about me
Hi, I’m Ruth!
This is what you need to know about me:
Above all else I am a child of God, a mom to two beautiful girls, and a wife to my wonderful husband of 6 years. My biggest passion is my family, and creating home filled with joy and purpose. I also love to cook, bake, entertain, craft, sew, and spend time with friends.
I originally started writing Living Well Spending Less because my spending had become so out-of-control that it was destroying my marriage and I needed to find a way to hold myself accountable. (Read my full Savings Story here.) Spending wildly wasn’t something I did intentionally, but the more I tried to fill my inner void with stuff, the more unsatisfied I felt.
But now, almost 2 years later, I have come to some important realizations. First, I’ve realized that I actually like saving money. Sticking to a budget forces me to tap into a creativity I never knew existed, and it is surprisingly fun and satisfying.
Even more importantly, my definition of what “Living Well” means has changed. I’ve realized that all those things I thought I wanted and needed don’t really mean anything in the grand scheme of things, and a life well lived is not so much about what we have as who we are.
Living Well Spending Less is the chronicle of my adventure of finding the Good Life, as defined by me: A life rich with faith, family, friends, & creativity. I’m so glad you stopped by to join me on this journey.
If you like what you read here, I encourage you to join the Living Well Spending Less Facebook Community or to follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, or Google+. And please don’t be shy about leaving comments–they always make my day!
If you are looking for more information about using or finding coupons, you can check out my other sites, Saving Well Spending Less and PrintHotCoupons.com.
Photos courtesy of Angela Clifton Photography
{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh dear!! I need help… how do I get started?? I dont wanna turn into a Hoarder by buying stuff I dont use… HELP
Try starting with week one of my Beginner’s Guide to Coupons (under Couponing 101 on the nav bar.) Stockpiling is definitely not the same as hoarding–you can always donate the things your own family won’t or can’t use!
Hey,
I got to your site via a comment by you on another blog. I’m going to Blissdom, too. Driving up to Nashville from the Pensacola area. And, we are both tall, except you are much taller. I’m only 5’10″ (and I don’t say “only” before my heighth very often!!!). I look forward to meeting a fellow blogger/tall girl/Floridian at the conference.
Shannon
So glad I found this. Can’t wait to follow!
hey! i found your site via youtube, and it’s great! i was just wondering though if those were really your kids names? or if you just didn’t want to use thier real names (which is understandable) sorry if this is random! thanks for all you do!
Thanks Micaela! I’m so glad you like my blog. To answer your question, those are just their nicknames. My husband and I decided it would be better to protect their privacy just a little (you know, aside from posting videos and pictures on the world wide web on a daily basis.)
Ruth, bout forgot , My friend and I started a “at home” business called Sophia’s Fancies ( named after her little girl that was born with Miller-Dieker Lissencephaly. We make Hair Bows and Diaper Wipe cases and flowers and such. I wanted to send some bows to Trouble and Princess but need your address. You can email me if you want so its not all over the web where you live. We are also on Facebook if you wanna check us out! Maybe Trouble and Princess could wear them in a trip to Publix!
Amy
Amy, that is so sweet of you! As the mom of girls, I am addicted to hair bows. I will email you my address.
I have to laugh so excited! I just heard about your blog from friend! When she was describing you, I was invisioning you. Only to find out, it is you. Congrads! on the blog! How is the house coming? The girls look great!
~trish
Trish, I’m so glad to hear from you!
You know you were partially responsible for this blog….you were the one that told me about Southern Savers, which is what got me back into couponing, which is what led me to start this little blog, which has sort-of taken on a life of its own!
The house looks a lot better now than it did when you saw it! We have floors and a kitchen, so that is an improvement. It is still not quite done, but very livable so we are happy.
How are your kids? How’s the baby? How are you??! Shoot me an email or look me up on Facebook…I’d love to catch up!
Hi Ruth!!!, I just starting couping about two weeks ago. Between being a single mom, two part time jobs, a full time student and helping with my parents grocery list as well, I decided to do coupons!. Now even my dad helps me out figuring out what to buy, its kind of cute I must accept!.
I have gotten to save 50% percent of my bill, but my dream is to go far! ($200 like your last one!) .
I kind of need help trying to figuring out how to stash the coupons to get the best out of them.
BTW you got a beautiful family, trouble reminds me of my daughter at Publix, if I dont get the cookie first, the shopping experience might not be as pleasant lol.
Mariel
Thank you Mariel. I hope your couponing is going well!
Hi, you’re such an inspiration. I’m going to start couponing, first things first
Lol, I accidentally pressed enter. but first thing first I need to buy ink, lol. Anyhow but you know you can donate your expire coupons to military bases. Military commisaries are filled with coupons, which I love it takes away the leg work
. Here’s the site if you’re willing to donate those expired coupons up to 2 months http://www.ocpnet.org/.
Thanks for the tip Sandra! I will definitely do that.
Hey Ruth,
I have some Huggies coupons. I also have a Dominick’s Freezer Coupon book that I’m not going to use…. interested? They’re all manufacturer coupons.
I like that…I am not a cheapskate; on the contrary, I love to shop. (My husband might tell you that I live to shop). My husband would say the same! Saving money is like a fun shopping game! lol
Hey Ruth! I love both of your websites! I would love for you to post something specifically about shopping at Publix in Florida since they have different policies on BOGO than other states. We live in Georgia but often go to Florida to a family home there. I am becoming adept at shopping in Georgia, just not sure how it would change at the Florida Publix stores. Thanks!
I am about 3 weeks into my “extreme couponing”. I stick to Publix mainly but have made some trips to Kroger and Walgreens. My question is how do you get multiple printable coupons for one item. When I print online most of the time I can only get 2. I was lucky enough to get 4 country crock coupons for Publix this week but all the others were only 2. Thanks.
BTW- saved $200, paid $84. Between 4 shopping trips so far.
The limit for most coupons is 2 per computer, so you have to use multiple computers. I use my 2 very old laptops to print additional coupons, but only if I really need them because they take forever to turn on and load!
Great job!
Hello Ruth,
I found your website via you tube and i loved the videos ..Your girls are just gorgeous and your clips are so real , when we going shopping we have good days and some not too good days , but as a mother we know how it is .I loved the videos and i will be following your website. Now I followed southern savers and Faithful Provisions I am in Nashville ,TN and I will be relocating to Florida in Summer and I heard that Florida don’t have a lot of the grocery stores like here we had Kroger, Food Lions etc. I love Publix and i hope i can still find awesome deals over there. Thanks for the time and efforts that you make for us … We know is a lot of work …gracias.
Thanks Liz. We definitely don’t have the nice variety of stores here in Florida that you do in TN. I mostly shop at Publix, but occasionally at Winn-Dixie. Albertsons is also found in some places, but not where I am. Luckily Publix has some great sales almost every week, so I don’t feel like I’m missing out too much. For drugstores we have CVS and Walgreens. No stores double coupons in Florida per state law.
I too am in Florida. So when you shop and I watch your videos it is a little more realistic to me. Since you are speaking of the same sales and stores. Beautiful family and I think at some point we all realize and look at our accounts and say ” there has got to be a better way”. My husband laughed as I started getting I would say obsessed with finidng ways to save money. But now it is the topic of his conversations with friends. lol He is so excited to come home and see what deals I have found. I dont have a crazy stockpile. I find what I can even if it is one item I can get with a deal at the store. But when he sees the pennies I have paid. The look on his face ” priceless”. Keep up the great work.
Hi Ruth,
I found your blog after searching “Extreme Couponing” on you tube!
I just started couponing a couple of months ago. I loved your videos but I live in Tennessee and we don’t have a Publix grocery store here. I do all my shopping at Kroger (and do the whole CVS thing) since they seem to have the best prices. They don’t have a lot of store coupons or coupon booklets like it appears Publix does, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to save as much as you seem to. Do you have any tips for shopping at a store that doesn’t offer store coupon booklets (like Kroger)? I always seem to be able to save at least $30 on each shopping trip, but I still seem to spend at least $60 and with our limited budget these days, I want to get it way down like you always seem to!
Can you please help?
Thanks!
Brit
One other question I forgot to ask: Do you have multiple newspaper subscriptions to get all your coupons or do you subscribe to a clipping service? Newspapers in Knoxville are EXPENSIVE, so I can’t afford to get multiple subscriptions, but it seems silly to pay for coupons, too, so what do you recommend?
Thanks!
Hi Ruth!
I recently lost my job and I am horrified by the (minimum) $200 grocery bill I spend each week. I have two boys who eat like horses and they are mortified that our pantry is empty. I told them to hold on,,,,I’ve stock piled coupons and I’m learning a new trade. Your website is a blessing and I’m taking my first baby step tomorrow to Kroger to shop for my three items. I’m really nervous, it sounds so confusing, but I am confident with you on the I Phone that I will do great! Thank you so much for putting this out there and sharing with all of us your wizdom!
So glad I found this! I found your videos on youtube and am loving them. I’ve been using coupons for months now, but need to get better about couponing. I also noticed you mention in your “Mom’s Night In” post that your husband graduated high school the year before you were born. My boyfriend and I are the same way – I love running across people who have age differences
Ruth,
I just wanted to say thank you for posting the “how to” videos on the web about couponing. I have always loved to shop and get a real kick out of all the B1G1 free deals at Winn-Dixie but have very rarely used coupons before. However, my husband and I are trying to be good stewards of the money and resources God has given us… which lead us to start to couponing. Funny enough we make more now than we ever have our 11 years of marriage. It has only been two weeks since we started but I went on YouTube to try and figure out the best way to do this and was a little frustrated with the all the videos that had such little information and a ton of fluff. However, with your videos I found just the opposite. While waiting in the doctor’s office for my mother appointment to end I watched every video you have posted on my iphone. I love how you filmed while actually at the stores. You make it seem easy and not so overwhelming. Because of your helpful tips in two weeks we have saved over $300. That is money that we would have spent anyway. And on Friday I got my first free item! 3 bottles of glass cleaner for free and with two small children at home we use it! Thank you, thank you, and thank you for all the wonderful resources you provide.
Dear Ruth,
Your website is awesome! I stumbled across one of your videos on Youtube, and then started reading everything on your website. My first day I got 2 candy snickers easter eggs for free!! The next day I put together everything to organize my coupons, and made a couple more trips to different stores and I saved a minimum of 49%, and its only been 4 days since I started! Your Beginner’s guide is great!
I’m looking forward to getting even better at this and getting even better deals. It’s so much fun. Thank you!
I do have a question about “money makers”, what are those and how do they work? and is that why some people get paid at the end of their transactions?
Thanks again!
Marie
Thank you for your sweet comments Marie.
To answer your question, a “money maker” is an item that is less than free after coupons and/or drugstore dollars (Register Rewards, UP Rewards, Extra Care Bucks.) For instance, if X brand pasta is on sale for $0.75 and you have a $1/1 coupon for X brand pasta, you will make a profit of $0.25 for that item. Some stores allow overage and some don’t, but at stores that do allow overage, the “money makers” can help pay for the rest of your groceries.
Hello, I live in Florida too very close to you, I found you via you tube and I have just started to coupon I was wondering where you get all your coupons from is it just the newspapers and stores ads??? THanks,
Thankyou Ruth! I always have used coupons but I never get any BIG saves.. I have a tendency to cut out more then I need.. But I never really thought of the CVS deals etc. Until recently, I got the Nivea body wash @ .88 and the Schick Hydro 5 deal. My husband is set for razors for the next year! lol .. Anyway you get some awesome deals, wish I could get some like that but many of our stores don’t do the BOGO free deals. that’s the bad thing. Those that do are usually Jewel and they are so overpriced anwyay! But I’m definitely going to start paying more attention to CVS/Walgreens deals and watching my coupons for the best deals. I’ve got a family of 6 along with 2 dogs and 3 cats that I need to cater too.. And given gas prices here in IL (4.28 a gallon today) it can only help me! Thanks so much!
Hi Ruth.I just love your sites and all the helpful tips you give on how to save with coupons (I’m on my fourth week now) but the biggest problem I’m having is knowing what items are really a good price.I know that just because it is on “sale” doesn’t mean “rock bottom.” I am trying to start a price book and wondered if you have done this or what your opinion about a price book would be. Or have you ever thought about putting together a list of grocery items and the best prices you have found for them (as if you didn’t have enough to d0)on your site?
OK, so I have a question about the laser printer you suggested in your beginners guide to couponing. Does it only print in black? Will stores take the the printed coupons when they are only in black and white b/c I saw a post on another site that said one lady tried to use black/white coupons but they wouldn’t take them b/c the store said they were copied not printed. Thank you.
What a cute family you have! I really enjoy your blog and I I get excited when there is a new feed on my google reader (RSS). I really enjoy the videos and I love how organized your site its. It’s so easy to navigate.
Hi Ruth. You have an amazing website. I’ve been to other websites and I must say, yours is organized and very well put together. I’m trying to figure out this whole couponing thing. I recently statred school and I am sick of peanut butter sandwiches.
I also work at walgreens, so if you have any walgreens related questions, you can feel free to ask me. You also show what couponing is like in the real world. It’s great to see that real people can do it, and not that we’re buying things that can’t even use. You seem to only buy things that you can use, which I admire. You’re not wasteful.
I was reading the couponing 101 and I saw that you suggested to try to get the newspaper company to try to give you more than one insert. How do you suggest I do this? Thank you. Angela
You could just try calling the subscription department to see if they would be willing to cut you a deal or give you extra inserts. It is a long shot, but you’ll never know if you don’t try.
I’m so glad I found this! I was watching Extreme Couponing on TLC last night for the first time and decided I’d love to start couponing to save my fiance and I some money before we get married and -viola- I stumbled upon YOU! :]] I can’t wait to start learning from you by reading all of your tips! I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!
Thanks!!
I went grocery shopping last night and saved $58! The most I’ve ever saved in one trip. It was awesome. My husband even gave me a high five as he saw the cost on the register going down!
Thank you! 
Woo Hoo! Great Job Angela!
Hi Ruth,
I know that this should go in the gardening post of yours but I can’t find it right now. I am an organic gardener and feel chemical are not good for anyone especially young children. This website is a good one. I have used others too from search engines. http://www.organicgardenpests.com/organicpestcontrol3.html
One website I found said to sprinkle cayene pepper o the leaves. It does help keep rid out of those pesky bugs. You have to sprinkle some on the leaves every other day or sooner if it rained to keep them away from eating the leaves. I would also do a search for whatever other animals are local to your area. Here in my area, I have to worry about rabbits and dears eating my leaves. squirrels taking blueberries off my blueberry bushes. I have a small wire fench around to try to keep rabbits and deer out.
Good luck and happy gardening!
Thanks for the advice and the link Cindy!
Hi I live in Puerto Rico and I have trouble finding coupons I dont know if you now any adress for mail coupons I hope you answer me.
I am new with this coupon system but I want to learn more in order to help out my family. My dad shops all the time at grocery stores and said that you can only use one coupon per item. He is trying to say that if you buy multiple deodorants then you can only use one coupon for all of them. Is that true? Thanks and look forward to hearing from you soon. Also, do you know anyone in Dallas, Texas that is doing this. I would love to talk to them or even shop with them so I can learn the system better.
Now, my dad says that you can use 1 coupon per item. I misunderstood him. Thanks.
It is nice to see another mother of young children deal hunting. It is nice to see that someone else has the same challenges I face with 3 under 3. Not being able to go shop with kids in tote, ect
I cannot seem to print out any ‘printable’ coupons from my and it’s making me crazy! I know that I’m missing out on a lot of great coupons. Any suggestions form me? Because I can’t figure it out. I have an Apple computer… maybe that’s the reason? Any help would be so appreciated.
Thanks!
Ruth-
I really like your site. May questions are as follows:
1-Where is the free ebook available at? I can’t see to find the link to download the pdf
2-So, I am Brand spanking new to this. I have been in the hospital for 3 1/2 weeks almost now due to a serious infection and surjury of my left hip joint and I have become “addicted” to the extreem couponing tv show and CAN’T wait to get started. I watched your very helpful info. video and plan to download your thoughtful free ebook (thanks – by the way!) However, I feel I speek for others when I say I’m interested in this new hobby, but with the many “extreem couponing” sites available, I don’t want learning how to do this to become confusing. I need to follow one method, one set of instructions and have it be very clear cut. Now that I’d watched your video, should I download your ebook and just follow it, sitcking to your site primarily to avoid convusion until I truly learn the ropes enough to go out and look at other sites and learn their methods too? Please , I need your friendly advice on this before I get started. I love your site and methods and feel in my heart that’s the best thing to do so I don’t get all scattered brained! Thanks! =)
Here is the direct link to the eBook: http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/wp-content/documents/LWSL%20Beginner's%20Guide%20To%20Coupons%20eBook.pdf (copy & paste–for some reason it won’t hyperlink the whole thing)
You can also access it by clicking the Coupons 101 tab above in the navigation bar, then scroll down to “LWSL BGTC Free eBook”
To answer your second question, I am a big believer in starting slow, which you will discover very quickly if you follow the BGTC plan. There is so much information available that it is easy to get overloaded and overwhelmed. Hopefully LWSL (along with my sister site http://www.savingwellspendingless.com) will give you everything you need without overwhelming you. That said, there are lots of other great websites about couponing and saving money out there. I would start here, then, as you get the hang of things, add more if you feel you need it!
Hope that helps & hope you are out of the hospital soon!
I just wanted to say, I love your website and videos!!! I have been on mutiple sites and find your site is the best. I will be telling all my friends and family about this site.
Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know for sure, but I think I am the first male to comment here. J.K. (who cares anyway!) Me and my wife ran accross your you-tube work and both of us are impressed with what your doing. We only have four kids of our own and find just finding time to shop at all is a tall order. You have given me something no one else has on the internet and that is guts to go to the store with my kids. (Just kidding again). Being a stay-at-home dad I have found is no easy win, but I have ordered a Brother printer and am getting organized as I type, to save my family some cash. Thanks for the information you are providing!!! Don’t stop what you do! The Smith’s
Just found you via Angie in Punta Gorda. I am going to start couponing this week and have already told myself that I WILL NOT go to another grocery store etc…without coupons! I do have a questions though…what do you know about saving money on organic foods? We have really changed the way we are eating and I am thinking I will not be able to save that much on food but will on some other products. Do you know of any local place that sells organic and takes coupons? I am in Venice. Thanks, Nancy
Me again…I found some coupons for organic foods at http://www.choicesnaturalmarket.com and find link to coupons. There is a Choices in Venice!
I’m so excited I found ur website! I can’t to get started .. I love to save money so I’m looking forward too being ur friend and save lots a money!!! Have a Blessed Day! Debbie
I have a question.. Could you email me about what you do with your expired coupon’s! My family is currently stationed in Okinawa Japan and we can use coupons for 6 months past expiration date.. Was wondering if you could put it out there in your videos that we are able to do that? Please email me if you can! Thank’s
Why in the world does this woman not have her own television show? When you tell us to play nice and use the coupons the way they were intended, it is like the best Mom in the world telling children to play by the rules!
Seriously, the networks are crazy not to have you doing a normal/nice/realistic show about couponing.
Thanks so much for the sanity!-JMH
Hi Ruth!
I’m a newbie to couponing. Realizing that if you can’t earn more you need to save more I tuned into TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” show over the Summer. Although that really is overboard for me to conceptualize how they buy $1000 for $10 bucks – my lightbulb went off. I was super excited to see “normal” couponers like you and your followers. My question is: How many or what is the quantity of each item should I aim for to start building my stock piles?
Besides fresh produce & meat, I noticed most of our money was being spent on kid snacks, condimets & sauces, and toiletry items – which are often the most expensive things. How many of each item should I try to keep in stock or start my stockpile with?
Thank you,
L
L,
You are going to save quite a bit of money if you spend in the areas of snacks, condiments, sauces and toiletry items. These items are usually free or close to free so you should do very well. Welcome to the world of couponing.
In answer to your question there is no right answer to what you should purchase. Some people buy enough to last them through the next sales cycle. Most sales cycles run on a 3-month schedule although some have a shorter timeframe and some have a longer timeframe. If your family uses a particular product that is a very good price then you might want to stock up with as much as your family will use. There are some items that only go on sale once or twice a year and I usually stock up on these items for the whole year.
Just remember that you can stock up on the item and get a raincheck if they are out of stock.
Have fun!
Kelly
Love your site! I just blogged about it on Brilliant in My Poverty!
http://brilliantinmypoverty.blogspot.com/2011/10/free-links-great-savings.html
Dawn
Fine Arts Photographer
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dawn-Sketch-Photography/100948143345703
http://brilliantinmypoverty.blogspot.com/
Ruth,
Really enjoyed reading your About Me and visiting your site. Your experience sounds a lot like what I’m going through and feel compelled to share. I look forward to sharing stories with you!
Adriana
Hello everyone, I just joined and have been doing this for a while but not saving very much especially at the CVS and Walgreens. But after watching your video and separating your order that may be my problem. I didn’t know you could do that. I need help in this area. And making my lists and how to keep your coupons. Any one want to help me out? Karen
Hi Ruth,
I learned alot about couponing by watching your youtube videos.
I havent seen any new videos on youtube since episode #13. Have you stopped recording your shopping trips?
-Amit.
I LIKE YOUR WEBSITE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU THAT WE ARE FAMILY OF THREE. HOW MANY INSERTS DO I HAVE TO BUY TO SAVE MONEY.
Ruth,
I starting watching on YouTube Saturday, bought two papers Sunday and started printing coupons off the web. I set out on my first shopping trip today buying only things I needed, (some of which I didn’t have a coupon for). I saved about 30% at Target ($27) and 50% at Walgreens ($29) today! Compared to your savings that’s just a drop in the bucket but I am so excited! I know my savings will improve as I begin to stock up and gather more coupons. Thanks for all your help. I could not have done this without you!
Sincerely,
Melony in TN
Those both sound like awesome first trips to me! Great job!
I have a wordpress blog, too. (totally deferent subject than yours…) Wordpress is hosting it and I do not yet have the traffic to post advertisements. (Currently about 10,000 views a month)They offer lots of options to allow advertising. What worked best for you? How did you find quality affiliates? Ones that generate revenue…