Pantry Challenge Results

I did pretty good with my Pantry Challenge. I wanted to spend only $200.00 this month for groceries. I think I could have done it, but the sales at Price Chopper were too good last week for me to responsibly pass up. It was the toilet paper. The cheap toilet paper sucked me in. Believe me, we use a lot of it around here. I just couldn't pass it up! Or the free yogurt or the free windex or the 8 free packages of napkins or the .50 boxes of granola bars or the turkey breasts for.99/lb...you get the idea.

Here is how I did this month....I spent a total of $312.83. I saved $358.38, which comes out to be a 41.82% savings. Not bad, considering most of my shopping this month was done at Aldi, where I didn't use any coupons. Most of my shopping was for produce and dairy. Except my Price Chopper trip, where I spent $145.04 and saved $208.87. Bottom line, I put $487.17 from our normal grocery budget away in a safe place. Hawaii, anyone?

In which I say thank you and jump for joy

I am not sure there are words to describe the joy in my heart right now. I feel like dancing, but find myself doing a lot of crying instead. Oh, the greatness of our God; who in a moment can set a captive free, call home a lost sheep, and restore what has been stolen. He is truly able and faithful and good.

You will remember my plea for prayer awhile back? I gave few details at the time, but still God heard your prayers, dear readers. And the prayers of a few trusted friends and family. My son, who had gone his own way, has come home to Jesus. Really, truly come home!

I have a renewed appreciation for the power of intercession, that's for sure. We really do not wrestle with flesh and blood and the here and now and what we see. We are fighting a battle,every,single day that is in the heavenlies, in a realm unseen. We forget. We sometimes mistakenly focus on what is right before us, when the battle rages in the unseen realm. If I have learned anything from this season of battle, it is that the only way to win a war is to pray, pray, pray and keep on praying to the One who holds the world in His hands and allow him to fight for me. He is strong and loving and faithful.

I would continue to covet your prayers for my son. He has chosen well, but I know the enemy wants him badly. Please, pray for a hedge of protection to be around him. And for a continued sense of God's pleasure for him. He needs to continue to feel the love of God toward him. Oh, the great, great love of God! It surely binds us to the Savior!

save and earn money with me

I want to tell you about a wonderful site I have been using. The name of it is Shop at Home. It costs nothing to use, but you will save and earn a lot using it. Basically, you just sign up, then when you go to shop online, remember to do it through this site. Bookmark it or download their toolbar to help you remember. When you do, you will get a list of coupons for wherever you are shopping, and you will earn a cash back percentage. Usually anywhere from 4%-12%. As soon as you have earned $20.00, they will send you a check. Just like that! Pretty cool, huh?

When I ordered from Gurney the other day, I earned 12% cash back! Office Max earned me 4% and free shipping. When I ordered from Dayspring, I received free shipping. I will never, ever shop on line without going through this site. After all, it is free money in my pocket!

I have some other money making/saving ideas for you that I will share later. For now, click on the link and join Shop at Home. You will be glad you did!

Get 150,000+ free online coupon codes, printable grocery coupons, restaurant coupons and more at ShopAtHome.com!

sad reality

I wonder how many divine appointments I miss because I am too uncertain, afraid or unwilling? I wonder if heaven will be less populated because I didn't sow a seed or water a seed or take the time to reap a seed already sown and watered? I wonder how many people have stayed sick or confused or bound because I didn't have the guts to speak a word, lend an ear or pray a prayer right then and there?

Recently, I became aware that someone I had briefly met passed away in tragic circumstances. I had a few short moments with this person. My life was impacted by those moments, but not enough for me to be brave enough or willing enough to step out of my comfortable world into her sad one. I brought food for her body, but did not take even a moment to feed her soul. I could have, but I was afraid to. I wish I would have.

In Which I save a lot of money and have fun doing it

This month, I have challenged myself to eat from the stockpiles, and spend one fourth of my regular grocery budget. Yes, I said one fourth of the normal budget for the whole month. I am two weeks into it, and am actually under budget! It has been so fun! The amazing thing about it is that we haven't gone without anything, nor have we run out of anything. We have eaten delicious meals every night and yummy leftovers every day for lunch.

For example... this week we had roast chicken with mashed potatos and gravy, carrots, cottage cheese, cranberries and pickles. Tacos, fruit bowl and mac and cheese. Homemade chicken pot pie, applesauce and cottage cheese. Party beef casserole, tossed salad and corn. We will have tomato macaroni soup and homemade bread tomorrow. For desserts this week I made a yellow cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate chocolate chip cookies. As you can see, we are not going hungry and my sons are having pretty good lunches out of all that yumminess!

There are a couple of reasons I am doing this. First of all, I want to make sure that nothing I buy goes to waste. I have tons of food ahead, and that's great if none of it has to be thrown out because it expired.I certainly wouldn't be saving money by throwing away groceries. And everyone knows I am all about saving money on groceries. So, I am getting creative and using what I have.

Second, I think we are so spoiled. I really think it is good for my children to have to eat what we have, not what they want. They are so used to having so much that I am finding they are becoming food snobs. Yesterday when I was out, I got a call from one son, who shall remain anonymous. He wanted me to stop at Stewert's for ice cream. Mind you we had ice cream in the freezer, but he wanted a different kind. The strawberry ice cream from Price Chopper wasn't what he was craving. Well, too bad! We need to learn to be thankful for what we do have and not be controlled by our cravings for more or different. Hopefully we will learn that lesson by the end of the month.

Of course, one of my main reasons for giving this a whirl, is to have all that extra money at the end of the month. I plan to actually take the money out of the bank and put it away for something fun. Hawaii maybe?

At first I was nervous about this whole idea. I thought I might have trouble figuring out just what I should spend that one fourth on. Instead it has been so easy. I am finding out that the only things I really need to buy are produce and dairy! I am totally stocked up on everything else. I am even using my grocery money to fill our water jugs at Walmart and still have plenty! My grand experiment is working out just fine and seems to be more proof that stockpiling can save you a ton of money!