Coupon Adventure #7

I didn't do too well this past week with coupons. My group made me aware of some great deals but I didn't seem to have the right coupons for some of them. :( The past few weeks I've lucked out with 3-4 sets of inserts so I would have several duplicate coupons. This past week there were only 1 or 2 inserts in the paper and I only had the 2 sets that my coworkers give me. So that made me limited on buying items this past Friday.

Store #1 - Publix

This was the store with the most deals (per my group) but I didn't seem to have the right coupons for most. I only bought 2 items but I did get a $.99 reusable bag for free! They had a cute Publix bag but for some reason the cashier didn't scan it. I watched him pull off the price tag so he knew. My guess is maybe they're free if you're going to immediately use it. haha

Retails at $9.56, I paid $2.60. 73% savings!

Orville Pop Crunch - retail: $2.99/each - paid: $1/each
Softsoap hand soap - retail: $1.79/each - paid: $.30/each

Store #2 - Kroger

As of 9/22/13 my Kroger no longer doubles coupons so that kind of stinks. I don't know if they will still do their 5 for $5 mega sale, but they weren't doing it this last week. I lucked out on 2 great deals. I did use coupons on other items I bought, but these were the only "couponing" items I bought. If that makes sense. haha I also had 2 possible freebie items but since I went so late Friday night they were all gone. :( So even though I still saved a lot, I didn't buy a whole lot.

Retails at $20.92, I paid $3.96. 81% savings!

Colgate mouthwash - retail: $3.59/each - paid: $.99/each
Crest toothpaste - retail: $2.29/each - paid: $.33/each

Sponsoring Shaida!

Over the past several years God has laid it on my heart to sponsor a child. I grew up in church and attended several Christian events so I always encountered the different organizations that sponsored children. In fact, my parents even sponsored a young girl when I was younger. They now sponsor another child through World Vision since the other girl was relocated. It's always been on my heart as something I knew I wanted to do, but I never went to the tent or raised my hand for a packet they were passing out. Last year at Christian Music Day, Compassion International was there with children to sponsor. I put a reminder in my phone that I wanted to check their site when I got home to pick a child to sponsor. Needless to say I forgot.

Fastforward almost a year and the local Christian radio station is promoting sponsorship through Compassion International this week. I checked the radio's website to find a link to Compassion's site. There was a list of over 150 children in Colombia, South America. As I was scrolling through I wasn't sure whether I wanted to sponsor a girl or a boy. I narrowed it down to 3, 2 boys and a girl. I wish I was able to sponsor all 3 but we can't right now. I immediately texted my husband and had him get online so I could share what I was doing and get his feedback. We both agreed to sponsor the girl. She pulled at our heartstrings. She is 5 years old and so beautiful. The other deciding factor, her birthday is only a few days away from the due date of the baby we lost back in June. It was like God told me she's the one we're meant to sponsor. :) Meet Shaida!

After I finalized everything I was looking back through ALL of the children awaiting sponsors and was surprised there were over 4,700. They have so many children from a variety of poor countries. I found Karol, a 3-year-old in Honduras, that is so precious! I couldn't believe that she's been waiting for a sponsor for almost 300 days. I can't believe how anyone can say no to that face or overlook her. I showed her to my husband and he wanted to sponsor her, too. I found it ironic that at first he was kind of against sponsoring, then he was ok with one, and now he's wanting two. haha Right now we can't sponsor more than 1, but we'll definitely be in prayer about it. I feel like God has blessed me in so many ways and the least I can do is give back. I cannot wait to receive my packet in 2 weeks & start receiving pictures and letters from her! Go sponsor a child!!

Coupon Adventure #6

After work I decided to go couponing since Publix and Kroger are both on my way home. I had a few things at Publix to check but nothing was really good. Kroger is my favorite store now. I may even start shopping there more regularly. I did get a confirmation from my coupon group leader that the article I read was true. As of Sept 22nd the Krogers in my area will no longer double coupons. :( It may be even harder now to get great deals but I'll still try. Kroger does have low prices & their 10 for $10 sales and 5 for $5 Mega sales are really good. And they also have a free item every Friday with your Kroger Plus card.

Store #1: Publix

Retails at $5.97 ($1.99/each), I paid $2.40 ($.80/each). 60% savings! Not my best but this was the only thing worth using a coupon on in Publix this week.

Store #2: Kroger

Took advantage of their 5 for $5 Mega Sale. There were a few items that were on sale again this week so I took advantage. haha I also am not sure how accurate my percent savings is on these posts. Kroger usually marks an item down & doesn't always show the original price. My savings could be higher than what I write but I'm still proud of what I've done. :)

Retails at $81.88, I paid $25.78. 69% savings!

DiGiorno pizza - retail: $9.19/each - paid: $3.99/each
Armour Lunchmakers - retail: $1.07/each - paid: $.50/each
Gillette bodywash - retail: $3.99/each - paid: $1.49/each
Emerald Breakfast To Go - retail: $3.49/each - paid: free
Frank's Red Hot - retail: $3.39/each - paid: $.79/each
Arm & Hammer detergent - retail: $3.99/each - paid: $1.99/each
Olay Regenerist cleanser - retail: $6.47/each - paid: $1.99/each
French's marinade - retail: $2.99/each - paid: $.49/each

God is so good!!

I just want to start off by saying how incredibly thankful I am for the people in my life and how much both my Heavenly and earthly fathers love me. I have been so blessed and so glad God has opened my eyes to see what all He's doing and has done in my life.

Both the hubby and I were paid last night but his paycheck was much smaller than I was expecting. Thanks to the army he now has to have his own checking account, so we created an allotment last month that would start 9/1/13. Long story short, we weren't made aware of how this allotment would effect his paychecks the first month so it seemed like they took out WAY too much. I was very upset at first, but eventually it started to make sense. Anyway, since his paycheck was so much smaller than we were expecting, I was pretty much convinced he wouldn't be able to come home this weekend for my birthday. This is one of my last big milestone birthdays so it was heartbreaking to think he most likely wouldn't be here. Technically we could afford it, but only if I transferred money out of our savings and we're trying to save money. For my birthday I gladly would've pulled from our savings because it's an important day. I vented to my dad about it and he basically said he understands how important it is that my husband be down here for my birthday & would gladly reimburse him for his gas because of how much he loves and cares for me. :) I love my dad! He's always "gotten" me and I will always be a daddy's girl.

So my husband was able to leave early to head here and he calls me shortly after he's left. I'm so used to hearing bad news that I was dreading picking up my phone when he called. I answered and he tells me that he just filled up for free!! His BP rewards card allowed him to fill up for FREE!! How amazing is that?! God is SO good!! He is constantly showing me that He will provide and all I need to do is trust Him. I am just in awe of everything right now. :)

Coupon Adventure #5

Since I wasn't able to go to Bi-lo yesterday, I decided to go today before sales ended and my coupons expired. I only had 4 or 5 things on my list to either get or check prices on but I wound up spending 2 hours. So much for a quick trip. haha I decided to literally go up & down each aisle to see what all they had marked down & compare it to my coupons. I'm glad I did that because I wound up getting a few freebies. :)

Retails at $70.53, I paid $22.77. 68% savings!

Heinz ketchup - retail: $3.09 - paid: $1.00
Era detergent - retail: $4.78/each - paid: $1.99/each
Scope mouthwash - retail: $4.99/each - paid: $2.00/each
Gillette shaving cream - retail: $3.29/each - paid: $.99/each
Glade air spray - retail: $1.49/each - paid: free
French's marinade - retail: $2.99/each - paid: $1.29/each
Mr. Clean magic erasers - retail: $2.39/each - paid: $1.59/each
Chi-Chi's enchilada sauce - retail: $1.39/each - paid: free
Bic razors - retail: $3.49 - paid: $.49

Coupon Adventure #4

After work today I looked through the weekly ads for Kroger, Publix, and Bi-lo. Kroger is doing their 5 for $5 sale again so I made a list of items I planned to buy or check in the store. Publix didn't really have anything I had coupons for. Bi-lo had a few things I wanted to get but I'll have to go there tomorrow to check things out. I was out later than I planned at Kroger and needed to come home, eat, & relax for the night. lol The best part about this haul is that I did it on my own. The prior trips I've made I was aware of the sales & deals thanks to my coupon group. I found these on my own!

Retails at $52.84, I paid $15.68. 70% savings!

DiGiorno Stuffed Crust - retail: $9.19/each - paid: $3.99/each
French's marinade - retail: $2.99/each - paid: $.49/each
Gillette bodywash - retail: $2.39/each - paid: $.39/each (surprise bonus that it was less than the others!)
Gillette bodywash (2 similar ones) - retail: $3.99/each - paid: $1.49/each
Cascade - retail: $4.37/each - paid: $2.37/each
Gatorade Recover shake - retail: $2.99/each - paid: free
Safeguard soap - retail: $1.59/each - paid: free

Coupon Adventure #3

Over Labor Day weekend I went to Publix to get a few items that I was told were on sale. They had several items marked down or BOGO. They had everything I went looking for except the Dole smoothie shakers. They were going to be free but every Publix was out. lol Not surprised though because the area on the shelf was very small. You can tell when other couponers have been there. lol One cool thing about Publix was I wasn't the only one shopping with coupons. I spotted at least 4 other people with their coupon binders, 3 of which were older men. When I checked out even my cashier was commenting how well I did.

Retails at $45.43, I paid $18.50. 59% savings!

Post cereal - retail: $3.22/each - paid: $1.11/each
Cascade - retail: $4.79/each - paid: $2.99/each
State Fair corn dogs - retail: $3.49/each - paid: $.99/each
Mt Olive pickles - retail: $2.83/each - paid: $.41/each
Tyson fun nuggets - retail: $5.99/each - paid: $2.25/each

Test of Faith

I don't know nor can I easily explain the way God has opened up my eyes and my heart the past few weeks. The sense of peace & understanding that He has placed on my heart the past few months is just amazing. I have no words to describe it other than amazing. :) Life has thrown a few curveballs recently and usually I would immediately get heated and upset and I would stay that way for the rest of the day, sometimes a few days depending on what happened. I have always wanted to be able to just let things go but knew I couldn't do it myself. I don't know what God has done, but I have been able to remain calm and understanding and trust that He has a plan. It is such an amazing feeling! What a weight off my shoulders!

This past Sunday Pastor Perry preached about money, explaining the difference between tithing and offering and why it's so important to God and for our walk with Christ. He explained it with a different perspective than I'm used to and it was like a light bulb going off. He then did a live sermon that night called Unleashing Your Finances where he went over 5 steps to free yourself from your finances and debt. Scott and I are having to face major financial issues in the next few months so getting our finances in order is going to play a major part in helping us get through it. Scott & I agreed that, since his paycheck is about to be changed, we'd start in November so it was less complicating. Pastor Perry even mentioned that if we follow these steps for 90 days, something major is going to happen that will cost a lot of money. Something will break, need to be replaced/fixed, etc. Something will happen to test our faith.

Earlier this month we were faced with having to pay late charges on his government travel card, which is a whole other story. Basically, his unit paid his card on time, but somehow the money was put in the wrong account and 4 months later, the bank refuses to waive the fee and the unit refuses to pay the fee and we have to pay it otherwise Scott will be demoted & possibly lose his AGR slot. Anyway, it worked out that I had an extra paycheck last month (thank you 3 Fridays!) and we were able to cover it. That is one of those situations that I usually would stay heated about for days, but thanks to God keeping me calm & my eyes & mind open, He explained things will be ok and helped me notice the extra paycheck. He will provide!

Back on point, another bigger financial situation has hit: a speeding ticket while in a school zone. The lights weren't flashing but the traffic cam caught Scott "speeding". (He was going 33mph in a 25mph school zone even though he was actually going under the 35mph limit.) The price: over $400. Yikes! My immediate reaction was to be upset and say to myself "not again" because we have gone through this multiple times and then some in the past 4+ years of marriage. I told him to fight it because this seemed unfair. I complained about it to some friends asking "WHY does everything dealing with money happen at once?! :(" After reading a few of their replies, God answered me. He's testing my faith. He's seeing if I will trust that He has a plan and things will be ok. Just like Pastor Perry said. I couldn't help but smile when I realized this. I immediately had a sense of peace. I DO trust Him and have faith that He will provide. I have grown up in church but this is the first time in my 25 years that I can recall feeling like this in my relationship with Christ. It's indescribable! I've always heard that if you ask God for patience, He's not going to give you patience. He's going to bring about situations to TEST & GROW your patience. Another light bulb went off. It makes complete sense to me now. We have a lot going on in our life between now and mid-October but I have faith that God has a plan and He will make a way where there seems to be no way. ♥ :)

Coupon Adventure #2

My BFF & I were aware of some deals & possible freebies at Bi-Lo and Walmart this week so we decided to check it out yesterday. My coupons are almost completely sorted & in their dividers so I was able to take in my coupon binder. It was kinda weird getting so many stares and comments about it. We even encountered fellow couponers while at Walmart. One couple seemed to follow us around the soaps & razors. haha They had the same coupons we did.

Store #1 - Bi-Lo

My friend told me about Kemp's frozen yogurt being on sale & we had a $1 off coupon. Bi-Lo was also doing a 5 for $5 sale but they didn't seem to have as many items on that list like Kroger usually does. We looked over the ad and didn't see anything that we had coupons for. That was kind of a bummer. We were told Brawny paper towels would be $.50, but of course they were out. I then remembered I had a $.50 off Sparkle paper towel coupon that Bi-Lo would double, making the paper towels free. We then head over to the frozen section to find the yogurt. It was Buy One Get One Free and with Bi-Lo's policy, you don't have to buy 2 in order to get the deal. I didn't need 2 cartons of ice cream so I only bought one.

This is my smallest haul, but still very proud. :) Retails at $6.69, I paid $1.88. Almost 72% savings!

Sparkle - retail: $1.00 - paid: free
Kemps - retail: $5.69 - paid: $1.84

Store #2 - Walmart

We were mainly headed there in hopes of using our $6 off 3 Gillette items coupon to be able to get shaving cream for free. But of course, they were out. Neither my husband nor I use shaving cream so no major loss there. Luckily, since I had my newly finished binder with me, I started flipping through my Health & Beauty section to see if I had any other goodies I could get. Some of my coupons are expiring soon (8/17/13, 8/25/13 and 8/31/13) so I was hoping to use some if they were a good enough deal. The hubby needed more razors for personal use and some to keep at the motorpool for weekends when his reserve soldiers forget to shave. So we picked up female disposables for them. I figure if you're going to forget to shave, you deserve to shave with shame. haha I was also aware of a Bounty sale and luckily they had plenty in stock. We bought other items at Walmart that we needed but didn't necessarily have coupons for, like milk, yogurt, and cat litter. These are just my coupon items. (Although I did save $2 off of the cat litter & my yogurt is always $1/each. Nothing major.)

Retails at $42.61, I paid $19.21 before tax. That's 55% savings! Not the best but still proud. :)

Right Guard - retail: $2.97 - paid: $.97
Lady Speedstick - retail: $.98 - paid: $.48
Bic disposables - retail: $2.96 - paid: free
Venus disposables - retail: $3.97/each - paid: $3.97 (BOGO $1.98/each)
Gillette disposables - retail: $7.97/each - paid: $7.97 (BOGO $3.98/each)
Bounce dryer sheets - retail: $1.97/each - paid $.97/each (I bought 6 using 2 $3 off 3 coupons. These were on sale at Walmart, not sure of the actual retail value before sale.)

When My Happy Gets Bumped

I subscribed several months ago to receive the daily devotion from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Today's was entitled "When My Happy Gets Bumped". (Click the title if you'd like to read the devotion.) I love when the devotion speaks straight to my heart. This one was perfect timing. Like most girls, I do have a habit of getting very upset over such small, stupid issues. I'm aware of the problem and have been working on it, even my husband has noticed. Yesterday we had one of our small fights that got out of hand rather quickly. One of the biggest issues in our marriage is communication. I'm very open about my thoughts & feelings; my husband not so much. In the past he's said he'll work on it, but nothing changes. Yesterday was one of those days. I was very upset about something and needed to talk it through with him but couldn't because 1) I was at work and don't like to discuss personal matters where others can hear and 2) he was also out to lunch with some fellow soldiers, but I didn't know this at the time. Because he was around people & knows I don't like either of us to discuss personal matters in public, he wasn't able to call me nor was he answering my texts. This went on for about an hour. With each passing minute I was getting more & more upset and hurt. I started thinking he was ignoring me and didn't care about how I was feeling. (I know now that wasn't true.) My happy was bumped for the remaining few hours I was at work.

After work I called him to explain how I was feeling & he actually opened up and shared his own thoughts & feelings. I was so happy and thankful! I still am just thinking about it. That was a HUGE step for my husband. He's used to keeping everything in because that's how he was raised & the type of environment he was in. So this was huge for him. I thanked him for opening up and told him how much I appreciated it. It made me so happy. I love when we have productive arguments and conversations. It gives me so much hope for our future. I woke up this morning still thankful for that conversation, so of course I called him. haha. His primary love language is Words of Affirmation and I try to tell him positive things as much as possible. I literally feel like my "cup runneth over". I know it sounds silly, but I'm so content and thankful right now for the people God has placed in my life. I have such amazing, uplifting, & encouraging friends and a loving, caring husband. I'm very blessed. ♥