Interviews

Interview With Couponing Expert: Terra From SaveaLoonie.com

October 19, 2011

I was able to chat with Terra from SaveaLoonie.com last week and she gave lots of tips and tricks for couponing that I can share with you.

1. How long have you been using coupons and why did you get started with them?
I have always been a bargain hunter when shopping but Ryan and I (Terra) only really started using coupons in December 2010. We moved into a new house in January of this year and knew things were going to be tight. When we saw the first episode of Extreme Couponing on TLC, it really peaked our interest. It wasn’t until we actually moved in and watched as our expenses grew and our savings dwindled, that I knew we really had to make an effort at it. Getting started was a very overwhelming experience. There are so many rules to follow and I had no idea where to begin! Not to mention finding the coupons and figuring out when and how to use them. Once we figured it all out though, it became like second nature.

2. What’s the best deal you’ve ever scored?
The best deal we ever scored was just after we started SaveaLoonie.com. The $6.00 Finish Quantumatic coupon became available right before the product came on sale for $4.99. We picked up 25 of them all for free! We visited 2 different stores to get this many. I know it seems a little excessive but we were fairly new at all of this and were super excited to be getting such an amazing deal. Now that we have a dishwasher (we were still in the savings process when this deal was on) we do use these and have given many away to friends, family and neighbours.

3. Where do you find the most coupons?
By far the Internet is the biggest and best resource for coupons. We are constantly scouring Google and all the mail-out distributer’s websites. We also get a large portion of our coupons by signing up for e-newsletters and e-mailing lists. Other bloggers like BargainMoose.ca and CanadianDailyDeals.com, can also be a great resource for finding coupons. There is always bound to be something that gets missed. We firmly believe that Canadians are all in this couponing thing together and we should not be enemies. Sharing information is not a bad thing and giving credit where credit is due is very important!

4. Do you think ‘Extreme Couponing’ is ruining couponing for people?
I’m really on the fence about TLC’s Extreme Couponing. I think it’s great for giving people the idea that couponing can save you tons of money, look what it did for us. I think it can leave a lot of non-couponers with a misleading idea of what the average couponer does. I’ve never actually seen someone ripping off an entire tear pad or walking to checkout with 7 carts and 900 coupons, in any of my shopping adventures. There has been lots of talk about Extreme Couponing influencing people to be excessively greedy with coupons. I don’t think this is necessarily true, I think more people in general are just using coupons now and that’s why tear pads are empty. Not because one person came and took the whole thing. I look at the show as more for entertainment than as an ideal to look up to.

5. How do you save money on items that there aren’t often coupons for, such as meat & produce?
Saving money on meat and produce is the most difficult of all. We usually wait until it comes down to rock bottom price and stock up. We have a mid size chest freezer to hold just meats. When meat comes down to its lowest, I usually will buy 2 months worth. Enough to get through until it comes on sale again. We are also fortunate enough to have a local store that sells fresh cuts at exceptional prices so we purchase most of our meats from there. As for produce, I try and buy what is in season. That is when the prices are best. I would ideally like to have a garden to plant my own vegetables but because of where we are living we don’t have the space.

6. What store do you prefer for couponing and why?
Walmart is by far our favourite store for couponing. For most things, it’s a one stop shop. They have great sales, lower everyday prices and will price match. I have also very rarely had issues with using coupons there. I find the cashiers and customer service reps to be generally friendly and more “coupon-literate” than most stores in our area.

7. Besides your own and MrsJanuary.com, what’s your favourite Canadian deal site for finding coupons and deals?
It may not fit the bill exactly but I would have to say Facebook is one of the best places to find deals. Many companies now use this social media to promote their products. We “Like” many different pages on Facebook and watch their newsfeed’s carefully. Facebook pages will quite often give the heads up on a deal or coupon long before you can find it anywhere else. More and more companies are also using Facebook applications to give away coupons and freebies.

8. How do you get multiples of coupons?
We gather multiples of coupons from several different resources. We have both a home mailing address and a PO Box so we are able to get coupons sent to both of those locations. Family, friends and neighbours also sign up to mail out sites and receive inserts that they donate to us frequently. I have a few people that I do make trades with as well. If it is a print coupon, we will print the maximum number allowed. We don’t do “recycling walks” or anything of the sort.

9. What are 3 tips you would give to a first time couponer?
Looking back and remembering what it was like when we started couponing, makes this an easy one.
1. Start small. Don’t expect to save 98% on your first time out. Even seasoned couponers can get butterflies at checkout. When starting out, try using 2 or 3 coupons at a time. Build up your knowledge base and your confidence before going for the big scores.
2. Get organized. You will never know what coupons you have, can use, or are expiring if they are in a pile, in an envelope on top of your fridge. Everyone is different and everyone’s coupon system will be different. Find what works best for you and stick with it.
3. Learn your coupon policies. Gather the coupon policies from the stores you shop at most frequently and learn them back and forth. Many cashiers don’t know the policy and will tell you that you can’t use a coupon. If you don’t know either than you could miss out on a great deal! Also, bring your policies with you when shopping. That way its not your word against theirs.

10. Can you tell us a bit about SaveaLoonie.com?
SaveaLoonie.com is a Canadian coupons, freebies and deals website ran by a Canadian couple from Ontario. Ryan and Terra own, operate and maintain the website on a daily basis. We created SaveaLoonie.com to help spread the knowledge we had gained about couponing with all of Canada. It was initially started just to help out friends and family. Once Ryan and I started having success with coupons people were always asking where we got all of our coupons and how to use them. Instead of spending hours trying to explain it all we decided to create the website. We figured we had the knowledge and were doing all the work anyway why not post it for everyone. We are thankful for all the support that we have received from all across Canada and it is crazy to think how many people that we have helped to Save A Loonie or more!

Thank you so much to Terra for answering these questions.

Be sure to check out Ryan & Terra’s website, Save A Loonie for Canadian coupons, deals, freebies and more. They even have great proucts, like coupon binders!

6 Comments Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: canadian coupons

Interview With Personal Finance Expert: Gail From GailVazOxlade.com

September 28, 2011

I was lucky enough to speak with Gail Vaz-Oxlade this week, and she answered some great personal finance questions that some of you asked in our Facebook community.

I have been a huge fan of Gail for awhile now, so I was very excited about the opportunity to chat with her.

1. What comes first – establishing a good emergency fund or paying off existing debt?
You can’t do one at the expense of the other. Having a balanced financial life means you’re building a solid foundation. Even as you pay down your debt, you must be setting aside money for emergencies and building retirement savings. If you don’t think you have enough income to do it all, go over your expenses and trim out all the excess. Still not enough, find a way to make more money. But don’t skip saving.

2. Many people are overwhelmed when it comes to their finances because they don’t know where to start when it comes to turning their financial life around. What advice would you give those people?
The first place to start is by analyzing where your money has been going. This is the step people most often skip, and when their plans don’t work out they can’t understand why. It’s because you need to know what you have been doing with your finances before you can change to a better plan. Go over every bank statement, credit card statement, line of credit statement and count where your money has been going. What have you spent on groceries, in restaurants, on coffee? What have you spent on magazines, DVDs, books? How about your utilities, your gas, your car repairs, your rent or mortgage payment. Once you know where your money is going, the next step is to drop the averages you’ve come up with into a budget to see how you’ve been doing. From here, you can make changes.

3. How do you determine how much you should be putting away for retirement?
How much you stash for the future depends on a number of factors: your age (so how long your money has to grow), when you plan to retire, and whether you belong to a company pension plan at work. Assuming you’re doing it for yourself, if you’re in your 20′s saving 6% a year will do it. If you wait until you’re in your 30′s to start, you’ll need to sock away 10%. Wait until you’re in your 40s and you’re looking at 18%… which is the RRSP contribution limit.

4. My single readers would like to know – do you have any tips for budgeting for single folks?
Y’know, I don’t get the single money versus married money thing. I’ve been married (three times) and single (right now) and nothing changes about how I manage my money. (Maybe that’s why I’ve survived.)

5. Are there any work from home opportunities you can recommend to those who are looking to earn an income from home?
I don’t know enough about these to comment.

6. Do you recommend financial advisors? If so, what should you look for when you are searching for one?
I most certainly do recommend financial advisors who are smart and focused on helping you meet YOUR needs as opposed to their quotas. I’d never buy insurance without an insurance specialist at my side. And I have an investment person to help guide me through the investment options and keep my portfolio on track. Here are links to two blogs Finding Help with Your Money part 1 and part 2.

7. What would be your top 3 saving tips that most people don’t think of?
Three great ways to save people often skip include 1) raising the deductible on your insurance to pay a lower premium (while you’re at it, consolidate all your insurance for a discount) 2) Never shop without a list so you eliminate the impulse purchases (and don’t put your groceries on a credit card because you’ll spend more) and 3) maintain your car properly for better mileage and longer life (you should be able to get 300,000 – 500,000 km out of a well-maintained car!)

8. Where do you put your money when your TFSA is maxed out and you have a pension?
A high interest savings account, if you want to keep it liquid. The index if you want to invest in equities. Strips if you’re into bonds. Or some combo of the three.

9. Many people seem to have problems creating and sticking to a budget. Do you have any tips for creating a budget that is easy to stick with?
The only way to stick with a budget is to actually track what you’re spending against your budget categories as you go. If you’re using the Magic Jars you can see when the money is running out, so you spend more carefully. You want to do the same thing with your budget… track what you’re spending… so you can see when you’ve reached your limit on a category.

10. Can you tell us about your new book, Money Smart Kids?
Oh, yes. This is an easy to follow, short and straightforward guide to teaching kids about money. It will help you see what should be taught when, and how to open up those conversations. It’s in ebook format so it’s really affordable, and you can buy it for a e-reader or for your smart phone, or read it on your computer. Parents need to start helping their kids learn about money and how it works. I know it’s all the rage to try and offload this onto teachers, but they’re not the right people. Your kids are going to learn from YOU as you go about your daily life, whether you’re teaching good lessons or just flying by the seat of your pants. If you want them to be smart (and, perhaps, smarter than you’ve been up until now), figure out how money works and get busy teaching it to your children.

Thank you so much to Gail for answering these personal finance questions for us!

To read more of what Gail has to say, be sure to visit her blog and her eBook, Money Smart Kids.

Gail also has a new Facebook page, School Lenders – check that out as well!

9 Comments Filed Under: Interviews

Interview With Organizing Expert: Laura From Organizing Junkie

September 21, 2011

I had the pleasure of speaking with Laura from Organizing Junkie this week and she answered some of the questions that a few of you asked in our Facebook community.

She’s so smart when it comes to organizing! It’s no wonder she was offered a book deal! You can check out Laura’s book, Clutter Rehab on Amazon and in book stores.

1. How long have you been an organizing junkie?
I think many will be surprised to learn that I haven’t been an organizing junkie my entire life. My teenage bedroom was a disaster if I ever did see one. I became addicted to the high of organizing when my husband and two young kids at the time had to get creative with 900 square feet of living space. I had no where to put a desk to use as office space and I was able to turn a small closet into an office area that thrilled me to no end. I was hooked after that!

2. What is one area in your home that is the hardest to organize and why?
Well I’d have to say my husband’s spaces (specifically the garage) because I don’t touch those. We have an agreement that he’ll follow my systems in the rest of the house as long as I don’t touch his stuff. Agreed! I absolutely respect his space and don’t want to jeopardize his trust in me especially over stuff. It’s all about compromise and negotiation.

3. How do you save money on organizing supplies? Do you have any favourite stores for purchasing those supplies?
This is where I excel. I live in Canada and have no access to Container Stores and other lovely organizing gems like that (not to mention the budget!) so I’ve learned to improvise and use products in new fresh ways than maybe what they were originally intended. I hit up garage sales and thrift shops frequently and as well Walmart and the Dollar Store. Our dollar stores here have a ton of organizing baskets and bins that make organizing cupboards and drawers a breeze at a really great price.

4. Just like me, I know you love your label maker! Do you have a specific type that you’d recommend?
I do love labelling although I’m not as obsessive about it as one might think for an organizing junkie I don’t go crazy but labels are definitely necessary in many cases to help others know where things belong. My favourite labeller is a simple one that is inexpensive and super easy to use. It’s the Dymo LetraTag.

5. What’s the biggest mistake people make when they first start trying to get organized?
Not following the PROCESS steps! Having a plan helps keep the task at hand in focus and keeps us from getting distracted with everything else there is to do. Overwhelm does no one any good and it really holds us back from reaching our potential.

6. Do you have any tips for organizing paper clutter? I find that to be one of the biggest challenges in many homes.
Have a home for the papers that come in! No home = piles. Piles = confusion and clutter. This can be eliminated if you set up a system for the papers that do tend to pile up. For instance a file holder for your kitchen counter will help give you a spot to collect papers from school, bills to be paid, schedules, take out menus, etc.

7. How do you get everyone in the household involved in the organizing process?
I mentioned earlier the agreement my husband and I follow but in terms of the kids I think it’s important that we teach them these critical organizing skills from an early age. I truly believe organizing is a skill to be learned like any other. Work with them when organizing their belongings, walk them through the PROCESS step by step and slowly over time you will see the fruits of your labour. Ask them to make choices between two items and as much as possible don’t second guess their decisions. It’s much better for kids to learn these lessons early when the stakes aren’t quite as high.

8. Many people are overwhelmed with the thought of organizing their home and their life. What advice would you give those people?
Through my blog I’ve heard from many ladies that are so overwhelmed with their homes that they just don’t know where to start. This led me to start the 52 Weeks of Organizing series on my site. It’s all about taking little bites of organizing one small task at a time. You can read more about it here.

9. How do you organize kids toys in a way that takes up little space?
Limit them! Kids these days have too much to choose from, it’s crazy. The best advice I have here is to do a toy rotation and each week switch out the toy tote. Not only does it keep your child from getting overwhelmed but it makes clean up a breeze! As for simple toy storage I’m a huge fan of cubbies

10. What can readers expect to find on your website, Organizing Junkie?
I never take myself too seriously so you’ll often find me being a little silly while sharing the organizing skills that I’m so passionate about. I’m addicted to the high that comes from living a simple organized lifestyle and I want others to get “hooked” along with me!

Thank you so much to Laura for answering these organizing questions!

Be sure to check out Laura’s website, Organizing Junkie for a ton of helpful organizing tips.

4 Comments Filed Under: Interviews

Interview With Frugal Living Expert: Taya From SimplyFrugal.ca

September 14, 2011

I had the privledge of speaking with Taya from Simply Frugal this week, and she addressed some frugal living questions that myself and some of you all have been wondering about.

Here’s what Taya had to say:

1. How long have you been living a frugal lifestyle?
I would say I’ve been living the frugal lifestyle since just after we got married in September 2007. About four years I guess!

2. What was the moment in your life that really sparked your interest in frugal living?
The moment in my life that really got me going on frugal living was January 2008, when I decided to do a No Spend Challenge. I had been reading several other blog authors that were undergoing this “major” feat and was inspired to challenge myself. I realized, that while I had accumulated no debt, I had no idea where my money was going. I was really good at buying things on sale, later to have no use for the items in a short period of time. What a waste!

So, for the month of January, I challenged myself to not spend a dime. However, I did allow spending money for groceries and bills. The first week was so hard! I never realized how much I ventured into town “just to have a look”. The No Spend Challenge, forced me to get creative with my time, rather than spending my hours shopping away. I think I managed to paint our bedroom and get a bunch of organizing projects out of the way.

By the time the last week of January came around, I was finding it so much easier to stay out of unnecessary stores. I realized there was a freedom in knowing where money was being spent and seeing some savings! Needless to say, the No Spend Challenge impacted my life from then on. It’s way more fun to see my bank account grow rather then spending it on useless “junk” that takes up room in our already small home!

(Here are a couple of links about the No spend Challenge: an article I wrote for The Yummy Mummy Club and a series I did on a second No Spend Challenge I did in March of 2010.

3. What does your husband think about all of your money saving ideas. Does it drive him crazy, or is he really frugal as well?
My husband loves hearing any of my money saving stories! Each time I get home from the grocery store, he never fails to ask what I managed to get free that time!

It definitely doesn’t drive him crazy since he’s actually the original frugal one in our family. He’s always been good with money and I figured that once we got married, life would be much more peaceful if I came along side him and his view of money.

4. Can you tell us your #1 tip for living frugally, without sacrificing quality of life?
Hmm, I’d have to say my number one tip would be to enjoy the outdoors. My husband and I love to go on hikes and walks on trails surrounding our town. We figure it’s a great way to not spend a dime on entertainment! Oh, picnics at the beach during the summer are also mandatory. Taking our walks or hikes has helped me to slow down and appreciate life and time with my husband, while excising at the same time!

5. Many people experience “frugal living burnout” when they first attempt frugal living. What advice would you give those people?
My advice would be to factor some indulgences into your budget. Whether it be a coffee from a local cafe once a week, or a pedicure once a month – it’s important to allow yourself some “rewards” for working so hard at getting a grip on those finances! After all, what’s the point in saving money if we don’t feel like we have the freedom to spend it?

6. Is there anything that you like to splurge on? How do you know when it’s okay to splurge a little?
Before my No Spend Challenge in 2008, I used to splurge on everything . But now, I really enjoy a Grande Vanilla Latte from Starbucks. Simple, I know, but it doesn’t take space in my closets or make a huge dent in my bank account!

We’ve got a good handle of our money and always have money in case of emergencies. So, if we feel as though we’d like to get something, we do. Mind you, we’re definitely not big spenders and tend to “buy” things through Amazon.ca for free, using Swagbucks credits or wait until a really good sale comes along. We tend to be researchers as well, so we know were getting the most bang for our buck on an item we’re splurging on.

I should also mention, that sometimes it takes me a while to convince myself to buy something. I’ve learned about myself that I’ll most likely be happier in the long run if I don’t purchase an item unless I have a use for it right away or I won’t mind taking care of it.

7. If you suddenly came into a large sum of money, would you still continue to live a frugal lifestyle, or would you cut yourself some slack?
I’m pretty sure we would still continue to live the frugal lifestyle if we came into a large sum of money. I imagine we would invest that money (or most of it) into something like real estate. If I were to cut myself some slack, I’d probably start carrying around a $50 purse rather than a $10 one.

8. What is one mistake you notice people making when they are attempting frugal living?
Taking advantage of every single deal/sale/coupon that comes around. I realize that essentially, they are saving money, but they’re also spending unnecessary cash driving around, paying taxes on the products or buying something for $0.50 when they’ve already got 20 at home (that $0.50 still adds up!). They need to know that there will always be another sale that comes along.

9. What is your favourite frugal meal?
Mine would be stir-fry. It’s a great way to use up vegetables that are nearing the end of their life! I think my husband would say it’s my sesame chicken or BBQ pork chops made in the slow cooker, served with steamed veggies and rice or potatoes!

10. Can you please let everyone know more about Simply Frugal?
When I chose Simply Frugal as a name, I thought it was a very fitting name for what I wanted to portray on the website. I wanted to make it simple for readers to find money saving deals and coupons that were useful to them. As well, in an effort to live a more simple life in my own life, I wanted to give practical ideas for saving money without adding more stress to life. If you’d like, you can read a bit more about Simply Frugal right here.