Guess whose birthday it is today? No, not mine… It’s Springs Bargains’ first birthday! On December 10, 2008, spurred on by a wave of ninth-month pregnancy hormonal energy, I wrote the very first post here on Springs Bargains. Nope, no introductory post for me – I jumped right in and told you about an extra RedPlum insert in the Gazette.
Image from Jessica N. Diamond on Flickr
I think I had approximately 2 hits the first day – probably one fromy my husband and one from my mom, but it’s grown big time since then! I’m grateful to all of you who have spread the word, including the Gazette article and News First 5 segment that gave me a big break. And, I’m grateful to the bloggers who have patiently shared advice and tips!
So, I want some birthday gifts! ;) Tell me two things – one, how you heard about Springs Bargains, and two, how long you’ve been reading. I’d love to hear!
And if you’ve got a real-life birthday coming up, treat yourself to all the birthday freebies! Unfortunately, they don’t give out free food for blog birthdays.
I first heard about your blog at a Premier Jewlery party (you stopped by briefly) last August. I work outside the home, have a 6 year old and an 85 year old Grandmother to take care of all on a limited budget. Your evaluations of the weekly grocery deals in town are EXTREMELY helpful while I am trying to stretch my dollar. Thanks for all you do.
Happy Birthday, Springs Bargains!!! I love your blog, Carrie. Thank you so much for doing this. I’ve been reading your blog since I saw you on the News First 5 segment. I tell all my friends about you and how you’ve changed my life. Thanks again!!
hi~! I stumbled upon your site by just doing a yahoo search~! and it’s been a total life safer, as I got laid off this past year right when I had my baby. so been saving money on grocery and diapers and such b/c of your site~!~!!~ :O)
Happy Birthday, Springs Bargains! I heard about your blog through a friend who saw your segment on the news. I think it’s been since April… maybe… I’m so bad with dates :-/! Your blog has changed the way I shop TREMENDOUSLY! The first time I read you blog, I went to the store and saved 25% on my transaction, and I thought that was good!
Happy Birthday, Springs Bargains! Love your site. Even in Denver, it is a great jumping off point for finding great deals!
Happy Birthday!!! I heard about your blog through a couple sources. But the one that stuck was in the Gazette’s Best Of booklet. I was hooked from the first visit to your site. You have taken me to the next level of saving and cannot express how grateful my family and I are to you and your dedication of time to help us all save a buck! I tell everyone I know about your site and now most of my friends and family follow your blog. You are wonderful and I know good things are ahead for you with this adventure. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Happy Birthday! I heard about you through channel 5 back in March and have been reading the blog since then. I went to your workshop in April and have been addicted every since! I tell everybody that I run into that wants to save money about your blog!!! Thanks for all your hard work Carrie!!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season celebrating our Savior’s birth!
Happy Birthday SB! We moved here from Utah in the middle of August. I was shocked at the prices of food in comparison. Sticking to our budget was very difficult until my friend referred me to your blog. This is now my favorite site. I check it religiously. Thanks so much for blessing our lives!
Wow, that’s interesting, Angela! I’m always curious about the cost of food in other parts of the country, and I’ve heard several people say it’s more expensive here… I can’t *really* compare, though, because I don’t pay attention to regular prices, just sales. :)
Compared to Alabama, food prices here (especially sales) are cheaper! It helps that there is a lot of grocery stores to compete here. My mom and mother-in-law say they wish they could have the sales we do and stock up!
Happy Birthday! I first heard about your blog from the News First 5/30 segment in March or April. I have been reading it ever since!
I’ve been reading for about 3 months, and I found out about it because I chatted someone up in Walgreen’s and she told me about it! We were both going after the same deals, but I was using the grocery game. I’ve since canceled my grocery game membership and use the free websites she told me about!
wow! I had no idea that you only started one year ago! This is an amazing site and to think that you’ve only been going for such a short while! I first heard you on the Channel 5 broadcast. What caught my ear was when you said you’d show us how we never have to shop at Walmart again! I HATE shopping at Walmart and had many times said that to my husband, so when I heard you say that, I was on your site the next day! We have 2 kids in college and 2 kids in Christian school, so a lot of our money goes out the door in tuition costs, plus we have had huge medical expenses for our girls. This site has allowed me to be a “stay at home mom” for the last year after working for the last 25 years. My husband says that this is my new job – grocery bargaining! I love it and have you to thank!
Thanks for all you do to help so many save money! I first heard of the website through a friend and I’ve probably been reading your blog for about six months.
Only one year! I had no idea! I have been reading your blog every day (sometimes twice a day) for at least 6 months. I am very greatful to you for all the advice, education and freebies! You have taught me so much about grocery shopping! Thanks again and may God richly bless you!
After unexpectedly losing my job this past July, my husband and I decided that we would do everything possible to make sure that I was able to stay home with our 3 little girls. My Aunt Amy introduced me to your blog and I’ve been thrilled to save so much money with your tips and links. I feel so blessed to be a stay at home mom and I take pride in stretching every penny for my family. Happy Birthday, Springs Bargains!
I heard about your blog from News First 5 back in the Spring. I was quitting my job at that time and looking for ways to contribute to my family income. Now, I don’t bring in money. Instead, my job is to keep money from leaving our household. I’ve been quite surprised with my savings.
I found out about your site on 5/30 back in the spring and have been reading it ever since. I really appreciate all the work you do for the grocery reviews and other deals. I tell everyone I know about your site.
Ooooh… I wish I could remember how I found your blog. Was it the newspaper???? I read 3 money saving blogs, and yours is one of them. I have always been on a budget and tried to save money at the grocery store, but I am loving all the other deals around town that you provide. Thanks for all your hard work.
Wow! I think so far I’m the only one who heard of you through Moneysavingmom. I think it’s been about 8 months. I usually check your site 2 to 3 times a day. Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday! I love the tips in your blog! I think I heard about you in the “Best Of Colorado Springs” booklet? But I can’t remember for sure now :) Thank you for all your work to give tips on deals around town.
Hi I’ve been reading for about 6 months, after a friend of mine mentioned your site on facebook.
Happy 1st Birthday and many more… I’m sure! I first started, when I saw you on the News one night. I want to say it was at 10pm, though. No matter what time or day it was. Your site has changed my shopping life in such amazing ways!!! I love it! Thank you SO MUCH CARRIE! I appreciate YOU and the TIME you take from your life and family to help us all out with your wonderful website!!! Have fun on your trip. You deserve it!!
Happy Birthday!! I found you through a google search, I found other sites to save money and I figured I’d find out if there was any that delt specifically in Colorado Springs. I have been reading for probably about 6 months now!
I heard of your blog through my ministry mail system in May this year. Somebody posted about your blog. Since then, I’ve been visiting several times everyday and saving a lot of money and getting a lot of free stuff.
We have a very limited budget for groceries and it used to show on our dinner table before. Not any more. My DH has been telling we have actually been eating better than ever before! Furthermore, my way of shopping and menu planning have been totally changed as well. I now shop what is best deal and stock up, and then do menu plan according to what I have instead of making menu and shopping list according to what I need. It has been kind of being the Iron chef on Foodnetwork channel. It has been fun rather than challenging because I’ve always had most of the ingredients except few fresh vegatables in my pantry whenever I think of menu.
Thank you, Carrie and Happy birthday, Springsbargains.com!
Happy Birthday Springs Bargains! Wow Carrie! You have come such a long way is such a short amount of time!! My hat is off to you! I saw you on the KOAA website and clicked to your blog and have been here ever since! We love all of your tips and I pray for continued success to you!
My husband saw you on News 5/30 and told me about your site. I have been reading everyday since and I tell my friends about you too!! Thanks!
I first heard about SB from a “mommy-group” aquaintance. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom since my first was born and do everything I can to keep the limited amount of money we make. I really appreciate this site!
I found out about your blog when a friend “friended” you on FB this past summer. I checked out your blog and liked it, but was really hooked after finding out I was going to be downsized 1 day before my parents were going to be moving in with me from NY. I am so thankful for all the work that you put into this!! Not only to I pass on tips to friends in the area, but my savings have been so remarkable that each week my family now strives to give to our church food bank, spending the same on their food as ours. Thanks to your help Carrie the amount spent on food each week is still less than what it would be if we were paying regular prices and only buying for ourselves. I’m so blessed and thankful that I am able to help others while searching for work.
PS. I love how you put out a reminder to people that they can donate “free” items to food banks especially if it’s not something they eat.
Happy Birthday! I have been reading your blog about 4-5 months. I heard about it from a friend who has a friend that is a friend of yours! Whew–figure that one out…and you live down the street! Congrats!
Carrie – You have done amazing in just a year! I have no idea it was that new. I found out about it from a friend and share it with everyone from family to random people in the grocery store. I started watching the blog in late Spring (was watching CouponMom site before) and totally appreciate all the work you do to help us save money.
Happy Birthday Springs Bargains!
I friend recommend your site 7 months ago and it is my all time favourite!!
About 5 months ago I was looking for a way to save some money and a good friend told me she used your website all the time to find great deals. I took a look at it and I have loved it ever since! Even though I have recently moved out of the state, I still check out your website almost daily. A lot of the deals are available in my area and you have great online deals, too!
I heard about your blog from the Gazette and have been reading since then – April? I’ve told several people about it and want to thank you for helping me save so much money!!
I found the site via a search engine and love it! I had no idea it was so new either, since you have so much information on here! I visit a couple of times a day to check out anything new or reference sales/codes. I hope I can find a site this helpful when we move from here! If not, I may have to start my own!
Carrie,
I heard about SpringsBargains.com from the Gazette when they first introduced your site. I’ve been checking in ever since. Thank you….and all my friends love the freebie info I pass on to them.
I think I first found out about your site through the Gazette. Since then I have heard about it from a friend who attended your seminar. I have also had two encounters in grocery stores with fellow readers where we were both telling each other about this great local bargain site. :) I recommend you to all me friends and strangers carrying coupons. :) Thanks for all you do.
Happy Birthday and congrats on making it through your first blogging year Carrie! I first heard about Springs Bargains through becentsable’s Gathering and I’ve been reading since around March of this year! :)
I’m so surprised that it has only been a year! I learned about your site when my friend told me about her “new” obsession (saving money at the grocery store!) I checked your site out that night and have not missed a day since. Before reading your blog I never used a coupon in my life, now I don’t buy it if I don’t have a coupon and on sale! Your advise has changed the way I shop. I save about $75.00 per week on groceries and we have more food in our house than ever. My freezer is so packed full! I had to clean out extra cabinets to put the food I am buying now. With the money that I am saving we are going on a trip to see family we haven’t seen in years because we could never afford it before. I also recommend your blog to anyone who will stand still long enough for me to tell them about you! All my friends are now using your site and we text/call each other after our shopping trips to celebrate how much we have saved! So…Thank you Thank you Thank you for all your hard work!
I heard about you through moneysavingmom. I liked her site then, but it was crowded with stuff that didn’t apply to our region. So I’m happy to have you. I attended a workshop as well. I think I have been reading since the beginning. Thanks for your site.
I found out about your blog from the channel 5 story, but then never remembered to look it up. I finally thought about it one day but couldn’t remember what it was called. I searched through Google until I found it. I have been reading since about July. I love it! Thanks for all your ahrd work!
Happy birthday and congratulations Carrie! I heard about the blog when you spoke at my MOPS group at Vanguard Church. I went home to book mark it and discovered I had already done it! So I don’t know when the initial exposure was, but I have been reading it regularly since then which was early October I believe. Great work and thanks for all the deals! Our family is enjoying them!
Happy Birthday! My cousin introduced me to the money saving blogs a year ago this past October. I have saved so much money!! I found you through the BeCentsable Grocery Gathering. I am from Denver, but love your tips!!
Great blog. Never post. Always read.
:)
I am so thankful that God ahs given you the ability to do this “job”. You save me so much money and time every month. I love that you have a heart to serve the people and my God bless you in the next year. Thank you again for all the hard work you do.
Happy Birthday to Springs Bargains!!! My life has new perspective since I have discovered Springs Bargains. I’ve been keeping up with SB since I saw you on the News First 5 segment. I recorded it and was so excited to see it. I tell all my friends all over the country about you and try to help them where they are with what you do. Thanks again!!
Happy Birthday to an awesome website! I first heard about this from my sister. I have since had several of my friends join as well. I probably joined about 3 months ago and I couldn’t be happier. Thanks for all you do to help us all save money.
I first read your blog when it showed up in the “Best Of” by the Gazette. This happened very close to the time my husband got laid off, and we had to stop our spendy ways! I’m still not a super-couponer, but I have saved a bunch reading your advice and paying attention to store sales. THANKS!!!
I first heard about your site on the news. I went to your seminar a week later. I had NO CLUE what I was doing. I had never used a coupon in my life. But with the economy and times getting harder, I needed to cut our expenses. I am still learning. I am still saving money. Thank you so much for the time you put into this! You saw a need in Colorado Springs and meet that need.
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Carrie, Happy Birthday to you! I am so impressed that Springs Bargains is only 1 year old. You are amazing. I first read about you in the Gazette, but got the name wrong and couldn’t find you. Then a friend reminded me about you after he attended a workshop in the Spring. Love all the deals and freebies you have steered us to every day. Thank you so much for all your work.
Wow, Carrie! I assumed you had been at it for more than a year. That’s AWESOME! Congrats on the great job you’re doing. I check your blog often. I can’t remember exactly how I found it – maybe on BeCentsable, or possibly just when I was doing a search for grocery deals in Colorado Springs. I think I found it in February or March. Love what you’re doing, and would love to know more about how you juggle all of it with your 3 little ones!! (That’s the part I’m struggling with!)
I saw you on the News First 5 segment and have been reading your blog ever since. I love it! Thank you so much! Happy Birthday!!!
I am very blessed by all of your work that your put into it!
Thanks!