Hi. I’m Tracie. I have been blessed with an amazing husband, Tim, and three beautiful children.
I love helping people find ways to save money, sweep up their financial lives, and get out of debt.
I’ve shared my story about how my husband and I paid off $37,000 of debt in just over two years on Good Morning America, The New York Times, US News and World Report, BetterTV, and more. For us, that process started with using coupons to save money on groceries — but a family’s financial health goes beyond that, so Penny Pinchin’ Mom does too.
Maybe you came here today for coupons. If so, you’ll find all kinds of information on how to get started with your savings. I hope you stay around to learn how to get out of debt, talk to your kids about money, live well on less, and so much more.
HOW PENNY PINCHIN’ MOM CAN WORK FOR YOU
Just like you, I love my family, and I love finding ways to stretch our budget every month. I don’t believe in paying more than I have to for something, and I do recommend using coupons to help you save money on groceries. But your family’s financial health is too important to me to stop there. Wise living goes beyond coupons, so Penny Pinchin’ Mom does too.
- We teach you about money, including how to budget and get out of debt.
- We share money-saving ideas and strategies.
- We share our favorite simple recipes.
- We pass along helpful tips to make your life better.
- We share our own ideas and ways to help you with your family and kids.
Anyone can clip a coupon, but it takes expertise to make the most out of your family’s budget. Here, you’ll find tips to help you eliminate debt and increase your savings. You’ll learn how to create and use a budget (it’s not as hard as you think, I promise) and much more.
MY STORY
Before I was a stay-at-home mom, I worked as a Pension Plan Administrator. However, the moment I held our first baby girl in my arms, I knew my new calling was to stay at home and be a full-time mom. It was more than 12 years ago that I quit my job and took on the position of CEO – of our family. I’ve never looked back.
In November 2007, my husband and I decided to get completely out of debt. Part of that was to re-evaluate how we were spending our money and to work up a pretty strict and tight budget. As a result, I needed to do what I could to stretch our dollars. So, I started slowly with a few coupons and saved a few dollars a month.
I heard of these people who were spending very little on groceries. That made me want to really dig in and work hard to learn how to do this for our family.
In October 2008, I dove head first into learning how to really make the most out of our money. Since then, I have learned how to get stuff for FREE from various stores. I kept track of what I saved during 2009 and was thrilled to see that it added up to more than $5,000. All that savings came by using coupons and working deals — just like those I shared on this blog. At that time, the resources I could find were rather limited. I thought that perhaps, I might be able to help other families not only in the Kansas City metro area but also around the country make the most of their budgets.
In January 2009, I started blogging so I could share what I had learned. Since that first post, I have shared not only deals and coupons but also tips on how to get out of debt, money-saving tips, and how to make the most with what you have!
Over time I have been consulted as an expert and interviewed by the New York Times, Forbes, Credit.com, Debt.com as well as many others. I’ve worked with partners such as Mr. Cooper, Progressive Insurance, Staples, LendingTree, Dave Ramsey, and other partners who have asked me to share my knowledge and expertise on the topic of debt and personal finance.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FAMILY’S FINANCES
If you’re wondering where to start, check out a few of my most popular posts, which are listed at the bottom of the page. It’s some of the best tips I can offer from my own personal experience about how to get out of debt, live by a budget, make wise financial choices, and save money on everything.
You saw my family in the picture at the top of this page. My husband and my children are my motivation. I’ve never regretted giving up pension administration for them or all the time I’ve invested in making the most of our monthly budget. As you learn how to take control of your family’s finances, I’m confident you’ll feel the same.
Again, thanks for stopping by, and we hope you find ideas to help your family live the life you want.
Please note that the other writers and I are not certified financial advisors, and the information shared on this site is based on our personal experiences. It is important you consult with a tax or financial professional for assistance with your financial situation.