How Coupons Saved My Life

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I am sharing a video with you today… a very personal video. A video I filmed back in 2012. A video I wasn’t ready to release.

Now I am ready. Ready to share my story. My story about addiction, depression, and how those little things called coupons have done so much more than save me money.

*Please keep in mind that this video may not be suitable for children.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdTiPNJM7JU] If you can’t see the video, click here.

If you are currently suffering from drug addictions, food addictions and/or depression, I strongly encourage you to reach out to a friend or family member, doctor, counselor or pastor and seek help.

Join The Discussion

Comments 1088

  1. Wendy

    This is, by far, my favorite video! You are such an inspiration, Collin! Thanks for all you do! My family wouldn’t have half the awesome stuff they do without your blog!!

  2. Tonya

    You are awesome! Thank you for being “real” and sharing your life with us. I appreciate you!!!!!

  3. Amy

    I rarely comment, but this is such a special occasion. Thank you so much for sharing your story. God bless you!!

  4. Jessica C.

    You are so, so, so BRAVE!! And beautiful and funny and so many people love you! Thank you for what you do. You are a precious child of God 🙂

  5. Tracy

    Thank you so much for sharing your struggles! As a Mom of 4 who works full time, it’s nice to hear from someone else that they aren’t perfect and life isn’t always perfect. My husband and I have a very blessed life, but I still always wish somehow I had more/ could do more and that depresses me sometimes. We give a lot to others, but sometimes it’s hard not to think about yourself. My family is my life. And I have made mistakes in our family financially, but my husband has stuck by me through it all. I wish sometimes I could do what you do with coupons, but it’s hard when i work full time nights, have a 2 year old I care for during the day and the older 3 children to get to school, home from school and to any of their activities. Besides making meals, shopping, cleaning etc.. I sleep very little and that gets depressing many times too. But to know that you have been able to pull yourself from harder places than I am
    In, inspires me to try harder, do better and try to learn to love myself. Thank you again so much for sharing your story! I am so glad God led me to stop and listen to your video, I almost passed by it.

    • nicolegammeter

      Sounds like your hubby is very supportive! Things can get crazy with work, children, and life in general. All the best to you!

  6. Clif

    Thank you for sharing Collin!! You inspire us to be better people!!

  7. Christy

    Thank you for sharing your story with your readers! I know that you’ve touched a lot of people with your couponing but who knows if you’ll save just one reading by publishing this post. A very personal story but if you reach just one person then it is worth it. Sounds like you’ve found your greater purpose in life by paying it forward and helping others. I know that you’ve helped our family save with couponing and I’ve referred other readers to you as well. I’ve always thought you have the most adorable figure, great hair, a pretty smile and a love for life. Great job Collin!

  8. Shanshan

    Sending you my love Collin! May God continue to bless you with happiness, health and wealth!

  9. Jennifer

    Collin, you may not read this but your story and mine could be twins. I thank you for sharing your story and how you’ve put yourself out there for us. I know it wasn’t easy. Thank you for putting clifs story out there and couponing and your sit have changed our lives too. God bless you and your from me and mine. #crying myrtles out

    • Jennifer

      ^Crying my eyes out

  10. 1luv

    U. R. Awesome!

  11. Katie

    Love you Collin!!!

  12. Lacey

    Thank you for this video. Always remember that God loves you, and can help you through anything. Give it all to Him and he can lift you up and show you the many blessings that you have. Praying for you!

  13. Amanda Vasquez

    El Paso, Texas loves you Colin! You’re beauty inside and out

  14. lori

    Thanks for sharing your story – it will truly help many people!!

  15. Carrie

    Incredibly empowering and so very brave of you!!! The fact that you are so confident to share your struggles can change the perception that these issues are considered taboo. I have always loved Hip2save, but now I am honored to be part of your honesty movement. I believe your story will touch so many lives. Way to go Collin!!

  16. Margaret

    You’re incredible, Collin! Thank you for being authentic. We need more real stories in our lives. Thank you for sharing yours.

  17. Pandora

    Thank you so much Collin for sharing your story. I have been following your site since 2010 and have saved so much. Life doesn’t always happen the way you expect it to happen, but I’m a firm believe that everything happens for a reason. When I started following you, my husband and I were financially very stable, but couponing was such a fun hobby for me. Then, he lost his job and dealt with health issues. This was the hardest time in our life. Luckily, I was still using your site to help us save here and there where we could. Now, we are getting back on our feet and I still love your site. I hope you continue to blog for many, many years! Thank you (and your helpers) for all you do for so many of us.

    • nicolegammeter

      Glad things have turned around for you! 🙂

    • Jenn

      Pandora….I have been following since 2010 and I had just lost my job. Few yrs down the road my husband had health issues and also lost his job. Thank goodness for my stock pile!!!! I also saved soooooo much and still do with coupons! Our lives are finally getting back on track. Happy to see yours are as well!

  18. Tory

    Collin, You have helped so many and your transparency is brave and wonderful! Thank you for working so hard to share your couponing knowledge with all of your readers! I call you my “coupon girl” to my family and I know I’d be way more pumped to run into you at CVS than any Hollywood star. 🙂 I’m so glad that God has blessed you and your family and I hope he keeps doing just that!

  19. VB

    Wow you are amazing. I am glad you overcame type demons to find the light and found something that makes you happy.

  20. Nina

    Ur Awesome Collin! God bless you and your family! U help so many people!!

  21. Letty

    Wow! Thank you so much for sharing your story. I have been reading your blog since very close to its inception and have always loved your positive fun attitude. You are an inspiration! Thank you for all you do for the deal seeking blogosphere!

  22. BETSY

    Collin – you are strong and brave. You have accomplished and overcome so much. I’m so proud of you for who you have become, and for sharing your struggles with us. It’s wonderful to see you flourish on hip2save, and to see all of the people you help through your blog. God has placed you right where you belong – with this wonderful career that allows you to utilize your strengths, and as the mom and wife in the wonderful family you have helped grow. When times get tough, as they undoubtedly do sometimes, please don’t forget all that you have accomplished, and how intelligent, hardworking, and creative you are!

    • nicolegammeter

      Thanks for the sweet comment! 🙂

  23. Kristen

    I know i am one of a million comments and you might not even see it, but please know how much you have done for me over the years! I have followed your blog since 2010 and it has been so awesome! Thanks for all you do! I really appreciate you sharing your story!

  24. Leighton

    Very inspiring. Takes being at just the right moment to share such a personal story. I hope I am able to get there soon. Thank you.

  25. Kahea Maggio

    As if I couldn’t think you were already awesome enough, you took awesome to a whole new level!! Wish I found your blog years ago instead of a few months ago when I googled “how to coupon for beginners” and your videos popped up it was a godsend for me in so many ways! Thank you for doing what you do and impacting lives all over!! You are amazing!

  26. Amy

    Thank you so much for sharing this Collin! You are an inspiration! You have helped me to save myself too!

  27. Julia

    More thought goes into every positive comment ever given to you than any negative one. Without a doubt you make couponing hip. Thank you for all that you do, you are amazingly inspirational.

  28. Hkk

    Good job, Collin, I admire your courage!

  29. Tg

    Thanks for being bold to share your story..it’s incredible and I proration for many including me..

  30. Flomom

    You are so brave and wonderful! Thanks for being you and for all that you do!

  31. Angie

    Collin, you truly change the world! You make so many of our lives better every single day in big and small ways. Thank you for reminding us all to be grateful for what we have, and more importantly who we are. Your courage and strength make you even more beautiful!

    • nicolegammeter

      Very kind of you, Angie! 🙂

  32. Maria

    Thank you for sharing. That was very brave of you. I hope to be brave one day. Just not ready yet. But sharing your story gives me hope.
    I’m happy I found you 6 years ago.

  33. Lyndie

    SO much respect for you! I wouldn’t think that you had such troubles with just how great you are doing now! Such courage! You’re awesome!! 🙂

  34. joy

    Thank you for sharing your story and paying it forward with it and the coupon help you give. Emotional and physical help is a wonderful thing.

  35. Jen McInerney

    I’m sitting here crying! Thank you for sharing. I am so glad you have found your passion and so glad you love your life now. God bless you Collin and thank you for all you do! You really do make such a positive impact on all your readers <3

  36. Nancy

    Thanks for sharing your story sure this will help others . you have mad coupons as much a part of my life as breathing always look forward to your videos

  37. Sarah

    Just WOW! You are amazing! I have so many positive things to say about this video, I hardly know which ones to say! This is such a great reminder to me to NEVER judge someone for the way the act or how their life seems on the outside, because you have no idea what they’ve been through or currently going through. I have so much respect for you! Thanks for sharing!

  38. toni

    i was shocked by ur video. ur right about editing so much out of our lives to others. i never knew u had a weight problem or even depression. i have suffer so much on both fronts. i have seen a dr to help with my problems but still find it hard to be that perfect person. i enjoy watching ur perky videos that gets me excited about something or anything because when u suffer from depression its a struggle to have a joy of anything. thank you for sharing ur story. hip2save got me through providing for myself and my son when i was only making about 500.00 to 700.00 a month due to illness. without ur website we would have gone hungry and had no t.p. thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that u and ur family do to help others!

  39. J

    You’re an amazing woman. Thank you for your honesty!

  40. fan

    Love you Collin!

  41. Michelle

    Collin, you are courageous. You are strong. But most of all, you are selfless. Your deeply loving and giving nature meant you knew that those who mean everything to you needed you to be ok, so you knew that’s what you had to do. And sharing such a raw, personal story was so brave of you and an inspiring message to never give up hope! Thank you for all you do and the amazing person you are!

  42. Jocelyn

    Hands up to u collin!!! U are a true inspiration! Thanks for sharing

  43. Mary

    You’re story is true and sacred. Thank you for sharing.

  44. k13shima

    Thanks for sharing Collin. We love you and you inspire us a lot!

  45. vicki

    You are a remarkable woman Colin! You will not know the full impact of sharing your story and giving back until that day when you meet our maker..then he will say ” Well done my good and faithful servant” Thank You

  46. Vivian

    So brave of you to share such a personal story. It’s nice to see such an honesty. We appreciate your site tons.

  47. Rhonda

    I am 61 and have been couponing for 35 years. I wish you were around when I was younger..I had to figure it all out on my own. You are a blessing and beautiful! I still coupon and you have made it so much easier for me. Thank you for sharing your life with all of us. We all have our struggles. Love you Collin!

  48. Trina

    Collin thank you so much for sharing!! I just teared up. I work with families who often struggle with one or more of these issues. I have time and time again turned them to your site for help with budgeting and learning to save money. I think that knowing you have fought a similar battle will further empower them and help them realize that they truly are capable of doing these things! You have always been a huge inspiration to me, but now you are even more so!

    • nicolegammeter

      Thanks, Trina! 🙂

  49. T

    Collin- You are so brave and strong! Your story is so inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing! May God continue to hold you close and give you strength to keep doing amazing things!

  50. Babs

    Following Rhonda’s comment, I am 64 and have been couponing for a long time. I remember clipping coupons for my Mom. Your video was very touching…I cried too. You expressed your feelings so well. I have loved your website for years and always tell others about it. Your influence has been far-reaching and I love couponing more now than in the past and that’s because of you! Know that we are all one big couponing family and we love you, Collin, along with your family and Ma!

    • nicolegammeter

      Thanks much! 🙂

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