Enjoy the Weather

This weekend there are a few family fun events going on. I recommend heading out to enjoy this beautiful weather!

1. Elberta Sausage Festival & Music Festival

Everyone loves the Elberta Sausage Festival and with so much community going on it will be a blast for families. There is also a music festival being held at Elberta Faith Fellowship. I recommend stopping by around 5:00 pm to hear Burning Cypress play! They will have tons of fun originals I know you will enjoy. Again, attendance is free and there will be other bands as well, starting at 4:00 pm.

2. Community Yard Sale

This event is being hosted by the 31st Signal Family Readiness Group and will help support the Family National Guard Armory. Be sure to stop by between 8:00 am to 2:00 pm to grab your treasures. It is located at:

Foley National Guard Armory 315 E Jessamine Ave Foley, Alabama

.

Football Food Fav!

Had to share this football food fave with you! I hope that ya'll enjoy this as much as I do. Snagged this recipe from one of my moms friends. I plan to make it today!

Jalapeno Chicken Scoops

Ingredients
1 large can shredded chicken
1 14 oz can of sliced Jalapeno peppers
1 small onion chopped
1 8 oz container softened cream cheese
Tony's Seasoning Salt
1 bag Tostitos Scoops

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is pre-heating, mix chicken, onion and cream cheese in a bowl. When mixed well start adding Tony's Seasoning Salt by the tablespoon until you get the desired flavor. I typically shake it in until I think it adds enough color but this might be too strong for you :) Take the mixture and start adding it by the tablespoon to each individual scoop chip. Place each stuffed scoop on a baking sheet. When the baking sheet is full, add a Jalapeno to each one. Then pop these in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until they are bubbly. Let stand for a minute and serve. These are AMAZING and easy to pop back in the oven and reheat without ruining them.

A-Z, Please send some to me...Letter F!

Don't forget to check out yesterday's requests that all started with the Letter E!

Today's letter is F...

Click on the company's name to access their "contact us" form to give them a compliment and request a coupon or two!

Farm Rich - This company happens to make Nate's favorite food...mozzarella sticks! He would have a straight diet of these fried appetizers if we would let him. While I don't suggest packing these as a lunch, these are handy to keep in the house for after school snacks!

Fisher Boy - I would have never contacted this company if it wasn't for Couponing to Disney., she puts up a great 5 A Day (5 vendors a day to email). These are only available at our local Winn-Dixie's and Wal-Mart's but these are pretty good. These fish sticks are great for Nate to eat at lunch. I pack him a little to-go corn cup and we are all set.

Florida's Natural - Um, yes this is a breakfast coupon really. Who doesn't love orange juice? Remember, we discussed breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and setting your little one down (maybe yourself too) with a glass of this tasty OJ will give them tons of health benefits. Even better, serve it with a straw to avoid the acid eating away enamel on their little teeth.

Bonus: Frito Lay - a year ago this company racked me up on multi-use coupons for $1/1 item. I am hoping they will do this again. Not only are their chips great for lunch sandwiches companionship but also as an afternoon snack or for FOOTBALL PARTIES :) Stay tuned because I have the tastiest recipe for you to make tomorrow and yes, it will include Tostitos scoops.

I also wanted t leave you with a few "nuggets" of knowledge to ensure your getting off on the right foot!

• Usually coupons that are directly mailed by the manufacturer to you have a longer amount of time before they expire (like 3 or 6 months, sometimes even a year).
• Keep in mind you want to use any coupons you receive when the item goes on sale. This will maximize your savings when purchasing lunch products for the family.
• Not all of these manufacturer's will respond the way you want. Some may mail your a good handful of coupons, some one and some none. Some may point you to a Facebook page instead but it is always worth a shot.
• Be thankful! Manufacturer's do not have to offer coupons to consumers, they do to remain competitive. Anytime you receive a coupon from a manufacturer it shows a little insight into their character. 

Good luck everyone! Stay tuned was we head on through the rest of this series. In a few weeks you all should be good as gold when packing lunches!

Purina Pet Product Giveaway, Everyday thru 9/28

Free and high-value coupons seem to be HOT right now! Purina is giving away free pet coupons through 9/28, everyday at 11:00 AM EST (10:00 AM for those in the beautiful sunny states of AL and FL). These will go really quick so be sure to stop by and snag yours before they are gone.

Purina Dog Product Coupons

Purina Cat Product Coupons

You can also enter their Sweepstakes for some awesome products!

Weekend Round-up...

If you have plans to head to the grocery store this weekend be sure you don't go out empty handed. Save at least $5 this week on your grocery bill by printing one of these coupons!

Family Dollar - $5/$25 purchase valid 9/23 through 9/25

Dollar General - $5/$25 purchase valid Saturday, 9/24 only

Both Dollar General and Family Dollar are considered competitors by the Publix locations in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

If you are in the Daphne area and would like to save you can use this $5 off your next purchase coupon from Save A Lot. Just head over and like them on Facebook to print your coupon!

Sunday Coupon Preview

Good Morning!

Here is what you should expect in your Sunday Morning paper....so far. If there are any updates I will be sure to keep you posted.

Smart Source 9/25/11

Red Plum 9/25/11

CVS 9/25/11 *BONUS! This CVS insert has several *HOT* MQ's!! Enjoy!

A-Z, Please send some to me...Letter E!

Don't forget to check out yesterday's requests that all started with the Letter D!

Today's letter is E...

Click on the company's name to access their "contact us" form to give them a compliment and request a coupon or two!

 

Earths Best - These products are good and good for you. Earths Best has several different types of products available for your munchkins, to include milk, cereal and even pizza bites! The possibilities are limitless and you won' feel guilty letting them snack on these! Send Earths Best a nice email and see what you get in return.

 

Egglands Best - Eggs are a great way for you and the kiddos to start your morning! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it is important to support your kids. Even if you don't eat breakfast, be sure to feed them because this meal will keep the focused and motivated all day long. Do you need a quick breakfast for the family on the go? Crack an egg or two in a coffee mug, add a splash of milk, salt and pepper and microwave on high for about 45 seconds. Remove egg, stir, top with some shredded cheese and pop back in the microwave for another 30 seconds. Viola! You have breakfast! Hope to get some good coupons to use, Publix always has these BOGO or 2/$4.

 

Eggo - Contacting Kelloggs for coupons may be a hit or miss BUT these waffles are to good and it is worth a try. These are perfect with butter and syrup but to switch it up top them with peanut butter and honey and serve with a banana. These make the perfect morning snack when they are cut into squares and tossed with fresh sliced strawberries and blueberries.

 

I also wanted t leave you with a few "nuggets" of knowledge to ensure your getting off on the right foot!

• Usually coupons that are directly mailed by the manufacturer to you have a longer amount of time before they expire (like 3 or 6 months, sometimes even a year).
• Keep in mind you want to use any coupons you receive when the item goes on sale. This will maximize your savings when purchasing lunch products for the family.
• Not all of these manufacturer's will respond the way you want. Some may mail your a good handful of coupons, some one and some none. Some may point you to a Facebook page instead but it is always worth a shot.
• Be thankful! Manufacturer's do not have to offer coupons to consumers, they do to remain competitive. Anytime you receive a coupon from a manufacturer it shows a little insight into their character.

Good luck everyone! Stay tuned was we head on through the rest of this series. In a few weeks you all should be good as gold when packing lunches!

One Stop, One Store Coupon Booklet (Publix)

I was at Publix this morning and noticed a new store coupon booklet on the turntable display. You can find it for sure at the Orange Beach location and has TONS of great coupons inside. Check it out.

• .75/1 Clorox Wipes - 35 ct or larger
• .75/1 Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner w/ Bleach - 24 oz
• $2 off Sparkle Paper Towels wyb 1 Angel Bath Tissue - 9 ct or larger
• $1/2 Glad Storage Containers or Wraps
• $1/2 Vanity Fair dinner plates, dessert plates, bowls or hot cups
• Free Brawny Paper Towels (1 big roll) wyb 2 Dixie plates, bowls or family pack cups
• $1/2 All Laundry Detergent - 32 or 50 oz products
• $1/2 Snuggle Products
• $2/1 Surf Products
• $3 wyb 1 All Liquid Detergent - 100 oz or larger and 1 Clorox 2 Stain Fighter & Color Booster - 33 oz or larger
• $1/2 Windex Products
• $1/2 Pledge Products
• $1/2 Shout Products
• $1/1 Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner Starter Kit
• $1/2 Scrubbing Bubbles bath products
• $1/2 Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Products
• $5/2 Mucinex Products
• $3/1 Lysol No Touch Soap System Starter Kit
• $2/1 Air Wick Freshmatic Ultra Starter Kit
• $5/2 Air Wick Scented Candles
• $1/1 Lysol No Mess Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• .75/1 Glad Trash Bag
• .75/1 Fresh Step or Scoop Away Cat Litter
• $1/1 Hartz Nodor Litter Spray
• $/1 Hartz Ultra Guard Plus Flea and Tick Drops
• $1/1 Hartz Ultra Guard Plus Flea and Tick Collar or Shampoo for Dogs
• $1/10 cans Purina Fancy Feast
• $1/1 Purina Fancy Feast Cat Food - 3 lb bag or larger
• $1/3 pkgs Purina Fancy Feast Appetizers for cats
• $1/1 bag Purina Beneful dog food
• $1/2 tubs Purina Beneful Prepared Meals for dogs
• $1/1 Purina Beneful Snackin Slices - 11 oz
• .75/1 Aquafresh Premium or Aquafresh iso-active toothpaste
• $1/1 Sensodyne or Sensodyne iso-active toothpaste
• $1/1 Polident or Super Poligrip Free
• $1.25/1 Tums Product
• $1.50/1 Breathe Right product - 26 ct or higher
• $3/1 Abreva product
• $2/1 Dropps Laundry Detergent
• $1/1 Sprayway glass cleaner - 19 oz
• $1/2 Palmolive dish soap - 25 oz or larger

Sunday Coupon Preview

This Sunday, 9/18, has two inserts at this time. A Red Plum and a Smart Source. You can click the links below to see a full list of coupons that will be in the paper. Remember, these may vary a bit by location!

Red Plum

Smart Source

A-Z, Please send some to me...Letter D!

Don't forget to check out yesterday's requests that all started with the Letter C.

Today's letter is D...
Click on the company's name to access their "contact us" form to give them a compliment and request a coupon or two!

  

Dannon - At our house, we go through A LOT of yougurt! My son and I eat it everyday. Sometimes he even eats it twice. I figured I am better off letting him eat a lot of yougurt, instead of a lot of junk food. His favorite yougurt is the Dannon Danimals Crush Cups. We cannot get out of the store without them!

The dissapointing thing is, that I can never find a Danimals coupon in my local papers. I have only been able to get them when friends from Georgia send me coupons or when my Grandma fom Michigan does. So I am really hoping that Dannon will share some by mail with me!

Del Monte - Does your little one just love veggies? Try packing his favorite in is lunch. My son loves corn so he doesn't mind when I pack the leftovers from dinner up for him to eat. Canned veggies are also great when you need a quick side during a week night. You can even jazz them up a bit with hot sauce, garlic, bacon, etc.

Del Monte has more than veggies though. They distribute canned fruit, which is great to keep on hand for the holidays because you never know when you will need to make a quick parfait or pie. They also disribute ketchup! We go through a lot of ketchup. I am certain you do too...it seems to be a family fave.  

Dole - We can't request coupons that start with D and not include Dole. Fresh produce coupons are hard to find and with various items being manufacturered by Dole, you have to contact them! I am hoping for some salad or bannana coupons but I will settle for coupons on their fruit snack cups for lunches!

I also wanted t leave you with a few "nuggets" of knowledge to ensure your getting off on the right foot!

• Usually coupons that are directly mailed by the manufacturer to you have a longer amount of time before they expire (like 3 or 6 months, sometimes even a year).
• Keep in mind you want to use any coupons you receive when the item goes on sale. This will maximize your savings when purchasing lunch products for the family.
• Not all of these manufacturer's will respond the way you want. Some may mail your a good handful of coupons, some one and some none. Some may point you to a Facebook page instead but it is always worth a shot.
• Be thankful! Manufacturer's do not have to offer coupons to consumers, they do to remain competitive. Anytime you receive a coupon from a manufacturer it shows a little insight into their character.

Good luck everyone! Stay tuned was we head on through the rest of this series. In a few weeks you all should be good as gold when packing lunches!

Clipper Exclusive Giveaway - Less than 24 hrs Away!

If you haven't already, go by and "like" Brandee Lay Photography on Facebook. Be sure to let her know The Constant Clipper sent you. Your outlook is looking good on winning too!

Brandee is an AMAZING photographer and is holding a "Clipper Exlusive" giveaway, just for YOU. So please go by and show her some love as she reaches her goal of 300 fans.

Tomorrow she is holding a giveaway for a 1-hr photo shoot, here in the beautiful, historic town of Foley, AL. This is the perfect giveaway for those of you ready to take those family photos, Christmas card photos or new baby photos!!

You can view the rest of the giveaway rules and regulations by going here.

Eating Natural & Organic...

For my natural and organic Clippers-please stop by and check out my article on how to purchase natural and organic foods on a budget!

For those of you know me personally, you know I write for my company's employee blog. I thought I'd share the article for this week since it is such a popular topic in the coupon world!

You can visit the CSU Lifeline to read, Alabama ranks No. 2...and we are not talking about college football!

I included a list of some popular natural and organic brands to check out. These all have direct links to print some coupons or request them! Here are some tips when shopping for these products:

• Products with the label, Natural or All-Natural, indicates that a food is minimally processed and does not contain manufactured products.
• Organic foods are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic outputs. Companies that claim their products are Organic are heavily regulated by the USDA.
• Natural and organics are generally more expensive then conventional food items so in order to purchase more of these healthy foods, eliminate the urge to buy "junk" like cookies, ice cream and chips. You can replace the bodies cravings for these with fruits and veggies.
• If we could all afford to buy just natural and organic foods, we probably wouldn't be couponing. Focus on buying foods that are more beneficial in an organic form like fruits and veggies or dairy items. Foods like rice, cereal, etc. you can purchase as whole grains instead.

I hope you enjoy getting started on your road to eating just a bit better. Please feel free to share your thoughts!

Till Next Time,
The Constant Clipper

A-Z, Please send some to me...Letter C!

Don't forget to check out yesterday's requests that all started with the Letter B.

Today's letter is C...
Click on the company's name to access their "contact us" form to give them a compliment and request a coupon or two!

Campbell's Soup - Campbell's Soup Co. loves to hear good feedback! In exchange, they often send great multi-use coupons for use on several different brands, too include Peppridge Farms, Campbell's, Pace, Prego or V8. Any of these brands are great for lunches. Especially those cute, tasty goldfish that can't quit smiling!

Chaquita - This company is one of my favorite to contact for coupons! Known for their popular and oh so good bananas, this company also produces great lunch snacks like apple and grape snack packs, various veggies and the famous Fresh Express salads. Be sure to compliment on your favorite food and share your address so your fresh produce coupons arrive in the mail!

Country Crock - While you may not directly pack and eat butter for lunch, think about how often we use butter for the items in our lunch? Butter is universal for good flavor. However, for a switch up, add some butter to your child's bologna sandwich. Mmmm. Try making homemade garlic better for your next get together and serve with warm sliced bread. This unexpected appetizer is going to be a crowd pleasure.

 

Bonus: Contact Coffee-Mate and request coupons for your FAVORITE coffee creamer. I use this every morning and love the Peppermint Mocha, Sweet Cream and Caramel. Everyone deserves a pick me up without spending the money at overpriced coffee shops.

 

I also wanted to leave you with a few "nuggets" of knowledge to ensure your getting off on the right foot!

• Usually coupons that are directly mailed by the manufacturer to you have a longer amount of time before they expire (like 3 or 6 months, sometimes even a year).
• Keep in mind you want to use any coupons you receive when the item goes on sale. This will maximize your savings when purchasing lunch products for the family.
• Not all of these manufacturer's will respond the way you want. Some may mail your a good handful of coupons, some one and some none. Some may point you to a Facebook page instead but it is always worth a shot.
• Be thankful! Manufacturer's do not have to offer coupons to consumers, they do to remain competitive. Anytime you receive a coupon from a manufacturer it shows a little insight into their character.

Good luck everyone! Stay tuned was we head on through the rest of this series. In a few weeks you all should be good as gold when packing lunches!

Just for you...tools to stay organized!

Hello Clippers!

To be an efficient couponer, you must also be an efficent organizer and menu planner!

Yes, anyone can coupon but few process the skill to save the most money possible while eating like kings and queens.

In order to help you get started, I have provided two templates for you to utilize. Below you will find a menu planner and grocery list to help you organize yourself.

Constant Clipper Menu Planner
Menu planning is a great way to save money because you only purchase what is on sale. It  allows you to remember what items you have on hand to fix dinner. If you are anything like me, mid-week you have forgotten that you have everything you need to make enchiladas and end up picking up fast food. Menu planning allows you to stay focused. I recommend leaving the menu plan on your fridge so that you and your family can look forward what's for dinner!

To be a master menu planner you must commit a little bit of time each week scouring the sales ads and determining which store has the best sales. Once you determine where you will be shopping, you can begin planning your meals around the sales items. Plan around the sale meats, buy sale veggies in bulk to use in more than one dish and stock up on those pantry items that are at rock bottom price.

There are more benefits to menu planning then saving money and having a good family dinner, it also saves you time. If you plan accordingly you can prep two or three meals at once. Prepping meals early will save you time, especially during busy week days.

I like to take my menu plan with me when I go to the grocery store. I am notorious for forgetting why I am buying an item on my grocery list, so this helps me remember. It also allows me to make adjustments when needed. If I find a better deal on meat, I'll purchase that and swap my dinners around. Yep, menu planners need to be very organized, well prepared and flexible!

Constant Clipper Grocery List

I have created a custom grocery list that will help you stay organized while in the store. The thing I love about this list is you can notate the sale price and whether or not you have coupons for the sale items. This will help you stay organized during a frazzled shopping trip. This list will also help you estimate your total spending for the trip. Please note, that it is only an estimate. You can not be totally accurate because you may pick up a few extra items or not grab an item you thought you might.

Till Next Time,

The Constant Clipper

A Few Freebies...

Stop by the Downy Unstoppables Facebook page to request a free sample of this new product. They are giving away two million samples. I think that it is silly to just have a product for making clothes smell good BUT let me tell you...your clothes smell AMAZING.

This is neat. You can get a free cookbook kit from Morris Cookbooks. This is great to have on hand if your considering printing some recipes for a church, organization, school, etc.

Taste the Unexpected: Watermelon Salsa

My husband's boss made this salsa for the football games this past weekend and I had to share it with you. It is wonderfully delicious and totally unexpected. Enjoy!

2 cups watermelon, finely chopped
1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
1/2 tsp ginger
3/4 cup jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
2 tbs lime juice
1 tsp cider vinegar
1 tbs mint; finely chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbs sugar

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust to add more salt, sugar, jalapeno. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving. Quadruple recipe to use whole watermelon.

A-Z, Please send some to me: Letter B

Don't forget to check out yesterday's requests that all started with the Letter A.

Today's letter is B...
Click on the company's name to access their "contact us" form to give them a compliment and request a coupon or two!

Barber Food - PB&J is fine and dandy but sometimes you need something a little different. I recently had the opportunity to try their chicken fingers and they were pretty good. Everyone knows chicken fingers are one of my son's favorite foods so they were  great for an easy re-heat the next day for his lunch. They can also be for adults though. Slice them up and throw them in with a salad for a crispy chicken salad!  

Beechnut - I know many of you still have babies and toddlers in the home. It is important to ensure we pack them healthy lunches to for daycare. We miss out on a lot during the day so ensuring the quality of food they eat is very important. Contact this company, that specializes in yummy natural baby food to see what they will send you!

Bear Naked - This product is amazing. It is all natural and full of fiber and did I mention yet that it is amazing. I love the granola as it tastes great mixed in with yogurt and they have a variety of wholesome and healthy products, including granola, granola bars, cereal, cookies and trail mix. Pop one of these tasty and family preferred products into all your lunch boxes in the morning for a quick snack!

I also wanted to leave you with a few "nuggets" of knowledge to ensure your getting off on the right foot!

• Usually coupons that are directly mailed by the manufacturer to you have a longer amount of time before they expire (like 3 or 6 months, sometimes even a year).
• Keep in mind you want to use any coupons you receive when the item goes on sale. This will maximize your savings when purchasing lunch products for the family.
• Not all of these manufacturer's will respond the way you want. Some may mail your a good handful of coupons, some one and some none. Some may point you to a Facebook page instead but it is always worth a shot.
• Be thankful! Manufacturer's do not have to offer coupons to consumers, they do to remain competitive. Anytime you receive a coupon from a manufacturer it shows a little insight into their character.

Good luck everyone! Stay tuned was we head on through the rest of this series. In a few weeks you all should be good as gold when packing lunches!

A-Z, Please send some to me: Letter A

With school officially in school, I have heard many parents complaining that school lunches are overpriced and even with the healthy alternatives being introduced they still aren't very nutritional. Every time I hear a parent complain I cringe and often explain I pack Nate's lunch and anything that goes in his lunch box I have bought for literally pennies on the dollar.

So, to kick of the school year and to help all the parents get started with filling their children's lunchboxes to the brim with kid approved food, I am starting the A-Z, Please send some to me series. Join in with me as I email some popular brands to request coupons for their products. The best part is I will go in alphabetical order just like our kiddos did or will while in school :)

Today's letter is A...
Click on the company's name to access their "contact us" form to give them a compliment and request a coupon or two!

Apple & Eve - They have wonderful juice products and I love their juice boxes for kids. They are healthy, taste great and your child will love this in their lunch box. No kids? Its okay because even you will enjoy these juice boxes in your lunch box (I know I do!).

Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancakes - If your child is anything like mine they love breakfast and they love pancakes. My son is very consistent and pancakes are one of his favorites. He actually eats a morning snack at school and the Aunt Jemima mini frozen pancakes are perfect for him to take. If you have grown kids that have to eat breakfast at home, they can pop these in the microwave for a quick, home style breakfast! We all know breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day.

Azteca - My family loves soft tortilla shells. We use them for enchiladas and fajitas. We also love them for wraps and fun roll-ups. Instead of that plain ol' PB&J make one on a soft tortilla shell. You can add bananas or raisins too for a "surprise". You have to email Azteca directly so I recommend a very nice email and note of encouragement with your request.

Hope this gets you off to a great start! I also wanted to leave you with a few "nuggets" of knowledge to ensure your getting off on the right foot!

• Usually coupons that are directly mailed by the manufacturer to you have a longer amount of time before they expire (like 3 or 6 months, sometimes even a year).
• Keep in mind you want to use any coupons you receive when the item goes on sale. This will maximize your savings when purchasing lunch products for the family.
• Not all of these manufacturer's will respond the way you want. Some may mail your a good handful of coupons, some one and some none. Some may point you to a Facebook page instead but it is always worth a shot.
• Be thankful! Manufacturer's do not have to offer coupons to consumers, they do to remain competitive. Anytime you receive a coupon from a manufacturer it shows a little insight into their character.

Good luck everyone! Stay tuned was we head on through the rest of this series. In a few weeks you all should be good as gold when packing lunches!

Check out these Freebies & Samples that are still live...

Tons of great freebies and samples are still live from earlier this week. Remember, most of the time you receive high value coupons along with these samples.

1. Twinnings of London Tea - request 3 free samples of their tea to be mailed to you. I am heading into my Autumn/Winter mode and requested Christmas, Peppermint and Organic Mint. Yum!

2. Emergen-C Kids - Free samples of the Emergen-C Kids drink. These are amazing and I am happy to see them gearing these drinks towards little ones. You have to register for their E-newsletter before you can register successfully for samples.

3. Activia Selects Free Yogurt - I love their Greek Selects and if you did not previously request this offer I recommend you do so now. You will love them. You can choose Greek or French yougurt and the coupon will be e-mailed to you to print off.

4. Green Mountain Organic Coffee - I love coffee and I love organic/free trade products. Head over and request your sample of such a wonderful product.

From a Clipper's Heart: Help my unbelief

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
-Mark 9:24

The Bible often reveals that as a follower of Jesus Christ we are to have Faith. Not just any kind of Faith but strong Faith. Faith that can move mountains, Faith that produces bounty like mustard seeds, Faith unlike the fig tree who was unable to bare fruit.

It feels like that once we are saved we should automatically have this Faith. That we are to stand tall, step out into world and share the word. That we should just make the unbelievable happen. That our Faith is instantly perfected when we turn our lives over to Jesus Christ.

All to often, it seems we take a very worldly approach to being saved. It is almost appearable that we "went to the doctor and got all fixed". So, instantly we can return to our lives and we are unbeatable. The doctor fixed us and we are all set, nothing can tear us down. Fear is no longer lingering in front of us.

The interesting thing is, once we are saved, we are more broken than we once were. Yes, I understand the most holy moment between man and God has taken place when we accept Jesus into our lives. It is a moment one can never take back and will likely relive several times over. However, at that moment our world is shaken and Satan has thrown an entire army of evil soldiers at us.

1 Peter 5:9 shares that Satan is a prowling lion seeking someone to devour. Believe me when I write, "why would Satan seek an unsaved man to devour?"

If one has not placed their life in the one who created him, why should Satan be worried? Satan does not fear this individual. This unsaved soul is not  "winning" Christians or "revealing" the spiritual realm to anyone. So, he can leave them alone. Assuming that because they do not know and do not believe, he has won them (Satan is very competitive and is very determined to win more human souls to the dark side).

However, the day you are saved is the day Satan realizes God is winning. Therefore, he will attack every aspect of your  life. He will find your weaknesses, your struggles, your past hurts and determine the best way to "break you". He doesn't stop at your personal short-comings, he also seeks out your family. He finds ways to cause arguments or disconnect a husband and wife, parent and child. He even enters into friendships and seeks destruction upon them.

Satan is not ill-equipped and spiritual war is very much a reality, constantly being fought on earth. While Jesus has you protected, while he has angels guarding you, while he has revealed the armour we must carry, we must first and foremost have Faith. Faith is what will win each battle Satan initiates.

I love today's verse, that the desperate Father of the child cried out and said he did believe but needed help with his unbelief. This verse is so powerful in the fact that this man so desired to love God and to trust God and to know, that even through his circumstancesthey would be okay, that he asked for help. He did not seek help from a friend or family member, he sought help from the Almight, All Powerful and Amazing.  

However, our human nature is to doubt, distruct and to pull away from situations that make us uncomfortable. We automatically seek to blame others for those bad things that happen to us. What is interesting is this man fought his human natures and desires to curse God and instead he cried out for his belief to be strengthened.

Now let me tell you, this man had the right idea. Realizing that God does not bring perfection, but that he brings comfort and forgiveness. I am impressed that even though the world often builds Christians up into being unbreakable, perfect vessels readily sharing God's will, that this man was in such a "real" relationship with our God that he was human enough to ask for help! That his friendship and love for God was so "authentic" he was able to breakdown in order to be built back up.

Think about your Faith and think about your situations. It is very easy to state "I have Faith" but when those struggles come, those hurts, those pains, those unexpected burns set in, I ask, "Is your Faith breaking through?"

Jesus says in Matthew 4:10, when one is under attack, you should demand Satan to go away from you and that you should worship the Lord your God and only serve Him. This verse reveals, Faith is the act of defeating the temptation to break down, give in and give up. Faith is the act of requesting our Lord's help to send Satan away and then consistently and without hesitation, seeking his face.

Today I encourage you to lay your situations before God, to reveal your struggles (he knows them already), the areas where you are grasping for the reigns of control and that you shout at the top of your lungs (day in and day out), "I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF!"

What a beautiful paradox.

May God Bless you today,
The Constant Clipper

Become a Clipper: Where do I find coupons?

Now that you understand the purpose of a coupon it is time to learn how to gather your coupons. Your mileage may vary on how you gather coupons depending on what types of foods and toiletries your family uses and where you prefer to shop but overall here’s how to get started.

Manufacturer’s coupons should be accepted by most grocery stores because the manufacturer will reimbursed the store. Stores will be reimbursed for the amount you saved plus 8 cents. This means that if you use a manufacturer’s coupon for $1 off, then the store will gain $1.08 and sometimes they will even be reimbursed any shipping and handling costs they incur.

Gathering Manufacturer’s Coupons

The best source for manufacturer's coupons (without breaking the bank) is the Sunday newspaper. Depending on where you live, a Sunday paper is around $2 or less and includes hundreds of dollars in coupons.

There are two main papers in our area, the Mobile Press-Register and the Pensacola News Journal. I recommend picking up both papers because the inserts may vary. I recommend that you check the paper for inserts before your purchase it, this is to ensure no inserts are missing. I also recommend you buy more than one paper, this helps when you begin stocking items. General rule of thumb is two papers for a small family and four for a large family.

It is important to make sure you pick up a paper every Sunday (I recommend early morning, in our area they are usually sold out by lunch). Consistency is important as coupons generally last for a month or longer. For example, the coupons I got from a newspaper I bought three weeks ago may be used for an upcoming grocery trip.

If you are not able to pick up a Sunday paper or need to gather additional inserts, check with friends, family and neighbors to see if they use the coupons in their newspaper or if they will share their leftovers with you (please do not steal coupons from store newspapers or from your neighbors as this seems to be a trend lately and is not good couponing behavior). 

Gathering Store Coupons

Store coupons are very important when couponing. Generally, a store will allow you to use a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon per one item, this is called stacking. Stacking coupons allows couponers to earn more savings.

Store coupons are commonly found in the store. They are often located near the entrance or behind the customer service counter. Sometimes stores will give out manufacturer’s coupons. The best way to determine a manufacturer’s coupon from a store coupon is to check the code on the coupon located under the bar code. If it starts with a “5,” it is a manufacturer’s coupon.

Many times store coupons are also available in the weekly sale ads. In general, Publix, Bruno’s, Piggly Wiggly, Winn-Dixie and Wal-Mart release sale ads on a Wednesday that run through Tuesday. Target, CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid release their sale ads on Sunday that run through Saturday.

Every now and then store coupons can also be found in the Sunday paper or in a weekly junk mailer (these usually contain the weekly sale ads and other promotional pieces for area businesses).

Stay tuned on how to locate coupons via Internet.

Till Next Time,

The Constant Clipper

Become a Clipper: Basics of Couponing

Welcome! We are so excited that you have joined us. Becoming a clipper (my terminology for couponer) is one of the best decisions you have ever made!

Helping you save money is my prerogative and to help you get started I have compiled the fundamentals of couponing. Read on to learn what a coupon is and how to get started in this journey!

A coupon entitles the consumer to a discount off a particular product. Currently two types of coupons exist: manufacturer’s and store coupons.

Manufacturer’s coupons:

• are distributed by the company who produces the product (e.g. Kraft Foods).
• include retailer terms in fine print which include a mailing address.
• have a bar code that  begins with a 5.

Manufacturer’s coupons are the most common type and can be found in your Sunday paper, online, in magazines and on product packaging.

Store coupons:
 • include name of store.
• will not include a bar code that starts with a 5.
• can only be used at the store it is intended for (there is an exception to this rule though, some stores will accept coupons of their competitors).

Store coupons are generally found in the store behind the customer service desk or at a display/turn table at the entrance. You can also locate coupons on occasion in the weekly savings ad. Coupons are sometimes available available on the store website, and every so often, you can find them in the Sunday paper. You can register for special clubs the store offers, and they will occasionally send you coupons through the mail or via email. I highly recommend joining Publix's savings programs as they send great coupons out for name brand and store brand products.

If you plan to register for store clubs or sign-up for manufacturer programs I highly suggest that you create a separate email account just for your coupons. This will keep your personal email from becoming overwhelmed with coupons and other special offers. I suggest you DO NOT link your coupon email account to your smartphone as you will receive a lot of emails that do not need immediate attention.

Most stores will allow you to stack coupons. Stacking means you can use one manufacturer’s coupon and one store coupon per item. There are always exceptions to the rule so the best thing to do is call the store where you plan to shop and to be sure you are familiar with their coupon policy.

Before you start clipping coupons, it is important to determine how you will organize them. Common methods include a check or accordion file or a binder. If you are just starting out, you may prefer the check file.

I recommend those who are new to couponing to be sure you do your best to avoid coupon fraud. Fraud is most common with coupons found online. I suggest when printing online coupons you:

• print from a reliable source such as the manufacturer’s website or Facebook page.
• utilize authorized coupon websites such as www.coupons.com, www.smartsource.com or www.redplum.com.
• check www.couponinformationcenter.com  if a coupon seems too good to be true.

Till Next Time,
The Constant Clipper

Finger Lickin' Good Football Foods - Day 5: From Your Friendly Clippers

So I have a few good recipe's to share from some of our clippers! Please enjoy.

Sweet Bacon Wrapped Conecuh Sausage
Submitted by Kristin

Ingredients:

1 - pkg Conecuh Sausage cut into pieces

1 - pkg bacon

3/4 - cup brown sugar

Toothpicks

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. While oven is preheating, wrap each piece of sausage with a piece of bacon, using toothpick to secure in place. If you cut you conecuh into smaller pieces you can cut your bacon in half to increase the amount you have to use. Place bacon wrapped sausage in baking dish. Sprinkle with your brown sugar. Place in oven and bake until bacon is cooked through.

Football Treats
Submitted by Jillian

Ingredients:
3 - tbs butter
4 - cups mini marshmellows
6 - cups cocoa krispies
1- tube vanilla icing

Directions:

(From Rice Krispie Recipe) In large pan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmellows and stir until melted. Add cereal until well coated with marshmellow and butter mixture. Using wax paper, grab a handful of mixture and form into a football on a baking sheet. When all your footballs are ready, let them set for minute and then using the vanilla icing decorate like a football. One line across the middle (Horizontal) and then three short vertical lines. Yum!

Thanks for sharing these recipes everyone! They look so good. Please continue to submit your recipes throughout football season so we can share them!

Finger Licken' Good Football Food - Day 4: Bacon Water Chestnut Wraps

My grandmother made these around this time of year for family gatherings and I quickly grabbed hold of the tradition. Now my husband's family loves it.

Everyone knows bacon makes the party but with the price of it now, who can afford it! Today's appetizer is a great way to slip in that party favorite without paying out the wazoo for it. I am telling you, this is a great way to stretch your dollar during those football parties.

Bacon Water Chestnut Wraps

Ingredients:

2 - 12 to 14 oz pkg of Bacon

2 - cans whole water chestnuts (1 large can if you can find it)

1.5 - cups mayo
1.5 - cups chili sauce
1 - cup brown sugar
Toothpicks

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. While the oven is pre-heating, cut your bacon in half so that you have 4 sets of short bacon strips (doubled your amount). Also cut your larger bacon water chestnuts in half to help these go further, you can leave them whole if you prefer. Wrap one slice of bacon around one half water chestnut and hold together wit a toothpick. Place bacon wrapped chestnut in large glass baking dish. When the dish is full, place in oven and bake for 30 minutes. Right before you pull the dish from the oven, in a separate bowl mix mayo, chili sauce and brown sugar to make a sauce. Set aside. Pull dish from oven and drain grease. Top with homemade sauce and then place pan back into the oven for another 30 minutes. Cover with aluminum foil. Be sure to cook through until bacon is done. When bacon is crispy pull from oven and let stand for a few minutes. Then serve! They will be gone quick so be prepared.

Free Joe Coffee Sample!

If ya'll know me, you know I can't survive with out my coffee. You can get a free sample of Joe Coffee today and even request your preferred flavor - Tall, Dark and Handsome or Wake-up Joe. What a great surprise to receive in my mailbox, especially when coffee prices seem to be rising. Hope it comes with some high-value coupons to use!