"Mooosley's Money," the Grand Finale!!!

I have been feeling like this challenge has been dragging out, so I decided to purchase food items that are great for simple, healthy and delicious meals for food pantry recipients who may or may not know how to cook or have lots of spices or other necessary ingredients needed to put a meal together!

The items that I was able to purchase includes: Easy Mac, chocolate chip cookies, Warm Delights, cleaning products, Manwich, Stove Top stuffing and Ragu spaghetti sauce!

Its amazing how a little bit of money can greatly impact the lives of others! If each product is gifted (by the food pantry) to a different family, thirty-eight families would benefit from 'Mooosley's Money!" Thanks for sharing Mooosley!

This purchase:
Spent: $4.98
Saved: $12.50

Totals:
Spent: $10.23
Saved: $57.65

In case you missed it, Mooosley was a $10 Meijer gift card winner who preferred for me to spend her reward and donate the goods to a local donation location!

Read about my previous purchase HERE , HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE!

"Mooosley's Money"

This purchase:
Spent: $4.28
Saved: $11.68

Totals:
Spent: $5.25
Saved: $45.15

In case you missed it, Mooosley was a $10 Meijer gift card winner who preferred for me to spend her reward and donate the goods to a local donation location!

Read about my previous purchase HERE , HERE and HERE.

Donations for Daniel

This cute little guy is Daniel! Daniel is a local (Metro-Detroit) nine year old who is fighting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, he was even the poster child for the local Shamrock sales back in March!

Daniel's Mom, Karen, has decided to use her savvy coupon spending skills (she's a Super Kroger guru!) to help raise funds and awareness for her son and his debilitating disease!

Last year Karen decided to yard sale many of the items from her own personal stockpile in order to help offset medical expenses and the costs involved in making her home wheelchair accessible. This year Karen once again plans to sell her goods to be better able to care for Daniel's medical expenses, and she would LOVE our help!

Karen's family has graciously offered to be "drop off destinations" for local collections of health and beauty items such as body wash, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, kid & adult shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, feminine care products, diapers, wipes, baby care items, make up (especially mascara and eye liner), cleaning products, dish soap, laundry soap, paper towels, napkins, air fresheners, candles and batteries.

The yard sale to benefit Daniel will be held May 20th-22nd, from 9am-4pm as part of the Hickory Meadows Condo Complex annual sale. Karen's sale will be held at 2682 Kerria St., Howell 48855, Kerria is right off M-59 between Latson & Oak Grove Rds. (Please send friends and family her way during the sale dates!)

Daniel's elementary school will also be collecting and donating to assist Daniel and his family in raising the funds necessary to give Daniel the best care possible. Karen's family have also graciously offered their homes as drop of collection locations. Collections will happily be accepted beginning Friday May 7th through Saturday May 15th.

If you feel like you'd like to partner with Karen, and share a few items from your own personal stockpile, please consider packing a bag or two of your stockpile surplus to drop off at one of the following locations:

1. HOWELL Location (porch drop off)
2682 Kerria, Howell, 48855. This drop off location is in the Hickory Meadows Condos about a 1 mile east of (SUPER) Kroger on M-59. Her street is the first right inside the complex and is the last condo in the row (on the left) on the corner.

2. TROY Location (garage door drop off)
2923 River Valley, Troy, 48098, near the intersection of Long Lake Rd & Adams.

3. CLAWSON Location: (back deck drop off)

240 W. Tacoma, Clawson, 48017. Tacoma is located off of Main St. between 13 & 14 mile Rds.

4. BLOOMFIELD Location (porch drop off)
180 Wadworth Ln. Bloomfield, 48301. Wadworth is located near the intersection of 15 Mile and Lahser roads.

(Consider making a group donation and designate one drop off driver to deliver the goods from many givers!)


If you are not native to SE Michigan, but you would like to support Daniel and his family, please consider making an online donation that will 100% directly influence the care of this sweet little nine year old boy!

I hope that coupon spending always allows you to care for your family to the best (and least expensive) of your ability, AND that you always have a heart for ways to impact and care for others who have needs!

Please consider sharing with Daniel and the United States Postal Donation Drive this Saturday, May 8th! Many can benefit from YOUR wise spending!

PS: Any items that do not sell during Karen's yard sale will be donated to La Casa, a women's shelter serving women and children in Livingston County!

Are YOU ready to make a difference?

"Mooosley's Money"

This purchase:
Spent: $.52
Saved: $12.60

Totals:
Spent: $.97
Saved: $33.47

In case you missed it, Mooosley was a $10 Meijer gift card winner who preferred for me to spend her reward and donate the goods to a local donation location!

Read about my previous purchase HERE and HERE.

"Mooosley's Money"

Spent: $.40
Saved: $3.34


Spent: $0
Saved: $11.94

Totals:
Spent: $.45
Saved: $20.87

In case you missed it, Mooosley was a $10 Meijer gift card winner who preferred for me to spend her reward and donate the goods to a local donation location!

Read about my previous purchase HERE!

An EASY Way to Donate

Each year the United States Postal Carriers organize a mass relief effort to help raise awareness and nonperishable items for Feeding America and other local and national relief groups.

This year, your letter carrier will pick up any canned/nonperishable items from bags on your doorstep, on May 8th. Please take this opportunity to partner with the USPS, and donate.

If you are looking for a local donation location, please visit PantryNet.org to search by your zip code!

One of the coolest things a coupon spender can do is bless someone else with their bounty!

"Mooosley's Money"

Remember last week's mini give away? Mooosley won a $10 gift card to Meijer! Mooosley, however, lives in New York... where she does not have access to a Meijer grocery store, so she asked if I would spend the gift card (wisely) in her honor and for the benefit of a local food pantry! Mooosley will also be setting aside $10 to purchase goods for a food pantry in her neighborhood!

Mooosley, thank you for having such a BIG heart and allowing me to be your shopper!

I began spending the $10 today, here is what I purchased.

Spent: $2.74
Saved: $4.40
Earned: $1.50 (Catalina)
Left to spend: $8.76

I planned my purchase wisely (except I forgot one BOGO coupon at home, so I'll have to visit the Customer Service desk and "reverse coupon" at my next visit... hey, I'll get back $1.19, upping my spending to $9.95... my original plan) bringing manufacturer coupons, Meijer store coupons and making a purchase that will give me money money back after I have paid... the TRIFECTA of coupon spending!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you may remember the $20 gift card that I received last Mother's Day from my Grandma (in-law... but nobody ever really says that right? A Grandma is a Grandma!!!).

Check out how I spent my twenty at Targie: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here!

WOW! That was fun, and I'm totally ready to do it again!!!

FYI: If YOU are looking for a Donation Location in your area, visit pantrynet.org to find local listings for your zip code!

Fighting Cancer with Coupons

I am BEYOND thrilled to announce that I have teamed up with Birdies and Bad Drivers, a Livonia Relay for Life team supporting the American Cancer Society!


One lucky winner will be selected to go on a two hour shopping date with ME! The winner will also be awarded a $50 Visa card (that's like $500 to a 'hard core' coupon spender like myself!!!) and I'll even share my coupon stash during our shopping trip!

To enter, click on the DONATE button below!

$5 per entry, or $20 earns you 5 chances to WIN!

All proceeds benefit The American Cancer Society!

For additional information and announcement of the winner, please visit our team website:

http://birdiesandbaddrivers.blogspot.com

* Drawing to be held on March 12, 2010 * Winner will be notified immediately after drawing *

"Fighting cancer is a team effort. The impact we can make together is much greater than what any of us could do alone!"

***Prize valid one year from drawing date. Shopping date must be mutually agreed upon between Laura and the winner.

Help for Haiti

My husband Dave and I are still in shock, as we think about the utter sadness currently taking place in Haiti. Although I have never set foot in Haiti myself, my heart melts from the photographs that my husband returns with of a beautiful country and its beautiful people.

I feel guilty going about a typical day knowing that so many will be crying themselves to sleep tonight. Life had been difficult for the people of Haiti before the earthquake, and now many are homeless, helpless, even orphaned and are in desperate need of our help!

The good news is that help, and hope are already in Haiti, ready to assist the afflicted. World Vision, a global outreach organization is focusing their efforts to meet the basics of food, water, hygiene and shelter at the epicenter location, Port Au Prince.

Raincatchers, who many of you have already made donations to assist bringing clean drinking water to some of Haiti's poorest families living in the rural mountain regions, is also making plans to assist the needy in the wake of the earthquake aftermath.

Because of the overwhelming need in Haiti, I have teamed up with many other bloggers who want to raise awareness and funds for those living in devastation after Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti.

Help for Haiti
For every person who leaves a comment, January 15-21, 2010, sharing how they have contributed to meeting the great need in Haiti, I will donate $1 to Raincatchers ongoing mission work in Haiti!

World Vision's Donation Information

Raincatchers' Donation Information

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
-Mother Teresa

Please continue to keep the Haitian people in your thoughts and prayers!

Personal Note: Spending coupons, for my family, means spending less for what we need so that we have more funds left over at the end of the month to spend on things that are important to our family.

Many coupon spenders are banding together, offering what they can- to help the hurting in Haiti. I thought that I'd share some ideas of sacrificing that others have mentioned in case you are searching for a way for your family to make an impact in Haiti right now.

Finding Ways to Give:
1. Take time and effort to eat from your stockpile this month, and offer the money that you would have spent on groceries to a relief organization.

2. Collect all of the change laying around your home, and cash it in.

3. Skip dining out one night.

4. Return your empty pop bottles/can.

5. Offer your time/skills (like babysitting...) and offer that income as a donation.

Every little bit does indeed help! Relief organization are highly skilled in stretching their resources farther than we can begin to imagine!

Thought Provoking Thursday

Thought Provoking Thursday

It didn't take me long, once I began spending coupons, to discover that I was able to collect A LOT of grocery and household items for FREE or nearly FREE.

Some products that I've purchased in multiples (stockpiling), my family has enjoyed using, and other products have just not worked well for our uses/needs.

So for as long as I've been spending coupons, I've been looking for ways to share the bounty of my coupon purchased goodies.

I keep a box in my pantry for items that I have purchased that I know that my family will not use, but I know that someone else can benefit from me donating them.

At the beginning of 2009 I was really disciplined about taking my donations to a food pantry every 6-8 weeks. But as the year rolled on, we found that many more people that we knew personally could benefit from the excess of what we have sitting on the shelves in our home. So I began giving more to those in our social circles and less to a food pantry.

The problem with choosing one way of giving over another, is that those who we have been sharing with didn't actually need all of the things that I have been bringing home... and so I was still overloaded with with goods needing a home.

This year, I plan to keep up on making donations to a local food pantry, and I thought that many of you may want to join me!

Here are a few great tips for getting prepared to make a donation:

1. Gather all of the plastic bags that you have floating around your house.
*You can either single or double bag your goods! Food pantries often need a huge supply of plastic bags to allow their clients to bring home goods in.

2. Sort your items to donate. Place like food items in the same bag, and make sure to keep cleaning supplies and hygiene products separate from consumables. *This helps the volunteers at the food pantry to get your items ready faster for distribution.

3. Tie your bags closed with a single knot. *Keep your items from spilling around in your car, but allow the bags to be easily opened and reused!

4. Mark "D Day" (donation day) on your calendar. *If you make a plan, you'll actually get your items into the right hands!

If YOU are looking for a local area to share your goodies with other who can put them to better use than keeping them on your shelves... visit pantrynet.org. Search by your zip code to find a close and worthy location close to home! (*You'll also be able to see the donation location's address and hours of drop off. **Some donation locations even offer a tax write off credit for your donations [similarly to donating clothing to a thrift shop].)

Keep in mind that food gathering dust on your shelves- especially if it is nearing its expiration date, may be better served at someone else's table!

What do YOU do with all of your extra grocery and household purchases?

Thought Provoking Thursday

Thought Provoking Thursday

Thought Provoking Thursday's goal it to offer a new-ish perspective to saving on necessary items aside from our grocery and household needs. Each week I will bring an idea to the table to share how I personally tackle areas of my own family's spending. I am hopeful that my faithful readers will feel the freedom to offer more advice through comments below each post

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?

For years, I would beat the pavement in search of the 'perfect' gift for my loved ones! Year after year I'd succumb to purchasing gifts that the recipient would like and that would fit into my holiday spending budget, but they were never the over the top kind of gift. I think that the most likely reason for mediocre gift giving is because we are so blessed to have all of our needs met, we really don't need anything!

Last year was a very pivotal year of gift-giving for Dave and I. We decided to give more meaningful gifts within our families. Now don't get me wrong... I LOVE shopping and purchasing and all of the ribbons and wrappings- but it felt so good to give gifts that would be put to greater use!

Last year Dave and I, along with my parents and siblings, pooled the money that we would have spent on each other and gave it instead to an outreach organization.

Our gifts for Dave's side of the family last year were animals from Heifer International! I was surprised that Dave's family actually had the same ideas as us, and we received animals and handmade gifts supporting families and villages from around the globe!

I am so excited to be giving (and receiving... I guess I shouldn't assume!!!) these types of gifts again this year!

I love selecting the perfect gift for each person from a single Heifer International catalogue! One of the best parts about Heifer International is that they offer gifts staring at $10! Giving the gift of an animal benefits the receiving family by bringing hope, byproducts like milk and eggs and also the money for clothing and education!

This also got me thinking about Raincatchers, and the amazing work that volunteers do to bring access to clean drinking water to families living in rural Haiti. Making a donation to Raincatchers in lieu of a more traditional Christmas gift this year means healthier living 365 days a year for families in Haiti living without clean accessible water.

As for wrapping your less than traditional gifts:

Heifer International has printable gift cards sharing in depth information about the animal or gift that you have selected.

A gift to Raincatchers could be shared by tying a ribbon around the neck of a bottle of water!

Sorry family for possibly spoiling your gifts this year, but this is how I plan to wrap my gifts!!!

Have you ever though about purchasing these types of gifts?

Purchasing Habits

Coupon Clipper: I’d love to know your thoughts on the ethics of “shelf-clearing.”

When I first started couponing, I got so excited about finding products for free or nearly free that I would buy ridiculous quantities, far more than my needs. I promised myself that I would give the extras to those in need –and I did--but looking back, I suspect that pride had a lot to do with that impulse. I wanted the “high” that you talk about, that comes from getting a great deal and doing a good deed, but I think I wanted it for the wrong reasons. Part of me wanted to be seen carrying bags upon bags of products to food drives, wanting people to assume that I was a person who sacrificed to give so much. Meanwhile, I would leave the shelves bare, inconveniencing other shoppers and store employees.

I see this controversy on coupon blogs a lot now, particularly with the Christmas-is-coming crazy deals on toys. People are buying 5, 8, even 10 units of the toy in question. I’m sure that many, even most of them give the excess away, but when I think about the mom with a single coupon looking for an affordable birthday present for her child and finding only a bare shelf, it makes me wonder. I’d love your thoughts!

Me: Here are some of my personal thoughts for purchasing:

1. Purchasing several items when they are on sale (stockpiling) is wise for your family. I don't think of this as selfish shopping, but stockpiling for my family means that we are able to give generously when the need arises.

2. When a sale is advertised, it is the responsibility of the store to:
A) Order enough quantity for the demand of the local consumers.
B) Offer a rain check for shoppers to receive the same discount at a later date.
* If a store fails to do so, it isn't the consumers responsibility, and feel free to make the manager aware of your disappointment!

3. Clearance items have become clearance items for good reason. If someone wants to purchase several previously unpopular items now that the prices are low- have at it!

4. Items that are limited in quantity and that are without the availability of a rain check do, in my opinion, need to be purchased with thoughtfulness. Spectacular deals are sought after by several savvy consumers, be gracious and share!

The problem is that there is no Coupon Clipper Code of Conduct that all shoppers must abide by. (And just for the record, I have yet to master the 'know when to say when' art of coupon shopping!) I do think that it is important to know WHY we are purchasing products- especially in what quantity.

I will purchase certain products, like Electrosol dish detergent tabs in mass quantity three times a year, when the $2.50 coupon are available for spending. This heavy purchase keeps our dishes clean until the next big sale and our grocery budget intact.

I also keep a stash of gift type items for future giving, but not to the detriment of other bargain shoppers. I shared several months ago that I also had changed my perspective for my shopping. It is easy to get caught up in the 'high' of sweet bargaineering, but the responsibility of what to do with the items that we bring home is just as important as learning to save in the first place.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Giving Back this Holiday Season

Are you looking for a way for your kids to learn the spirit of giving this season?

Sarah emailed me a reminder that Samaritian's Purse, a global outreach program, will be collecting shoe boxes filled with goodies for less fortunate children to receive this Christmas.

This organization has been collecting shoe box sized gifts for years, in fact, last year alone 7.9 MILLION kids received gifts from people just like you and I! This year, boxes are being collected between Monday 11/16 and Monday 11/23!

You may click the link above to read more about the gift collecting and distribution, and to find a collection location in your area, and then enter your zip code here (once you find your location, you will have the drop off address and times available for drop off!).

Personally, I think that this is an easy giving opportunity- especially with all of the great coupon deals that we are able to purchase! I'm excited to start this tradition with my son this year!

In fact, I will be dropping my gift box off at the Berkley, MI location at 11am on Wednesday, November 18th, and then I will be heading to the Oak Park McDonald's (with a play land... and it would be a great time to spend those McDonald's Halloween coupons!!!) following the drop off. I'd LOVE to donate and dine with you if you are interested in partnering with Operation Christmas Child this season! (Drop me a comment below so that I can keep my eye out for you!)

*Berkley Community Church
2855 Wiltshire Rd, Berkley MI, 48072,
Get Directions
Phone: (800) 498-8562
*Oak Park McDonald's
26550 GREENFIELD RD, OAK PARK, MI 48237

Here is some information for gift giving:

1. HOW TO BEGIN:
Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.


2. BOY OR GIRL?
Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. FILL WITH GIFTS
Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.

4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION
Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our EZGIVE option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

5. DROP OFF

Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week November 16 - 23

GIFT IDEAS

TOYS small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc. SCHOOL

SUPPLIES pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

A PERSONAL NOTE In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans

School Supplies

OK, so it feels like summer (minus the humidity, but I'm not complaining!!!) and we are weeks and weeks away from the start of the school year... but it would be wise (and frugal) to begin purchasing your kid's supplies NOW!

Annually, mid July hosts the beginning of the school supply wars between some of our most competitive local stores... Target, Meijer & Wal-Mart try to tempt you into their stores, Staples and even the drug stores like CVS and Walgreen's have luring tactics as well. What is a savvy shopper to do?

1. Don't nickle and dime yourself to death!!! Who cares if the note books that your kids need are $.02 less expensive at Walmart this week... if Walmart is not on your list of stores to shop at this week... pick up your (still deeply discounted) supplies where you have intended on shopping.

2. Over purchase!!! What I mean to say is think worst case scenario for the entire year... If your third grader has been asked to purchase 6 folders for school, than purchase 12-18 so you can replace them (cost effectively) throughout the year.

3. Party? Think of school supplies like crayons for party favors for a February birthday... or as great additions to a coloring book for an older sibling when a new baby has been born and you are bringing a gift for the baby... think of purchasing your Scotch tape NOW to wrap your Christmas gifts with!

4. Donate!!! See if your church, local organization or local school district is collecting items for kids who desperately need your assistance! Who can resist purchasing a (couple) box of perfect tipped Crayola's?

Here is another tip for purchasing backpacks for your kids this year...

This week if you buy $10 in any combination of Kellogg's, Keebler, Sunshine, and Eggo products, you get $10 off any backpack instantly at check-out. In addition, this week the backpacks are on sale Buy One Get One for $1. So I got $75 worth of backpacks for $41. If you were picking backpacks for littler kids, you could certainly choose cheaper ones and spend a lot less out of pocket. I was getting one for my daughter who is going to High School in the fall, so she needed a bigger/nicer one. But I was thrilled to get the one for my son for $1, and get $10 off the expensive one. Plus, $2 in Meijer Cash for every $30 you spend. (Thanks Becky!)

Q & A

Coupon Clipper: I am having problems finding the right charity to accept all of my health care items that I've been collecting, I bet I have about $300+ but my local place only takes food. Do you have any suggestions as to places that accept this type of donation?

Me: I have a friend who works for Gleaners and she recommended the site http://www.pantrynet.org/. I peeked at it and it is really a great site. On the home page there is a pantry locater button of the left hand side. You just need to enter your zip code and how far you are willing to drive and several (like 20+ for me) popped up. Out of that list you could find (by calling, the phone numbers are included) a location to donate your food, hygiene and medications.

April's Donations:

I LOVE "Donation Day!!!"

It is so much fun to sort and organize all of the goodies

I have to give to Community Sharing!

This month's donations total $896

YTD Donations to Community Sharing: $2,731

YTD toothpaste donations: 199 tubes!

March Totals:

I had so much fun shopping this month... Huggies diapers & wipes, Garnier hair care products and Soliel razors were my favorite deals!

In March I:

Spent: $316.65

Saved: $2,321.98

Coupons used: 842

FREE items: 477

I brought $2,638.68 worth of items into our house. Lots of these same items have been given away to friends in need, shared with family members or given as donations!

On average, I was about $15 under budget every single week. I averaged spending $70 per week while bringing home about $650 in household and groceries.

I will also receive about $95 in rebates.

March was definitely a great month!

***If you are interested in learning my shopping strategy just send me an email! My email address is in the upper right hand corner of my blog's home page!

February/March Donations

After being out of town for the last two weeks in February and coming home pretty sick, I just couldn't get my donations together... until today!

Here are my items to donate that I have been collecting for the past six weeks. Due to the HUGE number of tubes of toothpaste, hair care items and glucose monitors my total donations are $1,185. Yay!

Year to date Community Sharing donations: $1,835!
Year to date tubes of toothpaste donated to CS: 154!

If you think that you cannot donate, start with the FREE items that are easily collected, such as toothpaste. This month's donation is a collection of mostly FREE items. I only spent $16.50 + tax on all of these items! I actually even made $58 in store rewards! It is awesome to be able to help other struggling families while still maintaining my own families budget.

Q & A

From an email...

Coupon Clipper: Do you know when Walgreen's/CVS/Rite Aid get their shipments? I thought you said just once a week?

Me: True. Drug stores receive only ONE truck per week to restock their shelves with, unlike grocery stores which get trucks nearly every single day. Just ask at your drug stores when their trucks come and AND when the stock is normally back on the shelves.... as that takes time and manpower.

Coupon Clipper: I have a pile of stuff to send to an out of state organization. Should I itemize everything w/ a detail of the product, price and quantity? Is that how you do it? And if so, would you be willing to send me a sample of it? Do you know if I can deduct for the postage? It could add up if I do this regularly.

Me: Community Sharing, where I choose to donate, already has a form in place that is there and waiting for me to fill in a few lines. I'd contact the location where you are donating and ask if they could email you their form that you could tuck in with your package, they may have their own system for handling donations. I think that you are on your own for postage... but I do know that the Post Office has flat rate shipping boxes... no matter how heavy your package is you are guaranteed the specified price.

Coupon Clipper: I need to start a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. so far I’ve just been keeping envelopes for each store w/ the reciepts inside and some notes on the back about spent and rebates I should be receiving.

Would you mind telling me how you do it? Like what kind of info you have on your spreadsheet? I’m not sure how detailed I should be, but I definitely want to keep track.

Me: I have two excel spreadsheets that Dave made for me. One of them tracks my rebates- so I know if I have received each one or not, and the other I use to track my spending.

Rebate spreadsheet: Date sent, Manufacturer, $ to receive, how many weeks it takes to get.

Spending Spreadsheet: Date, store, $ spent, $ saved, tax, coupon overage, coupons used, FREE items, RR's made, ECB's made, Rebate?

Your spreadsheets could be more or less complex based on what you are interested in tracking.

Donating soon?

If you are thinking about taking the plunge into making donation so a food bank- here is a great opportunity for you and for them...

From an email...

Coupon Clipper: I found this great deal for a product that our local Gleaners food bank is always needing. They try to keep this type of drink in stock to give to people getting cancer treatments that need them, and they are pricey.


Ensure multi packs are on sale at Walgreen's for $6.99. You can get a $3 off coupon by registering at Ensure.com. (Two if you hit that back button!) They also have a refund for the full price of a multi pack at: http://www.healthcentral.com/nutrition/ensure/rebate.html


You have to take off the outer wrapper to send in to get the refund, but as long as the bottles are sealed the pantry would be thrilled with them. So you can get a $3 profit for donating these much needed items!

Me: I'm in!!!