More News Articles on Obama

You may have to cut and paste these addresses


Kenyan official: Obama born here
In debate over constitution, minister urges African nation to emulate U.S. inclusion
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=139481


FBI destroyed file on Obama's grandfather
Dunham befriended communist Frank Marshall Davis, mentor of future president
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=139805


Fresh Controversy Over Obama's Resume
http://www.thefoxnation.com/barack-obama/2010/04/11/fresh-controversy-over-obamas-resume

VERY QUIETLY OBAMA'S CITIZENSHIP CASE REACHES THE SUPREME COURT

Got this in an email from my cousin....I'm also posting another story I found on the internet. This thing has some serious legs. There are some questions that I believe all Americans are entitled to have answered.


VERY QUIETLY OBAMA'S CITIZENSHIP CASE REACHES THE SUPREME COURT

AP - WASHINGTON D.C. -
In a move certain to fuel the debate over Obama's qualifications for the presidency, the group "Americans for Freedom of Information" has Released copies of President Obama's college transcripts from Occidental College. Released today, the transcript school indicates that Obama, under the name Barry Soetoro, received financial aid as a foreign student from Indonesia as an undergraduate. The transcript was released by Occidental College in compliance with a court order in a suit brought by the group in the Superior Court of California. The transcript shows that Obama (Soetoro) applied for financial aid and was awarded a fellowship for foreign students from the Fulbright Foundation Scholarship program. To qualify, for the scholarship, a student must claim foreign citizenship.

This document would seem to provide the smoking gun that many of Obama's detractors have been seeking. Along with the evidence that he was first born in Kenya and there is no record of him ever applying for US citizenship, this is looking pretty grim. The news has created a firestorm at the White House as the release casts increasing doubt about Obama's legitimacy and qualification to serve as President article titled, "Obama Eligibility Questioned," leading some to speculate that the story may overshadow economic issues on Obama's first official visit to the U.K. In a related matter, under growing pressure from several groups, Justice Antonin Scalia announced that the Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to hear arguments concerning Obama's legal eligibility to serve as President in a case brought by Leo Donofrio of New Jersey. This lawsuit claims Obama's dual citizenship disqualified him from serving as president. Donofrio's case is just one of 18 suits brought by citizens demanding proof of Obama's citizenship or qualification to serve as president.

Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation has released the results of their investigation of Obama's campaign spending. This study estimates that Obama has spent upwards of $950,000 in campaign funds in the past year with eleven law firms in 12 states for legal resources to block disclosure of any of his personal records. Mr. Kreep indicated that the investigation is still ongoing but that the final report will be provided to the U..S. Attorney general, Eric Holder. Mr. Holder has refused to comment on the matter...

LET OTHER FOLKS KNOW THIS NEWS, THE MEDIA WON'T !

Subject: RE: Issue of Passport?

While I've little interest in getting in the middle of the Obama birth issue, Paul Hollrah over at FSM did so yesterday and believes the issue can be resolved by Obama answering one simple question: What passport did he use when he was shuttling between New York , Jakarta , and Karachi ?

So how did a young man who arrived in New York in early June 1981, without the price of a hotel room in his pocket, suddenly come up with the price of a round-the-world trip just a month later?

And once he was on a plane, shuttling between New York , Jakarta , and Karachi , what passport was he offering when he passed through Customs and Immigration?

The American people not only deserve to have answers to these questions, they must have answers. It makes the debate over Obama's citizenship a rather short and simple one.

Q: Did he travel to Pakistan in 1981, at age 20?
A : Yes, by his own admission.

Q: What passport did he travel under?
A: There are only three possibilities.
1) He traveled with a U.S... Passport,
2) He traveled with a British passport, or
3) He traveled with an Indonesia passport.

Q: Is it possible that Obama traveled with a U.S. Passport in 1981?
A: No. It is not possible. Pakistan was on the U.S... State Department's "no travel" list in 1981.

Conclusion: When Obama went to Pakistan in 1981 he was traveling either with a British passport or an Indonesian passport.

If he were traveling with a British passport that would provide proof that he was born in Kenya on August 4, 1961, not in Hawaii as he claims. And if he were traveling with an Indonesian passport that would tend to prove that he relinquished whatever previous citizenship he held, British or American, prior to being adopted by his Indonesian step-father in 1967.

Whatever the truth of the matter, the American people need to know how he managed to become a "natural born" American citizen between 1981 and 2008..

Given the destructive nature of his plans for America, as illustrated by his speech before Congress and the disastrous spending plan he has presented to Congress, the sooner we learn the truth of all this, the better.

If you Don't care that Your President is not a natural born Citizen and in Violation of the Constitution, then Delete this, and then lower your American Flag to half-staff, because the U.S. Constitution is already on life-support, and won't survive much longer.

If you do care then Forward this to as many patriotic Americans as you can, because our country is being looted and ransacked!

The True Beginning of my life

I can honestly say that my life truly began the night I met my husband. I can honestly say I did not want anything to do with the man. I was divorced and had plans to finish my education and get out of this town. I was struggling with the left over baggage from a bad marriage and trying to figure out who I was on my own.

My friend told me about this guy...she was dating his friend and they said that he wanted to meet me. Like I said I was not interested because he had a lot of baggage that I wanted NO PART of. So I was nice...they introduced us and I was NOT impressed. He had several drinks, was grating on my last nerve and some how they conned me into driving the fool to the next stop "to meet them". They never showed up! I told him I'd take him home and when we got there he invited me in...now this is the part where I was supposed to say "Thanks but I gotta go." For some reason I said Ok.

I went in and there on the floor. under a Barney blanket was a little blonde haired boy. I couldn't see his face just the blonde hair. Part of me said "Girl, get your butt in the car..." but again something kept me there. This guy who had grated on my last nerve proceeded to sit down and start talking about what they had been through, and I could not help but sit and listen. I had heard the story...everyone in town knew about it...and I could not bring myself to leave. This obnoxious character changed before my very eyes to a lost, desperatley devastated soul.

My husband was married to a girl who, from what I have been told, was a great person. I did not know her, but we did go to the same school. From what I had been told, they were together constantly and you never saw one without the other. They had a child...the angel that was sleeping under the Barney blanket. They played softball together on co-ed teams and had a seemingly normal life. Then she got sick.

I remember reading about her in the paper. I remember seeing flyers up all over town with pictures of her and her baby. She was missing, but the story was a devastating one that touched me to the core when he told it.

He said she had gotten sick, but he didn't realize how sick she was because she hid it. He knew something was wrong but she downplayed it, and he took her at her word. She had Cushings Disease. He worked, came home played with C*, then went to bed. (She handled everything else and that was all he had to do.) He said this one particular morning, they got up and got dressed just like every other morning. They joked and talked about what they would do after work. They told each other they loved each other and went on about their day. She was supposed to be going to another Dr. apt and was getting C* ready for school. Late that afternoon he got a call from the daycare asking who would pick C* up because noone ever showed up. He was the last one there. He said that was way out of the ordinary and went straight to get him. She never came home. From this point phone calls were made, people gathered, people searched...she never turned up. His sister came home from out of state to help, and he soon found himself being questioned. He said he had no problem with it because he wanted to find her, but it soon seemed he was the prime suspect. There was no note...nothing to indicate why she would not come home...and she never made it to her appointment. The story made the paper and the news...but still no leads.

About a week and a half to two weeks later there were some boys riding four wheelers in the woods in the north county and they came across a car...with her in it. Her father had hunted out there and she went there to take her life. He said when the cops came back down the drive he was on the lawnmower (thats what he does when he is stressed) and he just kept cutting. His sister came to him and he asked if they were going to take him back down to the jail again. She told him no that it was over. At first he didn't realize "over" meant "over" and wanted to know where she was. Of course, a thorough investigation was done and it was determined that it was 100% suicide but the questions still lingered of why?

He then had to explain to C* that Mommy was not coming home and plan a funeral. Because she had taken care of everything he was a bit lost with what to do with C*. He said his sister wanted to take him but he wouldn't allow it. He said he would not let his son go...he belonged to him and he was going to raise him.

When I met him this was only a few months after all of this had happened. This man looked like a scarecrow...he was so thin and he had hollowed-out dark holes under his eyes. He said, "I don't know..I just don't know.." constantly. The obnoxious Gomer Pyle-imitating jerk wasn't really a jerk at all. As I listened to him tell this story it broke my heart and my troubles weren't so bad. He asked if I would please come play with his little boy the next day and I said "Sure". I drove home that night in tears. That poor baby...left at that daycare...waiting on his Mama. That poor husband listening to that Trace Adkins song "Every Light in the House is On"...waiting on his wife to come home...trying to figure out what was going on and how to answer his little boy's questions.

The next day I went over as I promised and the cutest little boy I had ever laid eyes on walked out the door to meet me. He had the blondest hair and gorgeous blue eyes. He had a smile that melted my heart like butter!! I fell in love with him the moment I laid eyes on him, and I had never felt anything like that in my life. There are no words to describe how I felt about him that day other than it was the equivalent of how I felt later when my other two babies were born. This little boy ate more popsicles than I had ever seen. We played, watched TV and I told them I would be back again the next day to cook for them. He sure seemed to need someone to talk to and that little boy needed some real food. That day turned into two then three and before I realized it I was over there everyday. We talked about everything and I loved on that little boy like nobodies business.

Before I knew it I found myself falling for this guy and man did I feel guilty. I mean he had just lost his wife, and I figured I had for sure lost my mind. We never even sat next to each other...me on the couch...he in the recliner. I debated what to do because I was too close and I didn't want to get hurt, but for the first time I felt like someone needed me and I had long since fallen in love with that little boy. I told him that one day when and if he moved on, he would need to make sure that whoever he made a life with accepted his son as her own...no if, ands, buts about it. I never dreamed I'd be the one. One night we were sitting and talking, he in the recliner and me on the floor and he kissed me. I remember it like yesterday. It was the most electrifying kiss I have ever had in my life...then he said "I love you" and HELLO...before I knew it I said it back. I kicked myself all the way home and had three panic attacks. What on earth was I thinking??? I swore those words wouldn't come out of my mouth again to ANYBODY and here I was saying it to this guy who was probably confused because of his trauma???

Well, there was no confusion. From that day we were inseperable and were very open and honest about our feelings and concerns. I had never been so happy. Of course, people talked, but I knew the truth about how things had happened. My Mom was so upset and concerned for me. She didn't want me getting hurt or people saying things about me. My Dad on the other hand told me, "If you find love grab it with both hands and don't let go." And I did.

I brought them to my parents house and of course they instantly fell in love with C*. It was an instant bond just like it had been with me. Shortly..very shortly afterwards we were engaged and within two to three months MARRIED!!

While we were engaged C* would ask "Can I call you Mama?" or "Are you my Mama now?" I told him the day his Dad and I married he could call me anything he wanted to.

The day we married was the happiest day of my life...God sent me a man that truly loved me and I become a Mama. "Mama"....the sweetest gift given to me that day was to hear my little boy call my name.

My Personal Hell

Where do I begin to describe the place that I have found myself. It seems like just yesterday I had a precious blonde haired 4 yr old asking me to be his Mama, and now 14 years later I have lost my first born. He was not born from me but from my heart and part of it is now gone.

My little boy was the brightest, sweetest kid you could ever meet. He was everything to me, and I was so proud of what he had endured and overcome in his life. He lost his Mother at a young age but never let it define who he was. We had such high hopes for him and his future and our lives revolved around him. When he wanted to play baseball for a certain school we sold our house to get in that school district. He was so talented and we sunk tons of money into developing that talent. We tried to give him every opportunity to shine and become who he wanted to be.

What I'm dealing with has become so complex I don't know how to even put it all into words to describe. There are so many stories to tell...so much that leads up to how we got here. All I do know is that sometimes I feel I will either die of heartbreak or loose my sanity. I go to bed each night with him on my mind and wake up every morning with the same thoughts running through my mind...all thoughts of him and what he is becoming and what we all have become through him.

I figured I could write about it....maybe it would help sort things...help me get a grasp on reality and figure out what I can do to make things better or see where I went wrong. Noone reads this blog much anyway so why not use it for my own therapy? At this point I'm desperate and will try anything.

How can a girl twist a boy around so tight that she changes him as a person to the point that he lies, abandons his family and then destroys all that they love? How can family members that you are supposed to depend on undermind you at every turn then turn their backs on you like trash on the street....just based on what a kid says? How can your own father turn his back on you because of something a 18 yr old kid says to get his way and never once listen to what you say?

December 3, 2009 my blonde haired blue eyed baby boy turned 18. December 5th he walked out of our house and never came home. Since then my Dad turned his back on me, my brother has nothing to do with me, my husbands family does everything they can to encourage his behavior and drive a wedge as deep as possible. But this hell that we are living didn't start then...it started 3 years ago when she stepped into my driveway. Now it seems that we are living in hell and our walls are plastered with nothing but bad memories.

Obama's New Army??

The following email was sent to me from my local Tea Party. After reading it, then double checking it....I almost died. I can't say I'm suprised that something like this is hidden there. I just listened to a judge on TV say that the language was so vague and militariastic that it was very unsettling for him personally. That was enough for me. The email is as follows.....

How many people knew this? The healthcare bill President Obama just signed into law includes provisions for a special national security force to be used in times of a national emergency. Officers are appointed by the President and are under the control of the Surgeon General. Officers are appointed and paid without regard to civil service laws.

This is a copy of the Senate bill that was approved Sunday night. Pg 1312 is the forces.

IT LOOKS LIKE B.O. JUST GOT HIS OWN PRIVATE ARMY.


SEC. 430. ESTABLISHING A READY RESERVE CORPS.

Section 203 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 204) is amended to read as follows:

SEC. 203. COMMISSIONED CORPS AND READY RESERVE CORPS.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Service a commissioned Regular Corps and a Ready Reserve Corps for service in time of national emergency.

(2) REQUIREMENT.—All commissioned officers shall be citizens of the United States and shall be appointed without regard to the civil-service laws and compensated without regard to the Classification Act of 1923, as amended.

(3) APPOINTMENT.—Commissioned officers of the Ready Reserve Corps shall be appointed by the President and commissioned officers of the Regular Corps shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(4) ACTIVE DUTY.—Commissioned officers of the Ready Reserve Corps shall at all times be subject to call to active duty by the Surgeon General, including active duty for the purpose of training.

(5) WARRANT OFFICERS.—Warrant officers may be appointed to the Service for the purpose of providing support to the health and delivery systems maintained by the Service and any warrant officer appointed to the Service shall be considered for purposes of this Act and title 37, United States Code, to be a commissioned officer within the Commissioned Corps of the Service.

( ASSIMILATING RESERVE CORP OFFICERS INTO THE REGULAR CORPS.—Effective on the date of enactment of the Affordable Health Choices Act, all individuals classified as officers in the Reserve Corps under this section (as such section existed on the day before the date of enactment of such Act) and serving on active duty shall be deemed to be commissioned officers of the Regular Corps.

© PURPOSE AND USE OF READY RESERVE.—

(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Ready Reserve Corps is to fulfill the need to have additional Commissioned Corps personnel available on short notice (similar to the uniformed service’s reserve program) to assist regular Commissioned Corps personnel to meet both routine public health and emergency response missions.

(2) USES.—The Ready Reserve Corps shall—

(A) participate in routine training to meet the general and specific needs of the Commissioned Corps;

( be available and ready for involuntary calls to active duty during national emergencies and public health crises, similar to the uniformed service reserve personnel;

© be available for backfilling critical positions left vacant during deployment of active duty Commissioned Corps members, as well as for deployment to respond to public health emergencies, both foreign and domestic; and

(D) be available for service assignment in isolated, hardship, and medically underserved communities (as defined in section 399SS) to improve access to health services.

(d) FUNDING.—For the purpose of carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Commissioned Corps under this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to the Office of the Surgeon General for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. Funds appropriated under this subsection shall be used for recruitment and training of Commissioned Corps Officers.

You Are Sentenced To......

I have always believed that it is the responsibility of every citizen to serve when called upon. I have waited for a long time to be called for jury duty and I finally got my summons. I was so excited…I had arranged my substitute, decided what I’d wear and wrote it on my calendar. I wrote it down wrong!! So I missed jury duty and I was devastated, then I realized I could be in trouble. First thing Tuesday morning, the day I scheduled myself to serve, I called at 8:00 sharp to give my apologies and what I needed to do. I explained my situation and how devastated I was to have missed and asked if there was ANY way to get called again soon. She put me on hold and returned to tell me that the judge wanted to speak with me after work.

After work I rushed to the courthouse, constantly rehearsing in my head what he may ask and what I would say. I had no idea what I was in for. As soon as I arrived I explained what happened and my philosophy on our responsibility as citizens to a very stoic, hard nose looking judge. After explaining myself I had no idea where this would go, because he started explaining to me the importance of people to serve when called upon. Had he not heard a word I said? He then looked in his big books, looked at a print-out which obviously had my information on it and began to tell me that the law called for punishment of $500, a three day stay in jail or both. As I started to tell him to just put me in jail, he offered another option of 10 hours community service. I jumped on the community service and tried to maintain a straight face while thinking of all of the people who are called and do not act on their responsibility. Most of these probably do not even call, but here I am a full-time working mom of three who was worried about her obligations. A self-proclaimed conservative political advocate being punished with 10 hours community service for writing down a wrong date. It’s almost laughable, but I can say I have no problem with it because if they did others the way they did me then we probably wouldn’t have the problem with people skipping their responsibility.

Man get a sitter or stay your butt at home!

I have to have a little rant.

Our neighbor has two young boys that are good friends with my son. One is in 7th grade and one in 4th....they are precious kids and ALL BOY. Their Mom ran off and left and their Dad is a single Dad. I have no idea what the reason was with her leaving. I heard she was bi-polar, on drugs and an alcoholic. I know she worked on a pole and one time got picked up for DUI when he was out of town and there was noone to get the kids. It's just a pitiful situation.

He has seemed like an attentive Dad for the most part and I always thought it was cool how he was raising his boys on his own because let's face it you just don't see that very often. Of course, I have gotten irritated when he asked if the boys could stay over while he went to lunch with someone but then didn't come back until 10 at night. BUT....he is a man.

I think I have changed my mind!

Last weekend my son wanted them to stay the night and I told him it wasn't a good night. The next day he told me I should have let them because the Dad "went out" and left them at home AND DID NOT COME HOME!! I asked him how the boys were and if they were scared and he said that they really got scared until he either called or showed up the next morning. He had "stayed in a motel with woman." How on earth could someone leave their children like that? By what my son says they didn't know where he was until the next morning.

So last night he asks for them to stay and my husband immediately says yes. Again, tonight the same situation. I said No at first, but then husband said the weather was going to possibly get bad and they didn't need to be alone. We can't help but think of them staying all alone at night and maybe their Dad not coming home. Our son says the youngest doesn't like being home alone at night. It's not our business but it just upsets me to no end. We let our son stay alone for short periods of time DURING THE DAY. We would never dream of leaving him alone at night.

So where do you draw the line....I don't know. What I DO know is I couldn't live with myself if something happened to those babies when I could have had them here. So I guess our weekends will now be full of children.

Stimulus Waste

A couple of weeks ago, actually February 12, I watched President Obama and Vice President Biden speak at a ceremony celebrating the anniversary of the passing of the stimulus plan. According to www.recover.gov , the stimulus plan, also known as The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was created with the following goals in mind…

1)Create new jobs and save existing jobs
2)Create economic growth and invest in long term growth
3)Foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in Government spending

In Obama’s speech he said, “I’m grateful that Congress agreed to my request that the bill include no earmarks; that all projects received funding based on their merits.” After hearing this I could not resist looking into this a bit more and obviously he didn’t read the bill that he signed his name to.

So I will list some of the pork that was pushed across the table…you decide if you think these things meet the above mentioned criteria from the governments website.

$219,000 was granted to study the sex lives of female college freshmen

$390,000 was granted to study malt liquor and weed

$221,355 to study why young men don’t like condoms

$787,250 was granted to a program to control home appliances from remote areas…this is a little creepy. Does this mean if I forget to turn my iron off that they may have the capability of doing so from a remote area. Will the possibility of this program allow someone from a remote area to decide if my house is too warm or cool and control my thermostat?

$21,116 for costumes for Bobber the Water Safety Dog

$943,190 terrorism prevention for a DINNER CRUISE COMPANY…uhhh what about the borders?

$1.57 million to search for fossils IN ARGENTINA

$88,000 for a Georgia road to be REPAVED…it was just paved 2 years ago…..the people studying the malt liquor and weed must have come up with this one.

$233,825 is going to study exit polling in Africa

$122,000 to provide fish art for a highway

$2 million was granted for a bike trail to be built when the adjoining road needs work.

$30,000 was granted to study meth and the female rat sex drive and they gave $8408 to study the effects of alcohol on mice

$100,000 was provided to conduct Anti-Capitalist, socially-conscious puppet show….this really burns me up.

$210,000 was needed to help study learning patterns of honey bees, while $90,000 was given to help “learning to cooperate” while observing birds

$2 million was given to a fire station that can’t afford to employ any firemen.

$1.5 million will be or was used to restore a lighthouse living quarters and oil shed on an uninhabited island.

$8 million is used for a Wastewater Treatment Center with a “Talking Water Garden”. Because of this new elaborate treatment center local residents will be facing an increase in sewer rates to pay for the new system.


UNBELIEVABLE...

Hilarious Laws

Things in our world seem so serious these days. I just needed some relief and could not pass up the opportunity to post some of these hilariously DUMB laws.

In Alabama it is illegal to wear a fake moustache in Church that causes laughter. You may also not flick boogers in the wind, not carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket. You CAN drive the wrong way on a one way street as long as you attach a lantern to the front of your automobile.

If you want to practice voodoo in Louisiana you must do it outside of city limits. While driving to the area outside city limits to cast your spells you can let your wife drive, but you must walk in front of her carrying a flag.

Please do not plan to hunt whales in Kansas as it is against the law.

It’s also illegal to hunt whales in Ohio, but only on Sundays. You also may not fish while intoxicated. Installation and use of slot machines in outhouses is also permitted….DARN!

It’s a No-No to push a moose from a moving airplane in Alaska.

Sleepy? Don’t get caught sleeping on a refrigerator in Pittsburgh, Pa. It is against the law. A special cleaning ordinance was also passed banning homemakers from sweeping any dirt under the rug in a dwelling. Wives must send a note with their husbands enabling them to purchase alcohol and beware…singing in a bathtub is illegal.

If you go to Texas and decide to have a beer make sure you are sitting. It is illegal to take more than 3 sips of beer while standing. It is also illegal to release any obnoxious odors in an elevator.

If you need a blue light bulb you will have to travel to another state other than Arkansas. You will also need to keep your alligator somewhere other than the bathtub since it is illegal to keep them there. Make sure your dogs are muzzled if you live in Little Rock because they are not allowed to bark after 6 p.m.

You may not be able to drink and fish in Ohio, but there is no law against it in Idaho….you just can’t fish from a camels back!!

In Massachusetts you may NOT give beer to hospital patients. You also may not allow a guerilla to ride in the back seat of any vehicle. Taxi drivers are not allowed to make love in the front seat of their taxis while during their shift….Aw…where’s the ACLU on that one??

For more outrageous funnies go to:
www.basicjokes.com
www.dumblaws.com

Ramming Healthcare

Today I write with a heavy heart and lots of concern for the direction of our country. Since Obama took office it seems that our whole country has started turning inside out and it is beginning to become very frightening.

Healthcare Reform….has been the main focus for the past year and looks as if it will be passed regardless of the people’s voice. This is a bill that Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, said that we needed to pass so we could find out what was in it. Just last night the President admitted that he did not really know what was in it. So my question is if THEY don’t know what is in it. then how do they know it’s the right thing to do for the country? We could have God knows what strapped to our backs and the backs of our children and grandchildren for years to come because this President was determined to pass Healthcare Reform now. In saying that, I’m not saying it’s not an honorable goal. I believe there are many things that need to be reformed and fixed, but why shove something through just to say it was done “on my watch” when it may not be the best thing for the people of this country?

I am a citizen that has to be worried about healthcare. As of today I am wrestling with the decision to cancel my coverage because after it is deducted from my check I may not be able to pay my utilities or keep my house running. If you knew my family you would understand WHY this is a difficult decision to make. My daughter has childhood epilepsy, I have fibromyalgia….and sometimes I think everyone else in my family needs to wrapped in bubble wrap before getting out of the bed. So I’m not one who has financial security or even has a little left over each paycheck. We have taken some hard hits this past year and finances are tight, but I still think it is wrong to strap my healthcare issues to the backs of my neighbors.

Other than being concerned about what exactly is IN the bill, I’m extremely concerned about this “slaughter” method that they plan to use and push it through in the event they do not have enough votes. Article 1 Section 7 of the United States Constitution says:

Clause 1: All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Clause 2: Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sunday excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a Law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournement prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Clause 3: Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

After reading the Constitution it seems pretty clear to me that this Bill is supposed to pass the House first then be sent to the Senate. From what I understand, and I could be wrong, they intend to only pass the Bill through the Senate because they may not have enough votes in the House. I have heard that Republicans and Democrats say that there is a provision of some sort or a loophole in which they can do this, but with something as important and huge as this you would think they would want to do it on the “up and up”. This just doesn’t seem to be on the “up and up”. This method does not resonate the American ideals….or maybe it’s just my old American ideals.

The Constitution does not guarantee healthcare coverage, jobs or wealth. It does, however, guarantee to support the rights given to us by GOD for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must make an effort to pursue what we need and stop waiting on someone to bail us out. Look for a hand up and not a hand out. I wish with every fiber of my being that our Representatives, who we elected to represent us, will start speaking out for us and the good of our country. Let’s slow down and do this right even if it means we have to fix things in stages and by category. Let's actually read the bill this time so there are no suprises and no suprise add ons for pet projects. Lets stop being Republicans and Democrats with personal agendas and be Americans.

The First 100 Things that Disappear in an Emergency

I found this in some of my documents and thought I would post it here. I wish I knew who to give credit to....I know I found it on the internet but not sure where it originated from.


100 Items That Disappear First in a Disaster

1. Generators
(Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance, etc.)

2. Water Filters/Purifiers (Shipping delays increasing.)

3. Portable Toilets (Increasing in price every two months.)

4. Seasoned Firewood
(About $100 per cord; wood takes 6 - 12 mos. to become dried, for home uses.)

5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)

6. Coleman Fuel (URGENT $2.69-$3.99/gal. Impossible to stockpile too much.)

7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots

8. Hand-Can openers & hand egg beaters, whisks (Life savers!)

9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugars

10. Rice - Beans - Wheat (White rice is now $12.95 - 50# bag. Sam's Club, stock depleted often.)

11. Vegetable oil (for cooking) (Without it food burns/must be boiled, etc.)

12. Charcoal & Lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly.)

13. Water containers (Urgent Item to obtain. Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY)

14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)

15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)

16. Propane Cylinders

17. Michael Hyatt's Y2K Survival Guide (BEST single y2k handbook for sound advice/tips.)

18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)

19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula/ointments/aspirin, etc

20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)

21. Cook stoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)

22. Vitamins (Critical, due 10 Y2K-forced daily canned food diets.)

23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item.)

24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products

25. Thermal underwear (Tops and bottoms)

26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets & Wedges (also, honing oil)

27. Aluminum foil Reg. & Heavy. Duty (Great Cooking & Barter item)

28. Gasoline containers (Plastic or Metal)

29. Garbage bags (Impossible to have too many.)

30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towel

31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.)

32. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid) (A MUST)

33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)

34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit: 1(800) 835-3278

35. Tuna Fish (in oil)

36. Fire extinguishers (or.. large box of Baking soda in every room...)

37. First aid kits

38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)

39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies

40. BIG DOGS (and plenty of dog food)

41. Flour, yeast & salt

42. Matches (3 box/$1 .44 at Wal-Mart: "Strike Anywhere" preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.)

43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators

44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime)

45. Work boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts

46. Flashlights/LIGHT STICKS & torches, "No.76 Dietz" Lanterns

47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (Jot down ideas, feelings, experiences: Historic times!)

48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)

49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc

50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)

51. Fishing supplies/tools

52. Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams

53. Duct tape

54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes

55. Candles

56. Laundry detergent (Liquid)

57. Backpacks & Duffle bags

58. Garden tools & supplies

59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies

60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.

61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)

62. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)

63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel

64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.

65. Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats

66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)

67. Board Games Cards, Dice

68. d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer

69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets

70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks...)

71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless & Anti-bacterial soap (saves a lot of water)

72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.

73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)

74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)

75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillons/gravy/soup base

76. Reading glasses

77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)

78. "Survival-in-a-Can"

79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens

80. BSA - New 1998 - Boy Scout Handbook (also, Leader's Catalog)

81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)

82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky

83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts

84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)

85. Lumber (all types)

86. Wagons & carts (for transport to & from open Flea markets)

87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses (for extra guests)

88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.

89. Lantern Hangers

90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts

91. Teas

92. Coffee

93. Cigarettes

94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc.)

95. Paraffin wax

96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.

97. Chewing gum/candies

98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)

99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs

100. Goats/chickens

Online Fiction....Very good Story

I was recently tipped off about a story that this guy posted on his blog. It is totally fiction and it is called "The Day the Dollar Died." Holy Smokes!! It is one awesome read....but very unnerving. He did not make up names for characters such as the President....he used the key players we have in office right now. I HIGHLY recommend taking a look...


http://johngaltfla.com/blog3/2009/11/18/the-day-the-dollar-died-a-blovel-entire-series-single-thread-not-edited-for-content-yet

Prepping....have you heard of it?

This past November...the day after Thanksgiving to be exact...I got very sick. Of course, being the shopper and seeker of deals that I am, I tried to tough it out and go on the ritual Black Friday Shopping Trip with my Mom. I was home and in bed by 9 am. After thrahing around in the bed wondering if I would live, then rolling around begging to die....my husband took me to the Dr. to find that I had a pretty severe case of Swine Flu. The bout was particularly nasty and I can honestly say I have NEVER been so sick. Swine Flu turned to Pneumonia and before I knew it school would be letting out for Christmas Break and I had missed all but 3 days between Thanksgiving break and Christmas break.

So here's what I'm slowly inching towards.....how did everybody stay on track here? Husband was swamped trying to work and take care of all three kids. One thing he did not have to worry with was groceries and "supplies".

I have always had this little "thing" inside me that motivated me to always be prepared for anything. Weather, Current Events....any scenario and since I was young I have even imagined different scenarios in my head and how I would respond. A couple of years ago I had an urge to get my ducks in a row. This "urge" was very strong and urgent. Luckily I listened to that small voice.

It wasn't long after I started experiencing this urge that we started having some financially difficult times. These financially difficult times were our own doings....trying to keep up with the Joneses...trying to give our kids everything they wanted and even things they hadn't thought of yet. I can say that my view and priorities have changed drastically. With our crumbling economy and doomsday daily news you would have to have your head stuck in the sand to not know something is coming down the pike. I know some people who say..."Well, I don't want to know what is going on...there's nothing I can do about it." or "It's out of our control...no point in worrying about it." This is so far from the truth.

There are a lot of things that are out of our hands, but taking care of our families are not. Now before you get the wrong idea....a "prepper" is not always the fanatic that thinks we will be nuked tommorrow and builds a bomb shelter in the backyard. A "prepper" is someone who wants to be prepared to care for his/her family in any given situation which could be a weather event (think about Katrina), a financial hardship, or a total breakdown or society. I, personally, do not care to trust the Government to provide for my family in the event of any trouble.

There are small things that you can do to prep. When you go to the grocery store and you catch a really good sale...pick up a couple of extra items. Organize your medicine cabinets and see what you have. Do you have some OTC items if you had to deal with the flu? There is nothing worst than having to go out in the night for meds. If your power was to go out for a day or more what would you do?

With things the way that they are today we would have to be crazy to not think about some of these things. Of course, some of them are not pleasant. Of course, some scenarios may not ever happen, but what does it hurt to be prepared just in case? I'd rather have extra supplies on hand and nothing happen than nothing on hand and all hell break loose. I'm not loosing anything by doing so and nothing is going to waste.

Oh...when I got sick...I went to the grocery store that week before Thanksgiving to stock up on sale items with my coupons. I did not make another real grocery run again until January. It was one less thing my husband had to worry about. He didn't even have to worry about the juice or sprite for me because I knew flu season was coming so I put some up....just in case.

My Sunday Night Shopping Trip

I'm getting ready for the "cart buster" sale that Kroger will be having starting on Sunday. I have been clipping, organizing and purging expired coupons (q's). I thought I would run in tonight and grab a few of this weeks deals while they were on sale.

That is the key to saving the money....stock up on the items that are on sale and you have a Q for while it's cheap so you don't have to pay full price later. (I haven't bought toothpaste in about a year!! And with my Q's I've not paid much more than .50 for a tube)

So here are a few deals that I got tonight.....

Cake from bakery $5.99....was on the "oops we baked too much" rack (I would have never checked this rack before). Was marked down to $2.99 and I had a Q for $1 off. I PAID $1.99

Kroger brand poptarts on sale for $1....had a .45 Q....I PAID .55...kroger Q would not double

Dole pineapple small cans on sale for .89....had a Q .55 off 2 (.55/2)...Q doubled to $1.10 so I PAID .34 A CAN!!!! I had 2 Q's so I got 4. Regular price was $1 and some change so this was a huge deal.

Underwood deviled ham was on sale for .99 a can....had a Q for $1/2...so basically it was a Buy one Get one Free (B1G1)

Bumble Bee tuna pouches were on sale for $1....had a Q for $1/2....once again B1G1

Progresso Soups....these are expensive and I rarely buy unless they are on sale big time. They were on sale for $1.79.....had a Q for .25 off one.....it doubled to .50 off....I PAID $1.29. These are usually closer to $2 so it wasn't a bad deal. I have a few extra of these Q's that I'd be glad to share.

French's Worstechere on sale for $1.79...Q for .50 which doubled to $1 off....I PAID .79....and it's a good size bottle.

Sun Detergent on sale for $2....Q for .50 off which doubled to $1 off...I PAID $1...Now I must say this detergent is not bad and I like to put it up for those emergencies when we forget we are out with a mountain of laundry.

Rold Gold pretzels on sale for $1.99....Q for .55 off which doubled to a $1.10 off...I PAID .89

Green Giant Frozen boxed vegetables on sale for $1...Q for .60/3 which doubled to $1.20...I PAID .60 A BOX...I only had 2 Q's so I got 6

Pepperidge Frozen Bread on sale for $2.99. They had a B1G1 deal....I had a .55/1 Q which doubled to $1.10 so I PAID ABOUT .90 for 2

This week they are having a big sale snack sale offering a free gallon of milk as incentive. Select Keebler cookies and crackers that were normally $3.99 were marked 4/$10. If you bought 4 then you got a FREE gallon of milk (which was priced at $3.19) Now I had a Q for $1/2 keebler snacks so for 2 Bags of Choc Chip Cookies, Boxes of Keebler crackers and 1 Gallon of milk I PAID $9....Normal price for all of that would have been $19.19

A CLOSEOUT
I noticed that they put a few of the Suave Deoderants on closeout. They were marked either .78 or .87...can't remember. If you had some Q's you could rack up on this because it doesn't go bad.

If you get a chance check out that website
southernsavers.com

As soon as I have an idea about what will be on sale I will post what I know.

Hope all have a great night!!

God's Patience Class

God has decided to hold a patience class with me in the mornings.

It wasn't until just recently that I no longer had to battle with Brayden in the morning. He'd cry and stomp...and come up with every ailment under the sun. One time he literally stumbled through the house saying he was blind and stuck with his story until he got out of the car at school. We have had mornings where he couldn't walk on his feet so he walked on his knees all over the house. I even put his tail in the car to save the knees of his pants only to have him open the car door and skip to the front door of the school. He has faked stomach aches and throwing up. As he got older his antics became more sophisticated. When I quit falling for the "Mom, I threw up." and I started checking behind him he would chew food up and spit in the toilet. One day I talked to two of his teachers and got the shock of my life. One teacher mentioned how his haircut made him look like someone actually loved him and the other teacher mentioned that he said he did not have a belt and that I wouldn't buy him one. (For the record...he hid his belts...he had plenty) I informed them both that if I could get him to school clothed I was doing great. Brushed hair, belt and underwear were bonus points! By the time I finished dragging him, leading him, or carrying him to the car I just about had to start over on my hair and face. In the past year he has matured so much and it is such a blessing that he gets up with no arguing....no ailments....fully dressed WITH underwear and ready to go with time to spare. I thought "YAY!! I passed the class of patience....thank you God"

Then I realized that I celebrated WAY too soon.....

Kayla Grace had always gotten up just fine. She had always been excited about going to school and getting dressed. One night something happened and my sweet little angel woke up foul, demanding and absolutely off the chain. It has CONTINUED!!! It takes 10 min just to get her to respond. No matter what I lay out for her to wear it is wrong. She cries and talks about how she doesn't have any friends, people are going to laugh at her, she wants to wear something to match Michaela or Anna......and it goes on and on. The other morning she pitched a fit because I wouldn't let her do her nails before we left. SHE IS 5 YEARS oLD!! It is positively awful....If Brayden walks through the room she goes balistic because he looks at her. And it is nothing for him to retaliate by grabbing a nerf gun and shooting her with it. You can then imagine how the morning goes...

So now I know the reason for all of Brayden's antics....God was preparing me for Kayla.....

Ahhhhh the joys of Motherhood

CLEANING THE SCHOOL HOUSE IN RHODE ISLAND

Seventy-four teachers will face termination tomorrow if Frances Gallo, Superintendent of Education in Central Falls, and the teacher’s labor union can not reach an agreement. Ms. Gallo is cleaning house and she has the backing of the federal and state authorities to do so. In a high school that has a 48% graduation rate and 50% of students are failing all subjects right now, drastic measures need to be taken. The Superintendent came up with a plan asking for six things from the faculty. Those included:

*Extending the school day 25 minutes. Instead of attending from 7:50 - 2:25, they would attend from 8:00 - 3:00.

*Format a tutoring schedule for the kids who needed extra help. It would consist of an hour before school and after. Teachers would be scheduled to cover this on a rotating schedule.

*Agree to eat lunch with the kids once a week in hopes of building relationships with the students.

*Two weeks of Professional Development during the summer at a pay rate of $30 an hour.

*An hour and a half after school once a week to review test scores and work with other faculty members to find more effective ways to reach the students.

*Accept more rigorous evaluations by a third party evaluator.

From what I have read, I get the impression that most of the teachers are not totally against it and would be open to learning more about what would be expected. The labor union, however, says no. These teachers are presently being paid anywhere between $70,000 and $79,000 a year to educate and put the children's first.

I work in our local school district and although I’m not a teacher, I see everyday what our teachers do. Noone demands more money for after school faculty meetings or departmental meetings. Most times there are teachers who volunteer their time to stay after school to help those who want extra help….again with no thought of payment compensation. They do it because they are concerned for the future of our kids….they care. I’m sure that there are two sides to every story and then the truth, but right now the teachers in Rhode Island are looking as if they need a career change.

The Time Traveler’s Wife

The previews looked great. My best friend said it was awesome and I’m wondering if I rented the right movie. After checking the box I realized that I did indeed rent the right movie, I just found it very disappointing. It wasn’t so bad that I turned it off….I finished watching it as I worked on my pile of laundry, but it was more confusing to me than interesting. Maybe it was a bad day for me to be trying to follow something that was deep, I don’t know. I could never figure out the time frames and I stayed mostly confused about how the time travel worked. Maybe it shouldn’t have been my focus?? No idea, but it’s not one I’d want to watch again.

The Couple’s Retreat

If you are looking for a movie that you and your man would both enjoy try The Couple’s Retreat. It’s a great chick flick with enough comedy to keep him interested as well. You won’t be able to help comparing your relationship to one of the couples and it is pretty comical. I would definitely recommend this one!

CA$H

I like the “guns blazin, shoot ‘em up” movies….you know where someone is going to get some revenge over being framed or family being hurt. I got in the mood for one of those the other day and messed up by thinking CA$H would do it for me. There are no words to describe how bad this movie is.

First of all, I don’t know who the good looking guy was on the cover because the guy that was in the movie was ugly as sin. The language was HORID!! I can handle some bad language but I’m telling you every vile word thinkable flew out of everyone’s mouth every other second. The story line from the box talked about a guy who got out of prison and went to take care of the people who killed his family. I never saw that story line in this movie. I think my son could have filmed iwith a camcorder and it be better quality. The first killing in the show almost made me hurl all over my husband….it was so graphically real. I couldn’t take it and turned it off within 15 min.

Save your money, ears and eyes…I wouldn’t even pick the box up.

It's None of My Business

It’s None of My Business

If your neighbor was having an affair would you expect an apology, some details or explanations? Although some may find it interesting to get an earful of drama, it frankly would be no one’s business. So why is it different for Tiger and Elin Woods?

Last night I listened as a host on a mainstream media channel say that Tiger needed to come clean with everyone on Friday. She said that he needed to “tell us more” than what had already been told…we need something new. Personally, I think the only person he needs to worry about coming clean with is his wife. Yes, he is a great golfer and he is in the public eye, but he is not in MY home, paying MY bills, fathering MY children or sharing MY bed. Taking this into consideration, I do not see where he owes me or anyone else an apology or explanation.

On the same show they had the famed feminist attorney Gloria Allred. Gloria is representing Veronica Siwik-Daniels, who is also known as Joslyn James in the porn industry. Apparently, she is one of many who had an affair or relationship with Tiger. She claims that he impregnated her twice and that she left the porn industry because he did not like what she did for a living. Their relationship allegedly lasted for the past three years. Sadly, Ms. Siwik-Daniels, feels like she was victimized and wronged. Gloria Allred has stoked that fire and she has been very vocal about the fact that Tiger needs to use his press conference tomorrow to publicly apologize to Veronica and he also needs to call and apologize to her personally. HELLO???? What about what she has done? She knew that she was getting involved with a married man that had children…does she not owe HIS WIFE an apology? Ms. Allred explained that Veronica had been victimized by Tiger because she believed him only to be involved with his wife and herself. PLEASE!!! This is ludicrous and almost laughable that they would actually come on TV and say these things. How does she honestly think his wife feels? She’s the one with the wedding band and marriage certificate that stood before God and exchanged vows!! How do ya think she, Mrs. Woods, feels to find out that SHE was one of many. Both of these women, Gloria Allred and the porn star, need to get a clue.

So what is it that draws us to the drama of these public figures? Why is it that we all feel like they owe us an explanation or that we have the right to know about their private lives? I can understand a situation like a politician because my tax dollars are paying their salaries and they are supposed to be working on my behalf….but a golfer? Nope, none of my business.

I love REDBOX!!!

Just because you tighten your budget belt does not mean that you have to go without all forms of entertainment. I love renting and watching movies. Nothing helps pass time quicker while ironing two mountains of clothes than to get lost in a movie while performing that monotonous task. If you have laundry piles like I do, you could easily understand why it would take several movies finish the job. Movie rentals at Blockbuster run around $4.99 a movie, but I have found a very inexpensive alternative….REDBOX!!

Redbox is basically a DVD vending machine. I never knew they existed until this past week and I have to say they are just divine little inventions. They are mainly located at various convenience stores and grocery stores….some inside and some are outside. So they get their first “star” for convenience. Another huge convenience is that you can rent a movie from one Redbox and return it to any other Redbox that may be convenient to you. This is great if you are traveling because you can literally return them to a Redbox in a different town.

What really puts them high on my list is that movies rentals are only $1 plus tax. They must be returned by 9 p.m. the following night or you get charged $1 late fee for each late day. Even if you rented two movies and had a late fee it would still be cheaper than one movie rental from Blockbuster. You just can’t beat that price no matter what your budget situation may be.

Don’t misunderstand and think that these are older releases either. Each box is stocked with new releases and get more new releases each Tuesday. They are also stocked with a variety of genres including children’s movies, action, drama, comedy and horror. You are guaranteed to find something that would suit anyone in your family. If there is a movie that you want to make sure you get you can also reserve it online and choose the location to pick it up. How awesome is that??

Be sure to check out www.redbox.com. It will take you through step-by-step on setting up your free account so that you can begin to enjoy. You can locate the Redbox rental locations in your town and see what is available at each. You can also get free rentals.

Let me know what you think of this new phenomena….I’m loving it!!

Coupons....Ching! Ching!!

Our economy is in the crapper, and it is affecting everyday Americans in a huge way. Most of us have been living life flying by the seat of our pants, getting what we want and worrying about it later....now reality has set in and we are in trouble. Even if you have been living well, I'm sure that you are now having to tighten your belt and figure ways to cut corners.


I used to hear stories of how people used coupons, saved hundreds of dollars and sometimes even got money back. Of course I never truly believed it was possible. I cut coupons and they stayed in my purse until they expired. Then reality hit and our financial situation changed dramatically. As I desperatley searched the internet for frugal living ideas, I backed into a site that taught me how to work the coupon game.


Making coupons work for you is really easy, and it has cut about $400 off of my monthly grocery bill. Although I have not mastered the art of couponing, I am learning and can not imagine why I never did this before. Let me tell you how I managed on my very first trip to Kroger with coupons:


3 Tubs of Koolaide
2 Tubs of Country Time Lemonade
2 Bowls of Kraft microwaveable mac & cheese
1 Box of Velveeta and Cheese
1 Bottle of Kraft BBQ Sauce
1 Bottle of Kraft Ranch Dressing


My total was $5.83!!!!


Needless to say, after this trip I was hooked. It has become a way of life for me and I have become obsessed with seeing just how much I can save. Some easy tips to get started:


1) Ask friends and relatives for their Sunday circulars to get as many coupons as possible.


2) Cut all coupons....even if it's something you don't normally buy because of the price.


3) Organize your coupons by whatever method you choose.


4) Check your sales circular. Mine comes out on Wednesday. I mainly shop Kroger because they will take any coupon that I have, up to .60, and double it. I look for items that are on sale and I then look to see if I have coupons to match. If I do not have a coupon from the newspaper, I will see if I can find one online to print. (NOTE...most computer printed coupons will not double)


5) There are a couple of sites that you can go and load coupons onto your store card.
http://www.shortcuts.com/ and http://www.cellfire.com/
Go to these sites and sign up completely free. You can upload e-coupons to your store card and at most places you are able to use that e-coupon WITH your paper coupon. It all depends on the store, but it works for me at Kroger. You will only get the e-coupon once, but you can leave and come back and it works again.
EXAMPLE....PB Toaster Strudel on sale for 1.69. I have an e-coupon for .75 off 2. I have a paper coupon for .75 off 2. Total would be $3.38 with the sale price only. After using the paper coupon and the e-coupon kicks in automatically your total for 2 would be $1.88 or .94 ea.


6) When I find items for a really good price I stock up so that I don't have to pay full price later. This works great for items such as ketchup, mustard, toothpaste, deoderant...you get the idea.


One site that I have found extremely helpful has been http://southernsavers.com/. Even if you aren't real sure how everything works....check this site out. It is very easy to follow and they "spell out" the sales and deals for many of the chain grocery stores and pharmacies.


Organizing is a HUGE key to success. I first organized my coupons in a little accordian style folder and I was saving a lot of money, but it took a lot of time for me to get through the grocery store while trying to pinch every penny. I decided to try a different method and organized my coupons in a 3 ring binder using baseball card inserts. The savings from this method was unbelievable!!! I didn't miss any coupons or waste a lot of times flipping through stacks. Everything was there at my fingertips and all I had to do was flip the page.


I won't lie and say it doesn't take time and effort, but once your get a system in place it is soooo worth it.