Happy New Year, Savers Club.
Welcome back to Behind the Cart, your monthly look at how Stumptown Savings is going.
Before we look at the numbers, I want to look at the people. You are the backbone of this project. To our newest members — Frances B., Dewey W., Grace H., Victor S., Peg H., Elizabeth M., and Minh — welcome to the club. We are now 184 members strong.
This time last year, being an entrepreneur wasn’t on my radar. 2025 was a whirlwind, and frankly, it was damn hard. But we built something real.
Now, we have to make it sustainable.
💰 The State of the Business
December marked my first month running Stumptown Savings without the help of unemployment benefits. Stumptown Savings is now officially my full-time job. To keep this resource independent and growing, 2026 is the year we have to move from "project" to "business."
In the spirit of total transparency, here is exactly what Stumptown Savings made last year:
Reader Support: $12,033.09 (Subscriptions + Donations)
Advertising: $1,558.54
Savers Club Cards: $180
Sponsorships/Advertising: $1,750
TOTAL REVENUE: $15,521.63
The end-of-year fundraiser was a flop. My goal was $8,000 to secure a solid operating foundation for Q1. We raised $1,460 from 31 wonderful contributors (thank you!).
But here's what matters: we have runway. That $1,460 covers my operating expenses — software, hosting, tools — through early March. That gives me exactly two months of breathing room to grow revenue before expenses start coming out of pocket again.
🎯 Help Shape 2026: Quick Survey + $50 Gift Card Drawing
Before we build out our 2026 coverage, we need to hear from you.
I created a quick survey about what you're reading, what you're missing, and what cost-of-living issues stress you most (spoiler: it's not just groceries). Your answers will directly shape what we cover this year.
Every response enters you in a drawing for a $50 WinCo gift card. We need 300+ responses for real data, and you help us get there. The survey closes at the end of the month.
👀 The 2026 Strategy
To be here in 2027, I need to grow revenue to $50,000 by the end of the year. That covers my operating expenses (which exceeded $10K last year, not including taxes) and allows me to finally pay myself a small salary. Here are the benchmarks I’m chasing to make that possible:
Goal 1: 500 Savers Club Members: Reader support makes up 77.5% of our revenue. I want to lower that ratio in 2026, but reader support will remain an important revenue stream to ensure Stumptown Savings stays independent. You are the investors.
Goal 2: 8,000 Newsletter Subscribers We hit 3,000 with an incredibly limited marketing budget last year. If I can secure long-term partnerships, I can invest in audience growth. We need scale to make the advertising model work.
Goal 3: Expand Coverage: You’ve told me it’s not just food prices stressing you out. In 2026, I want to expand into other "cost of living" savings — lowering energy bills, reducing waste, and general thrift. Reply and let me know: What is the one bill you wish I could help you lower?
🧪 Experiments & Events
The Dinner Club Results
Last month, I polled you about starting a Savers Dinner Club. The results were… mixed.
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Absolutely, sign me up! (17)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Maybe, I’d like to learn more first. (29)
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Not right now. (27)
Given the lukewarm response, I'm pausing this for now. The vision was to facilitate meaningful connection, but the logistics (reservations, grouping, deposits) are heavy for a "maybe." I’d rather focus energy on things you definitely want.
Savers Club Cards
Savers Club member Ricardo shared this shot of him enjoying one of the Savers Club Card perks at Parkrose Coffee Shop. What discounts have you used so far? (Katy Osuna)
There are now over 100 cards in circulation! You can also now buy them in-person at Way of Being and Fresh Love.
Status Check: Sales have been slow, but consistent.
Reminder: You have 5 months left to use them. January and February are brutal months for small businesses — go use your card, save some cash, and support our partners!
Want Another Card? They make wonderful gifts. You can order extras here.
⏪ Stumptown Savings Rewind
If you’re new here, you might have missed just how much ground we covered in 2025. A few highlights:
The Data: We tracked 5,000 egg prices (High: $1.50/egg; Low: $0.06/egg) and launched the Portland Price Tracker, covering how prices shift and comparing 21 stores.
The Guides: Published 4 Seasonal Produce Guides and a revamped Winter Farmers Market Calendar.
The Taste Tests: Blind-tested deli salads, doughnuts, vanilla ice cream, and rotisserie chickens.
The Socials: After years of blissfully being away from it, I relearned social media. Verdict? Facebook is dead, Reddit is tough, Nextdoor is surprisingly OK, and TikTok is driving real growth.
Thank you for betting on this project. Let’s make 2026 the year Stumptown Savings becomes a Portland institution.
Bryan,
Stumptown Savings
