Happy Birthday Deborah.

My sister Deborah, the cute one on the left, has a birthday today. We look so sweet in our Easter outfits. So many years have gone by since then. I hope she has a great birthday. I called but got her machine. I left a message and hope she gets it. I miss being able to talk to family anytime I want. We are all so busy it is hard to keep in touch. When you get on the phone, the mind goes blank and even if there is lots to say, you can't remember half of what you wanted to tell them. I don't know if she gets on the internet or not. It sure makes it easier.

If you are looking for a good read Ann at Holy Experience has done it again.

Read Ann's post.

Pic: Cherokee Lake

Building A Nest Egg

I was wondering what to post about this Friday. Haven't I shared every financial tip I know? Then I read a post at Holy Experience about having enough in our lives and I realized I do have something left to share.

Ann's attitude about spending money on things we don't need has been something I have been cultivating in my own life. I have really come to realize that just because something is a great deal doesn't mean you need it in your life. I think maybe this is something that you come to realize as you mature in your management of your finances.

I felt that I was doing a great job of handling our money because I hardly ever shopped for anything in a regular retail store. If I did buy something it was always on clearance.The majority of my shopping was done at yard sales or thrift stores.

I have arrived at a place in my life where I have finally realized that too much stuff is too much stuff. No matter how little you may pay for it.

My tip for the week is what I am doing with the money I am NOT spending. A truly radical thing...I'm actually saving it.

Every time I pass up a "deal" I take the money I would have spent and put it into my nest egg. Since purchasing Crystal's course on supermarket savings I have really increased my couponing. At least half of the difference between what I would have spent without the coupons is added to my nest egg.

Where I found it difficult to cut money from my budget before I have found this a much easier way to put some money aside. In just the last few weeks I have seen a nice little increase in the balance.

I'm not taking anymore money out of our family budget than before, just spending what I have more efficiently AND I feel much better about how I am handling my part of our family finances.

For more tips check out Jessica's blog Life As Mom.

Beautiful Blogs: Gumbo Lily

Everybody sing!

I wanna be a cowboy's sweetheart

I wanna learn to rope and ride

I wanna ride through the plains and the desert

Out west of The Great Divide

I wanna hear the coyotes singing

As the sun sets in the west

I wanna be a cowboy's sweetheart

That's the life I love the best.

Ok. I'll admit I have had a deep down desire to live like Laura Ingalls ever since I closed that first Little House book when I was in the third grade. When my grandfather would put the wooden slat side bodies on his 1951 Chevy truck, I would sit in the truck bed on a wooden box and pretend I was Laura on a long wagon trip out to the prairie. I longed to stand out on the prairie with the grass taller than my head just the way Laura described it.

As an adult I finally got the chance to drive across the plains. The sky is indeed Azure, where the Praire grass is still allowed to grow it would be over my head, if I wasn't 6 ft tall and you can hear the wind blow. It was just as wonderful as I imagined all those years ago.

Maybe that is why I love this blog, Gumbo Lily, so much..that and the mandolin music.

Click on the Picture for info on Patsy Montana

Frugal Friday: Sales Papers Online

I want to share a link to a site I use to check the sales fliers. This Sunday Saver site has a link to most of the grocery stores where I shop. By using this site it helps me save time, see who has sales on items I have coupons for and plan my shopping trip. For more tips check out Crystal's site.

Prayer For Amy

I've been following Amy's battle with leukemia. It has especially touched me because I believe that she is about the same age as my oldest child. When I think of her little one being without his mom it breaks my heart.

Things are not looking so good for her right now. The family is asking for additional prayer for her, so please, say an extra prayer for Amy. And pray for her family that they can have the strength they need.

Amy passed away this afternoon. Please pray for her family and those that loved her.

Recipe: Salsa

I got a great deal on tomatoes. Grainger county tomatoes are highly prized around here for their great flavor. Randy and I were over in the area and stopped into a farm to pick up some produce. I got 25 pounds of tomatoes for $8. A very good price.

My friend Angie gave me a wonderful Salsa recipe. I froze it in quart Ziploc bags. I doubled the recipe and it made around 9 quarts.

Angie posted the recipe on her blog for anyone who is interested.

The Beat Of My Heart

Click to enlarge.

It Works!

My friend Angie has been telling me about her luck with coupon shopping and I have been reading about the deals Crystal gets.

Honestly, I didn't think I could save as much. It just seemed like so much work. When Crystal put her program on sale earlier this week I decided purchase it because she always seemed to have such great tips on her site. It is a well put together program and I would recommend it especially to those just learning to live frugally or just setting up housekeeping. Even an old dog like me learned a few tricks.

It is no secret that I am a die hard tightwad from way back, but coupons are something I just haven't taken the time to use. This week I decided to take the time to clip coupons, check the sales and make a list. I even organized my coupons... kind of.

Well tonight I took the plunge at my local Krogers. And I think I did really well. Everything you see in the picture above was $74.00 and some change. By purchasing items on sale and after my coupons (Kroger doubles 50 cent and lower) I only paid $36.33 tax included!

I got the mustard, 2 bottles of Worchestershire, and 2 cans dog food for free! I was very excited. The bag boy was impressed and the guy behind me said "That's what I'm talking about!" LOL.

Truthfully it wasn't that hard. I'm sure it will get easier as I get more organized and get used to the process. A big thanks to Angie and Crystal both for inspiring me to give it a try!

What I Saw: Autumn Leaves

By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

With summer’s best of weather

And autumn’s best of cheer.

- Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830-1885