They’re not just your mother’s, or grandmother’s, coupons anymore. And that’s only one of the revelations you’ll learn about coupon user groups on Whidbey Island. Today’s couponers include men and women, young and mature, and in Oak Harbor, military and civilian.

Meet Amy Hannold, otherwise known to local coupon club members as “Whidbey’s Frugalista.” She heads up the North Whidbey Coupon Club, is married to retired Chief Petty Officer Rick Hannold, who served 21 years in the Navy and is the mother of two children, Grace and Ben. The club has been in existence for nearly a year.

Hannold said one of the aims of the club could be summed up in the motto, “Live a fuller life at half the price.”

“I was couponing before couponing was cool,” she said. “But one of the things that’s changed over the years is that a lot of the footwork and matching can now be done by technology.”

Opportunity to save

Attend a meeting of the Whidbey Coupon Club, and you’ll find an opportunity for classes addressing everything from pantry organization to tips for meal planning, not to mention helpful websites that guide you into shopping for savings on most anything you can name. Armed with information, club participants go forth to not only save money on family grocery budgets, but time as well.

You’ll meet people such as Janett Dekle, wife of Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Second Class George Dekle, and mother of a 3- and 7-year-old. She and her family are recent transplants to Oak Harbor. Asked about why she participates in couponing, Dekle offered a couple of reasons.

“I just happen to like getting freebies, for one,” she said.

Dekle said she also likes the adrenaline rush that can come with saving $30 to $40 on a shopping trip.

“That’s a big reason a lot of younger people are getting into couponing these days,” she said.

Today’s couponers also include people like Shari Harrison, whose husband, Bob, is a retired Navy pilot.

“I had couponed for years, but this class (Good Meals, Better Deals: How to Spend Less on Groceries), taught me a lot,” said Harrison.

Hannold has been actively working as a money-saving mentor since 2004. Since then, she said, her main goal has been to help people eliminate obstacles to couponing. Addressing the myths about couponing is a key way they accomplish that.

“For us, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we are forced to shop exclusively out of the coupon insert pages, nor does it mean you have a virtual mini-mart in your house,” said Hannold.

And although media and popular culture abound with shows about shoppers scoring fantastic, too-good-to-be-true deals, Hannold describes the focus of Whidbey Coupon Club as being something altogether different.

“We like to focus on three things: Taking care of your family, being prepared for an emergency, and being a blessing to others,” she said.

Organization is key

Hannold says one of first things the club seeks to teach new coupon users is good organizing skills. That is greatly assisted by access to the Internet at the group’s meetings at Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Available hand-outs include generic grocery shopping lists, coupon lists and other online resources.

Right now the club is predominantly military, but it is open to all, says Hannold, since people are universally interested in saving money.

Mary Neumann, one Whidbey Coupon Club member, displayed a copy of a magazine, recommended by Hannold.

“I’m living alone right now, and trying to eat healthier while staying on budget,” said Neumann. “One of my goals is to mass-prepare more meals, say, enough for 3 to 4 people, and freeze the extras, to eliminate eating out so much.”

Hannold notes that while some of their club members are completely new to couponing, others, especially military wives transferring in from other parts of the country, come from coupon clubs elsewhere. They bring along their own ideas and tips, which is all to the betterment of the Whidbey Coupon Club, as far as she is concerned.

“It’s been interesting watching new people come into the club, and form networks,” said Hannold.

Unique savings for military

“Military families on Whidbey Island have a unique opportunity to make the most of their income, while minimizing their expenses,” she continued. “Between the military coupons available to them, the commissary and Exchange privileges and the coupon club, they have all sorts of tangible ways to meet their goals. That may help them buy a house, a car, all while reducing debt.”

And while all those are commendable goals, they’re not the most significant outcome, noted Hannold.

“Saving money is just the foot in the doorway to lots of other good things,” she said. “It can be a gateway to new friendships, and a great spirit of camaraderie.”

Harrison offered another valuable side benefit, based upon her own personal experience.

“Have you ever had someone ring your doorbell, asking for a donation to a food drive – and you had nothing to offer? By planning ahead, and shopping wisely, you’ll find you not only can take care of your own family’s needs, you’re in a position to extend that same care toward others in need.”

Membership Opportunities

The North Whidbey Coupon Club meets at the following times and locations:

Fridays from 9:30 to 11:30 at the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Regency on Whidbey dining room.

The second Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

The next class of Good Meals, Better Deals: How to Spend Less on Groceries meets Saturday, Oct. 22. Cost is $10, which covers the cost of class materials plus door prizes.

To register, RSVP Hannold at nwcouponclub@comcast.net. Call  675-2338 for information on the North Whidbey Coupon Club.