One year ago this week I started couponing. I discovered CVS, I got paid to buy Glade candles at Target, and I basked in the wonder of it all! It was truly exhilarating to be able to get stuff I needed for free and to get paid to buy other stuff. I really felt that coupons were a gift from God, just one more way He had provided for us since I decided to quit my job and stay home with the kiddos full-time. The first week of December, whilst still in the throes of CVS-newbie excitement, I discovered that my kids needed baby wash. So, I thought I’d go to CVS to get myself some Johnson’s baby wash and pay for it with my CVS ExtraCare bucks. I had a $1 off manufacturer’s coupon as well. Alas, when I got to CVS, I discovered the baby wash was $4.29. $4.29!?!? No way was this new-couponer going to “spend” that much of her ECBs on that. I decided I would just save my coupon and use it to get some reasonably-priced Johnson’s at Target later in the week.
The next day, CVS put out an e-mail coupon for $2 off Johnson’s baby wash. I am not lying. Hot Dog! I was excited! With my $1 off manufacturer’s coupon and my $2 off CVS coupon, I could get the price down to $1.29. Now THAT is a price I was willing to spend my ExtraCare Bucks on! So I went in and bought a bottle. And guess what happened? There, on the bottom of my receipt, I got a $1 ExtraCare Buck BACK for buying the Johnson’s. It was an UNADVERTISED special that I knew nothing about. So, between my $3 in coupons and my $1 ECB I got for buying it, I paid 29 cents for the baby wash.
The limit on this deal was five. You KNOW I got my coupons together and went back and got four more!
I went from not having any baby wash to having enough for months, and I got it all for just pennies. Wow!
So, that’s a great story, right? Super-neat how that worked out, eh?
To me, it’s not a story of a great deal. It’s a story of God’s great love for me.
You see, November 2007 had been a tight month for us, and with Christmas looming that first week of December, there is a reason I was being tight with those ExtraCare bucks. But God is my provider, and He meets my needs because I have placed my trust in Him. I needed baby wash, and I truly believe that God gave me that great deal to encourage me on my couponing path. He provided for even my kid’s most basic needs through coupons – the day after I walked out of CVS not willing to pay $4.29 or even $3.29 on for the baby wash, I got a $2 off coupon in my email! And it was CVS coupon that I could use with my manufacturer’s coupon. And THEN I got $1 back for buying it! Not a coincidence, people. (In this post, my Bloggy BFF Jill calls this “God Showing Off”.) God worked that out for me and used it to empower me. I think when I first started couponing, I wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to stick with it, but after the Great Baby Wash Heist of 2007, I have truly never looked back. I ask God to bless my couponing efforts, and He DOES! My most recent CVS receipt tells me that my year-to-date savings there are over $6200. And to that I say, THANK YOU LORD!
I mean for real, how cool is it that the Creator of the Universe cares what I pay for baby wash?? FREAKING COOL!!
What do you need today? Why don’t you ask God and give Him the chance to meet your needs in an amazing way?
Very funny post! I needed a good laugh. I do have needs, thanks for reminding me to pray about them.
I always love your posts about faith, they really seem to come from the heart. I love that God is with us even in the most ordinary tasks of our lives. I completely believe, as you do, that God is putting these great couponing opportunities in your path to make being a SAHM a little less stressful financially.
GREAT post!! And funny, too!! I’m coming up on my 1 year CVS mark in January! I thought I had done good saving almost 2000 this year….but you are the queen!
I totally believe he blesses our couponing efforts. To me that is part of being a great steward of the resources he has provided me. Prov. 31 lady all the way!!
All because He’s cool like that!
I love how God is so personal like that. He knew that you needed the Baby Wash and money was tight so He provided for you! It just amazes me how God provides and cares about the tiny details that even your BFF or spouse might overlook. Seriously, its awesome!!
I totally love being reminded that God cares about EVERY detail in our lives.
I remember us praying for a used vehicle several years back. I prayed specifically for several things I would have liked in the vehicle, but was pretty modest in my requests: it ran, had wheels/tires, seats – you know, the important stuff lol.
He gave us the coolest car – all the perks and options PLUS it had all of that other stuff.
It still amazes me how MUCH He loves me and hears me.
xoxo~K
AWESOME post!
God shows SUPERNATURAL favor in places that we sometimes take for granted , for instance in our appliances that we use everyday. I have a set of Maytag washer and dryer that are just three years old and two weeks ago I had put a load in my wash to begin a full day of washing. I went to the other end of the house to check my email and read some of my favorite blogs and I after about fifteen minutes I started smelling smoke. I turned and looked out of the room and my house was full of smoke. I immediately searched the house for the source and it lead me to the laundry room. My washer had totally shut down, full of water and it was smoking. I tried to turn in on again and it didn’t make any noise. I unplugged it and called a friend over who is a repair man and he told me that the motor and transmission had burned up. I called searched on line about this particular washer and there were numerous posts about this washer dying within the first year or three and some people were able to get them replaced. I called Maytag and Home Depot with a BIG fat NO from both. I had about seven loads of clothes laying around plus the one in the wash. I just thought to myself, “What am I going to do”? I REFUSE to load these clothes up to hit the laundromat and I am not one to go to someones else’s house to use their appliances. I pondered on this for two days and then I heard that “Still Small Voice” tell me to turn the washer on. I immediately retaliated and said NO, I’m afraid of a fire. I heard it again…”Turn the washer on”. I turned it on and it started up and I stood right there watching a smelling to make sure there was no smoke. To make a even longer story shorter, I have washed twelve loads of clothes since then. She runs like a NEW one!
OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!!
“Ask and you shall recieve, Seek and you shall find.” God is so good! Now I’m wishing we had a CVS near here!
i need a really great tan, think He’ll hook me up? Oh, and how about a bag of Russell Stover candies–oops, He already did 🙂 Thanks for the help on the bygo q’s. (like my nerd lingo?)
what an awesome post!!
i love when God blesses us with small things!!
I find it very hard to believe that you actually think that “GOD” cares about you needing baby wash. Even if there was this “GOD” that you speak of I would think that he would have better things to do then to make sure you can get cheap stuff with coupons.
Awesome post Jenny!!!
What a great reminder – thank you, I needed this!
Nicole,
I do believe it! And because I have given my life to Him, he provides for
me faithfully – even though you’re right, He does have “better things to do” by our standards.
That’s why the things He does to show his love are so amazing and cool!
In one more year, you will be posting about how you have established the “Our Lady of the Red Card” church. I used to be worried about you, now I’m just proud.
Jenny, I recently had an experience with divinity. It was just WOW. He listens. He does. We should, too.
I say there’s no coincidence – there’s only God.
And, to share a personal story too – our son had surgery last year and we had to pay our OOP Max before our insurance would pay 100% (our OOP Max was $5500 BTW)…guess how much I had saved exactly ONE year after his surgery….$5500 (and it’s even more now).
Where God guides, God provides. His wisdom and ways are so amazing to me and I can’t think Him enough for givin’ me my coupon skillz – and so many other blessings He decided I could have in my life!
I love this story and you giving credit to our amazing God! And, I am so glad you’re using your skillz to help others!!!
Amen, girl.