This week’s Twitter Tuesday Profile is on @FrugalMeg, a blogger working in medical records at a hospital near her Jacksonville, Florida home. Meg is proving that couponing isn’t just about saving a little bit of money– it’s about being able to give more to others. She and her husband got married a year and a half ago, shortly after Meg graduated from college with a degree in Biology. In order to make ends meet Meg started couponing and then she decided to share her knowledge through her tweets and blog posts at Frugal Fun and Fortune to help others save money.

OODC: How did you get started blogging and tweeting?

@FrugalMeg: I got into couponing right after my husband and I got married. I started following about 25 different money-saving blogs daily. I got to the point where I had so many friends, family, and acquaintances constantly asking me to help them with saving money, that I truly couldn’t keep up. I wanted to help them all, but there wasn’t enough time to help each of them individually. I saw how many money-saving blogs there are out there, so I thought it must be pretty easy to start one up! So I just decided to start a blog one day. I figured it would be the best way to help everybody out with saving money! I have loved every minute of it!

OODC: How has bargain hunting changed your life?

@FrugalMeg: Honestly, it has changed my life in many ways. First of all, my husband and I truly would not be able to get by if I did not coupon. It has helped us not only survive but thrive on very little income each month. Also, it has allowed us to GIVE to others in a way we never imagined possible. When we are able to get items for free with coupons, we buy them. We have a couple of boxes that we add food bank items, toiletry items, household items, etc. to throughout the month. We are able to donate to food banks, homeless shelters, women’s shelters, nursing homes, mission trips at church, and even friends and family in need. It’s very rewarding. With couponing, you don’t have to make tons of money to be able to help others out! Also, when you are saving so much money, it opens up more income for you to be able to give to others financially. Couponing to give is one of our strongest passions. God has blessed us with so much, and we want to give away as much as we possibly can.

OODC: It must take a lot of time to keep up your blog– why do you do it?

@FrugalMeg: Life is tough right now. Life has always been tough, but it is quite a bit more common these days, with how the economy has crashed. People are without jobs, without hope, and without the knowledge of how to save money.

I feel that God has blessed me with a gift. I have learned how to coupon, how to save money in every day life, and how to make a very thin budget stretch in huge ways.

To me, my blog is truly a ministry to other people. I have had so many e-mails come in with stories from people who are thanking me for helping them feed their family when they couldn’t afford to buy food before. That is why I do it. I’m here to help people through their financial battles, to let them know they’re not alone in their struggles, and to encourage them daily as they push through the dark times in life. During the hardest of times, we realize what life is truly about – the simple joys. I enjoy helping people see this, and showing them how much you can enjoy life, even when the money isn’t there.

OODC: What advice would you give others who are struggling to make ends meet?

@FrugalMeg: Don’t lose hope. Trust me, I know what it’s like to not know how you’re going to pay next month’s bills. My husband and I face that daily in our life right now. But I also know that God is faithful. He is our Provider. He knows what we need before we even ask. Try to choose joy from day to day, focus on what really matters in life, and give the rest to God. There’s always a light at the end of a dark tunnel.

OODC: What do you hope people get out of your Tweets and blog posts?

@FrugalMeg: Basically what I talked about above. I hope people can come away from reading my blog with practical advice on ways to save money, couponing tips, and ready to shop the store deals! I hope they have fun along the way, and find encouragement while reading my blog.

OODC: Who are some of your favorite money tweeters?

@FrugalMeg: KingdomFirstMom, TheThriftyMama, CouponGeek, and KayleyatChaChing.

Thanks for being a part of our Twitter Tuesday Profile @FrugalMeg! Would you like to be considered for an upcoming profile? Then just tweet me!