There is almost nothing I love more than a good challenge. I am hard wired to be motivated by audacious goals. I get energy from the thought of achieving the impossible. I’ve told you this before, but as a child I had one thing I wanted to do when I grew up. “I simply want to change the world,” was all I ever hoped to do. Yep, big. Yep, audacious, Yep, right up my alley.
As Pocket Your Dollars looks to 2011, then it is no surprise that we are aiming high with four challenging goals.
1. Inspire, Equip and Retain More Families
Pocket Your Dollars’ mission is to “inspire and equip middle America to live within their means so they can get out and stay out of debt.” In 2011 I want to connect with more of middle America. I want to see twice as many people visiting the site, connected on Facebook and subscribing to the feed. I feel behind in our Twitter presence and want that to jump from 2,600 followers to over 10,000 followers by year-end.
Increase Retention
Alongside growth, we also need to focus on retention. I want to understand both why and how people come to Pocket Your Dollars, but also why they leave. I know that this website and community isn’t for everyone and I’m okay with that. However, I suspect that there are families needing inspiration and help living within their means, but because they’re overwhelmed they fade away.
This year I want to increase our retention by 25%. Based on hard numbers, we can see that in 2010 there were three groups of Pocket Your Dollars’ visitors: those that came just one time, those that tried the site out, but left and those that fanatically follow it. It’s the fanatic followers that I want to increase by 25%.
One-time visitors: In 2010 29% of visitors came to Pocket Your Dollars.com once and never returned.
Tried, but left (2-9 visits): In 2010 18% visited the site somewhere between 2 and 9 times, but then didn’t come back.
Fanatical followers (10+ visits): In 2010 53% visited the site 10 times or more throughout the year. In 2011 I want to see 67% of visitors sticking around 10+ times over the course of the year.
How-to Inspire, Equip and Retain More Families
- Provide a better new-user experience including info on how-to get started and opportunities to connect
- Establish unique features, including more series (a glimpse into my self-talk right now: “ahem, Carrie, that means actually completing the series you promise to do.”). Ideas include products that pay for themselves, do-it-yourself money-saving tips, splurge for less, and success stories
- Let readers have a stronger voice and an influence (this is our fourth goal, but it is a strategy here as well). Pocket Your Dollars Live is a connection opportunity for those looking to meet others face-to-face (early bird tickets are on sale now).
- Make personal connections with readers including answering emails and other online mentions. I’ve been tempted to give up answering my emails because it can be a lot of work to keep up with all the inquiries, but I can’t give up the connection it makes with people.
- Build a regional and national TV presence while strengthening my local media presence to gain new readers
2. Increase National Relevance, While Maintaining Local Flair
Almost since the first day of Pocket Your Dollars I’ve wanted to obtain a national media platform from which we could reach hundreds of thousands of additional families who need what we have (well, technically I think it was like day 20, not day 1, when I first mentioned the Today Show to my husband, but who’s counting). At the same time that my interest is national, we have a great thing going on here locally with local deals, comprehensive information on local stores and a strong local following. It’s quite an oxymoron.
As I have made some forays into a media presence outside the Minneapolis/St. Paul area I have been met with, “but your website isn’t relevant nationally, is it?” You and I know that many of the deals we share are available to anyone nationwide as they are internet-based. But, that isn’t obvious to the media.
This year we will position Pocket Your Dollars as a nationally relevant website without losing the local flair many of us love. Hey, while we are at it, maybe we can think about adding a strong local flair for a few more communities beyond the Twin Cities; might as well aim high.
How-to Increase National Relevance, While Maintaining Local Flair
- Redesign the website and its navigation so “nationally relevant” is a first impression. (We have outgrown our current navigation structure and web design in other ways too, which will be considered in the redesign as well)
- Integrate content from other bloggers that have an ear on the ground in other regions
- Allow email subscribers to opt in/out of local deals so they receive only what’s relevant to them
3. Broaden the Pocket Your Dollars Brand Beyond Groceries & Coupons
Fulfilling our mission to inspire and equip middle America to live within their means goes well beyond grocery shopping and beyond coupons. Certainly it includes those things, but it is not limited to those things. As a new blogger, that was my primary area of focus for me, but as Pocket Your Dollars has grown up, that niche is too small (remember, I have to dream and aim big).
Our community already helps each other in every area of our life, most prominently through the conversations we have every Thursday on the post we call Open Mic. In the 125+ media appearances I have personally made this year 98% of them were on topics outside of groceries and coupons. It is time for us to consciously expand beyond a grocery coupon website into a resource that helps you live your means across the board.
How-to Broaden the Brand Beyond Groceries & Coupons
- Host conferences that pull together subject matter experts on various topics from canning to frugal travel to thrifty fashion and other relevant topics that touch the breadth of your life (shameless plug: Pocket Your Dollars Live is our first such event and early bird tickets are on sale through January 15 and I would L-O-V-E to see you there)
- Publish money-saving posts on varying topics written by subject matter experts in their fields. (This is my public admission that I don’t k now everything, don’t know how to save money on everything and want other to bring their expertise to the table)
- Position myself more as a consumer expert and money-saving guru versus a coupon queen in the media
4. Increase Readers’ Voice & Influence
This is our community not my community. As such, your voice, your opinion, your contribution is valuable. To date I have not made enough room for you to speak, to be heard and to influence. This year we’ll change that.
From in-person to online opportunities we are going to create more space for you. We want to talk to you in focus group-style meetings, let you write guest posts on things you are passionate about, feature your success stories, and better connect with you all the way around. (Of course some of you like anonymity and for those folks, that’s fine, you can stay perfectly anonymous)
How-to Increase Readers’ Voice & Influence
- Host a series of focus groups we’ll call Town Hall meetings where you get to talk to me about what you want in a money-saving website, try out new features before they are launched to the general public and help shape our future
- Allow readers to rate deals and content on a star scale, then provide easy ways to find the deals and articles with the highest ratings
- Publish your success stories that can be submitted in a quick and easy way
- Publish articles you write based on your experience and expertise in different money-saving areas
- Respond to your on-going feedback and input, making additions or modifications to the website and content offerings
In Summary
Whew! Writing down the goals took my almost 2 hours so I can only imagine how much work it will take to actually do them. That’s okay, because the team and I, on this side of the computer, are ready to go. We look forward to building, reaching, expanding, listening, changing and growing together in the year ahead.
Your turn: What would you like to see happen on Pocket Your Dollars in 2011?
Photo credit angietorres
About Carrie Rocha
Hey Carrie – GREAT ideas here –
I’ll be honest & say that I was one that used to come here a lot, and sort of fell off the wagon when the posts got longer/increased. I still shop with coupons ALL. THE. TIME – but…I find coming here somewhat daunting…There are sooo many deals listed these days, it’s hard to easily search out the free or almost free items…so I just don’t.
I know a lot of people depend on you to tell them when something is a great price – My personal preference is just the super SUPER deals!
(I hope no one throws tomatoes at me!)
I appreciate all of the hard work that you put into your blog and it has saved me oodles of money over the last almost 2 years?? already! I love it and I love what you are doing for people – but…again, just being honest – I don’t pop in as regularly as I used to – because it’s just become *too much* –
Happy New Year!
xoxo
Darcie – LOVE the honesty and am glad to hear it. When we host a Town hall meeting down in your neck of teh woods I’d love to have you there as I would love even more feedback from you as I suggest some navigation and site structure changes that aim to connect people to what they want more easily, with less clutter. I’d love to hear there are some fixes for what you are talking about apart from less content. Thanks again for your honesty. I appreciate and value it more than you know!
Darcie,
I did the exact same thing! It became too much to sift throught so I left and now that it is 2011, I decided to try it again. Thanks for voicing exactly how I felt.
Jessica – Are you talking about too many deals within the shopping list themselves or too many blog posts overall? PS – Honestly, I noticed you hadn’t been around in awhile and was just thinking about you recently and the recipes you shared way back when. Glad you’re back! Please elaborate a little more so I am sure I understand and, if you have any potential solutions, please point those out too.
Carrie~Jessica~ Darcie
I just wanted to safe guard my lists….I LOVE all the lists you put on here….I have been here I think over a year now and I have learned how to sift through what is for me and what is not….PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AWAY what you have….you can put a new twist on things….but remember there will always be things that some won’t use and the next will. I have been a saver or coupons user much like this site shows but in a much smaller undeveloped way….PYD has helped me micro manage all my purchases….I think one area spills over to the next in savings. So my voice is please do not offer less info on deals out there maybe make a short cut version for those who only want the highlights or a “super deals” link.
I have had the same experience (maybe to a lesser degree) as Darcie. However, I think this is a nature progression PYD readers will have, i.e., the stages of couponing (the hilarious article you wrote about this definitely deserves a re-posting because it rings SO true). As you progress through the stages, you are naturally going to fall away from your dependence upon your teacher, just as you do when learning anything new. My stockpile is such now that I intend to take off much of January & February from couponing. I will only make a trip to the store for the super, super or free deals because that is all I NEED to do. Carrie & Staff – Thank you a million times over for what you have done for the lives of all pocketeers!
Thank you, Carrie. One of the things I most appreciate about you and PYD is the transparency with which you conduct things. It gives me a sense of being “in the know” and enhances the trust I place in your recommendations.
I think it would be great if a new design of the website had a “Get To Know Us” about all of the PYD team.
AJM – Great idea that never, ever crossed my mind. THAT is why we need each other. You are so very smart and helpful. Thanks :)
One suggestion to somewhat piggyback off of Darcie’s comment above – there sometimes a lot of deals listed. There got to be many each day during the holiday season. I never looked at the diaper ones, for example, because I don’t have kids. If you could somehow break the deals down by category, maybe in a list like you have for the weekly shopping lists. Or maybe have a column for baby/child-related deals. Maybe one for women’s clothing. Maybe another for books and movies.
I am a person that comes to this site many many times a week. Yes there are alot of things I don’t buy; Baby, pet etc. However if I see a great deal on these items I send to my granddaughters who are new mothers. I am retired, so have lots of time to read the lists. I especially like the comment portion of each list. The two items I would like to see in the future is another day of open Mike maybe on Monday, right after the lists come out. sometimes Thursday is too late to act. Also would like to see something like a Consumer Reports on buying new things or service related items for our area.
One thing I would appreciate is if you could offer the shopping lists in a printable format (that would fit on one page). This would be especially helpful for Walgreens, as their sale items are sometimes difficult to find and are not marked well. I could just take the list with me and see what things should be. Or print a list and sit down at the table with all my coupons to sort and prepare them.
Thank you for doing this and valuing our input!
Emily – A printable shopping list feature should be added for next week’s lists.
A printable list would be nice but I am cheap cheap cheap on ink/paper usage…so I would like the printable list to be a bare bones list… For instance what I do is this: I copy and paste let’s say the Walgreens list to word; then I sort out what I do not want/deleting things ; then find my matching coupons and then I go to the list and line by line remove unwanted things such as all the info on where to find the coupons or links to sites; or the last line telling you how much it will be after RR etc….those things are all needed when making my decision as to whether or not I want to buy the item but I do not need to waste ink printing it when taking the list to the store.
V, I do the exact same thing.
V – Go check the Walgreens list right now. I just added something that I *think* is exactly what you are looking for.
Well~ I feel like I am complaining~ sorry…but it is “almost” what I am looking for…I have to admit when I saw the check boxes and the print box I got all giddy! See I loved all right up to the point of once I printed it…it still had what coupon to use and Final price: thing….to me once I am to the point of printing a list to take to the store I do not need in print where the coupon came from…or even what coupon it is…by then I have it tucked away in my Walgreens slot in my pocket file….I wouldn’t mind if the Pocket Your dollars logo is on there…I am proud and happy to advertise for you…(I do show sales people the list when saying “this is what I am looking for”) but is there a way to get that extra info off the print page before it prints? See I love the boxes way you have it set up…then use that list on the computer screen to find my coupons; but yeah once I print it for the store I don’t need any info other than the item/size
You aren’t complaining, just communicating what you want. I’ll keep in mind the idea of allowing people to either have the whole deal – with the coupon and everything – or just the name of the product on their list. It never, ever hurts to respectfully express yourself. Glad you care enough to share.
I haven’t checked the Walgreens list lately, but I think from V’s description, I know what it will look like. For me, I DO want the price of the product on my printed list and the final price because sometimes when I get to the store, the price might be different or it is unmarked (happens all the time at Walgreens) and I don’t want to make the purchase if it’s not a deal after all. I’m sure we can still do the cut-and-paste thing we’ve been doing, V.
WOW I think this is hard. I really don’t want a site devoted only to the FREE items and only the SUPER deals. The problem I see is that a deal is going to vary by person. If you want to be considered more ‘nationally’ relevant then don’t focus only on the super deals. Focus on things that will save people money and help them. There are hundreds of coupon/saving money sites. Many of them reporting far more deals then you report, so I appricate that you don’t do every deal.
Maybe a list of resources for bloggers that do specific stores or niches within this market would be helpful too!
I agree – please don’t shorten the shopping lists. I literally plan all of my meals and shopping plans around these lists and they are so very helpful, including the notes at the bottom explaining that a specific deal is maybe not the best deal ever. We have been saving so much money since I started using PYD, and our OOP for groceries has become so consistant compared to what it was in the past – consistant and LOW! Thank you Carrie!
I do like the suggestion of another open Mic each week.
If I were to make a change, I would omit some of the magazine deals. They seem like “filler” items and not that valuable (just my opinion).
It seems like the various stores run specials on similar items many weeks. One thing I’ve wished for (I have limited time each week to look at the lists and compile my shopping lists) is a snapshot of which items are cheapest where. For instance, pasta is $X at Cub this week, but with double coupons it’s $X and cheaper at Rainbow. I know that would be a ton of work for you, but thought I’d throw it out there! It would inform me of where I should do my shopping that week based on which items I need. I try to do one Target run and one grocery store run a week. Thanks from those of us who are working moms for the many, many ways you save us money and time so we can focus on the more important things in the evenings!
I agree, I hate making my shopping list for Cub, and then going to my shopping list for Rainbow just to find out the product is actually cheaper this week at Rainbow and having to redo my list and switch my coupons.
Lots of great ideas! I’m one of the ‘came here and stayed here’ Pocketeers. When I first started I looked at ‘every’ list and ‘every’ deal — signed up for a ton of free samples etc. Why? Gosh, who knows! The thrill of it all, I suppose. Now I have reached my ‘happy medium’. I primarily come to PYD to leverage the Cub and Rainbow lists — because those are the stores I buy most of my coupon related products at and where I do the bulk of my grocery shopping. I’ve found my happy place — I scan the other store lists sometimes but rarely fully utilize them because I’ve found what works for me, my lifestyle, and my time.
With regard to the front page of new deals — like others, I scan through them. Many don’t apply to me, but I sure like seeing that at glance vs having to click on many different links to determine that. Because every now and then, I may discover a deal on the front page that I didn’t realize I should have looked for. (Example: Croc’s over the holiday. I never would have looked under a Shoes link, because I really didn’t NEED shoes…but at 70+% off, it was worth taking a look. Of course…all the ones I wanted were out of stock in my size :-( )
I also come to PYD for Open Mic. I LOOK FORWARD to Open Mic!! I LOVE Open Mic!!! So…I also like the idea of having open mic more frequently (if it doesn’t dilute the value) — and if not called “open mic”, perhaps a place for ongoing Q&A. The Pocketeers provide a ton of value to me, and I hope to provide value back to other Pocketeers or Pocketbabies.
Also, I think that the Pocketeers are a pretty respectable bunch of folks. Every now and then the comments get a little rogue (bordering on rude) — but I think that is such an exception. I don’t find it a waste of my time to read the comments like I do on some other websites.
Keep up the great work, Carrie. Please continue to leverage your Pocketeers so you can do the really important things that help benefit us all.
Thanks!
I love that you dream BIG!!!!!!!! One of the reasons I follow your blog is for the local deals. There are very few other blogs that I can find that even attempt shopping lists for Cub and Rainbow (and if they do, they don’t provide the helpful commentary that you do!) I follow a few other national blogs for their broader deals, but I LOVE that I can come here and find others that live and shop in my area. For me, this is why I follow. Because you are awesome, Carrie, I’d bet that you will figure out a way to keep the local feel and appeal to a more national audience as well, but I thought I’d share my thoughts on the matter! :) Thanks for all that you do!!!!
I agree. I come for the local stores (Cub, Rainbow) and local deals.
> Just a small thing on your new header on some of the pages. The grammar isn’t quite right: equip you to live within your means so YOU (not they) can get out… (it is fine in your goals statement)
“Welcome to Pocket Your Dollars.com! Our purpose is to equip you to live within your means so they can get out and stay out of debt.” St
Linda – THANK YOU for pointing that out. I fixed it. Whoops! That was clearly a copy and paste mistake I made as I typed late one night or early one morning. By now I should know better than to type when I am tired.
Since we are throwing it out there and stating what we would like…..I would like to have to deals sectioned off by area. Maybe a section for the North Metro, South Metro, East etc etc etc. This would make it easy for me to quickly reference any good deals in areas I maybe be traveling to on a particular day and check my area quickly as well. I know some stores are metrowide so not those stores, but say Punch Pizza, it’s not metrowide, so maybe it could be referenced only under the area that has Punch Pizza in it.
Like I said, since we are throwing it out there I’m asking, but I know it’s a lot of work to please everyone and you won’t lose me either way!!!
I think a section or article about how you and others organize your coupons, and make your shopping lists would be a good idea as well. I, like others, love the ‘hometown aspect’ of Pocket Your Dollars, it would probably take more time, and it’s just a suggestion but maybe you could add a few more stores to the list of those you make lists for? Like by me there is a Festival and County Market among Cub and Rainbow, maybe you could add one of the smaller Minnesota grocery stores that has the most locations?
Thanks for making these lists, they are really helpful. Good luck! :)
or a HY-VEE for the Rochester area people!!
Yes please—Hy-Vee! Used to go to the one in Mankato all the time, now I have 3 to pick from in Dubuque and no Cub or Rainbow in sight. Thanks for all you do!
I triple that ~ add HY-VEE….I have three that I can go to and they are a super nice store…with lots of items on sale to sift through…Yes Carrie…I would LOVE IT if you would add HyVee to your list of stores!
For instance I have gotten rooked for the last time on not noticing there is a “limit of 2 please” at HyVee sometimes. I know if you went through it first I wouldn’t make that mistake.
I want to thank you for having your grocery lists and etc. at the top.Many of the other sites just have it mixed in their blog. Yours is easy to find. People just need to learn to skim your deals. If they don’t want the info just don’t open the link. Yours is the only one I go to that doesn’t have all the info listed. I can look at yours quick and see what I want to check out. Thanks for all you do!!!!!
Diane – I completely agree. I do not like the “national” sites as they are too generic and cumbersome – as well as completely laden with sponsor ads that are very annoying. PYD has such a personal and home-town feel that I enjoy coming to the site daily to see new posts, new deals and read comments when I have the time. I can easily find what I’m looking for and skim over the rest. Carrie – I also love that you reply to your e-mails, posts, etc. Again, it’s that personal touch – even if it is just a thank you for a post, feedback, or a heads’ up on a deal we’ve found. I understand the need for change…I’m just hoping things don’t change too much in the direction of other national sites.
I love, love, love the coupon database.
I agree with so many people here. Carrie – I love your transparency and I love how you say if you think a deal is good or not. I miss the coupon overview (don’t remember what you called it). I liked having an idea if the inserts are good or not. I love how your posts are listed by title and not the whole article. I’m glad you’re putting in a printable list feature. I have been to other blogs where they do a “this week’s best buy” kind of a list and they list staples and where it is the best prices this week. I like the idea of having another forum where people can talk about the deals/inserts this week (another Open Mic). Maybe do it Sunday when people could still have a chance to grab another paper?? I always get so excited about the ads and inserts on Sunday, but don’t always have an outlet for it (my husband gets tired of me talking about them!). Thank you Carrie and your whole team! You do a great job!
Tanya – Funny you mention the “Carrie’s picks” posts. I silently dropped them a few months ago and you are the first person to mention that you even noticed they were gone :)
I noticed I wasn’t “finding those picks”….I just thought I wasn’t in the right place or something…so yeah I miss your professional hot picks on coupons….and what coupons “will score you a free this or that”….it was fun to read…exciting~
I don’t think I would like an open mic on sunday as for me it is a family day. I lOVE open mic; maybe add a Monday so we can plan our deals and hear what others are finding early enough in the week.
I did notice you don’t put on the coupon preview link anymore…why is that? I have mentioned it to other pocketeers several times what the link is to go see it for themselves anytime. This way if you don’t have time to make the Carrie’s picks list at least they would have the link to view the coupons and buy more papers if need be. That is what I always do. On that site they have a page listing the WHOLE YEAR of 2011 of the purposed coupon inserts for each week and when there won’t be any coupons at all….I copied and saved that list! :)
I visit your website daily, but this is the first time I’ve posted anything. A few comments… I like the rolling list of deals on the home page. I’m not only looking for deals for myself, but also for friends/family. So while I may not have babies in diapers, I may know of someone who I would pass the deal info onto if the price is right. And I like the magazine deals. Also, I understood and appreciated the need for more deal postings over the holidays as we’re all doing Christmas shopping and trying to keep as much money in our pockets as possible. I don’t even bother to look at Open Mic anymore because they’re too long. I do/would look if they were on specific topics. Last thing–what about a list of product rebates. Oftentimes you mention the P&G ones, but rarely anything else. Thanks for all you do and most of all thank you for your honesty and for giving credit where credit is due. The thing I like most about your website is your openess about your relationship with God.
I agree with DTS…I like to see what is all out there so I can also buy for someone else (I have married kids, grandkids and one in college) I have a lot of people I like to purchase things for; if everything is all behind a catagory I probably won’t see half of what I would like to. I’d say offer it all out there and then section it off too for those that just one certain thing.
maybe something that would help a lot of us who do a lot of work from home. How do you make it work? how do we save money by working from home and still get work done. how do we save on child care expenses yet still have a high quaility care for our children
I can’t thank you enough for this great website! As I live in CT, none of the grocery lists and deals pertain to me. But the drug stores (Wags, CVS) are national and I am constantly working off your lists(or, rather, benefitting from your work!).
I have to disagree with Jennifer, as I love the magazine deals. In an effort to save some money, I had let most of my subscriptions expire. Since finding PYD, I have obtained about 1 free subscription a month for myself. It feels like a great little reward that shows up in my mailbox and it makes me happy :)
And a quick question: my friend Jennifer and I hope to get out to your seminar weekend in March. Any suggestions of where to stay~ we’re hoping for pretty close to the venue.
Thanks to you and all the Pocketeers!!
Ramona – We are going to hold a block of rooms, but haven’t arranged it yet. Stay tuned as we will get that lined up within the next week. I will be staying there myself (just for fun!), it will be close to the venue and a decent price. Yay! It’ll be so fun to meet you!
I too follow several national blogs and maintain my own small blog about shopping at stores located in my area but the one thing about PYD that keeps me coming back is that I trust your site the most. You don’t post the iffy deals and seem to always have researched your posts carefully. I’m not interested in trying to win a pair of shoes at 2:00 pm along with a million other folks or to slam a company and bring down their server that has accidentally posted too good of a deal which they’ll have to void anyway. P.S. I finally got to see you on tv over the weekend! Yay!
I love your site, I come multiple times a week.
The number one thing I use is your grocery store lists. They are clear, concise and have saved me a ton of money over the course of 2010. I’m glad that you don’t list every single thing listed in the sales flyers – that isn’t helpful as it is way too much info. I feel that I can trust you, and that the sites/deals you list are legit ones.
I would like a larger rock bottom price list. Is there a way that we could make a database that we could all contribute to? (I have no idea how technically difficult that request is to do, and maybe it is just not possible to manage something like that)
I would also like a “return to top” button on the bottom of your posts. That is the only thing I don’t like about the physical set up of your website. Thanks for all you do!!
I have to second a few of Roberta’s suggestions –
1. I also love coming to this site. :-) I am completely 100% “all in” and driving my husband crazy with the coupon talk. (but he loves the savings!) I visit daily at least.
2. The grocery lists are PERFECT – not too much, just the best and most important deals.
3. I agree that a “back to the top” button would be very helpful. I read all the posts attached to the lists and have gotten some excellent ideas from my fellow pocketeers. – even a few great deals that never make it to the official list!
I can’t thank you enough for all that you do – you have given me the tools to greatly improve the financial situation in my household – amazing.
Thanks for all you do Carrie. I agree that I truly appreciate your transparency. I think you’ve earned our trust because of it. I also really appreciate your willingness to share your faith. Keep it up! I would agree that I LOVE the local feel to this site. Please don’t compromise that in order to go national. One suggestion I would make on that note. I am so grateful for the way PYDs has helped me to save money, that I want to share it with others. My family live across the country, in other States. When I talk to them about how I can pay nothing for toothpaste, or get cereal for free, they ask me how. But, their local stores and reward programs aren’t the same. It would be so great if you could begin to develop (similar to a church multi-site model) sub-sets of PYD communities for different cities, so that I can point my sister-in-law in Seattle to a place where there are relevant lists of deals for stores in HER area. Maybe that’s a 2012 goal… but something like that would be great. To go national, while still staying local. Does that make sense?
Dana – Something in that vein is part of what I imagine for 2011 :)
Please do not give up on the local deals. They were what brought me to your site. When I first starting looking for coupon lists, you were the only one I could find that did Cub Foods. I have participated in many of the local deals like Acme comedy club birthday tickets. They have provided a lot of fun for my family.
Roberta – We love the local deals too and don’t have any plan to stop doing them. It’s good to hear that they are so valuable to you.
Carrie~ I just got to the part of this entry where you state those that visit the site 10+ times a year are:Fanatical followers~ ~ ~ I don’t know what on earth you’d call me then?! Ha ha~
just had to throw that in there for fun~
Oh I just remembered what I wanted to suggest. Shopping lists you can load on your phone — ie There’s a PYD app and you can use it to review the list on the go. I know many times I get to the store and would love to refer back to the master list.
I LOVE all of the work that you do, as others have said please don’t take anything away. I would love to see some sort of printable spreadsheet with Carries buy prices on it, sort of like a price book. I would also like more focus on how to budget, Carrie started an article explaining her system and I don’t think she completely finished it. I also try to not buy as many processed foods and try to buy organic and natural when possible. It would be nice to have some one who “specialized” in that area and helped others find the best deals on those items as well. I think you are going in a great direction and can’t wait to see the changes! Thanks for all that you do!
Carrie – I would like to share one other thought with you, based on an experience I had this week. I was looking for a Walgreens that still had one or two of the Finish products left on the shelf. I was on my way home from work, stopping at every Wallgreens along the way that I could think of. I finally ended up in a busy but “poor” section of St. Paul (you might have seen my post on the Walgreen’s list about Maryland avenue) and was schocked to find that they still had about 20 of the Finish boxes even though I had been to Walgreens all over the place and found not a single box left. I thought about it on my way home – do the people in that neighborhood not have dishwashers? Do they not have internet access or computers? Why aren’t they taking advantage of this deal when it appears to me that they are the people who need financial help the most?! I think what you do is reaching a certain sector of society, but perhaps not the sector that would benefit the most. If you could figure out how to get the word out to folks who can’t afford computers and internet access, maybe they could take advantage of their local library services and begin to participate too. Just some food for thought…