This is Day 15 of a month long food stamp challenge (on October 17th). If this is your first visit, please check out this link to see all of the posts and get a better understanding of what is going on.
John writes:
Today, I smiled. Why? I bought feminine hygiene pads. That thing most men dread, I did with a great big smile on my face. See, it’s not only the food issues that we should remember when we’re having this conversation but also the basic necessities that most would do without in low-income homes, not to mention those who are homeless.
We shop our local Walgreens frequently for the deals and to earn register rewards. Today, I bought two packs of maxi pads at a cost of $2.00 each. As a result of the purchase I got store rewards that were equal to the amount of the purchase price minus taxes ($4.00). This isn’t some big “Extreme Couponing” trick, and it is something that anyone can do.
I plan to buy 24 packs of these pads during the promotion, a total investment of $48.00 plus tax. With the $48.00 in rewards I will buy other necessities for those that need them such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, fleece blankets, each additional item perpetuating my initial $48 of giving, growing it more and more. Eventually the rewards will run out and I won’t have helped everyone I will have helped some though, and some is a lot better than none.
While I was checking out, the woman behind me listened to what I was doing and why. She turned around and bought two packs herself to donate. Before I even left that store today my initial $48.00 donation had already grown by $4.00.
Sometimes you don’t have to give until it hurts to help someone hurt just a little less.
Michael writes:
We have recently started keeping a bag behind the door into which we drop such great buys as the one John mentioned above. When the bag is full of toiletries and other similar items, they are donated to a local shelter so that those in need are able to feel just a little more normal.
It is a small gesture, but one that we wish more couponers and deal finders would put into practice. It is easy to get things like body wash, toothpaste and even toothbrushes for free after coupons and store deals and for nothing more than the cost of taxes you can accumulate a great stockpile of items that your local shelter probably needs right about now.
MEALS
BREAKFAST: $1.00
tea
sugar
creamer
oatmeal
LUNCH: $1.03
hot dogs
apples
BREAD: $1.06
1 loaf sandwich bread
6 hamburger buns
DINNER: $1.30
burgers
fries
TOTALS
- Consumed Today: 4.39 [+5.91 for the day]
- Consumed To Date (week): 4.39 [+5.91 for the week]
- Consumed To Date (month): 64.85 [+71.57 for the month]
- Spent To Date: 159.59
- Remaining Balance: $119.59
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Have you shared this challenge with your friends & loved ones? Why or why not?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Y’all are awesome.
Yes, I have, because I feel you are doing a much more honest job of it than other food stamp challenges I see with your self imposed rules and refusal to quit. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone make it through the whole month with one of these, all the ones that I’ve followed have quit, leaving me quite disillusioned with such things, since, as you know, people, like me, on food stamps don’t just have the option to quit if it is too hard. We have to find a way and I’m proud of you for finding a way and turning it into something bigger and better with the great information you’ve been sharing, discussion questions, and now donations. Great job, fellas!
Woot! How awesome you two are doing! I just got home from our shopping trip for the week. I spent 37.48 for the next 7 days, for all of us.
Tonight, I just put together Overnight Waffles to surprise the kids in the morning. The recipe says 16 waffles, which is 2 breakfasts. Let’s cross our fingers, K?
I LOVE Walgreens! It is an under-appreciated place to get things on sale and of course the rewards always feel great. Here is a big ~smooch~ for your donations. You totally rawk!
<3 AJ
Couponing for charity is something a friend of mine does. She collects coupons from friends and family and keeps the food bank sponsored by her church pretty well stocked. During the mega coupon deals (triple coupons and doubling $2 coupons) she uses the pet supplies coupons and donates everything to SPCA. She doesn’t even have pets, but will still make a special trip just to pick up these items.
I like John! :)
One thing I have not been able to stock up on to donate even though it is free or a “money maker……are those adult pads…….I just can’t do it….especially if the cashier is a guy. LOL
Congratulations! You guys are halfway through now!!!
and those French fries look awesome…were they homemade?
Yes, i did share your link, and it was shared with me by someone else to begin with (Thank you, Joan!)
And thank you for your donations to charity! Very kind of you–as Amy said, you guys “rawk!” ;-)
I second Deb’s comment. You guys are awesome!
We only make them homemade now and they are delicious! John found this video on YouTube and we’ve followed these instructions ever since.