Coupon Adventures 9/28

This week at Walgreens, there were enough deals to make me want to drive on over and pick them up. This doesn't happen much as the nearest store is a solid 25 minutes from my house. 
Now I normally wouldn't bother with .99 toothpaste, but my supplies are dangerously low and with Operation Christmas Child boxes around the corner, I need to get my stock up. The razors, particularly the fusion are a fav of my DH, so there again, not typical for me to spend anything on them but he's low as well. All in all, a good trip and I will split it into two shops so I don't end up with a pile of WAGS bucks to try to spend in the next month. That is NEVER a good idea.

Hyland’s Cold N Cough 4 Kids – $4.99Buy 1, Receive $4.99 Register Rewards
**$1.50 off 1 Hyland’s Cold ‘n Cough 4 Kids printable coupon here
Pay: $3.49, Receive $4.99 Register Rewards
Final Price: $1.50 Money Maker!

Fullbar Fit Appetite Control Bar – $1.99Buy 1, Receive $1.99 Register Rewards
Pay: $1.99, Receive $1.99 Register Rewards
Final Price: Free!

Vicks Sinex – $6.00Buy 1, Receive $2.00 Register Rewards
**$4.00 off 1 Sinex product - 9/26 P&G
Pay: $2.00, Receive $2.00 Register Rewards
Final Price: Free!

Emergen-C, 10 pack – $3.49Buy 1, Receive $3.49 Register Rewards
Pay: $3.49, Receive $3.49 Register Rewards
Final Price: Free!

Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion – $5.99Buy 1, Receive $5.00 Register Rewards
Pay: $5.99, Receive $5.00 Register Rewards
Final Price: $0.99

Gillette Fusion or Venus Razor System – $9.99Buy 1, Receive $4.00 Register Rewards
**$3.00 off 1 Gillette or Venus, Mach3 or Sensor3 - 9/26 P&G
Pay: $6.99, Receive $4.00 Register Rewards
Final Price: $2.99

Crest Clinical Toothpaste – $3.99Buy 1, $2.00 Register Rewards
**$1.00 off 1 Crest Pro Health Toothpaste - 9/26 P&G insert
Pay: $2.99, Receive $2.00 Register Rewards
Final Price: $0.99

Colgate Clinical Toothpaste or Colgate ActiFlex Toothpaste – $3.99Buy one, Get one free store promotion
**$1.00 off 1 Colgate ProClinical Toothpaste coupon - 9/26 P&G coupon insert
**$1.00 off 1 Colgate Pro Clinical Toothpaste printable coupon here
Final Price: $0.99 each

Provision

As we stumble through life these days, I know our friends wonder how we stay sane. Its entirely due to our faith in God's provision. When my sweet husband was laid off in 2008, we wondered how we would survive. It has only been by God's hand in our lives. We have been through some pretty rough patches in the last 26 months. We will get through this and I am sure there will be more patches along the way, but through it all, good days and bad, God has been here watching over us. Blessing us with little reminders of His care of us.

One of the scriptures I lean on is Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge."  Some days I literally hide there. I know its not for me to understand why our savings are dwindling away and there is no work for my very talented husband. But yet, we had the savings. God instilled in us years ago to get out of debt and put money aside when it would have been far more tempting to get a newer car or upgrade the carpet. But we didn't "need" those things and while we squirreled away money and I learned to refine my couponing skills, we were oblivious to what God was preparing us for. He prepared us for today.

When we found out that our move here was going to lead to unemployment we were very confused. We had felt that our move to this area was by God's hand. We were brought here for a purpose. But how could the purpose be unemployment? That certainly doesn't make sense in my mind. But His ways are not my ways and He prepared me for what was coming: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you!" Deut 31:6.  I knew, we knew that were not being left here to lose everything we had worked for. We began to cut back on spending, scrimp on luxuries and think carefully about each purchase. As we looked hopefully toward spring of 2009, we thought surely a new position would open up. But that was not His plan. Try as we might to figure it out, to fix the situation, we were set to go another winter without work. During this dark winter He gave me "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's...you will not need to fight in this battle." 2 Chronicles 20:15b, 17. To me this said so clearly that all my efforts and political activity and all the phone calls and resumes were not going to make it come to pass before His timing. He is never early and He is never late as a dear friend reminds me on a regular basis. As unemployment came to an end, my deepest fear, He gave me further strength and resolve that I can do this with Him and He will provide.

We continue to live carefully and on less and less and do without what others might see as so much. And yet almost daily He reminds us that we have so much more than others and that He can provide even our smallest wishes, like box turtles and a free sack of vegetables. Mysterious checks in the mail or love offerings from other churches. Even a trip away from home with my husband or a paid hospital bill. We have learned not to question it but to receive it as a blessing from Him through others.  As we wait with baited breath for the job He has for my husband, we know we are in His hands and he cares for us so deeply. So we set our eyes on Him and look eagerly for His guidance and expectantly for what He has planned.

God is so good!

Let the People Think!

In the words of Elmer Fudd, this is verwee, verwee scarwee...



Really? Are the sheeple really not even sure why they are there? Did someone hand them a sign and they don't even know why they are carrying it? Freedom of speech is a right! Do we whittle it away with nothingness? Lies? Things  we don't believe or even understand just because we can? The thing I don't understand about all of this is how people seemingly just accept a party line without discovering what the truth is. In the words of one of the protesters "Truth is a Trap."

Before you vote in November I beg of each and every one of you to pursue the truth. Don't take a statement from one side or the other as fact. Find reputable sources and plot out the agendas, the reasons for statements. Vote your conscience not your pocket book. We live in a great country and we have the power to restore government to the people. Please do your duty!!

Rebates

While I'm on the subject of rebates, I thought I would mention that rebates truly are a great source of "income" in today's economy. Whenever I am walking through the grocery store, I keep my eyes open for rebates. Usually on special displays, pads of rebates are available with a required purchase. A lot of alcohol rebates do not require a purchase of alcohol, so I usually find the best rebates near the beer aisles. The rebate might be for $6 off meat, or $5 off a deli tray. If you have purchased that item, you can mail in the receipt and the form and get a check back in about 6-8 weeks.
This is why I save all my receipts from the store. I keep them in a file folder for several months. When I happen to find a rebate form, I look through my receipts to find one that fits the rebate. Today I mailed out 6 different forms. I will get back about $40 in rebates. Most of what I purchased was on sale and with coupons, which further multiplies my savings. The rebates come back almost like little Christmas presents throughout the year. Its definitely worth your time if you follow these simple steps:

1. Keep all receipts from all your shopping
2. When you fill out a form, copy the form and receipt (and any required UPC's) so you have pertinent contact information.
3. Make sure you follow all instructions on the form
4. Write when you mailed the form on the copy and file this with your bills.
5. Periodically check on the status of rebates. If it has been 8 weeks and you don't have your check, call them. If you get the check, remove the sheet from your files so you know you got the money.
6. If you get notified that you did not qualify, call them. The number is usually on the form you mailed in and should be on your copy. 9 times out of 10, by calling, I get the rebate check anyway.

I would say the hardest thing about finding rebates these days is the number of people that take the entire pad and resell them. This makes it very difficult to find rebates sometimes. I find it extremely selfish and just like other unethical methods of couponing, will eventually result in everyone being punished for the deeds of a few. If you find a rebate, take one for yourself and maybe one for a friend or to trade, but please don't take the entire pad. Let others enjoy the pleasures of rebating as much as you do.

EBates earn you cash!

I discovered Ebates a few years ago when I had developed the habit of looking for online coupons whenever I was shopping on the computer. Usually I was trying to find a free shipping deal or % off my total purchase. By going to Ebates before I shopped, I often found coupons and then the bonus of a rebate in cash back to me for shopping through their link. Last month, with a few simple purchases through Barnes and Noble bookstore and Home Depot I earned $13.00. I was already going to shop at both places and by visiting the site through Ebates, I saved money using free shipping coupons and then also received the additional cash back.
Its very easy to join. Go to Ebates and sign up. Then, when you are going to be shopping, go to their site and look for the store you want to use. Click on their link to the store and they track your purchase. If you complete a sale, they will then process a rebate for you. If you are using an email coupon, use that link and when  you have the items in your cart, go to ebates in a different window and then find the store and use their link. The items should be in your cart and now you have the additional rebate.

Happy Shopping!!

Coupon Adventures 9/1-CVS

 Emerald Cashew Snacks – $1.00

**$1.00 off 1 Emerald Nuts coupon from 8/15 Red Plum Sunday newspaper coupon insert
Final Price: Free!

Wheat Thins (small pkg) – $1.00
**$1.00 off 1 Wheat Thins printable coupon on facebook here
Final Price: Free!

Campbell’s Condensed Soup – 2 for $1.00
**$0.50 off 2 Campbell’s Soup printable coupon here
Final Price: $0.25 each

Crest or Oral B Pro Health – $3.97
Buy 1, Receive $2.50 Extra Bucks: Limit 2
**$1.00 off 1 Crest Glide Floss coupon from 8/29 Proctor & Gamble Sunday newspaper coupon insert
**$1.00 off 1 Crest Toothpaste coupon from 8/29 Proctor & Gamble Sunday newspaper coupon insert
Pay: $2.97, Receive $2.50 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $0.47

Glide Clinical Protection Floss, 38.2 yd – $3.97
**$1.00 off 1 Glide Floss coupon from 8/29 Proctor & Gamble Sunday newspaper coupon insert
Pay: $2.97, Receive $2.50 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $0.47

Listerine or Reach Mouth Wash – $3.97
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 Extra Bucks: Limit 2
**$2.00 off 1 Listerine Mouth Wash printable coupon here
Pay: $1.97, Receive $1.00 Extra Bucks

Final Price: $0.97

Nature Made Cholest Off, Flaxseed or Fish Oil – $7.99
Buy 1, Receive $4.00 Extra Bucks: Limit 1
**$3.00 off 1 Nature Made CholestOff printable coupon here
**$1.00 off 1 Nature Made Fish Oil printable coupon here
Pay: $4.99, Receive $4.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $0.99

Schick Manual Razors or Refill Cartridge - $9.99  Buy 1, Get 1 free automatic store promotion

****$4.00 off 1 Schick Quattro for Women Razor, Refill or Disposable printable coupon here
**$5.00 off 1 Schick Hydro Razor coupon from 8/8 Smart Source Sunday newspaper coupon insert
Final Price: As low as $0.99 each (when you buy 2)

Venus Embrace or Breeze Razor – $9.99
Buy 1, Receive $5.00 Extra Bucks: Limit 1
**$3.00 off 1 Mach3, Venus, Sensor3 or Custom Plus Razors coupon from 8/29 Proctor & Gamble Sunday newspaper coupon insert
Pay: $6.99, Receive $5.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $1.99