Workshops Show You How To Get Big Coupons
It's not your typical party, but in a struggling economy for some mom's coupon parties are becoming the next big thing.
"I'm going to broaden your horizons," Rose Jordan said as she prepared for her first BeCentsAble Workshop in Weatherford. "You are not going to spend hours clipping coupons."
Instead of taking on the savings battle alone, Jordan is teaching a group of women how to do it together in just 30 minutes a week. "I'm excited," workshop attendee Maxine Hill said. "I just want to cut my grocery bill."
Jordan, along with Laura Thornquist, host coupon parties across the metroplex. The women swear you can save up to 60-percent on grocery bills, but you have to learn how use coupons.
"I was anti-coupon! No time, mother of two, busy career… and my husband said try coupons," explained Thornquist. "I said no way, no how."
But after her husband was laid off from work, Thornquist says her family was put in a tough financial situation and she turned to BeCentsAble.net. "My grocery bills used to be $800, now its $320," she said.
Thornquist said her secret is to look for sales and double up on coupons. That means you can combine a manufacturer's offer with one offered by the store.
She also adds that one coupon can be good for an entire line of products, not just the item in the picture.
Now Thornquist says the Sunday paper has become her new best friend. "You use four coupons on one product and I guarantee you'll get it free."
In one example, by using all the strategies and stacking coupons, BeCentsAble was able to buy three eight packs of batteries. The batteries were on sale, then a $5 rebate, three store coupons, and three manufacturer coupons for a price of $2 for three packs were used. Then a $3 off a purchase of $15 was applied and the average price per pack was $1!
Another example was the purchase of Purex laundry detergent costing $3.98. If it's on sale and you use a coupon it can only cost you 48-cents.
"I'm all for the tricks tell me and I'll follow," workshop attendee Marianne Lusk said.
The 2-hour workshops are being held across Dallas/Fort Worth and cost between $15 and $25 a person. Find out more about the workshps at mydallasmommy or on the becentsable website.
