About Me
Welcome to In Good Cents! This blog is designed to help you save money at your local grocery stores and drug stores, plus snag some great samples, freebies, coupons, and more.
I’m Beth, the owner and author. I absolutely love saving money for my family, but I also love sharing all the wonderful deals I find and helping others cut their own budgets. I’m a stay-at-home mom and while I do work very part time at my church in their childcare, I feel another way I can contribute to the budget is to save, save, and save more!
Of course, there is much more to my life. I met my husband, Scott, in 2002. I actually bought my husband (well, kind of) and I didn’t have a coupon! I had just moved to Indianapolis after college and got an e-mail from Match.com with his photo and a little bit about him. Something about what he wrote caught my eye and I ended up paying $24.95 to join Match.com and write him! It was something I never thought I’d do, but it does make for a great story. Two years later we were married and not long after that, Adyston (Ady), my oldest daughter joined our family.
Ady was a BIG surprise, since I was told when I was young that I’d never be able to have children. I guess God works in mysterious ways and, obviously, that doctor had made a mistake, because after Ady we also added my daughter Inzleigh (Izy) and my son Daelan (Dae) to our family. Along with our 3 children, we’re also crazy enough to have 3 HUGE dogs – 2 weimaraners and 1 vizsla.
My family is the most important thing in my life, but when they aren’t around and I’m not blogging, I do have other interests! I have an uncontrollable addiction to books, I love to dance and listen to music, I have a warped sense of humor, I talk way too much, and I enjoy baking.
I didn’t start out to be a “savings educator” or to become a “deal seeking diva”. In fact, I just did not get it at first. One day a friend of mine was sitting with me at the park and asked, “Did you get your free chocolate and toothpaste at Walgreens this week?”. I looked at her like she had lost her mind and said, “Yeah right, Walgreens is giving away chocolate and toothpaste.” She patiently explained to me and handed me some coupons.
I was scared out of my mind. I left my children at home, in case they accused me of stealing and I had to make a run for it. But, they happily took my coupons and I took the chocolate and toothpaste paying only $0.34 tax out-of-pocket! I was in shock, but still scared out of my mind and totally confused on how this could possibly be legal. I told my mom who became a professional deal shopper over night, while I was still hesitantly snagging up the free items each week at CVS and sometimes Walgreens. It took me a while to get where I am now, but I did it and you can too!
Getting started can be overwhelming. If you have a question, please contact me! I’d be more than happy to help you out. Also, if you find a great deal or hot coupon, let me know! I’ll give you credit.
:: Don’t Miss a Cent Saving Deal! ::
{ 1 trackback }
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Your story sounds a lot like mine. I met my husband through American Singles on line and like you, I was told very early on children would not be possible. At least not without some kind of medical assistance in that area. Low and behold, in 2006, my daughter arrived and two years and 2 days later in 2008, my son arrived. Doctors are just guessing most of the time! There is a plan and they are not in charge of it!
And like you, I am big on being frugal and making the most of my money, so I started a blog to help others out on Long Island, where we are from.
I love your blog, I love sharing your stuff with my readers by sharing your posts on facebook and twitter right from your posts. I share with everyone, even if it is not on my blog! I figure we are one big family and if I can share your blog posts, it is sort of the same thing as if it came from my own blog. Thanks for all your great finds!
Forgot to add…love your new site re-design!
I went ahead and added your button to my blogroll too
Thank you Julie! I just updated my page a few days ago, so you probably saw the old one. I love our dogs, but boy are they HYPER
I’ve looked at your site 1,000 times and never noticed the dogs! I’m observant apparently.
Beth,
I thought I had read your bio before, but I must not have because I had no idea that you were the proud owner of 2 Weimies! As you might have guessed from my site header, I am too. Well, actually I only have one Weim, but I’m fostering one too. You have exceptional taste in pooches
I just found your blog from The Frugal Map! So glad to find a blog in the area!! I graduated college last May and moved to Indianapolis. I’m thinking I should join Match.com?? =)
LOL, well it worked for me
I NEVER thought I’d do something like that, but it turned out wonderfully. Honestly, Scott (my hubby) and I are complete opposites but we make it work. On our… I think it was our 3rd date, he took me to and IU game. I was the only one wearing pink in a sea of red. But, I have learned too much about sports over the years with his guidance.
Welcome to the blog and let me know if you have any questions!
I am so excited to have found your blog. I am a true coupon queen who is moving to the Indianapolis area from South Carolina. Right now, I use southern savers to do my coupon match up, and I am so happy that I will be able to use your site to do my match ups once I am up there.
BTW- I just started couponing in May of 2009. Our families weekly meal budget went from $120 to $50, but I rarely spend more than $30 a week. Can’t wait to get up there and see how the coupon policies are at different stores!
Only a true couponer would be excited about finding out the coupon policies in a new state
My husband just doesn’t get it, but getting a $200 worth of groceries for $50 or better yet $25, feels amazing! Congrats on cutting your budget. Let me know if you have any questions and I’d be more than happy to help you out!
Fishers girl here! Thaks for your blog, glad to find one in my area. We are adding a baby to our family by adoption in the next few weeks! I want to eventually save enough to stay at home
I’m so glad you found me then! I just had a baby in July. He’s 6 mths old now, but still my newborn (since he’s my last). I cut my budget to $40/week for a family of 5… sometimes I go up to $50, but it has helped me stay home. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!
Just found your site through Bargain Briana and I’m so excited to know there’s a fellow couponer so near to me! I often have trouble finding Kroger matchups through mommysnacks, since she’s located in OH and they’re always a few days off with their sales. I’m glad to see you’re so close! I’m in downtown/ near eastside Indy, and Kroger and CVS are my places to shop. I used to think I was saving money by shopping at Wal-Mart and Sav-A-Lot, but I’ve found this last year that I save way more money by just doing Kroger. Coupons take more time, but I don’t get distracted by clothes or home decor like I would at Wal-Mart and I don’t have to drive as far — so it evens out.
This last year we averaged $40/week for groceries! We do have WIC — so that helps with milk, cheese, etc. — but I’m so amazed by what couponing does for our budget! Plus, as a pastor’s wife in the inner-city, it’s great to have a stocked pantry to share with others when emergencies arise.
Anyway, welcome to my bookmarks toolbar, Beth!
Courtney, thank you! I’m glad to see you found your way here. I have a $40/wk grocery budget as well for a family of 5. It’s amazing how much coupons can save you!
I was so happy to find your blog. I some how ended up here from Bargain Briana. I live in Kokomo, IN and just started my first money savings and deals blog. It is a work in progress but I am enjoying it even if it has only been 4 days. If you have a minute please look at my blog and give me any advice. I am unsure how I should give credit for deals I have found on other blogs. I think I am doing it right. But would love to have some one who know and has an established blog. Hope you can help me out. Thanks, Beta