So last week was spring break for our boys.  Unfortunately on Tuesday I had to go to the ER with the worst pain I had ever been in.  Six hours later I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis and admitted to the hospital.  This meant my husband had to take time off work to be home with the boys.  I wasn’t released until Friday afternoon.  However, because of my stockpiling, I did not have to worry about them having food to eat.  They hung out in the backyard with dad and tore out a rotted portion of our deck and started rebuilding it.  There was lots of dirt and power tools, so great fun was had by all and they did just fine without me.

 On the way home from the hospital, my husband and I stopped by the pharmacy to pick up my vast array of medications only to hear that the total was going to be $145.00 and this was after our prescription insurance!!  Now while the number made our eyes pop, what made things manageable, was we had lots of food at home that we were able to take that amount of cash out of our weekly budget to cover the medications and roll with it.  I know we face the medical bills from last week, but know we can handle it with the money I am saving on couponing.  It also helped when I did go to the store to pick up the yogurt and egg whites to follow my special diet this week as I need a low residue diet while my stomach heals, and with the amount of antibiotics I am on, I need to eat yogurt daily.  In the picture you see below, I was able to get all of the yogurt you see, egg whites, taco shells, and taco seasoning (the taco shells and seasoning is for my husband and boys) for $11.50 with my coupons.  I guess the point I am making is that my learning how to use coupons and shop in a whole new way keeps blessing us over and over as we face daily life in a difficult economy.