Think About It Thursday - Praise Report, Using Coupons

Praise Report
I reported to you recently that Gregory, the baby who was facing liver transplant, was having follow-up bloodwork. Those results were returned yesterday, and I am thrilled to report to you that Gregory does not need a liver transplant! The doctor said it was a miracle. Of course, I know it was a miracle, and I give God all the glory. He is so good! Thank you for joining me in prayer for Gregory.

Using Coupons
There is a growing trend for using coupons. People are trying to stretch their dollars. It is jaw-dropping to see how people can save in excess of 90% off their total grocery bill.

Crystal over at Money Saving Mom is an amazing coupon shopper. Check out her website and see all the tips and techniques she offers for using coupons and taking advantage of in-store programs at CVS, Walgreens and Rite-Aid. You will be surprised at the deals available. Crystal posts weekly savings to go along with the coupons offered in the Sunday paper. She also posts links to online coupons and deals. If you are at all interested in learning how to effectively use coupons, I highly recommend her site.

I have learned if I want to be an effective coupon shopper:

• I cannot be brand loyal. I must be willing to use any shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper or laundry detergent or eat any peanut butter, frozen vegetable, cheese or bread.



• I must study the grocery ads, comparing coupons to sales, and plan my meals and grocery trips accordingly.



• I must shop at more than one grocery store.

I don’t know whether I will ever master the art of using coupons. I use them regularly, but I can’t seem to get the knack for getting nearly-free groceries by using them.

I try to keep my groceries to $150 every two weeks. That’s for two adults and one teenager, and that’s for everything – food, household goods and health and beauty items. I check the sales and buy extra of the best buys (especially meat, which I freeze) for future use. One trip I may buy a great deal of meat. The next trip I may buy household goods like cleaning items. It never plays out the same way. I buy many store brand items. If I have coupons, they give me bonus savings.

Once a month or so I will go to Aldi or Save-A-Lot to buy bulk quantities of staple items like canned goods, sugar, rice, etc. If you have never shopped at either of these stores, please give them a try. I like them equally as well.

If you go to Aldi, take your own bags or be prepared to buy theirs (five cents/bag for paper, ten cents/bag for plastic). And take a quarter to use their shopping carts. (You get it back when you’re finished.) I find many of their products are equally as good as name-brand. Money Saving Mom also explains effective ways for shopping at Aldi.

I am also a Sam's shopper. I have found there are certain things which it pays to buy in bulk. Yeast is the number one thing. Three little envelopes of yeast at the grocery are at best $1. There is 1/4 ounce in each envelope, so you are getting 3/4 ounce of yeast for $1, or $1.33/ounce. At Sam's, I can get two pounds (32 ounces) of yeast for $3.65. That's roughly $0.11 per ounce. Two pounds of yeast at the grocery would cost me $42.56! So if you bake and have a Sam's membership (I can't speak for Costco or any other membership clubs), buy your yeast at Sam's. Put it in the freezer. It will keep for a long time.

Do you use coupons? What shopping methods work best for you? Do you shop with a budget? Please share your methods. I’d love to hear your ideas.

Daily Bible Reading Plan
Judges 16; Psalm 89:1-18; Mark 7:24-37; I Corinthians 12:14-31

Thanks for visiting! I hope you have a great Thursday!

Blessings!