Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Anz.
Hi Brenda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Saving Our Way began with a very personal need: I wanted to find a way to make our family’s income go further.
At the time, my husband and I were raising three children, caring for our dog, and helping take care of my grandmother. We had a full household, and like many families, we were trying to balance a limited budget with growing expenses. I wanted to be present for my children, take them to their activities, and care for my family, but I also knew that making everything work financially would require creativity, discipline, and a willingness to learn something new.
That was when I discovered couponing.
I did not begin couponing because I was trying to start a business or build a brand. I started because my family needed it. Once I saw how much of a difference it could make, I made a serious commitment to learning everything I could. I studied store policies, sales cycles, coupon combinations, rebates, and stockpiling strategies. I researched websites and followed the limited number of coupon bloggers who were sharing information at the time.
When I first started, there were not many local resources available in San Antonio, so I reached beyond my immediate community. I connected with experienced couponers and online groups in other states, including New York and Chicago. I asked questions, listened to their advice, and applied what I learned. Those individuals were generous enough to share their knowledge with me, and their willingness to help planted an important seed: if they could teach me, I could eventually teach others.
Within only a few months, I had created a stockpile that helped provide food, toiletries, household supplies, beverages, and hygiene products for my family. Couponing gave us breathing room in our budget and helped us feel more prepared for unexpected circumstances. At one point, when my husband experienced a layoff shortly before Christmas, our stockpile gave us reassurance that our family would still have food and essential supplies while we navigated that difficult period.
One of my greatest inspirations was my grandmother, Olga Randall. She encouraged me to keep going and gave me confidence whenever things became challenging. She loved lipstick and nail polish and wanted every color of the rainbow. Through couponing, I was able to bring her all the colors she wanted—often for little to no cost. Seeing how happy something so simple made her reminded me that saving money is not only about numbers. Sometimes, it allows us to create moments of joy, dignity, and love for the people who matter most.
Once our family had enough, I began sharing what I had learned with relatives, friends, and neighbors. Word continued to spread from one person to another, and what began as a personal effort to support my household gradually became Saving Our Way.
As the stockpile grew, so did my desire to give back. I began using extra items to support people experiencing homelessness, individuals transitioning back into the community through the Bexar County Reentry Center, survivors receiving services through the Battered Women’s Shelter, and families and community members experiencing financial hardship. I wanted people to understand that couponing could do more than help one household save money—it could give everyday people the ability to help others without placing additional strain on their own finances.
Over time, I began teaching couponing classes throughout San Antonio and eventually expanded into virtual education, blogging, workshops, media appearances, and community partnerships. I also developed a partnership with the San Antonio Express-News that helped make coupons and free educational classes more accessible to the community. Since then, I have had the privilege of teaching thousands of individuals and families how to use coupons, rebate applications, sales, and smart-shopping strategies to stretch their budgets and become more financially prepared.
Through Saving Our Way, I continue helping people save more, spend smarter, build practical stockpiles, and gain confidence in how they manage their household expenses. I have also carried that passion for service into my work with Women Unlimited, where I help entrepreneurs and women access education, mentorship, resources, and meaningful connections.
When I look back, I realize that Saving Our Way was never simply about coupons. It was born from love for my family, inspired by my grandmother, strengthened through community, and transformed into a mission to help others. What began as my effort to make one paycheck stretch far enough for my household has grown into a platform that allows me to educate, encourage, and give back to families throughout San Antonio and beyond—and I am excited to continue expanding that impact.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road, but every challenge has strengthened my commitment to this work.
One of the greatest struggles was managing a tight household budget while caring for a full family. Balancing everyone’s needs required a great deal of time, patience, and sacrifice, but I would not have had it any other way. Being present for my children and grandmother was extremely important to me, and couponing helped make that possible.
We also experienced a difficult period when my husband unexpectedly lost his job. That uncertainty was frightening, especially with children and other family members depending on us. However, the stockpile I had built through couponing helped carry us through that time. We knew we had food, toiletries, hygiene products, and other household essentials available while we adjusted our finances. That experience showed me that couponing was not simply a hobby; it was a tool that could help families prepare for unexpected hardships.
Another ongoing challenge has been keeping up with changing coupon policies. Stores, manufacturers, mobile applications, and rebate programs are constantly updating their rules. Strategies that worked several years ago may not work today, so I have had to remain flexible and committed to learning. Because I teach others, I also have a responsibility to ensure the information I share is current, accurate, and ethical.
There have also been uncomfortable moments at the register. People sometimes stare, make rude comments, or become impatient when they see someone using multiple coupons. In the beginning, that could feel discouraging or embarrassing. Over time, however, I learned not to let other people’s opinions stop me from doing what was best for my family.
Those individuals are not responsible for paying my household expenses, caring for my family, or helping members of my community. I know that I am using coupons responsibly, reducing my expenses, preparing my household, and creating opportunities to give back. The money I save can be used for other necessities, emergencies, family experiences, or donations to someone who needs help.
The challenges have taught me to be resilient, resourceful, and confident in my purpose. Saving Our Way grew from a difficult financial season, but those struggles became the foundation for something much greater. They allowed me to support my family, care for the people I love, and teach others that there is no shame in saving money. Being financially responsible is something to be proud of.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Saving Our Way is a consumer education and financial wellness brand dedicated to helping individuals and families save money, stretch their budgets, and become more confident shoppers. We specialize in teaching practical couponing strategies, finding current store deals, using rebate applications, understanding store policies, and building a useful household stockpile without overspending.
Through Saving Our Way, I teach both in-person and virtual couponing classes for beginners and experienced shoppers. My classes break the process down into simple, realistic steps. Participants learn how to organize coupons, combine coupons with store sales, use digital coupons, earn cash back through rebate applications such as Ibotta and Fetch, and recognize whether a deal is truly worth purchasing. I want people to leave each class with information they can begin using immediately.
Education is at the heart of the brand. Couponing policies, applications, and store promotions are constantly changing, so I continue researching and updating the information I share. My goal is not to encourage people to purchase items simply because they are discounted. I teach intentional shopping, buying what your household will actually use, purchasing essentials at their lowest price, and using those savings to create more room in the family budget.
The Saving Our Way website is another important part of our work. Through our Latest Deals blog, we share current deals, coupon matchups, shopping tips, product savings, rebate opportunities, and information to help shoppers make their money go further. Readers can explore the latest deals at: https://www.savingourway.com/latest-deals
The website gives people a place to continue learning after a class and allows those who cannot attend in person to access practical money-saving information. I also published *The Savvy Saver’s Playbook* to give readers another resource they can use and share with others as they begin their savings journey.
What sets Saving Our Way apart is the personal experience and community purpose behind it. I did not learn couponing as a theory or simply decide it would make an interesting business. I learned it because my family needed a way to make our budget work. I understand what it feels like to stand in a grocery store and wonder how you are going to purchase everything your household needs. The strategies I teach are the same strategies that helped me care for my children and grandmother, prepare for emergencies, and support my family during a period of job loss.
Saving Our Way is also about more than individual savings. Once my family’s stockpile was sufficient, I began using extra items to help relatives, neighbors, people experiencing homelessness, individuals transitioning through the Bexar County Reentry Center, survivors supported by the Battered Women’s Shelter, and other members of the community. I teach people that when they learn to maximize their money, they may also gain the ability to give back without placing themselves in financial hardship.
I am especially proud that Saving Our Way has grown from a personal necessity into a trusted community resource. I have had the opportunity to teach thousands of people, work with organizations and media partners, and make financial education more accessible through free and affordable classes. I am also proud of the community that has formed around the brand, people sharing deals, encouraging one another, and celebrating each other’s savings.
I want readers to know that couponing is for everyone. You do not have to be an “extreme couponer,” spend hours in a store, or fill your home with products you will never use. You can begin with one digital coupon, one rebate application, or one carefully planned shopping trip. Whether someone has a limited income or simply wants to be more intentional with their money, there is no reason to pay full price when responsible savings opportunities are available.
At its core, Saving Our Way helps people save smarter so they can live better. Every dollar saved can be redirected toward food, bills, emergencies, family experiences, future goals, or helping someone else. That is the impact I want the brand to continue making—one coupon, one class, and one family at a time.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I consider myself a risk-taker, but I believe the best risks are guided by purpose, preparation, and faith in yourself. When I truly believe in a mission and understand why the work matters, I am willing to step outside my comfort zone and pursue opportunities even when I cannot predict exactly how they will turn out.
Starting Saving Our Way was a risk because couponing initially began as something I used privately to help my family. Turning that knowledge into a business meant putting myself in front of others, teaching classes, building an online presence, contacting organizations, and asking potential partners to believe in an idea that was still growing. There were not many people doing this work locally when I started, so I did not have an established roadmap to follow.
Reaching out to the San Antonio Express-News was another important risk. I knew people attending my classes would need reliable access to coupons, so I approached the newspaper with an idea for working together. I could have allowed the fear of rejection to stop me, but I believed in the value of what I was teaching and the impact it could have on local families. That decision developed into a meaningful partnership that helped Saving Our Way reach more people and offer educational opportunities throughout the community.
Teaching was also a risk for me. Knowing how to coupon for my own household was one thing; standing in front of a room and trusting myself to guide others was completely different. I had to become comfortable speaking publicly, answering questions, and accepting the responsibility of providing accurate information. Every class helped strengthen my confidence and showed me that growth usually begins with doing something that initially feels uncomfortable.
I have also taken risks by allowing the brand to evolve. Couponing has changed significantly over the years, and Saving Our Way has had to change with it. I moved beyond traditional paper coupons to teach digital savings, rebate applications, online deals, and new shopping strategies. During the pandemic, I adapted my classes to virtual formats so people could continue learning when they needed financial guidance the most. Each transition required learning new systems and trusting that the community would grow with us.
My approach to risk is not to act carelessly or move forward without thinking. I research, ask questions, gather the information available to me, and consider how the decision aligns with my mission. However, I also understand that there will never be a moment when every outcome is guaranteed. At some point, you have to believe in what you have built and give yourself permission to move forward.
What gives me the courage to take risks is knowing that Saving Our Way serves a purpose beyond me. The mission is to help families save money, become more financially prepared, and create opportunities to help others. When I remember the people who have told me that a class helped them feed their family, prepare for an emergency, or finally understand how to use coupons, the risk feels worthwhile.
I believe taking a chance on yourself is one of the most important decisions an entrepreneur can make. Not every idea will work exactly as planned, and setbacks are part of the process. However, I would rather learn from trying than always wonder what might have happened if I had allowed myself to begin. I believe in myself, I believe in my mission, and that belief continues to give me the confidence to take thoughtful risks and pursue greater opportunities for Saving Our Way and the community we serve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.savingourway.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saving_our_way/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SavingOurWayinSA/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saving-our-way-llc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SavingOurWayInSA/featured
- Other: https://www.savingourway.com/the-savvy-savers-playbook
