I can't be the only one this happens too -- Share your stories

[ruderring]

Cool stories everyone. I have this happen sometimes but not often. Usually with food items. Run out of something and then I go somewhere and lo and behold on clearance or sale with a coupon. I love it when it happens.

[hollyhill]

Great Thread! I love these kind of stories...

I have many stories like this but I will share two, one when we were desperate and one that just happened...

Four years ago my Dh was in his last year of school (and third year of no work). It was Christmas, and we were DEAD broke, there was nothing in the coffers. I was working as much as I could but it wasn't enough, and only covered the absolute basics. We had three young children, one who still believed in Santa. I thought I would have to tell her "the truth" about Santa but I didn't want it to have to be this way.
I hadn't told anyone about how desperate we were... I had not gone to the food bank yet... I was praying desperately and I began to share how bad it was on this board.

But somehow, everyone began to know... they must have known that somehow we had managed with nothing for several years and things must be very hard because it was our third Christmas.
First three food packages full of luxury foods arrive from people I didn't know.
Then the college my Dh attended phoned and told my Dh that his family had been adopted by the librarian staff for Christmas..
they had seen him studying day after day and had talked to him a little...
They gave us a laundry hamper full of gifts, GC's and food....
And then on Christmas eve our Church arrived with a full Christmas dinner and gifts for the children..

We went from having nothing to the most amazing Christmas ever. It was a miracle. It still sends chills down my spine thinking of it.
And I am grateful now that I can be on the giving end again... And I know how important giving IS!


And more recently.
My microwave died.
My eldest daughter was told she was fast enough to probably go to trials in Montreal ( and we needed to purchase a plane ticket).
And that she should also go and race in Regina (another plane ticket).

All these were unexpected unbudgeted for expenses...

I went to timidly check my airmiles account. We had enough airmiles for both tickets and a microwave! WOOHOO!

So we can do it...YES!!!!

[max915]

When my son and his wife moved to San Francisco didn't want to take their washer and dryer along (why I don't know) anyway its just so happen that a week later I said something to a friend about them wanting to sell their washer and drier she just looked at me real funny and said that her daughter was just telling her that she was looking for used ones. Here the best part my son and her daughter went to school together from preschool through 2 years of college and hadn't seen each other for a couple of years. I just thought it was so cool that they got to sell it to her.

[ephofma]

I just read thru this whole thread and thoroughly enjoyed it. I also have this happen to me occasionally. The two instances that really stand out in my mind occurred 1. about 25 years ago and 2. within the last month. The first one involved a baby shower I was hosting for a df who was due to deliver her baby in about 6 weeks. Her mother and 2 sisters were to help me by providing some of the funds needed for the cake, paper goods, etc. They were also to help in providing snacks. Three days before the shower the two sisters informed me they were not attending or even helping in any way with the shower because they had better things to do and were not happy with their big sis right now. The night before the shower the Mom called and said she also was not coming and would be providing no funds and no food. She just wasn't 'feeling it'. I had been putting aside food and paper goods little by little for a month or so, but was real short for what I needed. I went to the grocery store the day of the shower to purchase the remaining necessities and cake with $10. This store doubled coupons at the time and were quite used to me. The store manager said he had just gotten into trouble because he had forgotten to have a store promo for a $50 store check from, I believe, Huggies. He told me that I was one of the cashiers favorite customers and they had taken a vote and decided to give it to me. I almost fainted. I cried. I explained everything about the shower and he was so excited to be a part of such a 'cool thing' he marched me over to the bakery and donated the cake. I was able to get everything I needed and a little more. The shower was a success even tho no one on either side of the family showed and it was therefor small. The mom-to-be, however, had a grand time. I have to admit I prayed the night before the shopping trip and all the way to the store. The second time was just recently and involved by dd and her dh. Apparently, they had been given four of the pyrex all white baking dishes w lids and they did not need and were not crazy about them. They brought them over to me to see if I would like them. YES. I had been looking at that type of pyrex ware for a good 15-20 years, but I could not afford them and simply could not find them at the thrift stores or yard sales. They never seemed to go on sale. I just could not afford them and they were definitely not a necessity. I just love them. My kids loved the story. And the price was right!