TIP: Don't PAY to Coupon!!

[CherryPicker]

This post is a little bit of advice for new people from a recent experience I had in a Dept. Store. The cashier rang me up and told me I'd saved an additional $XX today. I told her that she would be amazed what $XX would buy these days!!

She tells me "I Know!!" Seems that her and her friend have heard all about people saving all of this money with coupons at grocery stores ,(magic words!! ) and her and her friend couldn't wait to find out how to do this too. Seems that there was going to be a coupon class held in a local church and they were going to charge admission to learn this particular coupon system.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. As if that wasn't bothersome enough, the cashier told me that her and her friend couldn't have even afforded to pay that fee if they wanted to.

I asked her if she had a computer? Yes. I gave her the address to CouponMom.com and taught her the system, right then and there. I also suggested to never pay to learn a coupon program whether it is a class, web site, etc. I assured her that CouponMom was FREE to use and that we would all be happy to have her here, and that by the time she got through, she would never pay retail for shampoo or toothpaste again. This girl was actually crying by the time I got through explaining it to her.

Anyhow, flash forward to today. I've received several phone calls today about a coupon article in the paper. Sure enough, there is indeed a class going around charging admission to learn a particular coupon system. While it is not my intent to judge others, I consider myself blessed to be a member of the CouponMom community, and have always strongly felt that it is a privilege to teach this to others for FREE, since we were given the opportunity ourselves.

Tip of the day: DON'T pay others to learn how to coupon.

The humor of the day was receiving these phone calls and being told that I was saving more money at Publix than the person in the article was. LOL!!

[Coupon_Queen]

And CherryPicker, you are the Queen of freebies.

[Carol324]

I totally agree with you. I feel so blessed to have learned strategic shopping and that I had the privilege to teach one class so far. All the ladies are thrilled with what they are saving. Just thinking back to March when I started strategic shopping and thought I would never get that good at it. I am so happy to be saving over 50% (in Florida with no doubles) that sharing with others has been so easy for me.

Thanks to couponmom.

[lucid]

CherryPicker, that is awesome. Seems you were (put) there for more reasons than your own. Good job on spreading the word.

[AlInAz]

I have taught a few people couponing too and it is the best feeling to know they're having success and LOVIN' it. You rock, CherryPicker! Hope that young woman is reading the forum and learning the ropes.

Allison

[jojoshort]

I got an e-mail forwarded to me about a pay-for coupon class. I was quick to point out to the sender that this info is free to members of CouponMom.

Since many of us find that the only "wiggle room" in our budgets is what we spend for groceries/consumables, it's so important now to be able to tame that beast!

[legacykeeper]

Just trying to be the devils advocate in this situation. Maybe the fee was for supplies. Like copies and things like that. I know if I were to teach a large class I might have to charge a small fee for ink and paper. Keep in mind some older and low income folks may not have computer knowledge or access.

I also agree in spreading the word. I can not count how many times I have written down this site for someone but I have also run into elderly people who ask me how I do it and when I mention the computer they say they don't have one.
Just a thought

[Sylvia]

I agree that the information should be free. It does make me wonder if there is some sort of a coupon organizer included with the class. I would have paid $10 for a class if it had taken the pain out of the first few attempts at organizing.

All that is a mute point now.... I thank google everyday for helping me find CM!

[CherryPicker]

Just to confirm....NO, you are not getting any supplies or organizers OR binders for that matter (). You are indeed paying for their knowledge. In addition, without getting too detailed....you are also paying for separate classes. (Furthermore, I would have never have posted this unless it was verified first).

I myself do encounter elderly customers quite often who do not have computer access. I have always offered to teach them this and it is for FREE. Positive feedback came the other day when one called me very happy because I showed them how to get sausage for .30 cents and they had called me to tell me about their success story.

[Sylvia]

Originally Posted by CherryPicker

Just to confirm....NO, you are not getting any supplies or organizers OR binders for that matter (). You are indeed paying for their knowledge. In addition, without getting too detailed....you are also paying for separate classes. (Furthermore, I would have never have posted this unless it was verified first).

I myself do encounter elderly customers quite often who do not have computer access. I have always offered to teach them this and it is for FREE. Positive feedback came the other day when one called me very happy because I showed them how to get sausage for .30 cents and they had called me to tell me about their success story.

LOL I think that is awesome. I've taught a few people too. It's fun and rewarding.