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Melissa Traverso of Saddle Brook and Laura Sabatello of Fair Lawn go shopping together five times a week. They spend plenty of time scouring the best deals through various coupons to get extra food, which they then donate.
"I've got neighbors and friends who give me all their coupons so I've got multiples of everything," Traverso told Daily Voice. "I shop seven days a week. I shop for other people as well."
Sabatello said she met Traverso while shopping and learned from her how to make the most of her groceries.
Any free items that come from the coupons go to food shelters, such as Fair Lawn's pantry. Liz Twiggs, coordinator of the pantry, said the shopping extraordinaires helped a lot of people with their thrifty habits.
"I think most people start out couponing for their own families and they end up with extra stuff," Twiggs said. "The fact that they bring it to us, that's so huge."
Items usually include pasta, sauce, cereal, health and beauty supplies, deodorant, shampoo and more, Sabatello said.
Traverso teaches classes to show other people how to save. She often does it in Saddle Brook and up to 20 people attend, she said.
It can take a newbie a few hours to find all the best coupons but Traverso said it takes her much less time now.
"At first it can seem overwhelming," Sabatello said. "But after that it gets pretty easy."
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