Before becoming a mom, Maura White was happy in her role as a high school teacher and didn’t spend much time on couponing. The birth of her daughter changed all of that. She decided to quit her job and stay at home. With finances a little tighter, she threw herself into couponing and is now an expert.
Maura eventually started the blog HappyDealHappyDay.com and currently shares couponing advice to her many readers. She does a great job posting about in-store and online deals, while also sprinkling in a helpful assortment of frugal tips.
Learn more about Maura by reading the Q&A we conducted with her:
A: 6 years.
A: When my oldest daughter was born, I resigned from my high school science teacher position so that I could be home with her. We had to adjust to living on one income and coupons became a necessity.
A: 4 years.
A: I was looking at other coupon blogs and shopping all of the stores when my oldest daughter was an infant. There was not a blog covering local stores in upstate NY at the time, and I loved the idea of having a blog on the side as my hobby during naptime.
A: Since we do not have to barter in our society to get the best deal - clipping coupons is my way of “bartering” with the retailer, so that I can get the lowest price possible. It also stretches me to try new products that I wouldn’t otherwise try since I’m getting a good deal.
A: Wegmans
A: Pick one store – just one – and get good at it. Trying to learn 10 stores, and all the coupon policies, and all the sales can be very time consuming and overwhelming. When you feel like that, you just give up. Just take the time to use coupons at your favorite store – and you’ll see how valuable and how much fun it is!
A: Feeling guilty that they didn’t hit every store and get every deal. I think many feel that way in the beginning. I’ve grown past that though and have become more practical. Time does = money! Also, couponers tend to bring home more than their family needs. If you do – be sure to have a place to donate it so you aren’t storing it just because you got a good deal.
A: I wish in the future retailers would streamline loyalty programs and coupon policies so that the consumer didn’t have such a hard time learning it all. If the programs and policies were the same, then it would just be easier. When we make mistakes, it makes couponers look bad, and frustrates the store. If that continues, then stores will lessen the good deals we can find (which has happened in the last few years since the Extreme Couponers show.)
A: You will spend more time in the beginning establishing a system of what stores you want to shop and how much time you take finding and clipping coupons. It is worth the investment to get into a routine that can save your family thousands each year!
