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What I do ~ And how you can too!

Welcome, I am so glad you are here :-) My name is Angel Kennedy, AKA "LittleMsCoupons". I am currently feeding my family of 4 on $150.00 a month (which includes all health/beauty and households products too). We offer classes that can help you learn biblical principles for getting your family out of debt while teaching you how to shop on a budget and become good stewards of all God's blessings! Experience a Faithful & Frugal revolution in your household...contact us today.
Happy Shopping, Little Ms. Coupons

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Publix Penny Item ~ 2/24/10


The Mystery Penny Item at Publix for Wednesday 2/24:

Publix Toilet Paper (4 pack)

This week's penny item is available with a $10 purchase (before coupons) and is only available on Wednesday 2/24 for the Nashville area.
Please remember that at most stores you will have to have the coupon to get the penny item.

Happy Shopping!!!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Coupon Preview ~ Sunday 2/21/10


This Sunday 2/21/10, you can expect 3 inserts in your Sunday paper:

1 SmartSource
1 RedPlum
1 P&G
(Faithful Provisions is reporting 2 SS, 1RP and 1P&G...so you may get more :-)

Also...remember that there may be regional variations, so the larger the paper distribution the better chance of getting all the inserts :-) So pick up the paper with your area's largest distribution (I buy the Tennessean) as papers with lower distribution do not contain as many coupons.

The Kroger on Port Royal still has the paper for $1.00, some CVS are running the $1.00 deal as well and the Dollar Tree always has the Sunday paper for $1.00 :-)

Happy Shopping!!!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Publix Penny Item ~ 2/17/10


The Mystery Penny Item at Publix for Wednesday 2/17:

Publix Saltine Crackers

This week's penny item is available with a $10 purchase (before coupons) and is only available on Wednesday 2/17 for the Nashville area.
Please remember that at most stores you will have to have the coupon to get the penny item.

Happy Shopping!!!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Publix Coupon Policy ~ Updated 2/15/10

Here's a quick update on the most recent changes regarding the Publix coupon policy...

Though I have been told that these changes have been made district wide...this post is pertaining to the Spring Hill & Brentwood Publix only, if your are not local or are located in any other area (Franklin, etc)...I would advise you to contact your store manager directly and see what the coupon policy is for that store :-)

Sadly, Publix has been forced to once again reevaluate their coupon policy and had to make some more drastic changes due to continued coupon abuse. After speaking with my Publix contact, I have become aware of even more incidents in which people are abusing coupons and it really saddens me that what a few choose as okay has made such a huge impact on the lives of so many. I had hoped that after the Trail Mix Hussies incident that things would get better, but instead they have gotten worse :-( Here's just one example of a "shop gone wrong", it seems recently that someone felt it was appropriate to go into Publix at Maryland Farms and not only get $1000 worth of groceries for free but also obtain so much overage that the store actually gave them $65.00 back!!!! THIS BLEW MY MIND!!!!! How anyone can think that a store can stay in business while giving the customer $1000 in groceries and then paying them $65.00 to take those groceries is beyond my comprehension. Now, I am well aware of how coupons work, so I know that the store will receive the majority of that money back from the maufacturer's...however...they do not get all of it back due to store coupons, competitor coupons, penny items and even some BOGO deals. When the store loses money on a transaction it affects every one of the stores employees...because their bonus is based on profit. If there is no profit, there is no bonus. Can you see why sometimes cashier get frustrated with couponers? I can!

I am all about getting the BEST deal on everything and I am the first to want to take advantage of free groceries...Lord knows we all need free stuff in this day and age...BUT there is a wrong way and a right way to do things and we all need to seek the leading of the Holy Spirit on these issues. What may be a personal conviction for me...may not be for you...and that is okay...God deals with each of us differently. But I feel it is my duty to share with you the things that I believe God has shown me regarding ethics and integrity while couponing. What you choose to do with those thoughts is between you and God. I am not placing blame or conviction on anyone...just simply hoping that maybe bringing light to these kinds of things will possibly change perspectives. I know that when I first started couponing years ago...I didn't realize that some of the deals I was getting were not the best way of doing things. It took awhile, some training with store management and some nudging from the Holy Spirit to realize that there were correct ways of getting awesome bargains...and that getting those bargains did not have to come at the cost of causing someone else to suffer, lose a deal or lose money. It's a learning process and it takes being in constant communication with my Heavenly Father. It's kinda one those ask and ye shall receive type things :-) Ask God for wisdom and knowledge and He will be faithful to provide it!
(Climbing down off my soapbox now ;-)

Updated changes to the Publix coupon policy:

1) Publix will no longer accept all competitor coupons :-(
Stores that were accepting GFS, Walgreens, CVS, etc will stop taking them. They will only accept traditional grocery store coupons from competitors within their immediate trade area.
I am aware of the following:

Spring Hill = Super Target, Kroger and Food Lion
Brentwood (Moore's Lane) = Kroger, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter and HG Hill

2) The limit on BOGO has been reduced to 3 deals...so that means 6 items total.
I am being told that the limit applies to brand...so for instance you could buy 6 Cheerios and 6 Raisin Bran because they are different brands...but you could not buy 6 honey nut Cheerios and 6 whole grain Cheerios because they are different flavors not brands...make sense?
I am also being told that the store manager has the final say on BOGO limits, so it is at their discretion to allow more items if they see if proper. For instance, a manager may understand why you need 20 jars of baby food @ BOGO but might not understand why you need 20 bottles of windex @ BOGO...make sense?

3) Stores are now enforcing the fine print on both store q's and manufacturer's q's :-(
That means that if a coupon says "one per customer" or "one per transaction" or the like than you will only get one of those items...period!

Keep in mind that wording is everything, so do yourself a favor and educate yourself on the coupon lingo...because say for instance the coupon reads "one coupon per item purchased" or "one coupon per purchase"...that would be one coupon for each and every item purchased...no limit...just one per item. Knowing the lingo upfront will help you in the long run because some cashiers don't realize the difference between the way it is worded and it can become confusing, no doubt!

On a side note...know that every time you shop you may experience a slight variance in the way things are handled...obviously a lot will depend on the cashier...BUT if we do our part to shop correctly, then it will make the cashier's job a whole lot easier AND our shopping experience a whole lot more pleasurable :-)

Hope this post has helped bring you up to speed...Thanks in advance for your help in showing the stores that there are a lot more honest, ethical couponers out there :-) You guys ROCK!!!

Coupon Ethics ~ Revisited

Hello Everybody...I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day :-) We are enjoying snow, yet again here in Middle Tennessee :-)

I wanted to take a moment and share with you a post that Kelly over at Faithful Provisions posted this morning. Kelly was kind enough to link up to my previous posts on Coupon Ethics( HERE, HERE and the follow up HERE). A HUGE thank you to Kelly for taking the time to link up with me BUT also to really shine some light on the way that God would want us to use our couponing and our deal finding...to remain ethical and using integrity :-)

Go HERE to read some really thought provoking things as Kelly shares her thoughts on the topic of Coupon Ethics. I love that she shares scripture on this kind of thing too :-) Here's an excerpt from her post that I think really sums it all up! I am sure that we have all felt this way at one point or another. And I also agree that we are all called to be givers and Kelly makes a wonderful point here...

"In closing, I want to say that in my sinful nature I have tried to explain away what I now see was abuse and misuse of the system, trying to claim I was doing it in the name of generosity. (“I’ll have more to give!”) But one thing I have learned is that God hasn’t just called me to give to others, He has called all of us to live generously. If we ignore the Spirit’s nudge to hold off, we are taking away giving opportunities from others who are wanting the chance. What I have experienced is that most of the time, giving most greatly blesses the giver — an open hand leads to an open heart! "

I would love to hear your thoughts on this...please leave a comment below :-)

** ALSO** I will be posting later in the day about how the current changes are impacting us at our local Publix. Because...YES, there have been even more changes since I posted back in September...seems things have continued to get worse for Publix regarding unethical couponing and they were forced to yet again make even more changes :-( So tune in later today for an update...

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Angel Food Ministries ~ February (LOCAL PICK UP)

Great News!!! There is now an Angel Food Ministries pick up location in Spring Hill!!!

A couple of our Faithful & Frugal ladies together with their church have organized a local Angel Food ministry. In addition to offering low-cost, good quality food to our community to help budgets stretch, they are also partnering with The Well food pantry here in Spring Hill. When you order, you may:

1) order a box for yourself,
2) order a box to donate to someone you know --OR--
3) you can order a box to be designated to The Well
((Or, you can do all three!!))

Simply go online to www.AngelFoodMinistries.com and place your order, then show up at the pick up time and pick up your boxes. Be sure to select The Bridge in Spring Hill as the pick up location.

PLUS this month there is a coupon code too! Enter "FEB5" for a 5% discount of a signature box :-)

You can view this month's menu HERE

This Sunday 2/14 is February's deadline, with pick up at The Bridge church on Sat 2/20 from 12:30-1:30pm. ((Address: 4922 Port Royal Rd, Suite B-3, Spring Hill, TN 37174 -- in the same parking lot as Let It Shine gymnastics ))

For more info, or to order online go to http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Coupon Preview ~ 2/7/10


BIG coupon week! This Sunday 2/7/10, you can expect 4 inserts in your Sunday paper:

2 SmartSource
1 RedPlum
1 P&G

Also...remember that there may be regional variations, so the larger the paper distribution the better chance of getting all the inserts :-) So pick up the paper with your area's largest distribution (I buy the Tennessean) as papers with lower distribution do not contain as many coupons.

The Kroger on Port Royal still has the paper for $1.00, some CVS are running the $1.00 deal as well and the Dollar Tree always has the Sunday paper for $1.00 :-)

Happy Shopping!!!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Benefit for local boy Dylan Snider ~ SAT. 2/6

This is meant for those local folks reading my blog...BUT if you are out of state and read this and feel compelled to help out...please be sure and check out the links on how you can help too :-)

Hello All...

I wanted to get the word out about a benefit fundraiser for Dylan Snider this Saturday! The benefit will be a fund raiser to help Dylan, who just had his 6th birthday on Jan. 15th in the burn unit of Cincinnati's Shriners Hospital. Dylan suffered extensive burns to 80 percent of his body in December after pouring gasoline onto smoldering embers from a family bonfire. Dylan's injuries were so extensive that he was taken to Shiner's Hospital and is expected to spend the next year in the hospital for recovery. I have been able to talk with some family friends about Dylan’s condition and am being told that he is still undergoing skin graft surgeries as well as he is recovering from the corrective surgery for the loss of his small intestine and 10" of his large intestine and the fingers on his right hand.

The benefit will take place this Saturday Feb. 6th in Spring Hill @ the UAW Banquet Hall (125 Stephen P. Yokich Parkway) from 2pm-7pm...

The benefit will feature live music, entertainment, door prizes, and a auction. There will be tons of things up for auction...including a gift certificate for a Faithful & Frugal class, a Dave Ramsey Church Leadership kit, photography sessions, a guitar autographed by Trace Adkins and much, much more...
Cost is $10/adult & $5/child under 12. Food will be provided by the Fire Dept. and all proceeds will go toward defraying the family’s medical costs.

PLEASE come help raise money for Dylan and his family!!!

You can read about Dylan's accident on the following websites:

You can join the FaceBook group to PRAY for Dylan Snider HERE

You can keep up with Dylan's progress on his CaringBridge site HERE

Here are a few more details and ways to support Dylan’s family:
- Send get-well cards to Dylan at: Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 3229 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229
- Donate to the Dylan Snider Recovery Fund at any Regions Bank branch
It's not too late to donate items for the auction!!! Please contact Kathy Kramer @ 931-698-6164 to donate!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Organic Coupons ~ Link Love

Head over to Southern Savers where Jenny has posted these great links for organic and healthy coupons.

Thanks Southern Savers!

Publix Penny Item ~ 2/3/10


The Mystery Penny Item at Publix for Wednesday 2/3:

Publix Sugar

This week's penny item is available with a $10 purchase (before coupons) and is only available on Wednesday 2/3 in the Nashville area.
Please remember that at most stores you will have to have the coupon to get the penny item.

Happy Shopping!!!
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