Time for the honest truth. I never expected you to read Pocket Your Dollars. In fact, I never expected anyone to read Pocket Your Dollars. I launched this site with an honest interest in helping people change their financial destiny. That was late March 2009. April 1 the Minneapolis Fox affiliate picked up my story, then local cable, then the local NBC affiliate, then an AM radio station, then an FM radio station, then a second FM radio station, then the ABC affiliate and now national media are picking up my story (Wall Street Journal Radio, Bankrate.com and Yahoo! Finance are my foray on to the national scene).
What’s my story? In June 2006 my husband and I were $50,000+ in debt and made a quality decision, which is a strong, lifelong decision that we will never back away from, to get out and stay out of debt forever. In less than three years we paid off the $50,000 and got to the black with an emergency and cash on hand (almost) to buy a mini-van. We didn’t win the lottery. We didn’t get second jobs. We didn’t live on tuna salad sandwiches.
We changed our attitude about money, since our poor relationship with money got us into debt in the first place. We got organized with our money so we could see where it was leaking out of our lives on things we didn’t value. We reduced expenses in a million creative ways. I suppose we had a bulldog tenacity through it all, and a few disagreements along the way, but it worked.
Beyond my wildest imagination, thousands of you will read this article today. Thank you. In the short time I have led this community of money-saving gurus, I have come to deeply appreciate you and your voice. Thank you for interacting with me. You ask questions, you help each other out, you share your success stories with me, you share your frustrations, and you keep reading. You also tell all your friends and co-workers to read. Thank you.
It is a deep honor for me to lead this endeavor we call Pocket Your Dollars. This site has become more about you than about me, in that your fingerprints are all over the content, the flavor and the community we have developed.
I have another confession to make. I am not sleeping enough. I spend an insane amount of time putting together the content you find here and personally responding to every email I get. I also work full-time by day as Chief Operating Officer for a Minneapolis-based non-profit. I also do a ton of media appearances every week; I’ve done seven this week alone. I am also a mom to an infant and a toddler, a wife and a friend. That is changing though. Pocket Your Dollars has become successful enough that starting next week I am scaling back to a half-time position in my day job so that I can focus on helping more people get their finances under control. Scary, but thrilling.
One last confession. You won’t see any new posts until after dinner tonight. I hate to admit it, but it’s true. Can you do me a favor though? Can you spend some time looking around in the archives? Can you read through the articles about getting started with stores like CVS and Walgreens? Can you leave comments, email me ideas and keep this an active place without me for a day?
There. I said it. Thank you.
P.S. – Plans are for me to be featured on Wall Street Journal This Morning this Saturday, although schedules are always subject to chage (station locator here).
About Carrie Rocha
Love it! Thank you so much for sharing & for your dedication to helping everyone save money… it is really a blessing & I am continuing to spread the word about you and your website!
Carrie, Thank YOU so much for the dedication to this website and all of us that are your followers! My husband recently got laid off from his job and we had to scale back to make ends meet. I found your website shortly after and it has been a life saver for us. I run an in home day care, so as you can imagine the monthly grocery bills add up very quickly. I was spending $200 a week before, now I am making it on about $60 a week! I took advantage of Rainbows sales and used my coupons last evening to save $45!! I proudly walked out of the store with a smile on my face knowing that we had just saved about 50%. I am among many who truly appreciate you and all that you do. Thank you again!!
Thank you so much Carrie-I look at every way we spend money now and look for ways to save. I think I have reached some peace with our finances-something not easily attained!
Good luck to you on your new adventure! I will continue to share my bargains here and with other people who have not heard about your website.
Thank you for being SO honest with us! I can’t tell you where I would be without your site…I know that our cupboards would be empty! My husband made the comment that for being poor we sure have a lot of food! We are even discussing getting another freezer for stock up. You are an inspiration to us all on getting out of debt. We are well on our way with the help of your site!
Thank-you Carrie- I have always been interested in coupons and knew there had to be a better way of doing it to save money. I now feel like the Ikea lady leaving the store in the tv spots(start the car! start the car!) telling her husband when I leave the stores. My only concern is( am a true optomist) will the industry change and see the value people are getting with this site and limit what we can do?. Or do you think the benefits for them for outway the cons of it? Just wondering if you see any changes ahead or things that have happened since you started this.THank-you and good luck. Glad you have more time for this. You are now a household word in our family…….Best of luck, Karma will treat you well!
Carrie
My family and I are forever greatful for all you have done for us. Like so many others my husband was laid off as well. We have truly learned the power of a dollar. I also wanted to let you know that I am a teacher of young adults and I have found that many are struggling with their own needs. So I have made it my goal to make a trip once a week to a featured store with coupons in hand to teach them how to get the best deals. The freebies will be the best. I hope they will take these lessons with them when they leave. I am looking forward to our first trip. All my best in your new adventure.
“Everything happens for a reason”
How exciting! Thank you so much for all of the help you have given me through this blog, it really is the best of it’s kind that I’ve seen and I love that it’s local so every deal applies to me :) Your story is inspiring and this blog is on my must-check every day list (usually several times) because you keep it so fresh and timely. I am very happy that you will have more time to devote to it, yay!
We are so grateful for what you do. You have totally changed my whole family’s outlook on buying food. My 8-year-old son was shopping with his Dad and while Dad was picking up items, Hans was following behind him tearing off coupons and peelies to use at checkout. You have saved us a lot of money. And you have a fun, creative, and insightful group of readers. Thanks!
Carrie – I love your article and the comments! What a blessing you are to those of us who have been fortunate enough to find your website. I heard you a couple of months ago on KTIS and I’ve been hooked every since. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Carrie…THANK YOU! I am so blessed by your help and insight and I know others are too! I am so excited to hear about your “promotion”! What a fabulous testimony! :)
I am also so proud of you for taking the time for your family. While I admit I do miss seeing new posts, ;) I would rather see fewer posts and know that you have the time to spend with your precious family!
Can’t wait to see what plans are in store for you and this site!
Congratulation Carrie on your success! You have been doing a great job! Our life has been turned around lately with new baby and new routines, so your Rainbow list has been so helpful! Congrats on being able to work half time in order to focus on what you do here. I don’t know how you do it! Blogging can be a great communication tool, and I really love taking part in it, but I’m still learning how to balance it. I wish you great success as you continue!
Carrie – as everyone has already said – THANK YOU for all you do – all your hard work, your time, your energy. I know it can’t be easy. My bf was actually just asking the other day what you do in addition to this – a COO? WOW. You truly are amazing.
I absolutely LOVE this site – your ideas and posts help me (and everyone else) sooo much, I really don’t know where I’d be without you and your help. Typically we go shopping once a week…and just by using your ideas last week (and learning how to stack coupons!) we can probably wait another week and a half before we have to go again!
Your story is such an inspiration – thank you for sharing a part of your life with us!
thank you for all you do–although i don’t know how you find time, i have 1 toddler and can’t find the time to keep our family blog up to date!
i did my first ‘double coupon wednesday’ @ rainbow last night and saved over 50% off my bill thanks to you. i’m so glad i found a great source for local deals, keep up the good work!
Carrie, I am so thrilled for you! This is so exciting!!! I also know that God is no respecter of people so what He did for you & Marco He will do for me & Ed. I am so thankful that I have this website as a resource. Thank you for sharing your personal experience and helping us to keep our money in our pockets! Looking forward to the day when I can tell you that we are debt free, have 3 months savings in the bank, and our freedom account is fully funded!!! Blessings to you & your family!!! Love you girl!!!
Hey Carrie,
I am glad things are going so well for you and your family. Karma is a great thing.
Carrie I appreciate all you do for us – and am glad that you are cutting down your hours at your ‘real’ job! HA HA!
Being a parent to two young children is a hard enough job…
I love all of the valuable insight you give us…And guess what – just this week a gal said to me – “oh, I used to clip coupons but I don’t anymore – it’s just not worth it”
I couldn’t believe it!
My husband and I saw you on KARE11 and have been using your site ever since. After his first drug store outing HE WAS HOOKED. Out of curiosity I tracked what he was doing.
In the month of August: The cost of the products we purchased would have been $1250 had we not shopped on sale and used coupons. By shopping when the item was on sale we saved $270.00 off the regular price. By using manufacture coupons we saved another $316.00 and because we stacked those with store coupons we saved another $105.00. Paying with “Reward Dollars” from CVS, Walgreen’s and grocery catalina’s or gift cards saved us another $425.00. This brought our total out of pocket expenditure to $134.00. But wait, my husband wasn’t done saving, he also earned us 60.00 in manufacture rebates that we are waiting to receive in the mail and he started September with $246.00 in “Reward Money” earned. Yes these numbers are correct. By using your site for one month my husband made just over $170 dollars.
Your site has done this for our family and I want to THANK YOU for the time you spend, the advice you give and the information you provide. I can’t wait to see what is coming next.
Thanks for your time! Now we need you running the USA’s budget. What can we do about that?
Carrie- I actually found your site via another blogger. I was raised in a frugal home and my husband is frugal as well so needless to say it’s in my blood, but I have been a lone wolf for many years. I love the fact that yours is local. I may not be new to coupons but I think we all continuously learn from each other. Thanks for all your hard work and go ahead and take the entire day off. It’s usually slow after weds anyway.
Carrie– Good for you!! Your family needs you more than we do (though we really appreciate all your hard work). Congrats on the job “shuffling” may it be a blessing in your life.
I love the way you shared your heart with all of us…that is an incredible gift! Life can surprise us and for me that’s the joy of life.
You’ve completely changed how I shop and I am having a blast! You’ve also changed how I cook…instead of I need to “buy this to make that”…I now work from what I can buy with coupons. I used to teach design at college level and I believe life is a “design problem just waiting for creativity to solve it!” I enjoy cooking again!
You’ve created something wonderful, but also take care of you! If you don’t post anything new for ahalf day or day I think we’ll all be just fine! To help out here’s a Trib deal: receive the Sunday Star Trib for 26 weeks at $.99 per week! The code is DMD ID54. For those like me who just learned that the Pioneer press fails in coupons…this is a cheap way to get the “good coupons.” I’ve also been picking up extra inserts from co-workers who do not use them. My goal is a minimum of 4 of each..every week.
Last week I shopped three separate Walgreens and purchased a table full of $.49 summer clearance toys…I am putting together shoe boxes for operation Christmas Child…I used RR’s and ended up paying $0. For more information: http://www.samaritanspurse.org.
A million thank you’s to you!
Carrie – Thanks for your continued dedication to this site, and most importantly helping people achieve their financial goals (myself included). Know that the work you do here has impacted many lives and we know it’s not easy with children and a full time job ( I had no idea!) thanks again for all that you do!
Wow, very exciting stuff–congrats to you! You have been a huge blessing to many, glad that you are being blessed in return for all your hard work.
I have faith I will get the hang of it…and I so appreciate your lists! They are like training wheels for those new-to-couponing like myself.
Thank you again!!
Thanks for what you do. I just donated all the free items I bought at Walgreen’s and Target to our local food shelf. It made me feel really good that I could use my time and your tips to benefit others. Our family has experienced a financial hardship and we have not been able to give to our church and charities like we had in the past. This is a way for me to give back and help our local community.
Speaking from experience as a Mom that takes on too many things. . . good for you for prioritizing your life. Your family is THE MOST important thing. Keep your sanity and keep up the good work.
Blessings to you and your family
Everyone said it! I love your site, Carrie, and am thrilled it’s doing so well. Keep up the great work — and you deserve a break once in a while just like the rest of us. I have a preschooler and a toddler and I really think you must have superwoman powers — I work part time in addition to being a housewife and mom, but there is no way I’d find the time on my hands to research deals, match coupons with sales, and post it all. I can barely keep my house looking decent!
We are so thankful for all that you do for others & that you’re in the Minneapolis area! :)
Carrie, I don’t have enough words to say Thank You. After reading all of these posts, you should be very proud of yourself!! Not many people can say they have touched and changed the lives for the better of so many people. I bought $ 37. 85 worth of stuff at Target a couple of days ago for $ 3.35 !! The next day, my high school son’s ” Personal Finance” teacher said that with the recent economy more people are clipping coupons but that actually they are losing money because the savings is so minimal that you spend more in gas driving to different stores than you save. My son just smiled, shook his head and thought ” You haven’t seen my mom in action!” I owe this roundabout compliment from my teenage son to you Carrie. You have taught me what I know. God’s Blessings on you and your family.
Carrie,
Thank you! I was giddy last night! I spent $68 at Rainbow, but saved $66! Wow! Then I went to Byerly’s and spent $27 and walked away with three bags of groceries. I was giddy! Just like everyone else I need to track my money and watch where it is leaking. Thank you for helping me take the first steps in turning my financial life around. :.) Take Care of yourself as your family needs you healthy and we need you too:.)
Carrie, I’ve only been reading your site for three weeks, yet it’s already had a huge impact on my family’s life. I’ve always been a coupon clipper, but my savings were minimal compared to what they’ve become by using your site. Wed. was my first Rainbow “double coupon” trip and I only had enough coupons for three transactions, but I got $107 worth of groceries for only $34!
My family has gotten into the action as well – coupon clipping and list making have become a fun family activity instead of a chore. Even my son, who at seventeen has never been remotely interested in grocery shopping, has discovered the delight found in getting a great deal. He’s started to carry coupons in his wallet for fast food restaurants, video game stores, etc., so that when he’s out with his friends, he can amaze them with his thrift ways and save his allowance for bigger, more important items he wants.
So, thank you. Not only for helping me save money, but for the extra time with my family and teaching my son about the importance of careful money management.
Carrie, GREAT UPDATE! We’re thrilled to partner with you and look forward to featuring Pocket Your Dollars next spring at Equip U.
My son has been printing the free bag of candy coupons and heading to Holiday. Although the sugar buzz wears off eventually, he is getting serious about comparing prices and getting a deal. Not bad for 14 – and my wife says that “Carrie is my hero.” Keep up the great work.
Blessings,
BW
Cari – you inspire me.
For suggestions help on how to do this w/o always going to Cub or Rainbow. I don’t have a rainbow very close and the Cub while closer is not easy to get to and I want to support our community by shopping at the local grocery (marketplace).
Thank for all your hard work Carrie. I have totally changed the way I buy groceries since reading your site. I now spend at least 60% less a week. On another note-does anyone else get dirty looks or rude comments from the people behind you in the check out line?? I have come across this a few times when people see I have a ton of coupons. I always just smile at them and tell them about the pocket your dollars website and how much money you can save.
Thank you for writing a great blog! As you can see, you have changed the way many people shop. It is great that there is a place where we can read and share ideas. Although many of us like the frequent postings, we understand that family always comes first. Blessings to you for all that you do!
Carrie – thanks for all you do! You have helped me and my family save tons on the things we buy. I have introduced your site to family, friends and co-workers all who have become hooked. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Carrie,
I have seen you on TCL many many of times. I was wondering if you could tell me or maybe everyone how you did it? How did you get out debt? I am interested in saving money and getting out debt but I don’t know where to begin or even how to begin. How do you do it??
Thank You For Your Time!
Allison