Based out of Sacramento, CA, I own two businesses and am starting a third. While self-employment has allowed me the time and freedom to do the things I love, it has also been a roller-coaster ride for my bank account!
Many of my friends are self-employed, under employed or unemployed altogether, and while I don't like to "blame" the economy, it certainly hasn't helped!
I have made many attempts over the years to use coupons and "cut back", but it wasn't until our world was so rocked by our closing of a business, being without any unemployment (since we were self-employed) and faced with my husband's year long health crisis that I was forced to put all I knew into practice and set on a mission to learn more!
I think you will find that I am pretty realistic about the amount of time I spend to find a good deal. I currently do not have a huge stockpile or spend excessively on things I don't need. I DO, however, LOVE a clearance and am getting used to the exhilarating feeling of beating the retailers at their game!
My husband Dan and I still reside in Sacramento, CA with our "furry kids" and my mother-in-law!
