Coupon Queen Melissa Garcia

Author:
Issue: 2006 May

Promoting Smart Shopping as a Ministry
Everyone loves to save money, but for Melissa Garcia, finding a bargain has become her passion -- and her ministry.
About 10 years ago, shortly after Melissa and her husband, Daniel, were married, they made the decision that she would be a stay-at-home mom. To help offset the income loss, Melissa began clipping coupons.

“He thought I was crazy when I first started,” Melissa said. Daniel would be embarrassed at the grocery store when she would pull out coupons, but as the savings started adding up, he became a supporter.

“One day I asked him to help me carry in the groceries and I had about 15 bags,” Melissa said. As the couple unloaded sack after sack, Daniel asked how much she’d spent, afraid their checking account might be drained. Melissa happily replied that the store had paid her 15 cents.

“After that he was sold,” Melissa said. “Now he cuts coupons too.”

Slashing the grocery bill is a family affair for the Garcias as 9-year-old daughter Taylor and 6-year-old Ryan help with cutting and sorting coupons.

“They know if Mom has a coupon for fruit snacks they are going to get those,” Melissa said. She’s also happy about the hands-on economics lesson they are getting every time they buy something. The Garcias use the time together as an opportunity to touch base and keep their family connected. “It gives me a chance to ask how their day has gone,” Melissa said.

In recent months, saving money has become even more critical to the Garcias. Daniel was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a degenerative disease requiring him to take shots that cost the family $500 each month – after insurance.

During the last four years, Melissa has gotten media attention for her shopping sense and has started sharing her secrets with others.

“I saw a need for it,” Melissa said. People were asking her about “couponing” and how she does so well. She started helping friends and family use coupons and eventually set up a website that explains how everyone can be a “Coupon Queen.”

At www.morestealsanddeals.com, Melissa offers insight and advice on saving money. Volunteers help her run the website and share news of sales and bargains. Melissa doesn’t charge for the information on her site, but accepts donations to help defray Internet expenses.

Basically, Melissa cuts out every coupon then waits for the item to go on sale before she buys it. By combining coupons with store sales, she gets the maximum savings and often pays only pennies for an item.

A cash register receipt revealed that during a recent trip a local store, Melissa got $32.70 worth of items and only paid $1.55. She’d bought shampoo and conditioner, pain reliever and hair coloring. The items were on sale and she also had manufacturer’s coupons. Additionally, she had store coupons.
...

Coupon Queen Melissa Garcia

Comment About This Article