Skit Guys - God's Chisel

Grace defined...

Never deserved, but freely given. Thank God for his mercy!

Thanksgiving happens year round!

In a few short weeks the summer activities will begin to wind down and the anticipation of the holidays will soon be here. Often times we wait until Thanksgiving to share what we are thankful for in our lives, but I wanted to take the time to share my gratitude without the need of a holiday. The past 1 1/2 years have been the most trying for my husband & I. From the loss of my job to hardships in our finances & marriage to the loss of loved ones. No matter what has come our way, God has proven faithful. We never went hungry, we were never homeless, our car has chugged along like a champ and now I'm back to work. What amazes me the most is just when I thought we were down to our last penny, God came in and blessed me with a job (a great job!) and promoted my husband at his job. When we thought our marriage was over, God came in and planted mentors, along with our Pastor & first lady to swoop in to teach us how to strengthen our union. When it seemed like life was completely mundane, He purposed a new desire in our hearts. When my self esteem was beginning to wain, I was honored with a beautiful compliment by a woman I've only known for a week. I've learned that it is not about the big picture for me, it's about the day to day interaction and building of relationships that matter most. That is the example Jesus modeled in the gospels in his relationships with the apostles, the hurting, the lost and forgotten. I mess up daily and God still loves me, I couldn't ask for a better relationship and nothing makes me more thankful than knowing Jesus is my Lord and Savior.

Random Joy!

Today I was so excited because I got the chance to spend the day with my Dad whom I haven't seen in almost a month! While catching up and hearing stories about his vacation to New York, Jacob, his puppy, decided to steal the show... Isn't he the absolute cutest!!!

Ikea Family Program

Join the free Ikea Family program!  Here are a few of the great perks for joining:

• Receive discounts on many of your favorite items in the store
• Save on IKEA FAMILY products with your membership card
• Be entered for a chance to win a $100 IKEA Gift Card every time you scan your card at checkout
• Take a break and enjoy free coffee or tea every time you visit their restaurant
• Give your kids more Småland time—30 extra minutes (capacity-depending)
• Receive a personal web portal filled with shopping lists and special features

Go here to find your location and sign-up!

CIC Press Release

Photo Credit 

www.zazzle.com

While visiting the CIC website (Coupon Information Center) for updated information on Coupon Fraud, I found a press release from May 2011 regarding TLC's Extreme Couponing TV Show that was pretty interesting that I'd like to share with you. 

CIC Position on Extreme Couponing

May 5, 2011.

The Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) expresses our great disappointment with TLC’s current series, Extreme Couponing, and hereby offers our expertise and other assistance to TLC and Sharp Entertainment (which produces the show) to enhance the program with more accurate and realistic information. In addition, we hope they address potentially illegal acts that appear to have been portrayed on the show.

Professionals in the coupon industry believe this show creates unrealistic expectations about how coupons work and promotes the misuse of coupons. For example, the show appears to portray coupons being used in violation of the terms and conditions printed on the coupons, such as using coupons to obtain products other than those specified by the coupon offer, and focuses on consumers who have procured large quantities of coupon inserts from unknown sources, which may raise civil and/or criminal issues. In real life, individuals attempting to use such large quantities of coupons or attempting to use them in violation of the terms stated on the coupons would most likely have their coupons refused at the register or, depending on the circumstances, be investigated by law enforcement. According to media reports, TLC recently stated, The CIC’s and other industry experts’ previous offers of assistance to the producers to make this an educational show were previously turned down. Nevertheless, we stand ready to help in the event the producers or TLC reconsider their path and seek to turn this into a show that accurately reflects appropriate coupon strategies and use, which would result in real benefits for TLC’s viewing audience. “While the series documents extreme couponing strategies, we take any concerns about specific tactics seriously and are looking into the situation.” We look forward to hearing what TLC discovers. 

This just goes to show that Extreme Couponing has sensationalized fraudulent coupon behavior that has far reaching effects for legitimate and ethical couponers. I've personally experienced a backlash as a result of the show, it could just be my perception, but often times I feel as though they think I'm robbing them blind. To be fair, 8 times out of 10, my experiences are wonderful and go off without a hitch. That being said, I'm hopeful that TLC will take the CIC's advice and feature ethical couponing habits!

Welcome to Grace Saved

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new Grace Saved followers that have recently joined us. Your decision to visit this site is both a compliment and an honor, one that we don't take lightly. There are many other wonderful money saving websites that offer great information on how to pinch your pennies, what's different about Grace Saved is that here, you learn the fundamentals of couponing and how to maximize your savings with a purpose. My husband and I work very hard to find the best deals with our coupons so that we can build a stockpile for our household needs, but we also shop for the purpose of blessing others.

You will often find that I quote Luke 6:38 which reads

"Give and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Essentially, it says that when you bless others that God will bless you in such a manner that you would not be able to contain it. We don't do it for that purpose, although we don't say No to Gods best for us. We do it because out of our own needs, God gave us this ministry to bless those that do not have. Just a year ago, I lost my job of 5 years and we had to make some pretty hard decisions about our finances and living situation so that we could make ends meet, that is how Grace Saved was birthed. We went through the tough times in order to be a testimony to others that are going it through it now. I don't question Gods plan behind it, and we are even grateful that things turned out the way they did. We give God the glory for all that He has done and continues to do in us and through us.

At Grace Saved, you will find information ranging from stories about family, savings, coupons, crafts, money saving deals & more. This site is no frills, there are no bells and whistles, just good old fashioned friendly advice on how to stretch your money & maximize your savings. We hope that you find the information useful and that you will come back often. We would also love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a comment or email us at gracesavedanna@gmail.com

Thank you and God Bless you!

Text it, Share it! (Frugal Alerts)

 Last week while adding contacts to my cell phone, I came across a feature that allows me to create "groups", I realized I could create a specific list of contacts for a specific purpose. Then it dawned on me, I was going to start a group called "Frugal Alerts"! It's a text message with the intended purpose of sharing an Awesome deal that I may find while I'm out shopping. After inviting my friends to be apart of the group, I began to put my plan into action. In these 'Frugal Alerts', I advise them of the product, the price, the store name & if there's a corresponding coupon for the product (this also works for online deals too).

I love sharing deals with my frugal friends as much as I enjoy sharing them with you. I would encourage you to start your own Frugal Alerts with your friends so that you can share great deals too. 

I love the Luke 6:38 NIV principle

"Give and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Max hearts coupons!

Max likes to get in on the coupon action too! Here he's helping the hubs keep them in order.

He hates Paparazzi!!!

Camping on the cheap...

I haven't gone camping in 7 years and I'm the first to admit that I'm not really the "outdoorsie" type. But for the past month, I've had a real desire to go camping. Needless to say it didn't take much to convince my husband, he wanted to pack up the car last night, but as any organized woman knows, there is planning that needs to take place first. After much discussion, we decided that our camping trip would take place closer to the end of this month. That gives me enough time to plan a fun camping trip on the cheap. When it comes to camping, it's not at all difficult to keep expenses at a minimum with a bit of help. We've allotted $50 to finance this trip and so far we are under budget. The greatest help in keeping our modest budget in tact are due to the loaners coming from our family and friends. Also, the campsite we selected is 10 miles from home which helps keep our fuel costs down. Below is what we have secured so far...

Entry to campsite $12.00

Camping Tent (Loaner from Dad) Free

Sleeping Bags (Loaners from Friends) Free

All food & snacks are coming from home

Styrofoam Cooler (Gift from Dad) Free

Skillet & Fryer (From our kitchen) No cost

Charcoal (Gift from Dad which were left overs from Easter party) Free

Cups/Silverware/Plates (Left overs we purchased for Easter party) Free

First aid kit/bug repellent (home made) Free

As our trip approaches, I suspect that more things may pop up, but we are steadfast in remaining true to our budget. Of course I'm aware that not everyone can rely on family and friends to provide loaners, but it's not impossible to plan a camping trip for very little money.

Walmart "pick up today" Program

Walmart has rolled out a new program called "Pick up today". When you place an order online, you can pick it up at your local Walmart that same day! The best part is, once it's ready for pick up, you will receive an email or text to let you know it has arrived. You may be wondering, "why can't I just buy it at the store?" Walmart sells some items exclusively online, that's where this programs steps in to fill the gap. This is great news for those of us that do a lot of online shopping around the holidays. Click on the link for more information, go to http://www.walmart.com/cp/Pick-Up-Today/1075364

Giving and Receiving

Twice this week I was given a lesson on the biblical principle of giving and receiving, I've always known first hand that when I give to others I will also receive, I'd always recall the golden rule "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". But I've come to realize that giving & receiving goes far deeper than just giving unto others, it's about giving unto Christ. I absolutely love to help others, especially in the area of teaching others how to maximize their savings and sharing what we have in our stockpile with those that need a helping hand. 

Matthew 25:40 reads, "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me". Wow! God is clearly saying how we treat others is a direct reflection of how we treat him. I firmly believe that when we sow seed, we will reap the reward, be it good or bad. Just today, my husband and I went to visit our counselors at their home and in the middle of our visit I received the practical & thoughtful gift of Borax! It was the sweetest thing in the world that they would think of me and remembered that I use this tool for making laundry soap, it made my heart sing. God wasn't done there, as we were about to walk out the door, they stopped us and gave us a few more wonderful gifts. We are so grateful for them and their generosity, but more so because we know that when we desire to give as unto God, we also receive His best. 

The joy of chores

I know many may not agree with that statement, but there is something positive to be said about doing chores. I grew up in an age where housework was as important as going to church, there was no way out of it! My mother forced me to skip watching my Saturday cartoons to help her clean the house, and I resented every minute of it. As I got older and it was time to establish my own household, I realized that maybe mom was just trying to prepare me to become a more organized woman, whatever her reasons were, I'm glad she took the time to teach me. 

I find that I can be a go-getter some days & a procrastinator on others, it depends on my mood. I also know that when I'm determined to clean up and organize the house, that listening to music sure helps the time go by faster, not to mention that the chores don't really feel like chores anymore. Another lesson I learned was that it's a bad idea to save all the work for one day, I much prefer setting aside an hour or two a day to get things done. It became easier when I bought a dry erase board at Goodwill for $2.00 and scheduled a few chores for each day, it's less daunting than having a huge list to be completed all on one day. Here's an example of how to set up your chore chart.

Mondays (Clean windows, polish furniture, sweep floors)

Tuesdays (Clean restroom, mop floors, 2 loads of laundry)

Wednesdays (Vacuum floors, iron clothes, organize closets/pantry, dust furniture)

Thursdays (Magic erase walls & counters, wash sheets, clean fridge)

Fridays (I'm off, date night with the hubs)

Saturdays (Dust lighting fixtures, 2 loads of laundry, clean kitchen)

Sundays (I'm off, church & family time)

Of course, you know what works best for you & your family, so create a schedule that allows you flexibility but is also effective. 

Divine Appointments

After spending the day with my Dad and Step Mom, my husband and I set off for home, I decided I wanted to get my hair trimmed at my local salon. When I walked in, I met a woman named Susan, and she immediately said "you've got a huge smile on your face, God is good". We got to talking and she asked me if I attend church, I shared with her that indeed I do and we continued on with our conversation. After she shared a very personal story of her daughters and their struggles and later on their deliverance's from those struggles, I chuckled to myself and realized that I was right on time for a divine appointment. 

They don't happen often, but when they do, they are for the glory of God. Today, I made a new friend in Christ and I am ever so grateful for her and for her testimony, it blessed me so much. I simply wanted to share, that indeed, God is good, all the time!

The importance of knowing

You will often hear me talk about a well known website that offers vast knowledge about money and many other consumer issues, most of which are targeted directly to the average person. It's www.walletpop.com I came across another great article on their website that speaks to the need of being informed when it comes to your credit report and score. 

Finance experts will tell you that it's important to keep a close eye on your credit record, for a number of reasons. First of all, a good credit history is the key that opens many doors for you. Not only does it mean you'll have a better chance of buying a house and getting a good rate on a loan, it also has other implications. 

Your credit history determines whether you're eligible for a credit card, what your interest rate will be, and whether you qualify for any special promotions. Some employers will do a credit check before hiring you, so that's another place a good credit record comes in handy. 

Insurance companies check your credit and factor that in when determining your rates. Better credit means better insurance rates. It's also important to keep an eye on your credit record to make sure no one has stolen your identity and that no credit card company has made a mistake in reporting your activity to the credit reporting agencies.

You can keep up with your credit for free! The first and easiest way to do this is through the free annual credit report program required by law. Each of the three credit reporting agencies must give you one copy of your credit report for free each year if you as for it. All you have to do is visit annualcreditreport.com to start the process. I recommend that you space out your requests throughout the year to make the most of these free reports. Get one at the beginning of the year, another one in the beginning of summer, and the last one in fall. The next year, start the process over again. 

There are other ways to get access to your credit information too. If you are denied credit by any credit card company or bank, you have a right to get a copy of your credit report for free. This is required by law, and you should take advantage of it. You will get a notice from the company you applied for credit with, and they will tell you which credit reporting agency they used. Follow the instructions to get your report from that agency at no charge. 

There are other services out there to help you check and monitor your credit that say they're "free." Read carefully and follow all instructions so you don't end up paying for something you didn't want. The credit reporting agencies are trying to make money by selling you credit scores and monitoring services that aren't often all that they're cracked up to be. 

This week I took advantage of a "free" offer to see my credit score and some other information in my credit file. I did it because I was curious about my score, and the free annual credit report required by law doesn't include the credit score. I signed up for a service that let me see the score and then immediately called to cancel it. I was within my one week "free trial" period, so I will not be charged anything for the service. But many consumers forget to call and cancel or they call too late. That's what the companies are counting on to get your money. The services they're selling usually aren't worth the money, so sign up with caution.

Angel Food Ministries

Photo Credit

Angel food ministries

I came across this program through a local ministry that was a host site for food delivery.  

Angel Food Ministries is a not for profit & non denominational ministry that provides food relief as well as financial support to communities throughout the U.S. This wonderful program started in 1994 and has already grown to serve in 45 states. In addition to a bountiful box of delicious food, Angel Food Ministries crosses denominational lines to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ through salvation tracts that are placed in each food order.

They offer an array of meal boxes packed with balanced and nutritious food with prices ranging from $17.00-$55.00 dollars. The best part is that they also offer a gluten free box for those that suffer from food allergies. This program is perfect for those that are looking to suppliment their food budget. Stop by their website for a listing of their current menu and pricing information at www.angelfoodministries.com

Join Ebates & earn cash back

Shop through Ebates, and earn up to 25% cash back at your favorite stores. How? Our stores pay us a fee when you shop. We then share the fee directly with you - it's just that simple.

Incredible deals don't end with cash back. We hunt down cut-rate coupons and exclusive offers plus amazing deals on hot products. Unlike any other savings site on the internet, you can layer the deals. Save big by using coupons and getting cash back at the same time! With deal layering, you really stack up the savings.

Best of all, we never charge a membership fee or require mail-in rebate forms. We just send you your cash, no strings attached.  Go to www.ebates.com to join and start earning cash back.

The best chocolate cake EVER!

The Best Chocolate Cake Ever

Courtesy of www.kevinandamanda.com

This chocolate cake recipe is the best on the planet, I came across it on a wonderful website known as kevin&amanda.com They have an array of delicious and easy recipes that you will fall in love with.  I tried this recipe back before Christmas of 2010 and it has been the most requested dessert of my recipe stash.  Give it a try, I promise you won't regret it.

1 box devil’s food cake mix
1 small pkg Jello instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a very large bowl, mix together everything except chocolate chips. Batter will be thick. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into cake pan of choice (I normally use two 9-inch pie pans). For cooking time, I use the cooking times on the back of the devil’s food cake box as a guide and usually add 10 mins to whatever it says. Then I do the toothpick check, and if it’s not done, I check on it every 5 mins after that. It usually takes around 45 mins for two, 9-inch pie pans.

Enjoy!

Christmas Box

I know we are 7 months away from Christmas, but now is the time to start your Christmas Box.  What's a Christmas box?  It's your personal stockpile of gifts that you purchase throughout the year in anticipation of gifting the following Christmas.  This is a time & money saver!  You save money by not paying inflated prices closer to the holidays for something you can get 20-35% cheaper prior to the holidays.  You save time and sanity by avoiding those long lines in the mall on Black Friday or for you Mega procrastinators who wait until Christmas Eve. Once you have built up your stockpile, place it in a tote and store it in your closet. You'll have the satisfaction of knowing you saved a bundle by shopping year round rather than last minute. BTW, you can really rack up on awesome gifts the day after Christmas when prices typically fall 50-95% off of retail prices. This idea applies to any occasion (i.e. b-days, showers, graduations & more).