Pierce student performs coupon magic

Working her magic for her family

Nicollette Ashtiani Roundup Reporter

Checklist in one hand and coupons in the other, you might find this petite mother of two working her magic in your local grocery store.

Nursing Major Rea Tiu is a very busy woman with a hidden talent known as extreme couponing. After being introduced to couponing from the patients at the nursing home she used to work at, Tiu began couponing to help relieve financial burdens.

“I have to do this otherwise it’s hard to survive,” Tiu Said. “I average about 60% savings every transaction,” said Tiu.

When Tiu began couponing five years ago it was as simple as saving a dollar here or there. She taught herself with time, practice, and eventually with a little help from social media until she perfected her talent to where she is today.

Paying off student loans, working as a full-time LVN nurse, raising two kids and being a Pierce College student for the past two years and counting makes spare time for Tiu a rare commodity. Whether it is scanning the Los Angeles Times Sunday paper or while having breakfast and clipping coupons on her lunch breaks, Tiu manages her time well.

While going through the Sunday paper and social media, she finds and clips coupons only for the things that they need. Sorting their coupons and keeping them in an organized binder for easy access.

“Couponing is so much easier now than it was back in the day. Now that we have smart phones and social media it’s not as difficult,” said Tiu. “One of my favorite places to look is on Instagram, on pages such as CouponsToTheMax or FreeStuffFinder,” said Tiu.

Tiu is normally accompanied with her children, 3 year old son and 8 year old daughter, on her trips to the store. She is currently teaching her husband of ten years, Edison Tiu, on how to coupon while their daughter has already picked up some of these skills.

“She’s trying to teach me, but I don’t quite get it yet,” said Edison Tiu. “She’s a really hard worker and this is just one example. I’m proud of her,” said Tiu.

Occasionally while shopping, Tiu is given a hard time by certain checkout clerks or customers at stores but she still enjoys the excitement. While shopping, Tiu even gives extra coupons or tips on saving to fellow shoppers at times.

“Once I saw an older man staring at laundry detergent for a while. I came up to him and handed him a coupon and told him which one to get, and he was really grateful,” said Tiu.

From canned goods to toothpaste, couponing, not only helps provide the basic necessities for her family. While giving back to those who are in need helping out in anyway they can.

Every one or two months, the Tiu family assembles care packages of assorted goods and sends them to their family in the Philippines. Tiu explained how although shipping is about $70 a package, the amount they save on what’s inside makes it neutral.

“Whenever we get a chance we like to help,” said Edison Tiu.

In addition to helping their own family, they frequently donate to food drives or school fundraisers when they can. One of Tiu’s colleagues, Jackie Santiago, explained how Tiu influenced her on how to use coupons.

“Rea is definitely wise when it comes to money. She taught me how to be frugal on many things,” said Santiago. “She is a good example to many working students,” said Santiago.