other people that are close to me and they appreciate everything I can give them. My math skills have also improved!

    Thanks,
    Melissa Moran

  65. I know, it sounds a bit dramatic, but it truly has! I am a single mom who has always struggled. In July, my friend invited me to a class to learn the strategies that she was utilizing to feed her family of 4 for almost nothing. I was a bit skeptical, but I went and all I can say is WOW!!! My cupboards are stocked, and my wallet isn’t empty anymore!!! It is such a relief to be able to breathe again. I am not stressed out all the time, worrying about money or how I can possibly take care of my 5 year old daughter all by myself. We have money to enjoy life with now and I really, truly, owe it all to Super Couponing!! It has changed my life!! :) THANK YOU!!

    Amy Papoccia

  66. but I want to put some of it here too, mostly so Jill knows how much she has helped our family. The pancake package would be a bonus, but I know by posting here she’ll read this and that’s important to me!

    Super Couponing has given us something priceless…financial peace of mind. What I’ve learned over the last 2 months has completely changed our lives.

    My husband and I have 3 children and I’m a SAHM. Last year he took a big paycut but thankfully is still employed. The pay cut hurt us more than we ever imagined and we weren’t prepared for it like we should have been. Medical expenses are our biggest challenge, all of our boys have varying degress of a certain disorder, one of them being special needs. Two of them get private therapy and one is in Early Intervention. Insurance does cover some of these costs, but not all, and it adds up. Groceries and personal care items were another big budget buster. I hated to shop, hated spending the money and would just grab whatever and throw it in the cart. Not the best way to shop, I know, but that’s what my life was like at that point. That all changed one day when I saw a friends post on FB about how much she had saved at Jewel. I was hooked and bought Jill’s DVD that day. (I wanted to attend a class but with our schedule it just wasn’t possible.) When I say that $20 was the best money I’ve EVER spent, I mean it. It’s worth far more than that. I’ve learned so much from the DVD, this blog and attedning Super Couponing 2. Our grocery/personal care budget now fits in our monthly budget, which I thought could never happen. We eat better now than I think we ever have, not only healthier but I’ve rediscovered my love of cooking. Grocery shopping had now become a game instead of a chore and while I still mess up (like my CHILL today arghh!) I’m far better off than I was before. I can now make regular drops at the food pantry which makes me feel incredible and it’s a wonderful lesson for my children about how we can help others.

    I’m still in awe of the amount of time and effort Jill puts into her classes and this site. She asks for nothing in return. She does this because she wants to help people, especially in times like these. Jill you’re doing more than helping people, you’re changing people! I hope you realize how much you do for us and how much it’s appreciated. You’ve done far more for my family than I can put in words and I hope you realize that. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    On a side note..you’ve also taught my children. :D My 22 month old’s newest word is “cooooopon”, he said it for the first time while handing the cashier my entire coupon wallet while I was loading the belt. My 4 year old said while buying a toy with his own money at Wag’s “But Mommy, I don’t have a coupon!” so I handed him a RR of course! And my 7 yr old is a pro at playing the “I spy a blinkie” game. He scans the aisles and yells “blinkie alert” when he sees one. Shopping is so much fun now!

  67. OMG!!! I am so excited!! I thought I was the queen doing price matching and using coupons but going all the way to walmart!! NOPE!! Not anymore!! I can now go to Jewel which is right down the street…not have to drive 20 min to get a good deal!!
    My friend told me about this site… of course she doesn’t use it she has a friend who uses it… she told me to try it out and get back to her.. well… I’m telling everyone!!
    So yesterday I went on the site… did some reading and today started printing and clipping!! I registered my card yesterday and they said today it would be working.. ( it was )
    I was so excited watching my bill go down and down with all the coupons and sales!
    And the most exciting part….. I got $37.50 back to use on my next purchase!!! I can’t wait to go back…. I think I might go again tomorrow because a new sale starts and I could end up paying only $10.00 for like 3 bags of groceries!!
    Thank God for you Jill!!! I will probably check back everyday!
    And I can go down the street and save money on gas too!!

  68. I started back in September of 09′ just for the heck of it. My family had no need per say to save money on groceries. What we wanted is what we got. After I started though I changed my mind. Saving was fun. It became a game. My husband loved it when I walked in the house with bags full of Breyers ice cream that they paid ME to take home. In December he became laid off for the winter no warning. Fret I did not for I had Super Couponing. I budgeted $75 dollars a week for all groceries diapers and all. Well needless to say that was most weeks WAAAAAYYYY to much. We are now into month four of his lay off and I still have not worried about whether we will have food on the table or a diaper on our sons bottom because I know I will. And that I will for months to come if need be, hopefully only til April though. Thank you very much Jill for teaching this. Because without it I really don’t know what I would have done.

    P.S. When my husband got laid off we had nothing in the savings account, nothing to “fall back” on.

  69. I was a stay at home mom going through a divorce, had two little kids, and no child support. I needed serious help. I started working a part time job so I could still be around my kids to raise them and not put them in daycare. A good friend of mine introduced me to your site and I started reading away. Let me tell you how much this has saved my life. I was able to take myself off WIC, I do so much better on my own! I save so much money. My cabinets are bursting, with BRAND NAME stuff! My kids get the stuff they want. I can give to the food pantry and goodwill. I have met so many people and helped them too. Thank you Jill. You really have changed my life.

  70. With just a few clicks, printing some pages, a quick run to Walgreens for the papers (my hubby won’t go for subscriptions … yet), and some reading, I save enough to work at paying down my debt! This month we finish paying on our windows. Yay!

    On top of this, the cashiers are AMAZED even though I’m sure I’m not the only one doing this at my store. But, after cashing in $36 in Catalinas plus other item-specific coupons, the cashier tonight asked me if I wanted a bag for my receipt and all of the new Catalinas that printed on my purchases!

  71. Well im a single mom and recently got laid of in November. That being said I had to figure out ways to save money to still be able to do the things that i enjoy. I have used coupons but never really made them work for me like they should. So my New Years resolution has been to become a better shopper. Ive been learning as much as i can through to blogs and it has made a difference in my life. Its a game that i enjoy playing! and the less that comes OOP makes me feel like a winner. Not only have i learn, and still continue to learn, to save on everyday things but realizing that there are so many deals are out there. the catch is looking for them. I started telling my current BF about coupons and now he is into it as well. I thinks its cute! So now we both work as a team, and its great. I also glad that i will get the opportunity to teach my daughter as she gets older, for now she enjoys holding mommies coupons when we go shopping. I also registered for one of your coming up classes and possibly, the honey and i will be there. : ).

  72. I felt very guilty about staying home with my son while looking for work. Silly, I know, but I felt I needed to contribute financially. Until our son came along, I WAS the breadwinner for our family, so the complete financial turnaround was a bit of a shock. I’m glad a friend turned me on to super couponing, because I can see we already have a bit more cushion each month in our checking account. It makes us feel like we are more in control of our finances, that is for sure!

    I guess you could say that I am glad our finances are not such a point of stress for us anymore. I made some small goals (new year’s resolutions,really) the first two of which were giving back to charities like the food bank and getting a new bed for our guest bedroom.. I am already giving back to charity! It feels so good to give back.

    I have the best time shopping with my son – he LOVES pulling blinkies out and handing them over to Momma.. And every CS person we see, from cashiers to stockboys, love meeting him and getting him to smile and of course, he LOVES smiling at them and saying HI ;o)

    He is growing so fast that sales like the 50% off clearance at Old Navy have come in VERY handy! All of the diaper stock up deals have come in pretty handy as well. My favorite so far – $1.50 per jumbo pack for Earth’s Best at toys’r’us. Recently, I included one of those packs of diapers in a huge bag of baby gifts for a friend – tons of bottles of baby wash, diapers, wipes, lotions and even butt paste for under $7! I put together another gift bag for another friend for under $10.. It’s amazing how much you can do with ten bucks!

    Tonight, I got my first register lock from using a lot of coupons! It felt like a milestone for me! All that AND my hubby was so excited about the baby back ribs I bought with my overage – I’m just thrilled with the results!

    It also helps me to know that now that I AM back at work, our situation will only get better. It also means that sticking with the super couponing will help us meet our financial goals for the year that much faster! I can’t wait to watch us reach the personal milestones I set for our family this year :o)

  73. Super-Couponing has been a saving grace to us. I have been laid off for over a year now and thanks to this new way of shopping, my fridge, cabinets, and freezer are never bare. My DH is also seasonal so come winter time it is even a harder hit for us. I don’t think it is even the saving the money on the groceries, it is all of the personal items, razors, deodorant, etc, especially with a teenage daughter and a son hitting puberty. I also am able to donate to the local food pantry, which makes me feel so great, because I know several people in our situation that are losing their houses on a daily basis, and here I am going and giving away FREE products to help people out that are actually in the same situation that I am in. I honestly think couponing has been my saving grace and yes of course a slight ok maybe a major addiction, but hey it’s a good one. I try to teach and tell everyone i know about it. I heard about Jill by overhearing a conversation about 25 cent ziploc bags and I have been hooked since July. It also helps me connect with my Grandma, she saves me her coupons every week and I go see her every week to go pick them up, of course after she clips the ones that she wants, and some times it just happens to be the 2nd one of a particular coupon I was waiting for, but hey we all love our Grandma’s right. Thank you Jill for all that you do. You are an outstanding woman. You save so many families each and every day!!

  74. I have been super couponing since May of 09. I started after realizing we needed to change the way we spend our money. We set up a budget which included $200 a week for groceries, down about $400 a month from the usual. We have a family of 8 and I was really happy with $200 a week!! About a couple of months into it I saw a couponing class at my library. I went and now my groceries cost about $50 a week!!!! Yippee!! We have more food than ever before!!! My pantry is full, we have enough personal care items and cleaning items stocked for a year!! What a difference it has made. I have taught my husband and my 2 older kids. It is fun, who would have thought we could walk out of the grocery store with such a awesome feeling? I have taught friends and family, we actually have a great network helping each other out. It has been so fun, thanks Jill for everything you did for us!! We have a entire financial now and will be able to save enough money for all our kids college in a very short amount of time. YOU TRULY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU HAVE MADE FOR OUR KIDS FUTURE!!! Someday I would love to tell you.

  75. I remember when I was young, I would watch these ladies on t.v. who would have cart-fulls of groceries and pay like 1.00 for them. I would say, “Mom, we have got to learn this…” My mom was a couponer. Not like this though. For some reason, in the summer of 2008, I decided to track how much we were spending on groceries for two months. At the time, it was just me, my husband and our 18 month-old son. First month: 498.00. In the middle of tracking the second month, I got a flyer from the library and saw some coupon lady was giving a class. I signed up and waited for September 20th to come. 2nd month: 503.00. This was insane. And I did not count trips to Walgreens or diapers.
    As I thought about the upcoming class, all I could picture was some 60 year-old lady behind a metal shopping cart with her coupon wallet telling us how to use scissors. My husband thought I was nuts for even wanting to go–especially since we had a new baby in the house. Lo and behold, I went. I participated in the “coupon insert” demonstration with coupondad and someone else. I had the Tribune inserts and I “won.” Got a free book and I was off to a good start. I asked questions. One of the questions I asked was if Jill shopped at Aldi. She said, “No, I don’t have to.” I thought, “this is crazy; how can someone save money without shopping at Aldi.” I loathe Aldi.

    Soon I was saving and checking the blog. Some days there would be one or two posts–most of you can’t even imagine that. Still, jillcataldo.com was on all day at my house with me standing by, waiting for a deal. Back in the day, when you went to post something, Jill had to pre-read it and then post it. Sometimes it would take a day or two to get an answer.

    Now, saving money is a way of life. It has changed my habits beyond belief. There are no more impulse buys. There are no more Sam’s Club trips. Paying over 20.00 at Jewel makes me triple-check my recipt. Where did I go wrong?

    During a Crystal Light Catalina deal, the single packets were triggering a 2.00 cat when you bought 3. I searched and searched, but could only find one single packet at my Woodridge Jewel. I hid it behind the boxes and went to a different Jewel. Still, no packets. I went back to Jewel with a plan. I found my hidden packet, went to the self-checkout and swiped it three times. “Was this stealing?” I thought? Well, no. I was “paying” for three but only getting one. Got my 2.00 cat. The things I’ll do for .99 profit.

    Another time I went to buy one item one morning at Jewel–injector sauce for my free turkey breast. When I bought the injector sauce, a catalina popped out for a free box of tampons. Hmmm…

    One day, I told my husband I was going to Walgreens. He said, “How many?”

    My MIL and FIL took us out for lunch at Cabana Charlies. I had a coupon for “Buy one entree, get one free” so it took off 9.00 off our bill. I also asked about a free ice cream for my son’s birthday the day before. And it was Valentine’s Day so we all got free Champagne. My MIL said, “WOW, 9.00 off, free ice cream and free champagne! I’m impressed!” I said, “You should see me at Jewel.”

    And with all the money I have saved, all the items I’ve donated, still my favorite thing about finding Jill Cataldo is that I have befriended four amazing women–all on this blog. One lives close to me, cracks me up and has become a great friend. One is an over-achiever, who donates more in one trip than I do in a whole year. One we call “The Coupon Whisperer” because she’s forgotten more than I know about coupons. And one is so darn funny and smart; I wished she lived closer.

    You do more than just show us how to save, Jill. That’s great and all, but you can have all my coupons; just don’t take away my b___ches.

  76. Facing bankruptcy, 2009 changed our lives. Went to a couple of Jill’s classes and my life changed forever. Took up couponing with all of my heart and started saving over $100 dollars per week for our family of six! Life will never be the same for us. People stopping me at the store asking me how I do what I do… I tell them all about Jill Cataldo! As I stock up for my family, I find myself able to share food with neighbors and friends who have lost their jobs. It’s a great feeling to super coupon for my family as well as others! Thank you Jill for all you do! P.S. After a great shopping trip, I lay everything out on our kitchen table and take a picture of it. I send the picture to my husband and say “guess how much?”. Couponing has even enhanced our relationship!!

  77. After walking out of credit counseling in Woodstock and being told that the only solution left was to allow our house to be foreclosed on, I was ready to give up. I had no hope, no options left, no resources. I had even joined groups about being frugal and saving money to no avail. Then later that same week I got an email from one of the groups recommending going to Jill’s super couponing class. I had my doubts. It was a free class. Nothing is free in life – everything has a cost. Was it like one of those timeshare classes where you get bullied into signing over your life at the end? I signed up anyways, only to be told that the class was full, but they would put me on a waiting list. Days passed and my depression worsened – I still had no solution to my mortgage going up several hundred dollars a month each month and being behind on it. I didn’t want to lose my house; I have 5 kids, and I felt like a complete failure to them.

    Then on a Saturday morning, I got a call that there was an opening for that couponing class I signed up for, and could I come to it even though it started in an hour. I thought about it, pushed my doubts aside and said yes I would. I got there early, went in, sat up front and waited for the catch as Jill started to do her presentation. An hour went by with me feverishly writing notes about all the different things and ways she saved money, the resources she used and the math behind the deals. And I was amazed. I walked out with my head spinning and I was dizzy. But most remarkably of all I was hopeful. I had been given an answer on how to help my family and make ends meet. I was almost afraid to believe it; it seemed too good to be true. So, I went home and educated myself for the next week, and when I went shopping the next time that I had money, I saved. I saved and I saved and I saved some more. I bought cheese and cereal and peanut butter and bread and soup and I still had money left after stock piling for my family of 7. I couldn’t believe it the first time I did it – I stood in the middle of Jewel at 11 PM fighting back tears when I realized what I had done. I proved that I didn’t have to lose my house to survive or starve my family to keep it.

    I took everything Jill said to heart about sharing the wealth and I even was able to donate to the food pantry. I started telling everyone I knew that would listen about super couponing. One day I was talking to a neighbor and had a sudden realization that I could pay forward the gift I had been given with the super couponing. They have 6 little kids, she is a stay at home mom, and he has been out of work for over a year and a half. The government denied them food stamps because of a mistake on a form they filled out. They were depending on the food pantries which were depleted already for food, and she would constantly struggle to make a meal from what they did get.

    I quickly realized that she could make super couponing work for them too. I told her I would show her how she can get food for her family for almost free. She said she only had a couple of dollars, and I told her that it would be more than enough. She didn’t believe me of course, who can blame her? I took her to Jewel and showed her what to put in her cart and then we went to the checkout. I gave her my cats from an earlier visit. This way she could start the process even though she had only a few dollars and I promised her she would be giving it all back to me when we were done so she would owe me nothing. We went thru the checkout process and she couldn’t believe her eyes. It cost her 42 cents and printed out coupons for the same dollars that I had given her. I then explained we would walk to the car, drop off the food and she could try doing it on her own and I would help her if she needed it. She went back into the store, picked out the food, checked out, used her cats, paid another 42 cents, and when she looked at me there were tears filling her eyes. As she gave me back the cats, she must have said thank you a dozen times to me. It was so amazing to see the hope and joy in her, and I couldn’t help but cry with her, I knew exactly how she was feeling.

    I have done this with other people since then and I will continue to share the wonderful knowledge of super couponing for the rest of my life, because it is a life changing skill, and it’s a gift. Most people look at me like I am nuts when I tell them to buy 5 ice creams instead of one or two because it will be free then, and about half of them try it and the rest just ignore me and spend the extra cash. I don’t let it get to me, because it’s the ones that try it and like it that want to learn more, and usually ask me where I learned about it. You can guess who I send them to – Jill. It’s a shame that no one ever thought to teach super couponing during Consumer Ed class in high school – it would have actually been a useful class then; Super Couponing Class is the ultimate Consumer Education!

  78. Here goes…I have never been a “couponer”. Just your typical occasional cut the coupon, put it in my purse, clean my purse, throw it away or loose it. A friend and I went to our SupC 1 in early February. We were pumped! We even got our freezers from Jewel! (Was there @ 3a.m.) I purchased my first 2 newspapers on Feb 8th. That afternoon my husband and I were having coffee as I was trying to “organize” and figure out what I was doing after class. Thumbing though the coupons I came across trojan condom coupons! I jumped up and shouted, “You’re not going to believe this, I can even use coupons to get our condoms!! Walgreens even has them on sale B1G1F! I guess it is time for me to start buying them instead of you honey!” We laughed so hard at this. Valentine’s Day was just around the corner. I went to Walgreens where I met someone who works there and has been a tremendous help to me. She found me in “that section” of the asile and asked if she could help me. So I figured that it was now or never to ask her how to buy the B1G1F condoms with the coupons that I had. I told her that I never knew this was possible and my husband took care of this department for 21 years and now it was my turn so I could save money!! She and I laughed so hard. She said she even had another coupon for me to save even more! Just before I finished my many purchase that day, she says, “Since it is Valentine’s Day, why don’t you buy this Yours/Mine KY Jelly too, it is on sale and I have a coupon for it!” I figured, why not, cana’t hurt to try it. So I did. She and I laughed so hard she could hardly ring me up. Retail would have been $51.00, I paid $20!!! It was a great Valentine’s Day. Who would have known couponing could be so much fun…

  79. My son has been earning money to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree this summer. He made Eagle before he turned 13. He is a Scout’s Scout. Loves all of it. Jamboree happens twice each decade—he was too young for the last one and will be too old for the next one. And this one is special—they will celebrate 100 years of Scouting!!

    He has been working hard to earn money. He has sold popcorn and wreaths, has a job, got a need-based scholarship to cover part of the cost, and his younger brother gave him his own Jamboree earnings (and gave up Jamboree for himself—he will still be young enough for the next one).

    I needed a way to help him with the costs. A work colleague suggested this site and coupons. The money that I save with coupons and special deals is being placed in a savings account for Jamboree. In only a month, buying things we need anyway, I have saved over 80 dollars! Because of this site and coupons, my son will go to National Jamboree in Washington, D.C. in a leadership position (he is troop scribe) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scouting with thousands of Socuts from all over the nation!!! YAYYYYYY!!!!

  80. When I first began clipping coupons 7 years ago(from that Sunday’s paper) on my own, it was because we barely had enough money to put food on the table for whole month. I was excited to come home and tell my husband that I used $7 in coupons on my $100 monthly trip, bring it to $93 on average. Sad, that I had no clue how much money I was wasting by purchasing generic brands at the Super Walmart.

    Two years ago, I had someone in the store recommend The Grocery Game. I fell in love with Walgreens! I couldn’t understand how it was legit. I was shaking so bad that I started crying in the car – I just saved 70%. We were able to eat meat more than 1-2 times a week. But it only skimmed the surface. I still avoided Jewel like the plague. This past October, another shopper told me about Jill Cataldo. She is my husband’s hero! He can now eat name brand cereal and we even carry snack food in the house for our children. I now save between 75-90% when I shop. With sites like hip2save, I save on everything. I am blessed by the three women that run these three sites. It has helped us survive through times that I never would have be able to provide. I work full-time outside of the home and super couponing is even doable for me.

  81. I have to say this is the first time that I have put anything on the website. I just had my year anniversary from taking the first supercouponing class last February in Lisle,even though I live in Oswego. I was all excited this year to be able to obtain a freezer from Jewel after being able to save for it from the coupon savings. I am amazed on how this has grown and how all the wonderful couponers extend their finds and deals to us all in the forum. I have always used coupons since my children were little, but never to this extent! My children are grown and married or about to be married and I was just blessed this year with two granddaughters so I coupon for everyone now.It is overwhelming sometimes since I work full time and do alterations part time out of my home. I originally sought out the class due to my husband’s 30% paycut. If I did not do this, I really and truely don’t know how we would have been able to afford groceries and still pay our bills. Jill has been a great guide for me and my friends. I am very grateful for Jill’s guidance and sharing her knowledge. Thank you.

  82. Couponer’s Poem

    So, I’m brand new and I thought I’d see,
    How I can get some groceries for free.

    I heard about this secret site,
    That told me how to shop just right.

    I used to spend one or two,
    Hundred a week on tampons and food.

    In one short month my life has changed,
    Of my bank account, I’m no longer ashamed.

    Now I clip and stack and save,
    I think of Jill now when I shave (only b/c the shaving cream was free!!)

    I search and shop so differently,
    Because I’ve learned a lot you see.

    I thank you Jill, you are the best,
    Clipping coupons is above the rest!

    Thanks again!! Just think of what I could have saved if I didn’t write this poem!! HAHA

  83. i am on a budget…who isn’t? But I seriously am addicted to getting great deals. How couponing has changed my life? Simple answer..I know what I am buying each week, therefore, my husband is thrilled that I am saving money and I can also stay within my budget…actually 300-400 less than what I was spending. I am so glad and grateful you take the time to share your knowledge!! Thanks so much.

  84. I had to go out today for 3 pairs of volleyall knee pads, $75 bucks and baseball is right around the corner. I wouldn’t have been able to go and get these extras/necessities for my boys without this site. I feel I can now treat them to fun things in these hard times. Not big items, but I am now buying what I only would buy on special occasions before. They love it. I think it is helping me to teach them that the money you work so hard for should take a little more thought when it leaves your pocket.

  85. Wow, do my kids love Bisquick pancakes! My 14 yr. old son loves going with me to do some “deals”. He has learned well enough to do his Grandma’s shopping for her with only a little help sometimes. I don’t know where to begin, Super-Couponing means so many things to my family! An example, being able to stay at home with the kids even when my DH was laid-off last year. We could easily live within the budget of his unemployment check. I had $25 a week to purchase everything we needed, even with a newborn! Some weeks I didn’t even spend close to the $25!!! I admit it is somewhat like having a job, but every week or two when I went to the food pantry to drop off food with my kids, I silently thanked God for this blessing.

  87. Hello all, I am new to this couponing world and I have enjoyed it alot. This is helping us out in making our morgage payments each month. We have meet some very hard times and this has been adding to the light in the end of the tunnel for me and my family. Just to sum things up we are behind on a lot of bills and have been taking to court for some of them . . . some serious and some not so serious. Thank you Jill for educating us on this money saving couponing stuff. Thank you and God bless. Nancy Doyens, Aurora, Illinois

  88. nn my husband was in a work related accident that forced early retirement. Needless to say money became scarce. I was told about this site but didn’t have alot of hope as I didn’t think I would be able to” follow through”

    This site is so easy I have saved over halfon all my receipts. My husband now saves coupons and is way more aware of food prices and good deals. Thank you

  89. Jill –
    I can’t begin to express my gratitude for what you have helped our family through! In June 2006, I lost my big bucks job, then in June 2008, my husband lost his job. We have spiraled out of control financially with two kiddos with chronic health issues and part-time job incomes. We just met with a rep from Consumer Credit Counseling last week who told us that it is nothing short of a miracle that we are still in our home and have for the most part paid our bills on time. She stated that our expenses exceed our income by 60% and the only advice she would give to someone in the same boat would be to file for bankruptcy! We have absolutely NO intention of filing for bankruptcy and will continue to Super Coupon and fight this financial mess head on! I might add, that despite our circumstances, we have two refrigerators and freezers, kitchen cupboards and a hutch in our basement OVERFLOWING with food!! Our kids drawers are packed out with clothes and we have actually been able to help others! You are a God send! Thank you for the many blessings you weekly bestow upon us! Blessings! Ann

  90. I would occasionally use coupons before (if I remembered them) and then last summer my sister told me about a “super couponer” she had heard about, but didn’t know much more than that… then I ran into an old friend that had stacks of diapers that she purchased for $.25 each, not to mention the bags and bags of groceries in her storage room. I knew I had to check this out. My sister planned a trip down from Wisconsin and we went to Jill’s class last August. I can not believe the rush I get from getting a great deal!! At first my husband was skeptical… how much is this going to cost us? how much will you really save??? HA! He is a total believer and can’t stop telling others about how much we save! I can still see the look on my mother-in-law’s face when we told her about how much ice cream we have in the freezer. She said, “Do you really eat that much ice cream?” She was speechless when I told her how much they paid me to take home that much ice cream!! This has truly saved our family as the last several months have been very tough financially. My kids love eating brand name cereal, too! And I love that I don’t have to continually tell them that we can’t have the brands they see on TV because they are too expensive! Such a blessing!! Thank God for Jill (and her couponing ways!)!!

  91. I just started this week doing the super couponing and the Your Bucks. I have wanted for the past few years to cut down on our grocery expense and finally, I found a way thanks to a good friend and this site! This first week I have had to work hard at it but I know it will get easier with the learning curve and all. I am so thankful and blessed.
    Cheryl

  92. I started super couponing in December after attending both of Jill’s classes. I now enjoy shopping and looking for deals instead of dreading how much our groceries were going to cost. We are saving a lot of money and have been able to try new things and have the items the kids love more often. I wish I had known the things I know now when the kids were little, but our savings well help pay for college in a couple of years. Thank you Jill.

  93. SuperCouponing has changed my life and the lives of others. Yes, I originally started for me; little did I know how many other’s I could share with and help. I have helped other single mom’s, people living on tight budgets, and even men. I help people in the grocery stores; strangers that I don’t even know. Anybody I can help, I do. Even my 14 year old son has learned the tricks of the trade and loves to go shopping with me. He is very price conscious and does a great job scanning the groceries and coupons. He is learning some great lessons at such an early age.

    Thank you, Jill, for offering of yourself, to help those like me, who then help others. It’s truly the gift that keeps on giving. Pay it forward!

    Danielle H.

  94. I am a single, adoptive mom, with two daughters with health issues. My younger daughter just had her 8th surgery. Our out of pocket medical bills are at least $600 every month. As I looked at our monthly budget, there were very few areas I could make significant changes. I’d seen coupon queens on tv and read about them, but had no idea how they worked their magic. I decided to learn, and spent a year reading many different blogs. I almost lost my mind, as I took on Jewel, Dominicks, Meijer, Target, WAGS, and CVS at the same time. I didn’t have any friends that were super couponers and burned a dangerous amount of brain cells! I found blogs where families had challenged themselves to a yearly budget of $1200 for food, household products, and personal hygiene items. In my ignorance, I thought these folks must be freaks. I thought they probably didn’t use deodorant and ate cardboard. Last summer, I did a promotion at Jewel where I paid about $300 for $1400 worth of items. I thought I had done okay for a beginner, but knew the coupon queens would weep at my out of pocket costs. I knew I could learn more. I found a blogger that had done the same promotion, had obtained $2,300 worth of items, had $160 remaining catalinas, and had out of pocket expenses of $37. I was determined to figure out how she had accomplished this. It took me a few months of thinking, but in time, I came to understand. I offered to teach my sister and mom, and they blew me off for months. “Been there, done that, no thanks.” I kept telling my sister what I was saving, and one day she showed up at my house and said, “I’m ready. Teach me.” Well, then the fun began! My sister and I are very close, and she is now my partner in super couponing adventures. My sister opened her cupboard once and told our mom, “Take anything you want!” Okay, now we had my mom’s attention. She decided she wanted to learn. My daughters and I walked the aisles of Jewel for 2.5 hours, to help her understand how to make purchases with the promotion. I feared we’d worn her out, but she went home, rested, and called me to ask me to meet her at Jewel that night, to help her friend learn. We walked the aisles for another 2.5 hours. Now my mom is frustrated, as her friends keep blowing her off, “Been there, done that…” She saved 83% on her first solo trip, and has done very well. I took Jill’s classes, and have used the spreadsheet to track my savings. My cumulative average for the past year has been 80%. My goal for the upcoming year is to increase that to 85%. I actually believe that in another year or so, we could join the families that are doing the $1,200 challenge for a year of food, household items, and personal hygiene items. My daughters are very aware of my super couponing. We attended the picnic last summer, and my girls were two of the children shouting, “Coupons!!!” when the pinata broke, spilling candy and coupons. My girls ask, “Mom do you have a coupon for…” if they want me to purchase something special. We have had more opportunities to talk about financial responsibility, budgets, and planning, not just grabbing something because we want it. My younger daughter loves art, and makes me coupons that say “buy one, get one free”. As I was trying to figure this out on my own, I’ve tried to be very helpful to friends. I’m so happy when they share their successes! I help a non-profit organization that provides for the medical needs of orphans. I’m thrilled to be able to help provide personal hygiene items, and over the counter medication. Friends carried four suitcases of these items to Haiti, last May. Super Couponing has allowed me to send donations to Iraq, provide for families in need, make great baskets for friends and family, and enjoy shopping for the first time in my life. I’ve offered to help a friend learn about super couponing, and she told me her husband is skeptical. I laughed and told her, “Tell him I’m a single mom with two kids with health issues, and financial challenges. I work full-time. We have two therapists that come to our home weekly to help my younger daughter. I haven’t got a minute to waste on something that doesn’t work!” I know super couponing isn’t for everyone, but I look at this as a part-time job. I don’t have to leave my children, they’re learning more about financial responsibility, and money that would go toward groceries can be applied to our out of pocket medical expenses. Everyone wins. Also, I have to say that I’ve met the nicest super couponers in the stores. I’ve had people hand me coupons, and I do the same for them. I am so hopeful there will be a money making opportunity with Breyers next summer, as I can’t wait to drop off ice-cream at our local fire departments, as a way to say thanks! Thank you, Jill, for all the ways that you support us as we learn. You’re my hero, and I really believe you have no idea how many lives you’ve improved through the knowledge that you share. Thank you, my friend.

  95. I am a newbie at this, but I find it very addictive. Once you see your savings you have to go back for more. I have taken the first class and have my sister-in-law as a mentor. I am a single mom with four kids and need all the help I can get. Jill’s site has been so helpful with all of her suggestions and those of the “supercouponers”. I am in-turn, getting my dad (75 years old) and my sisters excited about learning on how to shop the supercouponing way. They purchased one of Jill’s CD’s to help them understand and be able to follow things along on the site. It has been great!! I am at the point of getting a little “stock” on food and coupons, to make this a more “priceless: journey. Thank you all for sharing you knowledge and adventures every week.

  96. Super Couponing has meant saving hundreds of dollars, just since I started last June. It has become a family affair, too. My kids love guessing how little I spent and seeing how much I brought home. My husband loves the money-saving aspect, too. He even recently did a black belt deal himself!!!! I was so proud! I had previously explained how it worked, and he just went to Jewel and did it all on his own, and then told me about it afterward. He is the cook in our house, and he would love this set. Thanks, Jill, for all you do!

  97. Hi I have always been about getting things for free. I was a faithful Wags shopper buying all the free rebate item (before they changed their system), getting all the free Menard’s items and random other free things available at the Best Buy, Staples, Office Max, Office Depot. I would always get the maximum limit on free items even if it was something that I didn’t need or use and donate it to Lazarus House (Homeless Shelter in St Charles), Salvation Army (food stamps do not include personal care items) or make gift baskets to donate to the school & church fund raisers (a bucket of car cleaning stuff or toolbox of tools). All because it was free. I thought I was fairly good about couponing/rebates before I took your class in March 2009 but I have to say that you blew me right out of the water. Your classes took me to the next level of savings. I get so much more free now than I ever did before. Last year I kept track of just my rebates only and saved $700. I now recruit more Jill followers where ever I go. Some of my friends are too busy/lazy to check your site regularly so as a community service, I stayed up late on Monday nights to e-mail them the “deals of the week”. I love it that you post earlier because sometimes it was way past midnight before I could send out your message to the many followers. I shared your information with the director at Lazarus House to help those clients who are in transition from the shelter to living on their own. My church offers a Free Spaghetti Dinner on the last Sunday of the month and I use my free things as door prizes for each table. Since the economy is still slow, our church had to reduce it’s budget funding for Hesed House in Aurora. We have been volunteering their for 25 years providing breakfast and lunch. I recent got a hold of the shopping list so that I could keep in mind what items were needed that I could pick up free or cheap to donate to that ministry as well. So Jill I hope this brings a smile on your face to know how you have influenced others to pay it forward without costing us any great expense other than time and organization. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge. My new shopping therapy gives me great joy walking out to the van when I pay so little for that I am taking home. PS you also forced me to take inventory, clean and organize my cabinets and pantry to hold all of the free things.

  98. What coupons and pancakes mean to me……..hmmmm

    First, I want to thank my cousin for even mentioning it in passing about taking a “supercouponing” class. I never knew something like this was possible. After all the years of paying top dollar for an item (just because I wanted it), I now refuse to buy unless it’s either on sale or I’m desperate. Jill has taught me “patience.” This has snowballed into other things in my everyday life. I’ve learned to slow down and enjoy my teenagers – but go full speed ahead first thing Monday morning after reading the bible (supercouponing.com).

    It’s been months since I’ve heard “there’s nothing to eat” – except from my dogs (anybody have a good dog food deal). The kids now like hanging out at my house – it’s got all the food! I’ve driven every one of my friends crazy with my stories and if I keep it up, I’ll be driving all my kids friends away with the same stories. I called my son and said I can get 2 liter bottles of pop for .20 – how many do you want? His answer: $2 worth. The look on his face when he realized it meant 10 bottles and not 2 was priceless. Not the world’s brightest teenager.

    My daughter labeled me a “shopaholic” yet the only time I see her cringe is when I say the car needs to be emptied. I’ve passed a little bit of my tricks I’ve learned from supercouponing II on to her. We go to Kohls and she doesn’t even look at a regular priced rack anymore. She heads straight to the clearance rack. If it’s over $10 – more often than not she will put it back (even when it’s Mom’s dime).

    My parents are about ready to have me committed – AFTER I give them there weekly “goody bag.” I love seeing the look on my Dad’s face when he asks “what do I owe you” and I tell him .29 for eggs and maybe $.75 for taxes. This is after I let him go shopping in my trunk. He keeps trying to one up me on grocery shopping (my parents are retired) and he can’t even come near touching me. Worth every screwup I eat (I have improved) to show him a receipt for $3 with ten to twenty items listed – and nothing is under a $1 regular price.

    I’ve sent quite a bit of my extra food on to a woman I had learned can only afford to shop at a food pantry. I didn’t know if I was overstepping my bounds, but the appreciation she showed me was priceless.

    I guess one of the most important things I’ve gotten out of it, is I’m closer than ever to my cousin. I have more time to study out the deals than she does, so in a good week she may get a half dozen emails a day from me. When she runs across a great deal – she does the same for me. We’re on the phone constantly comparing notes.

    Lastly, I just want to say thank you Jill for your patience in putting together a class and teaching people there is a better way to shop. You have the patience of a saint.

    Marlene

    P.S. Oh yes the “pancakes” part…..my whole family loves pancakes!!!

  99. Supercouponing has changed my life. Before I went to Jill’s talk, I thought I was good at bargain hunting but Jill has taught me to shop on a different level. I have been able to donate a lot of food to the food pantry in addition to helping friends and family. In addition, I have found a community of like-minded people who understand what it is about to want to bargain shop since so many of the people in my life don’t have the interest or the time to do it. (I’ve tried to convert many of them.) I now feel like I’m not the oddball.

    Thank you Jill for changing my life. Oh, and we really like pancakes, too.

  100. One Saturday, a few months ago, I wanted to run and pick up a few last minute deals, I told my family I was running errands for a couple of hours…well four hours later (with my cell phone being left in the car, Lord knows I would never coupon there…)they were ready to send out the troops. When I came home, arms loaded with goodies, they were upset with me because I was unreachable. I explained I was picking up last minute deals. My oldest daughter said to me, “Listen we were scared something had happened to you, if this had been a Tuesday, we would have known what you were doing, but today is Saturday!”
    Three children in college and another one in highschool can really put a strain on the family finances. In the current economy, trade school or higher education can put you over the edge in getting any job, even minimum wage! The financial worries must have been obvious as one day, a work friend told me about Jill, she said we had to attend one of her classes. Four of us from the office attended a class almost a year and a half ago in Bolingbrook….this was the moment super couponing became my way of life. There is no greater feeling than being able to provide for your family and other families that are less fortunate at a fraction of the cost. I never clipped coupons before, I always did rebates and freebies, I believed the coupons were for the more expensive brand name items and figured it was cheaper to by “generics” or store brand. Jill taught me I was way off in my beliefs. My children have learned the value of a 25 cent coupon, they have stood in line with me on weekends when they are home to be able to provide food and personal items for roommates at school, we have emptied the pantry and donated to those less fortunate. The “girls” at work all sit together on Wednesday’s and compare fliers, swap coupons and discuss Jill deals! Saturday mornings are spent on the phone on three way calls with my family discussing the best deals, where to find and where to print coupons! It has become our way of life.
    Thank you Jill for all of your time, dedication, and knowledge. You have changed my life!

  101. Supercouponing has completely changed my life! It has taught me how to shop. I cannot believe I went so many years without knowing how to shop. I am so grateful for all of my supercouponing knowledge that I have gained from Jill. I have taken both of her classes and have learned so much. I have also shared so much of what I have learned with my friends and family. The other thing that I am so grateful for is the ability to give soooooo much more to my local food pantry. About a month ago I dropped off 6 full bags of food and toiletries. I try to go about once a month with bags full. Thanks Jill for all that I have learned from you. My eyes are always wide-open now in the stores scoping for the next possible deal.

  102. It allows me to be a stay at home mom, and still feel like I’m really helping our financial situation.

  103. Much credit goes to my DH for helping me write this, and for all of his support in my couponing endeavors :)

    My name is Kathy and I’m a coupon-a-holic,
    Coupon blogs and store aisles, that’s where I frolic
    I lost my job, was feeling rather meek
    My financial future looked quite bleak
    Two kids, two cats and a husband to feed
    I prayed for the guidance to get what I need
    Along came a friend who spent her time a ravin’
    ‘Bout a savior she knew called the Coupon Maven
    March of ’09 was the first time we met
    Following her guidance seemed a very good bet
    Sam’s and Costco? They ain’t so cool
    I go to Wags, CVS, and Jewel
    Once upon a time, catalina was a dressing
    Now day and night with my mind they’ve been messing
    How ‘bout this Q, no BOGO just a teaser
    DH get up at 4 and get me a freezer
    No more, no more, he begs of me
    Two freezers full, and now you want three?!
    Ah, the rush I first felt, when only tax I paid
    The only thing better’s when money is MADE
    Peanut butter, cereal, a bunch of toothpaste
    Off to the food pantry, leave nothing to waste
    Living well on so little, Super- Q’ings a thrill
    Thanks to the bloggers, and especially to Jill
    After a year, there’s only one thing I lack
    That’s a Bisquick Pancake Nation Prize Pack!

  104. SuperCouponing makes all the difference in my family and in my community.

    The process of getting the most from my money, living within budget, comparison shopping, and sharing both resources and wisdom — changes the lives of those around me while teaching valuable lessons to my children.

    I became a couponer by the influence of my Great-Grandmother who told us stories of the Depression, and my Grandmother who would clip coupons. She also brought along carrot sticks, dixie cups and large bottles of juice when we went to fast-food places. Frugality, evidently, stuck with me.

    In my community, I mentor those who inquire in the stores and I share my skills with friends of friends. Word travels fast that there is a better, more efficient way to be best stewards of our resources.

    Our church food pantry, friends with new babies or homes, and non-food toiletry ministries are happy recipents of my great coupon deals. I’m able to give more than I could with cash, and I always share word with those served on how I got my donations so affordably.

    SuperCouponing is my “profitable hobby”. It has made me many friends, friends who are grateful to be living more affordably. I’m the pride of my husband, who sends his co-workers’ wives to my home. SuperCouponing’s valuable skills are making the difference to the benefit of more families everyday.

  105. i am a stay at home mom of two great little boys. but being at home means that i am not bringing in any money to help our family. by doing the super couponing method, i feel that i am contributing more to our family and making things easier during these bad economic times.

    thank you jill!!

  106. I am a single working mom who is going back to school. The last few years have been rough, bankruptcy, my husband left, and I am now living with my parents while I work full time and am going back to school. My daughter and I love to cook and enjoy food. Over the past year we have lost our joy for cooking. It’s hard to cook in someone else’s kitchen and hard to afford many foods.
    Couponing has given me some of my culinary joy back. I love saving money and being able to pick up special food items now. I know I am teaching my daughter that saving money and spending some time planning out shopping and cooking are important. I now find myself happy to go to the grocery store, not dreading the trip and the dent in my already small wallet. Thank you so much Jill, for helping me reclaim some of my joy!

  107. The kids had another sleepover this weekend and it was a lot of fun shopping in our pantry to find something everyone would like for breakfast. There was plenty of Bisquick and everyone enjoyed pancakes and cheap juice. Thanks for all of the coupon tips. I still have a lot to learn as I am new to this, but am having a blast saving money.

  108. Thanks to you Jill, my 6 yr old son is now a firm believer in super-couponing. He recently told his Dad that the weekly ritual of making their famous blueberry pancakes had to be cancelled for a few weeks because: “we can’t buy syrup, we don’t have a coupon and it’s not on sale. Don’t you know we only buy things when we have BOTH Dad?”! No Aunt Jemima will do, they have to have REAL 100% pure syrup…the ONLY splurge item in our house! Needless to say you have changed our lives and the way we shop! We’d appreciate and love to win the Bisquick contest, because we are OUT of pancake fixins! Thanks for educating us!

  109. I recently left a full time job to stay home with my daughter who is now seven months old. This caused our income to drop by a little more than half but significantly reduced stress in our family. We redid our budget and knew that things would be tight and weren’t sure how we could save on food and other essentials. I started following your deals in January and even though I didn’t have the stockpile of past copouns managed to decrease our grocery bill by 45% in both January and February! This has been fantastic for our family and makes my staying home long term even more likely.

  110. Jill, I love your information.I think this could get to be addictive, in a positive way. You are amazing.Keep up the good work
    Bonnie

  111. Coupons have changed the way I shop in every way. I’m not just saving lots of money for my family, I am able to provide many necessary items to those extended family members that are out of a job and/or need help in general. What a blessing! Every time they visit my home, I send them away with a couple bags of groceries. God has blessed me and I’m just passing on that blessing to my loved ones.

    Funny story…I’ll be couponing for 1 year this April…there are a lot of funny stories but this is the best….my husband is very appreciative of my couponing, but thinks that I need some therapy was in a while. He has established some couponing rules in our house to keep everyone (or me) balance. One rule: I am not “allowed” to leave to go to a store once it hits 10pm :) One night, I was reviewing the deals and realized that I could buy 11 boxes of cereal at Dominick’s for 11 cents. My husband was already upstairs watching the news. So, I talked my oldest into going with me so that I wouldn’t be alone in this coupon trip violation. It was a weekend night so all is well…we sneaked out…didn’t close the garage door because we didn’t want to make more noise then necessary….hit the store and came back. We got home, hid the evidence and headed upstairs to get ready for bed. He didn’t say anything when we entered the room so we thought we were in the clear. My daughter went to bed and I decided to hit the sack as well. I was almost asleep when my husband said quietly, “so tell me what deal you did tonight” Busted!

  112. I always thought I was too busy. I thought I was getting “good enough” deals. I figured with 3 little girls ages 4 years and 3 year old twins that I wouldn’t have the time.

    Well, I was wrong.

    Couponing is worth it! I get the BEST deals, I get a new variety of food, I save money for other things, my girls have a ball shopping with me and playing with what I bring home. I donate food and products to the needy. But best of all I think couponing might have saved my marriage! It sounds sort of weird to say that…… My husband and I fell into the old trap. We rarely spoke and things felt more like roommates than anything else. The kids were driving us batty and life felt like an exercise in the mundane and an exhausting, noisy, taxing existance. Now we collect the coupons together, we chat about the sales, tease each other about who is going to go “work a deal”, flip for “alone time” (yes that’s getting in the car and doing a sale ALONE!) It sounds pathetic, but it’s bceome a little hobby we SHARE. Now when he watches his hockey games at night, he clips coupons for me LOL! Sure the kids still drive us batty, but the new sales each week, the thrill of the chase, the conversation with each other about it, the long talks about what we might do with the money we save, and the little bits of alone time are helping us turn this household together…….and that is better than the best of coupon deals because it’s priceless to me.

    Thank you Jill for being a piece to this puzzle!

  113. Coupons have changed my life drastically. With small children and one income coming in, our family needs to cut costs in all directions. Since being introduced to Jill by a friend, I have saved not only by eliminating my Sam’s club membership but at the grocery stores in so many ways. I remember the first time I started my coupon adventure, I could not believe you could use one of the $10 cats incorporation with getting another one at Jewel. It was here that I was deeply bothered but how many cats I let expire and thrown out in the past! I know many people have expressed their appreciation with Jill and how many lives she has touched by helping them save but I truly mean it when I say thanks for all you have done!

  114. After I win the prize package, I am going to invite Jill over for pancakes!

    Jill, we are going to need some free syrup?

  115. Thanks for saving me so much money I actually teared up after my second trip back inside at Jewel today and spent .82 and had $19.50 in catalinas. When we got home my 4 year old was “trying” to help me put freezer items away and looked at me and said “Mom, are we eating ALL this NOW cause there’s no where to put it?” What a wonderful blessing you are to so many.

  116. Jill you are an amazing woman! My brother actually told me to check out your site when I lost my job. Living on unemployment was hard enough but when the thought of buying groceries came to mind, my stress level soared! I couldn’t even afford to feed myself. With your help I have been able to not only feed myself but I have also taken my knowledge of couponing and helped so many other people in need. Being able to help others with couponing has really helped bring a smile to my face and theirs also! Thank you for all you do!!!!

  117. I am a saver at heart and always looking for a deal! I left my salaried position to stay at home with my three young children and super couponing is the next step in my efforts to financially be able to continue to stay at home with my children. My goal is to get the grocery bill down enough to get a gym membership for the family to enjoy, me for my sanity and to get my kids some activity in the winter. Heck, I’d even be able to eat more pancakes! : )

  118. As my user name would suggest, I am currently saving for big changes in my life. My goal is to generate enough income on my own so that I no longer have to rely on someone else for a paycheck. Learning how to “super coupon” is helping me decrease our outgoing expenses thereby decreasing the amount of money that I need to bring in a month.

    This is not just chaging the way we shop forever, it’s changing our lives forever! Thank you for all you do, Jill!

  119. I have been thinking about this for a few days now and I think I can sum up what Super Couponing has meant to me. I wish I could thank that wonderful lady who came through my check-out lane at Kohls and uttered those life changing four little words “Jill Cataldo Dot Com”. I couldn’t wait to get home and go on my computer. Although things were tight, I knew I would not be able to make it to a class since I worked on weekends so I bought the DVD. This has changed my life. I always knew that I could cut down the grocery bill, but I did not realize how much or how easy it was.

    Super Couponing has done so many things. I am contributing to the household because I am saving money which my husband says is like making money. The more and more I do this, I am getting better and saving more which has really boosted my self-esteem. I know that sounds corny, but think about it. How has this made you feel about yourself? I know that I am good at this when I can come up with a few black belt scenarios. I have met some really great cashiers at Walgreens and Jewel and building good relationships is what it is all about. BTW – they love it if you let them know you have a BOGO coupon where they have to write in the price before they scan the item. Makes it easier/faster for them. I enjoy going to the grocery store now so going once a week is a fun trip out of the house. I am teaching my son some valuable lessons and at 3 1/2 he gets it. Lastly, I am paying it forward. I am not ashamed that I am using coupons and when people see me pull out a stack of coupons, I let them know that I don’t spend on average more than $50 to $60 a week. I know all you black belts! I could be doing better. I will get there and will feel even better about myself.

    Good luck to everyone!

  120. This was my first week at super couponing. It was a “priceless” moment to watch the cashier’s face as one after another $1,$2,$3,$6 then a $10 coupon continued to flow out to a total of $56 which included $14 of free laundry products. I am HOOKED!! And yes the cashier’s mouth finally closed as he handed me all my free $$ coupons. This Rocks!!

  121. I’ve loved coupons since I was a little girl. It was probably about 30 years ago, that I cut my first one (with safety scissors, of course!) My friends and family had always been amazed about my ability to stretch a dollar. About a year ago or so, I stumbled across Jill. I heard her segment on Brandmeier’s show. I went to her class, and discovered that my decades of experience, was just the tip of the money MAKING iceberg. If I still worked, I would quit to do this full time! Much like crack, I always need a Jill fix. I think that I have actually lost the ability to make my own shopping list. I just look at deals for this week, and buy whatever Jill puts on the page. She has already spent enough time doing the research and the thinking. I don’t see any reason for me do it, too :) If Jill ever retires, I don’t think that I would be able to fend for myself. However, I think I have enough cereal, toothpaste and shampoo to get me into 2012! I think I’ve mentioned before, that I make health and beauty baskets with most of the CVS/Walgreen’s booty. Thanks to Jill, I’ve been able to donate bigger, better and more plentiful baskets to the organizations that raffle them off. The only things I love more than couponing, are sweepstakes. Thank you for putting my two favorite things in the world, in one place!

  122. I remember before I started doing these deals I would pay no more than $2 on a box of cereal. After all of the super deals I got on cereal, now it seems as if I was getting ripped paying $2 for just one box. Thank you Jill for all of your help. I can not wait until I can get into your super couponing 2 class. Unfortunately I always get turned down when I sign up for I am not a resident of the cities you hold them in.

  123. I have been following Jill’s website for a number of months after listening to Johnny B! I came home one day with 20 packages of Pillsbury biscuits for $.25. My wife was pissed! “Who is going to eat all these” she asked. Needless to say the 3 boys and I finished the biscuits in a couple of weeks (the kids and I love them).

    A few weeks later I signed up and attended your “Super Coupon” classes and invited my wife to join me but she refused.”I have been shopping for years and don’t need a website to tell me where the deals are!” she replies. You see, she WAS the coupon queen before Jill came along. In fact, she now calls Jill my “Internet girlfriend” (sorry Jill).

    Since then my wife and I are competing as to who can find the best deals. I sometimes lie about the deals I get, adding cost to my total just to keep my wife happy thinking she won. Last week I found 6 packages of biscuits in the refrigerator, I did not say a word.

    I understand that she may not be the coupon queen…. but she is still my queen.

    Kevin

  124. Super couponing to me means that I can sleep at night. I can not express my gratitude enough.

  125. The shopping tools I have now are GREAT! Even through this tough economy which has been forced upon My husband and myself….we HAVE managed to provide so much more than we really had to give. Couponing is apart of our lively hoods now. I find myself getting to a point to reach out to other people in need and giving back to the community as well. The adreniline rush alone ( walking away looking ur reciept knowing you got this item for free and ur out of pocket was still a $1.10 ) is just that …The greatest adreniline rush ever. I have/will advertise your seminars….This has been a life saver! Thank you ever so much! :)

  126. Jill, when I went to your class in Glendale Heights last August, we were bleeding money and in huge amounts of debt. Reading your blog, taking your classes, and utilizing the ways you teach super-couponing have helped our financial situation AND our marriage. We still have a huge amount of debt :), but we haven’t added a penny to it, and because we’re saving so much money on food and toiletries, we’re able to put some money toward the debt. THANK YOU.

  127. What super couponing means to me is being able to feed my family of 6 at a reasonable cost while my husband is out of work! It truly has been a life saver for us. Thanks!

  128. I have been using coupons for a couple of years but things started to change since I attended Jill’s class. The way I look at coupons are different now. I used to clip the coupons I need and buy the items I need right away. I never thought coupons can bring me “almost free” or “totally free” stuff. I am a stay-at-home mom and I am so grateful that I am able to share this cheap/free stuff with other people I don’t know.

  129. Growing up, I had two major examples of couponing. First, there was my mom who meticulously went through every Sunday ad, clipping and filing everything she might possibly use. She also taught me about planning weekly meals around what happened to be the loss-leader sales that week, and the savings that could be found from shopping multiple stores. It wasn’t a bad system and certainly kept the family’s food budget in check, but it was also pretty time consuming.

    Then there was my older brother’s mother-in-law. She was what I considered one of those “crazy coupon ladies,” getting several papers each week, subscribed to the tightwad-gazette, overstocking the pantry whenever things were cheap to free, etc. I always thought it was funny on the few times I was at her house and saw the laundry room shelves stacked with boxes and boxes of detergent. Too much, I always thought! I would never go that crazy for coupons!

    Then this past year our household (voluntarily) went from a comfortable two-incomes down to one with the birth of our first child, and suddenly every penny matters. We initially tried shopping frugally as I had learned from my mom, and we were getting by, but it wasn’t until a friend shared the DVD of Jill’s class that we really starting saving big time. Now we have an overflowing pantry yet are still keeping under budget INCLUDING all the baby diapers and formula. Thanks to the modern miracle of the Internet and the instant access to all people and resources here, we’re able to do so much more than my Mom ever could with so much less time and effort.

    A big thank you to not only Jill for maintaining this forum and blog, but also to all the people participating that make it such a success for us all!

  130. I attended your class last May, it changed the way eat and try things.Thanks to you Jill.My family gets to eat lot of new things which we have never tried in the past.I am from a different country, always hesitant to buy things which are really expensive, but now its a whole different ball game.I really enjoy doing the deals.

  131. What has super couponing meant for me? Well, I actually learned this from a co-worker. At first I thought it was crazy, how could she have spent so little and received so much food. No way possible. She sat down and taught me, so I stated reading your website religiously. Decided to sign up for the newspaper at the bargain price of 50 cents a week. I figured there had to be at least one coupon a week to justify my spend. my husband thought I was crazy, another silly obsession for his wife. When I started coming home paying only 25 cents a box of cereal and brought home 14, he was sold. He was so proud of how much money I have saved that he built me a storage room in the basement with 5 pantry cabinets and a stand up freezer. I have had so much extra money from not buying groceries that we are able to remodel more. He loves going shopping with me at CVS and Walgreens every week. I have enough air freshener for probably 1-2 years, not to mention candles, free makeup and lots of free toiletries. My friend and I actually shop together on Wednesdays at Jewel and are spreading the news fast around the office about Jill and her awesome website.

    There are some weeks when my hubby sees a great coupon, he runs to Dollar Tree and grabs me 6 more :)

    thank you Jill

  132. changed the way I shop, forever. It’s heartwarming to see so many of us Super Couponers contributing to those less fortunate in our communitities. I have with much enthusiasm, introduced your work to everyone I know. Some have caught on and they are now also forever changed. Super Couponing has a ripple effect that is reaching far and wide. Thank you Jill, from the bottom of my heart!

  133. Jill,
    Thank you for all the knowledge, time and energy that you’ve shared. Thanks for sharing about Bisquick helping non-profit organizations. I will pass this along to my son’s scout troop. You’ve changed the way I shop. I always cut coupons, but never saved like I have now. The hubs was laid off and things got really tight. I had to put my pride aside and get my boys on the free lunch program. You talk about humbling!! Because of this experience I’ve given back more, I’ve helped anyone that will listen. The money saved and the full cupboards and freezer still amaze me. We all have our gifts and talents,but it’s what we choose to do with them that can change a life, and that you have done for so many. God is good and he doesn’t sleep, he only blesses us more with the more we give to others. You can’t outgive God. Thank you for all you’ve shared.

  134. Congratulations Nicole! What a great choice, I loved her post it was beautiful and a true example of how super couponing can not only change our lives, but the lives of others. Well done Nicole!

  135. Jill,

    I hope all the stories people sent about how you changed all of our lives (for the better) helped offset the “hell” week the rest put you through when the black belt deals didn’t work. We do appreciate all that you do for us!

  136. Congrats nicoleelaina, it’s a wonderful story. It always makes me smile when I hear stories like yours. This program has helped so many people it’s amazing.

  137. And thanks to Jill for giving her (and the rest of us) the tools we need to help take care of our families in this difficult economy :-)

  138. I too enjoyed this story as well as the others. What a great thread. And Jill, you have huge sums of good karma in the bank.

  139. Thank you for sharing such a personal story with all of us. It is truly remarkable. You are the embodiment of “Paying It Forward”.

  141. All I can think to say is Thank You from the bottom of my heart. Everyone in our couponing community is so wonderful and the posts were… wow! My kids and I are going to love using this so much with our 39 cent dozen of eggs and darn cheap oil!

    ~Nikki

  142. ..bring tears to my eyes, but this story does. As do so many of the ones written.

    I too try to teach others how to do this. A Jewel cashier who I helped sign up for the Your Bucks deal was so happy and amazed that she was squeezinq my hand and thanking me in the middle of the self checkout lanes last week. I didn’t know how to react! Free food and products are one reward of this, the human connection is an even bigger one.

  143. Jill , you rchoice is wonderful.Nicole, awesome story.
    Thanks again Jill for all you do.

  145. I cried when I read this amazing story. I’m sure this was a difficult decision for you Jill, but I think you picked the right winner.

  146. Thank you so very much for sharing that story! You should put all of those things in a book someday.

  147. Way to go – everyone. Jill, great choice, Nicole, great story. Thanks for sharing it and continued wishes for good luck to you!

  148. I think you made a terrific choice, Jill. It was inspiring to read many of the stories and though I also entered the give away, it is heartwarming that Nicole won. She is truly an example of giving back to her community and paying it forward. Good job, Nicole, and congrats!! Cast Iron is wonderful, but if you aren’t sure on how to take care of it, google it because it was last you forever and remain stick-free as long as you keep it seasoned (never use soap on it and store it with a light coating of oil as well):o)

  149. tears filling my eyes. Attitude of gratitude shines through and throughout her message which is very inspiring.
    I no longer get discouraged when people ask and don’t want to try super-couponing. Others do get it and pass it forward. I can’t count how many times in the past few months I’ve shopped at the Jewel in Algonquin on Randall Road (in the evening when it isn’t so crowded) seeing two to three carts in tandemn with their lists in hand and the “instructor” walking them through the motions and heading to aisle 16 in Osco under the light of the scanner.

  150. Thanks Jill for posting the Bisquick grant info! I passed it along to my father’s boyscout troop, and they will be receiving a $250 check! This is their only fund-raiser for the year and that will go a long way toward their costs. I’m going to help them coupon as well to make that money stretch even further. You have definitely taught us ‘how to fish’!

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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