Free, Yummy Treats

So this little rural town we are living in now is everyday feeling more like home. And having all our fun, fall activities start up again is helping a ton! Tonight I started a new Priscilla Shirer Bible Study at church. It was wonderful being in a room with ladies who have grandkids all the way to women like me with little ones running around. And these women are so funny and interesting...I haven't laughed this much in a while. And to know that these ladies are yearning to see more of Jesus in their lives like me excites me to my very core. We watched the first video tonight, and I can hardly wait to jump into my homework. It's going to be 7 weeks of seeking more Jesus, more of His power in my life, and just more of Him. How can that not thrill me!!

And to top it all off, on my way home I got to stop by Steak-n-Shake for a free, regular, mint cookies-n-cream shake!

Which brings me to some more exciting news that I want to share. I recently was introduced to a fabulous web site: www.hip2save.com I have bought more stuff at ridiculous prices than I ever have in my whole life. Here is just a small sample. In this picture is all the stuff I recently bought at Rite Aid. And for all this, how much do you think I paid?...



...$1.15. Price before coupons and rebates? $39

I got 4 rolls of toilet paper, 2 tubes of toothpaste, a toothpaste, 6 rolls of sticky tape, a donought sticky tape, 2 girly items, and 3 pairs of insoles. And all for the low price of $1.15. Actually, I would have made money back if the coupon for the insoles had printed from my computer. For some reason the computer was acting up and after many tries I finally gave up. But these are all things we use...nearly daily. I'm just so excited to have a new pair of insoles that will keep my poor, hurting, flat feet in fine shape for running. My old ones are breaking down and typically I just have more exciting things to buy.

Some other things I have gotten are 2-500 count reams of paper for $1 each, free white board markers for Olivia's easel, and a fax machine for $4.99. I missed out on a free label maker that I was ssssooooo excited about because by the time I got to the store they were all sold out. And I am expecting $100 in gas vouchers to come in the mail (this one was a little more complicated, and depending on how it actually turns out may or may not try this again. It involved signing up for a risk free trial of some make-up which I'll have to cancel and send back, as well as a risk free trial for something else...can't remember...which I'll also have to cancel before they charge my credit card.) I'm also expecting to receive a coupon for a free Kashi product...they make great cereals and granola bars.

Now, there are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to try this out:

1. The low, low price is after both coupons and rebates. I am still waiting for the rebates to be mailed to me, so I had to pay the full price (after coupons) up front. If I continue with it though, after about 6 to 8 weeks things should catch up and it shouldn't be a big deal.

2. I have spent quite a few more hours at the computer and organizing. While the above web site does a ton of work for you already, you do still have to print out coupons, clip coupons from the paper, and even at times fill out surveys or sign up for e-mail lists. That's how I got the free shake from Steak-n-Shake...I signed up for their e-club. But to me tonight, having a free treat after Bible Study, it was all worth it.

3. It has required more patience from both Olivia and I. Neither one of us likes to run errands, but this has increased the amount of time to run errands. Really, if I could just order everything online and have it delivered to the house I would. Usually I just consolidate all my shopping to Wal-mart or the commissary once a week and don't give a second thought to price. But this week we ran to Rite-Aid, Target, and Staples. And I didn't get everything I intended because I chose not to go to Walgreens because we were both just too tired. Olivia, though, has been a trooper!!!

Well, that sums up my exciting day!! Jesus and freebies (o: Really, when you think about it, they go together. Salvation is completely free for you when you go through Jesus (o: