Groupon: $100 at Ashley Furniture for $25

Today at Groupon- Nashville you can purchase a certificate for $100 worth of furniture at Ashley Furniture for only $25! What a deal!

The groupon is only good towards furniture - not accessories and it's limited to 1 per household. However, you can buy as many gift groupons as you want.

Even if you are not in the market for furniture right now, this would be a wonderful gift to a flood victim who is trying to rebuild their home.

Hurry! The deal is only good today.

Why Do I Give?

Recently, when talking about the Nashville Floods and the great need in and around Nashville, I was asked "Tara, how can you give {to charities & individuals} when you are in such hard financial times?"

My simple answer is "How can I not?" My home and family were spared while families less than a mile from us lost everything: home, belongings, pets, everything. It could have easily been us and I'm not taking that point for granted.

Yes, we are in a tight financial situation right now. We are living on less than half the income we used to. But, we still have a roof over our head and food on the table. We are managing to survive during this tough time. Part of this survival is from my savvy coupon shopping and stockpiling. This stockpile has come in handy over the past week when it came time to help out my neighbors who lost everything.

In years past, when major tragedies happened (aka: Sept 11, Hurricane Katrina, etc) we were in a financial position to give hundreds of dollars to charities to help the victims. This time, when it happened in our own backyard ironically, we can not donate that kind of money. I thought I could probably scrounge up $10 or so and donate to the Red Cross or the Humane Association (where my heart is). But then I realized, I could give them $10 cash or I could take that same $10 and with my shopping savvy, buy and donate $50 or more of needed supplies. And between my $10 and the stockpile of food, cleaning supplies, and toiletries, that I already have: I was able to help a personal friend, several other families that I didn't know, and many dogs and cats at the animal shelters.

I also can give my time. There are lots of organizations needing volunteers. I already volunteer at the Nashville Humane Association and will continue working in the pet food pantry giving out food to families with pets who are in need. I also have been helping a personal friend with her loss.

I really believe that anything we give will come back to us 10 fold. I've already seen this happen in my life this week with a kind and very generous Mother's Day Gift.

But the most important reason I choose to give? Below are the images I passed on my way to my nice, comfortable, dry, beautiful home today:

There, but for the Grace of God, go I.


Part of Works for Me Wednesday at We are That Family.

Supply Drive for Salvation Army

There will be a supply drive for the Salvation Army on:
Saturday, May 8, 10 am - 6pm
Sunday, May 9, 12p - 6pm
Cool Springs Galleria
Mall Parking Lot near Harley Davidson

You are asked to drop off any of the following to help flood Victims:
Socks
Underwear
T-Shirts
Hygiene Products
Paper Products
WalMart & Kroger Giftcards in increments of $25, $50, $100.

This drive is being sponsored by Mix 92.9 and BlueBell Ice Cream

Donation Items that are Free at Publix this Week!

Right now in Middle Tennessee there is a huge need for some of the basics. Here is a list of items that you can get for free or next to nothing with coupons at Publix and donate.

Dove Deodorant
Sale Price: $1.15
- $1/1 RP 4/25
= .15 ea

Nivea Bodywash
Sale Price: $3.89
- $4/1 RP
= FREE

Mahatma Rice
Sale Price: .99
-.50/1 (doubles) 4/24 RP
= FREE

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing
Sale Price: $1.78
- $2/1 SS 3/14
= FREE

9 Lives Cat Food 3.5lb (Remember the animal shelters are desperate for food/supplies)
Sale Price: $1.99
-$1/1 RP 4/11
= .99 ea


Here are some places that you can donate supplies to:

Second Harvest Food Bank
Donation Barrels at all Krogers

Salvation Army
Need toiletries and other personal items like socks and Tshirts. Click on link for full list.

Nashville Humane Association
Metro Animal Control
Wilson Humane Association
Sumner County Humane
Williamson Co. Animal Control

Nashville Flood

I have been living through the Great Flood of Middle Tennessee. We've received more rain in the past 2 days than any other time since they began recording rainfall. The entrance to our neighborhood has been under 4 feet of water and the road leading to our neighborhood has been washed away. We are very lucky and grateful that our house is on a hill and water has not gotten to it.

There are hundreds of families living in shelters right now and thousands more without power. Lots of damage to homes and businesses all over town.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected. To help with the cleanup and recovery go to Hands On Nashville. To make a monetary donation go Nashville Red Cross

Buy Some Stamps, Save an Animal!

The US Postal Service has some great new stamps! Right now you can purchase stamps that have pictures of shelter animals.

Every year millions of dogs and cats are euthanized because of overcrowding at animal shelters. Most of these animals would have made wonderful pets if only given the chance.

Also, as part of the campaign launch Halo Pet Foods are giving a million pet meals to animal shelters around the country.

Go here to order your pet stamps.

Free Rice at Publix!

Right now, Publix has certain styles of Mahatma Rice on sale for .99 cents. Use the .50/1 coupon found in Sunday's paper, 4/24 RedPlum insert, and get it for free. Most Publix stores double coupons up to .50 cents (except Florida - sorry).

Even if you don't like rice, this is an item that is always on the donation lists for food banks. So, pick up a bag or two and donate to your local food pantry!

Great Petfinder Widgets for your website

If you are an animal lover and a blogger, there are some great Petfinder links and widgets that you can add to your blog at the Petfinder Download Center. I chose the Featured Pet Generator. Everyday it will spotlight a new pet available for adoption at my chosen shelter, Nashville Humane Association. You can choose a shelter or it will choose an animal randomly.

Not a blogger? There are also widgets for Myspace and Facebook.

It's a great way to get the word out about available pets for adoption!

Collection Drive for Haiti in Nashville

There is a collection Drive for supplies for Haiti being held in Nashville.

Donations being accepted everyday from 8am - 7pm now till Tuesday, February 2.

Location: 1420 Cowan Court
Nashville TN 37207

GENERAL ITEMS NEEDED:
Medical Supplies
Non Perishable Foods
Water Purification
Hydration Containers
First Aid Kits
Bandages
Soap
Alcohol Wipes
Work Gloves
Baby Formula
Tarps
Headlamps

The supplies will be driven to Miami where they will be put on cargo planes and flown to Haiti, where the people from the organization Can-do will make sure the supplies are properly distributed. Toby Keith has donated the 7 semi trailers that will be transporting the donations.

Help for the Haitian Earthquake Victims

If you are in Nashville, TN and you would like to make a hygiene kit for the Haitian relief bring it to

Calvary United Methodist Church,

3701 Hillsboro Rd

615) 297-7562

they will mail it to their depot in Sager Brown LA where the kits will go out to Haiti. Also check with other United Methodist Churches in your area. For more info go here.

UMCOR (The United Methodist Committee on Relief)(through the Sager Brown Center) is coordinating a shipment of health kits to provide individuals with basic necessities. All items must be NEW. Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag:
1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”, no kitchen towels)
1 washcloth1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)
6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

Of course, what is really being requested more than anything is money. Go here for a list of agencies and donation process.

Whole Foods Calendar with Coupons

I stopped by Whole Foods today and found this great calendar at the checkout. It costs $2.00 with all the proceeds going to Whole Planet Foundation. Whole Planet Foundation's partner's with organizations in developing countries to help the poor (mainly women) to establish businesses that will support them and their families.

The best part of this calendar... over $30 dollars of coupons are inside! They are all Whole Foods Store coupons, so they can be stacked with a manufacturer's coupon and many Publix's will accept Whole Foods coupons. Here is the list:
All coupons expire 12/31/2010

$1.00 off Oikos Greek Yogurt
$2.00 off GoodBelly Plus Probiotice Drink
$5.00 off Country Life Bone Solid Bone Support
$1.00 off Kashi Cereal or TLC Snack
$1.00 off Nature's Path or EnviroKidz Boxed Cereal
$1.00 off 2 Honest Beverages
$1.00 off Any Organic Allegro Fine Tea or Wellness Tea
$1.00 off Any 2 boxes of Celestial Seasonings Tea
$.50 off 2 bottles of Teas' Tea
$3.00 off Any Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Organic Tampons
$1.00 off any Cascal 4 Pack Product
.75 off 1 Earth's Best Sesame Stree product
$3.00 off Any New Chapter Product
$1.00 off 1 Stacy's Product
$1.00 off 1 365 Everyday Value Vegan Cane Sugar
$1.00 off any 1 Ben & Jerry's Pint
$2.00 off any Carlson The Very Finest Fish Oil product
$2.00 off any 1 RiceSelect Item
.75 off an Thai Kitchen Product
$1.00 off any Muir Glen Pasta Sauce
$1.00 off 2 Dagoba Organic Chocolate Bars

Nashville Public Library: Food for Fines is Back!

Food for Fines at the Nashville Public Library is back! And we all have an opportunity to help a hungry person in need while also making good on our library accounts.

Here is the deal:
For every 1 dollar that you owe in fines, you can bring in a can good or other acceptable food item (see list).

This program is running Monday, November 9 through Tuesday, November 24.

The acceptable food items are:
canned goods
boxed goods
bagged goods
Jar goods (NO GLASS JARS WILL BE ACCEPTED)

Food items will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank in Nashville.

They are particularly in need of:
Peanut Butter
Canned meats (tuna, beef stew)
Canned veggies and fruit
Mac and cheese
Rice and Pasta

Go here for more details.

Baby Shower for One Thousand Newborns

Do you have extra packages of newborn diapers that your baby grew out of? Or maybe you stockpiled a too many packs of newborn onesies? Do you have unopened cans of formula that you didn't use because it didn't work for your baby? I know several of these scenarios have happened to my friends and family. So, here is an opportunity to take those extras and pass them on to some babies who really need them.

United Way is making a difference by initiating a city-wide effort to collect essential baby items that will help prepare at-risk mothers to give their newborns a stronger start. Together, they want to give over 1,000 newborns the supplies and support needed for a healthy beginning.

Thursday, October 29
Drop in between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Drop off items and go, or stick around and volunteer to help sort items!
United Way of Metropolitan Nashville
250 Venture Circle, Nashville, TN 37228

The items they are collecting are:

Diapers: Sizes N/1/2
Wipes
Formula
Onesies: Sizes N/0-3/3-6
Blankets

I found one way to get FREE formula (yes! FREE)

Publix has Enfamil 16 count box of single serve packets for $9.79

Use -$5/1 Any size powder of Enfamil Premium Printable

Use -$3 off Enfamil Premium Nursettes, Single Serve Packets, or Ready to Use 4pk. from Green Advantage Buy Flyer

Use Food Lion coupon $3/1 printable

= FREE Formula (thanks to I heart Publix for this scenario)

Go here for more details about United Way's campaign.