Aurora mom teaches others how to save on their household budget

Maria Tiongco Ramos' friends call her the "Coupon Queen" with good reason.

The Aurora mom says she has been able to save thousands of dollars over the past six months by using coupons, taking advantage of discounts and shopping sales.

"I've been able to cut about 70 percent of my household budget," Ramos said.

A shopping trip that used to ring up to a $200 tab now may cost as little as $75, she said.

What's more, she can teach others how to do the same, said Ramos, a certified educator with BeCentsAble.net. The Web site started by two moms, Kristin McKee and Chrissy Pate, looking to save on their own household expenses has been featured on "Good Morning America," the "CBS Early Show" and "Inside Edition."

Ramos said she became acquainted with BeCentsAble shortly after she resolved to cut down on her own household expenses late last year. A stay-at-home mom with four children, Ramos already was cost conscious.

"I've always been a deal hunter," she said. "I got it from my mom. She was a coupon user."

BeCentsAble's philosophy matched her own, she said.

"I really fell in love with their concept of being able to teach others how to save," she said.

Ramos, a former accountant, took the BeCentsAble training, which included oral and written exams. She now is giving weekly money-saving workshops at Panera Bread, 2775 Showplace Drive, Naperville. Turnout has been good, she said.

"With the economy the way it is, people are wanting to find more ways they can cut costs," she said.

Workshop participants are given a game plan to reduce household expenses by 50 percent in six months along with timesaving tips on how to accomplish their goal. The workshops cost $25, but participants receive at least $25 in coupons, Ramos said.

"With the strategies I teach, I can say that almost every time you go to the store, you will come home with something almost free," she said.

Ramos said some of her own deals have included buying brand name cereal for 50 cents a box, four gallons of Breyers ice cream for 27 cents including tax, and 40 pounds of dog food for $3 (not a dog owner, she donated it to her cousin's dog.)

Workshop participant Jashmin Mayberry said she was able to see similar savings within three and a half weeks of taking the class in early July.

"I've probably saved close to $200 on items I would ordinarily buy," she said.

Mayberry, the mother of a 2-year-old, said diapers are a big item in her household budget. On her first shopping trip after the workshop, she bought $97 worth of diapers and other toiletries for $42, she said.

"It made me a believer," she said.

Discount shopping has gone far beyond just cutting coupons from newspapers, Ramos said. Virtual coupons can be loaded on store cards, and special offers sent via e-mail and text messages. Some area stores offer price matching so that if a customer shows that a competitor has a lower price, the store will match it.

Grocery store customers who use preferred cards to gain discounts on selected products can obtain similar loyalty cards from an increasing number of businesses, Ramos said.

"Even restaurants have them now," she said.

Ramos acknowledges that bargain hunting takes some time and effort, but not as much as people expect. Often it's a matter of stocking up on a product when there's a good deal, she said.

"A lot of times, the money you save with the strategies you learn in the workshop can replace a part-time job," she said.

Ramos works to make it easy for frugal shoppers by listing store advertisements of sale items, coupons and freebies on her blog, mychicago.mommy.com. While her workshops focus on reducing the grocery bill, the Web site offers tips on saving on other types of items as well, she said.

She's also available to give presentations at coupon parties, take beginning cost-cutters on grocery store education trips and work with groups that want to hold fundraisers.

Ramos said she urges participants in her workshops to use the skills they learn to give back to the community. They might do that by donating discounted products they've bought to a food pantry or simply sharing money-saving tips with others, she said.

Ramos said the cost-saving mindset is catching. Her children are more aware of value shopping. Her husband, Jim Ramos, is her biggest fan, she said.

"Now before we go out, before we buy anything, he'll ask, 'do you have a coupon, do you have a discount card,'" she said. "He's my No. 1 supporter."

If you go

Maria Ramos leads BeCentsAble money-saving workshops on the following dates at Panera Bread, 2775 Showplace Drive, Naperville. The cost is $25, and includes $25 in coupons. Register at (630) 873-1264 or teachme2save@gmail.com.

• 7 to 9:15 p.m. Aug. 13

• 7 to 9:15 p.m. Aug. 21

• 7 to 9:15 p.m. Aug. 26

• Do you know someone with an unusual job or hobby? Let us know at sdibble@dailyherald.com, (630) 955-3532 or 4300 Commerce Court, Lisle, 60532.