BeFrugal

Published August 25, 2010

Stephanie Rector created Couponing101.com with the intention of sharing all the great deals she found for her family with friends and relatives. Now she helps thousands of readers save money on a daily basis.

Stephanie is also a wife and a home school mother of two young children. Stephanie’s own experiences as a mother help her to motivate other moms across the country to creatively stretch their budgets in order to make better lives for their families.

Interview Transcript

BeFrugal: How did your blog Couponing101.com come about?

Stephanie Rector: I found that I was constantly repeating myself when family and friends would ask me how to really save money with coupons and to share the deals I’d find with them.

I decided it would be more efficient to say what I wanted once and have a place to share the deals I found that my friends could get to whenever they wanted. So, I learned how to set up a blog, and now I have thousands of readers who I share deals with daily!

BeFrugal: Between your blog, family, and work, what is a snapshot of your day?

Rector: Well, that is a hard question to answer because it seems that no two days are the same! I’m blessed that my blog allows me to stay home with my children, and I home school them as well.

I usually check email and respond to comments in the afternoon during my kids’ quiet time, and then write my blog posts after they go to bed. Ask me tomorrow though and I might have a different answer!

BeFrugal: There is much more interest in being frugal nowadays and using coupons is a big part of saving money. Other than just using coupons, what do you think are other ways to be more frugal?

Recotr: Couponing is NOT the only way to save money. Making the most of what you have and not wasting what you have are very important aspects of frugality.

Scoring 6 pints of blueberries for 50¢ each and then letting them go bad is not a good deal at all! You just have to change your mindset and always be on the lookout for a great deal.

BeFrugal: What is the easiest way for others to start being more frugal in their lives?

Rector: You have to really want to. If you don’t care or don’t want to, you are not going to get very far.

Once you’ve really committed to it, the easiest way to start is by getting the “free” stuff. Free samples and free coupon mailers will save you some money and will give you an idea of how fun it can be to save!

BeFrugal: Do you use modern technology to find deals and save money online?

Rector: Most of the ways I save money revolve around technology! I find most deals by scouring the internet. I also take advantage of printable coupons and electronic coupons. Trust me, coupon-clipping is not an ancient money-saving technique!

BeFrugal: In your opinion, what is the main reason most people pay more than they need to on many products?

Rector: Convenience. It takes effort to save money – you have to research, clip coupons, and shop around. Most people don’t want to deal with it, and so they pay the price for it. I just wish I could show them how much they could save if they put just a little effort into it!

BeFrugal: In your opinion, how much time do people need to spend searching for coupons to make an impact in their wallet?

Rector: I always say 30 minutes a week for clipping coupons and preparing your shopping list is plenty of time. Of course, you could spend more or less depending on how far you want to take it.

BeFrugal: What is one thing you want a user to take with them after visiting your blog for the first time?

Recotor: Encouragement and excitement! Couponing is FUN!!

****End of Interview****

For more money saving deals and advice, be sure to check out Stephanie’s blog Couponing101.com.