Meet All You Super Saver Justine Howell! The savvy shopper from Temecula, Calif. chatted with us to share how she works the Web to snag deals on clothes and activities for her family.
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Q: Who is in your household?
A: My husband, Tim, 41, and daughters, Megan, 12, Savannah, 6, and Shelby, 4.
Q: Why did you start couponing?
A: I was born a couponer — I learned from my mom — but I kicked it up a notch last year when we sold our house in pricey Orange County to move to a more affordable area of California. Now more than ever, I refuse to buy groceries, clothing or household goods unless they’re on sale. And I share my deals on my savings blog at TemeculaBlogs.com.
Q: What’s the best savings tip you ever got?
A: When I was buying formula for my now 12-year-old, a friend told me you could stack the $5-off deals that Similac mails you with manufacturer’s or store coupons. That tip inspired me to start boosting my savings on other items.
Q: What do you do to ensure the most savings?
A: I subscribe to two newspapers to get double the coupons. I never check out of a store without first searching my iPhone for a coupon to use on my sale items. I also buy and sell a lot of my daughters’ clothing at resale shops. My favorite is Children’s Orchard, a nationwide chain, where I can get 50 percent of my items’ selling price in store credit, which I use to replenish my girls’ wardrobes. Typically I’ll get a $100 credit. I’ve found deeply discounted Halloween costumes that look like they came from Pottery Barn Kids as well as True Religion jeans. A lot of the items I bring in are ones I bought used, so I feel like I’m getting even more value.
Q: Where do you look for deals on clothes?
A: My favorite stores are Gap, Macy’s and Payless, so I subscribe to their e-mail notices, newsletters and rewards programs. Whenever there’s a sale, I get an immediate alert. I’ve also downloaded the apps of my favorite e-tailers and discounters — like Amazon, Groupon and Old Navy — so if I want a deal while I’m away from the computer, I can quickly browse my phone. And the bargains aren’t just on clothes. During a recent shopping trip, I found a Groupon offer for a sandwich shop that had just opened in the mall — $10 for $20 worth of food, plus a free drink. I fed all five of us for $10.
Related: The Beginner’s Guide to Smart Shopping
Q: How much time do you devote to couponing each week?
A: I spend about 30 minutes a week clipping grocery and retail coupons from circulars. Other than that half hour, I do my couponing while standing in a checkout line because I get most of my coupons from my phone.
Q: What was your biggest savings haul?
A: I recently used the Kohl’s cash I got from a shopping trip — during certain promotions you get $10 for every $50 you spend — and a coupon to get an amazing deal on a $70 slow cooker. It was on sale for $34.99. I couldn’t find a coupon online, but the cashier gave me one for 15 percent off. And with my $20 in Kohl’s cash, I paid just $9.74!
Justine’s best tips:
• Redeem all your deals. ”I bought a one-year family aquarium pass for just $50 on LivingSocial.com and have already planned multiple trips. We also make sure to use up our credit card points — we’ve flown to New York twice for free!
• Don’t stop at clipping coupons. “It’s easy to forget that there are deals beyond coupons. For example, I always look for discounted baked goods at the supermarket and often find loaves of French bread for 75 percent off!”
• Spend time organizing. “I sort all my grocery-store coupons in a file-card box according to the aisles at my supermarket. I keep all my department-store coupons in a zippered pocket inside my purse so I always have them on hand.”
Related: 10 Shopping Strategies From the People Who Know Best
What are your best couponing tips?Image may be NSFW.
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