Vicki of Coupondipity Talks About Going from Couponing Student to Mentor

Vicki wasn’t always a coupon expert. She wasn’t even actually all that interested in couponing until she took a class. That’s when everything changed. Vicki was stunned by the power couponing can have on the pocketbook and decided to commit at that moment to being a couponer.

A few years later and Vicki now has a thriving web site called Coupondipity.com that is dedicated to providing a user-friendly experience for new and veteran couponers alike to find great deals.

We recently reached out to Vicki and she was kind enough to explain her journey from couponing newbie to couponing pro in the following Q&A:

Q: How long have you been couponing?

A: 4 years.

Q: Why did you start couponing?

A: I attended a coupon class and I was amazed at how much money I could save with very little time and money invested. It’s free money - who wouldn’t want that?

Q: How long have you had your blog?

A: Three and a half years.

Q: What prompted you to get started with blogging?

A: I was very successful with personal couponing, and friends started asking how to do it themselves. I started the blog initially as a resource for friends to learn how to coupon the easy way.

Q: What do you like most about couponing?

A: Walking out of the store with freebies is a rush. I find it to be a lot of fun.

Q: Where is your favorite place to shop with coupons?

A: Publix.

Q: What advice would you give to couponing newbies?

A: Don’t expect huge savings on your first shopping trip, and realize that until you have your system down pat, it will take a bit more of a time investment. But it WILL pay off.

Q: What is the biggest challenge couponers face?

A: A lot of coupons found in the paper are regional, so they’re not available to everyone. Additionally, many store cashiers are not educated on their own coupon policies, so this can be frustrating for both the customer and the cashier. Another challenge is that different stores have different policies, so it can take awhile to figure out what works best at which store.

Q: Where do you see the future of couponing going?

A: Stores are becoming more strict about coupon policies. I think we might be in a “coupon bubble”. Right now it’s great, but I’m not sure that these huge savings that we’re realizing now will last forever. I think we will see fewer coupons available, and they will likely be less value.

Q: Have any final thoughts?

A: If you’re not couponing, you’re leaving money on the table. Be a good steward of couponing, and don’t try to game the system. Don’t quote a coupon blog when you’re in the store saying, “Coupondipity posted that this was on sale” or “Coupondipity said I could use 47 of these coupons.” Take a copy of the store’s coupon policy, printed from their website, with you when you shop. If you have a problem, pull it out and show it to them. Above all, have fun!