~3 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There are 3 coupon inserts scheduled for the Sunday paper:

*SmartSource
*Redplum
*Procter & Gamble

Happy Clipping!
SHO

~Financial Responsibility~

What makes a person financially responsible?

I have often thought of this as I'm talking with people who have major financial problems. The conclusion that I've come to may surprise you....FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS A CHOICE. Period.

As an adult we can blame our situation on our parents because they didn't set a good example. We could blame the economy. We could blame God (totally advise against this one...doesn't end well). We could blame the President (really?). We could blame our employer. We could blame it on Jocko (Jocko was my childhood dog that is no longer living, however he still gets blamed for things at my parents house. It's a running joke!)

OR

We could wake up and decide to make the CHOICE to act responsibly with our finances. That would mean knowing what it feels like to "want" things. Sometimes knowing what it feels like to actually "need" something. Take a moment and think about the last time you truly "needed" something. We are so blessed.

I understand that situations happen that are beyond our control. Wouldn't it be awesome to have a plan for such an event? Wouldn't it be great to have funds set aside for emergencies? We can't predict the future, but as my Mom is always saying "It's gonna rain. Maybe not today, but it WILL rain. Better have an umbrella!" Dave Ramsey suggests an emergency fund of 3-6 months worth of living expenses. Imagine how secure you would feel to know that you have money set aside just in case a situation arises that is beyond your control. It would feel pretty comforting and take off a great deal of stress.

Back to being responsible....Regardless of the financial model that you have studied (usually your parents), you can choose to start today and make a difference for your future. Do you have financial goals for your future? Do you only think about this month? I encourage you to set some financial goals for you and your family. Make a plan and get excited about it! Saving money is always so much easier if you have a goal. The more you save, the more you want to save. It makes you really think about each purchase.
Recently, we (my fav Coach & I) have been discussing our bucket list. Then I decided we needed to set up a financial bucket list (more on that later).

I hope this post has encouraged you to want to save more, spend less and really think about making the choice to be financially responsible...which leads to financial freedom!

Blessed~
SHO

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

~Menu Wednesday!~

Here is my menu for the week:

Chicken fajita salad
Hot Dog Italian Casserole (this was interesting, but turned out good...will post how I made it later)
Beef Stroganoff w/ green beans
Spaghetti w/ corn & spinach salad
Chicken Noodle Soup

If you are wondering, yes we eat a lot of beef stroganoff! It is a favorite around here. I have a couple different ways of making it so it taste different each time we eat it. Last night I used veggie noodles instead of the regular pasta noodles and my family still loved it!

What's on your menu this Wednesday?

Happy Cooking!
SHO

~A Family in Need~

A single mother of 5 is in need of our help. She has cancer and is very ill. She can no longer work or drive. She and her kids have many needs. Anything you can do to help is appreciated! If there is ever a time that you want to help someone, this would be a great opportunity. Please, please take a moment and put yourself in this mother's situation and just imagine how helpless she must feel. Then think about how blessed she would be by your help. I believe that we are called to help those in need. This is a great opportunity to share your stock with a family who really need it. Please join me in helping this family.

Ways to help:
Cash donation (she needs help paying her electric, gas & water bill...also, this money would go towards paying for the meds that she needs that are not covered)
Gift Cards
Food (food that kids can prepare for themselves)
Water bottles (all 5 children play sports)
Gatorade/Powerade
Detergents
Feminine products
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Shampoo
Soap
Toothpaste
Any toiletry item donated is appreciated

Most importantly, she needs your prayer for healing and for peace for the 5 children. Please join me in doing everything that we can to help this family out. If you have any questions, please email me coachoshields@hotmail.com
I will be collecting the donations and will deliver them to one of her friends who will get it to her.

God Bless~
SHO

~Testimonial Tuesday!~

After reading the blog regarding utilities, I called AT&T that very day! Dropped my land phone service (which I had been wanting to do) and got on their new special. I am now saving $54.00 a month! Then I called Sirius satellite radio to drop my $15.00 a month service...they offered me five months for $20.00 in an effort to keep me as a customer : )
*******************************************************
Rachael is a full-time attorney, wife & mother of 2 precious little boys. She was also a college/post college roommate of mine at OU. Rach is very busy, but still makes time to be a Sassy Saver. Rach, you are doing a great job! Thanks for sharing!

~Restaurant.com 70% off!~

Today is the final day for the Restaurant.com 70% off sale. You can get a $25 gift certificate for only $3 by entering Promo Code: STEAK

We have been using these certificates the past couple of months and love the savings. We end up having to order more food than we normally would (to meet the minimum purchase), but then still spend less than normal. More food, less money=sounds good to me! If you have a large family, this is the only way to eat at a nice restaurant. This is a huge savings!

Happy Monday~
SHO

~My Favorite Mistake~

An almost big mistake turned into this:


I love to sew, make, craft, decorate, you name it. I have NEVER used a pattern. I like to come up with something and then figure out how to make it on my own. Well, I found this pretty silk fabric and was set on making a strapless, long, maxi dress out of it. It was going to be CUTE and perfect for my date with my favorite Coach :) So, I had the fabric cut to my "normal" specifications. Got it home and realized that the fabric had to go the other direction in order to work and I was about 6 inches too short :( I was so sad. Considered making mini-me a replica, but not crazy about her wearing such a "mature" print. So, I fiddled around with it for a while, walked away for a while and then came up with this. Not what I intended, but at least I was able to do something with it. It is SUPER comfy to!

So, for roughly $3.50 I have this dress to be paired with my clearance Target sandals. The entire outfit was less than $10! Didn't it suddenly get cuter?!

The process (sometimes painful) of making this dress reminded me of the financial process that I experienced in my past. When I was "short" at the end of the month and needed to stretch my money until payday. Having to rework a situation and figure out how to make something out of very little sometimes.
If you have gotten frustrated with your finances because they were a little "short", I encourage you to work with them...take a step back...then rework the funds that you have to make your situation work. You can do it! Don't give up!

Fabulous Friday to all~
SHO

~1 Insert Scheduled~

There is 1 Smartsource coupon insert scheduled for the Sunday paper. Some sources say that there may be 2 Smartsource inserts. So, we'll see!

Happy Clipping~
SHO

~How do I cook inexpensively?~

How do you make your meals at home so inexpensively?


Very carefully! We don't eat hardly any "convenience food" (you know the stuff that comes out of a box). Convenience foods are more expensive and let's be honest...not good for you! Food that has fresh ingredients really does taste better. Sometimes I will include a package of something along with a fresh item. Am I making sense?

Here is an example:
*(Knorr brand pasta) Cheddar & Broccoli noodles package (purchased on sale & with coupon for around .60-.80 for the package)
*Add Shredded chicken that I've cooked in bulk in the crockpot (purchased for .99 per lb a while back)
*Add an entire bag of frozen broccoli (purchased for FREE with sale & coupons)
Once this is added together it is pretty tasty and super quick. After all, who has time to be spending hours in the kitchen? Not me :)

I try to prepare each meal with the ingredients that I've purchased with coupons or on sale. If I'm using meat (usually the most expensive part of meal), I will really try to make up for the cost with other items that I have gotten FREE or super cheap. I always have a good idea of what the meal will cost before I make it. If you plan your menu and stick to it this becomes easier each week.

My goal is to keep each meal under $3 for my family of 3. We almost always have leftovers too. Usually, my meals come in way under budget even!
You can do it, you will just have to be mindful of what you are making and what you are spending on the ingredients. If you have a large family (example: 6 people), you can easily double my portions for $6 or less.
Happy Cooking!
SHO

~Gymboree 30%!~

Go HERE to print a 30% off coupon to GYMBOREE! Expires 8/22/10

~Inspired~

I love it when I get inspired from something that I never imagined. Today we were watching a baby show, which had nothing to do with finances...and all to do about a family with multiples. This mother works FULL-TIME outside of the home, has a 7 year old, 21 month old TWINS & TWIN NEWBORNS. Yes, you read that correctly...2 sets of TWINS in less than 2 years!
They showed her getting groceries (which they usually don't do on this particular show ) and she had a coupon binder! She spoke of how much money they are able to save by her using coupons and how she has been able to get FREE diapers & wipes along with other deals. She also said people are constantly asking her how she finds time to clip coupons when she has 2 SETS OF TWINS UNDER 2. She said it really doesn't take that long and is well worth the payoff!

After seeing that, I don't think anyone has an excuse to not clip coupons! This lady inspired me to inspire you. Happy Clipping!

In Him~
SHO

~Recipe Wednesday!~

This may be one of the easiest meals ever. It is super yummy and inspired by one of our favorite lunch dishes at a Mexico resort. We've been eating Tuna Wraps each summer while on vacation, but never attempted them at home until a few weeks ago. We are sold! Love them! Nothing will taste as good as fresh tuna, but this is a great substitute and is awesome on a hot Texas day!


What you will need:
tuna (can or pouch)
avocado
refried beans (I use fat free)
tortillas

Directions:
Heat beans
layer avocado (I chop & smooth it out)
layer beans
place tuna in the middle
roll it up


Enjoy! (the most important part)


Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday~
SHO

~My Kroger Trip~

Here is part of my Kroger trip this week. They are having the "Buy 8, get $4 off instantly" sale. The prices below reflect the final sale price.

2 Hefty
Reg. $2.49
Sale $1
-$1/2
=.50 each

2 Muffin Mix
Reg. $1.19
sale .99
-.55/2
=.72 each

6 Chex Mix
Reg. $2.49
sale .99
-.50 (doubled)
=FREE!

Welch's Jelly
Reg. $2.49
sale $1.49
-.55
=.94

3 Tuna
Reg. $1.89
sale .50 each

Sunny Delight
Reg. $1.75
sale .75
-.25 q (tripled)
=FREE!

Retail: $32.21
Spent: $4.88
*That is a savings of 85%!!!

~My Tom Thumb Trip~

Went to Tom Thumb this weekend to take advantage of a few sale items. I ended up doing 3 transactions because I kept getting high value catalinas that printed out at checkout. So, here is how it went down:

Transaction #1

Spent: $15.44
Saved: $43.90


Transaction #2

Spent: .60
Saved: $11.80
*Used q's & the $3.50 catalina that printed out after transaction #1*

Transaction #3

Spent: $1.20
Saved: $10.50
*Used q's & the $2.50 catalina that printed out from transaction #2*


Happy Monday!
SHO

~Dave Ramsey Special!~

Go here to order the Dave Ramsey kit. This is such a great deal. The cheapest that I've seen! Only $44! The list price is $127.70! It will change your financial future and your life...I promise (as long as you do the work)! The best $44 you will ever spend.
This would make a great gift too! Remember CHRISTmas is just around the corner.


Here is what's included:

•The Total Money Makeover (Retail: $24.95)
◦Dave's most recent New York Times best-seller
◦7 organized, easy-to-follow steps that will lead you out of debt
◦50+ real-life stories from people just like you who have followed these principles and are now winning with their money
◦Designed for everyone, regardless of income or age

•Financial Peace Revisited (Retail $23.95)
◦How to become debt free with Dave's simple Debt Snowball method.
◦Learn the TRUTH about debt that you won't hear from any other money "experts."
◦Be entertained by Dave's passionate and dynamic teaching.

•Cash Flow Planning DVD (Retail $19.95)
◦In this core Financial Peace University lesson, Dave shows you how to live on less than you make, pay your bills, allow for entertainment, AND still have money left over at the end of the month. 85-minute DVD

•Dumping Debt DVD (Retail $19.95)
◦In this core Financial Peace University lesson, Dave shows you how to become debt free as he walks you through the necessary steps and details of dumping debt with the Debt Snowball method. 90-minute DVD

•Starter Envelope System (Retail $12.95)
◦Try a simple way to manage your household income and expenses and avoid spending more than you earn!
◦Includes spiral-bound envelopes and zip coin section in a durable leather-like cover.

•BONUS - Dave's Budgeting Software (Retail $24.95)
◦For a limited time only, when you buy the Starter Pack you'll get Dave's Budgeting Software as an added Bonus!
◦Build your monthly cash flow plan, calculate your debt snowball, determine monthly savings needed for retirement, plan for annual expenses, and balance your checkbook

*This offer is only good for a limited time. If you are interested, I would order now.
Have a great weekend!
SHO

~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There should be 2 coupon inserts in the Sunday paper:

*SmartSource
*Redplum

Happy Clipping!
SHO

~Christmas in August!~

Okay, I know you are thinking that I'm a little crazy for even discussing Christmas during this heat wave. Honestly, my Christmas cd (that I play year round...it's really that good!) got me to thinking...How many days until Christmas? 134! There are only 134 days to save/shop for Christmas. Not very long when you look at it that way. Don't panic, don't fear you can have a really awesome Christmas on a budget. As I continue to say "Jesus doesn't want anyone to go into debt for HIS birthday". If you truly celebrate and remember that HE IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON, you will have a much happier season to celebrate.
I'm almost finished with my Christmas shopping. Remember, I start shopping in January and put things away throughout the year. That way I'm always prepared. Can't shop early because you don't know what someone wants? Ask them! I promise, they will tell you.
Think what they want is not in your budget? Check eBay. I find all sorts of goodies on there and sometimes the shipping is FREE!
I've asked many people and have found that everyone is in agreement about one thing...We would rather have 1 gift that we really want, rather than 5 gifts that we don't want or need. So, make a list and check it twice. CHRISTmas is only 134 days away!

CHRISTmas in August blessings~
SHO

~30 Day Challenge Update~

Did anyone take the "30 Day Challenge"? If so, how did you do? Did you challenge yourself even more? Were you able to save $30? Are you on a money saving roll now? I sure hope this challenge has inspired you to want to save more this month!

Hope you are having a grand Thursday!
SHO

~Menu Wednesday!~

We are in full swing football at my house. My cute hubs started 2-a-day football this week. So, we will be eating very fresh. Those meals are best for him when he is out in the heat so much.

Stuffed peppers *will post the recipe for this later*
Loaded spinach salad (it's so hot here, this is a nice & cool dinner)
Mexican out (using Restaurant.com certificate)
Grilled pork chops w/ green beans & red potatoes
Grilled burgers, w/ beans & grilled corn

*My legacy on her way to watch a football practice and very excited about it ;)

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday!
SHO

~My Kroger Trip~

This is what my Kroger trip consisted of this week:

That is the beauty of my couponing...I don't have to go and spend a bunch of money each week. I can focus on healthy food. Again, I'm able to have weeks like this since I have a nice stock of meat, chicken, bread, eggs, cheeses and sides to make meals. We will have to pick up some milk later this week.

Cantaloupe-$1.67
grapes-.97 per lb
carrots-.72
bananas-.44
spinach-$1.49

Trip total=$6.43

~Monday Updates~

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and were able to go to the JBF sale! If you do not live in the Dallas area, go to JBFsale.com and see if there is a sale in your area. There is tons of information on the website.

*This is a Gymboree skirt I picked up at the sale for $3.50. It looks brand new!

Also, I'm taking the week off from the drugstores. I'm always telling my students that you can't go after every deal or you will get burned out. So, I'm taking my own advice and taking a little break.

Happy Monday!
SHO

~JBF Sale~

Be sure to head over to the JBF sale this weekend. It is nice & air conditioned (just in case you were wondering).

Just Between Friends
Children's Consignment Sale

Dallas, Texas
(Mesquite Rodeo Exhibit Hall)

August 5-8, 2010

Happy Shopping!
SHO

~More JBF finds!~

More Sassy Savers are sharing the good deals they picked up at the JBF sale! I will be sharing my stuff at a later date (mine requires before & after photos).

A Sassy Saver Liz said:
Some of my favorite deals were a Dallas Cowboys Jersey -looked brand new- for $2!!! Both my husband and my son were very excited! I also got him a winter coat for $5 and it also looks brand new! Yay! I love JBF sales!!!!

Thanks for sharing Liz!

Sassy Saving Tiffany said:
1. $20 Leapfrog Leapster (purple and pink) in perfect condition
2. $12 Big table booster seat (reclines and adjusts height)
3. $8 Travel booster seat
4. $4.50 adorable hot pink converse high tops
5. $3 Leapfrog fridge magnet

Thanks for sharing Tiff!

There is still TONS of merchandise to choose from. Be sure to not miss out!

Hope you are have a fabulous Friday, I am :)
SHO

~JBF Success!~

A very Sassy Saver, Christy, is sharing some of her JBF purchases to show you just how much you can get for very little money. She was able to completely outfit (pajamas, shoes, accessories, socks, gloves, coats, jeans, all school clothing) for 3 kids for $250. That is pretty AWESOME!


Clothing:


All of the outifts Christy bought are from Baby Gap, Old Navy, Babys R Us, and Children's Place. She paid $20 for these at the JBF sale. If you figured each outfit at the store at $15 (probably cost more) that would make the retail $75. That is a savings of $55!

Bows:

Christy bought 14 bows, which sell for $3 at Kid to Kid. That would be $42 at the store. Christy paid $3 for all of them!

Shoes:


Christy paid $42 for 14 pair plus $5 for a brand new pair of Heely's. Some of the brand names include Buster Brown, Gymboree, Children's Place, Old Navy, and Sketchers. If she had paid retail for these, the price would have been over $180!!!

Great job Christy and thanks for sharing with us!

~JBF Sale!~

Last night I ran back over to the JBF sale and there is TONS of adorable merchandise left. Plus, there was another drop-off last night. So, there will be even more to choose from this weekend. If you have not been, it is not too late to get some really great stuff! Here are the details:

Just Between Friends
Children's Consignment Sale

Dallas, Texas
(Mesquite Rodeo Exhibit Hall)

August 5-8, 2010

I've been hearing of the AWESOME deals some of my Sassy Savers have been getting. Very impressive!

Happy Shopping!
SHO

~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There should be 2 coupon inserts in the Sunday paper:

*1 Smartsource
*1 Redplum

Happy Clipping!
SHO

~Is a larger home the answer?~

Will a bigger house solve your problems?

The answer is.....probably not!

Sadly, it will more than likely create a much bigger problem...more debt!

If you are in debt, to put it simply...you can't afford a larger home. A larger home (usually) means a larger everything....Mortgage, Utilities, Etc.

I recently read an article about how buying a larger home is such a financial hardship. If we (me included...I like my stuff!) could clear out things, then we could live more comfortably in the home where we (hopefully) have already built some equity.

Not to mention, moving is expensive. No matter how you do...it is EXPENSIVE! Setting up utilities and everything that goes along with a new home is expensive. So, unless you plan on moving into a much cheaper & larger home (that is very energy efficient), it would be wise to take a long hard look at your current home and try to make it work.

I am speaking directly from personal experience here. We moved from a 1200 sq ft home in Oklahoma to an almost 2500 sq ft home in Texas. When we doubled in size, we doubled in our house payment too. The thing that SHOCKED us the most was the utilities for that home. We had no idea how much it would cost to maintain that home. We loved that house, but were so glad to get out of it and the high utilities that came along with it. It was not energy efficient!
Our current home is not much smaller, but much more energy efficient and we are LOVING the lower utilities each month. We are literally saving over $500 in utilities alone each month, sometimes $800. Plus we were able to get the current home for less money, put money down and cut the note in half. Now, we are headed in the right direction!

Have a terrific Thursday!
SHO

~JBF Sale~

I dropped my stuff off at the JBF sale and it was loaded with items. If you need anything, this is the place to shop! Here are the details:

Just Between Friends
Children's Consignment Sale

Dallas, Texas
(Mesquite Rodeo Exhibit Hall)

August 5-8, 2010
*(open to the public)

admission $3 on Thursday, August 5 ONLY

This is a great place to shop for back to school items! Many of the items sold are new with tags. All of the clothing must be inspected before it can be sold. That way only the best merchandise is sold.

If you go, I'd love to hear about the deals you picked up. Especially, Christy! Please take a picture :)

Wednesday Blessings~
SHO

~Menu Wednesday!~

I've decided that menu Wednesday really works for me. I'm always saying it doesn't matter when you make your menu plan, but that you actually make one.
*Mini-me and me in our camo on the way to Kroger :)

Here is what we are eating in our house this week:

Spinach salad topped w/ kidney beans, cucumbers, mushrooms, peppers, carrots & a turkey sandwich
Steak, grilled corn, spinach salad
Tuna wrap (will post the recipe for this later sometime)
Nachos topped w/ burger meat, refried beans & avocado (beans & avocado are leftover from the tuna wrap)
Leftovers with steak & hamburger meat...not sure what I'm doing yet :)


Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!
SHO

~FREE Whataburger!~

Wear orange (Whataburgers signature color) and get a FREE Whataburger! Must dine-in and the offer is good from 5-8 p.m. TODAY (August 3rd) only!

Thanks Tina for the tip!

~Walgreens Deals~

Here are a few Walgreens deals worth mentioning this week:

Complete Multipurpose Solution
$7.99
-$8 Register Rewards
=Free after RR!!!

2 Kellogg's Cereal
$2.50 each
-$2 RR
-(2) $1 q
=$0.50 each after q's & RR

Tide Detergent
$5.99
-$1 q
-$1 RR
=$3.99

Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!
SHO

~My CVS trip this week~

My CVS trip for the week:



Altoids
$1.49
-$1 ECB back
=.49

Excedrin
$1.99
-$1 q
=.99

~My Sprouts Trip~

I LOVE Sprouts (Farmers Market), but we don't have one in our city. If we do have a chance to go, we do. I've found Sprouts to have much better prices than the local Farmers Markets. Plus, it is an indoor supermarket (with air conditioning!). They also carry a variety of other health foods & vitamins. If you haven't been, you should go!
This is what I picked up this weekend:



My Sprouts trip:

Veggie Sticks =$2
Valencia Orange (.69 per lb)=.36
Grapes (2 lb/$3)= $3.45
Peaches (.49 per lb) = .45
Green Beans(.88 per lb) = .83
Red Potatoes (.88 per lb) = .45
Mushrooms ($2.69 per lb) = .86
Baby Spinach ($4.99 per lb) = $4.69
Strawberries (.97 each) = $1.94

Grand Total= $15.03

~My Kroger Trip~

This is what I got during my Kroger trip before church:

3 Cheerios (50% off sale)
Reg. $4.39
Sale $2.19
-.50 q(doubled)
=$1.19
*This is the large box!

8 Corn= $2

2 Sara Lee Bread (BOGO sale)
$2.29
*Anytime Kroger has a BOGO sale on bread, I buy it. If it is some of our favorite, I buy several and freeze them.

Total=$7.86

~Restaurant.com 80% Off!~

2 things:

Kroger is having a 50% select cereal products this weekend.


*Me w/ mini-me in Norman, OK outside of the Theta house at OU last week :)

Also, today is the final day to get a $25 Restaurant.com certificate for only $2 by entering PLATE at checkout!!! Be sure to read the fine print as to how much you have to spend, etc. We just used one yesterday in Dallas at The House of Blues. It was soooo good! We had to spend $35 to use the $25 certificate. We were able to get 2 lunch meals, 2 drinks, 1 kid meal & a huge meal (fish & chips) to share for dinner too. We ended up paying $20 out-of-pocket, but that included tip (they add 18% gratuity). So, for $20 we got to eat at a fun place and have enough food for 2 meals. That is a deal to me ;)

Hope your Saturday is full savings!
SHO

~4 Coupon Inserts Scheduled!~

There should be 4 coupon inserts in the Sunday paper:

*1 Smart Source
*2 Redplum
*1 Proctor & Gamble

This is a paper you will not want to pass on. I'm starting to see some great back to school grocery sales.

Happy Clipping!
SHO

~CVS Deal~

Here is another freebie at CVS this week:

U by Kotex
$4.99
-$1 CVS q (printed when I scanned my card last week)
-4.99 ECB back
=FREE + $1 profit!!!

Hope you all have a terrific Thursday!
SHO

~My CVS Pampers Deal!~

I scored an awesome deal on Pampers this week at CVS. These will be perfect for making diaper cakes! Here is how it went down:

1 Box of Pampers (96 count)
$21.99
-$2 q
-$4 CVS q (printed out last week...$4 off any diaper & wipe purchase)
-$10 ECB back
=$5.99
*That makes them .06 per diaper!!!!

1 CVS brand wipes
.99

This is a great example of why you should always scan your CVS card each time you visit the store. I've noticed lately that I will get a coupon for an item getting ready to be on sale.

Blessings~
SHO

~Menu Wednesday!~

I forgot to post my menu on Monday, so here it is today!

Baked Ziti w/ crescent rolls & spinach salad

Veggie Pizza

Beef Stroganoff w/ mushrooms

Tacos w/ refried beans

Shredded Chicken, rice w/ peas & carrots

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday~
SHO

~Kroger Milk $1.50~

Today is the final day of the Kroger milk sale. It is only $1.50!

~Tuesday Tip~

Have a very detailed list with you before going to the grocery store.
Example:

Item: Irish Spring Soap
Price: $1
Coupon: .75
Total: .25


This not only helps you get in and out of the store quickly, it also helps you figure out how much you are going to be spending before entering the store. It is always a good idea to have a budget in mind. That way you have a budget goal and then a bunch of little items (not on the list) don't end up in the buggy. Have you noticed that a buggy is like a magnet for things? He he

This is what I do and it really helps me stay on task and on budget. After all, it is not important how much I "save"....I'm most concerned with how much I "spent".

Hope you enjoyed this Tuesday tip!

Blessings~
SHO

~My Kroger Trip~

Went to Kroger today for the sale items. I bought other items too, but wanted to share some of the deals with you. Prices below reflect the sale prices. This sale is valid through Tuesday.
Crest
$1
-.50 q doubled
=FREE!

2 Irish Spring Soap
$1
-.50/2 (doubled)
=.50 each

3 Captain Crunch
$2.19
-$1 q
=$1.19 each

Turkey *MANAGER'S SPECIAL*
$1.19!!!!!!!!!!
*I was sooooo excited about this find!!! Woohoo!

3 Ivory
$1
-$1q
=FREE!!!

Degree deo.
$1.50
-$1 q
=.50

Suave deo.
$1
-.50 q doubled
=FREE!

2 Softsoap
$1
-.35 q tripled
=FREE!

2 Lady Speed Stick
$1
-.50 q doubled
=FREE!

Act II popcorn
$1.99
-.40 q doubled
=$1.19

Wishbone dressing
$1.49
-.75q
=.75

4 Hunt's tomatoes
.45 each

Loreal Shampoo
$2
-$1 q
=$1

2 Sargento Cheese
$1.88
-.40/2 q
=$1.44 each

Retail $59.71
Spent $14.88
*That is a savings of 75%!

~Could you live in 89 square feet?~

Could you live in an 89 square foot home? Honestly, don't think I could. However, I am FASCINATED with what this man is doing. Truly fascinated!

He does not have a mortgage and pays less than $100 per year for utilities! Can you imagine what that would be like? Wow!
Here is the video showing his house. Pretty awesome!
http://vitality.yahoo.com/video-20910192


I've been out-of-town since Thursday, so I'll try to post my shopping trip later today. Hope you have a great Monday!

SHO

~Old Navy 25% Off Event!~

Old Navy 25% Off Teacher & Student Event!

Time: Friday at 9:00am - July 25 at 9:00pm

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Location: All Old Navy stores, in-store only (check local store for hours)

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Students and Teachers will receive 25% off their entire purchase, this Friday through Sunday only. Students—show your college or high school ID to receive your discount. Teachers-show your school ID or pay stub to receive yours.

Happy Friday!

SHO

~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There are 2 coupon inserts scheduled for the Sunday paper:

*1 Smart Source
*1 Redplum

Happy Clipping!

SHO

~Victim vs. Victor~

Are you the victim or the Victor of your financial situation?



Do you talk to your children about saving up for something special or do you say "we can't afford it!"

Do you explain to them the importance of paying cash?

Do you talk to them about having the money in hand BEFORE making a purchase?

Do you talk to them about not being a "slave to the lender" when they grow up?

Do you rejoice and give God the glory for the money that you have?

Are you truly thankful for what you have?

Are you a financial brat (we're broke, we never have any money, we never get nice things, etc.)
or
Do you consider everything that you have a gift & blessing from the Lord?

Do you do a written budget or just hope it all works out?

Do you spend more than you make? Then do you spend even more because you figure that you already blew it?

Do you consistently have more month than money left over?

Do you eat out when you don't have money in the budget for it?

Do you take and never give?

Do you tithe 10% of your income?

Do you find every way possible to make extra money if it is needed?
or
Do you moan and groan and hope that someone will feel sorry for you and give you money?

Do you have a victim mentality?

Are you passing along a victim mentality to your children regarding money?

Do you speak life over your finances in front of your children (YOUR legacy)?

Do you fight with your spouse about finances or do you come together as a team to make a game plan?

Do you use your credit card to live on, instead of living off what you make?

Do you know people asking a church or other organizations for money when they could be out making some for their family?
*I want to make this very clear....Yes, I do believe that a part of my tithe to my church needs to go to those "in need". However, I don't believe that is intended for people who have overspent and can't afford their utility bill or car payment. That is my point.

Ouch....I fully realize that may sting for someone reading this. Please keep reading. I feel that God has placed this post on my heart and that someone really needs to read this. It is not my intention to make anyone feel bad about anything. It is my intention to bring light to a situation that you may need to change, possibly that you didn't even realize.

Are you trapped in financial bondage? Do you want to be set free?

Do you want other people to feel sorry for your finances?
OR
Do you want to tell of God's love, mercy & faithfulness?

Do you want to OVERCOME any and every obstacle that comes your way financially so that you can tell of HIS glory and faithfulness?

Do you want to be a Victor? I do!

I encourage you that today is not too late to begin your journey to financial FREEDOM. YOU CAN BE A VICTOR! You can turn your finances around. Make a choice for you and your family and stick with it. Will it be difficult? Yes! Isn't everything in life worth having?! You can do it! You can live differently than you think you can. You can make changes to improve your financial future! I promise that if you stand on the promises of God, you will be blessed.

Please feel free to leave a comment or email me. I would LOVE to hear how and when you decided to stop being the victim and started being the VICTOR!

In HIM~
SHO

"Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it."
~Malachi 3:10~

~Menu Wednesday!~

Well, I forgot to post this on Monday....So, here it is today!

Shredded Chicken,rice w/ peas, carrots & corn mixed in & crescent rolls

Baked Ziti, green beans & crescent rolls

Tacos w/ refried beans

Veggie pizza

Beef Stroganoff w/ mushrooms

~Diapers on Sale~

FYI:

If you like Huggies, CVS has them on sale this week.


If Pamper's are your fav, Walgreen's has them on sale this week.


You should have coupons for both brands!

Happy Shopping!

SHO

~My Walgreen's Trip~

Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste 5.8 oz
$3.49
-$1 q
-$3.50 Register Reward back
=FREE + $1 profit!!!

~Quiznos Coupon!~

Go HERE to print a Quiznos coupon good for a sub, chips & fountain drink for only $2.99! Offer expires 7/27/10.

This one is for you Mandy!

Blessings~
SHO

~Tuesday Testimonial~

I'm so excited to share a guest post this week from my Sassy Saving friend Tiffany. She has gotten her bills down to $300 per month, so I wanted her to share with everyone. I'm hoping to do more guest post in the future. If you would like to be a contributor, please let me know.

*Tiffany is on the left in the brown tank. She is a mother of a 4 year old, 1 year old and a baby on the way!
*******************************************************

We use basically the same methods you shared. I have always been one to keep the lights low and blinds closed. Friends and family even tease me about being a vampire! Ha! That is until they hear how low my summer bills are! In the winter I open the blinds on sunny days, and even let in the breeze in the fall and spring. We never turn our fans off, so the air is always circulating to keep things cooler/ more comfortable. The house is so cold in the winter sometimes that I have to walk around with my heavy robe on all day just to stay warm (I am cold all the time though).

Water, our bill is usually $50-60 in the seasons and much less in the colder ones (like around $20-$30). We only water every third day, with a sprinkler system, unless it rains. Then we recalculate.

Phone bill- well, this one has been a process. We have finally gotten as low as we can. We love our service so will not switch, and have the lowest minutes. After watching over about 6 months I realized we could go all the way to the bottom on our minutes and still not go over. We use a lot of texting, so we got a plan that included unlimited texting, mobile to mobile, and 700 shared minutes. With family out of town who mostly use the same service as us, we can talk to them and not use any minutes. My husband also uses his cell as a workbusiness line. We pay about $91 a month. We have no home phone because we would rather have internet. Right now we are paying $38 a month for wireless but I am working on getting that one lower. We just cancelled our cable (Hulu!!!) which was with a cable/internet bundle so I haven't been able to really look into the internet prices yet. Would love any input!

So once you average all the seasons, we come out to about $300 a month! We are still working on some things getting lower, but I am so proud of the teamwork it takes to make the most of what we have been blessed with!
Thanks for asking me to share and let me know if you have any questions.
Tiff

~Tuesday Tip~

This helpful post is from a Sassy saver friend Jenn:

************************************************
"Wanted to share something with you...couponers need to be super careful when scanning their kroger cards. Like most, I have several shopper cards on my key ring and fyi, the scanner will pick up whatever it sees. I went last night for the Tide...I self checked and realized my pg&e coupon didnt show. Since working with my shopper card recently, I knew the last 4 digits or my card and it didnt match the shopper card listed on the register. The scanner accidently picked up my petco shoppers card...be super careful and know your number."
***********************************************
Thanks for sharing Jenn!

~My Kroger Trip~

Ran into Kroger for these deals before the sale ends on Tuesday. Kroger is having a "Mega Event" where if you purchase 10 participating items, you get $5 off at checkout. There are several items that are part of the sale that are not listed in the circular, so be sure to check the tag and see if it is part of the Mega Event. Prices below reflect the price after the $5:

4 Sargento Cheese
$1.88
-.75
=$1.13 each

1 Sargento Cheese
$1.88
-.50 q (doubled)
=.88

1 Degree Deo.
$1.50
-.50 q (doubled)
=.50

1 Suave Deo.
$1
-.50 q (doubled)
=FREE!

2 Gatorade
.50 each

Total $7.39
Saved $18.93
*That is a savings 72%!

~Menu Monday!~

This is what I have planned thus far for my menu this week:

1 dish Pasta Bake w/ green beans & spinach salad
Grilled pork chops, grilled corn-on-the-cob & baked potatoes
Mushroom Swiss grilled burgers...Don't worry Mom, mine was plain ;)
Steak/Chicken Fajitas w/ rice & beans

Happy menu planning!

SHO

~1 Insert Scheduled~

There is 1 coupon insert scheduled for the Sunday paper:

*Smartsource

Happy Friday!

SHO

~I Need Your Help~

Questions???

How much do your utilities cost per month?
Have you found a way to lower any of them?
If so, would you be willing to share?

You can leave me a comment or email me. I'd love to hear from you! I've already heard from several savers about the last post. Everyone would love to know more about how to cut their bills. Since I'm a one girl show around here, I'd love your help. You can email me at coachoshields@hotmail.com or simply leave a message.

*These cloud pictures were taken from the plane on our way to Mexico.

Thursday Blessings~
SHO

~Ways To Cut Down On Monthly Bills~

Cutting back

Have you really stopped and studied your monthly bills? Do you go back and compare your electric bill to last year? Have you thought about ways to cut on your monthly expenses other than couponing? Well, I have!

Let's talk about cable television....This is one thing that is important to my cute hubby. We found the best bundle deal and went with that. It cracks me up that so many people just assume that we don't have cable. Honestly, all of the shows I like to watch are on the free channels, but the football that my hubby watches is not. We do not, however, pay for movie channels. If you are currently paying for movie channels, that is roughly $24 extra dollars per month that you could cut out. Remember me telling you about our fellow Sassy Saver Tiffany and how she is watching her favorite shows now on Hulu.com? It is FREE!

Moving onto cell phones....Okay, people I'm probably getting ready to offend a large population of my readers. Seriously, does your 9 year old really need a cell phone? I highly doubt that your child is going to be in a situation where they are all alone and need to dial 911 at that age. If you need to be able to get in touch with your child, simply call the cell phone numbers of all of their 9 year old friends. They can always borrow their friends cell phone to contact you. It can easily be worked out.

I'm saying this because 10 out of 10 people that I talk to that have financial problems have cell phones. 7 out of 10 of those people are paying for multiple phone/plans, etc. for their kids. They can live without a cell phone. Believe it or not...YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT A CELL PHONE TOO!

I'm going to give you a moment for you to get over the shock of my previous sentence. Yes, it is true. You can live without a cell phone, I promise! I live without one and LOVE IT! It is so peaceful. No texting. Nothing! It is wonderful. Remember that not that long ago we all relied on a home phone. Crazy!
Did you know that you can have your home phone for as low as $8 per month. Granted there are no bells whistles, but again you can live without caller id. An answering machine does the trick too! You can also get phone service through your internet by purchasing an adapter and only paying $20 per YEAR!
I hear the statement everyday "I canceled my home phone and now I'm saving so much money by only using my cell phone." Hmmm...You can't get much cheaper than $8 per month or $20 per year. More on that at a later date.
Now that I've totally freaked you out by the no cell phone bit....Let's talk about your electric bill. Do you keep the thermostat below 78 during the day? Do you keep it turned down when you are not even home? Are you utilizing fans & ceiling fans? Are you keeping the blinds closed during the hot parts of the day? Are you using energy saving bulbs? Are you unplugging or sleeping items that are not in use? Are you turning off lights behind you? Are you teaching your children to be energy efficient?

I'm constantly telling my cute hubby that "If we do what everyone else does, we will have the same result as everyone else and we will be BROKE!"

I encourage you to take a good look at your monthly expenses and see what you can cut out. If you are honest, you will find there are several things you can shave off of your monthly bills. We just did an this for our phone/internet/t.v. monthly service and were able to shave roughly $40 per month off. That is $480.00 annually! Just think if you dropped that $80 cell phone bill, you could save almost $1,000 in a year. Think of the debt you could pay down or the vacation you could take?! If you are serious, you can choose to experience financial freedom.

I better go for know. I'm positive that some of you are still in shock from the no cell phone statement. Email me and let me know you are okay :)

Blessings to all my Sassy savers~
SHO

~My Walgreen's Trip~

Envelopes
.69 (with coupon in ad)

Nature Valley
sale $2
-.50 q
=$1.50

Nothing too exciting this week. I had a couple of Register Rewards to use and needed the granola bars. The envelopes are cheaper than anywhere else that I normally buy them.

Happy Wednesday!
SHO

~My CVS trip this week~

Here is my CVS trip this week:

pens
.99
-.99 ECB
=FREE!

scissors
.99
-.99 ECB
=FREE!

Both were part of the Sun-Tues. sale.

~Target Shoe Clearance!~

FYI:

If you live in my area be sure to go to Target and look in the shoe department. They have tons of shoes marked down and are an additional 50% at the register! I bought my daughter some shoes for next summer for $3. These are the sandals that I normally pay $14.99. I was very excited!

Hope your enjoying this hot summer day!

SHO

~My Grocery Trip~

Wal-mart:
Watermelon $3.88 (cheaper than Kroger)
Plum .46
Mushrooms $1.98 (forgot to check price @ Kroger)
Corn .50 (.25 each)
Grapes $2.42 (cheaper than Kroger)

Kroger:
Strawberries $1.59
Bananas .55 (they are cheaper at Wal-mart right now)
Potatoes $1.54
Cantaloupe $1.69 (they are cheaper at Wal-mart, but didn't look as good)
Spinach $2.50
Peach .32
Carrots $1
Apples $1
bakery bread .99
4 Hunt's Ketchup
$1
-.20 (tripled)
=.40 each

3 Special K
$1.99 (same price at Wal-mart)
-$1.25/3
=$1.57 each

Grand total for the week: $26.33

*I don't normally go to 2 stores for groceries, however I had to run into Wal-mart anyway. I figured I would check a few prices while I was there. I'm very picky about my produce and will pay more if needed at Kroger (just in case you were wondering or saying "I can get that cheaper at Wal-mart").

Happy Tuesday!
SHO

~Kroger Eggs .88!~

I read in the Dallas paper that Kroger is offering 18 count eggs for .88! Offer is good Sunday-Tuesday. That is a great deal!

~Menu Monday!~

Good Monday morning! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I'm going to start this week off by setting my menu on Monday. Yeah! It's been a crazy summer and I'm glad to get back to a routine this week. So, here we go!


Dinner:
Crockpot Roast, Potatoes, Carrots & bakery bread (spinach salad on side)
BBQ grilled burgers w/ spinach, mushrooms & beans
Roast beef sandwiches (leftover roast)& chips
Pizza Hut ($10 large pizza...yummo!)
Mexican layered dish
Roast beef tacos (leftover roast) w/ pinto beans & guacamole

Lunch:
Turkey/Ham sandwiches, carrots & fruit
Bagel sandwiches
Spinach salad, mushrooms, carrots & fruit
Leftover pizza

Snacks & Dessert:
Watermelon
Apples
Bananas
Cantaloupe
Nectarine
Plum
Grapes
Peach
Strawberries w/ angelfood cake

I made a large roast and will have enough leftover to make 3 meals, all of which are different. Remember that leftovers are not a penalty if you make them taste different. If I tried to serve roast the same way 3 times in 1 week my peeps would not be liking that. However if I serve it 3 different ways, they love it!

Happy menu planning!
SHO

~Restaurant.com 80% Off!~

There are 3 days left at Restaurant.com to GET $25 GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR ONLY $2!
Enter Promo Code: FUN

I know several of my readers use these certificates. This is a great deal!

Hope you have a great weekend!

SHO

~Splenda @ Wal-mart~

I was excited to find that Wal-mart has marked the Splenda down to $5.78, which is only .54 more than the store brand. HOWEVER, if you use the $1 coupon, you get the Splenda cheaper than the store brand!

I like Splenda, so this was an exciting find for me :)

Friday Blessings~
SHO

~2 Coupon Inserts Scheduled~

There should be 2 coupon inserts in the Sunday paper:

*1 Smartsource
*1 Redplum

Happy Clipping!
SHO

~My CVS Deal~

$6.99
-$1 CVS q (printed out when I scanned my CVS card)
-$1 manf. q
=$4.99 or .62 per roll

*This is not the very best deal that I get on papertowels, however it is pretty good. My rule is to not spend over .60 cents per roll. These are good papertowels and I had ECB's to pay for them, so it was a good purchase for me.

Happy Thursday!
SHO

~My Walgreen's Trip~

Pencils
.19 each

Cascade
$3.99
-$1 q
-$1 RR
=$1.99

Dawn
.99
-$1 q
=FREE!

Happy Wednesday!
SHO