Meet All You Super Saver Marilyn Zerlinsky-Syarto! The Fairfield, Conn. mom (and blogger at TwoFrugalFairfielders.com) chatted with us to share her best couponing secrets and shopping tips — plus, the inspiring way she uses her expertise to give back.
Related: Cut Your Grocery Bill by $30 Per Week
Q: Who is in your household?
A: My husband, Steve, 54, daughter, Chloe, 14, and son, Connor, 13.
Q: Why did you start saving and couponing?
A: When I began working from home in 2004 I used coupons on a small scale. But three years ago I was shocked to realize that I was spending more than $250 a week on groceries, and it seemed like I barely had any food in the house! With two growing kids, I knew I had to find a better way. At first I tried shopping at discount stores and serving my family mostly pasta and inexpensive meat — which didn’t go over well! Couponing was the best way for me to cut my grocery bill.
Q: What was your first step?
A: I began by figuring out more ways to collect coupons. It wasn’t worth it to me to save just a couple dollars every time I went shopping. I wanted to save a lot of money, so I needed a lot of coupons.
Q: How much does couponing save you on groceries each month?
A: Every time I walk into the grocery store, I cut 50 percent to 90 percent from my bill. Often I pay $30 for $90 worth of groceries, or less than $50 for $100 worth of items. And I’m not even an extreme couponer. I’m just an everyday bargain hunter.
Q: What’s your single best strategy?
A: Organization. I know a few people who like to bring all their coupons with them when they shop, but that just confuses and distracts me, and I end up spending way too much money on items I don’t care about. My strategy is to carefully prepare my shopping list and coupons at home before I shop. That way I go into the store with a tightly edited list and coupons that match it.
Related: Don’t Fall For These Grocery Store Gimmicks
Q: What are your favorite sources for savings?
A: I could not live without CouponMom.com. The aggregate website is my first stop when I create my shopping lists. I also check out Coupons.com, but, since I’m notoriously thrifty, I use my printer ink only for really great deals, like ice cream discounts. Its packaging has shrunk during the past year; I hate paying full price for a carton that’s one-quarter smaller. I also get deals on Earthbound Farm organic produce, and I study store fliers to find even more opportunities.
Q: What was your biggest savings haul?
A: My best deals include scoring 8 bottles of Dawn dish detergent for 20 cents each at CVS, 30 cans of Chock Full o’Nuts coffee for $30, and 6 bottles of L’Oréal Vive Pro shampoo for 25 cents at ShopRite.
Q: How do you use your expertise to help others?
A: In 2011 I was visiting a friend, and she showed me her empty refrigerator. I was speechless when I saw that she couldn’t feed her family very well, so I taught her how to coupon. She then told me one of her friends — who has ties to the local women-and-children’s crisis center — about my couponing, and one thing led to the next. I now lead couponing workshops there. I love to teach the women how to coupon because it gives them one more tool to help take control of their lives. I know many couponers like to donate groceries to food banks and shelters. Although I’ve done that, I feel that teaching women in need what I’ve learned about couponing and smart shopping gives them a valuable life skill.
Q: What advice would you give someone just starting to save?
A Don’t waste gas running from store to store to chase sales. You’ll just wipe out your savings on fuel costs that way. Stick to local sales. Also, many of the best bargains can be found in drugstores. Don’t discard any of your grocery store circulars, and don’t toss those CVS ExtraBucks or Catalina coupons — that would be like throwing away money!
Related: Save Money With These Coupons from AllYou.com
Tell us, what are your best couponing tips?
