We all love to save money. It can be a lot of fun. What makes saving money even better is when you can coupon to help others! I live by the mantra that I have been blessed and so I want to help others who have not been so fortunate. Of course, we aren’t all professional philanthropists with an unending pile of cash at our disposal, so we need to find a way to do so and keep our own budget in check.
1. Pick up an item you don’t need. When you find a good deal on something (especially if it ends up being free), pick it up! Then, you can donate it to your local shelter or food bank. After all, you didn’t pay very much for it (if anything at all) so this is an easy one to do. One such site locally is called Giving the Basics. They have an event coming up this month so you can buy the items to help others and just donate it to them – they take care of getting it out to local families.
2. Donate your savings. If you budget money for your own groceries each week and find that you were able to spend less than you planned, why not donate that to your favorite foodbank? For example, if you budget $150 for the week and only end up spending $130, send $20 to your favorite charity. You won’t miss it as you planned on spending it on food anyhow.
3. Help a family in the store. If you walk by someone with items in their cart, why not hand over an extra coupon to them? I’ve done this so many times. One time, I handed someone a coupon to save $0.35 off of her laundry detergent. She was almost in tears and told me that was the nicest thing anyone had done for her in a long time. The gesture of helping others save money is usually accepted with open arms. You just don’t know what you can do for someone by doing such a simple thing.
You do not have to be financially rich to help others – you just need to be rich in spirit and heart. That’s all it takes. I find the more I give, the more I am blessed in return (and I don’t mean financially). We all remember to give around the holidays, but there is need every single day of the year. Open you heart to give and you just never know what you will receive in return.
Do you have other ways that you help others? I’d love to hear them!
Bethany D says
I LOVE handing people coupons in the store — now I am careful who I give these to — usually I ask them first if they would even use a coupon but you would be surprised how excited some people get (not just the women either — a guy in Giant Eagle happened to ask me a question and I noticed he had a coupon folder so he and I looked through my binder and he took a few for things already in his cart — he was thrilled!).
Leigh says
I share coupons & competitive ads. When I see someone has, let say, milk in their cart, I make sure it’s the right kind (store brand or generic; gallon or 1/2 gallon) & tell them that “Homeland has their milk on sale this week for $1.50”. I also leave coupons soon to expire beside (or nearby) the items. That is certainly more time consuming so many times I forget.
Vicky Davis says
I do that too. Some people are really appreciative and some others look at you like you lost your mind, but that doesn’t stop me. If I can help one person save money that they could use for other things I’m going to do it. I’ve been doing the donation thing with free or nearly free items for a long time. It’s a great way to give so much more than I would be able to otherwise. Remember in the bible about the servants who increased their talents. That’s what we’re doing. Please remember and don’t ever forget “you can’t out give God”
Jennifer S. says
I coupon for Giving the Basics already and they are a terrific organization with a wide reach. We are so blessed to have things and sharing through couponing is an easy way to give back.
Teresa Hamilton says
Thank you for helping us get the products to the people in need. You guys are the best.
Tracie says
You are so welcome! I hope that it helps others know that there is a place they can go with these products to easily help others!
Charlene says
We collect coupon inserts from our church members. Coupons are clipped and applied directly to products in a local grocery store by one of the local Boy Scout troops.