I grew up listening to Garrison Keillor with my Dad as we drove in the car. I learned to appreciate his Midwestern perspective and his stories of Lutherans. Coming from a Lutheran Midwest family myself, and a family who loves to sing, this has always been my favorite story of Garrison's. I hope you enjoy his Lutheran perspective as much as I do. I have made fun of Lutherans for years--who wouldn't if you lived in Minnesota? But I have also sung with Lutherans and that is one of the main joys of life, along with hot baths and fresh sweet corn. We make fun of Lutherans for their blandness, … Read More...
Introduction to CVS

Introduction to CVS Shopping Welcome to the world of CVS bargain shopping! Do you have a CVS near you? If you do, rejoice, because this is a wonderful bargain place for you to shop! If you’re like me, you may be skeptical of the fact that a seemingly overpriced drugstore can save you money. Or perhaps you think, there is nothing that I need at CVS because I find my bargains elsewhere. How would you like to get your toothpaste, shampoo, cleaning supplies and toiletries, to name a few items, for pennies if not free? Would you be interested if I told you that in the past year I have … Read More...
Coupon Abbreviations
One of the best ways to learn about bargains and coupons is to learn from others who are experienced in the area. That is one reason, I hope, that you are here – to read and to learn. There are many great websites to read. I listed a couple of my favorites earlier in this frugal list. All of these have great tips and provide encouragement in the money saving journey. As you read other websites, it is common to see abbreviations. Have you ever wondered what BC means in the coupon world? I’ll give you a hint. While BC stands for “Before Christ” in the Church, it’s a little different in the … Read More...
The Heart of Hannah
I’ve been doing a lot of reading and reflecting this week on the heart of Hannah. It came about because of some challenging conversations I had and then a devotion book I was given by a former parent. It means more to me than you know, Stachia! Really, though, I know it came about because of God and His timing. Hannah awes me. Truly, it is the heart of Hannah that awes me. There is so much in Hannah’s heart! There is so much more than meets the eye in Hannah’s life and story. Her story is more than a baby story. It’s story of life with a baby mixed in. Her story is about her heart in all … Read More...
The Little Book of Big Savings
Once a month, I am going to share a book review with you. At this point in time, I intend that it will be on the first Wednesday of the month. If I read more than one good book a month (which I often do), I may share more than one review because books are one of the things that help me to joyfully thrive! Whenever I share a book review, I will include the book information on my Amazon sidebar. I’m not suggesting you have to buy the book although if you’d like, Amazon does have some good deals. In the interest of being upfront with everyone, I do get a small percentage from Amazon anytime … Read More...
Coupons, Part 4
Ethical Couponing Before I conclude my Coupon series, I need to say a world on ethical couponing. As the world of coupons has changed, there is a scrutiny by the stores on the use of coupons. Do not be afraid to use coupons. Simply be aware. Coupons are a completely legal way to save money. Internet coupons are perfectly legal – as long as they always have a barcode on them. If you print directly from Red Plum and Coupons.com, you will not have a problem. The problem comes when some well-intentioned (I hope) person circulates a coupon that is altered. How do you know? If it is missing a … Read More...