Food Pantry Update

There is a show called Extreme Couponing on TLC that  I have a lot of feelings about. Sometimes when I am watching that show, I have great concern for the compulsive behaviors I see. I think that people who use coupons in excess will eventually cause companies to reconsider the way that they offer coupons to customers and/or eliminate coupons altogether. On the other hand, I have learned some tips.  I do respect those who chose that route when their families fell on tough times/unemployment and resisted government assistance. However you feel about it, it has stimulated conversation.. One day a cashier who was checking out my groceries and acknowledging how many coupons I had said, "People really are shopping more carefully now a days." There's nothing wrong with that.

All that to say, the show did inspire me to help stock our food pantry at church. I asked a few women to save their coupons for me and they graciously did. I have promised you the results and here they are!  (Thanks Mom for helping with some of the shopping!) All in all it was about a 90% savings. I won't be able to do it again for a while, as bridesmaid season is upon me and the "to do list" is a-changing!  I did want to show you the results so that you can be inspired to give small ways like this.

	Price	Actual	Savings
Dole Pineapple	$       1.49	$        1.00	$       0.49
Dole Pineapple	$       1.49	$             -	$       1.49
Total Cereal	$       3.29	$        0.29	$       3.00
Total Cereal	$       3.29	$        0.29	$       3.00
Maruchan	$       0.99	$             -	$       0.99
Maruchan	$       0.99	$             -	$       0.99
Maruchan	$       0.99	$             -	$       0.99
Maruchan	$       0.99	$             -	$       0.99
Suave Deod	$       0.99	$             -	$       0.99
Suave Deod	$       1.08	$             -	$       1.08
Spicy Brown Mustard	$       1.99	$        0.49	$       1.50
Spicy Brown Mustard	$       1.99	$        0.19	$       1.80
Chex Mix	$       1.50	$        0.50	$       1.00
Chex Mix	$       1.50	$        0.50	$       1.00
Elbow Macaroni	$       1.49	$        0.24	$       1.25
Elbow Macaroni	$       1.49	$        0.24	$       1.25
Gain Fabric Sheets	$       3.25	$        0.25	$       3.00
Nivea Body Wash	$       4.15	$        0.79	$       3.36
French Mustard	$       2.99	$        1.09	$       1.90
French Mustard	$       2.99	$        1.09	$       1.90
Reach Dental Floss	$       1.05	$             -	$       1.05
Reach Dental Floss	$       1.05	$             -	$       1.05
Reach Dental Floss	$       1.05	$             -	$       1.05
Reach Dental Floss	$       1.05	$             -	$       1.05
Reach Dental Floss	$       1.05	$             -	$       1.05
Reach Dental Floss	$       1.05	$             -	$       1.05
Reach Dental Floss	$       1.05	$        0.50	$       0.55
Reach Toothbrush	$       4.09	$      (0.50)	$       4.59
Reach Toothbrush	$       4.09	$      (0.50)	$       4.59
Reach Toothbrush	$       4.09	$      (0.50)	$       4.59
Ronzoni Pasta	$       1.99	$      (0.01)	$       2.00
Ronzoni Pasta	$       1.99	$      (0.01)	$       2.00
Ronzoni Pasta	$       1.99	$      (0.01)	$       2.00
Ronzoni Pasta	$       1.99	$      (0.01)	$       2.00
Ronzoni Pasta	$       1.99	$      (0.01)	$       2.00
Ronzoni Pasta	$       1.99	$      (0.01)	$       2.00
Ronzoni Pasta	$       1.99	$      (0.01)	$       2.00
Ronzoni Pasta	$       1.99	$      (0.01)	$       2.00
Ronzoni Pasta	$       1.99	$        0.49	$       1.50
Dole Pineapple	$       1.49	$        1.00	$       0.49
Dole Pineapple	$       1.49	$             -	$       1.49
Pillsbury Frosting	$       1.99	$        0.70	$       1.29
Honey Bunches of Oats	$       3.09	$             -	$       3.09
Pillsbury Frosting	$       1.99	$        0.70	$       1.29
Colgate	$       1.87	$             -	$       1.87
Colgate	$       1.87	$             -	$       1.87
Colgate	$       1.87	$        0.25	$       1.62
Pasta, MC, Soup, VS	$       5.20	$        1.05	$       4.15
Breakfast Bars	$       3.00	$             -	$       3.00
Total	$  100.32	$      10.07	$    90.25