If you want a great photo with Santa but don't want to wait all day in line at Fayette Mall go to Lexington Green. Lexington is doing Photos with Santa this year.
Merry Christmas!!!
Finding a good deal
My friends always ask me how I find good deals. If I know I want something I will Google it to see if I can find a coupon or discount for the item I want. I read the newspaper, flyers at YMCA, information that comes home from school and I ask around for good deals. If you love a company get on their mailing list and the deals will come to you. If you are on a web site click on the ads on that site for deals that are targeted to you.
Free Kids Ice Cream @ Chick-Fil-A
My kids love Chick-Fil-A. I can almost always find a coupon for Chick-Fil-A. I went to Chick-Fil-A for years and never knew you could trade your kids meal toy for ice cream. Now until Dec. 3 if you bring a new unwrapped toy or kids clothing to a Lexington, KY area Chick-Fil-A for will receive a free sandwich.
I Love Goodwill Stores
I found a Ralph Lauren little black dress for just $5!
At Goodwill today, I bought over $200 worth of clothing and lamps for just $15.00! If you want to save money shop at your local Goodwill Store. Don't let pride get in your way. Some of the wealthiest people in town shop at Goodwill. It is like a treasure hunt. New merchandise every day.
Like my husband's beloved grandfather used say, "It's not how much you make that's important - It's what you make of it!" :-)
Free Gold Star Chili
Go to the Gold Star Chili web page and you can sign up for a free Three Way Chili.Cincinnati style chili is so good. I did and it was so good!
I made $17 an hour on Election Day
A great fun way to make extra money is to work the polls on Election Day. I worked yesterday. It is great fun. You get to talk to your neighbors and help your community. The best part is you also get paid. Not all counties pay the same for poll workers on Election Day but I made about $17 an hour working the polls. Look in the phone book or on the web for your County Clerk and sign up to work next Election Day.
P.S.
Your family will love you even more after you have been gone all day..LOL
P.S.
Your family will love you even more after you have been gone all day..LOL
$120 FREE Gift Cards for moving Prescription Medication
In the last 6 months I have made $120 in store gift cards by moving my Prescription Medication. Almost every week there is a coupon in the Sunday paper for store gift cards if you move your Prescription Medication. It is no big deal and easy to do. It doesn't take extra time. I have moved my Prescription Medication from Kroger, K-Mart, Walgreen's, and Rite- Aid and received a $20 gift card each time.
Also, most pharmacies will match the $4.00 Wal-Mart deal for Prescription Medication but you have to ask for the price match and you have to ask every time you have your Prescription filled.
Also, most pharmacies will match the $4.00 Wal-Mart deal for Prescription Medication but you have to ask for the price match and you have to ask every time you have your Prescription filled.
Wal-Mart Will Match Food Ads
Did you know Wal-Mart will match any price on food that is in an ad from another store. The only thing they will not honor is buy one get one free. It gets even better. I found out the other day Wal-Mart will also match the price on store brands. So if Kroger Brand Jelly is on sale for $1 a jar Wal-Mart will sell you the Wal-Mart brand for $1 a jar.
Free Samples from Wal-Mart
I love to shop but I also LOVE to save money. If you want to get the joy of shopping without spending any money. Go to Wal-Mart's free sample page. The URL on Wal-Mart's free samples page changes often so once you get to Wal-Mart's home page type in the words"free samples" and you will have the latest sample offers. Go to the sight often because there are new samples all the time.The samples are free and are mailed to your home.
Save Halloween Candy for Christmas, Easter and Birthdays
If your kids get tons and tons of candy for Trick or Treat, take some of the candy out of their bags when they are not looking and save it for Christmas stockings, Easter baskets and Birthday party goodie bags. Chocolate can be kept in the freezer. Just make sure you keep you kids out of the loop on this one. This a great money saving trick and it is a treat to your family budget.
Kroger Double Coupons Every Day
Did you know Kroger will double any coupon up to $0.50 every day. Kroger is the largest grocery in the U.S. but it might be under another name where you live.
Parenting and Financial Encouragement
Don't go it alone. You're not alone! If you're just getting started SMASHing, or if you've been SMASHing for years, I highly recommend these great sources of encouragement and wisdom:
- Focus On the Family - Dr. James Dobson advocates Christian family values
- MOPS - Mothers of Preschoolers
- Dave Ramsey - how to get out of debt, and stay out of debt
- Clark Howard - how to save money and avoid getting ripped off
Join a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Group
When I first left work to stay home with my kids it was a strange new world. I was a bit lost with no adults to talk to all day long until I found a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group at my church. MOPS was a great way to meet other women with young children.
Make Money with FREE Mystery Shopping
Mystery Shopping is a great way to get out of the house, have some fun shopping at places you might not ordinarily shop or dine, and get paid to do it! This week I've taken my kids to Chic-Fil-A, bought groceries for the week, and paid a bill, all with cash earned just by mystery shopping! It requires diligence and attention to detail, but the money is real.
I'm a thrifty person, and was so frustrated to find that the only way, it seemed, to mystery shop, was to pay for the information to get started. It's hard to find good company's to work for that don't charge a fee to get started. To you, my SMASHing friend, I hereby provide an exclusive, valuable, and FREE list of companies that I work for who don't charge a fee, and you can too!
- Corporate Research International
- BestMark
- Intelli-Shop
- Service Intelligence
- ath Power Consulting
- Check Mark Inc.
- TNS Global
- Satisfaction Services Inc.
- Shadow Shopper
- Volition
Title I - $600 FREE Tutoring
Did you know that if your public school district is a "Title I public school," and you choose to enroll your kids in home school or private school instead of public school, you are eligible to receive FREE federal tutoring money to supplement your child's education. The program is called Title I, (pronounced Title One).
Because our school has been classified as a Title I school, we received an unassuming letter from the county school board inviting us to attend an informational meeting regarding Title I Funding. At the meeting they explained that the government will fund $600 worth of private education, and I kept thinking, "This is too good to be true!"
Like any federal program, there are 1000 hoops to jump through, and millions of forms to fill out. After five months of meetings and paperwork, my son is scheduled to receive his first in home tutoring session, paid for by Uncle Sam.
Because our school has been classified as a Title I school, we received an unassuming letter from the county school board inviting us to attend an informational meeting regarding Title I Funding. At the meeting they explained that the government will fund $600 worth of private education, and I kept thinking, "This is too good to be true!"
Like any federal program, there are 1000 hoops to jump through, and millions of forms to fill out. After five months of meetings and paperwork, my son is scheduled to receive his first in home tutoring session, paid for by Uncle Sam.
Free Dr. Pepper @ Chick-Fil-A
Go to 40winners.com for a free Dr. Pepper and a chance to win a trip and free Chick-Fil-A for a year. I signed up and will receive two free Dr. Pepper coupons (one for my husband) in the mail.
What is SMASH?
SMASH - Save Money And Stay Home (with your kids), was created to help mothers escape the rat race: the myth that a family has to have dual incomes. We've been tricked into thinking two incomes are necessary, that day care is a good place to raise children, that never having dinner together is okay, that "it's better for kids to get sick now" (in day care).
There are lots of mothers working to put food on the table and keep a roof over your family's head -- I salute you! But there are even more moms working to make the second car payment on a new car and to buy Jibbitz for Crocs. Will you look back on your life and say, "Boy I'm sure glad I worked instead of being with my kids so they could wear Ralph Lauren!" Regardless of your work status or location, SMASH is were you can find ways to make your dollars go farther, and hopefully, where you can find the courage to get out of the rat race.
During my first years of motherhood, I was making great money, with a prestigious career at a Fortune 500 company, with a company car, health care, profit sharing, and generous bonuses. I traveled 3 days per week, my home office phone rang off the hook, my home fax machine rang throughout the night, my boss regularly called at 7am. Even when I was home, I wasn't available to my family. One day, when picking up my son from preschool, his teacher mentioned that I must have been traveling that week. I said, "Yes, how did you know?" She said, "Oh I can always tell when you're traveling, because your son is so sad." That was the moment I knew it was time to start SMASHing.
After long talks and prayerful consideration, I left the rat-race, and came home. It's been a long, difficult road, but it's worth it. I'm no Polly-Anna, at best I'm a bag lady with a house, but I know it's better for my kids, to be here, teaching, loving, and even punishing them first-hand.
Growing up, my mom set the standard by always knowing the best deals, and never making a purchase without a coupon. Living on just my husband's income, has forced me to become the DEAL QUEEN. I make it my life's quest to always know the best deals, where to find the best coupons, and how to boost my family's income with family friendly money-making ventures. SMASH is here to share all my money-saving, money-making ideas with you. Let me be the first to tell you, YOU LOOK SMASHing DARLING!!!
There are lots of mothers working to put food on the table and keep a roof over your family's head -- I salute you! But there are even more moms working to make the second car payment on a new car and to buy Jibbitz for Crocs. Will you look back on your life and say, "Boy I'm sure glad I worked instead of being with my kids so they could wear Ralph Lauren!" Regardless of your work status or location, SMASH is were you can find ways to make your dollars go farther, and hopefully, where you can find the courage to get out of the rat race.
During my first years of motherhood, I was making great money, with a prestigious career at a Fortune 500 company, with a company car, health care, profit sharing, and generous bonuses. I traveled 3 days per week, my home office phone rang off the hook, my home fax machine rang throughout the night, my boss regularly called at 7am. Even when I was home, I wasn't available to my family. One day, when picking up my son from preschool, his teacher mentioned that I must have been traveling that week. I said, "Yes, how did you know?" She said, "Oh I can always tell when you're traveling, because your son is so sad." That was the moment I knew it was time to start SMASHing.
After long talks and prayerful consideration, I left the rat-race, and came home. It's been a long, difficult road, but it's worth it. I'm no Polly-Anna, at best I'm a bag lady with a house, but I know it's better for my kids, to be here, teaching, loving, and even punishing them first-hand.
Growing up, my mom set the standard by always knowing the best deals, and never making a purchase without a coupon. Living on just my husband's income, has forced me to become the DEAL QUEEN. I make it my life's quest to always know the best deals, where to find the best coupons, and how to boost my family's income with family friendly money-making ventures. SMASH is here to share all my money-saving, money-making ideas with you. Let me be the first to tell you, YOU LOOK SMASHing DARLING!!!
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