Published July 20, 2010
Susan Samtur is the creator of the Select Coupon Program, a website dedicated to providing its readers with the best grocery coupons. She also started Refundle Bundle, a bi-monthly magazine publication that includes information about refund offers, freebies, and other great deals.
Susan's title as "the Coupon Queen" came after the publication of her three best-selling books: Cashing in at the Checkout, Coupon Magic, and the Super Coupon Shopping System.
Susan grew up in the Bronx, New York. Before perusing the coupon business full-time, she worked as an elementary school teacher for eleven years. She married her husband Stephen in 1966 and is the mother of four sons.
Interview Transcript
BeFrugal: How long has the Select Coupon Program been around now?
Susan Samtur: Select Coupon Program has been around since 1982; we incorporated the business at that time. But with the internet it has changed considerably. The emphasis is that we supply coupons of choice.
BeFrugal: Was it a difficult transition from turning something you do in your daily life into a business?
Samtur: Things started slowly. My husband Steve and I were NY City school teachers. I started to coupon and refund back in 1973, and I began a magazine called Refundle Bundle.
We were very lucky at the time, because I was contacted by the media to do shopping trips and to help people save at the supermarket. Our business grew from my home-grown magazine into a business that forced my husband into early retirement.
I left teaching in 1976 when our first of 4 sons was born. There were growing pains, but it was really an American dream story.
BeFrugal: You are affectionately known as the "Coupon Queen." Do you enjoy holding this title?
Samtur: I love the title, and it makes me feel so good to see all the coupon princes and princesses around who have been successful at savings too.
BeFrugal: Do you make your family call you "Queen Susan?"
Samtur: No family member calls me Queen, but my husband should. I'm just mom to my kids, but I do a lot of the shopping for all of them, getting great bargains along the way.
My shopping has rubbed off on them, and they've gotten used to the idea that unless it's on sale and I have a coupon, they're not getting it.
BeFrugal: On a typical day, how do you balance your personal life and your online businesses?
Samtur: I probably have the best of both worlds. As my kids were growing up, I was always around. I had a separate office in another building on our property, so that made it much easier for me to keep work and personal situations apart. But it was good to be around when calls came from school, illness, accidents etc.
Our kids traveled with us too, and got to see all different parts of the country. They don't remember much, but two of them love to travel to this day, and one of them was actually potty trained during these trips.
Another benefit for me is that I can set my own hours. If I need to catch up, Saturday and Sunday are fine. I can still play Mah Jongg on Tuesday afternoons and not feel guilty.
BeFrugal: Onto saving money. What is the one area where most people can easily save more money?
Samtur: Today there are savings everywhere. Of course my favorite is the supermarket. Our A&P prints out savings on each receipt, and I regularly save between 40-60%.
And that has changed too. You can get internet printable coupons, electronic coupons downloaded right onto your store card, and link to all the various manufacturers' sites for additional savings. Combine them all with store sales, and you should be way ahead of the game.
But savings extend into almost every aspect of our lives: pet stores, office supply, drug chains, book stores, and home repair among the many. All have loyalty cards and programs that offer different rewards.
Just recently my son needed a new printer. Staples had an HP all-in-one on sale for $79. I had a $25 coupon and a $3 cartridge return coupon bringing my cost for the $129 printer to $52. I'll earn more rewards points on the purchase from Staples, too.
BeFrugal: In your opinion, what is the main reason most people pay more than they need to on many products?
Samtur: I think people are always in a rush and don't think that over a year, at $100 a week, they spend $5000 on groceries. If they could put together a shopping system, they could begin to realize a 10-20% savings immediately. It's time and lack of knowledge.
BeFrugal: You also have your bi-monthly publication Refundle Bundle. Can you tell us a little more about Refundle Bundle for those that don't know?
Samtur: Refundle Bundle is older than any of my children, and will soon be celebrating its 40th anniversary (1973) of when we incorporated.
The magazine is designed to offer and list about 300 various refund, coupon and freebie offers that are available. It also has tips and suggestions for saving. Much of it is contributed by other couponers out there.
Refunding, too, has changed with the advent of the internet. Many companies now offer refunds online. The proofs of purchase still have to be mailed in, but at least the information and certificate are available in a printable form.
BeFrugal: You are grocery coupon savvy so we have to ask, what grocery items do you regularly get great coupons for?
Samtur: Coupons are available on all products since competition and the number of items in an average supermarket range between 50,000 and 60,000. But the boxed items and new products offer the most coupons.
I haven't paid more than 50% for any cereal since I began. The same holds true for pet food, pasta, pasta sauce, paper goods, frozen foods, detergents, household cleaners, and health & beauty aids.
New products offer great coupons too. Stacy Pita chips were on sale for $1.99. With the $1 store coupon, I bought all the flavors since it went back to $3.49 the next week. Borden Cheese offered a new variety. Again, on sale for $1.99, and only $.99 with the $1 newspaper coupon.
I could go on all day about these deals. I just love them.
****End of Interview****
To find the greatest grocery coupons, refund offers, and freebies, be sure to check out Susan's magazine Refundle Bundle and her Select Coupons Program.
I love Refundle Bundle! It's a great magazine!