Love as a Lifestyle       

It’s not just getting a deal, it’s about making a difference!!

Those of you who have already attended a workshop know that Time 2 $ave isn’t just about saving money.  God has spoken a vision of ministry in our hearts to teach people how to save for their family so that they can then turn around and make a purposeful committment to give to others.  Thus creating hope in the lives of hurting people.  We received the testimony below today and had to share it with all of you.  What an inspiration of a heart to bless others. 

My son Nikolas, who is 3 1/2 was diagnosed last year with Wilms Tumor. This is a form of kidney cancer. You can read his story at www.carepages.com/carepages/nikolas

On our year long journey I have come to realize how a cancer diagnosis, while not something you wish to encounter, can be a ‘blessing in disguise’ – we just have to ask God to pull the mask off and reveal the blessing to us!! I have become more patient with my children, appreciate the ‘mundane’ things, and am more quick to lend a helping hand. When Nik was diagnosed, he was admitted to TC Thompson and we were blessed with wonderful nurses and doctors. Not only that, the Ronald McDonald House Family Room was right there on the Oncology floor – not even 2 minutes away from our room. If you have never heard about the Family Room, go to RMHChattanooga.com. This small area was a great place for me to go get a cup of coffee, take a real shower, or just sit and get my thoughts together. While there I could also wash my clothes or get a snack – sometimes even a full meal. When we left the hospital, I knew I wanted to help Ronald McDonald House Charities, but wasn’t sure how.

Nik started chemotherapy at TC Thompson Oncology Clinic and, again were blessed with wonderful clinic nurses and staff. Chemo days are not easy for anyone – The patient, for obvious reasons, and for me as a caregiver, the days were long. While OUR days were long, we were blessed because Nik had his chemo administered via a push, and was not hooked up to an IV for hours, some kids were there 8, 10, sometimes even 12 hours! The longest part of our ‘chemo days’ were waiting for the blood work to come back letting us know if Nik’s counts were high enough to get his dosage. I am thankful to say he was able to get all of his chemo and was never admitted to the hospital – he even overcame the dreaded Swine Flu!! He has been in remission since October and just yesterday he had his port where the chemo was administered removed!!

Many times while we were in the clinic we would visit the kitchen for something to eat or drink. The kitchen was stocked with sodas, juice, Little Debbies, cereal bars, and some non perishables like microwavable mac and cheese, soups, and peanutbutter. This got me thinking how hard it is for a caregiver to be in the clinic over the lunch hour – while these foods are good, they don’t really ‘satisfy’. I have petitioned businesses, churches, and organizations to commit to supplying a full meal to the clinic – with zero luck.

The good news is though, with the gift of knowledge of how to save money by using coupons, I can make a difference at both the Ronald McDonald House Family Room AND the TC Thompson Children’s Oncology Clinic!! I plan to take $20 each month and use it with my coupons, of course to get things that are needed – from food to laundry soap.

I began praying about 6 weeks into Nik’s journey how I could ‘give back’ and am excited and thankful God lead me to your workshop so I can.

Thank you again for this great opportunity to share blessings!!

~D. S. ~ married 15 years with 3 children, working PT, saving money on my groceries and making a difference to cancer families!!!!

I attended your workshop on Saturday at Westside Baptist in Warner Robins.Here’s one of the deals I was able to get at Walgreens: Buy 4 Dayquil orNyquil @ $5.00 each. Use the $2.00 coupon off on each from Telegraph 1/17,making them $3.00 each. Then Walgreens prints you a $10.00 coupon on thepurchase. After, the first purchase they are practically free. I haveattached photos of my purchases! Dawn B.

Shoppers shouldn’t be so quick to toss those coupons in the trash; in the right hands, they could be as good as gold.  Dedicated coupon clippers from Rhea County have already saved thousands, and Dayton local, Debbie McCuiston, is one of them.

“It’s just amazing,” said McCuiston. “A couple weeks ago I spent $250 [at the grocery store] but walked out having paid $47.”

McCuiston got started in huge coupon savings when she heard about a coupon workshop based in Cleveland, Tenn.  The coupon workshops were the brainchild of two Tennessee stay-at-home moms who, like many in the area, were struggling to make ends meet in the economy.

After heavily researching coupons, deals, online savings and common store policies, the two women started saving such significant amounts that others started noticing. Interest in coupon clipping grew so great that after a small couponing class drew a crowd of 200 people, their business, Time 2 $ave, was born.

These two moms, nicknamed the “coupon queens,” now travel around the country teaching others the same strategies and techniques that have worked so well for their families.  In the workshops, people learn how to find good coupons, whether in-store, directly from the manufacturer or an online resource, then how to wait for the sales and put them to good use.

Many area businesses, such as Spring City’s Piggly Wiggly and Dayton’s Bi-Lo and Fred’s, allow the “doubling” of coupons, where customers can use both the in-store coupon and the manufacturer’s coupon on the same item up to a certain amount.

“Just make sure to monitor the expiration dates on the coupons before bringing them to us,” said Bi-Lo manager Jane Draper. “If we take out-of-date coupons, the store loses money, and that loss will eventually lead to higher prices.”

Bi-Lo also offers its own online collection of printable coupons, available to anyone with a bonus card, said Draper.  Some stores go so far as to accept coupons from any store:
“Publix in Hixson is wonderful,” said McCuiston. “They take everybody’s coupons as long as they cover the same brand. A lot of times you pay pennies for things.”

The typical response from many people is that they don’t have the time to deal with coupons, but after the initial setup and figuring out a good filing system, it’s not that hard, said McCuiston.  “It’s a ministry and a comfort to know I’m doing the best for my family,” she added. “I can send my kids [who live out of state] $100 worth of stuff that cost me less than $25.”

Avoiding the stingy, difficult stereotypes of coupon clippers takes some work as well, said McCuiston, who makes it a point to shop at less busy times and “stay nice.”
“Some people [using coupons] are not considerate, but you’ve got to protect your testimony at all costs,” she said. “Don’t be demanding. They’re doing you a service by taking your coupons, and we’re doing them a service by [shopping with them].”

McCuiston hopes that more Rhea county vendors will become increasingly cooperative in their coupon policies.

“I would rather stay in Dayton and keep my money here,” she said.

For those interested, Dayton First Baptist Church will host one of the couponing workshops in March. Unused coupons can be dropped off at the church as well. More information can be found at www.time2saveworkshops.com or by calling Debbie McCuiston at 775-6517.
Elisabeth Hollingsworth can be reached at elisabeth.hollingsworth@rheaheraldnews.com

Published: 5:03 PM, 11/06/2009
Elisabeth Hollingsworth
Source: The Herald-News

DATE CHANGE FOR WORKSHOP MARCH 6TH

Thank you Debbie, for stressing the importance of how we present ourselves to others.  As we tell anyone who attends our workshops ~ we are all a light and a testimoney everywhere we go, don’t let it ruin your testimony.    

Before we were married, my husband and I decided live on one income so I could be at home with any children we might have. The Lord has blessed us with 2 kids and I have been able to be home with them since birth. But doing this, financially, is not always easy. Even though I don’t bring in any money, by spending wisely and saving, I am contributing. My family and I are on the Dave Ramsey system. For 3 years now, in every area of our lives, I have been able to stay on a budget. I have even cut back in some areas, but my grocery bill never seems to go down. With a 3 and 5 year old, it seems to go up every year. That is until I met you two. It has been 5 weeks since I took your first class and my grocery budget has gone down from 95 to 75$ per week. My goal is 45$ per week. The rest will go to my kids college fund (another way I can contribute).

I have always loved getting a deal and being frugal, so this was right up my alley. Now, I regularly save 50% or more on my stockpile items. I get to shop at Publix and Bi-lo and I don’t have to buy great value!!! I love Wednesday and Sunday mornings, when I run to get the paper in the driveway. It’s taken me a few weeks but I am not embarrassed to take my coupon binder into stores. I am in awe of the ladies with the binders too thick to close. My best shopping trip to date was to Publix. I spent 4.17 and saved 28.36. My husband was with me and when he saw the total, he was amazed. During that trip, I asked the manager for clarification on a sale item. Later, he found me in the store to see if he could help me with anything else. We about fell over from shock. Never would have happened at Wal-mart! The next day at Publix (a new sale week), I spent 7$, saved 21$ – on 14 items. I got cheerios for 40 cents per box. I can’t thank you all enough for your ministry. God is blessing you two for being good stewards of his money.

Sincerely, Elizabeth
received via email 9/19/2009

Thanks Elizabeth!  We appreciate your sharing your $avings with us.  We know that without God’s hand on us we are incapable of this.  He has been faithful to us to open doors, give us favor, and to send hurting people in need of hope in their finances.

Hey Girls, Wanted to tell both of you Thank You!!!!
The first thing I check when I get on the computer is your blog spot, to see what you have added I LOVE IT!
Just to share a lil bit of a few trips to the stores with you.
The week of 8/26-9/2 Publix had A-1 Steak Sauce BOGO, Woohoo $2 each! We love A1. You had typed “great Ebay” out by the A1 when doing match-ups for Publix that week. I broke down went to Ebay & searched it, I bought 10 A-1 coupons for $2.00/1 for $1.75 on Thursday. Guess what was in my mailbox on MONDAY!!! I went straight to Publix bought 10 bottles of A-1, 5 bottles were $2 each & 5 were $1.99 each. all for $1.75 and a little patience. This really works!!!

Bilo trip 9/12 this was exciting because it was the first time the cashier said to me “Wow that’s awesome when you save more than you spent” That will put a smile on your face

Subtotal before savings was $70.20
My savings $42.75
Subtotal after savings $27.45
tax $ 3.28
Total $30.78

CVS trip 9/8
1 Cvgrl Foundation $4.99
1 cvgrl press powder $4.99
M&M’s $0.67

Coupon for $1 off of Foundation
coupon for free product with purchase of foundation
$5 xtra bucks
Total paid OOP was .99

This is so much fun to see what you can get for CHEAP!!!!

Monday Evening my husband decided he wanted to take me out for dinner, I said well let me see where I have a coupon for, his statement was”Life is not all about a coupon” I dare him. I did not say a word. After dinner we take a little tip to Publix to pickup $10 worth of groceries to get our .1 item as he figured out we were paying .25 for Toaster strudels he asked “you have anymore of those coupons?” I politely said “life is not all about coupons”. After actually going with me & seeing his already ask whats on sale this week!
I can’t say THANK YOU enough for what both of you are doing.
God Bless
Melissa S.
received via email 9/17/2009

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I went to your seminar in Jasper last week. I went to Publix this week – not my normal store but it was 7 miles one way from my school. Using your recommendations I spent $43 and saved $26. The coupons saved me $10 and the reg. retail sales saved me $16. Thank you!!! I love couponing (and get cheap or free stuff!)

Beth Ake
received via email 9/17/2009

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The savings are going great. I don’t know how I ever thought I was saving money before – but when I have to buy something without a sale and coupon -it kinda hurts my feelings, not to mention my wallet.

Do you ladies happen to know if there is a couponing group around here – a coupon round-robin if you will? I have lots of baby and make-up coupons that I know someone else could use – as I am sure there are people that may have coupons that I could use.

BTW – I followed up on your advice about the expired coupons and have discovered that you can actually adopt a military base over seas. I have adopted my husband’s former base in Korea to send my coupons to. I recently recieved a letter from one of the families telling my how thankful they were that there are still people here who care about them. That just made my day!

Thanks for all of your help, tips and kind words. You have really turned my year around.

Thanks again,
Tiffany
recieved via email 8/28/2009

Okay, this is by far the best and funniest testimonial we have read in a while.  Kelly and I nearly laughed our britches off this morning when we got this email.  Coupon Lady, thank you for taking the time to send us your story.  To everyone else out there who has a “story,” email us at time2save@hotmail.com. We are launching a new campaign – Time 2 $ave Time 2 Give and we want to hear from you.  Also, if you read our previous post HERE it might land you a spot on TV.

I am a 31 year old man, with three kids…and now my nickname at work is “The Coupon Lady.” You know what….I don’t care. Neither do the other husbands from our church that all went on this little coupon class of yours. Here is our story.

“How much could this actually save us?” we asked. Spending hours disecting a newspaper to save $1.45 from a $2.00 Sunday paper did not sound like a good deal to me. Being the good husbands that we were, we all submitted and escorted our loving brides to this henfest. We were all expecting to be subject to the incessant babbling of a hundred women about the best place to buy candles, and why their husbands who didn’t come were a bunch of dogs.

What we learned, changed our lives…and those of the ones around us. I’ve said a hundred times before “If it doesn’t say Great Value on it…we don’t need it!” Oh how mistaken I was. I now have two jam packed refrigerators, two packed freezers, and my wife has rearranged the kitchen three times to find room for our new found food wealth. The kicker is, that it is all BRAND NAME food!

This week at church, a family in need was brought up that needed food to survive. Instead of blowing the dust off of that one can of Sourkrout in the back of the cupboard and a few other items I didn’t think we’d ever eat, we were able to gladly supply this family with GOOD brand name food. We were able to give them what we would normally buy in a grocery trip for our family. Because of our newfound skill, we were excited to pick out things we knew this family would enjoy.

To all of us husbands at church now, gone are the talks of Football scores, and NASCAR races. We bring our receipts and brag of our savings, or finding the deal that they didn’t. “You saved 70%…that’s not to bad. I SAVED 80%!! TAKE THAT!!! Have you ever seen men that raced to the grocery stores on Wednesday morning before work….we do now!

I am such the nerd, that I have been keeping a spreadsheet of our savings. You will find it attached. In only three weeks we have filled our cabinets, eaten better than we ever have, and saved over $1,000 while doing it. Thank you for your classes, and we at Boynton Church of God are glad you will bring your class to our church.

Jay “The Coupon Lady”

Boynton Church of God
1956 Three Notch Rd
Ringgold, GA 30736
November 6th (Friday)6:30pm – Couponing 101
November 7th(Saturday) 10:00am – Couponing 102
November 7th (Saturday) 1:30pm – Couponing 103

After some of the girls from Boynton Church of God attended the workshops at Bethel Baptist Church in Harrison, TN it created such excitement in their community that they decided to host a workshop.  One of the ladies called today to make sure that she had the workshop booked before attending church tonight so that she could share the good news!  See testimony below:

First of all thank you so much for introducing us to another world of savings…we are addicted!! I attended the workshop at New Bethel Baptist in Harrison on August 14th and 15th.  Can you see what dates you have available now? Our members, family, and friends are going crazy when we tell them about our deals and ask me daily if I have scheduled a workshop for all of them. My pastor’s wife called me this morning and gave me the few dates that we have something on our calender. I am looking forward to getting you guys scheduled and seeing you both again!
J.M. via email received 9/8/2009

Dear Kelly and Kasey,
My sister, niece and myself attended your class this weekend. I’ve been couponing for quite some time and didn’t really know if I would learn anything new at your workshops. To say the least…..I did! You both really know your stuff! I tried out all that I learned, by using the coupons that I had in my “stash”. the store ads and your website! I was able to save a total of 53% on my one-day shopping spree! I saved more in some places, less in others, depending on my coupons and the store deals. My next goal is set at 70% Total Savings!

Thank you both for your ministry. I know that this will be a “life-saver” for so many people in these tough economic times.
Peace & Love to you both-
M. B.

Publix -
Spent $ 41.83 –
Saved $ 25.34
Saved around 38%
Biggest Bargain – $ 1.34 for Aunt Jemima Pancakes – Used Target coupon and clipped coupon totalling $ 1.50 – $.16 cents overage

BI-LO
Spent $ 70.73
Saved $ 49.86
Saved around 42%
Biggest Bargain- Budweiser Barbeque sauce – paid 25 cent bottle after coupon!

Walgreens
Spent $ 13.07 ($ 12.07 after RR)
Saved – $53.40
Saved around 80%

Still have $ 1.00 in rolling receipts (RR)
What I brought home- Tide Detergent, 2 Gillette Fusion razors Regular $ 9.00 each (Found.On Clearance – 57 cents each after coupon), 1 off brand razor set (free), 2 Colgate total toothpastes, 1 Rembrandt toothpaste Regular $ 5.00 (free)., Thera Flu Liquid nighttime cough syrup, feminine pads,

CVS
Spent – $ 16.81 ( $ 5.81 after extra bucks)
Saved – $ 29.37
Saved around 88% after extra bucks
Still have Extra Bucks to spend – $ 11.00
Total amount paid out of pocket after extra bucks $ 5.81
What I brought home – 1 bounce dryer bar ,(reg 3.99), 3 – 2oz. glade candles (free after coupons), 1 bottle head/shoulders shampoo (reg 4.99), 1 Fusion Razor, (reg 8.99) & 1 Large Glade Candle (reg. 6.99)

KMart
Spent – $ 38.28
Saved $ 27.85
Saved around 41%
What I brought Home – Axe shower soap, 2 arrid deodorants, q-tips, scrubbing bubbles toilet cleaner, scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner, Scott bath tissues – 2 – 4pkgs, all detergent, ocean spray juice,(not on sale and busted some of my budget) 2- 20lb tidy cat litter containers, bottle of novelty drink (not on my list either)
Total Shopping for the day –
Paid out of pocket $ 169.72
Saved – $ 185.82

Total Savings – 53%
recieved via email 9-1-2009