~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There should be 2 coupon inserts in the Sunday paper:

*1 SmartSource
*1 RedPlum

Happy Friday & Happy Clipping :)
SHO

~Old Navy $1 Flip Flop Sale!~

On Saturday, May 22nd, Old Navy will be having a huge $1 flip flop sale! There is a limit of 5 pairs per customer. These types of deals usually go very quickly, so plan to get there early. Be sure to call your local Old Navy to make sure they are participating.

Happy Thursday!
SHO

~FREE Kotex Samples!~

Go HERE to sign up for a FREE sample pack from KOTEX. There are 4 different sample packs to choose from:

Sample #1
*2 Kotex Regular Maxi Pads
*2 Kotex Fresh & Dry Long Liners

Sample #2
*1 Kotex Security Super Tampon
*2 Kotex Security Regular Tampons
*2 Kotex Fresh & Dry Long Liners

Sample #3
*2 Kotex Ultra Thin Pads with Wings
*2 Kotex Fresh & Dry Long Liners

Sample #4
*1 U by Kotex CleanWear Regular Pad
*1 U by Kotex Barely There Liner
*2 U by Kotex Click Regular Tampons


I love these samples! Why??? They are FREE!

I heart FREE!

~A few Tom Thumb deals~

Several of you have asked me to highlight the deals for Tom Thumb. They have a really great ad that starts today. Below are a few of the deals that I thought were worth writing about. Again, this is not an entire list....just a few:

California Pizza Kitchen (limit 3)
sale $3.99
-$1 q
=$2.99

93% Fresh Lean Ground Beef
sale $1.79 per lb
*This is a STOCK UP (rock bottom) price for this lean beef!

Red Seedless Grapes
sale .77 per lb

Driscolls Strawberries
sale .97 per container

Fresh Ground Turkey
sale $1.99 per lb

Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon
sale $1.99 each

*These prices are only good at the new Tom Thumb in Rockwall*

Happy Wednesday!
SHO

~My Walgreen's Trip~

Ran into Walgreen's for this deal:

2 Old Spice Body Wash
$4.49
-$4.49 Register Rewards (get back after transaction)
-$1/2 q
-B1G1 FREE q
=2 FREE + $1 overage!!!!

Happy Tuesday!
SHO

~My CVS trip this week~

This was my CVS trip this week:

Blade razor (limit 1)
$6.99
-$6.99 ECB
=FREE!


8 David's seeds (my hubby's a coach ;)
$1.25
-$1/2 q
+ if you spend $10 of participating items, get $3 ECBs!
=.38 per package after q & ECB!


10 Dawn
sale .84 (part of the 12/$10 mix & match promo...you DON'T have to buy 12 to get the sale price)
-$1 q
-$1 q
-.50 q (8 of these coupons)
=2 FREE & 8 @.34 each!

~Tom Thumb deals today!~

If you live in my area, it is worth your trip over to the new Tom Thumb. They are having some Saturday only deals. Here are a few things I picked up:

Cheetos:
Sale $1.29
-$1 q
=.29

Kraft cheese slices:
$1.99 (w/ in-store ad coupon)
-$1 q
=.99 (for 24 slices)

Cheerios: (part of the mix & match sale)
$1.50
-.50 q(doubled)
=.50 per box

Granola bars (mix & match sale)
$1.49
-.75/2 q
=$1.12 per box

~Cheap Huggies Diapers!~

Coupons.com (on my sidebar) has a couple of $3 Huggies diapers coupons. CVS has them on sale this week. Remember that the new CVS ad will start tomorrow, so be sure to go today to get these cheap diapers.
Here is the scenario you can do today:

CVS
Huggies Jumbo Pack
$8.49
-$2 ECB (given back for next purchase)
-$3 q
=$3.49

(*Limit 1)

Even if Huggies are not your favorite brand, at this price these would make a nice gift.

Happy Saturday!
SHO

~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There are 2 coupon inserts scheduled for the Sunday paper:

*1 SmartSource
*1 RedPlum

As always, happy clipping!

Blessings~
SHO

~For the Crafty Girls~

I've been in a very crafty mood as of late. I've been busy with several sewing, painting, spraying, re-fashioning, be-dazzling (yes, I said be-dazzling) projects. If you are in the same mood, this coupon is for you!
Go HERE to print a 40% off JoAnn coupon!

Here are a few of the projects that I've been working on:
*The Toile Dress


*The flower tank

*The Sash Tank

*Before:

*Here are our matching shirts after I re-fashioned them:

*Every little girl needs a hot pink one shoulder dress, right? ;)


"Peace Rocks shirt before (I probably should say "during"):

*After my re-fashioning and altering...how funny is my little model?!



Happy Crafting :)

~BabiesRus Coupons!~

Go HERE to print off several BabiesRUs coupons. I know several of my readers are expecting, so I hope these coupons help!

~$5/$25 Payless Printable~

Go HERE to print a $5 off $25 purchase at Payless Shoesource. I'm so excited about this coupon! It is just in time for those cute summer sandals :)

~Quizno's BOGO Coupon!~

Go HERE To print a BOGO Quizno's coupon. Offer good through May 18th!

*This one is for you Mandy!

~Let's Talk Laundry Detergent!~

This post is all about laundry detergent. I get asked questions about what kind of laundry detergent I use on a weekly basis. So, here is the skinny on my laundry :)

I use several different brands of detergents for different types of loads.
Example: Tide= on my nice clothing
Example: Purex, Gain or All= on my whites...I also use bleach and wash them in hot water.
Example: I will only use a detergent with fabric softener on my sheets.
Example: I will use a cheaper detergent on my towels since I wash them in hot water.
Example: For tough stains, I will use All stainlifter.

My clothes are clean and always smell fresh regardless of which detergent I use. I am particular about my nicer clothing and black clothing because I don't want it to fade. By using several different brands, I'm able to save money. If I only used the most expensive (Tide) on everything, I would miss out on a great deal of savings from the cheaper or FREE detergents that I've gotten.

Another important thing I should mention is using the correct amount. Always read on the back of the container and dispense the proper amount. There is no need to use twice the amount when half of it would get the job done.

Make sense? Hope this helps!
SHO

~My CVS trip this week~

CVS has a great ad! Here are the items I picked up at CVS this week:

Crest toothpaste (limit 2)
$3.50
-$3.50 ECB
-.75 q
=FREE + .75 overage!

Kotex (limit 1)
$4.99
-$4.99 ECB
-$1 CVS printable (found at CVS.com)
-$1 q (found in the 4/18 SmartSource)
=FREE + $2 overage!

2 Carefree liners
$1.00
-$1 q (found in the SmartSource 4/25)
-BOGO q
=2 FREE!

I HEART FREE :)

~FYI: Cheap Strawberries~

Strawberries were .97 at Wal-mart as of yesterday. They are nice & sweet!

~Organic Valley Printables!~

I've been searching for organic coupons for several of you. This is what I found this weekend. Go HERE to print $8 worth of coupons from Organic Valley. Organic coupons are hard to find, but when I do find them I will give you a heads up.

Happy Monday!
SHO

~The Home Depot BOGO Offer~

The Home Depot Garden Club is offering a Buy One Get One FREE on any rose plant of equal or lesser value. Several of my readers have mentioned wanting to plant some of these in their back yards. This is the time to do it ;)
*Offer good through 5/24/10

Go HERE to sign up if you have not already for The Home Depot Garden Club.

Hope you all have a very blessed Mother's Day Weekend and all feel celebrated and appreciated.
Happy Saturday~
SHO

~Target Deal this Week!~

Here is a good deal at Target right now.

Sale $7.99
-$5 coupon
-use the $5 Target coupon for a FREE gift card
=$2.99 out-of-pocket
*Get back a $5 gift card=FREE + $2 overage!!!

~1 Insert Scheduled~

There is only 1 coupon insert scheduled for Mother's Day Weekend, however it looks like there are some good coupons which will make for some FREE stuff!

*SmartSource

Happy Clipping!

~FREE 8x10 Photo Collage~

Go HERE to make a 8×10 photo collage at Walgreens.com and get it FREE using code GOODTHOUGHTS. Be sure to select in store pickup to not pay shipping. Can't beat the price ;)
*Offer is good through Saturday, May 8th!

This would make a great Mother's Day gift!

~Krylon Coupon from Hobby Lobby~

Go HERE to print a 30% Off Krylon Spray Paint coupon from Hobby Lobby. I'm excited about this because I have plans to use this paint for some teacher appreciation gifts!

~FREE e-card & $1 Tropicana coupon~

Send her your love with a Mother's Day e-card, and get $1.00 off Tropicana.
Go HERE to create a card and to get the coupon!


Happy Thursday!
SHO

~FREE Recipes!~

Go HERE to download 27 Simple Mexican Recipes Cookbook from Recipe Lion!

~Kashi $1.50 Coupon!~

A few of the girls from the class on Friday were seeking a healthier snack option for their little ones. So, here is a $1.50 coupon for Kashi bars!

Wednesday Blessings!
SHO

~New Printable Coupons!~

It's a new month, which means it's time to head over an print off the new coupons from Smartsource & RedPlum. Don't forget that you can print coupons from Coupons.com on my sidebar.

Tuesday Blessings~
SHO

~My Kroger Trip Yesterday~

My Kroger trip this week ended up with me stocking up on a few items that I had not intended. I noticed a few "catalina" offers on some products that I was going to purchase, so I purchased a few more to make sure that catalina would print. The catalina offer will be posted below the price tag on the shelf. It is a small white tag with black writing that will explain how many to purchase and the amount you will get back on a catalina. (Not all items listed are in photo)

4 NV Granola Bars
$3.19
-.40 q (doubled)
-.40 q (doubled)
-.40 q (doubled)
-.40 q (doubled)
-.40 shortcuts ecoupon
-.40 shortcuts ecoupon
-$4 Catalina (prints out good for next purchase when you purchase 4)
=.99 per box!

4 Kellogg's cereal
Reg. $3.69
sale $2.50
-$1 q
-$1 q
-$1.50/2 q
-$3 Catalina (prints out good for next purchase when you purchase 4 Kellogg's cereals, 8 oz or larger between 5/1 & 5/14)
=.88 per box

2 Oikos Greek Yogurt (Not in photo)
Reg. $1.99
sale $1.00
-$1q
-$1q
=FREE!!!

3 Purex Detergent
Reg. $4.12
Sale $2.50
-.35 q (tripled)
=$1.45 each or .05 per load!

4 Fruit Snacks
$2.69
-.50/2 (doubled)
-.50/2 (doubled)
-$4 catalina (prints out good for next purchase, when you purchase 4)
=$1.19 per box

3 Pop Tarts (not the greatest deal, but I only buy the plain with no sugary topping on it and I can't find those in generic)
Reg. $1.90
Sale $1.67
-$1.25/3
=$1.25 each

Wesson
Reg. $4.79
sale $2.50
-$1 q
=$1.50 (this is the big bottle of canola oil)

2 Sara Lee Bread
*BOGO SALE*
$2.29
-.55 q
-.55 q
=$1.19 or .60 per loaf

*I also found a "manager's special" on turkey meat! (Not in photo)
Reg. $3.99 per pound
Paid $1.69
So, I bought all they had left (5 lbs)

Retails for all of the items listed: $89.64
Price I paid after coupons, ecoupons & catalinas: $31.48
*That is a savings of 66%!


Have a blessed Monday!
SHO

~New $2 Johnson's Coupon!~

Go HERE for a $2 off coupon on Johnson's Face & Body Lotion SPF 40.

~Let's Talk Freezer Items!~

~Let's Talk Freezer Items~RE-POST

This is a re-post about items that I freeze. Since couponing, I've learned of many items that freeze well that I would have never thought to even put in the freezer.

Items I freeze:
salsa
guacamole
avocados
butter
cheese (slices, blocks & shredded)
okra (from the garden)
lunch meat (ham, turkey, bologna, any kind)
hot dogs
pancake mixes
bread
bacon
sausage
coffee
soups (leftovers)
chips

Hope this helps! I'm sure I forgot to list some items. If you have any questions, please email me or leave a comment. Thanks!
SHO

~Sassy Saving Seminar/Party!~

Thank you to everyone who came to the Sassy Savings Seminar last night at Christy's house. It was so nice to meet you all! I hope that you had a good time and that you and your families will be blessed with all of the information that was presented. A special thank you to Christy for hosting. As always, I so look forward to hearing of all of your successes!

In Him~
SHO

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think"
~Ephesians 3:20~

~3 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There should be 3 inserts in the Sunday newspaper:

*1 SmartSource
*1 RedPlum
*1 Procter & Gamble

Happy Clipping!

~Old Navy Wholey Moley Sale!~

It’s the Old Navy Wholey Moley 30% Off Sale!

Starting 4/30-5/2, the WHOLE store will be on sale: take 30% off your entire purchase.

*Valid in store only!

~Sassy Saver Spotlight!~

Below is from a Sassy Savings student that took a class several months ago. I love that no matter what phase or season of life you are in, couponing benefits everyone! Jan has surpassed her monthly goal and is now blessing others. That makes me happy. That is what it is all about. Being a good steward with "God's Money" and blessing others when we have the opportunity.
Jan~I'm so proud of you!
**************************************************************
Having a great time saving money!! My pantry and freezer are pretty well stocked. I think my husband thought it was crazy at first, but now he appreciates how much money I'm saving and he's a big fan now!! The best part, I think, I have been able to pull out of my supply and help a friend out who has been having a hard time. She's a single Mom with a teenage son. Which I think is AWESOME!!! She told me yesterday that they are still using the food I gave her 2 months ago!! I love that!!

I have many items such as toothpaste, body wash etc that the only time I purchase them now is when they are free or almost free.

I want to thank you for helping me learn how to save money. My goal when we came to the class was to pay for my massage each month. So far, I have saved much more than that and we are eating at home instead of going out, which saves a ton of money!

~Scrubbing Bubbles Coupons!~

Go HERE to get some great coupons for Scrubbing Bubbles products brought to you by Right@Home.

~Borders 33% Coupon!~

Go HERE to print off a 33% coupon for any single item to Borders!
This would be great for those books on your summer reading list.

*Coupon valid only on 4/27/10 & 4/28/10*

~My Weekly Menu~

I haven't posted a weekly menu in a while, so here goes!

Breakfast items:
Blueberry muffins
Scrambled eggs & toast
cereal

Lunch:
Turkey sandwich w/ spinach
Leftover roast meal
Leftover enchiladas
Spinach salad topped w/ chicken (leftovers)



Dinner:
Steak, baked potato, spinach salad
Steak nachos (from leftover steak)
Roast, carrots, potatoes, spinach salad
Hamburgers on the grill w/ sweet potato fries
Chicken Enchiladas w/ rice & beans

What's cooking at your house?

Hope you all have a blessed Tuesday!
SHO

~JCPenny Code!~

JCPenney now has a $10 off $10 purchase coupon code for Mother’s Day! Enter code 4BESTMOM at checkout. If you purchase something around $10,then you will only have to pay shipping! If you ship to the store it should be cheaper than shipping to your home. The code is valid through May 9, 2010.

Happy Monday!

~Manager's Special Alert!~

If you live in my area this is for you! Kroger is having a "Manager's Special" on the Pillsbury crescent roll (the small tube). They are marked down to .49!!! I used a .40/2 coupon that doubled and was able to get them for .09 each. Really, I got them for FREE because I combined it with a shortcuts.com ecoupon. I heart FREE food! Plus, there are several recipes that you can put crescent rolls in that are really yummy.

Hope you have a great Saturday! I'm super excited to be attending a Beth Moore event today. :)
SHO

~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There should be 2 coupon inserts in the Sunday paper:

*1 Smart Source
*1 Red Plum

Happy Clipping!

~Sassy Saver Spotlight!~

This is a post from a student that got "Sassy" with her savings. Tiffany is a mother of 2 little girls. She has gotten very creative with her menu since becoming a couponer. I love to see what she has come up with. Tiff, I'm so proud of you! Awesome job!
**********************************************************

These are the items I got while visiting Walmart and CVS.
Here's a rundown on the numbers:

CVS: Starting with 6 and 2 ECBs, plus a 2.50 ECB from the machine when I walked in this afternoon!

John Frieda and Biore- Buy $15, get $5 ECB.
Biore wash $6 - used Buy pore strips, get wash free Q.
Biore pore strips $6
John Frieda hair product $5
-$2.50 Q.
=$5

Puffs Plus
$.99
-$1 Q
= FREE

Dove Shampoo $4.49, get $4.49 ECB
-$1.50 Q
=FREE with $1.50 overage

TOTAL at CVS = $1.07, paid in change from my coin purse! Took home 5 and 4.49 ECBs!
Savings at CVS=$27.96

Walmart:
2 Benedryl Itch Sticks
$2.28 each
-$5 off 2 Benedryl products q

Planters peanuts (as filler)
$.48
TOTAL Walmart = $.04!!!

The cashier looked shocked, and even checked the coupon, almost like she might try that little trick! haha. Love it!
The cashier at CVS and I had a great conversation about teaching our children the value of saving money this way. She seemed impressed that my children will know from a young age how to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with. Praise the Lord!

~You Ask...I Tell~

This is a very random post answering some questions that have been asked or emailed to me recently. I didn't get to them all, but this is a good start. I hope this answers some of your questions.

How do you stay within budget and buy meat in bulk?
*I take the amount (Example: $80 spent on ground beef) and divide it by 4 months, which equals $20 per month. Then I get out my spreadsheets for the next months and automatically deduct the $20. The meat will last longer than 4 months, but I feel comfortable with the $20 being taken out for that period of time. That way, I know the money is accounted for. Since I keep accurate records, my system works. If you are doing the envelope system, my system will be easy for you to maintain.

How are you able to only spend $150-$175 per month on all food & toiletries?
*I am very careful about every purchase that I make. Before heading to the store, I know how much I want to spend. Since I have a stock pile, I am on a maintenance plan. Basically, I only have to purchase the food items that I want and at the price that I want to pay.
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
~Phil 4:19~

How often do you grocery shop?
*This is a HUGE MISCONCEPTION about how often I go to the store. Honestly, not often! I usually only go once per week. I could go less than that, but I always want to make sure I don't miss out on any FREE items and usually need some fresh fruit too. I only hit CVS or Walgreen's once per week or sometimes only once every couple of weeks. I ONLY GO IN IF I CAN GET FREE ITEMS! That is my rule :)
*I coupon to make my life easier and more enriched, not to complicate it and make it stressful. Running all over town to get every deal is stressful to me. :)

It is time consuming?
*Honestly, sometimes it is more than others. This week, I've only spent about 15 minutes on coupons while I was cooking dinner. This was not a big shopping week for me. I've spent my grocery budget for the month (almost), so no big trips planned here until next week.


Do you shop at Sam's or Costco?
*No. I love both of those stores, but cancelled our membership once I became a coupon girl. I'm able to get better deals when I combine sales w/ coupons. Plus, the membership fee cancels out a great deal of the savings (for me anyway).

Do you enjoy couponing?
*Absolutely!

Does it get old?
*No, sometimes frustrating when people don't understand their own coupon policies...but I never get tired of saving money ;)
"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil."
~Psalm 37:8~

How do you stay focused?

*I dream about this romantic, tropical island vacation with my hubby each summer. Enough said ;)

What do you do with the money you save?
*I explain this in my very first post (if you have time, you can scroll back and read). Anyway, I started out saving all of the money to pay for our annual island trip. Now, I save more than enough to pay for the trip. So, the rest of the money goes into savings for future large purchases.
"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think"
~Ephesians 3:20~

Do you get great deals on your travel?

*No, I don't have any secrets here. Sorry! We have traveled all over the past 9 years and really enjoy the nicer all-inclusive resorts. This is one area that we are not that flexible on. We want to stay at a luxurious resort. After all, it is what we have worked so hard for all year. So, if there is a deal than it is a bonus! Last year we got a good deal due to the Swine Flu. This year, not so much. I will say that it is worth every penny to have that time to relax, unwind & rejuvenate!
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
~Matthew 11:28~

How many children do you have?
*I have one precious miracle girl and one doggy girl :)

"Children are a gift from the Lord: they are a reward from him"
~Psalm 127:3~

How long do you plan on doing this?
*As long as I continue to island dream :)

"For I know the plans that I have for you, declare the Lord"
~Jeremiah 29:11~

Well, that is about all of the time I have to answer questions for today. I hope this helps. Please feel free to keep the questions coming. I love that some of you are reading from other countries! Hope you all are blessed this Wednesday.
In Him~
SHO

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart"
~Psalm 37:4~

~My CVS deal this week~

ThermaCare Heat Wraps
$2.49
-$2.49 ECBs
-$1 q
=FREE + $1 overage after coupons and ECBs!
*Limit 2

*I really like these things. I use them for my lower back. FYI: The shoulder/neck work for the lower back area too! :)

Happy Tuesday!

~Home Depot Garden Club~

Go HERE to sign up for Home Depot's Garden Club. (You might have to click on it once, click out and then try it again to get to the correct page...I have no idea why it does that) They will send you an email with some pretty awesome coupons periodically. Here is a list of a few that I thought were great: B1G1 Mums, B1G1 Shrubs and going on right now is B1G1 Trees!

We just picked up our new trees this weekend! We got a Live Oak that was reg. $54.98, but was on sale for $29.88. We didn't need 2 trees, so we split the bill with some neighbors (Thanks Watson's!). It worked out great because they were needing 1 tree too! So, we spent less than $20 on a nice large tree. Home Depot also has some trees this week for $9.98, but they were much smaller.

Happy Monday!

~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There should be 2 coupon inserts in the Sunday paper:

*1 SmartSource
*1 Red Plum

Happy Clipping!

~How to stick to a weekly grocery budget~

My weekly grocery budget is roughly $30.00. Some weeks I spend $40 and other weeks I only spend $15 or $20. Basically, I ALWAYS know how much I have left for the month and figure out how many weeks I have to make that money stretch. Before I go to the store, I make a very detailed list of items that I need, sale items that I will be purchasing and the coupons that I will be using.

Example:
3 Downy sale $3.50 (using $3 q) = .50 each
3 Birdseye Frozen Veggies sale $1 (using .35 q tripled) = FREE!

Then I go through my entire sheet and tally up roughly how much I plan to spend. If I am over my target amount, then a few things get cut. I've found that if you go into a store knowing what you are going to spend, it makes shopping a lot more fun and productive. Especially, if you have a set amount that you are aiming for, things don't tend to jump into the basket as easily ;) (We've all had that happen before, right?) You go in for 5 things and come out with 18 items and forgot 2 of the 5 that you went in for???

Hope this helps and that you have a very blessed day!
SHO

~Oh, Happy Day!~

Hope you all are having a very blessed Wednesday!

I'm LOVING this beautiful weather :)
SHO

~FREE Dove Sample!~

Go HERE to get a FREE sample of new Dove Daily Treatment Conditioner!

~A Few Target Deals~

Here are a few of my Target deals from last week!

Quaker deal: Buy 3 at $2 each and get 1 FREE!

4 Quaker bars
sale $2
-.75/2
-.75/2
-$2 (FREE)
=$4.50 or $1.13 each (my hubs LOVES these bars...takes them everyday with his lunch)

3 Johnson's buddies
.97
-$1 q
=FREE!!!

Visine
$2.37 (clearance)
-2 q
=.37

~My CVS trip this week~

Dove
$4.49
-$4.49 ECB back
-$1.50 q
=FREE + $1.50 OVERAGE!

Schick Hydro
$8.97
-$6 ECB back
-$4 q (this was an old coupon that I found and it expired yesterday 4/11)
=FREE + $1.03 OVERAGE!

~They're Back!~

Procter & Gamble electronic coupons are back on the Kroger.com site! There are not as many as previously, but at least they are back. Yeah! You will need to sign in and add them to your card at least 1 hour prior to shopping.

Some that are most exciting are:

$3/2 Old Spice Deodorant
$3/2 Secret Deodorant
$3/2 Old Spice Body Wash
$1 off Gain
.50/1 Tide

*Remember, these electronic coupons can be combined with man. (paper) coupons for a great savings!

Happy Monday!

~A Few Kroger Deals~

3 Lady Speed Stick
Reg. $1.99 (actually, I think these are more since they are the largest)
.99 (rain check price)
-.50 (doubled)
=FREE!

3 Snuggle
Reg. $4.19
sale $3.50
-$3 q
=.50 each

7 Mighty Dog Food
.69
-FREE coupon
=FREE!

2 Uncle Ben's Rice
Reg. $2.19
sale $1.69
-.50 q (doubled)
=.69 each


3 Ziploc Freezer bags
Reg. $2.89
Sale $2.50
-.40 (doubled)
$1.70 each or $5.10 - $2 catalina = $3.10 or $1.03 each (not the best price I've paid, but I was needing some freezer bags)
*There is a catalina for this if you purchase 3, then you get $2 catalina back*

4 Birdseye Steamfresh Veggies
Reg. $1.89
Sale $1
-.35 q (tripled)
=FREE!

Daisy Sour cream
Reg. $1.59
Sale $1.50
-.50 (doubled)
=.50

Welch's grape jelly
Reg. $2.49
sale $1.79
-.55
=$1.24

Betty Crocker cookie mix
Reg. $2.29
Sale $1.99
-.40 q (doubled)
-.40 shortcuts
=.79

Retail= $50.35
Spent =$8.51
*That is a savings of 83%!

~March Monthly Review!~

Spent $155.92 for the month on groceries/toiletries, etc. I bought dog food twice and had to buy some supplies for our garden. So, I was very pleased that I stayed on budget.
Most importantly, I exceeded my savings goal! Woohoo!

Are you staying within your monthly budget? Have you set your savings goals? I'm excited to hear from you :)

Many blessings~
SHO

~Closeouts!~

Always be on the lookout for "CLOSEOUT" items at Kroger. They are usually awesome deals!

I was able to get 3 Purina One dog food on closeout.
Reg. $7.99
$3.99 (closeout price)
-$3 q
=.99 per 4 lb bag...Basically, I got 12 lb of dog food for $2.97!


Retail: $23.97
Paid: $2.97
Saved: $21.00 or almost 90%!

~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There are 2 coupon inserts scheduled for this Sunday (April 11th).

*1 SmartSource
*1 RedPlum

Happy Clipping!

~Quick Meal Idea~

Yesterday, I put some hamburger meat in the fridge to thaw before I left. When I got home, I realized that I only had 3 tortillas. That is not nearly enough for tacos for us. However, I was tired and didn't want to eat out. So, I made a mexican layered dish. It was super easy and quick!

1 layer tortilla
1 layer pinto beans & shredded cheese
1 layer tortilla
1 layer ground beef (brown meat & use taco seasoning first), pinto beans & shredded cheese
1 layer tortilla topped w/ pinto beans & cheese

Put it in the oven on 350 for about 15 minutes and it was tasty.

*This was a very simple version of this. You could really have fun and make it interesting! In the past, I've added peppers, sour cream or Rotel to it. We love mexican food and I love that it is usually a very quick fix :)

~Switch for Free!~

Buy any Land O Lakes I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spread or Smart Balance buttery Spread and get a coupon ( max $2.99 value) mailed to you for a FREE Land O Lakes butter with Olive Oil! Go HERE for more details and to download the form.

~Gap 20% Coupon!~

Get 20% off Women’s, Men’s and Maternity new arrival styles (jeans not included) at Gap! This is a limited time offer and is valid on-line only. Enter code: GAPNEW20 at checkout. Offer expires 4/8/10.

~New Printable Coupons!~

Don't forget to print the new coupons that came out this month! You can go to my sidebar (Coupons.com) and print from there.

Happy Tuesday!

~Campbell's Coupons!~

Go HERE to print Campbell's soup coupons! There is a $1/2, which would make these super cheap or possibly FREE with a sale.

~Happy Easter Weekend!~

"Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise"

In observation of Good Friday and Easter Weekend, I'm taking a few days off from the blog. My focus will be on celebrating the true meaning of Easter with my family. I'll be back to the blog next week bringing you some more tips and deals.

This is Sunday there is only (1) coupon insert scheduled:
* Procter & Gamble


Hope you all have a very blessed Easter Weekend!
SHO

~30% Off Old Navy Coupon!~

Go HERE to print a 30% off Old Navy coupon!

~Let's Talk Freezer Items!~

Today I'm going to write about items that I freeze. Since couponing, I've learned of many items that freeze well that I would have never thought to even put in the freezer. Honestly, there was never a need since I only had on hand just enough for the time. Never before did I have an overstock of butter! he he Times have changed :)

Items I freeze:
salsa
guacamole
avocados
butter
cheese (slices, blocks & shredded)
okra (from the garden)
lunch meat (ham, turkey, bologna, any kind)
hot dogs
pancake mixes
bread
bacon
sausage
coffee
soups (leftovers)
chips...Yes, chips can be frozen! My friend (and STAR student) Jamie tried this and it worked. We don't keep chips around long enough to freeze, but if you do this is for you ;) Thanks Jamie!

Hope this helps! I'm sure I forgot to list some items. If you have any questions, please email me or leave a comment. Thanks!
SHO

~Think Easter Baskets!~

Go HERE to print a FREE Signature Collection shower gel from Bath & Body Works with any $10 purchase. This would be great to go in an Easter basket for teens (or momma's)!

~A Very Sassy Student!~

This is from a Sassy Savings student, Christy, that has a family of 5. I'm so proud of her! My hubby ran into her hubby the other day and he said "Your wife has turned my wife into a machine!" My hubby thought that was funny. It is always fun to have your hubby excited about how much you are saving too!
**********************************************************
I am having a great time and my husband is definitely a fan! When I buy groceries he wants me to go over what I bought and how much I saved. Then I get even more pumped! I was spending about $120-$150 per week for a family of five on groceries and household items. Now I have been spending around $60 per week. This week I did spend about $80 but that included items for our 10 year old's birthday party!
This has been a blast and I love the challenge!
Thanks!
Christy

~Kroger Promo Sale!~

The sale prices below reflect the promo sale price at Kroger. The promo is "buy 8 participating items, get $4 off". I love promo sales! I got a lot more stuff, but these are the deals that I wanted to share.
2 NV Nut Clusters
$2.29
-$1 Cellfire
-$1 Shortcuts
-.40 q (dbl)
-.40 q (dbl)
=.49 each

NY Croutons
Reg. $1.69
Sale $1.49
-.55 q
=.94

2 Powerade
Reg. $1.69
Sale .50
-$1/2
=FREE!

Lysol Bowel Cleaner
Reg. $2.49
Sale $1.79
-.50 q (dbl)
=.79

2 Pam Spray
Reg. $3.19
Sale $1.99
-.50 q (dbl)
=.99 each

Lunchable (not in pic)
Reg. $2.19
Sale .99
-$1 q
=FREE!

4 Ken's Dressing
Reg. $3.39
Sale $1.49
-$1/2
=.99 each

2 SKNR Pasta
Reg. $1.29
Sale .50

2 Sarg. Cheese
Reg. $3.39
Sale $1.67
-$1/2
=$1.17

1 Sarg. Cheese
Reg. $3.39
Sale $1.67
-.35 q (tripled)
=.62

1 Kraft Cheese
Reg. $3.49
Sale $1.67
-$1 q
=.67

3 Ritz Crackers
Reg. $3.28
sale $1.99
-$1 q
=.99 each

4 Irish Spring Soap
Reg. $2.29
Sale .99
-.50 q (dbl)
=FREE!!!!

*Pretend the wipes are not in the pic ;)

Retail: $67.82
Paid: $16.25
Saved $51.57 or 76%!

~Walgreen's Photo Deal!~

Get 20 FREE 4x6 photos from Walgreens! Enter code 20FREE4X6B at checkout. Be sure to select "in-store pickup", so you don't have to pay shipping. Sounds like a deal to me!

~Betty Crocker Printables!~

Here is another source for printable coupons! There are not tons of coupons, but it is still good! You will have to sign in to the Betty Crocker site (create a password).

~3 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There should be 3 coupon inserts in the Sunday paper:

2 SmartSource inserts
1 RedPlum insert

Happy Clipping!

~JBF Sale~

Wanted to invite everyone to the JBF spring sale. It is huge this year! If you are pregnant or have any children in your life, this is an awesome sale to shop.

Just Between Friends
Children's Consignment Sale

Dallas, Texas

March 25-28, 2010
*(open to the public)

Located at the Mesquite Rodeo Exhibit Hall

For more information click HERE!

~How Much?~

How much is too much?

This is a question that I get asked all of the time. People ask how much to purchase while stocking up? My answer varies. If it something that you can freeze, then I usually get enough to last for several months (or whatever my freezer will hold). I only stock up when I know it is at the very lowest price.
When I stock up on cereal (which I did this month), I am always mindful of what we will eat before it expires. Nothing is a good deal if it gets tossed in the trash!
Every family size varies, so buy what you think your family will use. Again, if it is something that you can freeze, then buy as much as possible.
I've seen stockpiles that are so big that it makes me nervous....Seriously, I think that some people consider couponers "HOARDERS". Honestly, some are. Not me, I'm just a home economist doing what is best for my little family. I have NEVER had to throw anything away. I don't get crazy and buy 88 boxes of ANYTHING!
If you live to coupon, then you might burn out pretty quickly. I tell people that I coupon to live. I don't go all over town getting every deal, I don't go to other towns to get deals, etc. I want to have a life and it not all be about coupons. Having said that, coupons allow me to have a pretty great life! I am blessed.

Many Blessings & Happy Savings!
SHO

Several of you have asked to see my stockpile. So, here are a couple pics. More to come soon!

*Hand soaps (all were FREE!)

*Shampoo & sprays (Everything in photo was FREE, except the red bottles)

*Salsa, Avocados & Guacamole (All were FREE!)

*We eat at least 3-5 cheese slices per day, so this isn't a huge stockpile of cheese.

*Everything in this photo was FREE! My stock here is a little low because of donations at Christmas.

~Coupon Booklet Offer~

Go HERE to get a $30 savings booklet from Home Made Simple mailed to you. These are typically really good coupons!

~Sassy Saver Spotlight!~

Laura is one of my Sassy Savers who did AWESOME last week! I asked her to share her numbers with us. Here they are!

CVS
Spent- $12, Value- $77

Walgreens
Spent- $8, Value- $75

Brookshires
Spent- $27.50, Value- $57

Kroger
Spent- $56, Value- $110
*The Kroger purchase also included bread, milk, etc.

Laura~ I'm so proud of you!!!

~Walgreen's Diaper Deal~

The Deal: Purchase 3 Huggies Diapers at $8.99, Get $5 Register Rewards
-(3) $3 Huggies Diapers printable coupons
-Stack with $1/1 Huggies Diapers/Pull-Ups coupon from the Walgreens Activity Book (should deduct $3)...Be sure to ask someone behind the cosmetic counter about this coupon to be sure to get it. I have not seen this book, but they are always good about knowing where to find them.
=$14.97 plus tax
Get $5 Register Rewards back

FINAL=$3.32 per package after coupons and Register Rewards

*Remember to be sure to ask for a rain check if they are out of these diapers. If I had a child in diapers, I would not want to miss out on this deal!

~CVS Deals~

Here are a few CVS deals that I like this week:

Colgate Total Advanced or Sensitive Toothpaste
$3.99
-$1 coupon (3/7 Smart Source)
Receive $3.99 ECBs
= FREE plus $1 overage

Pampers Diapers
$8.97
-$2 coupon (2/21 P&G)
Receive $3 ECBs
= $3.97

Scope Outlast Mouthwash
$3.99
-$1 coupon (2/7 P&G insert)
Receive $2 ECBs
= $.99

~Only 2 Inserts?~

Did you all get 3 inserts or only 2? My sources all said we were getting 3, but only 2 came in my paper today. Hmmm. Please, let me know what you ended up with.
Have a great Sunday!

~$3 Huggies Coupon~Again!

Go HERE to print 2 more $3 off Huggies coupons! If you printed the other coupons, then you should have (4) $3 off Huggies coupons. There should be some pretty awesome deals in the next couple weeks! Stay tuned :)

~Dave Ramsey Special Offer!~

The Dave Ramsey Store is offering an AWESOME deal (Buy 1 Get 1 FREE)
on select Dave Ramsey products! Go HERE to order!
These books would make great graduation, wedding, Christmas or birthday gifts.

~A Great Kotex Sample Pack!~

Go HERE to sign up for a FREE sample pack from KOTEX. You get to click on and choose which samples you would like to receive. Most of the samples have 4-5 products in them. Definitely worth signing up for!

~3 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There should be 3 coupon inserts in the Sunday paper:

2 SmartSource
1 Redplum

Happy Clipping!

~$3 Huggies Coupon~

Be sure to print the $3 Huggies coupon from my coupons.com sidebar. Click on "see all coupons" and scroll down. This coupon will go fast!

~Diaper Deal Coming Soon!~

Upcoming diaper deal at CVS! This is very exciting to all of you Pampers lovers out there. $3.97 for a package of diapers! Looks like an awesome deal to me. Even if you don't have a baby, this is the price to buy a package and give as a gift. I don't know anyone who doesn't like to get diapers as a baby gift :)

Pampers Diapers Jumbo Packs
$8.97
Get $3 ECBs (Limit 2)
-$2 Pampers Cruisers Diapers q (P&G 02/21/10 insert)
-$2 Select Pampers Diapers q (RP 03/14/10 insert)
=$3.97 after q's and ECBs!

This deal starts on Sunday 3/21!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful day and wore green!

~FREE Photo Book!~

Here's an awesome deal on a photo book. Go HERE and get a FREE 5X5 pocket photo book and only pay $1.99 for shipping if you have them ship it to your local Target photo center. This is a value of $9.99!
Be sure to enter the code “TGTFREEBOOK”. Code expires 3/21/10.

~Betty Crocker Deal~

There is a BC catalina deal going on at Kroger until 3/21. Here are the details:
Buy 3 get $1.50
Buy 4 get $2.50
Buy 5 get $3.50


BC Fruit Snacks
Reg. $2.69
Sale $1.79 X 6 boxes =$10.74
-.40 shortcuts
-.50/2 q (doubled)
-.50/2 q (doubled)
-.50/2 q (doubled)

=$7.34 -$3.50 (catalina) =$3.84 or .64 per box!

*The sale is good through Tuesday for sure, unless they extend it another week.

~Kroger Catalina Deal~

There is a catalina at Kroger good until 3/21/10. Here are the details:
Buy 2 get $1
Buy 3 get $2
Buy 4 get $3

NV Bars
Reg. $3.19
Sale $2.29
-.40 Cfire q
-.50 q (doubled)
=.89 per box!
$3.56-$3 catalina = .56 or .14 each!!!

*After the catalina I paid .14 per box! Woohoo!

When I checked out the catalina didn't print. The cashier didn't know what to do and his shift manager was not any help. So, I went back to the customer service desk today and they fixed it for me.
Don't forget to load the coupons from Shortcuts & Cellfire for these bars!

~Tom Thumb Deal~

Prices are after the Tom Thumb promo sale:
NV Bars
$1.50
-.50 q (doubled)
=.50

4 Post cereal
$1.50 X 4 = $6
-$1/2
-$1/2
=$4
*Got back a $3 Catalina, so the cereal was $1 or .25 per box!

Once I realized the catalina deal, I went back and did the same transaction again. The young man checking me out said "How are you doing this??? Are you making money?" I just laughed. He then went through it all and figured it out pretty quickly. I told him he was a quick study. Then, I giggled all the way to the car!

~Where's the Beef?~

It's at my house!

Tom Thumb is having a great sale on the 93/7 ground beef right now. It is $1.99 per pound. I made a special trip for this and some cereal. I now have enough meat to make 88+ meals (not including leftovers) for my family. Several large amounts are set aside for hamburgers to grill. Many of you asked how much I buy of something when it goes down to a great price. Well, here is your answer! I actually ran completely out of ground beef this week, so this sale could not have come at a better time. Now I have enough meat for several months. Thank you Jesus!

*8 Family packs of 93/7 ground beef.

*After I spent a very long time separating it all....88 bags later!
Tip: Sort the meat into portions that you will need for cooking. Press it flat so that it is easy to stack in the freezer and doesn't take up much room.

I spoke with the manager (he just happened to be in the meat department) and explained that I had driven from another town specifically for this meat and that I planned on stocking up. He said to get as much as I wanted that they could always grind more up for me. If you get there and they appear to be running low, be sure to speak to someone in the meat department and they can get you more from the back. They were so nice. I really enjoy nice people ;)

~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There are 2 coupon inserts scheduled for Sunday.

Happy Clipping!

~Coffee Filters~

Today's post is all about coffee filters. They are super cheap and some say better than paper towels. Enjoy!

Coffee filters....
1,000 pack sold at the Dollar Tree.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome...Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them.. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom.. They make great "razor nick fixers."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car..

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..

25. Use them in the coffee maker, as intended ;)

A special thanks to 2 of my readers, Tiffany & Tina, for emailing this to me!

Have a blessed Thursday~
SHO