This was a post written by a friend of mine, that I thought you would enjoy. Ever think couponing isn’t worth it? Check out her post here to learn why she thinks it is!
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I just saw a news segment about how much money can be saved by giving up smoking! Did you know an average smoker smokes away nearly $2200 each year? That’s a LOT of money! As my almost 16-year-old son is well aware, that’s a decent used car. Depending on your mortgage or rent, that’s 2-3 months of payments. It’s paying off a credit card. It’s new living room furniture. And on my budget, it’s 22+ weeks of groceries–almost half the year!
A lady in the news story said she was giving up her cigarettes because, “I can’t afford to smoke.” Well, this year, I discovered that I can’t afford not to coupon! Back in May, I returned from a trip to the grocery store barely staying within our then budget of $150/week. Prices were really beginning to rise on everything, and as I drove home, I was praying about it. “I need some help with this, Lord,” I remember saying. “There’s got to be a better way to shop. There’s got to be a way to save more money.”
When I got home, my husband literally met me at the door with a message that HomeLife magazine wanted me to do a story on money-saving expert, Coupon Gal Kelly Hancock and her ministry, Faithful Provisions. Kelly’s heart was to teach people how to save money, primarily at the grocery store, so that they could live generously!
I met up with Kelly a few weeks later, and she began to mentor me in the art of shopping, couponing, and menu-planning in such a way that it all works together. You see, I thought I knew how to shop and menu-plan (in my opinion, I didn’t have time to coupon–LOL). But I really didn’t know how to incorporate those three aspects in order to really make a difference in my budget, my kitchen, and even in the lives of other people (I’ve been able to give to two different food ministries this year!). Kelly showed me how, and I count her teaching as well as her friendship among my greatest blessings of 2009!
Recently, I found a bit of confirmation as to just how much I have learned since May. I found a grocery receipt from this past April in a jacket pocket. I had spent around $150 on that trip and saved 21% (around $30, buying store brands and sale items). This week, I spent $92.43 and saved 48% (that’s $84.78–$36 of that was coupons). Wow! This is typical for me now! I love it!
So, how hard is it? Well, I follow Kelly’s blog daily for coupon match-ups and special freebies, and I spend a couple of hours planning every week. The way I figure it, who wouldn’t take a two-hour a week job (working from home!) that netted $200/month? I’m not passing that up. I can’t afford not to coupon!
Rebecca Ingram Powell is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mother of three, and a nationally known author and speaker. For over a decade, she has inspired and equipped moms in every season of parenting. In recent years, Rebecca’s ministry has expanded to include Bible studies and conference events for girls. You can visit her at www.rebeccapowell.com.
Love this! Thanks for sharing it!!
I am pretty much vice free when it comes to habits that cost money, and have just cut out my last. Over the years I had quit drinking (7yrs ago) and smoking (6 yrs ago), so when I learned Kelly’s system and started using sale adds and coupons 2 years ago I was in pretty good shape, EXCEPT for Red Bull. Red Bull was what I looked forward to each morning. I would drink 2. They sell for around 2-3 dollars a piece. I would buy in bulk and get them for around 1.30 a can. So I was doing okay.
Well starting my 3rd year of Faithful Provisions I just could not justify it. I was on a $240 a month budget but spending an additional $100 on Red Bull.
I am now a month off of Red Bull. and for those of you that know me this is a huge accomplishment!!
I read the article in homelife and it has changed my shopping as well! I LOVE couponing and menu planning. It has made a huge difference for my family and now I don’t like to buy anything unless I have a coupon. This helped us tremendously this past year at Christmas. I’m very excited to be starting the New Year off this way and looking forward to what the Lord has in store in 2010.
Thank you Rebecca for writing the story for HomeLife and Thank you Kelly for all you do and for this blog. My family and I appreciate it very much!
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