Couponing for the Rest of Us , livre ebook

© 2013 by Kasey Knight Trenum
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516–6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means for example, electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-4292-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
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Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations labeled NLV are from the New Life Version, copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International.
All images courtesy of Cortney Wheeler Photography. Used by permission.
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“If you’re like most people, you’d love to slash your grocery bill like the coupon pros you’ve seen on TV or read about in magazines. But who’s got the time-equivalent of a part-time job to pull that off? Prepare to be surprised by how easy it really is to slash your grocery budget by 50 to 70 percent consistently, week after week! In this book Kasey Trenum takes you from start to finish using her uniquely simple strategies. You’ll go step-by-step, from collecting coupons to getting organized to understanding store policies and secrets for how to maximize your savings just like a pro!”
Mary Hunt , personal finance expert and founder of Debt-Proof Living, author of 7 Money Rules for Life
“ Couponing for the Rest of Us will leave your heart and wallet full as you navigate toward prosperity and hope.”
Amee Cantagallo , founder of MadameDeals.com
“Finally! Not only does Couponing for the Rest of Us walk the reader step-by-tiny-step through the confusing maze of the couponing world, it approaches the process with compassion and grace. Saving money doesn’t have to be all about ‘me, me, me,’ and Kasey inspires us to be better through our good stewardship.”
Linsey Knerl , blogger at LilliPunkin.com and 1099Mom.com
To my precious daddy, whose life was full of love, generosity, and contagious laughter. A day is coming when I will see you again face-to-face. How thankful I am to have the assurance of your heavenly home. There will never be another like you your impact on the lives of those around you is beyond what you could have imagined and continues to this day.
To my husband, Gary, and my children, Morgan and Caleb, you are the greatest gifts God could have blessed me with. No one compares to you; I adore you with all that I am.
Most of all, to my heavenly Father, for redeeming my life. Your faithfulness is more than I deserve. Your love for me is astounding and your power to deliver is beyond what I could have ever imagined.
Contents
Cover 1
Title Page 3
Copyright Page 4
Endorsements 5
Dedication 6
About Kasey 9
What Others Are Saying (and Saving!) 11
Acknowledgments 14
Introduction 17
Questions & Answers 19
1. More Than Just Coupons 27
2. The Story behind the Coupon 41
3. Change Your Mind, Change Your Cart 49
4. Couponing 101 61
5. A-Hunting We Will Go 77
6. Ready . . . Set . . . Shop! 97
7. Sensible Stockpiling 115
8. Drugstores and More: What You Don’t Know but Should 129
9. Peelie Stealers Go Home! 143
10. Time 2 $ave, Time 2 Give 153
Appendix A: Taking Stock of Your Pantry 167
Appendix B: Stockpiling List 171
Appendix C: Learning the Lingo 174
Appendix D: Internet Printable Coupons 177
Appendix E: Sample Binder Categories 179
Appendix F: Couponing Questions to Ask at the Store 180
Appendix G: Tips on Storage While Stockpiling 182
Appendix H: The Ten-Minute Trick 184
Appendix I: Freezer Help 186
Notes 189
About the Author 190
Back Ads 191
Back Cover 192
About Kasey
It all started with ketchup. When I came out of the grocery store with a bottle of ketchup for 16 cents, the wheels started turning. That was when my world turned upside down. Everything finally came together in a way I had never understood before. The savings kept adding up the more I researched blogs, deals, coupons, and store policies. I had many sleepless nights devouring everything I could possibly find about couponing. If I had discovered all this back in college, I could have saved so much money!
But really, I didn’t know exactly what I was doing. As I started purchasing several items each week at a really low price, I began to notice that little by little I no longer needed those products. Unbeknownst to me, I was actually building my pantry. Then I found myself needing to buy only the necessities each week, then only purchasing the items my family used that were really cheap or free. Before I knew it, a couple of months had gone by and I had stocked my pantry with more food than I had ever shopped for without coupons and had paid half the price for it.
My papa always liked to say, “You are always better off when you keep your own money in your pocket.” At the time, I just didn’t realize how profound that statement would be to me later on in life. The truth is that all these savings from couponing have added up to a part-time job so I don’t have to work outside our home. I kept my money in my pocket and spent my time with my children.
I’ve taken everything I’ve learned and put it in an easy-to-understand format so everyone can enjoy the benefits of this knowledge without the pressure of it taking too much time. After all, I know how it feels to be stressed with life’s responsibilities and burdens, especially the financial ones. With all we have going on, who has the extra time to spend hours a day clipping coupons? I certainly don’t, and I’m sure you don’t either. I’ve learned how to balance savings with having a life and without it becoming an obsession. I’ve never woken up singing the praises of a coupon; I’ve just sung the joys of saving a ton of money.
But it’s not just about the savings. When I started sharing tips with others through the Time 2 $ave workshops, I saw a need in the community. Well, I saw lots of needs. I saw families who were broke or were going through an illness. I saw elderly people who needed help with their groceries. I saw single mothers who couldn’t afford diapers. I saw people who lost all they had because of a tornado, flood, or hurricane. I started looking outward and helping others through the money I was saving and the deals I was getting. I haven’t stopped since.
I’m not just about getting more for less; I’m about making a difference.
What Others Are Saying (and Saving!)
From college students to entrepreneurs to single, working, or stay-at-home moms, everyone who has used my philosophy has a reason for being super excited about their savings. Read on!
Time 2 $ave
Thanks for teaching me these techniques. I have loved it and we love the donation box that we have set aside for The Ronald McDonald House. . . . I’m a single mom and love to help others, but never had the means to do it until now. It’s awesome and the kids have really gotten into it with me. Sandy
I have just finished a back-to-school and a grocery shopping trip using your tips. I saved over $200! Also, our pantry and two freezers are beginning to fill up! Everyone in our household is thrilled! Tiffany
My sister, daughter, and I took your class around the first of this year, and were soon contacted by our local newspaper that was doing a story on saving money. My daughter and I commented about our class experience and how much money we saved. My sister and I live next door to each other, so we grocery shop together. Saving money has become a contest for us! Sometimes she wins, sometimes I win, but we are both saving tons of money. I have not had this many groceries in my married life! Which is twenty-five years! Thanks for the help! Tammy
I am stopped every day in the stores and asked how I do coupons. I’ve been shopping with them for at least twenty-five years. I save several hundred dollars every couple of days. Most of the food and other items I donate. It’s the rush of the savings that I enjoy since all my children are grown. My daughter and grandchildren get a lot of benefit from my shopping. Time 2 $ave has been an added blessing to my shopping experiences. Dawn
I attended your workshop in South Pittsburgh and I really learned a lot. I have more than made back the $40 for the workshop, and I am using most of my stockpile to make Christmas baskets for my family. I have also shared the coupon savings with friends at church and my family in other states. Thank you so much for doing these workshops and keeping us updated each day of how to “wheel and deal.” I love it. Nora
Before we were married, my husband and I decided to live on one income so I could be at home with any children we might have. The Lord has blessed us with two kids and I have been able to be home with them since birth. But financially this is not always easy. . . . It has been five weeks since I took your first class and my grocery budget has gone down from $95 to $75 per week. My goal is $45 per week. . . . I regularly save 50 percent or more on my stockpile items. . . . My best shopping trip to date was to Publix. I spent $4.17 and saved $28.36. My husband was with me and when he saw the total, he was amazed. . . .