For the Ladies at the Children's Center

I am hoping that all of you are okay with heading to Rite-Aid tomorrow instead of Shaw's...I've been to Shaw's twice this week and really don't need anything else from there right now.  I'll be doing 3 different transactions at Rite-Aid (and would have only needed to do one at Shaw's) so I think this field trip will be very useful to all of you.

I plan to PURCHASE $70.71 worth of product (some things are on sale...some are not)
           BUT
I plan to SPEND ONLY $4.75 

If all goes according to plan, then the following will take place:

Transaction #1 
4 Caress Body Wash @ $3 ea - Total $12.00
2 Dove Deodorant @ $4.79 ea - Total $9.58
2 Suave Shampoo @ $1.99 ea - Total $3.98
8 Ricola Cough Drops @ $1.50 ea - Total $12.00
1 LA Looks Hair Gel @ $2.99 ea - Total $2.99
2 Gain Dish Liquid @ $1.00 ea - Total $2.00

TOTAL BEFORE COUPONS $42.55
MINUS COUPONS - $15.00
MINUS Previous +UP - $27.00
PLUS TAX (if it adds it in) $2.03

Total Out Of Pocket $2.68

$16.00 in +UP Rewards will print on my receipt

Transaction #2
3 4-Way Nasal Spray @ $5.00 ea - Total $15.00
2 Rite-Aid Hand Soap @ $1.79 ea - Total $3.58
2 Gain Dish Liquid @ $1.00 ea - Total $2.00

TOTAL BEFORE COUPONS $20.58
MINUS COUPONS - Total $4.50
MINUS +UP from Trans #1 - $16.00
PLUS TAX (if it adds it in) $1.03

Total Out Of Pocket $1.11

$7.00 in +UP Rewards will print on my receipt

Transaction #3
2 Rite-Aid Hand Soap @ $1.79 ea - Total $3.58
4 Gain Dish Liquid @ $1.00 ea - Total $4.00

TOTAL BEFORE COUPONS $7.58
MINUS COUPONS - Total $0
MINUS +UP from Trans #2 - $7.00
PLUS TAX (if it adds it in) $0.38

Total Out Of Pocket $0.96

$2.00 in +UP Rewards will print on my receipt

One person can make a difference...

If I donate just one item a month...that's 12 items a year that someone else doesn't have to worry about.

If 10 of us donate one item a month that's 120 items.

20 people = 240 items.  30 people = 360 items.

Now imagine if all of us were to donate two items a month, or three or maybe even four.

What an incredibly HUGE difference we could make in the lives of others.

One person can make a difference...that's why I'm here.

I have updated "COUPONation 3" for the Augusta Food Bank.  I plan to have all items ready for drop-off or pick-up BEFORE Christmas.  I am not certain of the exact date yet, but would be more than willing to either pick items up from you directly or arrange a place for you to drop them off.

One donated item...that's all it takes to make a difference.

~ CouponFreak ~

Now is the time...

Married couples, single men and women, people with children...people without.  More and more people are learning to coupon...more and more NEED to learn. 

Couponing needs to move beyond the family structure into the worlds of food pantry volunteers, homeless shelter supervisors and managers, group home staff members and even members of church groups.  These are the people who can REALLY help make a difference in the lives of those who just need a little extra help right now.

How do we reach out to those people?  Who do we contact to set up the necessary training needed to turn them in seasoned couponers?

Feel free to share your thoughts!

~ CouponFreak ~

2nd Trip...67% Savings )-:

I'm so bummed...it was supposed to be 70% (or more) savings.  Well, savings is savings:

2nd trip today...unloaded all bags and put away the following:

2 Couscous
4 Progresso Soups
4 Canned Corn
5 Cake Mix
5 Frosting
8 Cookie Mixes
8 Brownies
3 Fruit Snacks
10 Nature Valley Granola Bars
12 Fiber One Bars
4 Chex Mix
9 Hamburger Helper
16 Box Potatoes
6 Lucky Charms
3 Multi-Grain Cheerios
4 Honey Nut Cheerios
6 Reese's Puffs
5 Cocoa Puffs

Total SHELF PRICE:
     $318.36

Total OUT OF POCKET:

     $104.50

86% Savings

After unloading all grocery bags, the following items were added to my stockpile this trip:
     16 Coucous (various kinds)
     1 Idahoan Potatoes
     40 Progresso Soups (various kinds)
     5 Betty Crocker Cake Mixes
     5 Betty Crocker Frostings

Total SHELF PRICE:

     $153.43

Total OUT OF POCKET:

     $21.25

Trans. #1

8 Soups @ $1.25 ea.

1 Cake Mix @ $1.25 ea.

1 Frosting @ $2 ea.

16 Coucous @ $1 ea.

1 Potatoes @ $1.99 ea.

   Total shelf price was $65.43

   Minus $34.19 Shaws Sale

   Minus $5 INSTANT SAVINGS

   Minus $20.99 in coupons  

   Minus $5 off my next $25 purchase

   TOTAL OOP = $0.25

Trans. #2 - #5

8 Soups @ $1.25 ea.

1 Cake Mix @ $1.25 ea.

1 Frosting @ $2 ea.

   Total shelf price was $20.40

   Minus $7.15 Shaws Sale

   Minus $5 INSTANT SAVINGS

   Minus $3.00 in coupons  

   TOTAL OOP = $5.25 (Each transaction)

Field Trip to Shaws...

Due to a death in our family, our field trip to Shaws tomorrow night (11/10/11) will need to be rescheduled.  I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

I do, however, depending on when the funeral is scheduled, still plan to have our "Coupon Class" shopping trip to Rite-Aid on Sunday.  I will keep everyone posted as soon as I have more information.

In the meantime, please feel free to email or FaceBook any questions you have as I will answer all as soon as I can.

Thanks so much for your understanding.

~ CouponFreak ~

Today's Donation Included:

3 bottles laundry soap
8 rolls paper towels
28 rolls toilet paper
6 energy efficient light bulbs
3 bottles dish detergent
6 shampoo/conditioner
3 body wash
3 deodorant
3 hand lotions
1 mouthwash
6 tubes toothpaste
2 floss
50 razors

6 Hamburger Helper
4 Macaroni Grill chicken helpers
10 cans Progresso soups
11 packs Idahoan potatoes
4 boxes instant potatoes
9 cans veggies
3 boxes cereal
5 boxes granola bars
5 fruit snacks
4 cookie mixes
4 brownie mixes
4 muffin mixes

Research...Lots of Research...

I spent most of my life wondering how I was going to make ends meet.  I struggled to buy all the little things I take for granted now...toilet paper, laundry soap, deodorant, etc.  It seemed I never had enough and spent many nights tossing and turning trying to figure out what I could do to make these annoying necessities not so necessary.

And then I learned to Coupon.  I haven't even been doing it for that long and already there are things in my life I no longer worry or wonder about.  Do we have enough toilet paper?  How much laundry soap is left?  Can I afford the good shampoo this week?  How do I get that little bit of toothpaste out of the very top of this rolled-up tube?

Those things don't matter anymore because I've learned (quite effectively, I might add) how to use coupons and store "bonuses" to my advantage.  I have more than plenty of all of those things and more.  Pasta, soup, cookie mixes, brownies, paper towels, razors...I have enough to last my husband and I the rest of this year and months and months into 2012.  PLUS, I already give to my three children.  None of them worry about whether or not there's enough dish liquid to get the dishes done or laundry soap to clean their clothes this week.  If they don't have it...Mom does.  And Mom gives it freely to them because I can.

It feels good to finally be able to help...to finally be able to give without giving so much I can't survive myself.  Couponing has done far more than fill my cupboards and shelves with food and personal items...it has filled my heart with happiness...and given me the ability to help those around me who just needed a little assistance...just for a minute.

I don't want to help just my children or just my family.  I want to help their friends, too...and their friends friends, and all of their families, too.  I want to do every single thing I can to make a difference in other people's lives.  And I can...

If you have any comments, suggestions or information that you think might be helpful...please feel free to share!

Couponing to Donate

DAILY GOALS:

To provide a decent, respectable and trustworthy image to all Couponers

To help a variety of organizations in Maine who are helping the residents of our state to become self-sufficient and self-supporting.

Homeless shelters, Food pantry’s, Women’s shelters, Group homes and the like.

MONTHLY GOALS:

To receive ongoing donations from Maine residents (Couponers and anyone else interested in making donations to help our Maine residents), including displaced Mainers currently located out-of-state.

To make a monthly “donation” to one or more families in need of food, toiletries, and the like.

CouponFreak Shopping Sheet