Super savers share secrets to saving money and building bank accounts

TAMPA - Every year, millions of Americans resolve to get a handle on their finances. I recently met a couple of families who have found different ways to make the most out of every dollar.

Necessity forced stay-at-home mother Janet Paula to fund this past Christmas on a shoestring budget.  The Riverview resident poured her money-saving savvy into holiday saving.  

The result:  She bought dozens of gifts for her four boys, and spent a total of less than $100.

In part, Paula used store loyalty programs from Walgreen's and Target. Both offer customers free gift cards and register rewards that spend like cash.  Paula then stacks store coupons with those free gift cards to deepen her discount.

The super saver bought 30 gifts for her boys and spent a little over $30 total.  She also downloads free point-based phone apps that reward her with $5 and $10 gift cards when she shops at certain stores and online.  "You would earn 10 points just for scanning the item whether you buy it or not," said Paula.

Paula’s favorite apps are 'Check in to Win,' 'Shop Kick' and 'Check Points.'

Just a few miles away, budget-minded Beth Shirley takes a different approach to saving money.  "We document all the money we have coming in for the month.  We subtract all that money going out for bills.  What ever is left over we use at our discretion,” said Shirley.

This family once lived paycheck to paycheck.  A budget helped them find an extra $600 a month.  Then Shirley sought out more ways to squeeze the most out of every dollar.

She uses Amazon.com's 'Subscribe and Save' and the 'Amazon Mom' program to get discounted household and baby items.

She saves another $180 just by paying her auto insurance every six months instead of a monthly payment.

And when they eat out, the Shirleys combine restaurant coupons with any gift cards received at Christmas so they eat dinner for the cost of a tip.