I am 33 years old and I just celebrated 13 years of marriage with my husband on October 7th. I have 2 children, 2 dogs and 2 cats. I was a stay at home for 12 years and started my site to help friends and family learn how to save money. It was a great hobby for me and it felt great being able to contribute to my family. In 2006 my husband was rushed to the emergency room on Easter morning and was later diagnosed with a Degenerative Disease called "ankylosing spondylitis". Our life was totally about to change. Since there is no cure for this disease we have spent lots of hours in and out of the hospital, several surgerys and more meds than I can count on my fingers. My once small time hobby of pinching a few pinnies here and cutting a few coupons there turned into a neccessity. The remicade infusions that he takes is $8,000 every 6 weeks. This is just one of his many meds that he takes. Without insurance it would be a scary situation.
This has been a struggle both financially and emotionally for our entire family.
But I have a strong christian faith and God has helped us get through this tremendously. He has helped me see that there are many families out there struggling just like us and has blessed me with the ability help teach others about my frugalness. Thats when my hobby became a ministry.
In 1996 Morestealsanddeals.com was formed which is now called ConsumerQueen.com. The original purpose of the website was to help other families struggling and in very simular situations like us feel good about being able to contribute so much just by clipping a few coupons.. ConsumerQueen.com has grown extensively over the past 2 years with over 8,000 members across the United States. While members get great deals and awesome savings on things that their families use everyday, many members pay it forward by donating some of the name brand items that they receive for free or at a very low cost to local churches and shelters. ConsumerQueen.com has been and always will be a free site for all whom wish to register. Deals are broken down by store and explained so people new to couponing and those who have years of experience can all understand every deal. Every member is encouraged to post deals and to brag about their shopping adventures.ConsumerQueen.com has been and always will be a free site for all whom wish to register. Deals are broken down by store and explained so people new to couponing and those who have years of experience can all understand every deal. Every member is encouraged to post deals and to brag about their shopping adventures.
I think my eyes were really opened up about couponing the day I walked out of a local Albertsons towing 3 grocery carts behind me that totaled $1880 and I only paid $19. I was able to provide enough groceries for my family and had plenty left over to donate to my church as well as the battered womens shelter. Now this was one of my more extreme shopping trips but i still to this day am able to usualy save 50 to 75% off my grocery bill if not more.
I have been invited to do interviews with serevral local TV stations and newspapers. I currently do "The Deals of the Week" on the Jack and Ron morning show on Kiss 98.9FM every Wed. morning. We are looking to expand our media exposure as we feel the more people we can reach the more people we can help. Its not about how much money "I " can save its about how many more people can we reach and help? Anyone can be a "Coupon Queen" it just takes a little bit of dedication and self dicipline.
Now that I am working full time I do struggle with not being able to do as much shopping as I use to but feel good knowing that I am still helping others. One day I hope to find a job I can do working from making the same salary I am now and still have the insurance benifits. My dream job would be working face to face with people and doing Consumer promotions in store, online etc. all from the comforts of my home with some travel.
If you are apart of the media and would like to do an interview or if you have a position for my "Dream Job" LOL please feel free to email me at: melissa@consumerqueen.com Below are a few links you may want to check out:
Our Media Page: (Interviews etc): http://www.consumerqueen.com/?page_id=298
Our You Tube Savings Videos: http://www.youtube.com/consumerqueen
Help Keep our site free by printing your coupons here: http://print.coupons.com/couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=13305&zid=pp18&nid=10
We get credit for each coupon printed!
A Prayer for a Courageous Soul - Your Daily Prayer - April 26
We have been given a remarkable gift through God and His redemption story. Not only have we received eternal life with our Creator, but we have received courage in Christ that will change the trajectory of our lives and the lives of those around us forever.