Saving money is great, and we all love coupons. But what about using those savings to get things for someone else who needs it a bit more than us?

Back to school sales are full of great buys. With the use of store and manufacturer coupons and special sales promotions, we can purchase more than we actually need. Had I realized the benefit of teaching my children to buy extra and then share it, I would have spent a little more to get a lot more.

We would have started by scouring the ads and collecting coupons. Coupons can help young children recognize numbers and monetary amounts. Older children can begin to comprehend the cost of everyday items and the savings that coupons represent. Armed with our coupons, we would compare prices at different stores and make shopping lists. By demonstrating how money can be saved by researching prices and making careful shopping decisions, we begin to teach wise financial management to our children.

We could begin our excess shopping with school supplies. We would make the shopping lists, purchasing extra if the store sale, our coupon, and our finances warranted it. We would parcel out what the children needed and then donate the rest to their teachers or schools. Teachers appreciate donated supplies for those children who can't afford them. We would continue to watch for other supply sales throughout the school year, because children need supplies all year. By donating supplies in school, children learn a valuable lesson in sharing and understanding the lives and needs of other children.

At the grocery store, we would pay attention to great deals on canned and non-perishable goods, especially if we gained additional savings through our coupons. We would go on family grocery trips and specifically search for those "just reduced" items and sale tags. I would explain how purchasing a little extra on our part can result in getting some needed essentials for someone else. By adding an extra box or can to every grocery cart, we would soon fill a box of non-perishable items that could be donated to a local shelter or food pantry.

At the department store, we would go through the clearance racks for those unbelievable bargains that might not be our size but rather a pre-chosen one. We would donate the clothes for a clothes closet or shelter, or save them for a Christmas Angel gift.

We could make note of the money we saved with coupons, sales, and "buy-one-get-one-free" offers and put the equivalent amount in a special savings bank. During the year, we could choose a charity to donate the money to or use the funds to complete a project to help someone else.

By using coupons, taking advantage of sales, and purchasing excess when we could, I would be saving money. But by using those savings to help someone else, I would be teaching my children to invest in something more valuable – the people who share this earth with them.

About the Author:

Luanne Davidson is the proud mother of three adult children and wonders what might have been if she had done a thing or two differently. She writes her "Coulda, Woudla, Shoulda" column each Thursday.

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