You may have heard about her on KOCO Channel 5 news or on 98.9's "Jack and Ron" program. Perhaps you found her website ConsumerQueen.com while searching for online coupons.
If you're not familiar with Oklahoma's self-described "Coupon Queen," you may want to pay attention because Melissa Garcia says she can save you a lot of money.
Necessity the Mother of Invention
A stay-at-home mom since 1995, Garcia started by simply being practical. With two children and a tight budget, she began searching the internet for bargains, chatting with other moms who clipped coupons and saving money any way she could. After realizing the potential, she felt the need to spread the word."I wanted to be a stay at home mom, but I still wanted to feel like I was contributing to my family," Garcia tells me. "I knew that there were other moms struggling with the decision to stay home as well and I wanted to help but I knew I couldn't do it financially."Garcia began by sharing the money-saving ideas with her friends and family. Getting free stuff and cutting huge amounts off the grocery bill total became a regular occurrence. That's when the website went up.
Donning the Crown
It wasn't long before the word got out. A couple hundred members ballooned to 5000 after profiles of Garcia appeared on Channel 5 news and other local media outlets. Suddenly the little money-saving venture was a hit, and the "Coupon Queen" was crowned."I never thought my website would get as big as it has," Garcia says. "It's now become a network for moms to share their money saving tips from all over the U.S."The website offers tips on coupons, of course. Everything is covered including:
- Where to find them
- How best to keep coupons organized
- Understanding coupon terms
- And special tips on brands
Noble Pursuits
To Garcia, though, the success of the website is about much more than just saving money. In large part, it's a mechanism for charity and camaraderie. Along with helping families in financial need with her tips, the "Coupon Queen" actively encourages visitors to do something good with their savings."This year I have decided to make the Battered Women's Shelter our "official" charity," Garcia says. "I will be teaching coupon classes there soon."In addition, Garcia never charges for membership to her message board, a place where coupon-clippers can come together to discuss great deals or just offer each other support in times of difficulty.
Growing the Royal Family
The mission now for Oklahoma's "Coupon Queen" is to go national. The website affords her the opportunity to reach beyond the state and pass her tips around to people all across the country. After all, there are so many out there who can benefit."Our goal is to help people," she says simply. "And the more people we can tell, the more people we can help."To join in the pursuit, you can visit the "Coupon Queen" online and sign up for her newsletter through the Consumer Queen Message Board.
