This week I’ve asked some fellow Couponing for Community participants to share how they have used coupons to GIVE and offer us tips on making our giving even BIGGER.  Today I share some stories from my heart about why giving is so important to me.

My Childhood Home, circa 1978

It is a harsh winter day.  Illness has hit me and my brother and sister hard.  But  my father’s small country church salary left no room for ‘extras’ which included money for the medicine that we needed.  The long winter has taxed our family to the point that even paying for heat is not in our budget.

This night we all huddle around the small wood stove in our living room, wracked with fevers and wrapped in blankets.  The phone begins to ring.  One by one callers ask if we need anything.  One by one, friends come to the door followed by bags of groceries, gifts of money and overwhelming kindness.

HOPE.

Lynchburg, VA circa 1998

I’m now a college student whose parents have moved overseas as missionaries.  I’m a student teacher and I’m broke.  I’m standing in line at Kroger paying for a few small items to get me through the week and discover that I am several dollars short of my total.  Tears begin to well as I consider which of the items I can go without.  Suddenly the woman behind me reaches over and presses a handful of bills into my hand.  I glance back with tear-filled eyes and she smiles graciously.

HOPE.

Our first little garage apartment, circa 2009

I’m married with one son and another on the way in a few short months.  The phone rings.  “They let me go,” comes my husband’s stunned voice.

18 months of uncertainty, temp jobs and dashed hopes follow.  18 long months.

But our needs are met when we need it most.  In the form of gracious landlords returning our rent in the leanest months.  In the form of WIC checks helping to feed our children, and envelopes of cash showing up in unexpected places.

And in the form of a new-found discovery — a little something called couponing.

HOPE.

Why do I give?  I known there is a need.  I know there are children with health needs being unmet, women at the grocery store trying to decide if  they can go without bread or without milk that week and countless couples — young and old — facing uncertain futures, unsure of how they will provide for their families.

I know what need feels like.

And HOPE.

There is nothing more beautiful than HOPE.

That’s why I give.

Why do you give?  I’d love to hear your stories too.

Learn more about Couponing for Community 2012 here and find out how YOU can join couponers nation-wide in GIVING 30,000+ items during the week of May 6-12.  It’s going to be BIG.

It’s less than two weeks until Couponing for Community 2012 begins!  This week I’ve asked some fellow C4C participants to share how they have used coupons to GIVE and offer us tips on making our giving even BIGGER. Today, Sarah shares tips for new couponers on how to take advantage of store instant rebate offers, which is a great way to begin to learn the ropes of couponing!

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Figure them however you choose: Free money, reduction in your grocery bill or something else, but Off Your Next Shopping Order (OYNSO) offers are a great way to save money. These offers take many different forms depending on the store you shop at. Here are some of the most common ways you get them and some tips for how to use them. In most cases (check your store policy) you can earn these offers even if you are using manufacturer coupons and any dollar values that must be met are calculated before manufacturer coupons are deducted.

Grocery Stores – Typically you will find these types of offers advertised in the weekly flyer for your store. You can also find many of them listed under the Your Bucks offers on Coupon Network. You find them advertised two ways. Either “Buy $XX in Select Products, Get $X Off Your Next Shopping Order” or “Buy 2 Select Items, Get $ Off Your Next Shopping Order”. These offers print from the coupon printing machine next to register.

CVS – OYNSO offers are in the form of Extra Care Bucks (ECB’s). These offers come in the form of Buy $X, Get $X. These print out on the bottom of your receipt. When redeeming them, they are treated as store coupons with very few redemption limitations. If your ECB total value is higher than the amount due at the end of your order, the registers will automatically adjust the value down and bring your total to $0.

Rite Aid – These offers take the form of UP Rewards (UPR’s) that are issued at the bottom of your receipt after you pay. They also take the form of Buy a quantity, Get $$ and are treated as store coupons for redemption But unlike CVS, if your total amount due is less than the value of your UPR’s, Rite Aid’s register will simply deny any UPR’s that would cause you to go over, so you’ll want to include another item to absorb the overage.

Walgreens – OYNSO take the form or Register Rewards (RR’s) at Walgreens. They also come in the form of Buy a quantity, Get $$.  But, unlike their competitor’s, they are treated as and redeemed as manufacturer coupons, so you will have a one coupon per item limit. There are conflicting reports as to if these are adjusted down or denied if you have more RR value than amount due. It seems to vary by store.

Tips for using OYNSO offers

• No matter what form your OYNSO’s take, you will want to make sure you are familiar with the policy of the store you are getting them from and redeeming them to. There are usually limitations (due to state laws) that prohibit the use of these offers on alcohol, tobacco and other items.

• It’s also a good idea to plan to use these offers to buy things that you normally wouldn’t see as many sales or large discounts on. Staples like bread, milk, meat and produce are great items if they are not restricted by your state/coupon.

Another way to think of these offers (if it helps your process) is as instant rebates. You still have to pay the money in, but instead of waiting weeks to get it back, your bonus prints out after the transaction is complete.

Plus if you are new to couponing, instant rebates are a great way to jump on the bandwagon right away!

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Sarah Jehnzen is the author of Sarah’s Deals, a West Michigan based blog that’s “Helping You Live Better, For Less”. She posts regular sale matchups, coupons, reviews, giveaways and freebies as well as a variety of cooking tips, household hints, craft/decorating ideas, and other helpful information. You can also find her at Sarah’s Deals on Facebook or @sarahs_deals on Twitter.

Note from Kaley:  If you are new to couponing, you’ll soon learn that using coupons gives you the ability to GIVE freely.  Let us know if you have any questions about how these offers work!

Learn more about Couponing for Community 2012 here and find out how YOU can join couponers nation-wide in GIVING 30,000+ items during the week of May 6-12.  It’s going to be BIG.

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Giving is against our natural character. We must have the giving heart taught to us. We are born with many needs and they must be met or we will not survive. As we grow, we either continue that attitude of getting our needs and wants met or we can be taught an attitude of helping others.  Most children have no idea how to give on a regular basis. It is our duty as parents to model it for them.

5 Rules to remember when inspiring our children to give:

Rule #1. Check our own hearts. We must have an attitude of giving in our own hearts and portray it for our children to see. When they see us giving to those in need, it will start to become natural for them to want to give also. Is giving to others something you do often? If the answer is yes, it is most likely that your children have followed your example already. If the answer is no, apologize today and start showing them your love for giving (it is addicting).

Rule #2. We need a reason to give. Giving is unnatural, so children need to see the need for it to become a natural part of our heart. Bringing your children with you to donation areas, soup kitchens, food pantries, nursing homes, hospitals, missions, ext. is very important. By serving others in need, our children’s hearts are open to the many needs of our world. We should also be reading books about those in need weekly to keep our children’s hearts (and our own) reflecting on the greater needs of the world.

Rule #3. Give together. Sure there are times when our giving should be a private matter but for the most part giving should be a family affair. Giving together will make your family grow closer together, in love for others.

Rule #4. Giving is the only way to battle selfishness. Many of us, especially our children are only worried about ourselves in this life. When we open up our hearts to be touched by other people we can loose some of our selfishness. A giving heart often starts by being asked to give, but soon we start to enjoy it and look forward to it, our children’s hearts will be no different.

Rule #5. Have fun! Giving should be a positive experience. Have fun with it. Make it a positive experience for everyone involved. If your child only gives in a tiny way, praise them and encourage them next time to give a little more. The rewards of giving are felt in the heart and will grow in time.

SavingAddiction is run by Lauren and Giselle. Two busy moms with 10 amazing children. SavingAddiction was born from a dream to help others save money and the Lord has evolved it into so much more! We also have found a new passion to teach others to give in ways they never thought possible!

Note from Kaley:  Teaching our children to think of other’s needs is not always an easy task.  How about you?  Have you found ways to inspire your children to be givers?

Learn more about Couponing for Community 2012 here and find out how YOU can join couponers nation-wide in GIVING 30,000+ items during the week of May 6-12.  It’s going to be BIG.