The Hotcouponworld Story

[hotcouponmama]

Hotcouponworld has a goal to help our members save money. By providing a content-based community where people can learn from each other, we provide our members an outlet for sharing deals. We encourage our members to save money on everything they buy, and we also hope to empower members to reinvest their savings into themselves and their families.

We recognize that our members are at different stages of the savings process, but that everyone still has something to learn. By offering tools and strategies to keep people motivated, we hope our members will find ways to increase personal wealth and live a better life.

We welcome new members no matter what their skill level. We will always work to help new community members find answers and learn our favorite hobby. Lastly, we strive to achieve an active, lively community filled with trading, friendships, and fun.


Thank you for being a part of Hotcouponworld. We are thrilled to be able to help you on your savings journey!

[hotcouponmama]

Sometimes in life, you'll get the opportunity to be a part of something amazing. It could be the traditional things we normally think of when we think of special times in our lives - births, weddings, personal accomplishments.

But then there are chances to be involved in other things that are bigger than your own personal circle, and have a positive impact on others. For both myself and Heidi, Hotcouponworld has been one of those times where being involved with others in creating this site has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we've no regrets about how we came to be......


Six year ago, Heidi (who was Busybeemomof3 back in the day) and I met at Fatwallet, a deals site that, at the time, had a grocery coupon section. I can remember when she was as new to couponing as some of you might be now. But she asked a lot of questions, and like many others here, quickly learned how to get in the coupon game. I had personally been a couponer for nearly 10 years, although not nearly to the extent that I had become since having an online community in which to participate.

About a year or so into our time at Fatwallet, the site owner there opted to get rid of the grocery coupon section. The people we'd come to know and trade with were scattered between different sites when the grocery section closed in winter 2004. Two members from Fatwallet offered to create a new home for us, and Deal-a-gogo (DAGG) was born.

Heidi and I, with a handful of other Fatwallet refugees were brought on as moderators. In fact, several are here today in that capacity. The board existed for about a year and a half in which time, we saw a mix of members come and go, but held a pretty good core group. In May, 2006, the board owners opted to sell DAGG to a larger web-publishing company. Most of the mods and members were willing to hang in there, but I didn't have any interest in doing so.

One night, I called Heidi. We'd never spoken personally on the phone in all the time we'd been online. It was like talking to someone who you grew up with...a sister, or a friend...someone who you'd known forever. We recalled the same stories and laughed about funny things we'd seen happen over the past few years on the grocery sites where we'd been members.

It was in that conversation we thought we might have a shot of building our own site. We kicked around several ideas, but also talked about challenges and what issues might arise. One thing was clear....if we were going to own and operate a site, it would be "By couponers, For couponers" and that we would be active members who do exactly what our members do - chase deals and try to save as much as we can for our families.

We resolved to open Hotcouponworld. Heidi relayed a story about a time when her family had been struck by hard times. Her husband had been injured at work, she was pregnant with the twins, and she'd broken her foot. Things couldn't look much worse. And then she shared that it was a post I'd made in a thread at Fatwallet about stockpiling that made couponing click for her. Someone had asked about storing stockpile items and I had posted pictures there for folks to see how our shelves had been built...the first "stockpile pictures" that I think any of us had seen before online. The combination of the information and the visual helped her understand coupons and was a start of turning her into the super-saver she is today.

Her story cinched it...we would start the site, that it would be run professionally as a real business, and that we had a purpose in helping others. Mark (my husband and our technical support for the site) and I were committed to funding the site indefinitely.

The relationships we'd built with others over the past few years were too important for us to get scattered to the edges of the web. And the timing was perfect. I'd just quit a job I loved with a boss I hated, and hadn't decided what to do with myself. Hotcouponworld was a great outlet for my energy in the early creation stages.

We moved pretty quickly into action. We spent several long nights working on design, terms of service, and content arrangement. When we felt we were ready, we contacted the moderators we trusted most and invited them to see the new site. We asked if they would be a part of Hotcouponworld. All but two of the original DAGG mods came over to be with us here. They hopped in and quickly helped with design, content, and brought forth great ideas that we hadn't thought of previously.

In 10 days, we'd put together what was the beginning of the site you see now. Through the work of our admin team, and our wonderful, original super-mod team (Mama22Qts, MrsPinecone, NrPeace17, Pappys, and SBP) and a few helpful members who had backstage passes to check us out and give feedback, we were ready to open.

July 10th, 2006, we opened with 176 new members to the site - core members with whom we had been traders, info-swappers, and friends. For some, this was the third site we'd been on together. We made a promise it would be the last.

Three years later, Hotcouponworld is a thriving community that welcomes new members no differently than if they had been with us six years ago when Heidi and I met at FW. The sheer volume of information, combined with our members and mods extraordinary talent to search out deals has made Hotcouponworld the best site online for deals discussion. Comments from our Anniversary Forums reaffirmed our decision to continue to build and grow Hotcouponworld into a site that is one-stop-shopping for information, coupons, and friendship.

When we read your stories that you share with each other, we are impressed by your shopping adventures, amazed by how you handle your struggles and accomplishments, and humbled that you choose to spend a part of your day with us. That we've created a site that helps bring people together, empowers our members, and encourages people to support one another....well, I can't speak for Heidi, but for me, it's been one of my proudest personal accomplishments.

And now you are apart of our story. Your participation, knowledge, and willingness to share with our community is what sets Hotcouponworld apart from every other deals discussion or couponing site on the web. We know you have a choice where you search for deals - that you've chosen Hotcouponworld speaks to our wonderful members and our amazing moderators and the caring atmosphere everyone has worked so hard to create.

Heidi and I thank you for being here and sharing your stories. We continue to learn from our members, and your insights help us personally save money as well.

Everything happens for a reason - and Hotcouponworld is the reason my path crossed with Heidi's six years ago.

[hotcouponmama]

The Scoop about Hotcouponmama


Name: Julie

Age: 34 (three months older than Heidi :biggrin:)

Home State: Oregon

Occupation: Spent my career in food service management, but taking a break to work on Hotcouponworld - just wrapped my MBA and now need to figure out what to do with it.

Marital Status: Married to Mark, who supports our tech issues on the board.

Kids: 3 boys ages 8,6, & 4

Pets: One dog, 10-year old mixed terrier, one Beta fish

Little Known Factoid: Wrote lyrics for a band in college

Favorite Money Saving Tip: I love rainchecks. In fact, I think the word "Rainchecking" should be added to the dictionary to describe the sport of collecting rainchecks the last night of a sale so you can eat tomorrow at today's prices. Be sure to grab a raincheck for anything and everything you might use, particularly at stores who have long or no expiration date.

Budget: I try to keep it under $150 a month for everything household and grocery we buy.

Stores I shop: Albertsons & Safeway (mainly), and Fred Meyer, Thriftway. Rite Aid and Walgreens if the sales are hot enough and I have enough time.

Coupon Organization Method: I keep all my coupons in envelopes by store aisle categories in a tackle box. (Actually all over the floor of our downstairs bedroom -- edited by Mark)

Best Advice to Newbies: Don't be afraid to ask questions. It's likely been answered before, but our site members are friendly enough that they'll answer it like it was the first time they've ever heard it asked!

Julie's Story:


I first started using coupons in college. My best friend and I would clip a few here and there on things we'd know we'd buy. Living in the dorms, there was one community kitchen, so the things we'd buy had to store well and fit in our little square dorm-size fridges.

When I left college to get married, I continued to play at couponing. I have been married to my DH for 11 years, although we've been together 13 years. When we were first together, the goal was that I could keep any money I saved at the store. It was my jewelry slush fund money. As we've had kids, that's kind of mellowed out a bit and our coupon savings goes towards things like funding retirement accounts and kids sports, hobbies and activities. Three school-aged kids aren't cheap, so couponing keeps me ahead of the financial curve when it comes to kids.

Mark's been pretty accepting of this crazy coupon habit. I tend not to be very organized about paper, so we finally agreed I can move all the paper downstairs and keep it in the spare room. Mark is the silent partner on the site. You'll see him post very rarely, but he's on here every day making sure we run smoothly from a technical perspective. He's a Lt. Colonel in the Army. He's been in for 18 years, but was PT for 2 years, so he officially has just under 4 years to go for retirement. When he retires, I've told him his FT job will be to keep upgrading HCW from a tech perspective - there's lots of features we'd like to add, so he can stay home, coach the kids sports, and write database code for us all day. It's pretty funny cause his "Honey-Do" list isn't just from me, there's 10,000+ women who are waiting for him to crank out new features. But he's a good sport about it.

We have three great, but wild kids. All boys. They are a total handful. The oldest is in 2nd grade, the middle on is in an all-day kindergarten program, and my youngest spends his time between preschool and daycare. They play a sport every season, so we're constantly running with them. Mark coaches a few of their sports, so that adds one more layer to being busy.

I started out in school hoping to be a journalist and a first amendment lawyer. I wound up in food service management, although I still got a communications degree. I am currently working on an MBA, and don't tell Mark, but I think when I finish that next year, I may just consider going back for my law degree. I feel a lot better about school these days as an adult learner - I get better grades than I ever did as an undergrad. I really do like being in school - it's always been a place for me to snag my best ideas. HCW isn't my first business, and it isn't likely to be my last. I'm always at my best when something is new and exciting and I love start-up businesses.

This fall, I decided to take a break from working and focus on building out Hotcouponworld. So you'll see new features in the works that I hope our members will find enjoyable.

Now I've been with Mark 13 years. We actively save about $10K or more a year on average over retail. The extra money has done a lot for us in our world. From vacations to being able to start businesses to paying for college, the money we've saved with being frugal on things like groceries, clothes, and cars has really helped us significantly. We're hoping when Mark retires in a few years, we'll really be able to keep him home FT to do stuff with the kids. Couponing will help keep us on track that way.

As to hobbies and such, outside HCW and coupons and school, I love to read (when I can), and Mark and I are gamblers by nature, so we do enjoy taking some of our savings and playing at the local casinos. But we're also gamers, so we do play lots of card and board games. Mark golfs (I just cry by the time I get to about the 5th hole cause I am terrible golfer) and this year, all the boys will be up on skis - we both ski, and the oldest two kids have, but this will be the first time the whole family will be on skis.

Aside from that, I stay pretty busy with the site and all things deal related. I have some new projects I'm working on, which have me in full-on research mode.

I will say that I am really glad to be a part of such a great community. HCW has meant a lot to me, and I'm thrilled you have found us and make visiting here a part of your day!

[queenofthehivemomof5]

A little about me....

Name: Heidi

Age: 32 (Almost 33 on 9/18)

Home State: Well I live in Wyoming (but am from CA)

Occupation: First and foremost I am a stay at home mom to my 5 children. Have been a SAHM for 16 years. And in my free time I run HCW.

Marital Status: Married to Russell (Russ or Rusty), who loves m dispite my crazy coupon hobby. You can find him online under the username kingofthehive.:smile:

Kids: 3 Girls and 2 Boys - Ages 16 to 2

Pets: 3 Dogs (Chicky Fuzzy, And Shay) and 3 Cats (Isabella, Pepsi, and Shaggy)

Little Known Factoid: I read really fast. I can read the average length novel in about 3-4 hours if uninterupted.

Favorite Money Saving Tip: Stockpile. Really for me the stockpile mentality is what saves me the most money. Not only stockpiling groceries, but clothes for the kids, school supplies, household items, etc. When I find a great price I buy enough to last.

Budget: Our grocery budget is $400 a month. That number has not changed since I started couponing. In fact it was the amount I budgetted before I found out how to coupon. But since learning how to use coupons I get 4 to 5 times more product for my money, I have added 2 more children (and few new pets) to my family, and most months I come under that and can put my actual real savings towards debt or in my savings account.

Stores I shop: Albertsons, Smith's Food & Drug, Walmart, Kmart, Walgreens, and a local store occasionaly Don's Supermarket.

Coupon Organization Method: I have tried them all at one point or another. But seem to keep comming back to the binder method. I guess it just works best for me. I have 3 binders. 1 small binder for my winetags, frees, rainchecks, and my hot coupons, and then I have 2 large CD binders. One is for food coupons, and the other is non food coupons. I mark my pages A-Z cause that is how my brain works.:biggrin: I use a combination of baseball card pages (most coupons), photo pages (tearpads), and buisness card pages (perfect for peelies).

Best Advice to Newbies: Couponing is a great way to save lots of money. It isn't instant, and it takes some work. But you get out of it what you put into it. So read the stickies on Couponing 101, and maybe 102, find your store forum and see what deals you can get in on. Even if you save $5.00 in your shopping trip, $5.00 times 52 weeks is $260. :BigHand:
As you learn your savings will increase, and over time that money can really add up!

[hotcouponmama]

:smile:

[skimo]

Very nicely said!

[lyttlemiss]

From me to you for such a wonderful job that is being done for all of us here !!! You all do a wonderful job !!!!

:encourage91::encourage15::encourage17::thumbsup7: :miscsign80:



:thanks7::thanks100::THANKS4::THANKS6::thanks3:


:party25::party76::excited8::encourage4::cheerlead er::excited2:

[mrssbell]

Heidi,

I want to thank you so much for allowing the ACS auction. I am crying as I write this to you. I am so touched by the love from the HCW members that it is breathtaking! This is really an awesome group of people! I am so proud to be a part of this group. I think you should feel good that you had the final say in all of this happening or not, thank you so much. I did not want your act of kindness to go without being thanked. You made this possible.

God Bless you,

sharon

[mommytimes4]

Heidi...I really think that you are great...You have given me some really good ideas the other day about how to organize...Thanks for making all this possible..I have meant some awesome people on here...And I have meant my new best friend on here..Kalvardo..she is the bestest ....she is getting me into CVS..thanks for allowing us to make friends....God bless ya...

[hookedoncoupons]

Heidi,

This site is awesome. I have saved so much money couponing and look forward to reading about all the good deals out there.

Trading coupons has also been enjoyable and fun. You and I have traded, too!

In addition, I've made some really nice friendships thanks to this board. I am amazed at the the helpfulness and generosity of so many members.
I participated in the recent American Cancer Society Auction. I can't thank you enough for approving this special auction. Not only was it fun and exciting, it helped raise awareness as well as money for a very worthwhile cause. I want to express my gratitude and encouragement for future auctions of this type.

Valentines Day is only a few days away. I would like to say "thanks from the bottom of my heart" for all that you do!:val7:

[coupondink]

yes, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your hard work and your efforts to give us this supportive forum for saving money and sharing deals with everyone means a lot of me personally, and am sure it means a lot to every member on this board.

Thank you for everything.

[coupondink]

Thanks Julie (and Mark!!!!!!!!!) for all your hard work.

[hookedoncoupons]

Julie,

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your biography. It's so nice to know about the people who bring this awesome site to us. I try to check in daily so I won't miss any of the super deals that are posted here constantly.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. So, thanks from the bottom of my heart (and wallet) for all that you do. It is truly appreciated.:BigHand:

:val2:

PS. Mark, thanks for your hard work behind the scenes at HCW and for the service you give to our country.

[prayerbear]

This is the first bio I've read. This is great to get to know you. Thank you to you, Mark and the boys for all the time you devote to HCW and OGD! Thank you for the difference you are making in families' lives. God bless your work.

[amcryer]

with all you do where on earth do you find the time?

[jelyfi]

Thanks for starting HCW! I've always been a couponer, but never knew all the little tricks that have helped me increase my savings every week, like getting rainchecks and shopping at CVS.

How did you and Heidi meet and decide to start this site?

[happysoul]

Thank you for your entreprenurial spirit and willingness to benefit others in the process.
I am very thankful I came across this site 10 mos ago.

[timbectwo]

Wow!!! That is amazing. It was certainly meant to be!!! Thanks for sharing the story - I'd been wondering about the origins here. HCW rocks!!!!!!!!! :encourage17:

[mom2Isaac]

:BigHand:Amazing, well-written story!

I am so glad you two thought of the idea, and I am glad it is becoming more and more of a success every day!

[fairydustcrissy]

Yiou know, I guess its been so long, but seeing it there in type, I remember teh FW forums, and how sad I was when they announced they were closing it. Then on to DAGG, which I believe was run by Lisa & Rick (?...I could be off in that, its been a while, lol). During that split, I tried out many of the outlets people were exporing, whether it was thier own site, or another established site. I was quick to register here, and within a week it was very clear to me. HCW was my new coupon home. I know I don't post nearly as much as I used to, but I'm always around :) Given the events that have taken place recently for me, there was no question about spreading the word to people. Hopefully it has garnered some new members, who after a little time & questions will be well on thier way to the savings many of us see already. Wow...this is a much longer post than I intended, but in closing....THANKS. HCM & Heidi, what you do is an amazing thing.

[puakinikini]

What a fantastic story - thanks for sharing it.

I had heard about this site from someone I traded with from another site - once I discovered it, I never went back to the other site. One thing that continually impresses me about HCW is how nice the people are here. Everyone is genuinely trying to help other people out. I hope it always stays that way. It is refreshing.

[isis]

Yes, I think that is what separates up from the other couponing boards. We truley help each other out. No matter how many times the same question is asked, someone jumps in to make the newbie feel welcome. Other places are quick to jump on ya...hey read the FAQ or just plain mean.

I was never a member of FW. I started off on MC and someone told me about another board, I registered, and made a post about an upcoming triples event at SavACenter. A member pmd me and after a few pms, come to find out we lived just blocks away!! She told me about DAGG and registered right away.
I was soo sad when all that stuff happened with the merger of DAGG and (I don't even remember the name of that other board LOL) I was like a lost puppy for a few days until someone pm'd me "hey, check out HCW, thats where everyones at!" I was soo happy. Pretty much everyone I remember on DAGG is here on HCW. It truely is like family and glad to be a part of this group.

[Shadowchasy]

It is truely an amazing story of not only how the greatest coupon site was born, but also how a friendship has grown.

I for one have not been a member of any other coupon site but this one.

I just want to say ...... Julie, Heidi and Mark...you guys are the GREATEST.....thank you for sharing your dreams, knowledge and friendship with us here at HCW.

[hotcouponmama]

Thanks everyone. What's been really amazing is that to this day, Heidi and I have never met. We do everything via chat, pm, email, and over the phone. It's a long time to go without having ever met the person you share a business with. She's really like a sister at this point to me, and the mods and members are like family. We love being part of the fun stuff like babies, new houses, and big savings at the store. But we're also glad to be here for the hard things, like deaths, illnesses, and financial hardships. That collectively we can solve people's problems, like with the Helping Hands forum, has really been an amazing experience for me. That the site helps so many is the best "job" I could have ever dreamed of. But that there are so many wonderful people to share my day with....it's part of what gets me going each day.

[fitguru4life]

I am so inspired by the three of you, the wisdom and will power to continue this everyday. I feel truly blessed to be able to have the guidance and help that each and everyone of you provide each and everyday! With this horrible economy my family of six would not survive without WONDERFUL, thoughtful and caring people like you guys.

Thank you for all you do,

Jenny :wink7:

[beckymik]

:BigHand:Bravo

Thanks for sharing, I am very glad you 2 came to the decision that day on the phone!!!
HCW has changed my whole life and how I think about shopping and money!

[Mikki 316]

Heidi, Julie and Mark- I once heard a very wise person say that if you want a business venture to truly be successful, you must strive to serve people, not just provide a "service." THAT is what HCW does- yes, "it's all about the deals" but it's truly all about the people and everyone is so giving and caring here. I tried a few sites randomly, just to see if they were different from HCW. The only time I've been away from HCW is when we were down for some reason (twice). I felt like I was cheating! Members become very connected somehow - helping each other with advise and knowledge, the Helping Hands forum, support and encouragement. I love this group! Kudos to you all for making this all happen. I am proud to be a part of HCW and honored to have recently been chosen as a Co-Mod. I honestly hope that someone picks up on this information and publishes it somewhere. This is an amazing story.

[tweety734]

Thanks for sharing the HCW story. That is very interesting!

I think HCW should start thinking about having some sort of a get-together so the owners (& members) can all meet each other.:BigHand: Maybe on the 3rd anniversary... that would give plenty of time for planning. I'm sure there would be many volunteers for helping to keep it organized. Something to think about...

[kimandkathess]

Well I hope the two of you get to meet eachother very soon, you guys deserve it!

~~Katrina~~

Thanks everyone. What's been really amazing is that to this day, Heidi and I have never met. We do everything via chat, pm, email, and over the phone. It's a long time to go without having ever met the person you share a business with. She's really like a sister at this point to me, and the mods and members are like family. We love being part of the fun stuff like babies, new houses, and big savings at the store. But we're also glad to be here for the hard things, like deaths, illnesses, and financial hardships. That collectively we can solve people's problems, like with the Helping Hands forum, has really been an amazing experience for me. That the site helps so many is the best "job" I could have ever dreamed of. But that there are so many wonderful people to share my day with....it's part of what gets me going each day.

[southernbird]

Thank you all . I was heartbroken when Dagg no longer existed . I heard about you all and joined right away. I think this board is the best and you make it happen. It is friendly, informative and helpful. I like the new look .

[Cynthiabutterfly]

I stumbled onto DAGG in 2004 while doing a search for printable coupons. I had NO idea there were sites like this out there... I stuck with DAGG even after the merger to *************? because I couldn't find any other good sites out there. Then one day someone PM'd me for a trade on ************* and told me to check out her WL on HCW, and I never visited that site (or any other) since then.

[Need2Save$]

Great story!

Thanks Heidi, Julie and Mark for all your efforts and hard work to make HCW so wonderful! After I stumbled upon this website, I lurked for about a week or so. I was practically brand new to couponing. There was so much information and it was great that others shared deals they spotted. I felt I wanted to contribute as well, so I decided to join to share deals I saw.

I have learned so much and saved so much. Thank you and keep up the great work!

[erika_s]

I am new to this site and have great expectations. I am aslo new to couponing and shoping for savings. I am trying to figure out how to use this site though i'm a little confused. I'm not very good with computers. I'm sure ill get it though. thank you for your help.

[Nice1704]

Wow, Julie, that story sure brought back some wonderful memories......thanks for the nostalgic trip down memory lane!:smile:

[trixmix]

Yes, thanks for the trip down memory lane. I also was a member of DAGG when it existed, and was sad when it shut down. I stopped couponing for quite a while, since I didn't have an active forum to be a part of and it is way more work when you do it all yourself!! I am glad that you guys started HCW and I was able to find it again when I started couponing again!

[Maismom]

Thanks for the story!! It is great you guys got together and started HCW!!:BigHand:

I'm with Cynthiabutterfly. I found DAGG through other personal finance website around 2004, and stayed with it for a while because I didn't know where everybody went. One day, I found a familiar name in the personal finance website and asked her if she knows where everyone is, then, she told me about HCW. It was soooo nice to see many familiar names again.

[skyyblonde]

Thanks for the great story! I had traded with Heidi regularly and when you guys opened this site, Heidi invited me over. I am soooooooo Glad she did. i just LOVE LOVE LOVE this site. I was also a member of DAGG and it just was not the same when they sold it.

this is, by far, the best trading/informational site, on the web. I am truly amazed at this site and what you guys have done and how it has grown.

CONGRATULATIONS!:party76:

[scrappinkelly]

Really, Really cool story. I had no idea the site was so young. Way to go and keep up the great improvements.

[pme]

Just read the story and I think ull made the best decision ever to start this....in more ways than one lives have been impacted

Every tiny coupon cashed makes up a part of the great ocean of saving a family enjoys!!

[thl]

I am so glad you all started this site! I found it almost a year ago when I was trying to look for ways to work on decreasing our spending, and it has been such a huge help to me! It's true that everyone here is so nice! I have learned so much, and really appreciate that all the mods are on top of what is being said on the forums, and really strive to make sure that everyone stays above board with their comments! I know I can trust that the deals talked about here are totally legitimate.

[sati769leigh]

this website is truly an inspiration!! thank you so much to all of you for creating it and keeping it running wiht the day to day nitty gritty!

[plnchladee]

:hello8: WOW!!! what a story!!
I'm looking forward to getting involved!! It's a good thing people like these have a great heart and drive!!
Hopefully, I can drag some of my shopping buddies over and we will get to saving some green!!!
Have a great day:smile:

[angielee]

I had been on DAGG a couple months when they decided to sell. I was a little upset at first bc I loved the site. But Im so glad now, I tried out both sites here and the "other". This site beats by far any!

[jeniferrlynne]

What a blessing it is to have this information at my fingertips. I am so thankful that I discovered this community while my family is young and growing. I am a stay at home mom to 2 kids (2.5 yr boy and 7m girl) with hopes of more. HCW will continue to be a major part of survival for us! I have always loved finding deals and happily tripped over this site while on the Baby Bargains website. :thanks3::thanks3::thanks3:
jeniferrlynne
Norman, Oklahoma

[plnchladee]

Thank you to hotcouponmama and hiedi, mark and cindi for the help!! I have already started to love this place!! And am already making new friends!!
Keep up the good work, and don't let anything discourage or stop you!!

[luv_on]

I have been so curious about the beginnings of this site. I am so happy I have found it. It has changed me, and my shopping experience! Thank you for your dedication to help me and others like me save money!:BigHand:

[tdgirl]

Wow! Thank you so much for opening this site and sharing your story of how it got started (been wondering about that.) This sites members have helped me learn how to really save money! We don't make much and there would be weeks of eating nothing but beans and noodles. We still live on what we did back then, yet with the use of coupons we are able to eat much better and still save money on groceries! I just wanted to tell you how much this site rocks and I've been recommending it to everyone I talk to or that sees me saving money at the register even.

Many double triple thanks!

[MommyPod]

I'm so glad I read this! It's a fascinating story. Thank you so much for starting the site. It really is the best!

[southlandjamie]

I am addicted to HCW! Thanks for all your hard work (and Mark's). How do you find the time to do everything you do??!!

[oswaldfans]

I am addicted to HCW! Thanks for all your hard work (and Mark's). How do you find the time to do everything you do??!!

Hey there Julie, you rock. Congrats. BTW, anyone check the "allyou" magazine.. double yay for HCW. You are the best. Hugs.. big fat ones.. and hi-fives

[kval07]

Thanks for sharing the HCW story. That is very interesting!

I think HCW should start thinking about having some sort of a get-together so the owners (& members) can all meet each other.:BigHand: Maybe on the 3rd anniversary... that would give plenty of time for planning. I'm sure there would be many volunteers for helping to keep it organized. Something to think about...

Oh my God, a meeting of HCW members! Can you imagine that? I am picturing thousands of us all eating FREE food, walking around with coupon binders/boxes. I'm such a dork.

But I would totally go to one of these. It would be really cool to meet everyone on here as opposed to just talking to them online.

[auntmangee]

Wow! That's a very interesting story!

[ILv2Shop]

I think HCW should start thinking about having some sort of a get-together so the owners (& members) can all meet each other.:BigHand: Maybe on the 3rd anniversary... that would give plenty of time for planning. I'm sure there would be many volunteers for helping to keep it organized. Something to think about...

Oh my God, a meeting of HCW members! Can you imagine that? I am picturing thousands of us all eating FREE food, walking around with coupon binders/boxes. I'm such a dork.
But I would totally go to one of these. It would be really cool to meet everyone on here as opposed to just talking to them online.

:smile:This would be the ultimate Meet-up. Sign me up...where am I heading? North, south, east or west? Woot-Woot!!
Seriously, any chance of this ever happening? We could have media there for Julie & Heidi's first meeting & story. (media loves that kind of stuff) We could do it up big-time. :smile:

[munchiegurl]

than you so much for this wonderful site! its a blessing!

[dwshrty77roc]

Thanks for sharing the HCW story. That is very interesting!

I think HCW should start thinking about having some sort of a get-together so the owners (& members) can all meet each other.:BigHand: Maybe on the 3rd anniversary... that would give plenty of time for planning. I'm sure there would be many volunteers for helping to keep it organized. Something to think about...

That sound good to me. I would love to meet some of the wonderful people on here. Please let me know where and when, so I can start saving up for it. :BigHand:

[vasaver]

I also used to go to Fatwallet back in the day. I just found HCW and am very glad I did. I recognize quite a few people here. Wish I had found HCW sooner!

[VivaciousJewelz]

Wow!

The brains behind this brilliant operation is a "Julie"!! I'm very inspired. Thanks for all you do for us HCWers!

-another Julie

[kenia2]

thanks for all of the deals you email me!!!!!!!!!!

[Teresa Walker]

Amazing and well written. I am so happy that I found this site and that you started it. I feel so happy knowing that everyone is friendly and helpful. Even though I have made a mistake or two on here, I have not felt like a dummy because the mods and member are understanding and hang right in there with you while you learn. Thank you to everyone involved.

[nurse janet]

WOW....I am so happy that life worked out the way it did and that HCW was founded....I use to be a member of a "pay" site when I first started couponing seriously....then I found HCW and the rest is HISTORY...I tell EVERYONE about this site and how it helps me save money not only for me and my family but how I am able to help others out by giving them items that are either free for me or nearly free for me !! God Bless you women...I dearly love you all....Oh and about meeting up....Sign me up....I would LOVE to go !!!!

[sindy9002]

A good story. Thank you!

[maryccc]

That is a great story. I am thinking of writing a book mainly for my family to help them understand my couponing journey and plan on mentioning HCW since it was the first place I found on my journey and it always feels like home.

[shelleyf]

Thanks so much Julie and Heidi for all you do for us. You both are a great inspiration for me to keep trying and striving to save all that I can and to help others.:smile:

[rrpate]

just got the new AARP and along with one other site HCW was listed in one of the ideas for saving $ .....thought you would like to hear this! :wavehi:

[crabtree122202]

How awesome!!!

[pasharain]

Can't believe I am just seeing this as much as I am on here. :giggle2:

Very good read. :BigHand:

[to1drland]

You've come a long way ladies! Thanks for building such a great site! I came over from DAGG & have never looked back. This is "Home".:smile:

[cyhick]

Now I know the rest of the story! Hahaha. So glad you ladies became entreprenuers! So many of us have gained from your idea! Thanks so much! :)

[sal987]

Can't believe I am just seeing this as much as I am on here. :giggle2:

Very good read. :BigHand:

Same here! I agree, very good read.

[Coupon_Momma11]

Wonderful story... Thank you so much for sharing and for all the hard work both of you and your families do for all of us... This is the first couponing site that I came across and although I am still rather new to couponing and to the site, I love it here and quickly became addicted!!! Thanks again for all your hard work!!!

[angeliainwonderland]

I have been here for about a year now. I love this site. The people on here are great.
It was very interesting to find out how and why this site started.
It is a great site and you are doing a wonderful job!

[pam0815]

I wanted to message and let all of you mods kno you guys are awesome!! When I first joined this site it was all I thought about! I even dreamed about it!! I would drive my hubby crazy with it!! You guys are amazing people to have come up with such a wonderful site that helps people who are learning to save money for them and their families!! Times are so hard and couponing is getting difficult but you make it all worth while...Thank you all so very much for all your hard work and efforts!