Reader Q & A: How Can I Ever Repay You? :)

I am often humbled by reader comments like this one from Jennifer:

I get *so* much value from your site that I'd love a way to give back! Do you have a "tip jar" or anything similar buried somewhere on the site? Thank you SO much for all you do. Your site makes my shopping SO easy!

Her question required me to really contemplate why I'm here each day pouring time into this strange little blog of mine - and it came down to this: I truly believe that most people could reduce their grocery spending by 50% using a few smart strategies. Having learned how to make this happen, I'm now equipped to share - and hopefully that will impact the lives of a few people. If you've found yourself wondering, 'How can I GIVE BACK?' here are some ideas:

1. SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW. If you've become a bargain shopper now, share the deals with friends. Refer them back to Macomb Money Savers when necessary. You might even consider shopping or coupon-clipping along with them as they learn. Everyone is feeling the economic strain and could benefit from learning how to maximize what they have.
   
   
2. SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE. Hopefully, shopping the best deals each week has allowed you to purchase great items for free or cheap. Keep what you need for your family then find someone who can benefit from your donations, whether it's a friend in need, food bank or charity.
   
   

3. PAY IT FORWARD. Take some of that the money that you've saved (or the tip that you'd like to give me!) and donate it to someone in need. If you can't think of someone close to home who could use your help, you might want to consider adopting a child from Compassion (we've really enjoyed getting to know a boy from the Dominican Republic) or another worthy organization. Then share it with the rest of us - we'd love to hear about it! I'm sure you can find a creative way to benefit others - whether it's a neighbor in need or someone halfway around the world!

4. TELL YOUR STORY. This somewhat selfish request comes AFTER you've worked through the ideas above! Your stories amaze me - how much you've saved, where you've come from, how shopping smart has made a difference for your family. One family realized that they had MORE food in the house when dad was laid-off (and mom was making the most of coupons) than ever before. Those stories fuel my passion for this blog - and they encourage others as well!

Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your comments! I'm so glad that this little website is making your life a little easier! :)