Coupon for Cancer - Week 3

If you haven't read my previous posts, I have decided to use my couponing skills to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Fundraiser.  Because my family has been effected by the desease, this cause is close to my heart.  So after learning of the event a couple of years ago, I decided to form a team this year.  And as one of my fundraising contributions to our team, I am donating the money I save by couponing, over a three month period, to the cause.

Coupon for Cancer - Week 2 was a total bust.  I went way over my budget, so I didn't even post about it.  But fortunately, I was back on the wagon last week.  I saved nearly $100 on my grocery bill!  Now that my very helpful neices and nephews are back home, we are back to our regular food budget of $75/week.  And speaking of this, I would love to get that to $50/week, but I am still trying to learn if this is even possible when you eat organic and non-processed food.  I know there are great deals out there, but I am not motivated to drive all over town with a 1 year old to get them.  So sticking with one trip a week to Target and Publix is it for me! 

With my week 1 savings of $22.66 below my grocery budget, and this weeks savings of $5.36 below budget, my total donation after week 3 is up to $28.02!  It doesn't seem like much, but after 3 months, hopefully I will add up!

I'm also excited to say that my idea to Coupon for Cancer has given me an awesome opportunity to spread the word about the Light the Night fundraising event.  Not only do I tell the cashiers about it when they comment on all the coupons I am using, but the other day while I was at Target, a lady in line behind me said "Good for you saving all this money."  When I told her what I was doing with the savings, I found out that someone close to her had passed on from a blood cancer.  It just amazes me all the people effected, and the ways God is opening doors for me to tell people how they are able to get involved and make a difference for others suffering with the disease.  Day after day I hear another story of someone, both young and old, effected by a type of blood cancer.

So in the meantime, if you haven't already, you can sign up to join our team, make a donation, or get involved in many other ways at my website http://pages.lightthenight.org/ncfl/Orlando12/ASchlottman

Coupon for Cancer - Week 1

I am in the process of building a team for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk on October 17th, in honor of my father in law, who has suffered with Lymphoma for over 10 years.  In order to begin fundraising for our team, I have committed to Coupon for Cancer.  For the next 12 weeks, I have set a budget, and however much below my budget I come in by using coupons, I will donate that amount to our team. 

So week 1 is going much better than I had thought.  This week starts out with my family of 3, along with my 4 neices and nephews, who will be visiting.  Adjusting for 4 teenagers eating through my pantry, I gave myself a budget of $150, which is double what it would normally be.  I included everything from food, to paper products, and health and beauty products.  The only thing I didn't include were pet supplies and baby wipes.  My total came out to $127.34, leaving us with a week 1 donation of $22.66!  Our teams first donation! 

If you are interested in joining our team to walk with us, you can do so on our website http://pages.lightthenight.org/ncfl/Orlando12/Life2Live4.  It costs nothing but your time.  You can also make a donation at the same webpage.  Hopefully more savings next week!  God bless!

Coupon for Cancer

I've been racking my brain to come up with ways to fundraise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's  Light the Night Walk.  It's easy enough to just donate your money, but to get more involved with the cause, I have decided to Coupon for Cancer.  The steps I'm taking are as follows:

1. Set a Budget

For my family, I am setting a budget of $25 per person per week.  Our average grocery bill is around $75 a week, which adds up quickly now that we are trying to eat organic and unprocessed foods.  Especially since produce looks so good this time of the year!  I could blow our budget on produce alone I think!  I say per person, because I will have 4 extra teenagers staying with me for 2 weeks while I'm doing this, so I have to be realistic.  Our normal budget for 2 1/2 eaters will be blown out of the water!  

2. Save with Coupons

With our budget set, however much I save below our weekly budget by couponing after 3 months, will be donated to our team fundraising for Light the Night.

Not only do I figure that this is a great way to keep our focus on this cause each week as I plan and prepare our list and shopping, but I have really been wanting to learn to coupon more effectively for healthy foods.  So this may motivate me to learn more creative ways to save on organic and whole foods for my family.  I am horrible at blogging, but my hopes are to keep people updated with where I am in this, and perhaps even get some of my fellow couponers on board to Coupon for Cancer as well!

To join our team and walk with us, or to learn more, visit my Light the Night Webpage at http://pages.lightthenight.org/ncfl/Orlando12/ASchlottman