I LOVE What I Do…
I’ve had one of those days today… you know, the kinda day when you just feel down in the dumps. I am sad and that’s honestly the truth. I usually try to keep things very positive on my site, but for now… I think I’ll go ahead and speak my mind. Being honest and open always makes me feel a LOT better, so here goes…
I started this blog in the summer of 2008 for family and friends… I couldn’t contain my excitement in the deals I was getting and had to share– that’s where the blog came in. For 6 months I worked day in and day out searching for deals, posting deals, making sure deals were legit and the list goes on. I NEVER realized when I first started blogging that I could actually make money. …So overtime I finally figured this out and was excited to learn that not only could I do what I love, but I could also do it while earning some money in return! And the added and best bonus– I could do this while staying home with my kiddos!
Now… I know… I’m making this sound like a dream job, so let me tell you something you may not realize. I work entirely too much… when you don’t have an 8 to 5 job and the emails never stop rolling on in, it’s hard to know when to stop. I love what I do and I love helping others, so closing my laptop for the night without getting through those last couple emails is one of the hardest things I have to do. I also like to be on top of the deals, but sometimes staying on top of the deals is impossible and I end up being hard on myself for missing a deal. I know this sounds so little in the grand scheme of things, but Hip2Save is a huge part of my life and I take pride in what I do.
As you may have noticed, I posted a Sponsored post earlier today for Mission Tortillas. Quite a few of you seemed very upset by that post and I apologize for that. At the end of the day, I blog because I absolutely LOVE doing it (the money is an added bonus)! If you know me personally, well, you know this. I’m also very sensitive, so reading hurtful comments doesn’t sit well with me. I was tempted to delete the post altogether, but I didn’t because lots of you took the time to leave helpful comments with recipes and more.
If you read my blog daily, you should know I RARELY do sponsored posts. In fact, this was my third sponsored post since starting this blog over 2 years ago! I am very picky about the sponsored posts I choose and try to pick ones that are relevant to my site.
I appreciate my life, love my husband, have 3 amazing kids, a very supportive extended family, and an amazing blog with awesome readers! With that being said, I was pretty upset, frustrated, offended, surprised by the comments left in the sponsored post today. Now, as many of you know, I am no stranger to negative comments; however, what bothered me today and what prompted me to write this post were the comments that I had somehow changed, that Hip2Save had changed in the recent months?!
I am here to say in writing that it is still me, the same Collin, who started this blog a couple years ago. I still love finding and snagging deals, still shop with my giant coupon binder, still get excited when I score something for free, still sign up for way too many samples. I am slightly insulted that readers have accused me of changing, saying that my blog is somehow not the same. The only thing that changed recently for me was the weather; during the summer months, I dedicate much more times to my kids and inevitably a little less time on Hip2Save. If you have felt like there was less of me and my personality infused in recent posts, there likely was as I was giving more of “me” to my kids.
Hip2Save has become what it is today because of YOU, so thank you! You guys rock!
Each of you who take the time to come to my blog, leave comments, and send emails are truly my virtual friends. I know we have never met in person (well, I’ve actually met some of you!), but we all have a common interest with our passion for saving money, using coupons, finding deal etc. I feel like there’s a great community here on Hip2Save and I don’t want to lose that. Now that the summer is coming to an end, I would love for you to email me any ideas you have for the site. Would you like to see a new feature?! Do you have a post topic or video idea? Let me know!
Thanks for taking the time to read this post… I’m not the kinda person that can bottle stuff up inside, so when I’m upset, you’ll hear about it! 😉
I LOVE Hip2Save. Thanks for all your hard work and don’t let the haters drag you down!
Collin! I LOVE your site! Making money on your blog is HIP and lots of other people should learn from you how to channel their passions into a blog online and cash in on what they love as well! You are awesome, I check your site everyday. Don’t let anyone get you down, you rock!
Collin! I can not see why anyone would CHOOSE to be upset over your sponsored post! You help my family every week by saving us money! My family needs you! Why would anyone complain??!!! A BIG THANK YOU from me for all you do! You do give up a lot of your time to make sure I hear about all the deals! (It’s okay if you miss a few too)! I love your adorable personality and I feel like I have gotten to know you from reading your blog the past year! I am glad you are here doing what you are doing!!!
Ohhh Colin, blah blah blah, I love you, blah blah blah. You’re my best friend, blah blah blah. I wish we went to third grade together, blah blah blah. You rock, blah blah blah.
She doesn’t know you, you are strangers. Very scary how freely everyone believes they “know” one another.
Blah blah blah blah blah!
Really Jennifer? Some of us appreciate what Collin does. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to spend time reading it!
Go Hip2Save! I love “loving” the bargains and Colin for offering them to me. I love these offers because of all the wonderful stories shared–some being very touching and human as the person shared how they use the information from the blog to save money. And I love the information on this site because I was able to use the information to save money and buy things for my family that made them happy or they really needed. YES, I LOVE Hip2SAVE! I am a huge fan and I am proud to wear a “I love Hip2Save” badge! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thumbs up to naysayers! (Say something negative and I will happily give you my thumbs up!)
Wow. Rude. Collin doesn’t have to do this and she points out a lot of great deals. If you don’t appreciate it, find another site to scour deals and good luck.
Big love to your site. Keep on truckin C.
Thank you for creating this web site. I enjoy your posts and videos and certainly the coupon match-ups. I have no problem with the sponsored post. It was clearly labeled as such. Those who have a problem with that can go else where or just not read the post. Thank you Collin for all your hard work.
I’ve started couponing in Mid-March. I was helping at a consignment sale. Some ladies and I were talking about the economy, and I mentioned that I’ve cut my grocery bills in half. They asked if I couponed, I told them I did. What I didn’t realize was that I was a casual couponer, not one of those that saves some REAL money. They said I had to start couponing in earnest and gave my 5 web sites to look at. Yours was one.
In the beginning I looked at all the blogs. If one was referenced I signed up for their e-mails. I guess you could say it was overkill. I spent hours getting used to all of this. Now it’s alot easier.
I don’t comment alot on blogs like this because my schedule is so hectic. I commented today because I wanted to encourage you. Of all the sites that I looked at (and there were tons), yours was one of the most helpful for a beginning couponer. Like those ladies in March, when I refer people to couponing blogs, I mention yours. When I beeped like crazy at Walgreens so much that I almost vowed to never darken their doors again, I went to your website and watched your video on shopping at Walgreens. Since then, I’ve only beeped once, and that was because my addition was wrong.
I appreciate you and your efforts. Please hang in there!
Carolyn
Collin – Your efforts are appreciated!! We LOVE what you do and what you have helped all of us do. Couponing can be overwhelming and is time consuming. So what if you have a sponsored site. We are all using manufactors coupons – right!!! Thanks Collin – Luv to the kiddos
I have no idea what negative things people have said to you. I didn’t read that post, but SHAME ON THEM! Collin I am just like you, try to please everyone and quite sensitive. A friend once told me, why worry…..it is not going to change a thing….it is only going to make you feel worse. Look at it this way, everyone has the same opportunities, you found an opportunity and ran with it and built one hot blog that is crazy addicting. Good for you, I’m happy for you and sense a little jealousy from some people, therefore they just can’t wait to find fault with you. You are amazing. You have the perfect life, a great family, semi-dreamy job (i don’t want it) and an awesome gift of finding all the bargains and deals. Often immitated, but never duplicated. To all the people who left negative comments to Collin, put yourself in her place. How would you feel to be talked to like that? Are you proud of yourself for putting her down? Would you post your picture with that comment so that all the other HIP 2 SAVE fans could see it with that comment? If you ask me you negative commenting people should be DE-HIPPED! The true HIPsters are ashamed of you for making Collin sad. So unHIP!!
COLLIN: I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR BLOG FOR ABOUT A YEAR – AND IN FACT, IT HAS IMPROVED SO MUCH I HAVE QUIT LOOKING AT THE OTHER BLOGS ENTIRELY. I FEEL LIKE YOU KEEP THINGS VERY UP TO DATE – AND FIND MY LIMITED TIME IS BEST SPENT READING YOUR BLOG. FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MIFFED AT AN OCCASIONAL MISSTEP OR AN EXPIRED OFFER — WELL, I SAY TO THEM — YOU SPEND THE TIME DOING WHAT YOU DO EVERYDAY — AND SEE HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT IT TAKES. I AM A REGULAR READER, AND I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO READ YOUR BLOG FOR FREE, AND IT SAVES ME SUBSTANTIAL DOLLARS EVERYDAY. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR FEELINGS….THE PEOPLE WHO AREN’T HAPPY – WELL – WRINKLES TO THEM! THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE TO FIND SOMETHING TO GRIP ABOUT. THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND ALL OF THE MONEY YOU HAVE SAVED ME. A SINGLE WORKING FULL-TIME MOM OF A TEENAGER!
You’re doing great and keep your head up. I just recently went through some issues recently (I had emailed you about it not too long ago) and today they attacked my blog and left a bunch of mean comments. With blogging we can’t please everybody, but the amount of people you’re helping with this blog far outweighs the ones that will be critical.
Collin. I am so thankful for you and all the time and energy you put into your blog. I can only imagine how much time you really have invested in this site…. I know way more than a full-time job. I appreciate what you do, and would never doubt your integrity, or question something you have posted. You rock and I’m thankful for your site and the money that you help my family keep in our pockets. You’re the best at what you do.
Collin,
Thank you for all that you do! I’m a former high school teacher who is staying at home with my 4 yr old and 2 1/2 yr old and stumbled upon an opportunity to write for a high school textbook publisher. As a part-time WAHM and full-time SAHM, I totally value all of your posts. As a teacher, I have noticed that we need to reeducate ourselves about etiquette – especially when it comes to leaving comments for people. While the internet allows us to be in touch with millions that we otherwise wouldn’t have met, it also gives us the false sense of venting unfiltered thoughts to inanimate objects instead of realizing that there are actual people at the other end. With real feelings. There is a tendency to “blame the victim” when we trash celebrities – after all, we tell ourselves, they asked for this kind of criticism when they became famous. I’ve spent my fair share of time on the receiving end of unfair comments. I think it’s the insult to the integrity that is the hardest to take. I hope you get so overwhelmed by the loving and supportive comments you receive that you are no longer affected by the disrespectful rudeness which is just plain wrong. Thanks again for all of your efforts and I hope your summer of fun with your kids was everything your family hoped for! Kind Regards, Julie
Sounds like some of your readers could use this. MAYBE YOU COULD HELP THEM OUT AND FIND A COUPON OR DEAL FOR IT. Thought you could use a laugh! I know I am practically peeing my pants laughing about the irony in it.
http://www.SAM-e.com Learn About Nature Made SAM-e Complete®, a Natural Mood Enhancer.
They should go elsewhere if they are offended by the sponsored post. You do an amazing job and this is by far my favorite site out off all of them out there. I check it at least 3-4 times a day…. because I LOVE this site and you have saved me SO MUCH MONEY! Not to mention all the freebies I’ve gotten over the past 6 months. We appreciate you and the site SO much! 🙂 <3
Collin,
Use the DELETE button and don’t even read the negative mail. I can only imagine how much work you put into your site, and we appreciate it SO MUCH! It’s YOUR blog, it’s YOUR opinions, you can do what you want! Don’t let anyone change you, we love you just the way you are! (and we miss your adorable videos! I love your laugh!)
You are fantastic. You have changed the way I shop. Thank you so much. I check your web-site multiple times a day.
Collin,
I love you and your website! I’m so sorry that some of your readers have the audacity to utilize your FREE, website and take all the benefits and then complain when something doesn’t work out perfectly. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into posting the offers that make our budgets workable. We all know in life nothing is perfect……your a gift to all of us and especially to your family. When you take time for your family your doing the right thing, when we’re blessed with savings, well……..just that, we’re blessed with savings. I’m an avid reader of A Thrifty Mom as well, she had a reader complain about her spelling.She blogged about it and told all of her readers that she’s dyslexia and how hurt she was, I commented to her as well. You have a partner in couponing that has been effected as well. Love and Prayers.
People who complain over something like that really have too much time on their hands!!!!! Keep up the GREAT work and thanks for all you do.
You are great Collin! I appreciate your site so much…it is one my favorites. Boo on all those haters…ignore them!
Collin. I like your blog. I subscribe to many blogs. Yours is the best. That’s all I have to say. 🙂
I think you site is awesome! I have found so many awesome deals and samples that I had no idea about! My husband had lost his job last year and things have been super tight so your ideas to save money have been really helpful. I so much appreciate the time you take to research all those great deals. There is no way I’d find them on my own. Thank you SO MUCH for what you do!
Hi Collin, Sorry, I put an email in the website field instead of my blog address! I got the correct one in this time! 🙂
Collin, please don’t take any negative comments to heart. I love your website and so appreciate the hard work that you put in each and every day. It’s your blog- you have the right to do as many sponsored posts as you want. We have the right to read them or not.
Count me in!! You’ve done nothing wrong and are helping thousands of people save a ton of money. Anyone who doesn’t like how you run things can go read something else or start their own dang blog.
You’re doing great.
Collin you are fabulous ! and love Hip2save !! Keep on doing what you’re doing ! Cuz it’s GREAT !! Thanks so much !!!!
I say post a SPONSORED post at least once a month if it helps you support your family and this site! It certainly is more than any of us are paying to absorb all the great deals you post here! She doesn’t charge us a dime to access her hard work….if you don’t like it–go somewhere else! I’m staying right here!
I think you do a phenomenal job! I am so thankful for all of the work that you do, and I can’t imagine the amount of hours you put in. You are a great help to all of us trying to make ends meet. Never let anyone else tell you otherwise!
Collin, there simply are just negative people out there and I have found that often they are very loud, and never consider that nobody else wants to hear their negativity. Then there are wonderful gals like you that make me smile ebery time, energize me when I’m sluggish or when I’m having a bad day. You really could be any kind of motivator I think. You’d be the best kind of personal trainer! And even you are allowed to have bad days, though I’ve never guessed it from your site. I really have wondered how you do it all though with young kids. I’m in the same boat and can’t seem to do it all. YOU ARE WONDERFUL, and off hand I can’t think of a thing I’d change about your site! Its one of the only ones I check daily.
Thank you for all you do!!
Em @
athriftyfind.blogspot.com
Collin – I know I’m just mimicking everyone else above me, but I want you to know that your blog has helped me SOOOOO much. I appreciate it like you wouldn’t believe. The only reason I go to any other blog is to see the deals for my local grocery store that you couldn’t come up with!! I go to your for everything else. I was one that hated going to the blogs for anything – I did my own scenario’s – and they were typically better than anything my other friends were finding on the blogs, so I found no use for them. But I started looking at your deal match ups and I’ve never gone back to my hours-on-end-couponing session of trying to figure out every match- up alone!! I don’t know how you do it all by yourself without getting stressed, but I’m glad you stick it out, your saving the rest of us tons of time and money! And the time part has done wonders for me! I appreciated your hard work and effort, and I wouldn’t expect you to NOT get money for it, to be honest!! You do everything top notch, and I am constantly impressed! From the picture of you on the Hi at the bottom, to the follow me Monday’s – to your Grandma with all of her cuteness and charm – and all of the wonderful updates on your site lately have been great!!!!! I wouldn’t listen to the few complainers, because they are definitely in a minority here! We love your site – you relate to us, and we appreciate you!! Thanks!
I absolutely love your stuff and all the time you take to make it my most favorite BLOG. People seem to say things they normally wouldn’t say face to face but thru a computer they let it fly. I hope you realize just how awesome a job everyone feels you you do. I do not mind the occasional. sponsored info. do one once a week if you like, I’ll still read! I await each new post eagerly.
Collin,
I am sorry for all of the negative people who must have too much time on their hands. I LOVE your site and have saved SO MUCH money, and had a ton of fun doing it. I taught a coupon class a few weeks ago and raved about how cute and fun your posts are (not to mention helpful). Thanks for all you do, hang in there!
Jessica
http://www.jessicacleartheclutter.blogspot.com
LoVe YoU Collin!!! THaNk YoU for all your hard work! =)
Collin,
I have to say I’m completely stunned that someone would / could get so upset with a service that is being provided to them for FREE. But then again, as I’ve seen many times before, we as adults think it’s ok to act like our kids and throw temper tantrums when we don’t get our way. People say things without thinking of the emotions of the person on the other end. Please don’t stop what you doing. Please don’t let “them” ruin it for you and the rest of us. I can’t tell you how much someone, you, mean to me. I look forward in reading your emails each night. From what I can see / read, your personailty comes out through each of those nightly emails. Thank you. Thank you for all you do. Thank you for helping my family save money in every possible way. Thank you for being you.
I love your site. It is the one that I look at first. Thank you for all that you do. And don’t listen to negative people.
Collin,
I love your site. I’ve been following it for about 1 1/2 years. I love your personality, you are the best. I didn’t read any of the above comments or the ones on your sponsored post but I wanted to put in my two cents and give you support. I had a frugal/deals blog and it is not easy. It took me all day to post deals and then I felt bad when I didn’t post everything. I found myself drowning in too much work and I just wanted to help people. I stopped doing it and felt like a big fat old failure. But just wanted to say how hard it is to keep up on the deals, find them, make the words make sense, have a life, finding coupon matches for the supermarkets and drugstores, keeping up with the joneses and have a life. I couldn’t do it and keep my sanity. It is a 24/7 job and I don’t have kids/husband that need tending to.
Collin, I wish you the best. I don’t know how you do it all. Do what you want. there is nothing wrong with doing a sponsored post. Most bloggers do it much more often. If you were in the blogging business you’d see where/when other bloggers do it. I don’t care that it is done. I know one blogger that says he pays his mortgage each month from one affiliate link. Wouldn’t that be tremendous? I know you do this for others and it shows.
Keep up the great work and I’m with you.
Carol
I read some of those posts and I say, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!!!! I think the PROBLEM is that SOME couponers are taking this too far, in that, you may be able to get razors and cereal for nothing, but you can’t make a PERSON WORK FOR NOTHING!! Collin, you’re a person and you should be compensated for your hard work. Don’t let these GREEDY followers try to get something for nothing at the expense of your feelings or rightful dues. There was nothing sneaky about that tortilla post. You didn’t have to SAY it was sponsored either. I myself hate advertisements but this was full of helpful tips instead of a “shameless plug”. Good heavens, if people owned their own businesses and did their own marketing, they wouldn’t be so quick to be void of compassion! Looks like JEALOUSY took over for some!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for all you do. I have a basement full of diapers that I probably saved hundreds on! I cannot express enough thanks for all you do! My family of ten (five six and under!) is benefitting greatly!!!
If someone feels they NEED to make a negative comment when all you’re trying to do is help them…just DELETE the comment and move on! You have the best saving site by FAR! Shame on them for not being happy for you to make a little money by posting a (very intelligently selected) sponsored post. This is your site…and it’s amazing….Negative Commentors…Go find another site to complain on!!! This woman works hard for US! She should never receive harsh words or comments! Keep up the fabulous work Collin…and delete those other “meanies”…:)
I love you Collin! You and your blog has saved my family SO much money this year! As a stay at home mom that is very important to me and my family. If you need to occasionally do sponsored posts, SO WHAT! The readers who are “insulted” don’t need to read them 🙂 Keep your head up, we love you!
I have seen no difference in your blog, personally. I am still very blessed by your posts and the great deals and coupons that you share. Your family is first so keep on enjoying those wonderful children of yours!
Know that you are still doing the great job that you have always done! Don’t let the bad comments get you down and keep moving forward.
God bless you!
I say who cares if you had a sponsored post this week. You can do whatever the heck you want on YOUR blog. You started this to share savings with others. What gives them the right to put you down and say you shouldn’t do something. A blog is YOUR space to do with it what you please. Sounds like if they are complaining about something like that they are the type that would complain about anything in life. Unhappy people. As for most of us that read your blog, we are just happy that you keep doing it in whatever way that you do.
I think the old saying do what you love and the money will follow has worked for you. I love your website… Even if I don’t buy or take advantage of the offer you have posted it’s fun to see what you and your readers have to say. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into finding deals for all of us.
I love your blog and my family has saved SO MUCH money thanks to you. You can never make everyone happy, some people just like to complain no matter what. Thank you so much for all you do.
Collin,
I just wanted to write & apologize for the nasty comments that people left on your sponsor entry the other day! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your site! I check it every day, often many times a day (lol)!! I tell everyone I know about your site & tell them to check it & check it often as some of my best deals have been found here! I also read Carrie Rocha’s pocket your dollars site & she has commented about your site as well!! So just know that for every negative comment (or person) out there, there are 10+ positive ones standing behind you cheering you on!! I’m pretty sure I can speak for most of the group when I say thank you so very much for all the hard work you put in to get us all the best deals possible out there! Keep up the great work & go have more fun with your kids! That time goes all to fast!! Enjoy it while it lasts!! Have a wonderful weekend!! Thanks again!!
Colin- I really appreciate this site. I don’t care what others have to say, this site has saved me tons of money and I tell everyone to visit. The fact that you make money off of it is an added bonus. I am a working mother of 4 and wish I could be at home with my kids. Great job!!! Really! Great- Great- Great job! BTW- I follow you on face book too. I hate to miss good deals…..
If you don’t like what Collin is doing, stop coming by H2S. You save me HOURS of time having to scour ads and online deals. You can post sponsored links all you want. I can always skip right by them and head to the next posting that pertains to me and my family. Or, take advantage of your great posts. Thanks for all you do and your sacrifice to keep this site so very hip! 🙂
You work so hard to bring savings to so many. It is a shame that people can’t keep that in perspective. If they had to work 24/7 to help others and were given an opportunity to earn a little to help their family, they would jump at the chance. it was an appropriate post and totally relevant to your site and your followers. Shame on them and please keep up the good work. Your hard work and dedication has saved my family a bundle.
I love your site and I recommend it to all the couponers I see in stores as well as all my family, friends, and fellow military spouses. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your hard work and dedication to all of us. Ignore those handful of people who always have something to complain about because they are just the bad lemons in the bunch =) because the rest of us love you!
Your site is awesome………….I tell everyone about it……….you tell it like it is, as it should be……………..Keep on being you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Collin, please keep your head up! Your blog has helped me to turn saving money into a hobby (one that is much better for my bank account than my past hobby–shopping!!) and I actually get a little buzz when I get a good deal. Please know that the amount of people (I have another word to use here, but will be nice) that are “offended” is farrrrr smaller than the number of us who LOVE what you do and APPRECIATE you and your hard work!! Your info is so helpful and I tell everyone I know to sign up. Please keep up the good work. Some people need to get a life and stop worrying about what others are doing. It’s a free site helping us to save money for cryin out loud!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
Hey Collin i want to let u know i started couponing in March 2010 i absoulutely adore what u do on this site. I check it several times a day looking for that great deal. Keep ur head held high and don’t let anyone get to u. U have a great site and we all love it, keep the deals coming. IF ppl don’t like ur site they can go look and bother someone else’s site. This site has come so far with all of the improvements ur fantastic. And ppl have to understand and if they don’t thats there problem. But just like with any other “job” family is most important. I have 4 kids of my own and they get my attention before anything else. So thanks Collin for giving us this site as a tool to help us succeed in our couponing adventures. Thanks again Collin ur great !!!!