A friend recently shared how someone’s thoughtfulness as she went through an extended recovery after surgery made her day, or rather her days. She received a sunshine basket. The basket was filled with individually wrapped gifts and instructions to unwrap one present each day.  Small items such as a journal, a candle, candies, lotion, or maybe a nail polish are perfectly suited to brighten someone’s day.  Anyone going through a long-term recovery or a significant life change or anyone who has become primary caregiver to a loved one might be a candidate for a little sunshine. The possibilities are endless. Below is a short instructional poem that can be added to your basket as well as a verse from the book of James.

This Sunshine Basket is filled with delights,

A gift a day for morning or night.

One at a time each day as you choose,

No need to hurry you’ve nothing to prove.

To brighten your days with love we do send

Our thoughts, our prayers and hopes without end.

Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning. James 1:17

Have you been watching TLC’s new hit series Extreme Couponing? It’s fascinating to see women (and  men) pay next to nothing for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in groceries. Does it really work? Can anyone truly get groceries for free? Yes, and it’s pretty easy to do. Two weeks ago I purchased $116 worth of groceries at Publix and paid only $42. I have come to realize there is no reason for me to pay for toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, and floss again. Couponing is a way to shop wisely, bless others, and cut costs.

A few things to keep in mind when starting to coupon:

* Hoarding is a sin.
Ecclesiastes 5:13 says “I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer called hoarding an idol in The Cost of Discipleship. One disturbing reality of the TV series is how each of the coupon mavens profess their love for their stockpile. I heard one lady say she loved her stockpile as much as her family. Our provider is the Lord, God Almighty–not a stockpile of food!  When it is more than your family needs, items your family does not use, or becomes an obsession, something is wrong. It is wasteful to spend even pennies for items you will not use nor give away out of fear for an unknown future. That is straight out sin.

* Keep a clear head.
It’s easy to become obessed with couponing. As the TV series shows, some people spend hours daily searching for coupons, organizing, and preparing for shopping trips. Food is not our god and does not deserve our every waking moment. It does take preparation to get the full benefit of couponing, but it does not require your life. If it does, it’s not worth it.

* Maintain Integrity
When purchasing newspapers it is stealing to take coupon inserts from other papers. As couponing has grown in popularity this is becoming an increasing problem. Also, read coupon details to avoid problems at check-out. On my shopping list I write down any size requirements for coupon usage.

* If It’s Free, Why Not!
When I have coupons for products my family does not use at greatly reduced or free pricing, I get them anyway. These products are given away to family and friends who do use them. Just last month I purchased five boxes of Fix-O-Dent denture cleaner for less that $3–and gave it all with joy to my grandmother. Another time I purchased three of the new Kraft Cooking Cremes for free after coupons. Not something my family will eat, a friend was thrilled to try them out.  Just last week I was able to snag six tubes of trail size toothpaste for $1 to fill Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes come November.

* Websites to Get Started
I have used CouponMom.com for years. It is a free site that matches weekly store sale flyers to coupon inserts. It allows shopping lists to be created and printed out for convenience. Stores are listed for all fifty states and include major retailers such as Target, WalMart, Walgreens, and grocery store chains. Simply choose your state and the store. It does require a password to be set up for login.

My favorite tool at CouponMom is the Extreme Deals list. Here you will find a compiled list of all stores (discount, drugstore, grocery) who have deals when matched with coupons exceeding 80% off, most being free.

SouthernSavers.com and Billy.com will alerts readers to new coupons around the web and upcoming sales.
RedPlum.com is a free site to print manufacturer coupons.
Target.com and Walmart.com are worth checking out too. Target offers online coupons while Walmart offers free samples of a variety of products (changes daily).

Visit the websites of favorite products to find coupons to print. I was able to get a free tube of Aquafresh toothpaste simply by visiting their website and printing out a coupon.

* Perspective
I have found that much of the food deals available are not healthy. While I may be able to get multiple boxes of cookies at a great price, I know my kids will eat it all within days if I’m not careful. This time of year consider visiting local farmers markets for fresh vegetables and fruits that can be frozen for winter months. This is just as important as weekly couponing because in the winter those fresh items will be much higher in cost. Another way I save that is cheaper than couponing is visiting the local Flowers Bread store in my area. Here I can purchase Nature’s Own and SunBeam breads for 99 cents–cheaper than with coupons or buy one get one free sales.

Couponing can save families a few dollars to a few hundred dollars a week. Whatever level couponing is incorporated, it can be a blessing.

What are your coupon or money-saving tips?

Over the years I’ve tried a myriad of planners and planning styles: online, on my phone, a day timer, calendar on the fridge, and even a notebook filled with pages of lists. Once I used a software program called “Bob.”  Bob was a talking dog that was supposed to keep my life organized–he didn’t.

For several years now I have opted for one sheet of paper. Nothing fancy. Just one sheet of college ruled paper on a clip board. That’s it.

I was encouraged to read Mark Jevert’s post, Eight Questions, on Ken Davis’ blog recently. More structured than my system, Mr. Jevert uses a single planning sheet a week too. It gave me a bit of confidence to know there’s nothing wrong with a simple method. It more important to find what works best individually and use it.

Planning Time
On Sunday afternoon I take a few minutes to create my To Do list for the upcoming week. Armed with a single sheet of college ruled paper, a pen, and my master calendar it takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

Looking Back
The first thing I to do is look over last week’s list and see if any undone items need to move forward. I have found some To Do items are time wasters sitting on my list to mock and distract me. Only what is important to maintaining family peace and unity is added to the new week’s list. It is not about listing all that could be done, just what is important for the upcoming week.

Cut out the Foolishness (insert Nece Nash’s voice from Clean House here)
Things can pile up and make a great big pile of foolishness. Did you know you can get three columns front and back on a single ruled sheet of paper? You can and I’ve done it. Just because it’s one lone sheet of paper does not mean it cannot become unwieldy! Nowadays I try to have one column or less per week. This means everyday life, such as “get dressed” is not included.

It’s for a Week
My list is what I hope to accomplish, Lord willing, during the next seven days. In the past, to do items were listed according to each room of the house. Not much was accomplished because it was an overwhelming never-ending list. Now appointments, phone calls to make, weekly items I tend to forget such as balance checkbook / pay bills and clip coupons lead my list. Usually two to four family projects  such as cleaning out a closet, pressure washing the patio, or painting are listed. I write the name of the family member next to the project. Errands are listed along with anything that comes to mind during the week. It’s not unusual to find my grocery list on the flip-side.

It’s Not to Rule Our Lives
In times past my list ruled my life. It told me what to do, when to do it, and the urgency it demanded. Now, it’s just a piece of paper. It’s simply to help me not forget. It does not take the place of the Lord’s direction for my week. My to do list simplifies my week, saves time, and has cultivated a habit of not feeling like I have to make everything happen in the next 24 hours.

What worked for me as a working mom no longer works as a homeschooling mom of four. The key is finding what works best–and sometimes it’s not fancy, expensive, or complicated. Even a single sheet of college ruled paper can do the job.

What type of to do list or system do you use?

She had charcoal black hair, olive-toned skin, beautiful black eyes, and a smile that could light up a room. As Elizabeth approached me at the Desperate for God women’s conference she began by saying how blessed she had been the night before by the message. She had been living the last year of her life trying to be sure she gave God complete control of her life.

In August 2008 Elizabeth’s husband had lost his job. Elizabeth’s family is from India. They have no family here, so they have had to make it through this difficult time relying on their heavenly Father. The couple has three children and the financial demands of life have been the same even though they have had little money coming in. One time in particular Elizabeth remembered calling out to God. The baby had no diapers and they had no money to purchase any. She no longer had detergent and the basic things the baby needed. Within a few hours of Elizabeth’s petition to God, an unbelieving friend showed up at her door with diapers, wipes, detergent, baby wash and shampoo. Elizabeth’s eyes shined as she said, “Jehovah Jireh provided for me.”

That evening she received a call from a survey company asking if she would answer a few questions. For her time they sent her diapers and a $20 check. The survey was ongoing and each time she answered the questions she was sent diapers and a check for $20. She reached in her purse and took out a check for $20 and said, that has been a year ago and I am still receiving diapers and a check each time.

Another time her children needed clothing. Again she cried out to God, and an anonymous donor left a gift card on the front door of her home. The sender of the card signed the name, “From the Lord.” God had used human hands once again to meet their needs. The card was for $250 and they were able to buy their children the winter clothes they needed. God sent clothes again through a lady in neighborhood. Elizabeth remarked that they were “better brand names than we could ever afford.” Isn’t that just like God to send the very best?

There is not enough space to write about all the ways God has blessed Elizabeth’s family. Through the process, God has allowed her to tell many about how God is taking care of her family’s needs. She has witnessed to several Hindu friends who need to know that God is real and that He answers the prayers of His children. Please pray for Elizabeth and her family as well as many in our country right now who are experiencing financial difficulties.

If you are one of those struggling financially, ask God to provide for your needs. As God provides, be sure to share your blessings with others. God may use your testimony to draw others to Himself.

From the archives of Mentoring Moments for Christian Women.

I am not a health expert.  Truth be known, I am quite the opposite.  However, in four months I have lost 25 pounds!  Creating a “calorie budget” has been an essential part of my weight loss.  This budget is a plan for eating in which I treat my allotted daily calories like money in the bank.

I begin the budgeting process by creating a weekly menu which includes all three meals for each day and takes into consideration the schedule I am facing.  A busy day can wreak havoc on a food budget like unexpected expenses on a bank account.  A wise person sets aside savings for a rainy day; however, reserve calories cannot be accumulated in preparation for those days when fast food cannot be avoided.  A little planning has allowed me to budget in calories for dinners that need to be quick-prep (or from Wendy’s).

Each morning, I log my food plan for the day into my free online journal at My Fitness Pal.  I start with the major expenses, the main dishes.  Then I add in other essentials:  fruits, veggies and dairy.  If there are calories remaining, I choose extras like snacks or a dessert.  Yes, sometimes there is room in my budget for something fun!

When my daily budget is balanced, I write the final plan in a notebook which I keep with me throughout the day. I cross each item from the list as I eat it. This process does not eliminate temptation, but like a shopping list helps prevent impulse purchases, my food journal helps me guard against impulse eating.

For added accountability, I blog weekly about my progress.  There is nothing like the prospect of public humiliation to prompt me to stay on budget!

Dawn came to Christ in her college dorm room while reading the book of Romans.  It has been her pleasure to serve the Lord for twenty years as a wife, mother and teacher.  Her husband, for fifteen of those years, Michael teaches Spanish, and together they homeschool their two sons.  Dawn also enjoys tutoring ESL students, making soap and writing at her blog, Olive Plants.

My cousin regularly Facebooked her count-up to thirty days of exercising. Like others in her audience, I read of her progress and how great she felt working out at home with her exercise DVD.  Her posts inspired me to fit working out into my schedule, not only for health benefits, but also to fit into my clothes. I ordered the same twenty-minute workout DVD and thought I’d join in the fun. But over the holidays at a family gathering I complained, “That DVD just isn’t working for me,” and then added, “of course it would help if I cracked the cellophane!”

My family laughed, but it stimulated discussion. Though separated by many miles we thought, “why not try exercising together  wherever we live and form a private Facebook group to cheer one another on?

We began in January and the results have been positive and positively hilarious. Each day we exercise we post our count UP, anticipating a reward at when we reach 30 workouts. We share whatever form of exercise we attempted for the day. After we started we realized we also wanted to add a verse of the week. Being out of shape at memorizing and exercising has prompted us to encourage one another to grow spiritually and shrink physically. In the process we’re staying in touch and in shape at the same time.

And an added perk? We catch up on the humorous workout accounts of sore muscles, incentive rewards, and how the kids all joined in or the dog gave so much moral support during sit-ups that he had to be banished to the couch. After my sister-in-law’s first workout she wrote, generously rewarding herself,  “Haven’t picked my treat yet….1 week in Hawaii.”

Many days we confess our need for each other:  “Day 4 – Glad you guys are with me or I would have definitely skipped it!”

Sometimes we share tips: “I wrote my verse on three pieces of paper and will put one on my computer, one by the kitchen sink to look at while doing the dishes, and one on my bathroom mirror. It’s Exodus 15:2: The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him, my father’s God and I will exalt Him.

And our initiator/coach?  She’s now completed three months of exercise. On her 90^th day she wrote: “I DID NOT want to get up when the 6:15 alarm beeped. But then I remembered…it’s day 30! So I did it! Hooray. Sweater shopping this weekend : ) and I will post a picture…sweater, skirt, and boots – my three prizes. Praise the Lord for helping me through 90 workouts since I started!”

If it’s tricky for you to add hours to your day, to change into sweats, drive to a gym, drive home, and shower, this can be a fun alternative. If you can squeeze in a walk or an exercise DVD or you have equipment in your basement, maybe you can join a virtual club of friends who encourage one another to stay physically and spiritually healthy in 2011. Let’s get started, ladies!

Do you have a plan to get healthy this year both physically and spiritually?

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Last week my friend Michelle said her youngest found her Christmas list in her purse and it was now missing. Has this happened to you too?

I’ve done everything from using a small spiral bound memo book to setting up a tabbed section in my daytimer. Being a list person, it’s all been good–until I lose it or the kids find it. It also doesn’t help when I’m trying to remember what I gave others last year. When I find deep discounts in January / February I buy the item out. Translation–who did I give Christmas CD boxed sets to last year because I have six left for this year.

Last week I downloaded Better Christmas List from iTunes for my phone (compatible also to iTouch and iPad) and all I can say is I love it! Or in blogging language–lurve it!

For $1.99 Better Christmas List allows the organization of all Christmas lists. I set mine up into separate lists for my immediate family, my husband’s family, my family, friends, teachers, Operation Shoebox, and even a list for supplies/crafts/decorating. My favorite–a Stocking Stuffer list!

Each list contains the names of those receiving a gift. As I add a gift I can take a photo of it, put in the cost, set a budget, and list details. Better Christmas keeps an ongoing budget amount for individual group lists plus an overall amount. With a glance I can see how much I’ve spent on everything so far, how many presents I’ve bought and how many I have to go. The ability to add the kid’s wish list and see it at a glance is marvelous! If I purchase an item I simply enter the information and click a shopping cart icon to signify that it was bought. Icons (shopping cart empty, shopping cart full, gift, and boxes) track the progress of gifts from wish, purchase, wrapping, to shipping/giving.

My family is tired of me saying what a blessing this little App has already become. Of course, they do not see the big-picture implications of being able to use this throughout the year and not worry about a scrap of paper hidden somewhere–or forgetting what I bought. I’m already eyeballing the Better Gift App for birthday / anniversary presents.

Greatest feature of all…it’s password protected. No lookie-lous this year!

Here’s the ScreenShot from iTunes of what Better Christmas List looks like:

I just read an article about contentment. It seems as though the Lord is trying to hammer this truth home in my heart.

Do you ever struggle with contentment?

In our society, we are bombarded with messages of discontentment. Satan loves to point to that green grass growing in someone else’s yard. He is a master at hiding the fact that it really isn’t beautiful green grass that we think we’re seeing, but painted, prickly Astroturf! We often don’t find out until we jump the fence, fall down on it and get a nasty rug burn.

Discontentment can bring depression. Contentment brings joy. God tells us in Hebrews 13:5: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you.’”

I love the fact that God says He will never leave us. He is what we need, way beyond any material possession. It is so easy to want more than we have or something other than we have. When we think about all that we own and how we have to manage all of it, why do we still want more? Why do we want one more outfit to wash, one more kitchen gadget to store, one more car to maintain, a bigger house to clean or more shoes to find a place for in our closet? I could go on and on.

The other night, we were waging the age-old battle with my son over cleaning his room. He finally stood in the middle of his floor and wailed, “I have too much stuff!” He was right. Don’t we all?

My husband decided that we should operate on a cash-only basis. I take a certain amount of cash at the beginning of each pay period to be used for groceries, eating out, clothes, and anything we will need other than bills. This method of managing money has changed my way of thinking. I’ll think long and hard before I hand over a twenty-dollar bill for something—much more than I would if I were writing a check or paying with a credit card. My husband knew I’d think about my purchases and not spend as much this way. (He’s pretty tricky that way.)

I’m learning contentment really means not looking at what I don’t have but looking at what I do have and realizing that whether it’s little or much, all that I have is a blessing from the Lord. Now, if I could just get this message into the heads and hearts of my little ones, we’d be “good to go!” Pray for me about that, would you? And, if you struggle in the area of contentment, let me know and I’ll pray for you too!

Stephanie Little

Need a little extra income this Christmas season? The National Association of Retail Merchandisers has hundreds of job postings. Their website, www.narms.com allows individuals to fill out an online profile and browse job listings in areas throughout the country, at no cost to the prospective employee. There are postings for merchandising, product demonstrations, mystery shoppers and service calls. I have utilized this site for over 12 years and have filled a variety of positions–from serving samples in Wal-Mart to playing the Easter Bunny in one of those adorable but super-hot full body costumes. Some jobs are one-time only opportunities, while others are ongoing projects. I have found the pay to be decent, handing out food samples for example was $80.00 for four hours, while the Easter Bunny gig paid $100.00 for three. I have also filled long-term positions merchandising high-end products in various department stores at an hourly rate of about $10. One of my favorite things about NARMS is I can choose to respond only to those postings that sound interesting to me and do not conflict with my family’s activities/plans.

Retail experience is a plus as is any merchandising experience. However, training and testing are available on the site for a fee. One caveat is many of the positions are offered as independent contractor jobs. This means employees must keep up with their own income to report for income tax purposes. The employers will not send W-2’s but they do send Form-1099’s. As an independent contractor, one is considered self-employed. One perk to being independently contracted is the potential to claim home office space as a tax deduction provided the required criteria is met. Check out the IRS (www.irs.gov) website for more information on possible deductions.

I started with NARMS to help ends meet when the children were younger. I keep going back to NARMS because the clients they represent are reputable, the pay is good, and I retain control of my schedule. For a busy wife and mother, that is important.

Several years ago I started using an online service that tracks what is on sale at my local stores with which coupons are available for the same products. The Grocery Game is helping me shave about 50% off my monthly grocery bills. When my friends told me about their savings, I thought it was too good to be true. I had never been a coupon clipper before, reasoning that it wasn’t worth the time for just a few dollars here or there. They convinced me to sign up, though, for a one month trial. It costs just $1 to try this program for 4 weeks. Go to www.thegrocerygame.com to sign up.

The Grocery Game relies on the idea of stockpiling. When things go on sale, you buy in bulk. Stores put different items on sale each week, and it takes about three months to build a good stockpile. Once your stockpile is established, you rarely need to buy anything that isn’t on sale, other than fresh foods like milk and produce. It may cost a bit more than you would spend in the beginning, as you are building your stockpile. At the end of my trial month, my husband and I looked at all my receipts. I had spent within $50 of my typical budget for a month, but had gotten over twice as much for it.

Now that I have been grocery gaming for a while, my stockpile is in full swing. I won’t touch toothpaste or shampoo unless it is free. I have so much that even 50 cents seems like too much to pay for those items. When I first started grocery gaming my husband was shocked when I brought home a six-month supply of my favorite laundry detergent. It was 75% off with my coupons, so of course I stocked up! I no longer spend my full grocery budget. Instead we rely on our stockpile of meat, frozen vegetables, canned goods, cereals, laundry detergent, paper products, toiletry items and the like–all purchased at a steep discount. I still ‘play’ the grocery game about twice a month to replenish my stockpile.

After the four-week trail, the cost of the grocery game goes up to just over $1 per week for one store. I pay about $3 per week to get lists for 4 stores, but I easily save hundreds every month, so it’s well worth it. I am using two different grocery stores and two different pharmacies in order to maximize my savings. Before The Grocery Game I only went to one store for all my shopping. It is more trouble to go to four different stores, but since I am saving 50% on my bills I feel it is well worth it. Now that my stockpile is well established, I no longer go to four stores every week. I only shop every other week now, and choose the two best stores for that particular week.

Some tips on implementing The Grocery Game:

* Don’t sign up today! Collect coupons for a couple of weeks before you sign up for your trial. The more coupons you have on hand, the more you will be able to save.

* Consider buying multiple copies of the Sunday paper. Stores that have “buy one get one free” sales usually honor double coupons…so even though one item is free, you can still use a coupon on it. This increases your savings even more. I have a big family, so I usually buy 4 to 6 copies of the newspaper.

* I don’t waste a lot of time clipping and filing coupons I won’t use. I put my coupon pages in a large folder with the date marked on the front page. When The Grocery Game tells me to get a Smart Source coupon from 2/17 I know exactly which paper to clip it from.

* The Grocery Game uses a color coding system to show what the best deals are. I usually buy blue or green colored items, as those are the best deals.

* Stick to the list. My family had to adjust to not always having their favorite things, especially in the beginning when their faves hadn’t gone on sale yet. As soon as my husband saw how much I was saving, he jumped on board and was glad to try some new things. As soon as my kids found out it was a game and I was winning, they got excited about it too! Their favorite cereals went on sale last week. They were 75% off with my coupons, so I bought 18 boxes. Patience paid off!

(Kellie’s  Note: A similar website that offers free membership is couponmom.com)