Comments on The Coupon Goddess: A New Reader Asks For Help

Elizabeth, I am a firm believer that Christ comman...

2012-01-10T06:19:12.287-08:00

Elizabeth,
I am a firm believer that Christ commands us to help others in need.
“For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land” Deuteronomy 15:11.
I would love to help you out. I have an ample stockpile of toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc) that I would be more than happy to send you. I know this isn't food, but if you had these type of supplies, then you could focus primarily on buying food. If you are interested, please send me an email at theblessedcouponer@gmail.com and we will chat. May God bless you and your children. Take care.

Melanie's ideas are spot on. My suggestion wo...

2012-01-07T18:33:08.949-08:00

Melanie's ideas are spot on. My suggestion would be to use a coupon clipping service if you don't get good coupons in the paper. Buy a few extra coupons of the products on sale for the week or that your family uses most. Most of my coupon orders are well under $10.00 (usually around 6.00) and I get extras of what I really want. My newspaper is over 3.00 so buying extras adds up quick.

Also, look for foods that have good nutritional value like oatmeal that you can use as is or as fillers to meatloaf, etc. A bag of unpopped popcorn is pretty cheap, has good fiber and can be popped in a paper bag (3-4 TBSP) in the microwave. I bought a bag at Walmart for $1.49 recently and that will probably make at least 10 bags of popcorn. It makes a great snack.

I also wanted to point out something...(I was the ...

2012-01-07T17:30:54.810-08:00

I also wanted to point out something...(I was the one dividing the lb of hamburger up)...I realized that I was going to have to do something to change things. I got better at couponing but that wasn't going to help me long term. I went to my local community college and found out what I needed to do to enroll. My school was paid for 100% through the pell grant program. I got enough extra leftover to help w/ gas and applied to WorkSource to get daycare assistance. I mean it when I say it changed my life. It's one thing to worry about feeding your children and something else to make a plan to make sure that you never have to worry about that again. It's hard. Even I laugh when I tell people that I just graduated from a ONE yr program after almost 21 yrs of going to school, but that's exactly what I did. Sure I could have just streamlined into the one yr program but I knew I wouldn't be able to go back later so I took classes as I could while I worked full time. I am 3 classes from my Associates degree. I am actually about 12 from my 4 yr Bachelors...now I just have to decide which road to take and which will be easier on my family.
Either way...I will soon be working as a LVN and I have shown my kids that hard work does pay off. I sure hope she reads these posts. Hope is something she needs more than anything right now.

Thank you all for sharing your words of wisdom. Un...

2012-01-07T16:58:51.044-08:00

Thank you all for sharing your words of wisdom. Unfortunately, Elizabeth just commented on an older post with her plea and did not leave any contact info. I hope she reads this post and gleans some info and insight that will help her. Thank you so much for your assistance and willingness to help!

I have a lot of Barilla pasta. I will mail some t...

2012-01-07T13:57:28.318-08:00

I have a lot of Barilla pasta. I will mail some to Elizabeth if she sends me her address.

I have a source for lots of Barilla pasta. If Eli...

2012-01-07T13:55:08.345-08:00

I have a source for lots of Barilla pasta. If Elizabeth emails me her address I will ship some to her.

Elizabeth, Check out Trent over at The simple Dol...

2012-01-07T11:27:30.654-08:00

Elizabeth,

Check out Trent over at The simple Dollar. If you're having trouble with food, I'm willing to bet there is stress with other financial aspects as well. He has some great outside-the-box ideas to cut costs and bring in extra money. He seems really good with answering questions regarding specific problems, too, if you write to him as well. Good luck...I'm really rooting for you!

You can also see if your community has local produ...

2012-01-07T07:51:20.146-08:00

You can also see if your community has local produce markets. I have two and many times they are cheaper than the grocery store. Usually though produce is ready to use within a day or two. It is possible to work out some sort of price reduction on the produce as it is getting too ripe to sell. Spring summer and fall are much easier times for the produce markets in my area to make deals though.

Really great advice in this time of great need. Th...

2012-01-07T06:29:16.479-08:00

Really great advice in this time of great need. Thank you!

Also have Elizabeth get help from local food banks. We have two in Newton that help families in need and will provide about a week's worth of food a month.

My heart breaks for Elizabeth and her children too...

2012-01-07T04:03:55.830-08:00

My heart breaks for Elizabeth and her children too. I don't have anything to add to the extensive list of suggestions already listed by Melanie and the above readers. My prayers to Elizabeth and her children. Good luck!!

First of all, Elizabeth needs to get assistance to...

2012-01-06T22:49:01.695-08:00

First of all, Elizabeth needs to get assistance to make sure her children (and her) are eating.

Getting a stockpile started and put together takes a bit of time, it does not happen over night.....but at least during this time, Elizabeth can rest assured that she and her children get help and dont have to go without food, not even for a day, let alone weeks :(

Where does Elizabeth live ? I'd love o help .....

I like the others, feel for Elizabeth and know her...

2012-01-06T21:57:33.716-08:00

I like the others, feel for Elizabeth and know her pain.
I remember the days of buying a lb of hamburger meat, dividing it into four equal portions, freezing 3 of them in baggies and using one of the now 1/4 lb to make a box of generic hamburger helper...and that was feed my son and I for a few days. Add a piece of buttered bread and well..you do what you have to.
I have learned that if you can get something super cheap...and your kids will eat it...get as much as you can. I will not harp on nutrition at this point. I am of the school of thought that your kids need to eat. PERIOD. and I know I sure the heck couldn't have cared less about the food pyramid when I was trying to make a box of hamburger helper with less than a 1/4 lb of meat in it...feed my baby for a few days.
Yes they do need some nutritious foods...but I know any food is better than none as well.

I also want to point out that the bread outlets, often accept foodstamps as well...
if you don't get them now you should apply.
Next is to do a search for low cost meal ideas.
This will really help you stretch the food you do have into the most meals and a variety of meals.
Good luck! We are praying for you!

Elizabeth, Believe in what the others have said. A...

2012-01-06T20:59:48.746-08:00

Elizabeth,
Believe in what the others have said. Ask for help. Get on assistance. Do whatever you need to do. My family and I had to do that after my daughter was born 21 months ago. We only qualified for 4 months, but it was what we needed to help get us through those very hard times. We were also on WIC which is a tremendously wonderful program. I wish we still qualified. Nothing like free dairy products.

Couponing is hard. It can be overwhelming and at times, pretty darned frustrating. When I started couponing in June 2011, I went GONZO snatching up deals like they were the last ones ever. The temporary high I got from the savings was awesome; but the resulting lows from discovering I still spent too much or sometimes this felt even worse: missing that Awesome deal.

Four months in, I quit. I was frustrated, burnt out, and just plain done with it. I still checked the blogs, because well, they are kinda awesome! I'm still only part-part timing it, but hope to get back into it with a renewed sense of optimism this coming year.

My point is don't try and snag every coupon/every deal, they will come around again. Take it slow. And please, ask your community and even the government for help. Your babies need you to, because you're Mom.

And my couponing newbie question:
I still haven't figured out a good way to get decent inserts. I live in Montana. We have one newspaper available that only ever gets Smart Source (approx 6-7 low, low value coupons), Red Plum (3-4 low value coupons), and P&G (12-15 coupons). We have one chain grocery store, Albertsons. And get 3 doublers in the paper once every 4-5 months or so.

Where does Elizabeth live? I am interested in help...

2012-01-06T20:39:53.876-08:00

Where does Elizabeth live? I am interested in helping her out with coupons, clothes, I have a stockpile I could donate. Please Elizabeth e-mail me at ruckey04@gmail.com I would love to help you out.

Hi Elizabeth - You already have great tips here - ...

2012-01-06T20:08:56.201-08:00

Hi Elizabeth -
You already have great tips here - starting with Melanie's post and in all the comments.

Please don't set the bar too high when it comes to coupons. Any amount you save is a "win" and it counts.

I heartily agree with getting assistance. It's called a safety net with good reason. It is one way we all pitch in via our government to help each other get through rough times and get back on our feet.

My husband volunteers at our local food pantry and many of the clients volunteer there as well. Almost everyone in need who walks through the door for the first time is a little bit afraid. But cheerful volunteers who understand the situation and are helpful eases that anxiety very quickly.
Wishing you all the best -
- Lee

We just moved from Central Fl to middle of no wher...

2012-01-06T16:52:01.677-08:00

We just moved from Central Fl to middle of no where Az. I use to be good at couponing, but am having trouble out here. Maybe someone could help me. In Fl I had Publix, Winn Dixies, Aldi, and Walmarts plus Walgreens and CVS. Now in Az I have Walmarts, Smiths, and Safeway plus walgreens and CVS. I use to be good because I would do my shopping at publix's and winn dixie. I only went to walmarts, walgreens, or cvs for small or special stuff. Also in Fl I got 2 newspapers, here there are no newspapers delivered out here. "Town" is 30-45 minutes away. Needless to say the first time I walked in Smiths and Safeway I wanted to go back home because I could not find anything lol. I am getting better now, but still need some advise. What do you do when you do not have a newspaper and there are no sites devoted to Smiths/Safeway AZ? Thank you for your help.

One thing that will help, no matter what kind of f...

2012-01-06T16:37:23.565-08:00

One thing that will help, no matter what kind of food she must serve her children, give it silly names or tell them how it helps their bodies. Eat whatever you must with cheer. Happiness/cheerfulness is contagious. Help them to enjoy right now and hope for better. Even a drab meal can be cheerful. I hope you do not have drab meals. Something made with a bit a chocolate helps to round out a sad meal. So, smiles and chocolate are my recommendation.

Be careful that the item you use a double coupon with in one store is not actually cheaper without a coupon in another store. Did anyone say that? I run into it all the time.

I agree if you are in that great need you should d...

2012-01-06T16:23:02.277-08:00

I agree if you are in that great need you should definitely get some government assistance to get you caught up. Reaching out to friends, church organizations and family is certainly justified. Don't let the little ones go hungry. I for one dislike being hungry (although I should go hungry a little more often) Once you get on your feet than start slow. My favorite thing to do is buy beans and lentils in the bulk section you will get a better value there. Also must add Fruits and Vegetables to their diet and whatever is on sale and in Season. Trader Joes always has bananas at .19 cents each. Thats a great healthy and fulfilling snack. Good Luck. Please accept help and in the future you will be in a better position to help others.

I would reccomend alsoto tell people she is around...

2012-01-06T14:56:13.871-08:00

I would reccomend alsoto tell people she is around, church, work, school etc tha she is intrested in couponing and ifthe person does not need the coupons can she have them. Get a cupon buddy..exchange coupons. Also you can use your food stamps with coupons which helps sretch your money as well as there should be no taxes.
Donna L.
VA

Find assistance in your area first and foremost. ...

2012-01-06T14:20:58.521-08:00

Find assistance in your area first and foremost.
As far as couponing, find someone that does this all the time and ask if they will show you the ropes, i.e. take you with them when they go so you see it from beginning to end.
Good Luck and Many Prayers!

My biggest tip would be to find someone in your ar...

2012-01-06T12:18:29.843-08:00

My biggest tip would be to find someone in your area that coupons and have them "hold your hand" too. I do that with my friends A LOT -- and that includes shopping with them, giving them freebees from my stockpile and giving extra coupons. If she's not sure of who in her area might be a couponer and she's on facebook/twitter/etc - put out a post and ask friends. There are a lot of people who are couponers who don't announce it to the world but would be happy to help a friend in need. I've done it with SEVERAL friends who lost jobs - even when I wasn't getting a paycheck. Its how we all ate. We'd share items and coupons so that everyone got what they needed. And -- know that we all started out at one point too -- the end is in sight!

Hi, I have been couponing for about four years now...

2012-01-06T11:44:10.268-08:00

Hi,
I have been couponing for about four years now. Not sure what state she lives in but if she is in IL I would gladly assist with helping her learn.

Heidi

I DEFINITELY agree on getting government/community...

2012-01-06T11:36:36.207-08:00

I DEFINITELY agree on getting government/community help, and quickly. I think couponing might help here, but I was in a similar situation when I had young children, and taught myself to cook cheap (but good). Tuna, dried beans, peanut butter, rice, pasta, cheese, and produce on sale and in season (or frozen) are all cheap sources of healthy meals. While there are occasionally coupons for these items, if you buy store brand and/or in bulk, they are relatively inexpensive. I hope your reader's situation improves -- she and her family will be in my prayers.

Melanie, Please have your reader make sure her kid...

2012-01-06T11:12:53.314-08:00

Melanie,
Please have your reader make sure her kids get free/subsidized hot lunch and to see if she qualifies for WIC or food stamps. Also, in our town, we have a food pantry and she should not be too proud to ask for help while she is learning how to stretch her resources. I do a lot of volunteer work and nobody wants anyone to go hungry, especially kids. Also, churches and synagogues may have additional resources for her. I hope that she is just being a little dramatic, because her post makes me feel very very sad.
Good luck,
Eileen

Melanie definitely provided much of the basic info...

2012-01-06T10:04:42.172-08:00

Melanie definitely provided much of the basic information to begin couponing. I have been doing it for years, and still have so much to learn! One recommendation for you is to go to the local stores that sell the newspapers and ask if you can take the coupons from the remaining papers on Monday or go to the recycle bins in your area. This will allow you to find multiples of the coupons you want!