I’ve been able to share about some new Tornado relief options on two other blogs lately, so I wanted to update here as well.

And I know that I’m talking a LOT about our tornadoes right now – I hope you’ll understand and bear with me – but that’s quite simply our life right now.  Over half of our state’s counties have significant damage…

Counties_Damaged
…And it could have SO easily been me – my family – my house.

And since I was spared, I feel a strong pull to help those who weren’t so fortunate.

Also, after my post about how Social Media is being used to specifically and immediately meet needs, many people have asked how they can be a part of that even if they’re not local.  So along those lines, there are two new options for participating no matter where you live:

1. I realize that sending money to big agencies is awkward and doesn’t feel like you’re helping hurting people.  So one of my blog friends, Beth from Unskinny Boppy, had an absolutely brilliant idea.  She met with the Christian Service Mission and set up an Amazon Wish List,  including hundreds items that are desperately needed for those families who have lost everything. All you have to do is purchase items from this wish list, and they’ll be shipped directly to the mission, who will immediately deliver them to the dozens of communities that have been devastated by these tornadoes.

2. My heart is especially burdened with the babies whose homes were destroyed.  They have no formula, no food, no diapers. I have heard heartbreaking stories of their suffering, and I am determined to help them.  So I have set up a Paypal fund – Mommies helping Mommies – that will go directly to buying formula, food, and diapers for these families. I will personally deliver the items to these communities. There is no overhead cost (I’m personally paying the Paypal fees), no agency, no expenses – just a desperate attempt to keep further tragedy from happening as a result of these storms.  If you want to donate, you can click this link, or click on the “Donate” button on the top left sidebar of my blog.

Due to my guest blogging opportunities on 5 Minutes for Mom and Southern Hospitality, I already have over $550 in the Mommies helping Mommies fund, and $400 more promised next week!!

I am SO thankful for everyone who has wanted to help Alabama, and so excited to be able to deliver hope to these families!

So I will be spending my Mother’s Day afternoon clipping coupons and scouring sales papers.

And let me admit: I am not a couponer.

Shameful, I know.

I want to be, but I just can’t find the time.  However, because so many other people have entrusted me with their funds, I want to make sure that I use them as effectively as I possibly can.

So for this project, I AM a couponer.  But I’m clueless, so please give me your tips!  We have CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Publix, Piggly Wiggly, Target, and Wal-Mart around here.  I know the general idea is that I’m supposed to match sales with coupons, but that’s where my extensive couponing knowledge stops.

So please – enlighten me! Give me tips!  Tell me where to print coupons!  Send me your coupons if you don’t need them! I need help!

Thanks so much for what you all have already done – I am literally blown away with the kindness within Alabama AND outside of Alabama!

24 thoughts on “Relief Updates…and…Couponing Advice Needed!

  1. Money Saving Mom has a lot of tutorials about couponing. The web address is moneysavingmom.com. Is that helpful?

    Btw, thanks for all the posts about helping out with the aftermath! very helpful! :)

    1. Thanks! And thanks for the encouragement about the tornado posts. I feel it is something that I need to be doing right now, but I don’t want to be a broken record, either. I’m glad it’s being helpful!

  2. We had friends (I think mutual…Jim and Shelley W.?) bring supplies last week and bring back pictures. I’m feeling so blessed that we were all spared. Thank you for all you’re doing to help! Sounds like an amazing effort. I’ll be sure to share!

    1. Oh cool! I Love Jim and Shelley!! Chris and I worked with them for several years in the Junior High group at our church. I miss them a lot – tell them hi for me!

    1. Thank you!! I am SOOO clueless about the art of couponing – I’ve asked my friends the stupidest questions this weekend!!

  3. Hey Rach! Thanks for ALL the plugs this weekend. You simply rock, my friend! And WHOOHOOO at all that money! Wonderful!

    I used to be a couponer way back when before G came along so I can point you through the basics, but the problem is coupons– I don’t have the coupon stash that I used to have. I am SURE there are people in this area who’d be more than willing to help you though. Want me to put out the word on facebook?

  4. Bringing u a stash of diapers & wipes & a few other baby item coupons tomorrow.
    Tips:
    Get a newspaper tomorrow with all the sale circulars so u can match up coupons with sales
    Publix & Target take 1 manufacturer & I store coupon per item
    Publix & Brunos double coupons up to 50 cents(if a coupon is 50 cents or less the store will automatically double the coupon)
    Webites like southern savers & fiddledeedee mom (I use this one) will give u the weekly sales matched with coupons)

  5. Oops, wasn’t done, but can’t delete the first comment…
    http://www.fiddledeedeemom.com/ is the website I use to find the best deals of the week. There are links on the right side of this site to find the deals for several stores each week as well as links to get printable coupons.
    – Most printable coupon sites, the biggest one is http://www.coupons.com, will allow you to print 2 coupons per computer, right now there are 2 good Huggies diapers coupons on this site(get around the limit by using all your computers to print from)
    – The Publix circular for this week (ends Tuesday) has a great Huggies coupon & Enfamil coupon in it (you can grab several circulars at the store & use the coupons in them) then you can match these store coupons with manufacturer ones for extra savings
    – Haven’t gotten into the drug store deals yet, but plan to soon…with them you have to sign up for one of their “reward” cards and their biggest deals involve giving you “money” to spend on your next shopping trip there
    – Target’s website has a coupon section, coupon link is in lower left hand corner, they usually only have 1-2 baby coupons per week

    If you have any questions or want some help, let me know!

  6. southern savers is easiest. Tutorials, the whole nine yards. I also know someone personally that might shop with you, for you, or tell you where the deals are as she is baby-fied and is doing it anyway and does it all the time. I’ll contact her and let you know.

  7. Southernsavers also has information about what coupons are going to be in the paper..that way you can decide if you want to get more than one paper. Also, I heard the Dollar store or maybe the dollar general sells a limited number of papers for $1. Grab a paper in the middle..I sometimes have the inserts missing. So sad.

    1. Oooh – thanks!! Although I didn’t find a SINGLE manufacturer’s coupon for diapers or formula in yesterday’s paper – did I miss it? Or did my paper miss out?

      1. My paper didn’t have any coupons either.:( I think I have some diaper coupons that I am going to throw in the mail today too.

        1. Thanks so much!! I used a whole bunch of coupons today and saved a ton of money, and I used your formula checks – you all have been SO helpful!

  8. I post store match-ups for Target, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger and a few others. I’m in the Huntsville area and would be happy to answer questions the best I can. I’m generally available but this month is strange for all the reasons you mention plus a scheduled trip to care for my grandchildren for two weeks.

    I will be blogging while gone but email/facebook responses may be a bit slower.

    You are doing a wonderful job in helping meet the needs of our fellow Alabamians. I’m working on a couple of projects for long term that I am putting together. This isn’t going away any time soon and since I am older and slower I’ll bring up the rear – God willing.

    Let me know if you have questions about couponing. I would love to help out if I can.

    Ginger
    AttentionDealShoppers.com

    1. Thank you so much for your help!! I’ll definitely let you know as I come up with questions – I’m so clueless!!

      I think I’ve decided that buying diapers is cheapest through Amazon Mom Subscribe and Save – I compared all of the prices + couponing, and I think it’s the best deal. But I could be wrong – what do you think?

      Thanks again! I hope you have a great trip with your Grandkids!

  9. Rachel,

    Thank you so much for keeping me updated on the best ways to donate and help out. It has been hard to decide where to donate and what to donate. You have really helped so much! Also, I would love to volunteer with Alabama Bloggers one weekend.

    Heading the the Amazon wishlist now!

  10. I use http://freebies2deals.com & http://hip2save.com.

    Thanks for the links. I love that there are fantastic organizers like you who post the links and make it easy for someone like me (not close) to still help. It’s people like you who make the world a better place for all of us. Thanks for your efforts.

    An Amazon Wish List… brilliant. It made donating personal and easy thank you Christian Service Mission!

    1. Thank YOU so much!
      The Amazon Wish List WAS a brilliant idea from another blogger here in town – I’m so glad she thought of it!

  11. I find Grocery smarts very helpful. It’s a website that shows you the sales that are going on in specific stores, and also shows you the coupons that are out for those items.
    -Go to: http://www.grocerysmarts.com/
    -Select your state. ( in the upper left corner)
    -Select the store you want to look at.
    -On the final page it shows you columns of the item, the sale price, the coupon to print (or where it’s located in the newspaper from the “red plum” or “smart source”), and the end price after the sale and coupon. It also “stars” it on how good of a deal it is.

    I think that’s a good source for people that aren’t professional couponers. I hope i explained it well. It helps me sooo much! I blogged about it awhile ago if you’d like a long explanation. (http://becraftylikeme.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-do-you-get-toothpaste-for-only-12.html)…or email me. :) Good luck!

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