‘Couponing for the Rest of Us: The Not-So-Extreme Guide to Saving More’ by Kasey Knight Trenum – Book Review

One of the goals in our household is to save money and cut down on expenses. So when I heard about the latest blog tour for a book that is geared in that direction, ‘Couponing for the Rest of Us: The Not-So-Extreme Guide to Saving More,’ I knew my husband, Fred, would be happy to hear I hopped on that tour bus!

Here is the synopsis of this book:

Shop Savvy, Save Money, and Still Have a Life! Kasey Knight Trenum knows what it’s like firsthand. When her family’s finances were in a tailspin, she gritted her teeth and gave in to the need to save. In Couponing for the Rest of Us she shows you how she learned to save hundreds of dollars every month and offers time-saving tips and tricks you can easily implement in your busy life. You’ll discover

·         where to find coupons for what your family eats

·         how in reinvent your shopping strategy

·         how to make grocery shopping less stressful – even fun!

·         and much more

If you want to save money and time, this book is a gold mine.

Here is the biography of the author:

Kasey Knight Trenum hosts Time 2 $ave/Time 2 Give, a frugal and couponing

blog and conducts Time 2 $ave workshops frequently. Her weekly column can be read in Scripps newspapers nationwide, her work has been featured in Parade magazine and All You magazine, and she has been interviewed on HLN’s Making It in America and NPR’s All Things Considered.  She has a personal passion for seeing women, men, and families find financial freedom, be empowered to improve their lives, and become purposeful givers. She and her husband and children live in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Here is Kasey telling us about her book and her story:

I’ve always wanted to save via coupons, but never wanted to go overboard, making it a part-time job! So I was happy to get the tips from Kasey in this great book.

In the Introduction, Kasey tells us what she wants to achieve with her book:

When I started couponing I faced many doubts, questions, and concerns, some of which you may have. I want to start by addressing and dispelling some of the myths I’ve heard that say couponing won’t work. Misconceptions such as “I don’t have time.” “There’s never coupons for things I normally buy.” “I like to stick with certain brands.” “If it works so well, why isn’t everyone doing it?” (p. 18)

Kasey had a Question and Answer section at the beginning of the book. Kasey explains why will be able to gain from this book:

Q. Who’s this book for?

A. Wanna save some money and maintain balance? This book is for you. Basically, if you eat and use household and personal care products this book will teach you how to save money. It doesn’t matter if you’re a single mom, a family of four, a college student, or a bachelor. Couponing can make a financial difference.

So guess what? It’s time to dive into learning about how this whole thing works. All the ins and outs, all the little secrets I have learned and put to good use over the last few years. We will look at tools you can use to truly make a lasting difference in your budget, we will learn about the basics (and not-so basics!) and we will all agree to understand that couponing shouldn’t take over your life. Your time with your children and with your family is the most important thing. I just want to help make it all come together a little easier for you. Believe it or not, shopping can be fun, and I’m going to show you how! (p. 25)

This book is chock-full of great information. I will focus on just a couple nuggets. Here is one action step that I have used:

        Strike up a conversation with a cashier.

As you work your way through the checkout line, consider asking the cashier how their day is going. And then listen. Make eye contact and smile at them, encouraging them to share their story and to actually talk to you. These people have lives outside of work just like we do, and they often have amazing stories to tell. So strike up a conversation.  You might just be surprised at what you will hear. (p. 151)

I have developed a nice relationship with one of the cashiers at the store I most often frequent. I found out she is Jewish. I took the opportunity to invite her to a Seder our church was having, to teach Christians about the Jewish culture. She had other plans, but she was grateful for the invitation.

One of the things I love to do (which my husband has learned is a good idea; wasn’t too keen on it at first) is stockpiling. Kasey offers a whole chapter on stocking up on the staples. Here is the Action Step in that chapter:

        Try your hand at stockpiling.

Head over to Time2SaveWorkshops.com and browse through the ads for grocery or drugstores near you, or look at your local store’s weekly circular. Usually the best savings are right there on the front or back. Look for an item that your family uses that is at a really low price after the sale and the coupons are taken into account. You might find only one or two items that you have the right coupons for already, but hey – that’s how it is for everyone at the beginning…..

Put all your coupons in an envelope along with your list. Making a plan and having the coupons all clipped and handy will make your trip much less stressful. Get as many of the items as you can with the coupons you have (even if that’s just two or three this first time).

When you get home, tuck your purchases into your little stockpile corner. Step back and pat yourself on the back. You’ve just started a sensible stockpile! (p. 128)

I found lots of great tips in this book. There are lots of details about coupons and couponing that I didn’t know about before. I highly recommend this book; it will easily pay for itself in your first or second grocery shopping trip after you put these tips into practice!

You can order this book by clicking here.

This book is published by Revell Books and was provided by them for review purposes. Available May 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revel, a division of Baker Publishing Group.