Write a commentToday, iheartoswego.com launches its new OzDeals section. Each week, I Heart's very own coupon guru, Mandy Frantz, will guide you to the best deals in town, maximizing your coupon clippings and teaching you how and where to get the "best bang for your buck."
Frantz is I Heart Corp's office manager, but she is also an avid coupon clipper.
"I spend a lot of time on Sundays cutting coupons, organizing my coupon book and planning my strategy."
With three daughters, Frantz said she has really learned how to shop on a budget and now all three of her girls – 4, 10, and 11 years old – love to help her each weekend
"They are thrilled with the rather large stockpile that they have seen me acquire in a short period of time," she said. "Especially the shampoo and Doritos!"
Frantz said she got the idea for OzDeals when a woman she did not know walked up to her to ask her advice on how to use coupons.
"She saw me flipping through my huge book of coupons," she said. "I figured if someone would walk up to a complete stranger to ask questions about coupon shopping, she must really want to know. So, I thought maybe there were other people out there who wanted to know as well."
Frantz said now she often finds herself with an audience when she shops, with other customers waiting to see what she will pay at the register for all of the items in her cart. And, sometimes, the store actually pays Frantz for her shopping purchases!
"The other day, there were customers who had already cashed out, but saw my two full carts and my book of coupons, so they waited to see the results," she said.
Frantz said she told the cashier he would be paying her for shopping, but he did not believe her.
When he finished ringing her up, he asked Frantz for 2 cents.
"But, I knew I had money coming back to me, so I asked him why do I have to pay 2 cents?"
She said he answered, "Because I owe you $39.98, so if you give me 2 cents, I will just give you $40."
Frantz said the other customers actually broke out into applause.
Even Frantz's boyfriend is in on the action – especially when she showed him a receipt for $191.70 but she only paid $78.04! Now, she said, he looks forward to their Sundays full of clipping.
So, grab your Sunday paper, a pair of scissors and a notebook and check out OzDeals to find out how to look forward to your next check-out experience!
