Book Review: Savvy Shopper–Couponing Secrets from the Stockpiling Moms
Let’s face it – buying groceries is by far one of the biggest expenses for a family on a budget. While many of us look for ways to reduce our spending by using coupons or buying generic, we often become frustrated by the whole idea when we either don’t see a significant drop in our spending, or else find the practice of coupon clipping to be a major hassle. (*Blushing* Been there, done that! Ahem…)
If that describes you, chin up! In their new book, Savvy Savings – Couponing Secrets from the Stockpiling Moms, authors Melissa Jennings and Shelley King (www.stockpilingmoms.com) teach “coupon newbies” how to save BIG money at the grocery store, create a stockpile to last our families anywhere from 3-6 months, and NOT get all frazzled ‘n uptight right from the get-go.
Savvy Savings is more than a glorified tutorial. It takes you through the entire stockpiling process from start to finish in a clear, organized way. Information on everything from:
- planning your shopping strategy
- collecting and organizing your coupons
- menu planning
- coupon rules and the benefits of knowing your store’s coupon policy
- deciphering coupon lingo
- understanding sale cycles (and planning your shopping around them)
- shopping with children
- storage
- frugal living ideas
- donating your surplus to food banks or animal shelters
- to coping strategies for those snarky comments and jabs of criticism (“So, exactly HOW many boxes of cereal do you need, anyway?”) is all here.
The crux of the book is about building that stockpile!
According to the author’s, a successful stockpile will save you thousands of dollars per year on everything from food, to toiletries, to pet food – even holiday gifts! This will enable you to:
- pay off debts
- take that family “dream vacation”
- pay for your child’s college tuition
- save for retirement or a down payment on a new home
- and bless others in your community
And that, my friends, is what makes “savvy savings” so worthwhile!
My Thoughts: I was pleased with both the flow and the content of this book. The authors took a great deal of care in explaining all the ins and outs of couponing/stockpiling, and making it feel extremely “do-able”. Their personalities and genuine interest in helping others really shined through. It felt as though you were sitting down for a good chat with your best friend, not sitting in another coupon class!
By the end of the book, I was grabbing my sales ads, coupon inserts and scissors in earnest! (Hee hee) Even though I’ve been couponing off ‘n on for a few years, I have yet to really build a stockpile and see savings like those mentioned in the book. But I want to! I really, really want to.
If this is something you’ve considered trying but felt it was either “too hard” or “just didn’t work”, you should definitely get a copy of Savvy Savings. It will walk you through the crazy world of couponing step-by-step and teach you how to maximize your savings at every turn.
This book is great for both “newbies” and those who’ve recently fallen off the coupon wagon!
