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. Grateful

    You are so real and so right, we all deal with something. Thanks to Christ’s atonement and our own agency, we have the opportunity to change and improve on our journey back home. A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying, right?! Much love to you and your amazing family 🙂

    • Josie

      Beautiful comment to Collin’s wonderful video. I, too, am always asking God and Jesus Christ for his help in all my struggles. I feel them there in my life when I ask them to be and they help me. I’d like all my weaknesses to go away in an instant just because I ask them, but that isn’t how it works. It really is one day at a time and I feel myself grow a little(and back pedal a little), but get stronger overall. We love you Collin. i think this will help many people that feel low. Yes, sometimes your life looks so perfect and it’s hard to feel like an average person can measure up. Knowing you poop every day like most people helps though. Sorry, just had to say it!

  2. Alina

    Thank you for your touching story. I admire you even more than before!

    • nicolegammeter

      So kind of you, Alina! 🙂

  3. Alina

    Thank you for touching story. I admire you even more than before!

  4. mccom13

    Collin, you are an amazing, strong, beautiful woman–& i SO admire your inner strength & perseverance! thank so so much for sharing your story & allowing us to see more of your life, both how it was in the past & now. <3

  5. Cari

    Thank you for sharing your story and your life with us. It was truly inspiring, encouraging, and touching. Thank you again for all you do.

  6. Irina

    Thank you for being so real and honest! Always liked you and am so happy for you for what you`ve achieved. You are even more of an inspiration now that I know what you went through.

  7. Bea

    😍 you left me in tears woman!! God bless you for being a POSITIVE role model to many of us!!!!!! Absolutely LOVE seeing your videos & feeling your positive vibes come thru the screen!!!

  8. Melissa Hansson

    Collin, thank you for being brave and strong and smart and giving. Wishing you and your family so much love and happiness.

    Like you said, we all struggle with something. Thank you for choosing to post this video. I hope all of us — who have been positively affected by your work here and by your vibrant personality — can give you encouragement and peace, too.

    • nicolegammeter

      Love and happiness to you too! 🙂

  9. Jkp

    Ditto Bea.

  10. Kathleen

    You rock!!!!!!!!! Beautiful inside and out.

  11. Lisa

    It helps to be reminded that we really never know what issues others struggle unless we’re extremely close to them. Thank you for being so open, brave and honest.

    I’ve always thought of you as highly intelligent. It was very surprising to hear you have felt insecure in that area. You are the driving force behind the best coupon site on the Internet. You have to be very intelligent to do that.

    You have a great personality. You’re extremely likable, obviously very caring and you have a great sense of humor. I hope going forward that you’re able to appreciate in yourself all the positives your readers see in you.

    Thanks again for your openness and honesty. You’re an inspiration.

  12. Julie

    Hey Collin thanks so much for sharing your story, my family has been following your blog for over 4 yrs now and we do not know what we would do without you. You have saved our family so much money over the years. I check out your site several times every day.

  13. Carolina

    Collin , I love you , I love your courage To stand up and fight ❤️ I didn’t had a great life but know I’m 22 ,I have a 4 and a 1 year old girls , a great husband that is my rock I love my life and I love it more sense I started following you and save lots of money and be able to enjoy more with the extra money , thank you so much ❤️❤️for the hard work you put on you job

  14. Autumn

    2 years ago this month I got interested in coupons and what they could do for my family. I remember googling for a website to teach me the ropes. Your website was the first one I clicked on. You taught me everything I know about this couponing thing, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    I have always been a loyal follower and I am impressed by your honesty. I love you Collin, and this just makes me love you more. We all have our struggles, and it’s amazing how things like coupons can change our lives. My first son was 4 months old when I started following you and couponing in 2013, now my second son is 4 months old. We have never paid full price for diapers, and I thank you for that. I had never set foot into a CVS, Rite Aid, or Walgreen’s before I started couponing. Couponing is an addiction all on it’s own, but a good one.

    You are awesome <3

  15. Amanda

    Thanks for sharing your story. YOU matter! <3

  16. Anne

    You are lovely…..inside and out.

  17. Natasha

    Hi Collin, thank you so much for sharing your story. I really appreciate you and all that you do to help others. Hip2Save was the first site I connected to when I started getting more into coupons and I must say, you have definitely helped me. Again, thank you for sharing your story.

  18. Monty

    You’re an inspiration to all. Anyone who can pick herself up like you have is fanastic!

  19. Lisa

    Way to go Collin

  20. Megan

    What a story of triumph and truth. You didn’t sugar coat it and that’s what makes your story so great. It’s true in this digital age, that most everything is edited in a way to make things look perfect. No one is. Thanks for sharing your story.

  21. kayla

    Collin, Thank you so much for sharing your story. I too was in special education throughout my whole life and felt like you did. I did things to fit-in and in the end I realized that that’s not me. I shouldn’t have to do these things to make people be friends with me. I got pregnant when I was 18 and in my last year of High School. I lost those so called friends because I was pregnant. Becoming pregnant was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I didn’t graduate because I was very sick all the time do to my pregnancy. But in 2011 I graduated for adult ed with the loving support from my fiance and my three girls! The greatest feeling is that I get couponing. I know how to do it when other people don’t! Again THANK YOU Collin for everything that you do! You rock!! <3 🙂

  22. Queenmum

    You are Beautiful & Amazing!!!!
    Thank you for sharing your life with all of us 🙂

  23. Kimberly

    This was such a brave thing to do ! I’ve always liked your “keeping it real” attitude. XOXO

  24. Mommy of 4

    Wow. God bless you and your family. You already have such a huge impact on people, but now you have undoubtedly deepened that. Rejoicing with you for your health and beautiful family!

  25. Jessica

    Collin,
    Thank you so much for sharing. I am in the military and have been suffering with anxiety and depression. No one around me would ever guess. Recently I have taken to purging to try to stay within the strict weight standards that the military has. Your video was very inspiring to me during this time that I feel so alone. Thank you, it’s nice to see I’m not the only one.

    • nicolegammeter

      You aren’t alone!

  26. Dorinda

    Collin you are an amazing person inside and out! I have been a dedicated follower of hip2save for several years now and I could never thank you enough for all you have helped me with!! I to have had several of your struggles and I always felt “dumb” growing up but coupons I just get Also! So there must be a special bond between us couponers!! Keep doing what your doing and always remember your loyal followers love and adore you!!!

  27. GAYLE WAMPLER

    Collin, thank you for being so open and vulnerable. As people, we learn more from people who “fall” and get back up than from people who never reveal their failures. You’ve helped me and I’ve been able to point lots of people to your site – and you’ve helped them too. THANK YOU!!!

  28. Dani

    Thanks for sharing..and surviving!

  29. christina

    Thank you for sharing your life story and struggles. You are an amazing woman who is an inspiration to us all. God bless you and your beautiful family!

  30. Cynthia

    Thank you for sharing your story.

  31. Rmrfamily

    Wow…this is amazing. YOU are amazing! My daughter got me hooked on you/your app. I look at your app in the morning on my bus ride to my office. I’ll be early retiring later this year and this is the best site to help me save! Question: With all the great deals you find and such, when do you get to sleep?! 😉 Keep up the great work and being an inspiration to all! We HEART you!

  32. Beth Fisher

    You brighten even my worst days Collin. Made me cry today…. I feel like we are long time friends, you inspire so many people. Keep up the great work and always keep it real. My Mema (grandmother) used to wear a shirt, it read…. “I KNOW I’M SOMEBODY, because GOD don’t make no junk”! I live by it, believe it and makes me feel special! May she RIP! Your Awesome, keep on believing it!! Thank you so much for all you do!!

  33. Rmrfamily

    I forgot to mention. You are so right that your site is not your grandma’s coupons! So much better than what I had available back in the 70’s (with a stepmom) and then the 80’s and 90’s with my own family. You make it fun and exciting! Now…off to watch your other videos!

  34. Whitney

    So proud of how far you’ve come. Your video made me realize a lot about me in my own life. So thank you for being vulnerable and sharing with us. May God help us both overcome obstacles in our lives.

  35. Rachel Davis

    You are so AWESOME Collin! Thanks for sharing you story. I loved you since I first started following you and I love you even more now!!!!! 🙂 P.S. I can totally relate to how important those “little pieces of paper” are.

  36. Nora

    All your other videos show your readers how beautiful you are on the outside, this video shows us how beautiful you are on the inside!!! While watching this, my respect for you grew with each passing second and I honestly didn’t think I could have more for you than I did before watching it! Thank you for reminding us all that our past may shape us, but it doesn’t define who we become!! God Bless you and your beautiful family Collin!!! xoxo

    • nicolegammeter

      Thanks for your sweet words! You made me smile. 🙂

  37. Colleen

    You’re an inspiration, Collin!! Thank you for all you do – we appreciate every second of your hard work!!

  38. sunnycarrier

    I’ve been reading your blog everyday since I found it, over a year ago. I love this blog, and I adore you spirit Collin. You are an amazing person. Thanks you for sharing this, you are truly one of the most genuine person have ever come across. Who would of thought that a coupon site could draw people in and touch them so deeply. Love you Collin!

    Jenny

  39. Bunny

    Collin, I hope you are sitting and relaxing at your computer and seeing how much you are loved by your readers. There are almost 1000 comments here already!!!

    You have truly touched so many people by your honesty and your everyday struggles. Keep up the good work 🙂

  40. Missy

    You are amazing and beautiful!!! The highlight of my day is checking hip2save and seeing what’s new!! Thank you for all you do!!

  41. StephB

    You are so beautiful on the inside and out!! 💕 Thank you so much for sharing your story! Your an amazing women! Lifting you and your family up in prayer! Thank you for always Putting a smile on my face and for simply being genuine, you are breath of fresh air!!! 😍😬😘💋 God Bless You, Collin!

  42. Amber

    Thanks for letting us into your life, your a true inspiration. Thanks for all you do!
    #teamcouponers ♡

  43. JoAnna

    Thx for sharing! Your site is the easiest couponing site to use. I share it with everyone who wants to start couponing. Thx for all your hard work!

  44. Lolita

    I love your site and normally don’t have time to sit down to watch the videos, but I stayed up to watch this one. You are such an amazing person, and knowing your story just adds to how amazing you are! May God continue to bless you in this journey!

  45. Carly

    Ever since I started following Hip2Save about 8 years ago, I have aspired to be more like Colin! Today is no exception! Truly a heart of gold. Several months ago I had reached out to see if Colin could share a Valentine’s campaign for a young girl dying of heart failure. Although she wasn’t able to, she encouraged me to share the event in the comments & she also sent the family an enormous cookie bouquet for Valentine’s Day! Several members of this community saw that comment & sent Valentines as well, helping contribute to a total of over 10,000 Valentines received for this sweet girl! Colin, your compassionate gift was joyfully received! Thank you for giving so much of yourself to your followers and for giving forward to those in need. You make the world a better place! Much love from Vegas!!

  46. Stephanie

    Thank you for what you do, and sharing this video! You are right, no one is perfect, and that’s ok! Hip2s ave has definitely had an impact on my life, I love it! Couponing is very rewarding, thank you so much for the great deals!

  47. Judy

    I just want to let you know you’re amazing! I am a follower since 2011 and you’re blog helped me save. BIG thanks to you!!!! 😊😊 #hip2saverocks!

  48. Vanessa

    Colin, you are truly amazing! As a new mom, I too wonder how others keep it all “perfect” on social media. Thanks for the reminder: Filters! Lol!
    Keep up the hard work and love the positive energy you bring each day!

  49. Nicole

    You are such an inspiration! I have loved your blog for years and seeing this video was eye opening. Everyone has problems and struggles and mine, as a young adult were similar to yours. I’m so happy to see you and your family so happy. I love your blog even more having seen this because you are real! You are truly an inspiration to all! Thank you so much for starting H2S and helping me and so many others!

  50. Donna

    Thanks for sharing your story. I’m glad you shared it, from your shopping videos you always look so happy and out going and had your life all together. It’s impossible to keep it together and it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who looks like my life it perfect, but in reality it’s a mess sometimes, and I mean that literally and figuratively. Colon, I love hip 2 save, I love saving money, it makes you feel good, and any little that can do that is worth it!! I have 4 kids and a full time job and a part time job and it seems like there is still never enough!

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