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.