Christin Collier, NC
I am new to trading. I have been couponing now for over 7 years, with
some success, but nowhere near the success of the members of RC. I
became an RC member right at 3 months ago, with much hesitation, but was
almost to the point of throwing out all of my coupons - it just wasn't
worth spending the money for papers, and then spending $400.00 to
$600.00 in groceries. It wasn't working as I had wanted it to. Then I got
my first RC magazine. I was soooo jealous. How in the world could all
of these people be getting so much for so little, and sometimes for
nothing!?!? That was all of the motivation I needed. If they can do it,
so can I.
I answered a few of the ads from the magazine. I didn't check out the
website until about 4 to 6 weeks ago. WOW!!! Links for freebies, ads
trading forms and coupons!? This was a dream come true!!! I am a stay
at home mom, with 5 boys that I teach at home. We try to pinch every
penny and then some, but through all of the posts and trades, we could
really be well off!
I started off small. I got a $10.00 free gift card from Kmart by
transferring a Rx. I got some of their trial size items (deoderant,
shampoo, etc.) along with a few grocery (edible) items, and paid only a couple
of dollars for what should have been $30.00 or more. That was all it
took!!! I was a believer!!
I got the Incredibles DVD at CVS for FREE between CVS bucks and really
good coupons I had. WOW!!! This was unbelievable!!! The kids
(pictured), have watched it soo many times and love the movie.
I have since been to the grocery store for high dollar trips about
twice. Both times, through coupons and rebates, I was able to cut my
grocery bill more than in half!!! It gets better and better, yet. One
particular trip I would like to share with the readers. It has been my
best big trip so far. I owe a huge, heart felt thank you to those traders
out there who helped me in this feat!! I could not have done it
without you and am forever grateful to you.
We live on the East Coast of NC in a city called Morehead City. My
favorite grocery store to shop at is Lowe's Food. They double coupons up
to .60 in face value (regardless of whether or not it says DND) with a
$35.00 or more purchase. I had prepared like I was supposed to -
checking the paper for sales as well as getting my coupons organized for
double and triple plays. I was ready. My 10 year old went with me. We
had a blast. I couldn't have gone any better.
First of all, I had 15 coupons for .50 off of a bag of ice thanks to a
gracious trader. That means I could get 15 bags of ice for .39 each!!
I did!! We, as I mentioned, live on the east coast of NC, and we are
lovers of the water. We have a beautiful 1968 Anna Capri 23 foot boat
that we like to go out in as much as possible. My husband spent all of
last summer in repairing and rebuilding it. Then we had a huge plastic
wall around the garage entrance to our house so that he could paint it.
It looks brand new! Every time we go, of course, we have to get bags
of ice for drinks, food, and any fish we catch (which have been very
few, but we still have high hopes!). We also have many threats of
potential hurricanes living where we do, and one of the first things to go is
ice. So believe you me, I took full advantage of this beautiful
opportunity. I also had 9 coupons for free coffee up to $4.00 with the
purchase of 2 full size Keeblers Sandies Cookies. Yep, you guessed it - I
have 19 packages of Keebler cookies in my pantry along with 9 packages
of Maxwell House light coffee. What I was so excited about is the fact
that here was an opportunity for a triple play, at the very least. The
cookies were regularly over $3.00 a package. When I went in there to
get my groceries (with my awesome coupons), the cookies were on sale for
2 for $5.00 plus they had a peel off sticker for .55 off of each pack
of cookies. I near about wet my pants right there in the store!!!!!
That meant that I could get each package of cookies for $1.40 each along
with free coffee!! Does it get any better than this? Yes, as a matter
of fact it does because I also had good coupons for some deoderant that
they had. I made a small profit on the trial size deoderant and paid
less than .50 cents for the full size deoderant because they were marked
down for close out. I was estatic. My total grocery bill should have
been close to $300.00, but with all of the sales, coupons, and
discounts I had, I ended up paying just over $100.00!!!!
I want to personally thank Michele for getting this magazine going.
You keep all of us couponers/refunders in touch with all you have
accomplished and with all that you do. Thank you to all of you who volunteer
in the (areas) that you do. You all keep us up to date on the latest
possible sales, double, and triple plays. Thank you to all of you
traders out there who have been so gracious to me in your time, talent,
coupons, and forms. I could not save all that I do without you for my
family of seven. We seem to be in a land of no forms, because I have
looked and have not found anywhere near the ones I read about on a daily
basis. Refunding has become such a blessing and joy - it could not be
possible without any of you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for
all of your help, encouragement, time in explaining to me what all of
the once-used-to-be gibberish means, and for sharing all that you do. I
am truely looking forward to many years of refunding!!!
