About Us
Hello! My Mom and I would like to introduce ourselves and let everyone know why we started our frugal blog.
My name is Tara. I served in the Air Force as a Security Forces member for 5 years. I was stationed in Germany, Honduras, and North Carolina. My husband has served in the Marine Corps as an Infantry Marine for over 10 years. My husband and I met while we were stationed in Honduras and married soon after. From there we had three crazy and wonderful kids- Ben, Maria, and Eva. Being a military family comes with many reward but also many challenges. I hope our blog can not only provide military families with valuable resources and money-saving tips, but also to anyone else who is looking for ways to save money.
Before we started this blog, I was not aware of how much money I could save by clipping coupons and finding the best in-store sales. I would go to garage sales in the summer, but that was the extent of my savings. After my youngest daughter was born, the grocery bills started really adding up! At one point, my youngest was on formula and both of my daughters were in diapers. This really hits the bank account hard! So, I started really paying attention to in-store deals and looked for ways to match them with coupons. Since then, I have saved SO much money and had a lot of fun doing it! My neighbor told me that I should start a blog for friends and family to take advantage of the deals that I find, so I decided to give it a try! I hope everyone enjoys my blog and is able to find ways to help save money for their families and themselves!
*We also hope to soon start up programs to help support out troops deployed to combat zones, such as Afghanistan and Iraq.
Hi everyone! My name is Colleen. I have been married to my high school sweetheart Rick for almost 32 wonderful years. He’s a good guy, makes me laugh a lot and is very supportive of our blogging adventure! I am also a proud mother of 2 beautiful daughters and an equally proud grandmother of 4! My life is truly blessed!
I started on my savings adventure partly out of necessity. Unfortunately, I have become part of the ranks of the many unemployed in our state and throughout the country. My husband and I knew we needed to find ways to trim our spending. So I began couponing. I believe that out of hard times also come opportunities. I think mine was to reevaluate our hard earned dollar and find ways to make it stretch. I also have changed my mindset and believe that ‘less is better’. What I thought was important yesterday isn’t so important today. That’s why my daughter and I began this savings blog. It has helped me not only save lots of money but it’s also given me the opportunity to give back to others. How great is that?
Over the years, I dabbled in coupon clipping but never realized it’s true value. After seeing the amazing savings by using coupons and researching deals, I will never shop the same again!
I hope that through our site that you find great deals that are perfect for you. Whether it’s a free code at Redbox, a fabulous online deal, or some great grocery store coupon matchup, let us find the best deals for you!
Contact us at combatclippers@yahoo.com
hey ladies….glad to find you and meet you!
a working mom who became the military wife… life is tough and then it gets even tougher!
we are starting our 2nd deployment in the army (ok..it’s only my husb that’s going, but it really is a team effort!) he got back from a year in iraq in 11/08 and has been away from home for almost a month now and will leave for a-stan in about 2wks. he’ll be gone another year. he’s a tough cookie—a fellow marine and then some! the challenges that brings!! he was in somolia w/ the marines, so this is round 3 for him.
many reasons have lead me to be a deal seeker, coupon clipper and freebie finder!!! its a cool adventure and the rewards are good!
keep up the good work….its appreciated on many levels.
i can’t wait to hear what you plan on doing for troops down range.
thanks!!! krista
Thanks for the note. Yes, being a Military family is pretty tough and deployments are the worst-especially for the Army, since the deployments are so much longer. Hang in there!
I can’t wait to start something for the troops overseas! Plus, we are going to get together expired coupons to send to families overseas, since commissaries will take them.
I’m so glad to see another military wife- thanks for your family’s service and support!
Hi Tara, what a great name by the way!
I didn’t know that the troops overseas are able to take expired coupons, that’s fantastic. I am always going through my coupons and tossing all of the expired ones (which unfortunately i just did recently). So please let me know where I can send them to or if you want me to send them to you.
Thanks for all you do!
Hi Tara! Thanks for the note. I posted instructions and a list of addresses to send the coupons directly to the bases overseas. Here is the direct link- http://combatclippers.com/2010/04/19/dont-throw-away-your-expired-coupons-send-them-to-our-military-overseas-2/
We will be launching another donation effort for the troops early next month! We are really excited about it!
Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks again for your support!
Tara
Hi Tara,
We met in the commissary yesterday and you gave me some tips on couponing and a card with your website.
Thank you so much!!!
Great website! Thank you and your mom for the efforts.
Good luck and lots of fun.
And may see you again@ Camp Pendleton:)
Chantal.
P.S. Great Pictures, what a nice family both you and Colleen have!
Thanks Chantal! It was so nice to meet you. I was hoping to get a group of people together soon to talk and swap coupons. Would you be interested?
Yes very much so, would seem nice to do, but actually, until I just met you:) I haven’t really collected any…. I do get the Sunday UT, I’ll always have those, but the previous ones, that I didn’t use went into the recyclebles…..So I won’t have any to give…
As having read your blog, I wonder, should I just save all of them next times and give them to you or to the military people overseas?
All my best and yes would be nice to get together.
Chantal.
P.S. As you must have seen at the commissary, there is a table that is being used for leaving and taking coupons, a coupon exchange table so to speak:) Now I feel bad, because we put ours in the box with the recyclebles and there they go…….
I never thought about that until I met you and joined your blog site.
Never meant to be inconsiderate.
This is a great website you and your mom have going. I’m not in the military, but it is still wonderful in what you’re doing. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Sue. We appreciate your support!
Tara—-love you so much for getting me started on coupons in October 2009!! I have been able to save a lot of money while taking college classes and working only part time this past year!
It makes me feel so wonderful to see how many people’s lives you two have touched and helped with this amazing website! Keep up the hard work
Hi Tara! My husband is also a Marine and we are currently stationed in AR on recruiting duty. My hubby’s RS is St. Louis and is actually up there right now! Nice to know I’m not the only one who has to pinch pennies being a Marine Wife!
Hi Tara , I love what you are doing! I’m a stay at home mom of 2 young children and I’m new to the whole couponing thing so I’m just getting my feet wet. I wish I could learn more and save more. I am always checking out your site to see what new things you and your mom are adding.
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