& Get $10!Interview with Dana Adams (Mrs. MoneySaver)
Published: July 7, 2010
Dana Adams is the creator of Mrs. MoneySaver, a blog dedicated to helping her and her readers master the art and science of frugal living. Each week, Dana posts great grocery and retail coupons and blogs about her own money-saving successes.
Dana enjoys working with her church’s youth group along side her husband, taking part in a local mom’s club, staying up to date with politics, catching up with friends, and eating Italian food. Dana is a work-at-home mom who currently lives in Virginia with her husband and two children.
Interview Transcript
BeFrugal: How long has MrsMoneySaver been around? Your blog wasn’t always called MrsMoneySaver was it?
Dana Adams: I’ve been blogging since April 2008, but my blog was originally called Frugal in Virginia. I really just started my blog and picked the name Frugal in Virginia on a whim. I never thought anyone other than my family would read my blog, and I was dissatisfied with my blog name as more people began reading.
I renamed my site to Mrs. Moneysaver in November 2009 to be more inclusive of readers outside of my home state. Plus, this time, it’s a name I really like!
BeFrugal: Did the look and content of the blog change with the new name?
Adams: My blog’s content didn’t change when I renamed, since I had been writing for readers across the U.S. for quite some time. The name change was just a move to better reflect that which I was already sharing on the blog.
The look of my site also stayed the same when I renamed in November, since my design really had little to do with the blog’s title. (And I didn’t want to overwhelm my current readers with too much change!)
I did, however, get a new design last month. I’d had my old design for nearly two years, so it was time for something new.
BeFrugal: Are you a one woman show or do you have help?
Adams: With the exception of some occasional help from my husband, I was a “one woman show” until a few weeks ago. At the end of May, I hired a friend to help in an administrative assistant capacity. She’s been a lifesaver helping me with emails, blog posts, and anything else I ask. Having some part-time help has helped me balance blogging with the rest of my life a bit better.
BeFrugal: Being a full time mother by day and a coupon blogging diva by night, what is a typical day for you like?
Adams: Long! My kids are up at the crack of dawn, and we do the usual playdates, the park, errands, chores – all with some occasional email checking and blog posting thrown in.
I try to keep my blog work to a bare minimum during the day though, so I really dive into my blog each night after my kids and husband go to bed, usually by 10. I then work for 3-5 hours, except on weekends when I work very little. I’m thankful I’ve never been one to need much sleep!
BeFrugal: Your blog says you are attempting to “master the art and science of frugal living”. What is the one area most people can easily save more money?
Adams: Most people can easily save on health and beauty products. (I’ve cut my health and beauty spending by over 90% without sacrificing quality.) Drugstores such as CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid run sales each week, often offering free or close to free products. It may take a few weeks to get the hang of a drugstore’s sale system, but the little time invested at the beginning will net you big savings in the long run.
BeFrugal: In your opinion, what is the main reason most people pay more than they need to on many products?
Adams: I think people often pay more than they need to due to a lack of planning ahead. I’m nearly always, except for perishable food items, buying for my family weeks or months in advance. I take advantage of grocery sales and stock up on items we frequently use when the prices are lowest, instead of waiting to buy only when we run out.
The same principle works for gifts. Christmas shopping doesn’t need to surprise anyone and cost a fortune each year. I start looking for thoughtful and inexpensive gifts months in advance, rather than paying more when the traditional Christmas shopping season arrives. A little planning ahead for future needs saves a ton!
BeFrugal: Do you have a local community or online project(s) you are passionate about?
Adams: Currently, I have two online projects: Kutanga Media and Relevant conference. Kutanga is a social media promotions company I’ve just launched with three other bloggers, and Relevant is an October 2010 women’s blogging conference. Locally, my husband and I are involved with our church’s youth group.
BeFrugal: What are some of the most memorable deals you have found for your family?
Adams: Oh, there are so many! But one of my favorites is a hotel offer I found a couple of years ago. While my husband and I were planning for a weekend getaway, I found a coupon code that allowed us to get a hotel that was regularly priced at over $300 for less than $50. It was a beautiful hotel, and I think we enjoyed our stay much more knowing how little we spent!
BeFrugal: What type coupons generate the most excitement for your users? Are they grocery, apparel, or services coupons?
Adams: My readers just generally love coupons, but they really seem most excited by restaurant coupons, especially for places that may usually be budget stretchers. A money-saving coupon to a nice restaurant often allows people to eat out someplace they might not otherwise have been able to afford.
BeFrugal: In your blog you mention that you enjoy eating Italian food ( who doesn’t!). Do you have a ‘go to’ Italian dish you and your family love and are you able to find coupons to purchase the ingredients?
Adams: While I love cheese-filled pasta dishes, my husband and daughter most enjoy spaghetti. I usually use whole grain or wheat pasta along with marinara sauce, sautéed mushrooms and green peppers.
There’s been a recent increase in shoppers purchasing healthier pastas, so coupons for those varieties are always available in newspapers and on company websites. While we’re pretty picky about what sauces we use, I stock on those that we enjoy when they go on sale and I have coupons.
****End of Interview****
If you want to hear more money-saving tips from Dana and find the latest grocery and retail coupons all in one stop, be sure to check out her blog Mrs. MoneySaver.