Team Fabulessly Frugal

Cathy – Fabulessly Frugal Co-Founder

Cathy’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com… I started this blog on October 8, 2008 so my family and friends from church could follow what I was doing. I had been couponing for barely a month, so I was learning as I wrote. Shortly after, Monica started emailing me some deals she was doing, and in November I added her as an author to the blog. We didn’t know each other very well at that time, and no idea what we were getting ourselves into! She and I used to write nearly all of the content and handle all the emails and comments. In March of 2009 we started teaching classes together, and in April of 2010, after tweaking and refining the class to perfection, we filmed it to offer to readers everywhere in DVD format (use coupon code CATHY to save 50% by the way!).

Every family size can coupon… I have 7 children. Yes. That is right. 7 children and they all belong to me and my hubs. :D Wanna know how much Cathy spends on groceries each month… In my pre-coupon days, I could easily spend $1000.00/mo on groceries. When I coupon actively, I can get by on $100/week. That includes diapers (I have 2 of them in diapers). I’m not a full time couponer though. My family and this blog keeps me quite busy, and there are times you’ll find me paying (gasp) full price for cereal if I’ve missed too many cereal sales! But you know what I’ve decided. It’s OK! You do what works for YOU! I don’t feel like I need to keep up with everyone else and their big stockpiles. Every little bit I save is still better than not saving anything at all!

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Contact Cathy at cathy {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Monica – Fabulessly Frugal Co-Founder

Monica’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com… As one of the founders of Fabulessly Frugal I have been writing fab blog posts for a long time. One of my favorite series teaches the new couponer how to coupon. Check out Coupon Tip Tuesday. Although Freezer Meal Cooking has been a collaborative effort, it is a series that I brought to fabulessly frugal after years of doing it myself. Albertsons is my favorite store to coupon and my store of expertise. I love to bring our readers giveways. I also give our couponers a sneak peek at the coupons that are coming in the Sunday paper.

How Monica learned about couponing… My first encounter with the concept of couponing as we know it today was back in 2007. My Uncle Tracy was telling me about how he shopped CVS for deals and got stuff for free all the time, in fact even got paid to shop. He told me he had a drawer full of razors that he got for free. I could not believe it. Razors are $10 each? How did he do it? He tried to explain the concept of stacking coupons and sales. It seemed easy enough, but where do you find coupons? He directed me to coupons.com. When I got home and tried to match up coupons and deals at Walgreens I was unsuccessful. I did not know about newspaper coupons and I did not have a coupon blog to help me figure things out. I quickly gave up and figured couponing just did not work in my area. One year later…

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Contact Monica at monica {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Kearna – Expert Blogger & Project Administrator

Kearna’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com… I do coupon match-ups for Fred Meyer. I also manage our coupon insert lists for more than 20 nation wide areas.

This is what Kearna HAS TO have that is not frugal… I will spend money on electronics and appliances that are not the least expensive choice, but better quality. I used to buy cheap vacuums until I found myself buying them every year because they kept breaking.

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Contact Kearna at kearna {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Melanie – Online Shopping Expert

Melanie’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com… I am an expert at shopping online. So, I keep any eye on daily deals and any other online deals and coupons that are FAB. I also write the coupon match-ups for Smith’s and try to keep the catalina lists updated.

Melanie’s frugal fashion tips… I like to shop online when possible. I can still use coupons/coupon codes on sales that are in the stores, but I can get some additional cash back from Ebates, and usually find a way to get free shipping too. Just make sure you are familiar with the return policy. My fashion tip: Don’t buy it unless it fits well and is flattering, no matter how cheap it is. You can find quality/long-lasting and flattering clothing at FAB prices.

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Email Melanie at melanie {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Becky – Store Expert

Becky’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com… I post about Target, CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, and the Top 5 Deals of about 25 stores.

Becky has not always been frugal… I knew I was going to have to become frugal when I found out I was pregnant, and I was still having a hard time leaving our puppy at home when I went to work. When we made the choice to have me become a stay at home mom, part of that was replacing my income. I work hard, from home, doing various jobs, such as in home childcare, editing HTML script, or anything else that is put in my path, to help my amazing honey with our one income lifestyle. Between taking our food budget from $600 or $700 per month to $200, and downsizing our home, we are able to save about $1000 per month, and while it doesn’t replace my entire income, we work hard to live a frugal lifestyle.

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Email Becky at becky {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Mel – Store Expert

Mel’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com? I post the Rite Aid Coupon match-ups and my weekly shopping trips to show others how I break up transactions and roll +Up rewards.

Mel’s most frugal move… I got Married. My husband and I dated for three years before we got married, so when we did we subtracted a $600/mo rent payment when I moved into his house. For the first two years of our marriage (before our daughter was born) we both worked full time but lived on just over one of the incomes. This allowed us to pay off student loans and other debt while building a savings account AND made the transition of me cutting my hours to part time when we started our family an easy one.

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Email Mel at mel {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Jessica – Store Expert

Jessica’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com… The one and only, Walmart. To be a Walmart “expert” is a tricky task considering each Walmart likes to do things differently, however, I try my very best to stay informed and pass what I learn on to you! I write the Walmart weekly match-ups, Deals under$1 lists, and other great deals!

Couponing changed Jessica’s life… Couponing has changed my life in many ways. Most importantly, with the money I save being frugal and couponing, I am able to be a stay at home mom to my two kids, one of which has disabilities. I will always be greatful for this. I know my husband appreciates it too! He works very hard which makes me happy that I can help contribute financially. I feel very blessed to have plenty for my family and still be able to help others like family, friends or those in need. I am also able to do/buy things I would probably not otherwise be able to afford. I hope that I can teach my kids frugalness and wise spending habits so they too will be sucessful with their families.

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Email Jessica at jessica {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Dawn – Store Expert

Dawn’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com… I am the store expert for Safeway and Kmart. I also do the Kmart double trips. A lot of people don’t like to shop at Kmart, but it is honestly one of my favorite stores to coupon at because of all the promos, catalinas, and double deals they have. Safeway is a fun store too, as they constantly have new in store coupons and clearance deals.

Couponing changed Dawn’s life… It gives me a chance to make mundane tasks, like grocery shopping and menu planning fun. I like the challenge of figuring out scenarios and savings. I also love to be the first to try new products and share exciting deals with my friends and even strangers. And of course, we have some food storage and I save money.

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Email Dawn at dawn {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Ang – Store Expert

Ang’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com …… I am a shopaholic! I love to find a great deal and NEVER want to pay full price for anything. I contribute to fabulessly frugal by keeping up with coupon match ups from Albertsons, Ridleys, Family Dollar, and teaching coupon classes.

Ang has always been frugal…… You always hear the saying “keeping up with the “Jones” I would rather have less than the “Jones” than have their bills. I hate it when bills come in and you watch how fast the money you worked so hard to make is gone in an instant. My goal is to be out of debt and enjoy life more fully without bills deciding what I do with my life.

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Email Ang at ang {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Certified FruGal Class Instructor

Tara – Washington Class Instructor

Tara’s expertise on Fabulesslyfrugal.com… is teaching. I love to teach anything to anyone who wants to learn! I find anyone can learn anything as long as it’s explained in a language they can understand with concepts that mean something to them. I get a thrill in finding their “language” and getting to witness that ah-ha moment on people’s faces when they “get it”. (Especially when it’s explaining how to stack coupons, sales and catalina promos!) In 2010 friends started asking me to teach them how to coupon. So I created my own version of a coupon class and began teaching at local libraries and moms groups. Although I did mention other local blogs, I always came back to Fabulessly Frugal as my blog of choice! So in the fall of 2011, I contacted Cathy and Monica and asked if they’d ever thought of expanding their teaching capabilities by adding more instructors. And here I am!!

See where Tara is teaching coupon classes next.

Click to Learn More About Tara. Email Tara at Tara {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com

Craft & DIY Contributor

Marji -

Marji is a wife, mom to 4 (crazy) kids, and lover of all things crafty. She is always on the lookout for fun (inexpensive) crafts to make and give as gifts, or brighten up her home. Check out all the frugal crafts and DIY projects Marji has shared.