COUPONING!!!

I have discovered the joy of couponing! Not only do you save significant amounts of money on groceries and other items but it's a lot of fun! Yesterday I did my major grocery shopping for the month and saved $98.27! I love BOGO's and thankfully our grocery chain does those weekly and our other local chain has 10 for $10 sales weekly as well.

I'm not as crazy as some of the ladies on extreme couponing, but I do enjoy saving money on what we use. I can't see myself stockpiling three years of toilet paper, in the first place I'm not sure where I'd put it, but I don't see the need for anyone having three years of toilet paper or 150 bottles of body wash. I also do not spend 60 hours each week cutting, planning, plotting and shopping. I spent about an hour cutting, searching and planning and saved almost $100, or 50% of my shopping costs.

When you watch extreme couponing you'll notice they seldom buy big ticket items, fresh vegetables or meats. That's where anyone spends their money. I've started buying my meats at our local grocery store's 5 for $19.99 counter. That generally provides us with almost 2 weeks of meat.

We also participate in the Angel Food Ministry where you can purchase boxes of restaurant quality food for a limited budget. We purchase the $46 a month box. If you've never tried it, go to www.angelfoodministry.com and check on the menu for May. There are several different price options/box contents. I like the $46 a month box as it has the best variety for the money. May's box even includes 4 New York strip steaks.

This has become a new way of life for me and I find I am truly enjoying it!

LEARNING TO BE FRUGAL

Daddy told my husband when he asked for my hand that I was "high maintenance." He wasn't kidding. I like the finer things in life and if it sparkles I like it. When I go into a jewelery store the piece I choose will always be the most expensive thing in the store. However, I did not marry a billionaire and as the economy has changed I've had to learn to economize and change the way I look at things. I've begun couponing and sale shopping and have truly been enjoying it. Just this past Saturday I bought 5 5# bags of Gold Medal flour, 2 pkgs of Crisco shortening (the sticks), 5 1# bags of brown and confectioners sugar, 5 pkgs yeast, 4 Angel Food cake mixes, 4 large bottles of REAL McCormicks vanilla, 2 bags of coconut, 1 lb bag of walnuts, all for $35.00. That's enough baking products to last me the remainder of the year. We have started purchasing from Angel Food Ministries, restaurant quality food at a minimum price. We buy the $41 box and have enough food for us for a couple of weeks.

I'm learning how to bake my own bread, not with a bread machine. I'm cooking at home more, shopping the meat sales, and using coupons to get things at a very low price and stocking up. I'm learning to buy clothing with pieces so I can mix and match with other things, and figuring out I don't need new clothes every season.

I'm also realizing that we need to take heed to what scripture teaches us about the last days. Yes, I firmly believe we are living in the last of the last days. Scripture teaches
Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

As things change in our world we need to be prepared. I remember a song from my teenage years that said, "a piece of bread will buy a bag of gold." I don't think we should be afraid, but prepared, like the 10 wise virgins were prepared in the book of Matthew 25:1-12. The wise virgins had oil in their lamps and extra, just in case. The foolish virgins were not prepared and the Lord turned them away.

I know I want to be prepared.