~Queen of Sassy Savings~

~24 Hour Fitness FREE 7 Day Pass!~

2012-02-01T08:50:00.002-06:00

So many of you have made 2012 goals to get fit. This offer will allow you to get started for FREE!

Go HERE for your 24 Hour Fitness Free 7 day pass!

Blessings~
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2012-01-27T07:56:00.001-06:00

Go HERE to see which coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Clipping!

SHO

~JBF Dallas Spring Sale!~

2012-01-25T07:19:00.005-06:00

Here are some ways to participate in the Just Between Friends Sale this Spring!

• SELL your items and make 65%!
• VOLUNTEER and be one of the first to shop and earn an extra 5%!
• SHOP and save even more money!

For more information, go HERE.

JBF is AWESOME! I want to encourage you all to be a part of it. Mark your calendar for March 22-25, 2012.

Wednesday Blessings!

SHO

2012-01-24T17:11:00.001-06:00

The offer allows you to complete your federal tax return using their online product for FREE! (State returns are an additional fee.)

Go HERE to get started!

This looks like a great deal!

SHO

~Disney Tip-Food & Beverage!~

2012-01-23T07:23:00.012-06:00

Did you know that you can bring your own food & beverages into all the Disney parks? This is wonderful! Truly wonderful! The waters were $2.50 each and the snacks & meals were expensive. We only ate dinner at the park once and were not impressed with it. I was very glad we didn't waste any additional money on food that wasn't that tasty!

We took a soft-sided cooler (it folded up well in our luggage) and packed our sodas & water in the bottom with the ice first. We pre-made our sandwiches at the hotel and then also packed all our snacks (crackers, granola bars, etc). We ate lunch everyday from our cooler. We never had to buy a drink at any park either. They have water fountains where you can refill the water bottles. The water isn't great, however it was FREE!

We saved HUNDREDS by bringing our own lunch, snacks, fruit & drinks into the parks.
The thing that truly amazed us was that we were there for 1 week and only saw about 4 other families bring their own food, snacks or drinks into the parks. We were there at a busy time with THOUSANDS of families and they were all just shelling out money for things that would have been so easy to put in a backpack or stroller and bring with them.

What about a dining plan?
For us, it was much cheaper to do it this way. We could have added a meal plan to our resort package, but I'm so glad we didn't!

Happy Monday!

SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2012-01-20T07:46:00.002-06:00

Go HERE to see which coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Clipping!

SHO

2012-01-18T10:33:00.004-06:00

The offer allows you to complete your federal tax return using their online product for FREE! (State returns are an additional fee.)

Go HERE to get started!

This looks like a great deal!

SHO

~Disney Tip-How will you roll?~

2012-01-18T10:20:00.004-06:00

Here is another money saving Disney tip:

Bring your own stroller! The stroller rental prices were $15 for a single & $31 for a double per day at each park. If you have 2 children and were at the parks for 6 days that would be $186 just in stroller rental fees!

Do you really need a stroller?
YES! Unless you have an older child, I would HIGHLY recommend you using a stroller (even if you typically don't). I don't know any child under 6 that can walk for 12 hours and not get severely cranky. It was nice for my daughter to be able to stroll in between rides. Plus, it was really nice to be able to store our stuff in the stroller.

What if you fly?
You can check your stroller at the gate and it doesn't count as a carry-on. We didn't check any luggage for our trip and simply carried the stroller to the gate. They will stow it under the plane for you for FREE :)

More Disney tips to come....

Wednesday Blessings~
SHO

~Disney Tip- Fly vs. Drive?~

2012-01-16T12:17:00.009-06:00

This tip may shock some of you...Consider Flying! If you have 2 or less children, it is likely that you will spend more on gas, hotels (on the way) and food just getting there rather than flying. There are usually some good airfare deals to Orlando from Dallas. Don't forget the time you would spend driving. For the same price or possibly cheaper, flying is the way to go. You are not tired from traveling when you arrive. Plus, it is super convenient to not have a car in Orlando.

WHAT? Did I just say it is "super convenient to not have a car in Orlando"?
Yes! It seems like everywhere we went, they charged for parking. Our resort (inside the Downtown Disney area) charged $8 per day for parking. The Disney parks charge $14 per day to park. For a family that stays 6 days it would cost $132 just in parking!

If you stay at a resort inside Disney and use their bus transportation to and from the parks it is FREE! Plus, they drop you off at a convenient location near the entrance. I highly recommend this! It is worth paying a little more for a resort inside the Disney area to be able to use the Disney buses (they run every 30 minutes).

How did we get from the airport to the resort?
Our particular resort did not offer transportation to & from the airport. However, some Disney resorts have a bus for airport transportation. This actually worked out to our favor anyway. I called around to a few shuttle companies to find the best deal. We ended up getting a town car service that provided a booster seat (free of charge) and also one stop off at Publix for a 20 minute grocery run. This was perfect for us so that we could get our food for the week on the way to the resort!

There are many things to consider if you are contemplating flying v. driving. Parking fees, wear & tear on your vehicle, gas, hotel, food & snacks, etc. Last year I had one friend with 2 children (family of 4) that flew and got a great price for airfare (around $200 per person). I also had a friend who drove with her family of 4. The friend who drove ended up spending more than the friend who flew! Plus, the friend who flew had more "vacation time" to spend in Florida.

Please remember that this is all based off being located in Dallas.

More Disney tips to come...

Happy Monday!
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2012-01-13T07:27:00.005-06:00

Click HERE to find out what coupons will be in the Sunday paper.

Happy Clipping!

SHO

~Our Disney World Plan~

2012-01-11T08:33:00.011-06:00

We decided back in August that we would take a trip rather than exchanging gifts this Christmas. We have all been excited for months about our trip to Disney World! I have been getting very creative with ways to save for this trip. My goal was to not use any of our savings money, but to 100% pay for this vacation with the extra money that I've been earning. I was inspired to do this by my friend, Christy, that I wrote about HERE. That was a CHALLENGE! Whew!

What I've learned through it all?
If you want something bad enough, write it down! I posted a Disney World Savings Fund sheet on my pantry door for us to look at everyday. I put down every dollar (even cent) that we save. On that same sheet I wrote the breakdown of exactly how much everything would cost. Of course, the food category was not exact. However, we had a very close idea of what it would cost.

This process did not seem like such a huge leap by writing it all down. It has been wonderful to see my daughter bring me pennies that she has found. She has loved contributing to the fund. That was my goal! I wanted her to feel like she was part of us getting there too. I believe that she will have a great appreciation for something that she knows that we worked together as a family for. Yes, I realize she is young. However, this is a great lesson at any age.

It is never too early to start teaching your children the value of money and teamwork...Two things that they will need great knowledge of the rest of their lives.

In this series I will be writing about ways that I saved the money for Disney World and how we saved money once we were there. Literally, we saved HUNDREDS by doing a few simple things!

Wednesday Blessings~
SHO

~2012 Financial Goals!~

2012-01-09T07:33:00.006-06:00

Well, it's that time of the year to set those money goals. This is an exciting time for me as I challenge myself more each year. It is amazing what you can accomplish with a plan.

Now that you have had a week to come up with some goals...what are they? Here are a few of my 2012 financial goals:

*Save 25% of our income
*Tithe to our church (We've done this for over 10 years. I always like to include it.)
*Give to a ministry (more to come on that at a later date)
*Give $$ to a family in need
*Save $$ for a mission trip
*Save $$ for our island trip
*Save $$ for family camp
*Give supplies to a family in need
*Stay within budget in every category
*Use what I have on hand. This may not sound like a financial goal, but it will save me money to use up some supplies instead of replenishing.

Most importantly, my goal is to be thankful for what God has given me. I want to use our resources to the best of my ability. My goal is to be the best steward possible with GOD'S money.

Monday Blessings~
SHO

~HUGE Coupon Weekend!~

2012-01-06T12:21:00.003-06:00

This is Sunday is going to be a HUGE coupon day!!! Get your scissors ready.
Go HERE to find out which coupons to expect!

Happy Clipping~

SHO

~January Spending FREEZE!~

2012-01-06T08:02:00.006-06:00

Spending freeze in January!

Sorry, I meant to mention this to you all earlier this week. (No sugar or caffeine has made me NOT on my "A game" this week.) My household is on a "spending freeze" for the month of January.

What does "spending freeze" mean?
We don't spend any money on anything other than groceries & gas (aside from regular bills). This cuts out small purchases that add up, meaningless shopping, eating out, etc.

Why?
Starting a new year off by saving a chunk of money dramatically increases your ability to keep the momentum going throughout the year. I try to always make January one of my big savings months.

Is it too late to start?
Absolutely not! Start today!

Can't wait to hear how you all do. It is a new year and this is the time to make some changes in your financial forecast. You can do it!

Friday Blessings~
SHO

~The Fast is in Full Force!~

2012-01-04T07:42:00.008-06:00

Wow, 2012 is here! Is everyone making goals for the year? Have you kept them thus far? I sure hope so. Setting goals and hitting them is such a fantastic feeling!

My hunky hubs and I are on day #4 of a fast. This year we are fasting more than we ever have. It is tough, but wonderful at the same time. We have cut out television, sugar, caffeine, red meat, processed foods, eating out, etc. Basically, we are only eating what grows from the earth (fruit, veggies, whole grains, beans, etc). Which cuts out pretty much everything that we enjoy!

Why do a fast?
We have been doing a January fast for years now. We believe it is the best way to start off a new year. We believe that cleansing our bodies, minds & souls will bring us closer to God. Trust me, it works! Sometimes I wish we fasted all the time. It is so peaceful to spend time in God's word and to not have the interruptions of life. Sadly, you realize how out of alignment your life really was when you do a fast.

Benefits of a fast?
For us it is to feel closer and to hear from God. Just yesterday I got a word "DISCIPLINE" after praying specifically for a situation. It takes discipline in all areas of our life to succeed. We must be disciplined to stay on budget, keep our goals, to not be obese, you get my point. Everything comes down to discipline. So, yes this is one of my "words for the year".

Okay, I'm fully aware this post may be strange for some of you to read. It was not at all what I had intended to write today! Oh well. Just rolling with it in 2012 ;)

Coming up this week...my goals for 2012! Get ready, they are ambitious!

Happy Wednesday!
SHO

~Happy 2012!~

2012-01-02T08:44:00.004-06:00

Happy 2012!

2011 has been a strange year. I can't really put my finger on exactly why, but it has been different than the past. 2011 was full of extreme highs and some extreme lows. It didn't seem like there were many days that were just normal. Don't get me wrong, I was loving the extreme highs. However, the lows were just that...LOW.

Honestly, I try my best to stay positive and to treat others the way in which I would like to be treated. However, it just didn't always work out that way.

This year has also been the busiest of my life. I have felt like I have been running (sprinting) trying to catch up with my life and I'm always one step behind. Do you feel like that?

I do my best to prepare, plan and create a nice home. However, I've had to loosen up a bit to stay sane this year. I've had to become okay with a little clutter and to be okay with things not in their place. I don't want to miss out on my life because I was so hung up on the need to not have dust on the furnishings. This has been a struggle for me.

We started a fast on January 1st and I am really going to try to re-calibrate my life during these 21 days. I need to re-evaluate and prioritize things. I'm believing that 2012 is going to be a fabulous year!

I pray health, healing, increase and abundant blessings for you and your family. Thank you for being a loyal reader. I pray that you take away something from this blog each time you read. I pray that I'm providing you with a way to save money that you may not have tried before.

Happy New Year!
SHO

~Happy New Year!~

2011-12-30T21:09:00.011-06:00

I'm back! Hope everyone had a wonderful CHRISTmas and enjoyed the holiday with your family. We spent a week in Florida at Disney World. It was wonderful! The weather was simply perfect. Not sure we will want to go there anytime other than December now!

Starting in January, I will be writing a series of posts about how I saved 100% of the money we used to pay for the trip in just 4 months. The series will also include tips to save you money once you get there. We saved HUNDREDS by doing a few simple things!

I hope that you close out 2011 on a high note and I pray blessings and God's provision for you and your family. It is by Him and through Him that we have everything. To Him be all glory, honor and praise.

Happy New Year!

SHO

~Merry CHRISTmas!~

2011-12-25T16:14:00.002-06:00

Wishing you a very Merry CHRISTmas!

Blessings~

Queen of Sassy Savings

~2011 Savings Goals?!~

2011-12-19T09:50:00.005-06:00

2011 Savings Goal?!

Well, I'm checking in and asking if you hit your savings goal for 2011? Did you budget, set goals and succeed? I pray that you did and that you feel beyond accomplished!

Did I hit my savings goal?
Yes and no. We had an unexpected event happen with my car which led to us purchasing a newer car. So, we paid cash for it! It was a feeling like we've never felt before. We have always paid cars off early, but never have we paid CASH for one. It was awesome! I got a big smooch in the office from the hunkiest boy in Texas ;)

Even though it made me a bit sick to see the money leave the account, I felt good about knowing that we had saved up for this event. We had just hoped it would be a little further down the road. Oh well. Life happens. Learning to roll with it.

Did you all have a good financial year? Did you pay some things off? Are you living debt free? Have you experienced financial freedom for the first time in 2011? I'd love to hear from you!

In His Grace~
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-12-16T08:02:00.001-06:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Friday!
SHO

~A Season of Giving~

2011-12-14T07:25:00.009-06:00

This Christmas season will not be about traditional gifts for my family. Instead it will be about the gift of time. Time is something that we haven't had this fall. My husband is a football coach and has worked more this fall than any other year of his 10 year coaching career. With that being said, we have missed him dearly!

Time is something that is FREE, yet can be the most precious and memorable gift to give or receive. So many times I would love to get together with a friend to catch up, but I simply don't have time. Can you relate? My solution is to wrap up a certificate of time for your friend as a Christmas gift. That way you don't spend any money, but give the best gift!

I love the idea of customizing your own gift certificates. This is something that can be really fun to do for your spouse. Plus, you can make it very inexpensive. Give experiences, rather than expensive gifts.

There is no reason to not give your spouse, family or friends a gift this season. Make them feel special and loved without breaking the bank.

Have fun creating those certificates!

Blessed~
SHO

~How I Use Oil On My Face~

2011-12-12T07:32:00.011-06:00

As promised, today I'm sharing how I do the "oil cleansing method". There are several variations that I found on-line, however this is what is working for me.

I rub the oil (about a quarter size) together in my hand and then massage it into my skin for a minute or less. I get a washcloth wet with really warm (I like hot) water and then lay it on my face for a little bit (20-30 seconds) so it opens the pours and starts to melt away the oil. I wipe down my face really well to get all the make-up and oil off. While my face is still a little damp I put a small drop of oil back on as moisturizer (if needed). Make sure the oil is worked into your skin. Hope that makes sense!

In the morning, I simply wipe my face with water and a cloth before applying my moisturizer with spf for the day. It really is that easy!

My skin really does feel like velvet for the first time ever. It has been clear and free of any breakouts since I started this method. Everything I've read says that Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is the one to use. Enjoy! Can't wait to hear what you think :)

Happy Monday!

SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-12-09T08:48:00.001-06:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

SHO

~Happy Friday!~

2011-12-09T08:39:00.006-06:00

Hello Sassy Savers!

Can you believe it is Friday already?! Whew. Where did the week go? Like everyone else that I've spoken with, we all have had about 95 things to do this week. Have I mentioned that I don't like being busy?? Ha!

I hope all of you are enjoying the season and taking it easy. My preacher said something the other day that I thought was very true. He said that some people think the holidays are a free pass to unload their "junk" onto others and misbehave. How true is that? Ick! The manager at CVS told me that people were throwing things on the counter and yelling at them on Thanksgiving Day. How sad is that?!

As always, there is no deal worth getting upset over. After all...whose birthday is it anyway? I like to remind children of that when they start thinking that Christmas is all about gifts and them and not about the birth of our Savior.

Happy Friday!
SHO

~My New Skin Care Plan=CHEAP!~

2011-12-05T07:58:00.006-06:00

I've been trying some new beauty products lately. Wanted to report to you my findings!

The skin on my face has been "chronically dry" for a while now. It is really hard for me to find a balance between clear skin (which is dry) or breakouts. Finally, I decided that I would get WILD & CRAZY and try something that I've been scared to try for about 8 years now.

Literally, about 8 years ago I heard about putting oils on your face. It sounded like the craziest thing ever and I'm pretty sure I vowed that I would NEVER do that. I really need to stop saying "never"! Ha!

Fast forward 8 years I decided to poll a few of my friends with really great skin to see what products they have been using. Several use Lancome products, however they are very expensive. Then one of my frugal friends, who also happens to be BEAUTIFUL and has PERFECT skin, said she does the "oil cleansing method". I about fell over! She claimed it to be the best that she has ever used on her dry skin that had been breaking out.

I decided to just do it! I was going to give it a 2 week trial run and let my skin acclimate (praying that didn't mean breakout) to see the results. Can I say that my skin has never felt better?! It feels like velvet and has a healthy glow (not shine). The EVOO is a natural cleanser and moisturizer. It is wonderful!

I'm not using expensive oils either! I went into my pantry and got the bottle of soybean & extra virgin olive oil (came in one container). This was purchased at Dollar Tree! I've been doing this for almost 1 month and love it! I've recruited one of my friends (who is also a skin care junky) and she is LOVING it too! We both have used expensive moisturizers and neither of us can believe how simple and effective this method is on our skin.

More to come on exactly how I do it later this week!

Blessings~
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-12-02T14:45:00.002-06:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Friday!

SHO

~Tired of Being Tired?~

2011-11-30T07:49:00.000-06:00

Want energy? Deeply desire more energy? Tired of being tired all the time?

That was me a few months ago. I had felt like that for years! I tried getting more sleep, exercising, eating better, taking naps, etc. Nothing worked! I still felt like I needed about 3 more hours of sleep when I got up.

Can I tell you that there is hope?!

Juice Plus+ was the answer for me. It has fueled my body and I have not ever felt better. This is the first year in 8 years that I have not been sick in the fall (Sept or October). I'm like clockwork getting sick every fall & spring. However, this year I'm not sick and it has been WONDERFUL! I wake up before my alarm and have energy throughout the day. Especially, from 4-9 pm. That was a time that I would normally be exhausted.

Juice Plus+ is simple to take, affordable and convenient. It has been studied more than any other supplement out there. I'm excited to share the news with everyone. So excited that I became a distributor of the product. If you know me, I don't normally sell products (unless I make them).

Go HERE to check out the research. Let me know if you are interested in learning about the studies that get you FREE products!

Blessings~
SHO

~My Black Friday Trip~

2011-11-29T06:23:00.001-06:00

We headed out LATE (after 9 am) on Black Friday to see if anything was left. Of course, nothing on my list was left. It was sort of nice, because if it wasn't there...it wasn't meant to be! We did go to CVS and I found a few of the FREE items left. This is what I got:

Finish
$2.99
-$2.99 ECB
-$1 q
=FREE + $1 overage!

2 Planters
2/$6
-$3 ECB
-.75/2 q
=$1.13 each!

Colgate
$2.87
-$2.87 ECB
-$1 q
=FREE + $1 overage!

Listerine Pocketpaks
$2.99
-$2.99 ECB
-.50 q
=FREE + .50 overage each!

L.A. Looks
$2.49
-$2.49 ECB
-$1 q
=FREE + $1 overage!

Carmex
$1
-$1 ECB
-.30 q
=FREE + .30 overage!

Candy bars
.75
-.75 ECB
=FREE!

As you can see, I ended up getting everything for FREE and I made over $2! Even though they didn't have everything on my list, it was still a good trip.

Happy Tuesday!
SHO

~Aldi Comps!~

2011-11-28T07:55:00.011-06:00

Last week I took the Aldi ad page from the Dallas Morning News into Wal-Mart and comped away! I was very pleased with my savings.

10 lb potatoes $1.29! (I don't think I've ever gotten 10 lbs that cheap!)
Rolls .99
Pineapple .99
Cream Cheese .89
Eggs .99

All of which were needed for my Thanksgiving holiday meals. I love saving money on food! This is a great example of not using coupons, but saving money on food. Also, using an Aldi ad is a great way to save on fruits & veggies. They always have those listed. Saving money is something everyone can do by using comp ads!

Happy Monday!

SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-11-26T09:42:00.005-06:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Saturday!

SHO

~Happy Thanksgiving!~

2011-11-23T06:31:00.002-06:00

My goal is to relax and take time truly thank God for this wonderful life. To remember just how blessed I am (we all are). To sit across the table and enjoy a meal together with my little family. The New Year is just around the corner and I want to experience the joy of the next few weeks. Will you join me in vowing to kick holiday stress to the curb? Will you join me in making the everyday moments joyful this holiday season?

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

SHO

~More Black Friday Ads!~

2011-11-23T06:29:00.001-06:00

Go HERE for the Walgreens ad.

Go HERE for the Toysrus ad.

Go HERE for Sam's Club.

Happy Wednesday!
SHO

~Black Friday Week!~

2011-11-22T07:46:00.004-06:00

As promised, here are some more Black Friday ads. These are for my crafty friends :)

Go HERE for the Michael's ad.

Go HERE for the JoAnn's ad.

Happy Tuesday!
SHO

~FREE 8X10 Photo Canvas!~

2011-11-21T16:08:00.004-06:00

Canvas People is back with an updated offer for Black Friday (available all this week)! Get one with your photos of summer vacation, fall fun, birthdays, graduation, babies, and those special family moments! The Canvas People are offering a free 8 x 10 photo canvas (just pay shipping) OR $55 off any larger canvas. This is a great deal and would make an AWESOME Christmas present!

Go HERE to get started!

SHO

~Wal-Mart & Best Buy Black Friday Ads!~

2011-11-21T08:58:00.004-06:00

The Wal-Mart ad is HERE!

The Best Buy ad is HERE!

Enjoy!
SHO

~Black Friday Week!~

2011-11-21T08:39:00.002-06:00

Good Morning Sassy Savers!

Can you all believe that Thanksgiving is this week?! I sure can't! We are still in football play-offs, so life around here is a bit nutty. Thanksgiving means that Black Friday is also this week! I've been looking at the ads, but haven't found anything worth getting up at 3 am for (yet).
This week I'll be posting the on-line ad from some of the major stores. It is fun to see what deals are out there!

Happy Monday!
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-11-18T07:41:00.001-06:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Friday!
SHO

~Starbucks BOGO!~

2011-11-16T07:25:00.003-06:00

Starting Thursday, November 17th, Starbucks is offering Buy One, Get One Free Holiday Drinks! Offer is valid from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Happy Wednesday!

SHO

~Target Black Friday Ad!~

2011-11-15T07:22:00.001-06:00

Go HERE to view the Target Black Friday ad.

Happy Tuesday!
SHO

~.39 & .49 per lb Turkey!~

2011-11-14T07:36:00.008-06:00

Good Morning Sassy Savers!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We went to the SMU v. Navy football game and had a blast. It was a very patriotic game. President George W. Bush was even there :)

Sunday-Tuesday Tom Thumb has turkey's for .49 per lb with an additional $35 purchase. This worked out great for me since I was going to buy some other meat and sale items. We headed there before church and was able to get everything on our list.

I've been told that Albertson's has turkey's for .39 per lb. I don't have any of the details or know if there is an additional purchase necessary. Albertson's is across the lake for me, so not worth driving over just for the turkey. However, if you live near one, this may be a better deal for you.

Happy Monday!
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-11-11T10:05:00.000-06:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Friday!
SHO

~Veterans Eat FREE at Chili's!~

2011-11-10T17:21:00.002-06:00

Be sure to pass this along to any vets that you may know.

Blessings~
SHO

~Menu Plan!~

2011-11-09T07:37:00.009-06:00

Does the idea of planning a menu make you feel like this???

Never fear, the crock pot is here!

Since this fall has been the busiest of our lives, I've had to up my game plan (menu) or we were going to fail big time. What that means for me? I make enough chicken at one setting for 1 week. I separate it and refreeze it for my recipes that I plan to make. I do the same thing with ground beef. That way the meat is already cooked, it just needs to be thawed and put into a recipe. This saves me TONS of time each week, plus it helps me stay on track.

Example: We left the house early Saturday morning and I knew we would be hungry and still in town around lunch. So, I took out my pre-cooked beef and put it in the crockpot with the other chili ingredients (made enough for 2 batches). After lunch, I ended up putting the entire container in the fridge for the next day. Early Sunday morning I put it back in the Crock pot on low so we could have Frito Chili Pie for lunch after church. We came home both days to eat because we knew something was ready for us. This ended up being a great plan for us. Having a plan is key!

Happy Wednesday!
SHO

~JCPenny Black Friday Ad~

2011-11-08T06:33:00.001-06:00

Wanting to get a head start planning your Black Friday shopping?

Here is the JCPenny ad. Looks good!

Happy Wednesday!
SHO

~100 FREE Business Cards!~

2011-11-07T11:07:00.004-06:00

InkGarden is offering 100 Free Business Cards!

USE CODE: 100FREE for front and for back USE CODE: 100FREE2 for 100 Free double sided business cards. This is an awesome deal! There are some really cute designs.

Don't have a business? These make great mommy cards to give out for play dates, etc.

Go HERE to get started!

SHO

~Jif at CVS!~

2011-11-07T07:18:00.005-06:00

Good Monday Morning Sassy Savers!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Just wanted to let you know about a good deal on Jif peanut butter at CVS this week.

Jif (18 oz)
Sale 2/$5
-$3 ECB
=2/$2
Anytime I can pay only a $1 for name brand peanut butter, I'm very happy!

Happy Monday!
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-11-04T07:22:00.001-05:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Friday!
SHO

~Goals!~

2011-11-02T08:40:00.006-05:00

Goals...

Never before in life did I really set specific goals. Sure, I wanted to lose 5 lbs my entire life (who doesn't). However, I never set a goal on paper and did anything about it. UNTIL, I became a mom and got serious about things! I knew that we needed a plan and FAST in order for me to quit my full-time job and stay home with my miracle baby girl.
I was at the point that I was willing to sacrifice most anything in order for that to happen. In my case that meant selling my "dream home" and making some major life changes. Let me just say that I don't regret a second of those choices. After all, life really is all about "choices"...Isn't it?
Was it hard? Well, at times it has been. However, I would not ever give up a moment that I've had with my daughter. Stuff is just stuff. Fads will fade, but time won't stand still.

I encourage to not be afraid to set goals and get a plan of action for your financial life. You can do it, I promise!

Happy Wednesday!
SHO

~My Kroger Trip~

2011-11-01T06:49:00.001-05:00

Several of you have asked if I still shop at Kroger now that they no longer double or triple coupons. The answer is yes, but not nearly as much! Listed below are a few things I picked up last week.

2 Annie's mac & cheese
Reg. $1.99
Sale $1.19
-$1/2 q
=.69 each

Pace
Reg. $1.49
Sale $1
-.75/2 q
=.62 each

Mom's Best All Natural Cereal
Reg. $2.49
Sale $1.50

Barilla whole grain pasta
Reg. $1.38
Sale $1
-.75 q (I think that was the q that I used?)
=.25

Tabasco
Reg. $1.59
Sale $1.43
-$1 q
=.43

Kroger diced tomatoes
Reg. .65
Sale .50

Campbell's pork n beans
Reg. .49
*This is almost half the price of the same thing at Wal-mart!

Crave cat treats
Reg. $1.59
Sale $1.25
-FREE coupon!

Happy Tuesday!
SHO

~Restaurant.com 80% off!~

2011-10-31T07:26:00.002-05:00

GET $25 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR ONLY $2!
Enter Promo Code: PUMPKIN

Happy Monday!
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-10-29T15:58:00.002-05:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Sorry for the delay. My internet was down for 3 days! Sort of a strange feeling, yet nice at the same time. However, I've got some catching up to do. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Saturday!
SHO

~Awesome Aldi Deals!~

2011-10-26T13:51:00.002-05:00

A fellow couponer just reported that Aldi (across the lake) has sandwich bread for .39 per loaf and buns (burger & hot dog) for .59 per package! These items were not in the Sunday paper ad, but are AWESOME deals! This would be the time to stock up.

Happy Wednesday!
SHO

*Thanks Christy :)

~My Exciting News!~

2011-10-25T07:09:00.000-05:00

This is my exciting news!!! Houston, we have a garden!!! After 2 years of no success, we thought this was a total loss. Honestly, we stopped watering it and everything about 3 months ago since nothing was happening. I was wanting to get out there and pull it all out a couple of months ago, but it was over 100 degrees here still. So glad I didn't :)

Look at these cantaloupe!!! We have several growing!

Tiny tomatoes too!

We have a couple of cantaloupe that are pretty big and probably ready to be picked. I'll keep you all posted. This garden has been a project that we started months ago! It is really fun and exciting to FINALLY see some results. Makes me want to try again next year!

~Aldi Comps!~

2011-10-24T07:20:00.011-05:00

Good Morning Sassy Savers!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Mine was nice and relaxing for a change. Much needed after several busy weekends in a row.

After church we ran into Wal-Mart for some fruit. I used the Aldi ad in the Dallas Morning News as my comp ad.

Apples
$2.47 per lb (Wal-Mart price)
.55 per lb (Aldi's price!)
*I saved almost $2 per lb by using the Aldi ad! Woohoo!

Grapes
$1.47 per lb (Wal-Mart price)
.99 per lb (Aldi price)

I rarely buy anything at Wal-Mart without a comp ad these days. It pays to take time to check the paper for the other store ads before you head out. It may not seem like a huge savings, but over time this ads up! Actually, even just over a month it ads ups. Using comp ads is a great way to get more food for your money!

Coming up tomorrow I have some exciting news! Stay tuned :)

Happy Monday!
SHO

~FREE 8X10 Photo Canvas!~

2011-10-21T17:16:00.004-05:00

CanvasPeople.com is offering a free 8 x 10 photo canvas (just pay shipping) OR 40% off any larger canvas + free shipping as a special introductory deal!

This is a great deal and would make an AWESOME gift!

Go HERE to get started!

Blessings~
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-10-21T17:13:00.000-05:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Friday!
SHO

2011-10-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

It is now mid-October! Wow, this year has flown. Last week I was finalizing our September budget. Going over the numbers for each category. Some were more than I'd hoped (water & electric), but some were less too. All in all, it was a good month.

I have high hopes for October too! Honestly, I have high hopes for every month. I look at it with a fresh, new attitude! That is the beauty of having a budget. Each month is a new opportunity to set and reach your financial goals!

Disney is approaching and we still have several hundred to save. I've got some tricks up my sleeves. More to come on that later...

Hope you have a very happy day!
SHO

I'll be posting the coupon preview later :)

~6 FREE Products!~

2011-10-19T07:41:00.005-05:00

Vistaprint is offering 6 Free Products for Fall! The products are FREE, just pay Shipping and Processing.

1 Free Photo Wall Calendar
Impress family, friends or customers with customized wall calendars. Choose icons, add captions and highlight individual dates. Upload your own photos from your computer, Facebook, Picasa, or Flicker or select from hundreds of designs. (Shipping starts at $5.67).

1 Free Photo Flip Book
Create a special keepsake with our handy 4" x 6" flip books. Upload your photos and customize with captions. Includes 10 pages with 1 photo per page. (Shipping starts at $6.01)

1 Free Tote Bag
Perfect for everyday use, our 100% canvas tote bags can be customized with your name and message. Choose from 24 designs. (Shipping starts at $5.67)

250 Free Business Cards
250 FREE Business cards. Perfect for networking, interviews, mommy cards and more! Choose from 45 professional designs and customize with your text. (Shipping starts at $5.67)

10 Free Invitations
Have an upcoming event? Take it up a notch by sending your guests premium invitations. With over 1,000 designs to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect cards to suite your event. You can even send them in matching envelopes. (Shipping starts at $4.52)

1 Free T-Shirt
Choose from a variety of designs and personalize with your own text or photos! Great for cheering for sports teams, team events, family photos and more! (Shipping starts at $4.41)

Remember to plan ahead as these would make AWESOME Christmas gifts!

Go HERE to get started.
Happy Wednesday!
SHO

~My Tom Thumb Trip~

2011-10-17T09:39:00.002-05:00

There were 4 coupons that were going to expire this week that I really wanted to use. I don't actually drink Pepsi Max, but I will take it to events if it is FREE!

Here is how it went down at Tom Thumb:

Cheetos (Buy 2 Get 2 Free sale)
$3.49 x 2 = $6.98
-2 FREE (store sale)
-1 FREE Pepsi Max for buy 2 Cheetos coupon
-1 FREE Pepsi Max for buy 2 Cheetos coupon
-$1/2 Cheetos coupon
-$1/2 Cheetos coupon
=$4.98 for 4 bags of Cheetos & 2 Pepsi's

Dr. Pepper 10
$1.99
-FREE Coupon (used 2 coupons)
=FREE!

2 Organics spinach
$3.99 (BOGO sale)
*That makes it cheaper than the other spinach options!

I would also like to report that my transaction did not get messed up. Woohoo! That was a wonderful change :)

Blessings~
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-10-14T07:27:00.001-05:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Friday!
SHO

~Prevention is Key!~

2011-10-12T08:07:00.002-05:00

Americans aren't very healthy...There is hope (read to the bottom)!

*80 million people have some form of heart disease. (American Heart Association)

*1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will have cancer in his or her lifetime. (National Cancer Institute)

*Over 20 million children and adults have diabetes. (American Diabetes Association)

Why are we so unhealthy?

Poor food choices
Not drinking enough water
Lack of exercise
Stressful lifestyles
Environmental factors
Sleep deprivation

Approach to medicine is "treatment" instead of "prevention".

What can we do about it?

The U.S. government has spent billions trying to find a cure for heart disease, cance and other diseases.

THEIR CONCLUSION:
Disease is easier to prevent than to cure.

THEIR RECOMMENDATION:
Eat 7-13 serving of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

THE PROBLEM:
Almost no one does!

MY SOLUTION:
Juice Plus+
Juice Plus+ gives my family the nutrition from 17 different fruits, vegetables and grains each day. It is easy, affordable and convenient. It feels so great to know that we are fueling our bodies with what it needs. We are all experiencing positive changes (more to come on that in a later post).

Go HERE to learn more about Juice Plus+. It is changing the health of my family.

Wednesday Blessings~
SHO

~FREE American Baby Magazine!~

2011-10-12T07:24:00.006-05:00

Go HERE for your FREE American Baby magazine. I love FREE magazines!

Blessings~
SHO

~A Fun & Frugal Idea!~

2011-10-11T07:05:00.001-05:00

Looking for something fun to do that doesn't cost much money for your family? I know, who isn't?!
Go CAMPING! My hubs & little girl have camped out in our backyard several times and had a BLAST! She was sad when the tent had to be taken down. I can only imagine the fun if we were at an actual camp ground!

The pro's to camping:

Cheap! Actually, it FREE if you do it in your own yard :)
Bring your own snacks!
Make your own meals!
Spend quality time "unplugged"!

If you are wanting to have a vacation, but need it to be a "staycation" due to your budget, consider camping. The kiddos will love it and you will save money! Everyone wins!

Happy Tuesday!
SHO

~Monday Updates~

2011-10-10T07:45:00.003-05:00

Good Monday & Boomer Sooner!

Woohoo! What a game :) Hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was crazy busy with a party, garage sale and then off to the OK line to pick up mini-me. It was busy! We had good traffic at the garage sale, but I still came home with some junk. Oh well, I've never cleared out everything at a sale. Actually, we ended up coming home with some items that our friends were selling. See that is the real problem ;)
We were excited to score a flat screen t.v. that had never been used for a very inexpensive price!

Did you all get out and shop some garage sales this weekend?

Monday Blessings~
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-10-07T07:23:00.002-05:00

Go HERE to see what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Friday!
SHO

~Rockwall Area Garage Sales!~

2011-10-06T07:05:00.004-05:00

If you are in the Rockwall area or even live in the Dallas area, make plans to come to Rockwall this weekend! There are 2 huge neighborhood garage sales going on. My plan is to go to the Woodcreek neighborhood sale on Friday. On Saturday, I'm hosting a garage sale in Buffalo Creek.

I love the neighborhood sales because it is one garage sale after another. You can park and walk to several sales on a street. It is great!

Happy Thursday!
SHO

~Hormone Free Chicken Sale!~

2011-10-03T08:01:00.007-05:00

As you all know, I like to purchase my meats in bulk. So, I made a special trip to Brookshire's (a grocery store that I rarely shop) since they had hormone free chicken for $1 per lb. My bulk price point for hormone free chicken is right around $1, so this was great! The best part is that it is skinless! Woohoo! If you have spent anytime in the kitchen cutting off skin, you know why I'm so excited.

When were got there they were out. No big deal, hunky hubs asked if they had any in back and they did. When they brought them out, the sticker said $1.29 per lb instead of $1.00. Doesn't sound like a big difference, right? WRONG!

We asked the meat department guy about it and he said it should ring up at the correct price. Well it didn't. Luckily, I told the cashier about the problem before he started scanning. It ended up being an $11 difference that we saved by catching the error on the sticker.

Assume nothing and always check to make sure you are getting the advertised sale price (regardless of where you shop). It is smart shopping. Of course, be kind and they will be kind to you. Most of the time, they will have favor upon you! The best part of the story is that we ended up getting over 3 lbs of chicken for FREE from the store manager because he didn't want to have to figure it all out, so he estimated in our favor.
We all know by now...I HEART FREE!

Happy Monday!

SHO

~Information that changed my life!~

2011-10-01T09:13:00.007-05:00

*By the age of 12, an estimated 70% of our children have developed the beginning stages of hardening of the arteries. (Bogalusa Heart Study)

*1 in 3 Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes. (Journal of the American Medical Association)

*1 in 4 children is obese. (International Journal of Obesity)

*7% of school age children are diagnosed with ADHD. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

*About 6% of elementary school children and 7% of adolescent miss 11 or more days of school yearly due to illness or injury. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

*Over 93% of all children and adolescents do NOT consume the recommended servings of vegetables per day. (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

This is part of the research that convicted me to make sure that my family is NOT part of these statistics. The answer for us is Juice Plus+!

What can we do about it?
Good nutrition takes time and planning. Clinically proven Juice Plus+® helps you bridge the gap between the 7 to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables recommended by The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the nutrition you actually get with your busy schedule.

For more information, please visit my website or email me at coachoshields@hotmail.com. Also, if you would like to sign up for a child study please email me.

Happy Saturday!
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-09-30T07:59:00.002-05:00

Go HERE to find out what coupons are in the Sunday paper!

Happy Friday!

SHO

~Kellogg's $5-$10 in Coupons!~

2011-09-30T07:52:00.004-05:00

Signup to get access to $5.00-$10.00 in coupons! Go HERE to get started!

~Coupons.com Printables!~

2011-09-30T07:46:00.001-05:00

Go HERE to start printing FREE coupons from Coupons.com!

~RedPlum Printable Coupons!~

2011-09-30T07:40:00.003-05:00

Go HERE to start printing FREE grocery coupons from RedPlum.com!

~Extra Money=Family Vacation!~

2011-09-28T08:40:00.002-05:00

Plan a vacation strictly with extra money...

Let me explain...My friend, Christy, took her family on a Florida beach vacation and they didn't spend any money out of their bank account.
How did they do it?

They had a garage sale, sold items on Ebay, sold items on Craigslist, collected loose change, etc. They had a goal to only spend money that they had made "extra", not any from their savings or bank account.
Guess what?! They did it!

I'm so proud of them! Isn't that awesome?! I'm inspired!

Do you have a goal? Has someone inspired you lately? Please let me know if you have a story you would like to share!

Blessings~
SHO

~Kroger's New Coupon Policy~

2011-09-27T06:41:00.003-05:00

Since so many of you have asked me. Here is my response to Kroger not doubling or tripling coupons anymore...

Life goes on. I will continue to be a smart shopper. I'll continue to shop the sales and get good deals. I will continue to use coupons. However, I just may not get as many FREE items now. Since we knew this was coming, I'm not in shock at all. Honestly, I'm too busy right now to be too shocked! Life is happening so fast. I'm just trying to keep caught up. Time really does fly when you are having fun!

Why do I think they stopped doubling and tripling coupons?

In my opinion, we can thank the show Extreme Couponing for this. Again, this is my opinion. I don't think it is a coincidence at all that the Houston area was the first to stop doubling/tripling shortly after an episode of Extreme Couponing was on located in Houston.

My advice:
Shop wisely. Watch the sales. Match the sales with your coupons. Comp sale items to avoid going to multiple stores. Relax. This is not the end of our couponing world. We are smart shoppers and we will continue to get great deals!

Blessed~
SHO

~Wal-Mart Comps~

2011-09-26T07:38:00.008-05:00

Good Monday Morning Sassy Savers!

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend! Several of you have spoken to me about how excited you were to see the new Wal-Mart commercial that states that you don't have to actually have the competitor ad with you while comping something. I've expressed my concern to each of you as I've been given trouble by cashiers lately. Literally, I've been denied multiple times. Very annoying!
Trying not to be negative, I gave it a try on Saturday by comping milk. No problems at all! I left there telling my hunky hubs that Wal-Mart had redeemed themselves.

Well, all that changed when I went back in on Sunday afternoon. I was armed with the Albertson's ad just in case. At checkout I told her the comp price and store and she didn't believe me. She said "I need to see the ad". I said "That's fine, but your new policy says I don't have to have it". I showed it to her, she still questioned it (even though she was seeing it in print). Ugh! Moving on. At this point there were about 10 people wanting to shoot me in line. Literally, I was not the hold-up. It was the cashier! Anyway, I got my canned veggies for .49 per can and left the building.

All this to say, continue to take your ad with you while comping at Wal-Mart. It is obvious that they don't stand behind their word!

Yes, I will continue to hope for the best and continue to comp items at Wal-Mart. However, I will always keep an ad with me.

Happy Monday!
SHO

~FREE 8X10 Photo Collage!~

2011-09-23T17:17:00.004-05:00

TODAY ONLY, Walgreens is offering a free 8×10 Photo Collage! Use coupon code COLLAGE at checkout. Be sure to choose in-store pickup to not pay shipping.

I HEART FREE!

SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-09-23T16:06:00.004-05:00

Go HERE for details!

Hope you all are out enjoying this beautiful fall day! We went on a nature walk and it was so nice to not be sweating bullets. I love days like today!

Happy Friday Sassy Savers!
SHO

*This is for you Jordan ;)

~Restaurant.com 80% Off!~

2011-09-23T07:35:00.001-05:00

GET $25 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR ONLY $2!
Enter Promo Code: FALL

Friday Blessings!
SHO

~Healthy options are not always super expensive!~

2011-09-22T19:19:00.009-05:00

I'm always curious as to what people are feeding their children. Today I took a long hard look around at the lunches in my daughter's kindergarten class. It was pretty extreme! I observed spinach, turkey, cantaloupe, cheese & veggie chips in one container. One student had rice, snap peas,cheese, etc. Another student had a lunchable and greasy chips. Hmmm. No judging, just observing!

So many people think that they can't "afford" to put good things into their children's bodies. I'm proof positive that you can. My daughter's lunch had all of the food groups in it and it was still cheaper than a store bought lunchable.

Am I anti-lunchables? Absolutely not! My daughter LOvES them, however they are a rare treat at our house.

Moving along...back to people think everything healthy is too expensive. Did you know that it only cost $1.35 per day for an adult to get 17 fruits, vegetables & grains from Juice Plus+? I was SHOCKED at how affordable it really is! If you sign up your child for a child's study, they can take the product for FREE (just pay shipping). So, for $1.35 per day my daughter and I can get 17 fruits, vegetables and grains through Juice Plus+. That was such exciting news for this Momma who tries so hard, but NEVER get the daily recommendation (7-13) of fruits & vegetables. Honestly, I don't know anyone who does. If you are interested in learning more about this, please leave me a comment or visit my website. Please note that all studies have to go through me (not the website). Leave me a comment with your contact information and I will get back to you asap.

Blessings~
SHO

~Check Your Receipts~

2011-09-21T10:44:00.005-05:00

The saga continues with Tom Thumb! I've mentioned numerous times before to be careful and watch your receipt when shopping at Tom Thumb. I've done at least 25-30 transactions and NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN CORRECT! Isn't that sad? Either the sale price didn't ring up correctly or some of my coupons were not taken off. Every time I end up at the service desk getting my money back. Extra time spent and very inconvenient.

A couple of weeks ago, they had a few things that I wanted and we happened to be driving by so we stopped. The "buy 5 get $5 off instantly" only took $2.80 off. As a consumer we shouldn't have to eagle eye every transaction, but boy do I at this store.

My point here is to really watch and make sure the sale items are ringing up the correct price. Don't assume that you did something wrong. More than likely it is an error on their end.

Yes, I will occasionally still shop there. I do believe they have a great meat department and a very nice meat department staff. I just wanted to give you a warning to make sure and check your receipt! Remember, you are not getting a good deal if something rings up the wrong price or if your coupon is never deducted.

As always, be kind. It is a computer error, not the cashier.

Blessings~
SHO

~6 FREE Offers from Vistaprint!~

2011-09-19T16:02:00.006-05:00

Vistaprint is offering 6 Free Products for Fall! The products are FREE, just pay Shipping and Processing.

*1 Free Photo Wall Calendar
Impress family, friends or customers with customized wall calendars. Choose icons, add captions and highlight individual dates. Upload your own photos from your computer, Facebook, Picasa, or Flicker or select from hundreds of designs. (Shipping starts at $5.67).

*1 Free Photo Flip Book
Create a special keepsake with our handy 4" x 6" flip books. Upload your photos and customize with captions. Includes 10 pages with 1 photo per page. (Shipping starts at $6.01)

*1 Free Tote Bag
Perfect for everyday use, our 100% canvas tote bags can be customized with your name and message. Choose from 24 designs. (Shipping starts at $5.67)

*250 Free Business Cards
Perfect for networking, interviews, mommy cards and more! Choose from 45 professional designs and customize with your text. (Shipping starts at $5.67)
(I've ordered these twice and have had friends order them. We have all been very pleased.)

*10 Free Invitations
Have an upcoming event? Take it up a notch by sending your guests premium invitations. With over 1,000 designs to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect cards to suite your event. You can even send them in matching envelopes. (Shipping starts at $4.52)

*1 Free T-Shirt
Choose from a variety of designs and personalize with your own text or photos! Great for cheering for sports teams, team events, family photos and more! (Shipping starts at $4.41)

Think ahead for Christmas. Some of these things would make for a great personalized gift. I was just thinking the bag would be super cute with a scripture on it for a teacher. Endless possibilities!

Go HERE to get started! Better hurry, offer expires September 23, 2011.

Blessings~
SHO

~Natural Solutions~

2011-09-19T07:28:00.005-05:00

Good Monday Morning Sassy Savers!

Hope everyone is off to a good start this morning. Wasn't the sound of rain awesome last night? Of course losing the satellite and electricity not so much. However, a small trade off for some much needed rain!

Last night as we were out enjoying some relays in our back yard my hunky hubs noticed something...Mouse poo! Ick! He then spotted 2 tiny mice. Gross!
Immediately I ran inside to get on the computer to see what we could do to get rid of them without harsh chemicals. I read that we need to sprinkle kitty litter around the perimeter of the house and they will leave due to the smell of cat urine. Isn't that interesting?
I'll keep you all posted. Praise the Lord they haven't found their way into the house!

There are always natural approaches to most household problems on-line. Plus, they are usually TONS cheaper than hiring a professional. A few years ago I had an ant problem in the kitchen and on my front porch. I ended up using grits on them and it worked! I'm hooked on natural solutions now.

Happy Monday!
SHO

~Exciting News Regarding Fruits & Vegetables!~

2011-09-17T06:45:00.005-05:00

People often approach me to sell items (make-up, home products, candles, etc.) and I will consider for a few minutes and then decline the offer. Yes, I wear make-up. Yes, I enjoy home products, candles, etc. However, I don't "believe" in them. Does that make sense? I don't want to invest my time in trying to sell something that I don't believe is key to living a great life.

Recently, I was approached about Juice Plus+. A woman that I dearly respect started sharing about the product and how it completely changed her health. I then began to study all the research and listen to all the cds about the product. Boy, was I convicted!

As a mom, I do my best to give my child fruits and vegetables everyday. However, we never get the 7-13 recommended daily allowance. Actually, I don't know anyone who does!

Once I read about how so many diseases and illnesses can be prevented through our diets, I wanted to get my family on this product IMMEDIATELY! Yes, there is a cost to this product. However, it is minimal compared to the cost of getting sick with doctor visits and prescriptions.

For around $1.50 per day I can take the capsules that are full of 17 different fruits and vegetables! Plus, my daughter is signed up for a child study which gets her the children's chewables FREE. She LOvES the taste of them! Actually, she thinks they are fruit snacks. I tried them and they are good. I was thrilled to find something that my daughter is excited to take! If you are interested in the child study, please email me at coachoshields@hotmail.com.

For more information on Juice Plus+ go HERE to enter my site. You can read about all the research done on these products. It is very interesting!

Happy Weekend!
SHO

~Coupon Preview!~

2011-09-16T15:20:00.003-05:00

Go HERE for details!

Happy Friday!
SHO

~A Woman Who Inspires Me!~

2011-09-16T15:09:00.007-05:00

Someone who inspires me...

I met someone that has truly inspired me. She asked that I not mention her name, so I will respect that. We started talking about saving money and finances one day and I was just AMAZED! Very few people knock my "financial socks" off, but she did! The more she spoke, the more I wanted to know. Finally, I said "can I blog about you?" Of course, I wrote everything down and then lost the tiny piece of paper. Then today it just appeared out of nowhere. So, here is part of her story and secrets to financial success!

She purchased a home when she was single. She put 20% down and took out a 30 year note. Shortly after, she married and then they paid it off in 6 years!!!

A few years later they decided to upgrade to a nicer and more expensive home. This home was more than double the price of their first home. They were down to only 1 income as she had become a stay-at-home mother of 2 at this point. They lost 1/2 of their income when she became a full-time mom. They got on a budget, she took on a few extra jobs bringing in a little money here and there. . They took out a 15 year note and paid it off in 5 years!!!

Are you inspired yet?

During this time they also paid cash for a pre-owned suburban. Can you imagine having 2 small children with no car payment and no house payment? To be completely financially independent??? Imagine just how amazing that would be!

How did they do it?
They put all of their extra money towards the house payment. They didn't over buy or overspend on anything. They paid cash for everything purchased.
The biggest secret...they TITHE! She said that God truly blessed their money and made it multiply.

What is next for them?
They are currently saving for retirement and 2 college educations for their children.

I'm so proud to know a woman of such financial integrity. I'm inspired! Are you?

Blessings~
SHO

~Kroger No Longer Doubles/Triples Coupons~

2011-09-14T07:45:00.002-05:00

Well, a day that I had warned long ago was going to happen...HAS!

"Kroger made the decision to discontinue the practice of doubling (up to 50 cents) and tripling (up to 39 cents) the value of manufacturer coupons in the Dallas – Fort Worth and East Texas markets.

The company said it’s instead focusing on lowering everyday prices and has been doing so in recent months."
-Myfoxdfw.com

I hope that statement is true!

Happy Wednesday!
SHO

~Crock Pot Recipe Tuesday!~

2011-09-13T07:05:00.001-05:00

I tried out a new Crock Pot recipe and we all really enjoyed it Sunday after church. It is super easy and not many ingredients.

*It is not the best looking meal, but it was mighty tasty!

Salsa Chicken

2-4 chicken breasts
taco seasoning
1 cup salsa
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz sour cream (I was out and it was still good without it)

*Top chicken with taco seasoning
*Mix salsa & soup and cover chicken
*Cook for 6-8 hours on low (I cooked for 4 hours on high)
*Mix in the sour cream and let it get hot before serving (optional)
*Serve over rice or taco shells (We ate it over brown rice. I wrapped my daughter's in a tortilla and she loved it!)

Enjoy!
SHO

~My Sprout's Trip~

2011-09-12T09:01:00.001-05:00

Ran over to Sprout's this weekend and found a few deals. The fun thing about Sprout's is that I don't know what is on sale until I get there. Rarely, do I ever shop this way! This is what was purchased:

Veggie Chips-$2.50
Cantaloupes-.50 each!
Apples-$1.13
Nectarine-.38
Spinach-$1.74
Mushrooms-$1.69
Organic Puffed Kamut cereal-$1.59
*I'm excited about this cereal for my daughter as it is sugar, salt, sodium, fat and cholesterol free! A totally natural cereal! She picked it out and is excited about it. I was excited about the price ;)
UPDATE: She LOvES the cereal!

Happy Monday!
SHO

~JBF 1/2 Price Sale is TODAY!~

2011-09-11T08:00:00.004-05:00

Today is your last chance to shop the Dallas JBF Sale. Make plans to head on over for some awesome deals as today is 1/2 price day!!!

Mesquite Rodeo Exhibit Hall

Sunday, Sept. 11th
noon-6pm (1/2 price!)

Happy Shopping!
SHO

2011-09-10T19:08:00.007-05:00

~Only 2 Days Left to Shop JBF!~

2011-09-10T08:20:00.003-05:00

Only 2 days left to shop the Dallas JBF Sale!

Hurry on over to the Mesquite Rodeo Exhibit Hall to get great deals on all things for baby, children and maternity. This is one stop shopping!

Saturday
10am-8pm

Sunday, Sept. 11th
noon-6pm (1/2 price!)

Happy Saturday!
SHO

~How I Save on Fruits, Vegetables, Milk & Eggs~

2011-09-09T21:26:00.007-05:00

People often say that they there is NO WAY to save money on fresh fruits, vegetables, milk and eggs. Not true!
Each week grocery stores have some fruit and vegetables on sale. It may take you planning your menu around the sale items. Also, I rarely ever go to multiple stores. I don't like to spend my time or gas money cruising around. Many times I will just take comp ads into Wal-Mart and buy everything there.
Just this week I was able to save over $6 by using the Aldi ad that was in the Dallas Morning News.

Milk $1.99
Eggs .89 per dozen
Grapes .89 per lb
Cantaloupe .89

Thanks to my freezer cooking and stockpile, these were the only groceries I purchased for the week! Saving $6 may not seem like a lot, but it adds up quickly. Especially when I'm buying items that don't have coupons. I use any trick available to save money on these items!

Happy Weekend!
SHO

~3 Principles We Live By~

2011-09-09T08:25:00.013-05:00

Hello Sassy Savers!

Hope everyone is having a great Friday! Boy, has this been a crazy busy week. All of my freezer cooking meals paid off big time this week. I didn't spend more than 20 minutes on any meal and we ate at home. I've found that if I have something that I can whip up in around 20-30 minutes, we will eat at home. After all, it takes about that long to go get takeout. Plus, you have to spend your precious money on fuel. No fun! Anytime we eat at home my hunky hubs calls it a "prepaid meal". In our house those meals are wonderful! Especially, since we are saving for Disney World!!!

Part of the reason that I started this blog was to encourage people. I'm asked all the time how we live off a teacher's salary. People are beyond curious. My answer is that we don't just "live", but we live in the "overflow blessings". Honestly, we live better now than we did with 2 full-time salaries. Part of the reason is that I'm not constantly worrying about money. Now that we live on such a strict budget, I know where the money is going. It is amazing the peace that I have felt since living on a written budget (of course, sticking to it is key).

3 principles we live by:

1) We are good stewards with our money (started using coupons). Started to think and plan ahead before every purchase. We were amazed at what we can talk ourselves out of! (Example: BMW 3 series...yes, it is my dream car...yes, we test drove several of them...yes, we put in offers...THEN we came back to a normal state of mind and decided that we have other goals that come before us driving a pretty BMW. After all, it will be even prettier when we get it AFTER we pay CASH for our home!)

2) We live within a budget. A very detailed budget is key for us! I keep track of where every dollar goes each month on a spreadsheet. That has really kept us on track. We have a game plan every month to make sure that we stay focused and are able to hit our savings goal.

3) Most importantly we HONOR GOD with our TITHE. We believe that God blesses the 90% that we keep and multiplies it. We have seen it in our finances!
Another thing is giving to those in need. I encourage you to pray and see if God is leading you to help someone. I promise, it is the BEST feeling knowing that you are truly helping someone in need. You will be so rewarded.

When we started combining those 3 things we were amazed at how God truly blessed us.
I want to encourage you today that whatever your financial situation is, you can start making changes today. You can get out of debt. You can live in the "overflow blessings". You can leave your children a legacy of financial freedom! Get excited! Change can be a wonderful thing. Change is uncomfortable, but so is living with debt looming over your head. Look forward to the finish line and never lose sight of your goals!

Be Blessed~
SHO

~Sunday Coupon Preview!~

2011-09-09T08:23:00.002-05:00

Go HERE to view upcoming coupons!

Friday Blessings~
SHO

~JBF Sale!~

2011-09-08T19:51:00.004-05:00

Don't forget to head over to the Dallas JBF Sale this weekend! I was there on Tuesday and it was full of great merchandise and at awesome prices too!

Location:
MESQUITE RODEO
EXHIBIT HALL
1700 Rodeo Drive
Mesquite, TX 75149

Sale Dates:
Sept. 8-11, 2011
Thursday-Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday (1/2 price) noon-6pm

Can't wait to hear about your awesome deals!

SHO

~The Home Depot Coupons & More!~

2011-09-08T17:27:00.003-05:00

Sign up to receive emails about special offers, coupons and promotions from The Home Depot. I've used many of the coupons they have sent me. Typically, they are really good coupons (example: buy 1 tree get 1 FREE).
Go HERE to sign up!

~Restaurant.com 80% Off!~

2011-09-08T06:50:00.001-05:00

GET $25 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR ONLY $2!
Enter Promo Code: SAVE

Blessings~
SHO

~JBF is HERE!

2011-09-07T07:47:00.004-05:00

Make plans to shop the Dallas JBF Sale this week!

Just Between Friends Dallas
MESQUITE RODEO EXHIBIT HALL
1700 Rodeo Drive
Mesquite, TX 75149

Sale Dates:
Sept. 8-11, 2011
Thursday-Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday (1/2 price) noon-6pm

Pre-Sale starts today for those of you with passes!

Admission is $3 on Thursday, September 8th ONLY
all other days are FREE!

Go, have fun and save a ton of money!!!

Blessings~
SHO

~Final JBF Tip!~

2011-09-05T16:28:00.003-05:00

JBF tip:

Have your items in order by size before you get there. I pack my car according to size. This will save you a great deal of time if you already have the clothing organized. It is no fun to keep going up and down aisles and wasting time at the drop-off. If the items are already in order by size, drop-off will be a breeze!

For more information on the Dallas JBF Sale on September 8-11, 2011 go HERE

Blessings~
SHO

~A BIG Week!~

2011-09-02T13:43:00.005-05:00

Not only was it mini-me's 5th birthday, but it was also her very first day of Kindergarten!!! She started the day off in the 5 o'clock hour, yes AM. She got the treat of going to school with The Daddy this morning to meet some of his students before her school started. She loved that!

She got embarrassed again when her class sang Happy Birthday to her at lunch.

Since The Daddy had to work late again, we went on a dinner date to CFA. We were both exhausted after a long day of work & school. We came home and cuddled, watched our favorite show (Design Star), read some books and off to bed she went.

Of course the night before was a different story! I sobbed as I rocked her before bedtime. I said "this is the last night I will rock my 4 year old baby girl". She got out of bed later to come tell me that she "didn't want to grow up". I told her the good news is that she doesn't have to for a long time. She liked that.
Then she wanted to make sure that 5 year olds still get rocked at night. I told her that I would rock her forever. She said "But, I'll hurt your lap". I told her that I would find a way. Not to worry :)

Sissy~
I love you so much. You are truly my most precious little gift from God. I love you and our time together. I love how sweet and kind you are. I'm so proud that you are my little girl. Out of all the girls in the world, I'd choose you!
Mommy