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See I told you, this would help!

Coupon Abbreviations
  • SC = Store Coupon
  • MC = Manufacturer Coupon
  • SS = Smart Source
  • RMN = Retail Me Not
  • PG = Proctor and Gamble
Coupon Terms
  • WYB = When You Buy
  • B1G1 = Buy One Get One Free
  • .75/1 = 75 cents off one item
  • .75/3 = 75 cents off three items
  • EXP = Expiration Date

Going Nuts? I can help you understand coupon terms and abbreviations

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Over a month ago Operation Christmas Child and I put out a challenge for all of you: to make the Most Awesome Gift Box.  There was a list of specific requirements and even a rubric for how they would be judged (who said you were done with school once you graduated?).  The winner had to meet the criteria for entry, have the most unique item, the best value in items, and creativity in personalization.

After the post, we received some absolutely incredible entries from many of you.  I am really proud of all my Southern Savers who stepped up to the challenge on this one!  Unfortunately we can only choose one of them to win the $300 Visa Gift Card, but congratulations to everyone who entered for doing great work.

So…here it is.  Drumroll please.

(how cool to make the inside of the box a present too!)

The winner, after a month of entries and sorting through all the shoe boxes, is dandcrowe@.  Congratulations; your $300 gift card will be on the way soon!  Good work everyone and thanks for supporting Operation Christmas Child!

Here are some excerpts from the winners entry:

1)  My free item is also unique:  it is the original painting on the front of the photo album.  It was given to me by my friend, Katie Faerber, who based her work on paintings from The Nativity by Francesca Crespi.  I told her what I was planning to do with the shoe box and she gladly shared it with me.  I painted the inside of the box to resemble the stable in the painting and cut apart figures to laminate and make into finger puppets…

2) The receipts will show that the candy was all 50 cents or less.  Several other items (like the kaleidoscope, rings, balls, etc.) were also less than 50 cents…

3) First, I participated in Operation Christmas Child for several years, often wondering if my box might actually reach a child who would later be adopted by me and my husband.  I have stood in front of the pile of shoe boxes being collected by the school where I work and prayed and cried, feeling like Hannah, wondering when my time would finally come.  Two years ago, God brought a four year old boy from India into my family.  It was lovely to pack a box with his help!

There were so many amazing entries that the folks at Operation Christmas Child narrowed it down to the top 10 and then had all of the office staff vote for the best one.  I’m amazed reading some of the stories that they sent me and looking at the pictures.  You guys are way too creative!!!

A picture what was in another box in the top 4:

You still have until Saturday to get boxes dropped off at a location near you, so get packing!