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See more on giving on a budget over HERE, and be patient with me . . . this one's a long one! If you're here for just the deals, scoot on down to the next penny pinched post.Â
Earlier this week I ran to Target to pick up just a few deals. 😉 I then went back to another store in town to grab one more set of bargains, and was on that giddy-crazy-coupon-high that left me in a penny-pinching-stupor.
So, as always, my way-too-excited-happy-saving-self had to tell the cashier how awesome the deal was, and remind her to hurry on over and grab some too. She replied “yeah, but I can't until Friday (~payday~) . . . and it'll all be gone by then.”
Hmph.
What I did wrong (really, really wrong), is I didn't even think to just give her one of my $5 Target gift cards so that she could go do the crazy good deal too. You see, I just wasn't thinking, yet it hurt my heart that her budget was so tight and she wouldn't be stocking up like I was. And seriously? I'd just grabbed at least $30 in P&G products for free (or very close to free) at Target . . . handing her that $5 gift card really was the thing to do ~ yet I totally (completely!) missed my opportunity.
Ugh.
I drove home so stinkin' mad at myself for not even thinking to give her that gift card before leaving the store. And vowed to do better next time. Thankfully God usually gives us a next time, doesn't He? Â Here's what happened next:
I ran to Kroger yesterday to pick up a slew of $.09 candy bars (24 to be exact . . . I promise, there were hundreds there and no shelf clearing in site!) Â I was grabbing them to surprise my nieces and nephews for exam week at college, but clearly 24 was more than they would need.
As I walked out, I saw a mom, expecting her third little one, with two sobbing children in her cart. (Bless her heart, I can't even imagine how she's going to make it to the store with three tiny ones under three and under in just a few months!) She was at the customer service desk apparently needing some assistance while on the phone trying to straighten something out, when I remembered that opportunities for us couponers always exist.
I stopped, asked if her little ones could have some M&Ms, and got rid of two of those bags of candy. (Just 22 more to go!) Now I know, I know, little ones that age may not need M&Ms, but sometimes a momma just needs a moment of peace. And, sometimes chocolate just makes life more bearable, you know?
I have no doubt that she wondered who on earth the crazy lady with 24 bags of M&Ms in bag was, and why I was passing out M&Ms. (I'm hoping she didn't think I was nuts, but I'm pretty sure she did!) And, bless her heart, when that sugar rush got to those babies she may have wanted to ring my neck. (I hope not though!)
But maybe, just maybe it gave her hope that she mattered to someone (because every momma matters!!!) Know what it did for me?
It slowed me down.
It reminded me that there was more to this world than a website that crashes three times in three hours. (Seriously, I'd spent the entire day yesterday consumed with that mess and felt completely overwhelmed by something that really didn't matter all that much.)
It helped me remember the crazy abundance that I have thanks to a little penny pinching.
And it got me focused on someone who mattered so much more than I did at that moment. Seriously a good thing.
I really want to become a person who notices others a lot more often, and myself a whole lot less. And maybe I can choose to live my life just a little more generously.
Have you had an opportunity recently to use your coupon deals to help someone else? I'd love to hear about it . . . doesn't it just make you feel good?
Thank you for sharing that story, what a blessing you are! I hate when I miss opportunities, but you did good picking up and moving forward with it. Last week I hit a grocery store that was going out of business, there were so many amazing deals in that store. I came out with many things that I would not usually buy and a man came to me and my daughter asking for some money to get something to eat at McDonald’s. I didn’t have any cash, but I did have a bag full of cliff bars! So I gave him 2, one for now and one for later. He was so grateful and it made me feel good to give him something packed with protein. Cost me all of .66!
Oh my goodness Amy-Beth – I just love that! Thank you so much for sharing (what an incredible blessing you were to him that day!) 🙂
I love hearing these stories. As a parent/wife/daughter/caregiver, life been a challenge for quite a while. Money is nonexistent, and I have to get creative. I do NOT have to get selfish. No matter how hard things get, I always find ways to help others. It brings great rewards, both mentally (it brings joy) and eternally (God’s blessing). I enjoy when I can stock up on a deal and share with someone else who is going through a trial. I have been there. People have been a blessing to me, and I want to pass it on. Thanks for the positive post! And thanks for what you do to help us get good deals too!
I started a food pantry at my church with my couponing. Whenever I get a good deal, most of it goes to my food pantry. The people at my church are now saving their inserts for me. It is growing steadily. We have been able to help several families so far.
I’ve been following your blog for about a year now but I just came across this article. I. Just. Love. This. Earlier today I saw a calendar of 30 days of giving in December and decided that I will make a custom one with ideas from my husband, 9 year old and 6 year old. We’ll be working with a $100 total Christmas budget this year (wish me luck!) but I am really hoping our family can dream up little ways to give to others this season. This fit right in with that. Bless you Laurie for seeing that mom and helping her out.
Thanks so much for sharing Rachel – and I’d love to hear how your $100 Christmas budget goes (I think that’s an amazing goal and love that you’re shooting for that!)
When i see someone with products in their cart, and I have a coupon for those items, I ask them if they’d like to us ‘these’ as I hand them the coupons- it’s amazing the surprised faces and the smiles and thank-yous that I get!!
thanks for reminding me of this wonderful act. I was on my way to work this morning, reading this. I stopped at jack n the box to get a coffee. I heard the guy at the window say ok military discount. So I bought the guy behind me his breakfast. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw an elderly gentlemen. It felt so good to help a veteran!
Thanks so much!
Thank you for reminding me! I've always tried to have a giving spirit, but when I recently hit horrendous times myself, I forgot to continue giving. My pity party is over. There must be a reason I'm in this mess, but it has nothing to do with who I am and should continue to be.
I PM'd you. Look in your other folder. 🙂
I believe doing a RAOK (random act of kindness) every day- helps you feel just as good inside as the person you helped, right? I see people with items in their cart that I have a coupon for- and I ask them if they'd like to save some $ on that item- most say "sure" so I give them a coupon or several to cover some of their purchases..They brighten right up that someone would stop and help them-even though they had no idea who I was nor did I know them !! Of course I run into a few that don't want to bother with coupons- and that's OK, ( that's their loss, I think). I too have been checking out with a mom behind me that has an upset child with them- I quietly ask if it would be OK to buy their kid a candy bar- I have the clerk put it into a separate little bag -and once the child is handed this bag, they're usually so surprised they just get quiet while they peek into the bag to see what 'goodie' they got 🙂 . Of course, it goes without saying that I used a coupon on that candy bar!! I've even given the checkout clerk coupons for items when they've commented on the good deal I just got! So yes, you did a great job- keep those ROAKs coming!
LOOOOOVE that Sandra – thank you so much for sharing!
Bless you
I would be so touched if someone did that for me. I've been skipping meals so my kids can eat. Things have been so bad lately. Your story made me cry.
Oh Vicki – I’m so very sorry and my heart just aches for you. Praying for you right this minute that you’ll find peace and a change in your finances ~ goodness, blessings to you right now this very moment where you’re at. (I know God has such good plans for you!)
Love your inspirational story! I usually share my stockpile abundance with 4 family members who have need. I recently wanted to share with a sweet lady from my church. She is always giving of herself to help serve in the church. When her children were in my hubby and my Sunday school class, she always gave baked goods on our birthday and Christmas (and to others too). So I gave her six bags full of goodies from my stockpile including flour and sugar. She profusely thanked me because she was trying to stretch her last summer paycheck to last until her next one in the fall. (she's a teacher's assistant). Of course that was the greatest feeling to help someone, especially someone who has never complained about their needs. The next church service, she brought me a home made apple cake (one of my favorites that she makes!) Looking back, that shouldn't have surprised me. 🙂
What a wonderful gift – thank you so much for sharing that sweet story! (And by the way, I love apple cake too.) 😉
This story is so touching and admirable. Thank you for sharing it was us today. I was praying earlier about issues in my life and sometimes God shows us just how blessed we are.
Thank you for your kind words Jill ~ we all need to be reminded just how blessed we are (it’s so easy to forget some times!)
Love this Laurie!!
Thanks! I so needed to hear that tonight.
I LOOOOVED reading this….says ALOT about you as a person!! :o) We need more ppl like you!! Thanks for all you do!
Thanks so much for your kind words Retta! I wish I just always thought about giving when I saw someone struggling (usually I just wonder what to do, unlike my husband who actually does something.) I’m determined to do better though! 🙂
That’s a great article Laurie ! I feel the same I love it when I’m able to bless someone with my penny pinching .I bought 4 pks of wipes a couple of week s ago and my family member was over with her 9 mth old and I thought about the wipes and gave them to her she was so appreciative she said she was almost out and didn’t know if she would have the money for over a week so made me feel good not to toot my own horn but thats one reason why I coupon and really pp it makes a difference in my family and others 🙂
That’s wonderful Tina! I really just want to be more mindful of it when there are opportunities like you were – I’m sure that made her day (and definitely not tooting your own horn . . . it’s a great way to encourage us all to give!)
Thanks for the encouragement and reminder! We could all be a little more selfless sometimes.
Thanks Janet – I’ve got to constantly work on it!