How are your gardens progressing?
As a Christian, wife, mother of a little girl and two fur-babies, Mississippi State Bulldog, and PhD, I lead a very busy life. If you add on top of that my obsession for organization and loves for couponing, sewing, knitting, cooking, reading, gardening, and a host of other random hobbies, you've got the recipe for...well...variety. And variety is the spice of life!
Friday, June 17, 2011
MrsDrPoe: First Roses of the Season
Mr. Poe and I have a thing with flowers - we don't buy cut bouquets because they die. So we save money by getting live plants. We bought this little rose bush right before we got married (almost 3 years ago...). It has finally decided to produce some blooms! Aren't they pretty?
How are your gardens progressing?
How are your gardens progressing?
Thursday, June 16, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Filling the Void
Happy Theology Thursday all! I invite you to open your Bibles with me as we go through a few passages that have stuck in my mind through this week's studies and daily Bible reading.
Throughout the Bible, we can see examples of just and righteous men; these men are deemed thus by both action and inaction- by what they do and do not do. In Ezekiel 18:5-9, God defines a just man:
____Action________________
Examine the parable of an unclean spirit's return in Luke 11:24-26. A demon leaves a person for a time but then decides to return. When he arrives, he finds his "home" in put in order, so he gathers seven other more wicked spirits to dwell with him in his host. Thus the last state of the man is worse that the first.
We can find ourselves in a similar situation if we just clean out our lives by eliminating unholy things in them. 2 Peter 2:20-21 tells us that "if, after [we] have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord...[we] are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for [us] than the beginning." These are the "3rd soil" in the parable of the sower: "Now the ones that fell among the thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity." (Luke 8:14)
When we remove sinful things from our lives, we must replace them with righteous things- we must fill the void, "putting off...the old man...and putt[ing] on the new man" (Eph 4:17-24)- or we strongly risk falling back into the world. Consider Luke 11:33-36. This passage tells us that we should fill ourselves with light such that there is no part darkness. By filling ourselves with the Word of God and taking the actions described in the New Testament- visiting orphans and widows (Jas 1:27), loving the Lord will all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), loving our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31), doing good to those who hate us (Luke 6:27), submiting to our husbands/loving our wives (Eph 5:22-33), etc. - we can become the righteous person described in Ezekiel and Psalm 15, and our lives will glorify the Lord. The key to being pleasing to God is striving to do the things He likes and to refrain from the things He does not.
One final note on the subject: just because the commands of God instruct us in works we should and should not be doing does not mean that we are in any way earning anything. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:8-10)
Throughout the Bible, we can see examples of just and righteous men; these men are deemed thus by both action and inaction- by what they do and do not do. In Ezekiel 18:5-9, God defines a just man:
____Action________________
does what is lawful and right___ _______
restored his pledge to debtor__ _________
given his bread to the hungry__________
covered the naked with clothing___
withdrawn his hand from iniquity__________
executed true judgement between men be_ _________
walked in God's statutes______
kept God's judgements faithfully_ _
___Inaction_______
not eaten on the mountains
not lifted his eyes to idols
not defiled his neighbor's wife_
not approached woman during her impurity
not oppressed anyone
robbed no one by violence
not exacted usury (loan interest)
not taken any increase
Similarly, in the first verse of Psalm 15, David asks God, "Jehovah, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?" Verses 2-5 answer:
Sometimes as Christians, we think we're "good people" because we may have put a stop to things we were doing before we turned to the Lord: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, etc (Gal 5:19-21). While merely practicing the "don'ts" that are taught by the New Testament, we create a void in ourselves where these unholy desires/actions used to be.restored his pledge to debtor__ _________
given his bread to the hungry__________
covered the naked with clothing___
withdrawn his hand from iniquity__________
executed true judgement between men be_ _________
walked in God's statutes______
kept God's judgements faithfully_ _
___Inaction_______
not eaten on the mountains
not lifted his eyes to idols
not defiled his neighbor's wife_
not approached woman during her impurity
not oppressed anyone
robbed no one by violence
not exacted usury (loan interest)
not taken any increase
Similarly, in the first verse of Psalm 15, David asks God, "Jehovah, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?" Verses 2-5 answer:
"He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the LORD;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved."
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the LORD;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved."
Examine the parable of an unclean spirit's return in Luke 11:24-26. A demon leaves a person for a time but then decides to return. When he arrives, he finds his "home" in put in order, so he gathers seven other more wicked spirits to dwell with him in his host. Thus the last state of the man is worse that the first.
We can find ourselves in a similar situation if we just clean out our lives by eliminating unholy things in them. 2 Peter 2:20-21 tells us that "if, after [we] have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord...[we] are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for [us] than the beginning." These are the "3rd soil" in the parable of the sower: "Now the ones that fell among the thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity." (Luke 8:14)
When we remove sinful things from our lives, we must replace them with righteous things- we must fill the void, "putting off...the old man...and putt[ing] on the new man" (Eph 4:17-24)- or we strongly risk falling back into the world. Consider Luke 11:33-36. This passage tells us that we should fill ourselves with light such that there is no part darkness. By filling ourselves with the Word of God and taking the actions described in the New Testament- visiting orphans and widows (Jas 1:27), loving the Lord will all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), loving our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31), doing good to those who hate us (Luke 6:27), submiting to our husbands/loving our wives (Eph 5:22-33), etc. - we can become the righteous person described in Ezekiel and Psalm 15, and our lives will glorify the Lord. The key to being pleasing to God is striving to do the things He likes and to refrain from the things He does not.
One final note on the subject: just because the commands of God instruct us in works we should and should not be doing does not mean that we are in any way earning anything. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:8-10)
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Fake Shakes
Over the past week, we've had several conversations with various folks about diets. The main thing I don't like about diets is the serious lack of desert that actually accompanies them, which reminds me of the summer before my freshman year of high school. I was pushing 150 lbs (at about 5' tall), so I decided that I needed to lose some weight. It was fairly easy for me at the time to cut out most of the fat I had been eating...except when it came to sweets. With that in mind, my mother showed me this recipe. I lost about 30 pounds that summer, and to this day this fake shake is my favorite shake to make for myself because I don't feel guilty drinking it.
Ingredients: ~1.5 cups milk (Mr. Poe and I have compromised at 1%, use Skim for less fat), 0.5 cup fruit, 2-4 Tbs sugar or substitute (not shown)
Slice the fruit into smaller pieces (approximately 1 inch chunks) and place in the blender. Pour in milk until it reaches the 2 cup mark on the side of your blender. Add sugar or substitute, then place the lid on the blender. Turn the blender on high for approximately 45 seconds, until the mixture is homogenized, frothy, and almost doubled in size (comes up to about the 3.5 cup mark when the blender is stopped).
Pour into chilled glasses and serve (makes 2). It tastes just like a milkshake, and the frothy texture is reminiscent of the real thing!
If you prefer chocolate: replace the fruit and sugar with 2 Tbs of chocolate syrup, and increase the amount of milk used to approximately 2 cups.
If you prefer vanilla: replace the fruit and sugar with 1 Tbs vanilla, and increase the amount of milk used to approximately 2 cups.
What are your favorite diet recipes?
Ingredients: ~1.5 cups milk (Mr. Poe and I have compromised at 1%, use Skim for less fat), 0.5 cup fruit, 2-4 Tbs sugar or substitute (not shown)
Slice the fruit into smaller pieces (approximately 1 inch chunks) and place in the blender. Pour in milk until it reaches the 2 cup mark on the side of your blender. Add sugar or substitute, then place the lid on the blender. Turn the blender on high for approximately 45 seconds, until the mixture is homogenized, frothy, and almost doubled in size (comes up to about the 3.5 cup mark when the blender is stopped).
Pour into chilled glasses and serve (makes 2). It tastes just like a milkshake, and the frothy texture is reminiscent of the real thing!
If you prefer chocolate: replace the fruit and sugar with 2 Tbs of chocolate syrup, and increase the amount of milk used to approximately 2 cups.
If you prefer vanilla: replace the fruit and sugar with 1 Tbs vanilla, and increase the amount of milk used to approximately 2 cups.
What are your favorite diet recipes?
MrsDrPoe: Is That You Lord?
Good morning all! For my next Reading Review, I present to you...Gary E. Gilley's "Is That You Lord?: Hearing the Voice of the Lord, a biblical perspective."
This book is a fairly quick and easy read (83 pages of larger font), but despite the size, it contains a wealth of information. As the title suggests, this book examines what the Bible says about hearing the voice of God. This book came highly recommended to me by two very knowledgeable Christian men that Mr. Poe and I know and respect; I must say that not only did I enjoy reading the book, but I also gleaned a considerable amount of knowledge on the subject from it.
"Is That You Lord?" was written in an easy-to-understand manner; variations and the history of 'Pietism' are briefly discussed to provide background for those unfamiliar with the subject. The book examines various scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments that discuss how God has communicated and currently communicates with His people. One particularly interesting example Gilley discusses is about how God helps us to choose our spouses.
I didn't have any truly negative comments about this book. Chapter 6 seemed, to me, a bit repetitive, but was set up in more of a "quick reference" structure than the rest of the book. And, as always, I suggest reading this book with an open Bible to examine the scriptures themselves alongside this text (no book could/should ever replace the inspired word of God).
What interesting books have you read lately?
This book is a fairly quick and easy read (83 pages of larger font), but despite the size, it contains a wealth of information. As the title suggests, this book examines what the Bible says about hearing the voice of God. This book came highly recommended to me by two very knowledgeable Christian men that Mr. Poe and I know and respect; I must say that not only did I enjoy reading the book, but I also gleaned a considerable amount of knowledge on the subject from it.
"Is That You Lord?" was written in an easy-to-understand manner; variations and the history of 'Pietism' are briefly discussed to provide background for those unfamiliar with the subject. The book examines various scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments that discuss how God has communicated and currently communicates with His people. One particularly interesting example Gilley discusses is about how God helps us to choose our spouses.
I didn't have any truly negative comments about this book. Chapter 6 seemed, to me, a bit repetitive, but was set up in more of a "quick reference" structure than the rest of the book. And, as always, I suggest reading this book with an open Bible to examine the scriptures themselves alongside this text (no book could/should ever replace the inspired word of God).
What interesting books have you read lately?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Rigid Body Motion
And now...back to fluids! Today we'll be delving into rigid body motion. For this case to exist, we must have an accelerating fluid with no shearing stresses present. If you recall, the presence of shear stresses causes a fluid to continually deform (or flow). So in a nutshell, rigid body motion involves a fluid that is accelerating but not flowing. We don't have to look far to find examples of this type of motion: liquid being transported in a tanker truck that is speeding up on the interstate, a thin layer of oil in the bed of a pickup truck slowing to a stop, etc.
Since the fluid is no longer static (motionless), we do not have a hydrostatic pressure distribution...which meant that pressure in a fluid varied with depth only. For this case we have pressure variation in at least two directions; consequently, lines of constant pressure are no longer horizontal!
Let's consider the example of a layer of oil in the back of a pickup truck that this slowing down (the level of the oil is exaggerated so we can clearly examine it):
To ensure that we have to proper orientation, note that the velocity (v) of the truck is in the -x-direction and the acceleration (a) (or deceleration) could have components in both the +x-direction (ax) and the +y-direction (ay).* The pressure at each point on the oil surface is equal to the pressure of the atmosphere (or zero gage pressure), so we know that the oil surface makes a line of constant pressure. Therefore, all other lines of constant pressure must be parallel to this line.
We can determine the slope of these lines of constant pressure from the following equation:
Here that g is the gravitational constant that always acts in the downward (here -y) direction, and dy or dx means a change in y or x, respectively. *From experience we know that in this case of the decelerating truck on a flat, horizontal road, the acceleration is actually in the +x-direction only, so the equation becomes dy/dx = -ax/g.
We can also determine how the pressure varies in the x- and y-directions by:
where rho is the density of the fluid, and dp is the change in pressure. Again since ay is zero for our truck case, dp/dy = -rho(g).
That's rigid body motion, folks!
Since the fluid is no longer static (motionless), we do not have a hydrostatic pressure distribution...which meant that pressure in a fluid varied with depth only. For this case we have pressure variation in at least two directions; consequently, lines of constant pressure are no longer horizontal!
Let's consider the example of a layer of oil in the back of a pickup truck that this slowing down (the level of the oil is exaggerated so we can clearly examine it):
To ensure that we have to proper orientation, note that the velocity (v) of the truck is in the -x-direction and the acceleration (a) (or deceleration) could have components in both the +x-direction (ax) and the +y-direction (ay).* The pressure at each point on the oil surface is equal to the pressure of the atmosphere (or zero gage pressure), so we know that the oil surface makes a line of constant pressure. Therefore, all other lines of constant pressure must be parallel to this line.
We can determine the slope of these lines of constant pressure from the following equation:
Slope = rise/run = dy/dx = -ax/(g+ay)
Here that g is the gravitational constant that always acts in the downward (here -y) direction, and dy or dx means a change in y or x, respectively. *From experience we know that in this case of the decelerating truck on a flat, horizontal road, the acceleration is actually in the +x-direction only, so the equation becomes dy/dx = -ax/g.
We can also determine how the pressure varies in the x- and y-directions by:
dp/dx = -rho(ax) and dp/dy = -rho(ay+g)
where rho is the density of the fluid, and dp is the change in pressure. Again since ay is zero for our truck case, dp/dy = -rho(g).
That's rigid body motion, folks!
MrsDrPoe: Congrats to Mr. Poe
Thesis Tuesday's first post is very loosely related to our present discourse on fluid mechanics...it could possibly be categorized under "general mechanical engineering." Having said that:
Congratulations to Mr. Poe!
Three months ago today he began is official mechanical engineering career that moved us to Atlanta.
Three months ago today he began is official mechanical engineering career that moved us to Atlanta.
Monday, June 13, 2011
MrsDrPoe: CVS and Walgreens Deals, 6/12
As promised, here are some fabulous deals at the drugstores this week:
Walgreens
Nestle candy - $0.39
Wal-Fex Allergy (5 ct) - $3.99, get $3.99 back in RR (makes it free)
Blistex RPM for Men - $2, get $2 back in RR (makes it free)
Bayer Advanced Asprin (20 ct) - $3, use $2 Q in 6/12 SS, get $1 back in RR (makes it free)
CVS
Pepsi 2 Liters - $0.88
Zyrtec (5 ct) - $5.99, use $2 Q printable, get $5.99 back in ECBs (you make $2)
Motrin PM (20 ct) - $4.00, use $1.00 Q in RP 6/12, get $3 back in ECBs (makes it free)
Bayer Advanced Asprin (20 ct) - $3.00, use $2.00 Q in SS 6/12, get $1 back in ECBs (makes it free)
Schick Hydro 5 - $8.00, use $4.00 Q in SS 6/12, get $4.00 back in ECBs (make it free)
Since we discussed couponing at CVS earlier, I decided to share with you the scenario I used when purchasing these items:
Bought: 2 DrPeppers, 1 Motrin PM 20 ct, 1 Schick Hydro 5, 1 Zyrtec 5 ct, 1 Bayer Advanced Asprin 20 ct
Total cost (regular price, including tax): $33.76
Total cost (sale price, including tax): $24.26
Total coupons used: $9.00
Total ECBs used (from previous purchases): $13.75
Total paid OOP (out of pocket): $1.51
Total back in ECBs: $14.99
Not too bad, huh? What deals are you planning to take advantage of this week?
Walgreens
Nestle candy - $0.39
Wal-Fex Allergy (5 ct) - $3.99, get $3.99 back in RR (makes it free)
Blistex RPM for Men - $2, get $2 back in RR (makes it free)
Bayer Advanced Asprin (20 ct) - $3, use $2 Q in 6/12 SS, get $1 back in RR (makes it free)
CVS
Pepsi 2 Liters - $0.88
Zyrtec (5 ct) - $5.99, use $2 Q printable, get $5.99 back in ECBs (you make $2)
Motrin PM (20 ct) - $4.00, use $1.00 Q in RP 6/12, get $3 back in ECBs (makes it free)
Bayer Advanced Asprin (20 ct) - $3.00, use $2.00 Q in SS 6/12, get $1 back in ECBs (makes it free)
Schick Hydro 5 - $8.00, use $4.00 Q in SS 6/12, get $4.00 back in ECBs (make it free)
Since we discussed couponing at CVS earlier, I decided to share with you the scenario I used when purchasing these items:
Bought: 2 DrPeppers, 1 Motrin PM 20 ct, 1 Schick Hydro 5, 1 Zyrtec 5 ct, 1 Bayer Advanced Asprin 20 ct
Total cost (regular price, including tax): $33.76
Total cost (sale price, including tax): $24.26
Total coupons used: $9.00
Total ECBs used (from previous purchases): $13.75
Total paid OOP (out of pocket): $1.51
Total back in ECBs: $14.99
Not too bad, huh? What deals are you planning to take advantage of this week?
MrsDrPoe: A Beginners Guide to Couponing, Part 4
Happy Money Monday to all! Today I'll be starting out with the fourth installment in the "Beginners Guide to Couponing" Series...
The Drugstore Game
Couponing is not about using coupons as soon as you get them in a willy-nilly fashion. The goal is to exercise patience, waiting to match a coupon with a store sale to get the best possible deal on an item. Couponing is an art.
What avid couponers often refer to as "the drugstore game" is the matching of coupons to sales at (you guessed it) drugstores. Since the Poe Posse membership is a measly two persons at this time, playing this game has allowed for the most successful reduction in our spending. We'll start with my favorite store...
CVS
Initiation
To begin at CVS, you must sign up for an ExtraCare card. To do this, you can simply go up to the counter and ask for one. Once you fill out some info (name, address, etc.), you will be given a sheet with two cards- one that fits on your keyring and one that can go in your wallet:
Next, you should obtain a reusable bag and a CVS Green Bag Tag:
Your reusable bag does not have to be purchased at CVS, but theirs are only 99 cents. Attach the tag (also 99 cents) to your reusable bag, and take them with you every time you go. After the clerk scans at least one of the items you are purchasing that day, have him/her scan the barcode on the back of the tag. After four scans, you will get $1 free in ECBs. In no time the tag will have paid for itself, and then you can continue to rack up the free dollars! (Note: you may only scan the tag once per day.)
Preparation
Again, couponing is not willy-nilly- some degree of preparation is what will save you the big bucks. Before I visit my local store, I carefully examine the sale and coupon matchups. Typically, since I'm exceptionally busy, I let Jenny do most of the grunt work for me. Her site details the items that are on sale, the ECB offers, all the coupons that could be applied to the product, where to find these coupons, which coupons to use to get the best deal, and how much you'll end up paying if you do what she tells you to. There's even a function to print out a nice list of the deals that YOU want and the possible coupons you can use.
Since CVS requires you to use a card to get these deals, they can limit the amount of sale products that you purchase. This is one of the few downsides to the store. The "household" limit is listed on Jenny's site, as well as at the store, and in the sales flyer. Sales at CVS run from Sunday to Saturday.
When I get the CVS add in the Sunday paper, I make sure the deals I like are available at my store, then I clip the coupons I need, and I'm ready to go to shopping.
Coupon Matching Notes: You may only use one manufacturer coupon per item, so don't try to find all the coupons Jenny lists. However, you CAN pair a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon (from the paper, online, etc.); this is the ONLY way you can use two coupons on the same item.
B1G1 coupons are typically best paired with B1G1 sales at drugstores because of the way they price these items - the first item rings up full price, and the second rings up at no charge. When you pair the B1G1 coupon with the B1G1 sale, you're truly getting both for free. Consequently, when you are purchasing an item that a drugstore advertises as B1G1, you must purchase both to actually see the savings!
Furthermore, if you have two $x off 1 item manufacturer coupons, you may use both when taking advantage of a store B1G1 sale, since you are purchasing two items. If the product costs $y, you are getting two items for $y-$2x...if you're not great at algebra, this usually means it's a great deal.
Implementation
As soon as I walk in the store, I get out my Extra Care card and scan it twice at the price checking kiosk. Each time, store coupons will print out. Pay special attention to these coupons. Occasionally, a $x off a purchase of $y coupon will print out (ex: $5 off $25); these coupons are essentially free money, but they should be the FIRST coupon you give the cashier when you are checking out.
Quarterly CVS will reward you with an amount of ECBs based on how much you've spent at the chain that period. These ECBs will also print out at the price checking kiosk at the beginning of the next quarter.
After checking the kiosk, I continue shopping like normal. When I've grabbed all the items that I want, I pull out all the coupons for the items I have in my cart, double check that I picked up the correct items and number of items, think about how many transactions I wish to make, and head to the register.
If I am planning to make multiple transactions, I try to limit myself to two, and I make sure that the cashiers aren't swamped so that I'm not a nuisance to them or other customers. The potential benefit to multiple transactions is based on the idea of rolling ECBs, i.e. when I purchase items that give me $x back in ECBs, I immediately use that $x on my second transaction. Rolling ECBs helps to keep the amount of money you pay out of pocket (OOP) as low as possible.
When I get to the register, I show the cashier my CVS card and place the items for my (first) transaction on the counter, along with my reusable bag and tag. After the card, the items and the tag have been scanned, I hand the cashier my coupons, starting with any $x off a purchase of $y coupons that I have. Next, I hand him/her any ECBs I have from previous transactions. ECBs will not cover the tax on an item- if you owe $1.75 and $0.75 is tax, you may only use an ECB worth $1. If you attempt to use an ECB worth more than $1, you will loose the rest of it! When I've gotten the total down as low as possible, I pay for my purchases and obtain my receipt.
As with all receipts, CVS receipts detail the items you purchase, the coupons you used, the tax, and the total you paid for the transaction. They also show you how much you saved on an item (the difference in the price you paid for an item and its regular price at the store).
After the typical information, the receipts detail what you saved today and so far this year, what you've spent this quarter, and your "Beauty Club Spending." For $50 in qualifying purchases (at once or over time) of certain health and beauty products, you will receive $5 ECB back.
Following these totals, you can see the offers that you have taken advantage of so far this week and any offer limits you have reached. The ECBs you've earned from this transaction print out at the bottom of your receipt:
To redeem the ECBs, simply tear them off your receipt and present them to the cashier. You must present your ExtraCare card at the time of purchase! The ECBs have your card number on them and can only be used with your card. There are some exclusions to how you spend your ECBs (for instance, you can't use them on prescriptions); these are listed on the ECBs, as is the ECB expiration date (1 mo. after you receive it).
While this may seem a bit overwhelming at first, I can assure you that it is totally worth it. I have not paid for toothpaste in the past year and a half. Our brand name shampoo, razors, OTC medications, air fresheners, etc. that we use have been bought for a fraction of the cost of store brand items. We've been able to make nice "pampering" gift baskets for birthdays, as well as "care" baskets for sick folks. We've even made money by purchasing certain items! I would suggest that if you're just starting out, go slow, trying a deal or two a week, and ask questions if you have them.
In a bit, I'll post some of the deals I've gotten so far this week at CVS and Walgreens, so stay tuned!
The Drugstore Game
Couponing is not about using coupons as soon as you get them in a willy-nilly fashion. The goal is to exercise patience, waiting to match a coupon with a store sale to get the best possible deal on an item. Couponing is an art.
What avid couponers often refer to as "the drugstore game" is the matching of coupons to sales at (you guessed it) drugstores. Since the Poe Posse membership is a measly two persons at this time, playing this game has allowed for the most successful reduction in our spending. We'll start with my favorite store...
CVS
Initiation
To begin at CVS, you must sign up for an ExtraCare card. To do this, you can simply go up to the counter and ask for one. Once you fill out some info (name, address, etc.), you will be given a sheet with two cards- one that fits on your keyring and one that can go in your wallet:
Next, you should obtain a reusable bag and a CVS Green Bag Tag:
Your reusable bag does not have to be purchased at CVS, but theirs are only 99 cents. Attach the tag (also 99 cents) to your reusable bag, and take them with you every time you go. After the clerk scans at least one of the items you are purchasing that day, have him/her scan the barcode on the back of the tag. After four scans, you will get $1 free in ECBs. In no time the tag will have paid for itself, and then you can continue to rack up the free dollars! (Note: you may only scan the tag once per day.)
Preparation
Again, couponing is not willy-nilly- some degree of preparation is what will save you the big bucks. Before I visit my local store, I carefully examine the sale and coupon matchups. Typically, since I'm exceptionally busy, I let Jenny do most of the grunt work for me. Her site details the items that are on sale, the ECB offers, all the coupons that could be applied to the product, where to find these coupons, which coupons to use to get the best deal, and how much you'll end up paying if you do what she tells you to. There's even a function to print out a nice list of the deals that YOU want and the possible coupons you can use.
Since CVS requires you to use a card to get these deals, they can limit the amount of sale products that you purchase. This is one of the few downsides to the store. The "household" limit is listed on Jenny's site, as well as at the store, and in the sales flyer. Sales at CVS run from Sunday to Saturday.
When I get the CVS add in the Sunday paper, I make sure the deals I like are available at my store, then I clip the coupons I need, and I'm ready to go to shopping.
Coupon Matching Notes: You may only use one manufacturer coupon per item, so don't try to find all the coupons Jenny lists. However, you CAN pair a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon (from the paper, online, etc.); this is the ONLY way you can use two coupons on the same item.
B1G1 coupons are typically best paired with B1G1 sales at drugstores because of the way they price these items - the first item rings up full price, and the second rings up at no charge. When you pair the B1G1 coupon with the B1G1 sale, you're truly getting both for free. Consequently, when you are purchasing an item that a drugstore advertises as B1G1, you must purchase both to actually see the savings!
Furthermore, if you have two $x off 1 item manufacturer coupons, you may use both when taking advantage of a store B1G1 sale, since you are purchasing two items. If the product costs $y, you are getting two items for $y-$2x...if you're not great at algebra, this usually means it's a great deal.
Implementation
As soon as I walk in the store, I get out my Extra Care card and scan it twice at the price checking kiosk. Each time, store coupons will print out. Pay special attention to these coupons. Occasionally, a $x off a purchase of $y coupon will print out (ex: $5 off $25); these coupons are essentially free money, but they should be the FIRST coupon you give the cashier when you are checking out.
Quarterly CVS will reward you with an amount of ECBs based on how much you've spent at the chain that period. These ECBs will also print out at the price checking kiosk at the beginning of the next quarter.
After checking the kiosk, I continue shopping like normal. When I've grabbed all the items that I want, I pull out all the coupons for the items I have in my cart, double check that I picked up the correct items and number of items, think about how many transactions I wish to make, and head to the register.
If I am planning to make multiple transactions, I try to limit myself to two, and I make sure that the cashiers aren't swamped so that I'm not a nuisance to them or other customers. The potential benefit to multiple transactions is based on the idea of rolling ECBs, i.e. when I purchase items that give me $x back in ECBs, I immediately use that $x on my second transaction. Rolling ECBs helps to keep the amount of money you pay out of pocket (OOP) as low as possible.
When I get to the register, I show the cashier my CVS card and place the items for my (first) transaction on the counter, along with my reusable bag and tag. After the card, the items and the tag have been scanned, I hand the cashier my coupons, starting with any $x off a purchase of $y coupons that I have. Next, I hand him/her any ECBs I have from previous transactions. ECBs will not cover the tax on an item- if you owe $1.75 and $0.75 is tax, you may only use an ECB worth $1. If you attempt to use an ECB worth more than $1, you will loose the rest of it! When I've gotten the total down as low as possible, I pay for my purchases and obtain my receipt.
As with all receipts, CVS receipts detail the items you purchase, the coupons you used, the tax, and the total you paid for the transaction. They also show you how much you saved on an item (the difference in the price you paid for an item and its regular price at the store).
After the typical information, the receipts detail what you saved today and so far this year, what you've spent this quarter, and your "Beauty Club Spending." For $50 in qualifying purchases (at once or over time) of certain health and beauty products, you will receive $5 ECB back.
Following these totals, you can see the offers that you have taken advantage of so far this week and any offer limits you have reached. The ECBs you've earned from this transaction print out at the bottom of your receipt:
To redeem the ECBs, simply tear them off your receipt and present them to the cashier. You must present your ExtraCare card at the time of purchase! The ECBs have your card number on them and can only be used with your card. There are some exclusions to how you spend your ECBs (for instance, you can't use them on prescriptions); these are listed on the ECBs, as is the ECB expiration date (1 mo. after you receive it).
***
While this may seem a bit overwhelming at first, I can assure you that it is totally worth it. I have not paid for toothpaste in the past year and a half. Our brand name shampoo, razors, OTC medications, air fresheners, etc. that we use have been bought for a fraction of the cost of store brand items. We've been able to make nice "pampering" gift baskets for birthdays, as well as "care" baskets for sick folks. We've even made money by purchasing certain items! I would suggest that if you're just starting out, go slow, trying a deal or two a week, and ask questions if you have them.
In a bit, I'll post some of the deals I've gotten so far this week at CVS and Walgreens, so stay tuned!
Friday, June 10, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Cool Kitchen Gadget
When I was in high school, I worked at Williams-Sonoma part-time. It took a lot of self discipline to make any money there because we sold so many pots, knives, plates, and gadgets that I wanted. Since that time, my mother, sister, brother and I have amassed quite the collection of kitchen items from the store, but one of my absolute favorites is this:
a veggie peeler made by the Swiss company, Kuhn Rikon. It fits so nicely in my hand and allows me to peel carrots, potatoes, etc. in no time. AND it only costs $3.50...it's definitely the best peeler I've ever used. If you ever come across one, buy it- you won't be disappointed!
What's one of your favorite kitchen gadgets?
a veggie peeler made by the Swiss company, Kuhn Rikon. It fits so nicely in my hand and allows me to peel carrots, potatoes, etc. in no time. AND it only costs $3.50...it's definitely the best peeler I've ever used. If you ever come across one, buy it- you won't be disappointed!
What's one of your favorite kitchen gadgets?
MrsDrPoe: First Fruits
Hello again! I'd like to share with you our first tomato:
It's the biggest one I've ever grown! Inside, it was a little more mealy than I would like, but I'm not sure there is anything I can do about that. Since harvesting this one, we've picked 2 more. Fifteen remain on the bushes, and several new tomato and pepper blossoms have popped up. It's going to be a tasty summer!
For any other gardeners out there, how are your gardens growing?
It's the biggest one I've ever grown! Inside, it was a little more mealy than I would like, but I'm not sure there is anything I can do about that. Since harvesting this one, we've picked 2 more. Fifteen remain on the bushes, and several new tomato and pepper blossoms have popped up. It's going to be a tasty summer!
For any other gardeners out there, how are your gardens growing?
MrsDrPoe: Cutie Pies
Good morning, and happy Foto Friday everyone! If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. I have some cute cute CUTE girls! Layla sprawls out in the funniest ways:
And this is how Sascha looks at me when I'm working and she wants something:
And this is how Sascha looks at me when I'm working and she wants something:
Thursday, June 9, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Seeking
In a couple of recent studies in Mark and Luke, the topic of seeking God has come up. I've found it very interesting how, though both writers present the concept, they each present it in a different way.
A running theme in Mark is "inside" vs "outside." As Jesus teaches outside by the sea, we see huge crowds gathered around Him listening; however, many of these individuals are not truly seeking Jesus. In Mark 4:3-9, we see Jesus presenting the parable of the sower. Christ brackets the parable by "Listen!" and "He who has ears to hear let him hear!" Obviously these people came to listen, right? Right...sort of. Jesus is telling His listeners to listen with a purpose...to listen with an ear for the spiritual, not the physical. He's not just telling a nice story about a farmer who only had some of his seed produce!
In verse 10, we see the scene shift, and Jesus is now among His disciples (including the apostles). And they're not just hanging out- the disciples are asking about the parable. Christ answers, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables." The disciples are disciples because they're asking...and because they're disciples, they're are on the inside and can know the mystery of the kingdom. They are seeking!
Luke is a little more forward with the topic, in that the theme of "seeking and finding" is prevalent in the book. In Luke 11:9-13 Jesus tells His disciples, "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." It is my understanding that in this case "ask," "seek," and "knock" activities we must be continually doing. We can see this by examining the parable Jesus tells in the previous verses (5-8). At the conclusion of the parable He says, "...because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many [loaves] as he needs."
From these passages, we can see that, as Christians, we should be seeking God and seeking Him continually. Seeking and asking for wisdom to better understand His word. Seeking and asking for strength in times of difficulty and temptation. Seeking and asking for guidance and growth so that we can become more and more like Christ everyday.
But if we're always seeking, what about everything else? Matt 6:33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." From the verses before, we know that "these things" refer to life's necessities like food, drink and clothing. Thus we can spend our efforts seeking after God and seeking to be like Him, knowing that He will take care of us.
A running theme in Mark is "inside" vs "outside." As Jesus teaches outside by the sea, we see huge crowds gathered around Him listening; however, many of these individuals are not truly seeking Jesus. In Mark 4:3-9, we see Jesus presenting the parable of the sower. Christ brackets the parable by "Listen!" and "He who has ears to hear let him hear!" Obviously these people came to listen, right? Right...sort of. Jesus is telling His listeners to listen with a purpose...to listen with an ear for the spiritual, not the physical. He's not just telling a nice story about a farmer who only had some of his seed produce!
In verse 10, we see the scene shift, and Jesus is now among His disciples (including the apostles). And they're not just hanging out- the disciples are asking about the parable. Christ answers, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables." The disciples are disciples because they're asking...and because they're disciples, they're are on the inside and can know the mystery of the kingdom. They are seeking!
Luke is a little more forward with the topic, in that the theme of "seeking and finding" is prevalent in the book. In Luke 11:9-13 Jesus tells His disciples, "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." It is my understanding that in this case "ask," "seek," and "knock" activities we must be continually doing. We can see this by examining the parable Jesus tells in the previous verses (5-8). At the conclusion of the parable He says, "...because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many [loaves] as he needs."
From these passages, we can see that, as Christians, we should be seeking God and seeking Him continually. Seeking and asking for wisdom to better understand His word. Seeking and asking for strength in times of difficulty and temptation. Seeking and asking for guidance and growth so that we can become more and more like Christ everyday.
But if we're always seeking, what about everything else? Matt 6:33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." From the verses before, we know that "these things" refer to life's necessities like food, drink and clothing. Thus we can spend our efforts seeking after God and seeking to be like Him, knowing that He will take care of us.
MrsDrPoe: Spiritual Summer Challenges Update
Good morning all! To start this Theology Thursday off, I'd like to update you on our progress with the family mission statement and summer Bible reading challenges I discussed a few weeks ago. The reading is going well; I've adapted one of the plans for myself, and it was worked out great thus far. Mr. Poe and I have also finished our family mission statement! Grammatically, it's a bit simplistic, but I love the symmetry:
We are the Poes.
We serve the Lord, Jehovah.
We serve our neighbors.
We serve each other.
As Poes we multiply words,
but we prefer numbers.
We are growing.
We are content.
We are blessed.
We are the Poes.
Have you accepted the challenges? How are you progressing?
We serve the Lord, Jehovah.
We serve our neighbors.
We serve each other.
As Poes we multiply words,
but we prefer numbers.
We are growing.
We are content.
We are blessed.
We are the Poes.
Have you accepted the challenges? How are you progressing?
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Biscuit Pizza
Today is Wednesday. Wednesday nights are often difficult as far as dinner choices are concerned because we typically rush around trying to make it to the midweek Bible study on time. With this difficulty in mind, I present to you one of the easiest ways in the world to make your own pizza: biscuit pizza.
Ingredients: 1 (or more) refrigerated canned biscuits, 1 jar (or more) of your favorite pizza or pasta sauce, 16 oz (or more) mozzarella cheese, any additional pizza toppings your heart desires (we just went with cheese this time)
Remove biscuits from the can, and gently press or roll them out till they are approximately 1/4 inch thick. Place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
Top with sauce, cheese, and additional toppings. Bake according to the biscuit directions, checking periodically to ensure that the tops and bottoms don't burn. Remove from the oven and serve.
Attn Moms: These make GREAT party/sleepover dinners for children. Provide a variety of toppings so that each child can make his/her own the way he/she wants to. My mom did this for us when we were growing up - it was a cheap, fun way for her to feed a houseful!
Ingredients: 1 (or more) refrigerated canned biscuits, 1 jar (or more) of your favorite pizza or pasta sauce, 16 oz (or more) mozzarella cheese, any additional pizza toppings your heart desires (we just went with cheese this time)
Remove biscuits from the can, and gently press or roll them out till they are approximately 1/4 inch thick. Place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
Top with sauce, cheese, and additional toppings. Bake according to the biscuit directions, checking periodically to ensure that the tops and bottoms don't burn. Remove from the oven and serve.
Attn Moms: These make GREAT party/sleepover dinners for children. Provide a variety of toppings so that each child can make his/her own the way he/she wants to. My mom did this for us when we were growing up - it was a cheap, fun way for her to feed a houseful!
MrsDrPoe: Mr. Robinson
It's that time again ladies and gents! I'd like you to meet another one of the Poes' Pals...Mr. Robinson.
As Mr. Poe pointed out last Friday, Mr. Robinson is one of the many individuals we visited with during our trip to Starkville over Memorial Day weekend, so obviously we think he's pretty cool.
We first met Mr. Robinson when he began his studies in engineering at MSU. His freshman year, he joined the school's FSAE team with Mr. Poe, and the two of them have been building and dreaming of building automotive devices together ever since. Mr. Robinson is very intelligent (even when dealing subjects he has no interest in...ask me how I know...) and is quite capable of applying engineering principles.
Skilled in suspension design and construction (and probably in powertrain construction after Mr. Poe abandoned him with the go-kart half finished), Mr. Robinson will be well prepared for any engineering job that comes his way. Mr. Poe especially hopes that he comes to Atlanta after graduation so they can continue their automotive adventures together.
As Mr. Poe pointed out last Friday, Mr. Robinson is one of the many individuals we visited with during our trip to Starkville over Memorial Day weekend, so obviously we think he's pretty cool.
We first met Mr. Robinson when he began his studies in engineering at MSU. His freshman year, he joined the school's FSAE team with Mr. Poe, and the two of them have been building and dreaming of building automotive devices together ever since. Mr. Robinson is very intelligent (even when dealing subjects he has no interest in...ask me how I know...) and is quite capable of applying engineering principles.
Skilled in suspension design and construction (and probably in powertrain construction after Mr. Poe abandoned him with the go-kart half finished), Mr. Robinson will be well prepared for any engineering job that comes his way. Mr. Poe especially hopes that he comes to Atlanta after graduation so they can continue their automotive adventures together.
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