THE COUPON
SAVVY STUDENT SHOP SMARTER AND GIVE BACK By: Antoinette Charles, Contributing Writer
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” - Luke 6:45
H
ave you ever experienced someone asking you for money when you didn’t even have enough for yourself? This always seems to happen to me at the most inopportune times. In the moments I was unwilling I would say to myself, “No way, I can’t afford it!” or, “This is why I don’t like to carry money” but would say something like, “Sorry, I just don’t have anything I can give you, God Bless you though.” It’s easy to assume people are being lazy or unwilling to help themselves. The truth is, we don’t know what someone is going through or what path to God they may or may not be on. God asked me to check my heart and I began to understand that I am not entitled to the provision He gives to me and my family. I felt extremely bad and sought out ways I could help with what God has given me. As I started to give from my heart, I learned that people received more than I was able to offer. Some people just want to be acknowledged rather than paid to go away, to have a friendly conversation and know that someone does care. So if you are pinching pennies like me and wondering how you will ever be able to give to others here are a few ideas:
Corporate Responsibility Shop stores that are willing to give to local causes and en-
deavors. Companies love sharing about their community impact both in store and online. Stores will ask you to participate in outreach by giving a small donation or contributing items that will benefit a local organization.
Shop with an Open Mind Perhaps you don’t have kids, pets or need senior citizen products. You wouldn’t be familiar with the items typically purchased or even know a good deal if it were staring you in the face. Challenge yourself to buy things that you can get a more than 50 percent discount, on clearance or even under a dollar. As you start using coupons more you will see that seemingly unimportant items can be purchased at very low prices. Great places to donate your items include: Animal shelters, family service organizations, food banks, retirement homes and churches.
Sharing is Caring! Be willing to share your unused coupons. When I first learned to coupon I would hear people say, “I love giving coupons to people while I’m shopping. I can usually glance in their cart and notice right away that they can save $10”!
adaptmag.com May/June 2013
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