Slowing Down for Sanity's Sake

Hi World!  I hope everyone is doing great.  I am doing pretty well, with lots of necessary and welcomed changes in my life.  Since I last posted, I have slowed myself down tremendously.  It was a very necessary change after almost losing my sanity and running , screaming from my own house.

As most of  you know or can read from my profile, I am a mom of two lovely little girls, a wife, a sister a woman of God, a step mommie and a strategic couponer.  I found every single last one of these things crumpling before my eyes as I begin to slip into a depression.  Why was I depressed, when I felt so blessed?  I was overwhelmed.

I was overwhelmed and that was hard for me to accept or admit.  I, who had convinced myself that I am every woman, I can take on any task with ease, I can manage anything that comes my way, I am superwoman was depressed and in some ways disgusted.  I felt defeated.

On top of being a mom of two small children (now 6 and 3) and a wife and woman after God's heart, plus a couponer, I also worked a full time, demanding job and was the primary worker within my home preparing meals, washing clothes, cleaning, managing.  I treated myself like a stay at home mom with the demands I put ON MYSELF.  My girls had to enjoy childhood to the fullest with walks to the park, pool days, playdates, crafts etc., my home had to be clean, sanitized and spotless, I had to be on top of every coupon deal and savings tip that was out there, I had to seek more time with God, attend Wednesday night prayer meetings and motivate my husband to lead our family and seek God's face in his decision- making and change his life for the better.  It was my job to make everyone happy and ensure their happiness and this is what made me a real woman.  Managing marriage, motherhood, work, personal life and spiritual life and doing it flawlessly with my hair in place and my house in order.

Thank God for deliverance!  It did come easy because I resisted and fought against God and what His plan was for my life in order to please others and live up to the expectation that the world had set for me.  I knew that something had to give, but I didn't know how to give it up or where to start.  Unfortunately, it almost cost me my marriage and my sanity.  Finally after much resistance I let go and let God.  I literally sat down and talked to God and told him that I cannot do it anymore and it is not even for me to do.  He ordained marriage and family and I know that my wish to maintain both was His will, so he was going to have to get me out of this mess and show me the way.  First thing was cutting my work hours to manage my daughter's school schedule and my home life.  I cut my work hours to 20 hours, much to my husbands's dissapproval.  He did not understand how I could just leave money on the table that I could be making and ultimately admitted that he was afraid he may not be able to provide for the family.  The director of my department was also not on board, attempting to force me to resign and then keeping me on until my position was filled, extending my resignation date out for over 6 months until finally I gave a final date and waltzed out on my own terms.  I walked away from my job of 10 years and a very hefty salary, fully trusting God to see me through.  It was scary at times and I told God all about it, but 6 months later I am still going.  I picked up two independant contracts and now work from home three days a week.  I also was contacted by another department in my job and asked to work two days a week from home or in the office.  Amen!  We are managing.  I am home with my family, slowly organizing my life, happier and healthier and my marriage (which was at the brink of chaos) is slowy coming back to order.

I could go on for days with what is now my testimony, but they'll be more time for that later.  My whole point is I had to slow down so that I could hear God's voice and see the path that he laid for me.  It was not to be superwoman and everywoman and eventually crazy woman, but to be the woman he intended and ordained me to be.  I give him the glory for the realization that HE is sufficient and all I need.  Hallelujah and all praises to the most High!

Couponing at CVS - $10 Giftcard deal

CVS/pharmacy continues to deliver with its FREE $10 Gift Card deal.

Spend $30 on participating products throughout the store.  Choose from 5 different cards (CVS, American Express, Apple, Darden Restaurants or Macy's). Limit one per cardholder per week.

My deal scenario today was as follows:

Buy 3 14ct. bags of Gain Flings for $3.94 each
Buy 2 bags of Huggies Pull-ups for $8.99 each
Buy one Hershey's Christmas Novelty candy for $.77

Total $30.57

Use 2 Huggies Pull Ups Diaper coupon for $3 off Huggies Pull UPs
Use 1 CVS Store coupon for $2 off 1 bag huggies diaper (limit one coupon per customer).
Use 3 $2 off Tide Pods or Gain Flings (excludes 5 count) (RP 10/12, RP 11/16)

Pay: $16.57 out of pocket, get back a $10 gift card of your choice from the 5 listed above.

You can mix and match the participating products to get the best deal that suits your needs.  This deal worked for me since I wanted both the pull-ups and the detergent and $20 to spend at CVS this week. I used a slightly difference combination of coupons and  I had a $5 off Ebucks that made it an even sweeter deal.

I encourage you to look at the available products and make a scenario that meets your needs.  The popular coupon sites posted the 8 bag of pods deal that required 8 coupons.  Some people did not have 8 coupons and therefore felt defeated and did not take advantage of the giftcard deal. Some ran out and purchased additional newspapers to be able to get the coupons they needed.  I opted to mix it up, not clear the shelves of stock by grabbing 8 bags of pods and am still very pleased with what I got!  Sometimes the least out of pocket deal is not always the right deal for you.  Let's be smart and strategic;-)  I look forward to hearing all about your deals.

Continued Blessings,

Tamika J
Dollars, Sense & Saving Grace

$10 Gift Cards at CVS

CVS has an awesome gift card deal running this week.  Purchase $30 of participating products and choose from 5 different cards (CVS, American Express, Apple, Darden Restaurants and Macys).

I just walked out with a $10 American Express Card, 4 jumbo packs of diapers, Children's Advil & a bottle of Sunkitst.  I paid $2.63 plus tax out of pocket.  How?

Huggies diapers are buy one get one 50% off this week.

I Purchased:
4 packs of jumbo diapers for $35.94
1 bottle of Sunkist for $.99
1 bottle of Children's Advil for $4.99

I used:

(2) $3 off huggies MFR coupons
(2) $2 off huggies MFR coupons
(1) $5 off $30 diaper purchase CVS coupon
(1) $5 Ebucks Reward (Health Club)
(1) $5 Ebucks Reward (Pharmacy Club)
$6 Ebucks Rewards (from the Jergens and Softsoap deals last week)
(1) $4.50 off 2 Huggies diapers CVS coupon
(1) $2 off 1 huggies diapers CVS coupon
(1) $2 off Children's Advil CVS coupon
(1) $2 off Children's Advil MFR coupon
(1) $.30 off Sunkist, 7-up, A&W, Canada Dry 2 liter drink

Now you cannot just walk in and get the same deal I did.  I am an avid CVS shopper and stacked tons of Ebucks with manufacturing coupons to score this deal.  However, using all the manufacturer coupons listed still makes for fantastic savings.

And I have big plans for my $10 giftcard that I can use anywhere AMEX is accepted.  Sweet!

Harris Teeter Meal Deal - Oktoberfest

Purchase All 6 items for $7.99

• One (1) 13 – 14 oz. Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage
• One (1) 15 oz. Johnsonville Sausage Rolls
• One (1) 9 – 13 oz. Super Pretzel
• One (1) 12 oz. Gulden’s Spicy Brown Squeeze Mustard
• One (1) 24 pk. Harris Teeter Purified Water
• One (1) 16 oz. Harris Teeter Sauerkraut

Use the following coupons:

-.55/1 Hillshire Smoked Sausage printable on coupons.com
-.75/1 printable coupon , or  $1/1 or –.75/1 SuperPretzel Softstix, RP 9/28
Final Cost: Only $5.39 (Plus receive back a .75/1 rebate on Checkout51 for the pretzels!)
*Remember that you must purchase all 6 items in a single transaction with your VIC card to receive this great deal. Offer good October 8, 2014 – October 21, 2014.

A Farewell to Harris Teeter ZVRs

The talked about end to ZVRs (evics) for Harris Teeter has been confirmed and dates provided for us to take note of:

11/20: The last day to load ZVRs to your Harris Teeter card
11/30: The last day to use EVIC/ZVR coupons
12/1 – 1/13: Digital coupons will be unavailable at Harris Teeter
1/14: A new ZVR/EVIC program will be launched at Harris Teeter

Take advantage of the stacking of paper coupons with ZVRs now.  There is no word on whether or not coupon stacking will be allowed in the future.

Easy Home Velvet Hangers $5.99 at Aldi

Aldi has Easy Home Velvet hangers for $5.99 now through 9/1.

Hangers come in sets of 20 and are available in black or tan.

Easy Home Velvet Hangers:

• Great for delicate fabric
• No slip velvet
• slim space saving design

Can't wait to do the reorganization of my closet with these new hangers!

Dollars, Sense & Saving Grace Facebook Page

In all my haste, I have forgotten to post about a very exciting and long time coming event...the launch of my Dollars, Sense & Saving Grace page on Facebook.

As most of my friends know (and have come to love), I was using my personal page to share savings from all the various couponing sites and adding in a dash of my own finds, inspirational memes and inspiring thoughts of the day.  I had been wanting to launch an official page, but could not seem to find the time.

Well as always, God answered and then told me now is the appointed time.  To launch my page and that He would make room for my passion of helping others via this venue.  So I listened and I've been having a ball every since.

The Dollars, Sense & Saving Grace page is a one stop shop where you can come and find deals from all the popular couponing sites in one place.  Instead of having to go to each page, one at a time and find the HOT deals of the day, you can stop by my page and see it all in one place.  I give full credit to the site that I pull the information from and you can visit that site with a click of a button!

On top of the deals, there are inspiring scripture, meme's and opportunities for DIY Credit Repair Workshops.  My goal is just to uplift others and teach you how to save money in one area so that you can channel those saved funds to another.  Whether it be to pay down debt, save for your kids college fund, save for a much needed vacation, do a home repair, purchase a new car, you can find tips to save and reach your goal at Dollars, Sense & Saving Grace.

Please join me at Dollars, Sense & Saving Grace on Facebook to learn more.

I love you all with an everlasting, mighty love.  May God continue to bless you.