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:

READER APPRECIATION CONTEST: Win a $150 Visa gift card to celebrate four years of JillCataldo.com!

By:

UPDATE: CONTEST HAS ENDED!

Update 7/12/12: There were SO many great entries in this contest (as there always are when we play “Coupon Haiku” around here!)

As always, it was very hard to pick a winner. After making a list of my favorites, I narrowed it down to five finalists:

Husband scoffs, no clue :(
New golf clubs for Father’s Day
Paid for with savings :)

Meet criteria?
On the list, On sale, Coupon?
No? Then put it back.

Coupons are the way
To keep my teenagers fed
Without going broke.

I woke up my husband
gave invisible coupon
leaving him baffled

But ultimately, I had to choose just one. And the winner is:

Because of coupons
We could afford a baby
Diaper deals oh please :)

Congratulations to FierceMama, who penned this Haiku! It was so sweet that I smiled every time I read it! (Diapers were the reason I BECAME a couponer!)

Thank you again to everyone who entered. It’s been a wonderful four years writing this blog for you, and I look forward to many more.

On July 7th, this blog will turn four years old! JillCataldo.com launched on July 7th, 2008, and couponing for beginners has never been the same since! I’m thrilled to have spent the last four years teaching people how to save money with coupons, and I’m so blessed that my job is also something that I really love to do.

This blog is a success because of you — every single person who has come here to learn, share deals, and point others in the right direction. We’re a great community of couponers, and I can’t believe we’re about to enter our 5th year of collectively never shopping the same way again.

To celebrate, I’m having a contest in your honor! One of my readers will win a $150 Visa gift card to spend on anything you’d like! Get some free groceries, free gas, dinner and a movie for your family — your choice!

But, with any contest sponsored by me versus another company, the rules change a little bit. As I’m not required to use a random-number generator to pick the winner, I will be selecting the most creative entry, as it’s Coupon Haiku time once again!

Haiku is a simple Japanese poetry made up of three lines of text. The first line has five syllables, the second seven, the last, five again. Over the years, we’ve had some other Coupon Haiku contests that generated memorable poems such as:

Hubby Do Not Laugh
Tomato Soup Is Useful
Twelve Cases Stockboy!

I hold up the line
I’m couponing, do you mind?
You should try it too

To enter, compose your own coupon-related Haiku and post it in the comments section under this article! It can be an ode to your favorite store, a shopping experience you had, a poetic tribute to high-value coupons, or whatever your little coupon-loving heart compels you to immortalize in poetry. You can enter as many times as you’d like, so if you’re feeling extra-poetic, let your creative juices flow!

This contest begins today, July 5th, 2012, and runs for one week. The contest will end on July 11th, 2012 at 11:59pm CST, and on July 12th, one winner will be chosen by me! I love you guys’ irreverent coupon humor, so have at it!

During the last coupon Haiku contests on the blog, there were so many hilarious and creative entries that left me laughing out loud every single day! Couponers really are a very funny, intelligent bunch of people. For inspiration, check out the previous Haiku contests’ entries here and here.

Legal: This contest is sponsored by JillCataldo.com. Responding to this post with a coupon-related Haiku poem qualifies readers to enter the contest. Haiku poems must consist of three lines of text, the first with five syllables; the second with seven syllables; and the third with five syllables. Participants may enter as many Haiku poems as they wish. The contest began at midnight CST on July 5, 2012 and will end at 11:59pm CST on July 11, 2012. One winner will be chosen on July 12, 2012 and announced the same day. Winner will receive one $150 Visa gift card as described above. Products, prize, information, and giveaway have been provided by JillCataldo.com. Winner will be contacted via the Private Messaging feature of JillCataldo.com and via email. Fulfillment will be handled by JillCataldo.com. Giveaway is only open to residents of the United States. Odds of winning are determined by number of eligible entries received. Good luck to everyone!

Comments

  8. It’s never to late,
    To start super couponing,
    You’ll reep Thanksgiving.

  10. Kids ask “Can I have?”
    Only with a coupon, dear
    Mom! Cat! On the floor

  23. Bare shelves? What the h*ll?
    There will be another sale.
    Jeez! No need to yell!

  45. Boy, some of these are really good!

    Here’s my try:

    Less and less money,
    Just throw it to the wind…ouch!
    Coupons save my cash.

  48. Ok, saw this posted and had to share:

    Haiku is not hard
    For sarcastic 4th graders
    See example here:

    Five syllables here
    Seven more syllables there
    Are you happy now?

  51. Cashiers often ask
    “How did you Get that for free?”
    Don’t they know Jill C?

  53. Deals, steals, make me squeal!
    Money makers? I cartwheel!
    Tell me more, deal Jill!

  54. Wow! Look at this deal!
    Getting name brands on the cheap
    Helps make a good meal!!!

  57. Everyday I save.
    Some might think I’m excessive.
    But it pays the bills.

  61. My daughter plays store,
    Cashier tyke scans my “coupons”
    Mom, coupon’s no good!!

    This actually happened when my daughter wanted to play with a toy register. She asked for coupons and tried repreatedly to scan then befote giving them back because they were no good!!

  62. Didn’t sleep last night
    I kept counting syllables
    Should be counting sheep!

  66. Where did the time go?
    It seems like Jill just gave “birth”
    Now youre 4 years old

  71. Hershey’s $1.
    But it is $2 now.
    For me $1.

    My sister and I bought Hershey’s syrup at Jewel on the same day. I took advantage of the “buy 10 get $5 off” and used a manufacturer’s coupon. She told me it cost $1.99 at Jewel that day. I said it was only a dollar for me. He he he.

  73. call me crazy
    when i go and buy
    my sunday papers baby
    i hear savings
    and i am craving
    to go shopping
    with less money
    on spending
    but i dont hoard
    nor do i really go overboard
    just getting stuff
    i know will be used for!

  74. Lil girl in the mart
    Spotted a blinkie
    Look mom we got it for free

    My daughter whenever we go to the grocery always looks for blinkies or peelies and gets excited coz she knows those coupons are free and will save us money :-)

  78. Frugal, savvy, cheap
    These are names that I’ve been called
    I just say I’m smart :)

  80. You Say Free Veggies

    Won’t Mother Nature Bring Rain

    On My FREE Parade!

  81. Hot winds of dog days;
    The cooling blast of A/C–
    time to shop and save.

  82. Blazing summer sun;
    Chicago’s tropical heat–
    Free sunscreen saves pale skin.

  83. Like learning to swim;
    Combining coupons and sales–
    Floating in deep deals.

  84. Waiting for autumn;
    Summer clearance will begin–
    clothes for next year now.

  88. three coupons for “pop”
    leave an “orphan”to share please
    “momma”always does

  89. I coupon night and day
    The perfect price I find is FREE
    Coupon shopping is for me

  90. Coupons I do use
    Saving and stockpiling too
    Give to those in need

  91. Jill,

    Thank you so much for making so many people aware of how to coupon! I look forward
    to planning my shopping trips every Sunday after I read your blog!

    Thanks again,
    Patti

  97. I have been to a couple of your Super Couponing classes and have learned so much from you! Thank you for all the research and hard work that you do to bring all this great info to all of us!

    Happy 4th Anniversary!

  100. Clipless We Practice
    Rebates and Stacking Oh My
    Boy We Have Toothpaste

  103. Coupons! They are friends.
    All sizes, shapes, and amounts – yes
    Saves me money!

    Frowns and sighs who cares
    You should try couponing too
    Saves you money!

  104. Friends want to learn how

    I can save so much money…

    Though they think I’m nuts!

  106. Walk into the store,
    the employees hang their heads.
    “Oh no, not again!”

  107. To the store, to war!
    Red plum held high, let us cry,
    “The savings must flow!”

  108. Armed with a coupon,
    this savvy mom won’t pay full
    price for groceries.

  109. People don’t believe it,
    nor can many conceive it,
    free! and cash back too?

  111. because of hard times
    to couponing I have turned
    sighs of relief heard

  113. Daughter shopped with me
    Then cashier questioned coupons
    “Mom, shop alone next!”

  116. Coupons are the best
    They save money for the rest
    Now we have a nest!

    I just learned what type of poem this was about 3 months ago when I had to help my 5th grader do one! I had never heard of it before. Your so knowledgable in every way!! :)

  117. The best thing I did;
    Teach my kids how to coupon
    Love watching them save!

  118. Family of 8
    Learned everything from Jill’s blog
    Can’t thank you enough!

  119. My man is the BEST!
    He can super coupon too
    He’s better than the rest!

  121. I miss rolling cats
    Guess they don’t want me stockin’
    Or machine rockin’

  124. Dig this haiku beat
    Jill Cataldo, ain’t she sweet?
    Congrats on four years!

  125. Thought Aldi was best
    Then Jill op’nd my eyes to Qs
    Now I shop at Jewel!

  126. Only bought store brands
    Kids begged; I couldn’t afford
    Thanks to Jill, I can!

  128. Because we coupon;
    There will be no food pantry;
    My children have learned…

    To respect their mother;
    The value of a dollar;
    And to save money!

  131. My life has been changed
    By attending Jill’s workshop…
    Coupons everywhere!

  132. Jill’s deals of the week
    Tell us the best coupon deal
    Free stuff is the best!

  136. Remember the cat deals, Jill?
    Ah, the good old days
    but now at least I’m skinny

  139. Three year old watched Brave
    Excited to hear “half off”
    “That’s a good deal mom!”

  143. This hobby’s crazy
    Q’s everywhere-house, purse, car.
    Jill’s made a monster!

  144. I love to coupon, the most I have every saved is 50%. My goal is to have 80% one day.

  150. Coupon, coupon, save
    share the wealth amoung the poor
    Helping others YEAH!!!

    the best I could come up with today!
    thanks for all you do Jill!

  152. Saving is such fun
    Though storage can be tricky
    Guests can sleep with stash!

  155. Look–straight down that aisle
    It’s the super couponer
    With deals of the week

  157. buy one get one free
    razors for all in our house
    cost nothing feel great

  158. Not sure what to say,
    Haiku writing is not my thing.
    I hope I can win!

  160. Jill has taught me well
    I don’t spend an extra dime
    Someday I’ll be rich.

  161. Oh say can you see?
    All the name-brands cheap or free!
    Can’t contain my glee!

  172. Razors toothpaste floss
    Cashier cries, “Oh no! She’s back!”
    Coupon scanner smokes

  177. So much yummy food
    My tongue’s out like Gene Simmons
    All free with coupons!

  180. Husband scoffs, no clue :(
    New golf clubs for Father’s Day
    Paid for with savings :)

  181. Car battery dead :(
    Buy Sears gift cards from Jewel first
    Free food soothes the sting :)

  183. I’ll win the gift card
    Quadruple it’s value soon
    With Jill it’s not hard

  196. Stop that woman now!

    She’s heading… to ……. the Right Guard ……………..

    She just cleared the shelf ):

  205. Surf, squeal, print, clip, sort,
    repeat each morning, noon, night
    Coupons will help cure our plight

  216. Never buy coupons!
    Don’t let them expire on you!
    Combine them with sales!

  218. Must save some money
    Need more groceries to eat
    The savings pile up!

    Thanks for all your help! Not sure how we would be afloat without it!

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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