I now have the ability to post updates to the blog on Facebook, so some of you who are here may be new to my blog, . If so, I hope that some of you have found your way here...from there.
The following is a list of older articles in a series that I wrote during 2010, about how we use our money and about stewardship in general.
If this is a topic that is new to you, I hope that you will find this to be useful information. If this topic is one that is important to you, I hope that you will find something that encourages you to continue to be a faithful steward of what you have been given, in whatever way God leads you to save for YOUR family. Whatever the case, I hope that these articles cause you to think about your money, and whether or not you are honoring God, who is the one who has provided you with it, with your use of it. The articles are all listed here according to the articles original title. Just click on the title and it should link you directly to each article.
Shopping In Thrift and Consignment Stores posted January 9, 2010
10 Reasons Why You Should Tithe posted January 11, 2010
Crown Financial Ministries Money Forms and Helps posted January 12, 2010
Some of My Favorite Millionaire Quotes posted January 14, 2010
More...Millionaire Mindset also posted on January 14, 2010
Disciplined Finances posted January 18, 2010
Never Asked to Borrow a Penny Since (teach your children about borrowing $) posted January 21, 2010
Couponing, Is It Really Worth It? posted January 25, 2010
Coupon Shopping Trip Update... posted January 26, 2010
Coupon Trip #2 posted February 2, 2010
My Current Read(s) posted February 4, 2010
I pray that these old posts will have something in that is helpful, useful, thought provoking for you. If so, please post a comment. I always want to hear your thoughts.
Abiding in His abundant provision,
Lori
Showing posts with label Couponing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Couponing. Show all posts
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, February 4, 2010
My Current Read(s)...
Well, along with my ever present daily time reading God's Word, here are some others I'm currently reading...
Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey
by the ladies of http://www.thekrazycouponlady.com/
This very informative read about the ins-and-outs of couponing is also quite humorous. I have found myself, and my renewed couponing habit, on many of scenarios on the pages of this book already. In case you don't get the title, this is what you would say to the poor person(s) who get in line behind you as you whip out your multitude of coupons and price match advertisements. So, in your best Southern Drawl you'd just say, "You might want to 'Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey'."
Another book I'm muddling my way through at the moment is
Your Money Or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.
The jist of this book so far, is just the art of thinking through your purchases as it relates to the time of your life spent to make what you spent. Or, if - God forbid - you charged it, how long will you have to work to pay that off with interest!!! In other words, let's say you make $25.00 per hour in your career, which equates to an annual gross of $52,000.00/year. If you go to the store and drop $200.00 on a hand bag, you gave an entire day of your life to work for that!!! One whole day of your life, gone, for a purse!!!???? Or a coat??? Or a pair of shoes? Or a piece of sporting equipment?? Or a ___________________ (fill in the blank with your favorite purchases). It helps me remember, when I'm tempted to splurge on something for the kids, instead of buying at consignment shops, or really watching for sales AND couponing - just how many hours did Daddy have to work for us to go to the mall this particular trip. That's days of his life spent away from us! Sobering thoughts indeed, and I think you get the point.
There are a number of other books I'm currently reading, but sticking with our money saving theme, I'm only sharing these few.
Continuing to learn about how to save even more, by spending even less,
and as always -
Abiding in His grace,
Lori
Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey
by the ladies of http://www.thekrazycouponlady.com/
This very informative read about the ins-and-outs of couponing is also quite humorous. I have found myself, and my renewed couponing habit, on many of scenarios on the pages of this book already. In case you don't get the title, this is what you would say to the poor person(s) who get in line behind you as you whip out your multitude of coupons and price match advertisements. So, in your best Southern Drawl you'd just say, "You might want to 'Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey'."
Another book I'm muddling my way through at the moment is
Your Money Or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.
The jist of this book so far, is just the art of thinking through your purchases as it relates to the time of your life spent to make what you spent. Or, if - God forbid - you charged it, how long will you have to work to pay that off with interest!!! In other words, let's say you make $25.00 per hour in your career, which equates to an annual gross of $52,000.00/year. If you go to the store and drop $200.00 on a hand bag, you gave an entire day of your life to work for that!!! One whole day of your life, gone, for a purse!!!???? Or a coat??? Or a pair of shoes? Or a piece of sporting equipment?? Or a ___________________ (fill in the blank with your favorite purchases). It helps me remember, when I'm tempted to splurge on something for the kids, instead of buying at consignment shops, or really watching for sales AND couponing - just how many hours did Daddy have to work for us to go to the mall this particular trip. That's days of his life spent away from us! Sobering thoughts indeed, and I think you get the point.
There are a number of other books I'm currently reading, but sticking with our money saving theme, I'm only sharing these few.
Continuing to learn about how to save even more, by spending even less,
and as always -
Abiding in His grace,
Lori
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Coupon shopping trip update...
Well, I'm assuming none of you heard me scream, since I didn't have to! If you did hear someone, please know that it wasn't me,and perhaps you should have checked into it. :o)
Okay, so I went to CVS tonight. I spent about $70, and got close to $20.00 back in Extra Care Bucks. So, I'll be able to spend them later on anything else I want from CVS. If I use them to purchase more items that earn ECB's, then I just basically get the items free, and more ECB's to spend on my next trip. Do you see how this works?? It is a bit of an "investment" if you will, on the front end or the first trip, but by using coupons, and only purchasing items you normally buy, or would like to purchase anyway, not too bad.
The only thing that threw me off today was that I ran out of milk and Pull-ups for Sarah, needed them both, and refused to go to another store. Without that purchase I would have spent $12-$15 or so less. Their Pull-Ups are ridonkulous (as Anna would say, and I'm sure she will correct my spelling)!!!
So, without those items, I would have spent more like $55-$60. I used approximately $8.00 in coupons towards the items I purchased, so that means the actual cost of the items, had I not had the coupons would have been around $60-$62.00. Are you still with me?
My actual amount spent (on the sale items I went to buy) was let's say $60, less the $8 in coupons. I then got the ECB's which were about $18.00. So, that brings me to an approximate out of pocket of around $34.00 (when you count that I earned the $18.00 in ECB's to spend again later. They can be spent on any future purchases within the next 4 weeks.) I'm afraid that must really sound confusing. I'm not sure I'm explaining all this very well.
So, here's what I got for that amount (and I'm not including my gallon of milk and the Pull-ups).
So, not bad considering they are all things we use regularly and use lots of. I think I did okay.
Now, as for most everything else, here's what I'm going to do:
Okay, so I went to CVS tonight. I spent about $70, and got close to $20.00 back in Extra Care Bucks. So, I'll be able to spend them later on anything else I want from CVS. If I use them to purchase more items that earn ECB's, then I just basically get the items free, and more ECB's to spend on my next trip. Do you see how this works?? It is a bit of an "investment" if you will, on the front end or the first trip, but by using coupons, and only purchasing items you normally buy, or would like to purchase anyway, not too bad.
The only thing that threw me off today was that I ran out of milk and Pull-ups for Sarah, needed them both, and refused to go to another store. Without that purchase I would have spent $12-$15 or so less. Their Pull-Ups are ridonkulous (as Anna would say, and I'm sure she will correct my spelling)!!!
So, without those items, I would have spent more like $55-$60. I used approximately $8.00 in coupons towards the items I purchased, so that means the actual cost of the items, had I not had the coupons would have been around $60-$62.00. Are you still with me?
My actual amount spent (on the sale items I went to buy) was let's say $60, less the $8 in coupons. I then got the ECB's which were about $18.00. So, that brings me to an approximate out of pocket of around $34.00 (when you count that I earned the $18.00 in ECB's to spend again later. They can be spent on any future purchases within the next 4 weeks.) I'm afraid that must really sound confusing. I'm not sure I'm explaining all this very well.
So, here's what I got for that amount (and I'm not including my gallon of milk and the Pull-ups).
- 4 packs of paper towels (to stockpile for later use) there are 6 rolls per pack so 24 rolls total!!!
- 2 things of a higher priced lady's deodorant (again stocking up at the low cost)
- 1 bag of Lay's potato chips
- 1 bag of Tostito's restaurant style chips (I keep things like this on hand for drop in guests or for when we are going to someone's house and I need to take a snack.)
- 1 bag of Tostito's dip style chips (Guess who's having Mexican this week. We actually love these with Taco Soup!! I'll post the recipe for those of you who have no idea what that is.)
- (3) 12 packs of Mountain Dew (Todd's drink of choice when he isn't drinking his home ground and perked Starbuck's coffee). They were on special 3/$10.
- 2-pack small boxes of Cheez-It's (a family favorite snack - except for me, I don't like them).
- 2-pack boxes of Ritz crackers (which Sarah loves and I will use as topping on the occasional casserole).
So, not bad considering they are all things we use regularly and use lots of. I think I did okay.
Now, as for most everything else, here's what I'm going to do:
- I plan to take advantage of meat specials at Publix, and to ask their butcher when they mark down their meats. If I purchase organic meat, which is what we prefer, it is rather expensive. So, if I can get it on the days they mark it down, then bring it home and freeze or cook and freeze, I should be able to save a good bit on my meat again. I just got lazy about doing this. If the markdown time is some crazy time that I can't possibly take advantage of, then just the really good sales will have to do and I'll stock up and freeze then.
- Every other sale item from Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly, and other sources like that, I will take the sale paper to Wal-Mart and have them price match. I'll also use my coupons there. If CVS doesn't have any ECB deals that I'm interested in for the week, but carries some items on sale, I'll have them price matched as well. Remember if you do this that you must take the actual sale paper with you. You can't just go in and say, "Hey Lady, I saw these things in a sale paper for Joe's One Stop Shopping for 25 cents a pound." That won't get it! (I hope that made some of you laugh...)
For those of you who live in our area, I understand they've broken ground on the site for the new Publix!!! I can't wait to have one on this side of the mountain! I've got my Wal-mart, my bank, now a Publix! I may never go over that mountain again!
Logging off now and going to catch some sleep before my wild one gets up. She jumped from the coffee table in the front living room today, landed face first on the tile of the fireplace, and bloodied her nose. It's always something! I'd told her 4 times already just this morning that, "We do not jump from furniture", and I'd made her put the cushions back on the couch - she was jumping onto them. I suppose perhaps I should have let her leave them on the floor???? Good grief, and goodnight!
Abiding always in His grace, Lori
Monday, January 25, 2010
Couponing, is it really worth it???
Okay, so I decided that I would give couponing another try. Years ago I used coupons all the time, but got really lazy with them because I couldn't find a reasonable system for organizing them and keeping up with what I actually had, and by the time I had a grocery list with the item on it, that I had a coupon for, I either couldn't find the coupon or worse yet it was expired!! AAHH! What is the point! Are coupons out there just to drive us crazy? HHMM, I'm beginning to wonder. What if it is a ploy by the liberals to try to make all of us fiscal conservatives go mad? It just might work!
Anyway, I digress. I had heard of the "coupon mom"'s website, and ran across a book she's written in the bookstore the other day. The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bill in Half. In HALF??!!?? Without going insane?? I wasn't so sure, but being a sucker for a book, and having a perpetually teachable spirit, I couldn't help but wonder if this woman could make a believer out of me, teach me something useful, and help me to save a good deal of money every week.
Tonight, I spent several hours working on the organization of my new "little" system. I printed and cut out dozens of coupons from the internet for items we use every week or regularly, and especially for items that are on sale this week. After strewing them out all over the bed, at about the time he was ready to turn in for the evening, I heard my dear husband mutter under his breath (rather loudly) JUST SPEND THE MONEY!!!
But, being the diligent, keeper at home that I am, I am determined to give this the best effort I can. I've got my binder all ready to go. My first stop will be CVS tomorrow. Assuming they actually have everything in stock that is on sale, and for which I have coupons, I have figured up that my grocery/household items will come up to an approximate sale price worth of $64.00, for which - after using my coupons and receiving my Extra Bucks back (which is like Monopoly money that can then be respent at CVS), I will spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $ 33.00. Hey!!! That actually IS a savings of almost half!!!
Maybe this will work after all! The biggest part of it all, I hope, is behind me. Setting up the notebook, finding some coupons to get started with (I'll continue on with just my Sunday coupons now), I think really was the hardest part. So, now that that is done, hopefully things will move along more smoothly on this try. I plan to keep it up for at least a month, weigh the time that it takes to do it against what I feel my time is worth, and see how it pans out. I'm trying to keep an open mind, and I'll try to keep you updated as I go along.
Seriously though, ya'll pray for me, because if I get to that CVS tomorrow and all this stuff I spent time cutting coupons out for is sold out, you will likely hear my screams from wherever it is you may be. :o)
Abiding in His abundant provision, and hoping for a good shopping trip tomorrow.
Lori
Anyway, I digress. I had heard of the "coupon mom"'s website, and ran across a book she's written in the bookstore the other day. The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bill in Half. In HALF??!!?? Without going insane?? I wasn't so sure, but being a sucker for a book, and having a perpetually teachable spirit, I couldn't help but wonder if this woman could make a believer out of me, teach me something useful, and help me to save a good deal of money every week.
Here's what I've found since almost finishing her book, and perusing alot of what the internet has to offer on the subject (mind blowing in and of itself!).
- A better way to organize my coupons so that I can find them when I need them. I'm using the "binder" method laid out on TheKrazyCouponLady.com website. (Did I mention that I might know why she's K*R*A*Z*Y???) Anyway, the system seems to be more organized than the little coupon holder accordion type thingys I've tried in the past.
- You can spend entirely TOO much time trying to find online coupons for sale items on your grocery list!!! See, that seems to be the catch, you need to stack coupons with items that are on sale. If you can stack a "manufacturer's coupon" with a "store coupon" with an item that's on sale, then you have hit the couponer's jackpot.
Tonight, I spent several hours working on the organization of my new "little" system. I printed and cut out dozens of coupons from the internet for items we use every week or regularly, and especially for items that are on sale this week. After strewing them out all over the bed, at about the time he was ready to turn in for the evening, I heard my dear husband mutter under his breath (rather loudly) JUST SPEND THE MONEY!!!
But, being the diligent, keeper at home that I am, I am determined to give this the best effort I can. I've got my binder all ready to go. My first stop will be CVS tomorrow. Assuming they actually have everything in stock that is on sale, and for which I have coupons, I have figured up that my grocery/household items will come up to an approximate sale price worth of $64.00, for which - after using my coupons and receiving my Extra Bucks back (which is like Monopoly money that can then be respent at CVS), I will spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $ 33.00. Hey!!! That actually IS a savings of almost half!!!
Maybe this will work after all! The biggest part of it all, I hope, is behind me. Setting up the notebook, finding some coupons to get started with (I'll continue on with just my Sunday coupons now), I think really was the hardest part. So, now that that is done, hopefully things will move along more smoothly on this try. I plan to keep it up for at least a month, weigh the time that it takes to do it against what I feel my time is worth, and see how it pans out. I'm trying to keep an open mind, and I'll try to keep you updated as I go along.
Seriously though, ya'll pray for me, because if I get to that CVS tomorrow and all this stuff I spent time cutting coupons out for is sold out, you will likely hear my screams from wherever it is you may be. :o)
Abiding in His abundant provision, and hoping for a good shopping trip tomorrow.
Lori
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