A couple of moms have figured out how to save big bucks at the grocery store.
Now they're teaching others how to do the same thing.
FOX23's Janna Clark shows us how.
It’s coupon night, and these moms cut and trade coupons.
"Everywhere you turn somebody’s talking about the economy and how bad it is. Here’s a group of women making the best of it," Mom Krystal Grizzle said.
You might remember Melissa Hughes and Krystal Grizzle – the coupon gurus.
FOX23 first aired a story about them about a year ago.
They say after the story aired, they got bombarded.
"We’d be in Walgreens doing a deal, and somebody would say you’re the crazy coupon ladies from the news," Hughes said.
"People say what are you doing, I want to see it, show me your receipt, what are you going there," Grizzle said.
Since so many people wanted to know how they were slashing their spending at the store, they decided to make a business out of it called Tulsa Makes Cents.
"It’s a great way to show people how to stretch their money," Grizzle said.
Now Krystal and Melissa are making money by showing people how to save money.
Tabitha Taylor signed up a couple months ago.
"I was doing a 100 dollar budget a week for 4, now I’m only spending 20 to 40 dollars," Taylor said.
The business starts online with a membership. You can take classes and learn first-hand what to do.
"We’ll take them to the store with all our children in tow and say this is exactly how you do it, so they’re confident when they go into the store by themselves," Hughes said.
Melissa says saving money isn't just about using coupons..
You have to know where to use them and when to get maximum savings.
"The trick is to buy it when it’s on sale with a coupon and buy enough to get you to the next sale," Hughes said.
"Watch the sales, do it right, you are going to save money," Grizzle said.
So for example, if you cut a coupon for toilet paper, here’s what you do next.
"If you wait for that package of toilet paper to go on sale, say half off, then use that coupon at a double coupon store, you’re getting that 4 dollar toilet paper for a dollar," Hughes said.
She says you have to know what coupons you have, watch the ads, and shop stores that offer double or triple coupons.
"You really can impact your budget on a big scale by using coupons at the right time," Hughes said.
'You can get salad for free, you can get makeup free, there are certain, things that are almost always free," Grizzle said.
Doing this can be time consuming. It can take several hours a week, and you may have to go to several stores for the most savings.
"It is a lot of work, but that’s where we come in. We do a lot of work for them," Grizzle said.
If you’re a member of Tulsa Makes Cents, you can see the deals Krystal and Michelle post online.
"See any local store on any given week and see what deals are out there and what coupon make those deals really worthwhile," Hughes said.
They say new members are usually reluctant at first, but after a trip to the grocery store, they often change their tune.
Tabitha says it’s worth a couple extra hours every week to save so much money..
And now, people at the store are bombarding her too.
"They say you saved 67 dollars on this ticket today, and somebody behind me will say I want to know how you did that," Taylor said.
After the group cut coupons Janna followed Tabitha on her trip to Walgreens to see how she did.
Using the store's promotion and coupons, Tabitha got some shaving cream for free and deodorant for only 24 cents.
You can check out the website at www.tulsamakescents.com
