On December 31, 2010 I’d like to be able to say that Pocket Your Dollars has accomplished two things this year. Just two things? Yep, just two things, albeit two big, daunting things.
Impact More Families
I have never been one to do something small. I always dream big and aim high. This year, I want to impact twice as many families as we did in 2009. There are thousands upon thousands of struggling families that would benefit from the inspiration and information we can share with them.
Increase Readers’ Self-Sufficiency
You’ve heard it said that if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach him to fish, then you feed him for a lifetime. My heart’s desire is to teach you to fish, where financial stewardship and saving money is concerned. As our leader I have a responsibility to train you to thrive without me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not planning to go anywhere anytime soon. Nonetheless, my job is to help you mature and grow in your journey.
You might see a survey or two throughout the year that will help me measure progress in this area.
That sounds good and all, but the real question is, how will we do it?
How-to Impact More Families
Infinite options exist for us to reach out and connect with more families. We could go door knocking. We could email everyone on the planet. We could rent an airplane and write in the sky. The options are endless. Instead of those things, Pocket Your Dollars will focus in two areas in 2010.
Gain national visibility through traditional and social media outlets. If you read the 2009 year in review, then you know that I made over 100 media appearances last year and am on track for much more than that in 2010. I believe growth comes one step at a time, versus a catapult forward, and I’m stepping into national media. Reaching millions of households through national print, radio and television outlets will allow us to impact more families.
Provide nationally relevant, yet locally appealing content, but not too much of it. Today, most Pocket Your Dollars’ readers are in the upper Midwest, although folks are visiting from all over the United States. I plan to continue providing locally relevant and Minneapolis-specific content, while also broadening content to appeal to an even larger audience. It sounds like an oxymoron, but improved site navigation will be a key. With some navigation changes you will be able to easily and quickly find the information that is most relevant to you, whether local or national.
Did you notice this action item also says, “but not too much of it?” There are thousands of websites that report on every deal and every coupon on the planet. Pocket Your Dollars won’t ever be one of them. Personally, I get overwhelmed when I go to certain sites and see that I’m 15 or 20 deals behind and the majority don’t apply to me anyway. This is a place for people to get started and grow in their journey to financial freedom. As a result, overwhelming us with 15-20+ deals every day isn’t part of the plan.
P.S. – Yes, adding a Walmart list is part of the plan and you’ll see your first one tomorrow.
How-to Increase Readers’ Self-Sufficiency
Pocket Your Dollars is a tool to help you over time. I want nothing more than for readers to feel like they can teach and train others, they can find and spot deals on their own and they are learning to better steward their finances. We have a multi-faceted action plan this year that will bring us toward this goal.
Facilitate Real-Life Connections
Being part of a network of like-minded folks that can share ideas, encourage and help each other is a huge component to individual success. Yes, in real life opportunities take effort to coordinate, but I believe they are incredibly valuable. If I can find some volunteers to help, I’d like to coordinate a couple meet-ups this year and launch coupon trainings (a way to trade coupons).
I also speak out and about in the community with regularity and will do a better job sharing my calendar with you. I also recognize that the site needs better navigation to get back to site-related and Carrie-related announcements (like this post about goals, for instance).
Provide More Online Training Opportunities
- Make video podcasts of my most popular trainings. The two most popular are how-to save 50% on your groceries without a coupon file box and how-to get out and stay out of debt . I will likely sell these and am aiming for a second quarter launch of this new content.
- Write more non-expiring/timeless articles. I hear you loud and clear that rock bottom price lists and other coupon shopping tips would be really helpful.
- Better orientation for newbies. From an FAQ to how-to navigate the site, first time visitors will be well-served with a more robust introduction. The goals of a better orientation are to help someone past feeling overwhelmed as they start on a money-saving journey and answer frequently asked questions.
Strengthen Online Community
- Provide some additional topic-specific Open Mic posts. I have decided not to do forums (and am glad that we won’t have them…they’re a TON of work), but I never realized how much you all like the Open Mic posts. I think we’ll add another Open Mic post a few times per month that is topic-specific, like recipe ideas based on the current week’s sales and other things. We’ll be pretty strict on those and actually delete any off-topic posts, encouraging folks to use the Open Mic for general discussion. I will continue to read the Open Mic posts and pull out ideas and suggestions into full blown posts as they seem relevant.
- Provide ability to respond to an individual comment. Done. You can now reply to a specific comment left by another reader and the two will stay right together. If only everything on the list was this easy :)
Your turn: Are there ways you’d like to help? If you would like to coordinate a meet-up or be part of the coupon train launch team, or have other ideas of how you can help, leave a comment and let me know.
I’m still in favor of having a local page and a separate national page. Double post items of national appeal to a page separate from the Twin Cities content. Bottom line: you live here, nowhere else. I favor this site for its local appeal. If a deal is not applicable to the Twin Cities, I’d rather not see it on a page next to Cub, Target, et al.
Hi Carrie,
One thing that would help me is to know how much NOT to pay for something.
For example, I remember you mentioned that your target price for a box of cereal was appx $1. I would like to know other things that I shouldn’t spend anymore money than necessary. Which in turn would help me know when to stock up on certain items. I think that would help my pantry space and help my budget.
Thanks for all your help in making my hubby’s buck go further!
Looking forward to seeing the new changes.
I would be interested in coordinating a meet-up or doing training. I’m open to doing anything. E-mail me when you have a chance. Thanks.
I started a coupon club with all my Mommy friends who are trying to save a buck! We meet once a month to learn how to use pocket your dollars, how to get the best deals, swap coupons, and share our great money saving tips! It’s also a great way to relieve the stress of the month! We’ll be having our 3rd meeting on the 22nd, and we are ALL looking forward to it! We keep gaining members, and everyone is passing on their knowledge. In fact, my SIL is starting her own club in her neck of the woods. Thank you so much for showing us how to do this Carrie! All your hard work is grately appreciated!!
~Shelley
I second Tina’s comment– having more information on “buy” prices. I haven’t been doing this long enough to know know how low I can reasonably expect to buy some items, particularly those I might not buy as often.
Sharing your experience with this would definitely help me be more “self-sufficient” in matching my coupons with sales and knowing if I should stock-up or wait!
Regardless, thanks for all that you do already!
I am an ALDI freak and I’ve actually created a list of prices of what I typically purchase in my local store. It helps me determine if I’m getting a good price even after double coupons, sales, etc. Otherwise I was finding that I’d buy what I thought was a “steal” and found out I could have saved myself the trip and headed to my good old stand-by. I’m willing to share with anyone.
I’d love a copy of your list. I have been trying to decide when and how much to do the coupon thing after ignoring coupons for so long in favor of Aldi shopping. But since finding PYD I’ve been trying to give coupons another chance. Sometimes after I do a Rainbow run which feels still new and unfamiliar to me I will walk into Aldi and just feel at home. But, I really do want to save the most money so if you have numbers that are helpful in comparing I’d love to see them.
Thanks,
Joy Bice
This Wednesday I am going to try and recreate your Pocket Your Dollars presentation to Substance Moms Group, unless you want to :). Do you have any notes or tools I could use? I am basically trying to remember what you said and draw on my own experience.
Carrie, I would love to help planning meet-ups and events! I live to do things like that! I am also willing to help train or anything else that would help! I got my mother started on your site a few months ago and she has fallen in love with it! Thanks for all you do!
Carrie, I just uncovered your site a few weeks ago and am addicted to it. I have been known as the “Coupon Queen” since I was a teen. Now, mother of 2 teens and wife of a wonderful husband, we live in CT, where the prices are unbelievably high! Many of my friends and coworkers want me to start a newsletter or website, but I don’t have the time, with work F/T. I would love to find more bargains in CT, if possible, but meanwhile, your CVS, Target and Walgreens deals really help me.
I like the buy price idea..Diapers and paper products *Toilet Paper especially* the double, triple, mega roll thing gets complicated!
I will do my best to spread the word; I think EVERYONE could benefit from this site!!
Carrie, I’m willing to help out with coupon training, too! I’m going to be giving a presentation at my church’s women’s retreat in April. I’m sure this would be good practice. :)
I love to teach and would love the opportunity to participate in meet ups. I started using your sight the end of July and along with saving lots of $$..I was able to collect over $2000 in food, medicines, personal car items, diabetic testing meters etc. to donate to the local food shelf and other organizations.
I’ll admit at first that I made every coupon, rr and ecb mistake..several times..ok too many to count, but now I spend less than 2 hours of my time every week clipping – copy/paste lists and shopping.
I have friends and coworkers begging me to teach them and I’ve agreed to do a basic in the next couple weeks. I am blessed to say that I spent twelve years teaching at two local colleges and I love to write curriculum and lesson plans. Teaching is an amazing gift!
Like you…I just don’t think small. I love it when I have a vision and then layout the path to reach my goal. My goal is to teach the amazing gift that you have given to me..saving and giving…to as many families and individuals as I can. My church is set for a food drive in May – I’m in the midst of writing a proposal to teach “coupon savings.” My church has 12,000 (not a typo) attendee’s every weekend and three campuses…when I imagine the impact that is possible…it quite honestly takes my breath away.
There’s another very important piece for me…I’ve spent the past two years showing, foreclosed homes..and now short sales. It is heartbreaking. So many families displaced and although there are good deals for new buyers..the losses suffered by families is always in my heart. I know families where both parents have taken on second jobs just to make the mortgage payment…that’s time away from their children..a price too high.
I love being a Realtor and I want to help families find ways to keep their homes..and that is best for all of us. I read Debt Proof Living and this for me was the final piece of the puzzle. I am in the process of creating a blog focused on coupons (that’s where I would like to direct to your sight), saving everyday and saving for a down payment or to pay down a mortgage (I have two experts who will provide this information) and giving (items matched to local organizations).
As I said..no small ideas..just big dreams and goals. I would love to share the outlines and handouts I’m developing for coupon/savings training. The world is changed by people reaching out to share/help and teach. We can impact families/Individuals in ways that are beyond what we can imagine.
I’m an email or phone call away…
Carrie ~ I already love the “REPLY” capabilities that you’ve added to comments! Now I can reply to one person directly under their comment and the “chain” is started. This is going to be a great feature!
I appreciate how “uncluttered” your website is, like you state above. I like that you seem to only post the very best of the best deals around. I feel like if it’s on your site, it’s a good deal because you look past many deals. I’ve been following your site for 5 months and feel like I am getting more “self-sufficient.” The more you do it, the easier it really becomes in spotting the deals.
I also get people telling me I should teach a class on couponing (and I always think to myself – I’m NOTHING compared to some couponers!) But, if you need any help, please feel free to add my name to a list of “possible helpers.” I have an education background (former teacher, now at home mom).
Carrie were would you meet up at?