deals and more

So, it’s a well known fact that I like to shop with coupons. Why you ask? Well, it saves money and it’s like a fun little game I like to play. I don’t know that I could list myself as an overly competitive person, but I really like the rush and thrill that comes from playing the coupon game. Yes I know…I have no life.

I’ve had a couple people ask how, where and why I get all these coupons. My main sources are blogs – hence the fact that my Google reader stays full. I also find them in All You magazine, peelies – you know those little coupons that are stuck to products in the store, catalinas – the kind that print out when you check out of some grocery stores, and well, mom gives me some that she cuts from the newspaper when they are things she won’t use.

Why, and better yet, what do you do with all that stuff? Well, I do stockpile things and yes, I have a lot of extra things of deodorant, but it’s there when I need it and I usually don’t have to make one of those panic trips to the store when it’s the middle of summer and I don’t have shave gel! But, there are two other reasons that I really like to coupon.

A couple years ago, mom started giving us a FREE stocking – things that she collects all year long that are FREE. Yes, that means we have a stocking of random things, but they are usually things that we will use throughout the year. Like toothpaste, deodorant, razors, gum, etc. So, it’s always fun. Sometimes, she will get a gift card back from a store and then lets us use it to buy whatever. Last year I got some cool organizing things from Target. So, I decided this year to see what all I could collect. It has been really fun and sometimes it gets overwhelming and I have to take a break, but it’s cool to see what you can gather.

Another reason I coupon is for Operation Christmas Child. I collect things throughout the year that I can put in my boxes. For instance, this past week I had a $1 coupon for Reach toothbrushes and they were on sale for $.99 at Walgreens. So, they were completely free. Combine that with some toothpaste I got last month and those are two very practical items that I can put in my boxes. Also, at Walgreens, you can earn Register Rewards, or “dollars back” when you check out. I can turn right around and use those to buy 50% off summer items and have toys to go in my boxes. I know, it kinda sounds silly to be summer and packing Operation Christmas Child boxes, but its works for me.

It’s just a fun game for us to play. We are already getting these magazines or the newspaper. It just takes time to cut out and organize. Like I said it does get overwhelming and there are times I have to step away, but what’s a single girl to do in a small town on a Friday night!

Just to give you an idea of what I’ve done, here are some deals I scored this past week:

Example #1

I got all these items for 4.65 and saved 20.98 in one transaction

Example #2

I didn’t picture the receipt for this one because I paid with my debit card, but I spent $1.36 and saved $11.30. The Dentyne gum was on sale for 3/$1.98 and then there was a store coupon that made them 3/$.99 and I had a $1.00 off one coupon which made them free (at Walgreen’s you can combine a store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon). The deodorant was on sale for $1.99 each and I had a $1.50 and a $1.00 coupon, so I paid $1.48 for two deodorants. And, I was excited about this next one. The Green Works cleaner (which I love using natural products like this) was in the clearance for $1.89 b/c the back corner of it was dented in. I had a $1.00 coupon which made it $.89. So, 6 items for $1.36!!!

Example #3

Those knives are going to be Christmas Presents. It was funny. There was a friend in line behind me when I bought these and I felt like I had to explain why I was buying 4 packages of kitchen knives. I also felt like this one of those receipts that they go searching through a serial killer’s house for. I have no intentions of doing anything with these except for wrapping them up in pretty striped paper and tying a cute bow around them. They are already in my Christmas present box and neatly put away in case someone comes looking for me. I was really concerned though that the guy at the register didn’t look twice at me or even make a comment. I guess that’s why I wouldn’t make a good cashier…I’m too nosey to wonder what someone is going to do with all the stuff they buy!

Example #4 – My favorite one ever!!!

I must throw this out there, I did have my mom at Walgreens at midnight last Friday night…

It does take me a while to think through this and there are multiple lists,

coupon envelopes and the calculator on my cell phone involved.

Yes, you read that right, $.41 for 18 items. The plastic cutlery was on sale for $1 each package and I was able to use extra Register Rewards on those as well as the bamboo salad set which was marked down to $.50. The Reach toothbrushes I already told you about and the 3 yellow packages are airplanes that you put together to fly – great OCC items. The Kraft dressing ended up being $.50 and I got Italian so I can cook with it as well as make dressings and salads. The Hershey’s pieces were $3.69 originally and they were on sale this week for 2.50 and I had a $1 coupon. These are great mixed in with sugar cookies for a fun treat for an upcoming event I have to go to. The gum was a repeat of above and the pink bowls – well, they were on sale for $1.50 for a package of 10 and I wanted them and had Register Rewards – I think there will be soup at Bunko next time I host!!! Everybody can have their own bowl!

Oh, and just so you can see…this is the box of FREE or extremely cheap things I’ve collected since January for Operation Christmas Child. We just started Christmas in July, so I think I’ll be going to Dollar Tree this week to get those plastic shoe boxes (seriously it’s 1 more dollar and so much more useful than a cardboard one – our pastor’s wife taught me that last year) and packing up these items to send to the kids.

There are a few philanthropic things that I get really excited about and this is one of them. I can’t wait to have kids to take shopping each year and use this as a really good lesson to teach them about missions, sharing, and praying for kids and families around the world who are not as blessed as we are. Our offering from VBS this year will go towards our OCC efforts and I’m so excited to see all the boxes the kids are able to pack. Get involved with this organization. It is such a blessing to pray for the children and their families as you pack the little boxes. These gifts through Operation Christmas Child will meet some needs for fun and practical ways, but God can heal their hearts, their wounds and their need for HIM.

What a weekend - AWBU