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.
Mel shares her frugal fashion tips… Fashion? Me? Hardly! I think everyone looks best when they wear clothes that make them feel comfortable and confident, no matter if they are ‘in’ the current fashion trend or not. I am a T-shirt and jeans girl myself.
Clearance: Picking up clearance items at the end of the season is a great way to save money on clothing,
Second hand stores: especially for kids who outgrow clothing before they wear them out. Look for stores that also purchase your gently used items!
Mel’s online shopping secret… Shhh…. Don’t tell the other FruGals, but I rarely shop online because I love going to the stores!
Mel has frugal history… I have always been frugal because my mama is frugal. Frugality is just one of the many amazing gifts she has given me in my life.
Hard economic times turned Mel to couponing… When the economy turned, my husband lost his job and we were depleting our savings account and struggling to make ends meet when my couponing besties Joy and Emily turned me onto coupons and Fabulesslyfrugal.com. I have never looked back!
Wanna know how much Mel spends on groceries each month… We average $200/month on all groceries, toiletries and household items.
Mel has a not so frugal confession… Although we do use coupons when we can, we eat out WAY too much. We love good food, and I am a terrible cook (it’s true).
Mel’s favorite things to stockpile… Toilet paper and feminine products. Before couponing it felt like I was literally flushing money down the toilet!
You know you are addicted to couponing when… The first time I brought home my haul, laid it all on the table and took a picture of it. Who besides a couponing addict takes pictures of their shopping trips?!
Mel would still coupon if she had 1 million dollars… YES! If I was a millionaire I would want to stay a millionaire and the only way to do that is to be smart with your money.
Couponing changed Mel’s life… It has given me a strong feeling of security, knowing that if we hit hard times again I will still be able to provide for my family. It has also allowed me to be able to give to others without hesitation, something I couldn’t always do before.
Email Mel at mel {at} fabulesslyfrugal {dot} com
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It all began on October 8th, 2008. Cathy and Monica started this coupon blog to help friends and family learn about their new money saving hobby couponing! Since then they have taught thousands of women (and men) 
