Saving Money on Groceries

I posted a while back about saving money on groceries.  I am still on a quest to do so without couponing.  I have so much I want to do (like making/selling handmade jewelry!) that doesn't involve sitting for hours cutting coupons and matching them to ads.  I know others have GREAT success with couponing as did I a couple of years ago but I am looking for alternative ways of saving.

Here are some things I have done and have been successful with so far:

• Made a price book (which I will share with you later) for each store I shop at.
• Made a customized shopping list.
• Started using a budget!!!!  That's right!  And guess what? It's not a bad thing. It's really good!  Talk about FREEDOM! (More about that later as well.)
• If I see a sale item while shopping, I check my price book and determine if it is a good buy. If it is, I stock up and purchase several.
• When meat is on sale, and the deal is too good to pass up, I purchase a lot and freeze it.

I also do most of these tips from: Posh On a Budget Saving Money On Groceries

What do you do to save on groceries?



photo credit: onkel_wart (thomas lieser) via photopin cc

What a wonderful story of redemption! Paige Torgersen

I was so touched by this woman's story.  I thought I'd share it so that it can inspire others!





Now, this song is going through my heart. The song starts at about 45 seconds:

Healing Miracle ~ My Testimony

It was so incredible!

I know that some don't believe that God heals.
I know that some don't believe that He wants to heal.
I know that some don't believe that it is His will to heal.

That used to be me, but God has changed my mind on that issue over the years.  I will show you Scriptural evidence later but for right now here is one of my personal testimonies of God healing me.

Last night at church I was worshiping and getting read to lead worship and there was an awful pain on the left side of the base of my skull.  I was pushing on it while walking.

As I walked past a woman named Chris, I said, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God!"  Chris asked if I was ok.  I repeated, "I am  fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God!" She asked if she could pray for me and I accepted.

As Chris began to pray for healing, I said in agreement, "Yes Lord."  I put my hands out with palms up as an outward sign of my accepting from God.  She prayed for healing in Jesus' name and quoted Scriptures in her prayer.

Chris' prayer lasted for about 30 seconds.  Right in the middle of it, I felt totally normal and noticed that the pain had gone.  I felt like telling her, "Ok, you can stop now. Pain's gone!"  I didn't say that. I just let her finish.

Hallelujah!  It was so much fun getting up to lead worship right after a miraculous healing!  Sure it was "just a headache" but a headache can cause a person to not operate at their best level.

Hallelujah!  I thank God for His healing.  I thank God for His Word.  There IS power in the Word of God!

I'd rather get to Heaven and be accused of believing God "too much" than to get there and be asked why I didn't believe Him enough.

Have you received a miraculous healing that you would like to share with us?

Weekend Worship ~ Sunday

I'm getting ready to get our music ready for the Sunday night service (I lead worship at our church), and this song is in my spirit already.

When our church sings it, outsiders may think we are a little weird.  When the song says "rejoice" many people in our church spin!  That's right!

Often times throughout the Bible the word rejoice means to "spin violently."  ...so we do! ;)

Hope you enjoy!  Don't forget to spin at least a couple of times.  It's fun!

Again I Say Rejoice!

Everything Beautiful ~ Recently sold jewelry items

These items were recently sold in my shop and in person.  I thought you could share in my excitement!  

It is such a privilege to make jewelry gifts for people.  

What a blessing...

Everything Beautiful ~ Jewelry by Janet Powers

The top two pics are the best sellers both in my shop and in person.  

Let your faith grow like a mustard seed!

I had the privilege of selling 3 of these to a very loved friend of mine. 

I just got an order for 29 of these awesome little blessings!

This one was purchased by a church friend as a gift for her

relative that LOVES purple!

This one was purchased by a lady at church because she loves the one my mom wears all the time.

Thanks mom!!

Necklaces such as this are sold by my business partner.

This is the "his & hers" set.  

I'd like to make more "his & hers." Do you have

any ideas for me?  ;)

It was my privilege to sell this to a pastor

for his wife. via Etsy!

These little pearl bracelets are going like hot cakes right now!

Everything Beautiful ~ Jewelry by Janet Powers

Handmade Jewelry

Wearable Art

Gifts with Meaning

Friday Favorites ~ Care to join me?

If you decide to join me in listing your favorites from this week, leave a link in the comments so we can all read yours and be blessed.

What are my favorite things from this week?

1.  My favorite Scriptures ~ I'm digging my way through Genesis and this week I read about Abraham and Yahweh God.  God made a covenant (awesome promise) with Abraham.  This is some of what He said, "“I will establish My covenant between Me and you,
And I will multiply you exceedingly.” (Genesis 17)  While reading through Genesis I realized that what was promised is given to us through Jesus!  Thank You Jesus!  If peace was promised, Jesus gives peace! etc.  Here is a whole list for you:  Promises that Jesus fulfilled

2.  My favorite moment ~ Ok, I can't really pic a favorite moment, as I had MANY wonderful moments this week. So, I'll make a mini-list:

1. Oldest son turned 16!
2. Huge hugs from youngest son
3. Encouraged a woman in the store with Scripture
4. Strong presence of the Holy Spirit

3.  My favorite physical blessing ~ I really had 2 favorites this week in this category.  

1. I got a FREE pair of glasses to review (I'll be posting that next week.)
2. I got a HUGE order of necklaces in my shop Everything Beautiful.  The lady ordered 29 Scripture necklaces!  YEAH!

4.  My favorite food ~ My parents took me to Chick-fil-A last night.  I love their waffle fries dipped in Chick-fil-A sauce!  Mmmmmm.... And... their lemonade!  Mmmm....

5.  My favorite place ~ This week it's Michael's craft store.  They are having a huge sale on jewelry supplies.

So, what are your favorites from this week?  (Use my list or make up your own.)

photo credit: seyed mostafa zamani via photopin cc

Our Family Photos

We went and had our annual family photo session at the park.  Our oldest son (15) has been taking our photos for a couple of years now.  I always like how they turn out.

Son 1 (almost 16) has had a big growth spurt since last year's pic.  I can't believe how much taller he is and he's even slouching in the first photo.  I guess son 2's (13 1/2) growth spurt will be her over the next 2 years.

Watching them grow is sooo much fun!

The Guys!

Have you done family photos lately?  If so, leave a link in the comments so I can go look at them!

Everything Beautiful ~ My Newest Jewelry Designs

Hello bloggy friends!

I want to show you my latest designs.  They are available in my Etsy store:
Everything Beautiful ~ Jewelry by Janet Powers.

I try to design jewelry for all kinds of tastes and styles and keep it affordable!

Don't forget that the holidays are coming!  Hand crafted jewelry is a great gift!

Here are some of my newest designs that are very simple but somewhat eclectic.

His and hers "walk by faith" matching necklaces

Simple leaf lariat and pearl necklace

The Blessing wing necklace (hand stamped by me!)

Proverbs 31 ~ She is blessed pearl necklace

Wing necklace with pearls

Saving Money on Groceries

I'm on a quest!  I am looking for ways to save money on groceries without coupon clipping.  I really don't like sitting down to clip coupons.  I'll do it if that is the only way but...

So, one of the ways to save money is to have a "price book."  My price book will contain a page (or two) for each grocery store I frequent.  On each page is a list of items I usually purchase.

The idea is, I will have a list of prices and sizes of items.  As I go from store to store and find things on sale, I will be able to look at my price book and see where it is cheapest.  As I find items on sale in flyers or on the shelf, I will be able to compare.  Yes, that means I have to take my binder with me while shopping.

I guess you could call it a "price comparison book."

I started by printing a simple worksheet that I found online (the link is at the end of the post).  I three hole punched it and stuck it in a binder I already have.

I went through the grocery store as I normally would.  I started where I would normally start and I ended where I would normally end.  I wrote down the price of each item that I would normally purchase as I went along doing my normal shopping.

At the end of the night, I had 2 groceries stores done and it didn't take very much more time than doing my normal grocery shopping.

Here is the price comparison sheet I used.  It's a FREE download.
Price Comparison Book

Another thing I am doing to save money is menu planning.  I'll fill you in on that in another post.

What do you do to save money on groceries?


photo credit: onkel_wart (thomas lieser) via photopin cc

What a sweet blessing for bloggers! Free Blog Planner

Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler has shared her 2013 Blog Planners.  They are FREE and they are beautiful!

There are two different styles, calendar style layout and line style layout.

Here is a picture:

Don't forget to thank Erica for her generosity!