Aurora mom’s a real deal pro

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

In a down economy, where the purchasing public needs all the help it can get, Aurora resident Maria Tiongco Ramos is here to help.

The Aurora resident runs mychicagomommy.com, a blog focusing on ways to save locally, and teaches classes in the area that reveal pointers on how to save money while shopping for just about anything.

Her work is also being recognized on a national level. Savings.com just named Ramos one of 30 of America’s savviest savers, also known as “deal pros.”

The contest is the website’s effort to recognize the work of those who do the most to help the buying public save, according to Tory Whitney, of Launch Squad, who does the public relations for Savings.com.

“It’s a hobby, but it’s also a lifestyle these people have taken,” Whitney said.

The winners were chosen on three criteria. They had to have an informative blog, they needed to answer questions from the public on the savings.com forums, and they had to receive votes from savings.com viewers, Whitney said.

The winners will all meet at a conference Nov. 12 and 13 in downtown Chicago at the James Hotel.

“It’s quite an honor, and I’ll be very happy to meet the other deal pros,” she said.

For Ramos, bargain hunting began as a way for her and her family to save money when they went to the store. Once she and her husband, Jim, had four kids, they had to re-evaluate their spending budget, she said.

“I started seeing how much you can save, and I started sharing that with friends and family,” she said

That willingness and desire to share some of the tips and research she has found is what led her to begin mychicagomommy.com, and teach some of the local classes. She just wants to help local people save money, she said.

There’s things like Swagbucks.com, which is an Internet search engine that allows you to earn “swagbucks” simply for using it. Those swagbucks later can be redeemed for gift cards from various businesses.

If you plan to eat out, there’s restaurant.com. Some of the participating restaurants have $25 gift cards for as low as $2, she said.

“It gives people a chance to try out different restaurants in the area,” she said.

In the Aurora area, there are a lot of things people can do for free, or at a reduced rate, she said. Waubonsie Valley High School has a planetarium that teaches the public about astronomy. They give you star maps and show you what you are looking at, she said.

There are also building clinics at both the Home Depot and Lowe’s in the area, she said.

Ramos had a word of advice for anyone ready to leave their house to purchase anything.

“Go to different websites and see what kind of coupons there are,” she said. There are ways to save on purchases you normally would not think of. For example, having your oil changed, she said.

“The No. 1 thing people need to do is have a plan in place for what they need to purchase,” she said.

If you see a good deal, do not be afraid to take advantage, she said.

“If it’s free or a money maker, that’s one you’ll want to stock up on,” she said. “You’ll want to stretch it out until the next sale comes along.”