Money Watch

It wasn't so long ago that there were certain things you could count on when shopping or eating out:


Buying a bigger bag or larger amount of something was cheaper than buying a smaller one.

Purchasing  a  combination deal -- say a sandwich, drink and chips -- was cheaper than buying the three items separately

Things like that.


Well, lately I have been noticing something:

I needed 24 oz of chocolate chips. It was $1 cheaper to buy two 12 oz packages than a 24 oz package.

I went to a coffee shop and discovered that it would be cheaper to buy my sandwich and tea separately than to purchase Combo #5, which included the same items.

At one gas station, instead of lining up the selection buttons from left to right in order of price, they put the button for the cheapest grade in the middle.

Today, I found toilet paper rolls 2 for $1. However, the packages of four were 2 for  $5 -- so eight  rolls for $5 instead of four. Packs of 12 were $7 and packs of 20 were $12, all for the same type of roll. I bought the individual ones, though some people might think the convenience of  the package worth the extra money. Which is fine if they know they are paying it.

Have some people been tricked? Is that the stores' intention?

I have no idea. I just thought I'd mention it so you could be on the lookout.

Anything similar in your area?

Song for Sunday: The Blessing

I love babies. I mean really love them.

Today I get to watch one. So I am kinda keyed into them.

At church this morning, two beautiful girls visited from an Episcopal church and performed a sacred dance as part of our worship. In the Episcopal Church, they baptize infants and the dance was originally for a baptism. They song they used is called "The Blessing" and is sung by a parent to a child.

The song was written by Brendan Graham and David Downes and it is very beautiful. It is today's Song for Sunday.

What songs have touched your heart lately?

Ongoing Prayers

There's nothing to report, I guess, so the Nigerian girls are largely fading out of the news.

The thing is, they are still out there, real girls, needing help.

I do not pretend to know what governments, NGOs and traditional hunters should do. Many people are pressuring the authorities to hurry up and find and rescue those girls. The authorities have reminded people that it will do no good to rescue them if the rescue ends in their deaths.


I do know that there are frightened girls, hurting families, uncertainty.

I also know that God is aware of all that and that He does know what is best.

So I keep praying for Kume. (See more here.) I pray for her protection, for her family and for her classmates. I pray for the authorities and, yes, even for the Boko Haram, that they may release the girls unharmed.

I hope I do not forget as the days drag on and there is little to report.

Please keep praying, too.