All about… Extreme Couponing and Deals UK
For someone who started off sharing sales and savings on a Facebook group, it’s no surprise that Emma Mumford won the Social Media award at the 2015 SHO-MO awards. But her Extreme Couponing & Deals UK website is more than just some cannily spotted deals, with regular blogs about money and money saving reaching a huge audience.
Tell us about your blog.
Extreme Couponing and Deals UK is a money-saving blog which focuses on daily deals, freebies, coupons and thrifty tips. It’s still run by myself and I started up in 2013. I now blog about beauty and lifestyle over on my other blog ‘The Coupon Queen’ and deliver money-saving advice on YouTube also.
Why do you write about money?
I write about money because of my own life experiences. I was left in £7k debt thanks to a lovely ex-boyfriend of mine. I was 19 at the time and certainly ‘in love’. I wanted to help him clear his debts, so consolidated his debts into a loan in my name.
Once we had split up he didn’t want to know; I was facing life at only 20 years old in £7k debt and working part time, I saw no way out. Once I had found a new purpose in life which was being more frugal and learning how to clear my debts, I wanted to make sure no one else would ever be in my position again. I wanted to show people that no matter how bad things get, it gets better…
How did you start blogging?
I originally started my money-saving community ‘Extreme Couponing and Deals UK’ on Facebook back in 2013, after my friends nagged me to share my couponing advice with the internet. From there it has continued to grow and grow into the nation we now have – over 160k followers! I’ve always been a creative person and I wanted to create a separate, more beauty and lifestyle orientated blog and that’s how The Coupon Queen blog was born!
What’s your most popular post and why?
It’s a post about student discounts. I believe this post is successful because it really does help everyone. I have saved hundreds the last year having a student card, and I think my followers appreciated the heads up as now they all save too!
What’s your favourite post you’ve written and why?
I’ve chosen this blog post as my favourite. Although it’s not directly linked to money-saving it’s something close to my heart. Last year I opened up about my mental health journey and how my debts have affected me mentally as well as physically. If I could reach one person and give them hope that’s my purpose of the post fulfilled. I wanted to show my readers who maybe had no hope or felt in the same position as myself that it does get better, and there is always help available.
What’s your number one money tip?
Do your research – you can’t save money if you haven’t taken the time to research into the deals/coupons/freebies e.t.c. you are seeking. It’s very easy to miss things even if you’ve been money-saving for years, so the more time you take looking into the topic you are wanting to save money on, the more you will reap the rewards.
What’s your top blogging tip?
Stay committed, blogging can be a very thankless job. We all spend countless hours preparing and writing content we believe our readers will enjoy and read, so it can be disheartening when you haven’t had many views. I’ve been blogging for over a year and a half now on The Coupon Queen and I find writing content on the products and topics I personally enjoy and would recommend anyway is much more fulfilling than what brands want me to write.
Why are you part of UK Money Bloggers?
I’m part of UK Money Bloggers as I’m relieved there is finally a community in which we can all learn and grow together. I certainly don’t know everything, I’m still learning how to blog and the do’s and don’ts, so it’s nice to be able to have a community to go to when seeking advice.
Who are your three favourite UK Money Bloggers?
My favourite money bloggers have to be Kez at Coupon Mama UK, Lotty at Lotty Earns and Deepak from Latest Free Stuff. I follow their blogs religiously and have learnt great amounts from each of them!