A few months before my husband and I were married, we wrote a purpose statement for our marriage hoping to be able to look at our beliefs as a couple and determine some goals that would serve as a guide for the way we wanted live our lives and raise our family. It was a very good exercise for us and actually took almost a week to write in between our conversations, writing down our thoughts, reading Scripture, praying and deciding exactly how we wanted to word it.

This is what is says:

By God’s grace we will seek in our marriage to exemplify the relationship between Christ and His church by exhibiting a self-sacrificing devotion to Christ and by making the Word of God our uncompromising foundation and guide to all our lives affairs; by practicing selfless love, enjoyable companionship, and spiritual concern and accountability toward each other; by creating a Christ-honoring atmosphere in our home; by raising children who love and fear the Lord; by working as a team to be a light to the lost and to edify the body of believers for the glory of God.

We had it printed in our wedding program and asked that people pray that we would be true to our statement. It now sits framed in our bedroom on our dresser and we often look it over to re-analyze where we are and where we should be.

You may have something like a purpose statement for your marriage or family, but if you don’t (and want to), start by sitting down and writing out the following:

1. What is our purpose (as a couple? as a family?)?
2. How can we carry that purpose out?

Then put some flesh on those bones and fill in your statement with the "how to’s". It’s a very fun excercise and a great way to get your family involved, and when you are finished, you can frame it and put it on your wall!

Check out more Works-for-Me-Wednesday ideas here .

Finally – a few more CVS deal scenarios! Here are a few CVS deal scenarios for this week:

Transaction #1
Oral B Stages Power Toothbrush $5.99 (earn $3 ECB’s)
Oral B Stages Power Toothbrush $5.99 (earn $3 ECB’s)
Listerine Smart Rinse 250 ml $3.49 (earn $3.49 ECB’s)
Total before coupons - $15.47
BOGO Free Oral B coupon (P&G 6/1)
$1 off Listerine coupon (RP 4/27 or printable )
$3/$15 coupon
Total After Coupons: $5.48
Total ECB’s Earned: $9.49
______________________________________________
Transaction #2
Alavert Product (make sure to buy 2) $6.99 (earn $5 ECB’s)
Alavert Product $6.99
CVS Pharmacy Sheer or Plastic Bandages 40 ct $1.99 (earn $1.99ECB’s)
Total before coupons - $15.97
$4 off Alavert coupon (printable )
$4 off Alavert coupon (printable )
$3/$15 coupon
Total After Coupons: $4.97
Total ECB’s Earned: $6.99
______________________________________________
Transaction #3
Almay Mascara $6.99 (earn $5 ECB’s)
Sally Hansen Color Quick Nail Color Pen $7.99 (earn $5 ECB’s)
CVS Pharmacy Sheer or Plastic Bandages 40 ct $1.99 (earn $1.99ECB’s)
Total before coupons - $16.97
$1 off Almay coupn (3/9 or 5/18 inserts – not sure which ones)
$2 off Sally Hanson coupon (3/30 insert – not sure which one)
$3/$15 coupon
Total After Coupons: $10.97
Total ECB’s Earned: $11.99

Let me know if you see any errors or if you have any suggestions!

1st Trip: My Total: $1.18

Total ECB’s used: $41.63

ECB’s earned: $38.27

Coupons used:

$3/$15 CVS

$10/$50 CVS (catalina)

$4/1 Schick Quattro Razor (5/4 RP)

$4/1 Gillette Venus Razor (5/4 PG)

*Just found at money saving mom, coupon for Tums QuikPak: Use $1/1 coupon in 5/18 S insert plus send in for full rebate in the same insert.

So, I lost about $3 ECB’s this trip, but it wasn’t too bad. I got some tanning lotion that I needed, but I saved money buying it this way. Most of these were monthly deals. The razors are earning $3 ECB’s this week (May 18-24). They were out of some of the other things I wanted to get. Oh well.

2nd Trip: My Total: $0.81! Wow!

ECB’s used: $25

ECB’s earned: $13.37 (lost a few this time due to my mistake!)

Used $10/$50 CVS (catalina)

Used $3/$15 CVS

Used (2) B1G1 Sobe coupons here

*buy 2 Sobe’s get $1ecb’s. $1.49 each before coupon.

Used (2) $1/1 Edge coupons here

*on sale $1.88

Used $1/1 Aquafresh Coupon here (used for travel size .99 each)

Used KY Yours & Mine $5 coupon here

*These are $19.99, but you get $10 ecb’s back. As you can see, I got the wrong kind, and lost my ECB’s! Bummer!! I think I’ll try to exchange it tomorrow.

Used $2/1 Schick Razor Coupon from 5/11 S insert. Trial size are $0.99, plus got overage!

*I just found a B1G1 coupon for ANY size Schick Razors in the 4/22 SS insert! You may be able to use it with the above deal.

You may be wondering why in the world I bought so much milk! Well, as I was browsing the refrigerated section, I noticed a little sticker on the milk case that said, “50% off milk expiring within 3 days”. So, hoping I’d get lucky, I looked in the case and sure enough I found 4 gallons that were expiring in two days! So, I got them for $1.94 each. Yay! They went into my freezer for future use. That was the best deal yet! From now on I’m going to go straight to the milk section to look for more expiring milk!

Thanks to Money Saving Mom for some of these coupons! You can still get these deals, so go get ‘em!!

At about 30 min. till 10pm I realized that I had $5 in ECB’s that were going to expire today. Oh no! 5 bucks… I can’t let 5 bucks go to waste! So, I threw together some coupons and ran out the door. I rushed through the store, and happily was able to find everything I was looking for. Just these three things. I hadn’t really had time to put together a better shopping trip. Oh well.

As I checked out, the total sounded a little high, but I thought, I guess I just miscalculated or something. It came to $10.02. I used $7.79 in ECB’s and paid $2.23 cash. The cashier handed me my receipt and as I walked towards the door I scanned it to make sure all of my ECB’s had printed out. Oops, uh-oh, I’m missing ECB’s. So, I turned around and said, “Uh, some of my ECB’s didn’t print out.” As the cashier looked over my receipt, and reviewed the weekly flyer, he concluded that I had purchased the wrong kind of toothpaste. I told him that the tubes I chose were right above the tag advertising $2 ECB’s with purchase. Another worker went back to the toothpaste aisle to verify. He came back a minute later and announced that the tag was in the wrong place. I began to worry that I’d just lost my ECB’s I’d used.

The young cashier assured me that I would get store credit or something back for them. He just wasn’t sure how to go about refunding me. As they began locking the store up, the older man there working took over. He quickly became confused and they both stood behind the register trying to figure out how to do this. Then the older one decided he was going to refund the whole transaction, and give me my coupons and ECB’s back to start over with. After voiding everything out, he next concluded that it made perfect sense for him to give me the total amount before coupons back in cash. So, he took $22.xx and handed it to me. Confused, I tried to interrupt to tell him that I didn’t think that was right, but he cut me off and hurriedly tried to explain his theory. I closed my mouth, and stood patiently as they tried to get it right. After he re-rung everything up, and took my coupons and my $5 ECB, my total came to $2.01. He took the $2.01 from that $22, and then handed me my corrected receipt along with almost 20 dollars!

Now, of course I knew this wasn’t right. All I’d paid the first time was $2.23 out of pocket, and now he was trying to give me $20 back? I politely said, “This isn’t right. I only gave you $2.23 to begin with. You need to subtract that $2.01 from the $2.23 and that should be my change. This is too much.” He looked at it for a moment, and then realized his mistake. I gave him the cash back, and he gave me my correct change. I have to say that for a split moment, a very split moment, it occurred to me that I could walk out of there with a hefty profit. But I didn’t give it a second thought. No way would I do that. Satan, don’t even try it!

I checked over my new receipt and found that my ECB’s were all there. I apologized for the trouble, and thanked them for their patience. As I was just about to turn to walk away, the cashier handed me the ECB’s that printed out on my first, incorrect receipt. Cool! So, along with my $6 ECB’s for the razor, and $4 ECB’s for the toothpastes, I got an extra $6 ECB’s. Plus, I got two $10/$50 coupons. Even though it was a lot of trouble, it was worth it to spend that expiring $5.

May 4th Trip:

Total Out of Pocket: $4.31

ECB’s used: $20.96

ECB’s earned: $22.48

This took three transactions. Here’s what I did:

Transaction 1:

Pampers Jumbo Pack $8.99

Kandoo Hand Soap $

*Used $2/2 Pampers and Kandoo products coupon (4/6 PG, 5/4 PG)

Gillette Venus Razor $9.99

*Used $4/1 (5/4 PG)

2 CoverGirl Volume Exact Mascara’s BOGO $7.49

*Used $2.50/2 (5/4 PG)

Skin Effects Starter Kit $7.99

(prices starting at $6.99, they were out of those so I got this)

*Used $5/1 CVS coupon (expired 5/4)

*Used $2/1 CVS coupon (from Reinventing Beauty Book; these coupon pamphlets are also found in stacks on the counter in the store.)

Johnson’s Buddies Soap $.99

*Used $1/1 (4/27 RP), there are also printable coupons HERE

Kiss French Tip Nails $5.99

*Used $1/1 CVS catalina (printed out on a previous receipt)

Children’s Zyrtec $6.99 (Okay, I messed up on this. I got the wrong thing. I was supposed to get the Zyrtec D, to earn $3 ECB’s. Oops! Oh well. The coupon is good on any product though.)

*Used $4/1 (3/30 S)

Total (w/out coupons) Before Tax: $51.42

*Used $10/$50 CVS catalina

*Used $4/$20 CVS

*Used $3/$15 CVS (thanks Crystal!)

*Used all above listed coupons

*Used $11.97 ECB’s

My Final Total: $1.94

ECB’s Earned $5 (plus on my way to earning more for the Kiss nails and the Skin Effects.)

Transaction 2:

Dawn Dish Soap $.88

*Used $.25/1 (4/6 PG)

Charmin Ultra Soft 12 pk $5.99

*Used $.25/1 (4/6 PG, 5/4 PG)

OraPik Traveler Pack $2.79 (monthly deal)

Tums QuickPak $4.69 (monthly deal)

* I just found a $2.50 coupon HERE for this. Wish I knew about it before I bought this!

Skin Effects $6.99

*Used $5/1 CVS

*Used $2/1 CVS

Total Before Tax and Coupons: $21.34

*Used $4/$20 CVS

*Used $3/$15 CVS

*Used all other coupons

*Used $5 ECB’s

My Final Total: $2.00

ECB’s Earned: $7.48

Transaction 3:

Bliss Chocolates $2.99

*Used $1/1 from Reinventing Beauty pamphlets (found in store)

Kiss French Nails $5.99

Skin Effects $6.99

*Used $5/1 CVS

*Used $2/1 CVS (from Reinventing Beauty pamphlets)

Kiss French Nails $5.99

Total Before Tax and Coupons: $15.97

*Used $3/$15 CVS

*Used $3.99 ECB’s

My Final Total: $.37!!

ECB’s Earned: $10

So, I came home from shopping skipping and giddy. Pretty pleased with myself! And of course, praising God for such a blessing! ( I had prayed that it would be a good trip before I went. Isn’t the Lord so wonderfully faithful?!)

Here’s the scoop from Steph:

Skin Effects - 5 ECB when you buy $20 worth of Skin Effects [limit 1]. This doesn’t look like the best deal, however, there is a $5 off CVS coupon that you can print here as well as a $2 manufacturer coupon in the Beauty Handbook found at CVS (I posted about this here under transaction #2). The rule is you can use 1 CVS coupon and 1 manufacturer coupon for each item, so you can use both these coupons on each item you buy. There is a foaming facial cleanser and a facial scrub that are $6.99 each, making this a freebie after coupons. BUT, you can’t use 2 similiar CVS coupons in a single transaction because it’ll beep, meaning you would have to buy this in 3 different transactions in order to get over $20. It would look like this:

Skin Effects foaming facial cleanser or facial scrub = 6.99
- $5 CVS SE coupon
= 1.99 + tax
- $2 manufacturer SE coupon
= -0.01 + tax (comes out to 11 cents for me)

Do this 3 times and after the 3rd transaction, your 5 ECB will print out. Now, make sure to leave enough time between transactions for the system to update. You’ll probably also want to leave enough time for the cashier to not remember that you’ve already used a CVS Skin Effects coupon because they’re supposed to be one per customer but they usually don’t care and don’t call you out on it unless you’re using it 20 times over and over. Normally, I’d say spread this out over the next week but the CVS coupon expires today, the 4th, so I’m going to do it all today. CVS coupons don’t beep until about 2 weeks after they’ve expired but it’s up to your cashier if they want to accept it or not after today.

See her whole article on May 4-10th CVS deals HERE

Here are a few CVS deal scenarios for 5/4 to 5/10. Let me know if you see any errors or if you have any suggestions! Check out more scenarios at Money Saving Mom.

Transaction #1

Garnier Nutrisse or 100% Color - $5.99 (earn $2 ECB’s)
Exedrin (100 ct.) – $5.99 (earn $2 ECB’s)
Colgate 360 toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s)

Total Before Coupons: $15.97

$3 off Garnier Nutrisse Haircolor coupon (3/9 SS or 5/4 V insert)
$2 off Exedrin coupon (printable )
$1 off Colgate coupon (4/27 SS insert)
$3/$15 CVS coupon *

Total After Coupons: $6.97
ECB’s Earned: $7.99
______________________________________________

Transaction #2

Benefiber Chewable Tablets (36 TB) - $6.69 (earn $3 ECB’s)
Venus Razor - $9.99 (earn $5 ECB’s)

Total Before Coupons: $16.68

$2 off Benefiber coupon (4/13 SS insert)
$4 off Venus razor coupon (5/4 P&G insert)
$3/$15 CVS coupon *

Total After Coupons: $7.68
ECB’s Earned: $8.00
______________________________________________

Transaction #3

Kiss/Broadway Nail Product - $1.99 (earn $5 ECB’s WYB 2)
Kiss/Broadway Nail Product - $1.99
York Mints, Breathsavers or Ice Breakers - $1.50 (earn $2 ECB’s WYB 2)
York Mints, Breathsavers or Ice Breakers - $1.50
Gilette Body Wash - $3.99 (earn $2 ECB’s)
Colgate 360 toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s)
Filler (something to put you over $15)
Total Before Coupons: $14.96

$1 off Colgate coupon (4/27 SS insert)
$3/$15 CVS coupon *

Total After Coupons: $10.96
ECB’s Earned: $12.99

May Monthly Deal Scenarios

Transaction #1

Aquafresh Toothpaste - $2.99 (earn $2.99 ECB’s)
Aquafresh Toothpaste - $2.99 (earn $2.99 ECB’s)
Tums Quik Pak 24 ct - $4.69 (earn 4.69 ECB’s)
Tums Quik Pak 24 ct - $4.69 (earn 4.69 ECB’s)

Total before coupons: $15.36

$1.50 off Aquafresh coupon (4/6 SS)
$1.50 off Aquafresh coupon (4/6 SS)
$1/2 Tums coupon (3/16 Smart Source insert)
$3/$15 CVS Coupon *

Total After Coupons: $8.36
Total ECB’s Earned: $15.36
______________________________________________

Transaction #2

Aquafresh Toothpaste - $2.99 (earn $2.99 ECB’s)
Orapik Traveler - $2.79 (earn $2.79 ECB’s)
Orapik Traveler - $2.79 (earn $2.79 ECB’s)
Orapik Traveler - $2.79 (earn $2.79 ECB’s)
Colgate 360 clean or deep clean toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s)

Total before coupons: $15.35

$1.00 off Colgate Coupon (4/27 SS)
$1.00 off Aquafresh coupon (4/6 SS or printable )
$3/$15 CVS Coupon *

Total After Coupons: $10.35
Total ECB’s Earned: $15.35
______________________________________________

Transaction #3

Colgate 360 clean or deep clean toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s)
Colgate 360 clean or deep clean toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s) CVS Non Drowsy Allergy Relief 5 ct - $3.79 (earn $3.79 ECB’)
CVS Non Drowsy Allergy Relief 5 ct - $3.79 (earn $3.79 ECB’)

Total Before Coupons: $15.56

$1.00 off Colgate Coupon (4/27 SS)
$0.75 off Colgate Coupon (3/30 SS)
$3/$15 CVS Coupon *

Total After Coupons: $10.31
Total ECB’s Earned: $15.56
______________________________________________

Transaction #4

CVS Non Drowsy Allergy Relief 5 ct - $3.79 (earn $3.79 ECB’)
Freestyle Lite or Freedom lite glucose meter - $10.00 (earn $10 ECB’s) Life Fitness Energy Gum - $2.49 (earn $1 ECB)

Total before coupons: $16.28

$3/$15 CVS Coupon *

Total After Coupons: $13.28
Total ECB’s Earned: $14.79

*if you can’t get a $3/$25 CVS coupon, you could use a $2/$10 CVS coupon found in the purple CVS pamphlet (usually near the pharmacy).

Here are a few CVS deal scenarios for 5/4 to 5/10. Let me know if you see any errors or if you have any suggestions! Check out more scenarios at Money Saving Mom.

Transaction #1

Garnier Nutrisse or 100% Color - $5.99 (earn $2 ECB’s)
Exedrin (100 ct.) – $5.99 (earn $2 ECB’s)
Colgate 360 toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s)

Total Before Coupons: $15.97

$3 off Garnier Nutrisse Haircolor coupon (3/9 SS or 5/4 V insert)
$2 off Exedrin coupon (printable )
$1 off Colgate coupon (4/27 SS insert)
$3/$15 CVS coupon *

Total After Coupons: $6.97
ECB’s Earned: $7.99
______________________________________________

Transaction #2

Benefiber Chewable Tablets (36 TB) - $6.69 (earn $3 ECB’s)
Venus Razor - $9.99 (earn $5 ECB’s)

Total Before Coupons: $16.68

$2 off Benefiber coupon (4/13 SS insert)
$4 off Venus razor coupon (5/4 P&G insert)
$3/$15 CVS coupon *

Total After Coupons: $7.68
ECB’s Earned: $8.00
______________________________________________

Transaction #3

Kiss/Broadway Nail Product - $1.99 (earn $5 ECB’s WYB 2)
Kiss/Broadway Nail Product - $1.99
York Mints, Breathsavers or Ice Breakers - $1.50 (earn $2 ECB’s WYB 2)
York Mints, Breathsavers or Ice Breakers - $1.50
Gilette Body Wash - $3.99 (earn $2 ECB’s)
Colgate 360 toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s)
Filler (something to put you over $15)
Total Before Coupons: $14.96

$1 off Colgate coupon (4/27 SS insert)
$3/$15 CVS coupon *

Total After Coupons: $10.96
ECB’s Earned: $12.99

May Monthly Deal Scenarios

Transaction #1

Aquafresh Toothpaste - $2.99 (earn $2.99 ECB’s)
Aquafresh Toothpaste - $2.99 (earn $2.99 ECB’s)
Tums Quik Pak 24 ct - $4.69 (earn 4.69 ECB’s)
Tums Quik Pak 24 ct - $4.69 (earn 4.69 ECB’s)

Total before coupons: $15.36

$1.50 off Aquafresh coupon (4/6 SS)
$1.50 off Aquafresh coupon (4/6 SS)
$1/2 Tums coupon (3/16 Smart Source insert)
$3/$15 CVS Coupon *

Total After Coupons: $8.36
Total ECB’s Earned: $15.36
______________________________________________

Transaction #2

Aquafresh Toothpaste - $2.99 (earn $2.99 ECB’s)
Orapik Traveler - $2.79 (earn $2.79 ECB’s)
Orapik Traveler - $2.79 (earn $2.79 ECB’s)
Orapik Traveler - $2.79 (earn $2.79 ECB’s)
Colgate 360 clean or deep clean toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s)

Total before coupons: $15.35

$1.00 off Colgate Coupon (4/27 SS)
$1.00 off Aquafresh coupon (4/6 SS or printable )
$3/$15 CVS Coupon *

Total After Coupons: $10.35
Total ECB’s Earned: $15.35
______________________________________________

Transaction #3

Colgate 360 clean or deep clean toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s)
Colgate 360 clean or deep clean toothbrush - $3.99 (earn $3.99 ECB’s) CVS Non Drowsy Allergy Relief 5 ct - $3.79 (earn $3.79 ECB’)
CVS Non Drowsy Allergy Relief 5 ct - $3.79 (earn $3.79 ECB’)

Total Before Coupons: $15.56

$1.00 off Colgate Coupon (4/27 SS)
$0.75 off Colgate Coupon (3/30 SS)
$3/$15 CVS Coupon *

Total After Coupons: $10.31
Total ECB’s Earned: $15.56
______________________________________________

Transaction #4

CVS Non Drowsy Allergy Relief 5 ct - $3.79 (earn $3.79 ECB’)
Freestyle Lite or Freedom lite glucose meter - $10.00 (earn $10 ECB’s) Life Fitness Energy Gum - $2.49 (earn $1 ECB)

Total before coupons: $16.28

$3/$15 CVS Coupon *

Total After Coupons: $13.28
Total ECB’s Earned: $14.79

*if you can’t get a $3/$25 CVS coupon, you could use a $2/$10 CVS coupon found in the purple CVS pamphlet (usually near the pharmacy).

Got a lot of dental hygiene products this week! And even more Essence of Beauty supplies (which I heard are still ringing up ECB’s for May…I wonder if it’ll last the whole month?).

Total ECB’s Spent: $47.03

Total ECB’s Earned: $65.37

Total OOP: $4.13

Since the weather is warming up around here and it’s about time to introduce my son to "swimming", I used some extra ECB’s to buy a kiddie pool and some Little Swimmers diapers

Can’t wait to try them out!

Haven’t tried this yet, but HERE is a link to find this coupon.