Hello KOLR 10 Viewers!

I’d like to welcome you to Gateway to Saving.  This website is chocked full of local and national deals, coupons, and tips that will help you keep more of your paycheck just where it should be- in YOUR pocket!

Here are a few things you might like to check out to get you started:

Printable Coupon Sites (just click on the links below):

• Coupons.com
• Cellfire
• Kellogg’s
• RedPlum
• Coupon Network
• Saving Star

We teach over 20 different workshops designed to help you save money on EVERYTHING you can think of!  Our workshops have been featured on all local and many national news outlets, including MSNBC.  You can view them all, along with descriptions here:  Gateway to Saving Workshops

To register for a workshop, please click here:  Register for a Gateway to Saving Workshop

Upcoming Workshops (Springfield Area):

• May 16th | Ultimate Couponing I

If you’d like to host a workshop in your home, church, or office, click here for information:  Home and Private Parties

ULTIMATE COUPONING SALE

As a welcome gift, Ultimate Couponing | Your Guide to Slashing Your Grocery Bill will be on sale for only $5 (was $12) when using the coupon code KOLR at checkout.  This 80+ page E-Book can be read on any E-Reader or computer and will teach you EVERYTHING you need to do to become an Ultimate Couponer.

Click here to get your copy:  Ultimate Couponing | Your Guide to Slashing Your Grocery Bill

The ‘Stores’ tab will take you to information and websites for all of our local stores.

The ‘Weekly Matchups’ tab will take you to the best deals in our local stores.

Check out the ‘Hot Deals’ page for the best online and offline deals around.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or email info@gatewaytosaving.com  We’d love to hear from you! 

Welcome KOLR 10 Viewers! is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

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Before the Ultimate Couponing I workshop on May 16th, we will be holding a coupon and stockpile swap.  Bring in your extra coupons and items you won’t use (must be new and non-expired) and trade them for ones you will!

The swap will be held from 5:00-5:45 at the McAlister’s on West Battlefield.  Please email classes@gatewaytosaving.com if you plan to attend.

If you intend to stay for the Ultimate Couponing workshop, you must register here:  Upcoming Workshops

The Ultimate Couponing workshops changes frequently.  If your couponing is struggling or you’d like to learn the newest information on saving with AND without coupons, sign up today!  If you’ve previously taken a Gateway to Saving Ultimate Couponing workshop, you can refresh for just $4 with the coupon code REFRESH.  (You must have taken Ultimate Couponing I offered by Gateway to Saving to use the coupon code.  All registrants will be verified.  No admittance will be allowed for misuse of coupon code, and no refunds or credit will be given)

Coupon and Stockpile Swap + Ultimate Couponing I Refresher Deal is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

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Ultimate Couponing I

Bring 3 Friends, Get In Free!

To take advantage of this offer, simply email classes@gatewaytosaving.com with the names of your friends after they have registered online. This must be done by March 16th in order to qualify for the promotion. (Each registration may only be applied to one promotion.) DO NOT REGISTER YOURSELF USING THIS LINK- we’ll take care of it via email.

Take a class somewhere else and feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or confused? Get in for half price when you bring your receipt (or other form of verification). Email classes@gatewaytosaving.com for details. We want you to save- not spend!

Registration is required. Registration fees are non-refundable or transferable. If you cannot attend a workshop, you may elect to give your ticket to another person within 48 hours of the workshop. You MAY NOT use the ticket for any other workshop. Please contact classes@gatewaytosaving.com to do so. Due to limited seating and the educational atmosphere of this event, no children will be allowed without prior written consent.

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Panera Bread Meeting Room, North Kansas Expressway (adjacent to Library Station)
Springfield, Missouri
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door (if seating is available)

***Please check the website and Facebook page the day of the workshop for any weather related cancellations.

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop in Springfield Tomorrow! is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

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You’ve asked, so here it is!  We’ve decided to offer our Starter Pack of Coupon Binder inserts online.  This will be valid today and tomorrow only.

You’ll receive:

• (2) 2-pocket inserts
• (4) 3-pocket inserts
• (4) 4-pocket inserts
• (15) 9-pocket inserts

The cost for each starter pack is $10.  A $5 shipping charge will be added to each order.  If you need to order more than one, please email alicia@gatewaytosaving.com for a customized shipping quote.

To order yours, click here:

LIMITED Quantity of Coupon Binder Inserts Available is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

0 comment(s)

We’ve got a couple of GREAT workshops in the Springfield area this week!  Join us for our newest workshop, Budget Gardening, on Wednesday, March 7th.  The March Sensible Earnings workshop will be held this Friday, March 9th.  This is currently our most popular workshop!

For more information, please see the full descriptions below:

Budget Gardening

Registration is required. Registration fees are non-refundable or transferable. If you cannot attend a workshop, you may elect to give your ticket to another person within 48 hours of the workshop. You MAY NOT use the ticket for any other workshop. Please contact classes@gatewaytosaving.com to do so. Due to limited seating and the educational atmosphere of this event, no children will be allowed without prior written consent.

Gardening can be very expensive, but there are many ways to cost effectively start and maintain a garden.  Whether you are looking to grow a container garden, start a large backyard garden, or reduce the cost of an existing garden, you’ll learn to produce more for less.

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Panera Bread Meeting Room, North Kansas Expressway (adjacent to Library Station)
Springfield, Missouri
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door (if seating is available)

*Note:  If you have taken the Grocery Budget Bootcamp, you will receive some duplicate information.

Sensible Earnings

 Registration is required. Registration fees are non-refundable or transferable. If you cannot attend a workshop, you may elect to give your ticket to another person within 48 hours of the workshop. You MAY NOT use the ticket for any other workshop. Please contact classes@gatewaytosaving.com to do so. Due to limited seating and the educational atmosphere of this event, no children will be allowed without prior written consent.

This workshop will introduce you to hundreds of legitimate work at home opportunities.  If your dream job is to work from home, this is the class for you!  Check out the full description here:  Sensible Earnings

March 9th 
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Panera Bread Meeting Room, North Kansas Expressway (adjacent to Library Station)
Springfield, Missouri
Cost: $18 in advance, $25 at the door  if seating is available

This Week’s Workshops: Budget Gardening and Sensible Earnings is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

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I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for the past few weeks, getting ready for various classes and the Working Women’s Survival Show.  All of that preparation and I completely forgot something extremely important.  Clothes.  My dress socks were full of holes and even my underwear could use an update.  I was down to one pair of pants, which were black.  Black pants clash horribly with my closet full of black v-necked tops.

That one pair of pants wasn’t going to work over the course of three days, two newscasts, and 6 workshops.  I had to go shopping, but when the  nearest town with any selection is 50+ miles away, I didn’t have time to devote to an all-day shopping trip.  There is a new Factory Connection store in a nearby town, so I swung in there determined to find something that would work.  I must stop right now and tell you how much I hate clothes shopping.  I used to love it, but something changed inside of me after that fateful March day when I went to sleep a size 4 and woke up a 14.  Now clothes shopping is only pleasurable when I kick start it with a week of plain yogurt and a case of wine, and buy only flannel pants and hoodies.

When I pulled in, I was thrilled to see a Buy 2, Get 1 Free sign on the window.  This was valid on all clearance, which was pretty much everything in the store.  The very first thing I noticed along the back wall was a pair of gray pants- the perfect shade of gray.  These would match ALL of my black tops!  I’ve always wanted a pair of good gray pants, because nothing else could ever match black tops aside from jeans.  Yeah, they make Khaki and white ones, but let me tell you.  NO ONE looks good in them.  They don’t make a cut that flatters even a 115 pound personal trainer. 

This coveted pair of gray pants was ONLY available in my size.  Is this a sign?  I sure hope so.  I glance at the price tag.  $8 for this name brand pair of pants- retail was $59.99.  That was BEFORE the B2G1.  I headed to the dressing room and slid right into the pants.  They fit!  Then I slowly turned around and looked into the mirror.  I was met with what could only be compared to the 50-lb sacks of potatoes that Summer Fresh has on ‘sale’ this week.  There were lumps sticking out in places that I thought were areas that I didn’t yet need to worry about.  Although the pants fit, the fabric left something to be desired.

BUT THEY WERE ONLY $8!!!

So I headed off to the clearance sweater dress rack to find tops long enough to cover my knee-caps.  And boy, did I find some cute ones! 

I ended up leaving Factory Connection with 9 items for less than $30!  But I still had this uneasy feeling about my butt in those pants.  I’ve found that those wearing the clothes are often oblivious to the way they look, so if I knew it, how much worse would they look to strangers?

I decided I’d head to Target and pick up a pair of Spanx.  Surely those would help, right?  I needed some jeans anyways, as those lumps mentioned above had finally blown out the inner thighs of my American Eagle jeans.  ALL OF THEM.  I’ve heard some good things lately about Target jeans- I decided to try them out.

I picked up a couple of pairs of jeans in my size and headed to the dreading dressing room.  I cringed as I pulled them on, just knowing that they would be tight.  Then something phenomenal happened.  They were loose.  I checked to see that the hanger matched the tags.  It did!  What?  A smaller size?  Yes, MA’AM!  I tried on the next smaller size.  They fell off.  I started frantically looking around, just sure that the guy from Dateline was watching.  He never showed up.  Now I’m shaking.  I grab yet a smaller size.  They fit! 

No, I’ve not lost any weight- even after the yogurt and wine diet. Their pants just run bigger.  Do I care?  NOPE!

I’m glad I bought the pants first (which are still a little big, by the way).  I felt a little better about buying those postage stamp sized bike shorts, known to Target shoppers as ‘Assets’.  Seriously, that’s their name.  When I made my way over there, I could see the big red clearance signs.  What?  Another clearance?  Perfect!  In a size L?  More perfect!  Wait.. that’s a 1, not an L.  I flip the package over and draw my index finger across the weight recommendations for this size 1.  95-110 lbs.  I don’t care who you are- unless you are 17 inches tall, you do not need a pair of Assets if you weigh 95 lbs.  Even if you are wearing white jeans. 

So I put them back and had to pay regular price for my Assets.  These suckers were $25!  But I guess $25 is a small price to pay if they make my butt look like the picture.  I head for the checkout, looking for a similarly sized woman that just might sympathize with my situation.  Of course, every cashier was male, and all but one were under the age of 27.  Crap.  I just pulled up my ‘big girl Assets’ and headed for the one that looked the most oblivious. 

He did a great job making me feel normal.  Apparently, Target even thought there was a chance I might blow a hole in the side of these suckers, as a coupon for 15% off of my next pair printed at checkout.  Woohoo- that’s like discounted insurance.  Think Progressive would let me take out a policy to cover my Assets in case of damage?

While at Target, I spent $76 on jeans and gut suckers.  All because I was too cheap to pay more than $8 for a pair of pants that actually fit.  I’ll bet I could have found great pants for less than $33.  Some say Assets are an investment.  I sure hope so- I ended up not even wearing them. My sweater dresses worked well enough and call me crazy, but I like to breathe. 

On the bright side: If I weren’t so cheap, I would be constantly pulling up my size 10 jeans as we speak! 

Like this post?  Check out the rest of our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series!

P.S.  Only buy the even numbered size pants at Target for an ego boost.  The odd numbered are the exact opposite. 

Diary of a Discount Shopper | Clearance Pants Lead to Expensive Assets is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

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Good Afternoon!  I’m finally back into the swing of things after the Working Women’s Survival Show in St. Louis, Missouri this weekend. 

While there, I had the opportunity to be featured on a live segment of Great Day St. Louis.  We had such a great time!  They were so much fun to work with- I’ve never  been on a newscast that was so laid back and ran so smoothly. 

The tips featured are part of our No  Coupons?  No Problem workshop.  This is normally presented at private events only, but I’ve decided to open up a public workshop  on Wednesday, March 14th for the Springfield area.  This is such a fun and interactive workshop that helps you save EFFORTLESSLY on your groceries.  No coupons required!  To sign up, click here:  Upcoming Workshops

Great Day St. Louis Segment is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

0 comment(s)

I LOVE this book!  I’m not just saying that because I was a contributor (you’ll see my name in the credits).  This book is full of easy to implement tips to get your life back on track.  I love that it’s in a weekly format, which makes it more manageable for busy people. 

Organize Now! Your Money, Business & Career: A Week-by-Week Guide to Reach Your Goals is on sale for just $8.49 (was $16.99). 

Organize Now: Your Money, Business, and Career | $8.49 (was $16.99) is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

0 comment(s)

We’ve added a couple of NEW workshops to the schedule, in addition to an old favorite.

Ultimate Couponing I

Bring 3 Friends, Get In Free!

To take advantage of this offer, simply email classes@gatewaytosaving.com with the names of your friends after they have registered online. This must be done by January 15thin order to qualify for the promotion. (Each registration may only be applied to one promotion.)

Take a class somewhere else and feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or confused? Get in for half price when you bring your receipt (or other form of verification). Email classes@gatewaytosaving.com for details. We want you to save- not spend!

Registration is required. Registration fees are non-refundable or transferable. If you cannot attend a workshop, you may elect to give your ticket to another person within 48 hours of the workshop. You MAY NOT use the ticket for any other workshop. Please contact classes@gatewaytosaving.com to do so. Due to limited seating and the educational atmosphere of this event, no children will be allowed without prior written consent.

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Panera Bread Meeting Room, North Kansas Expressway (adjacent to Library Station)
Springfield, Missouri
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door (if seating is available)

Budget Gardening

Registration is required. Registration fees are non-refundable or transferable. If you cannot attend a workshop, you may elect to give your ticket to another person within 48 hours of the workshop. You MAY NOT use the ticket for any other workshop. Please contact classes@gatewaytosaving.com to do so. Due to limited seating and the educational atmosphere of this event, no children will be allowed without prior written consent.

Gardening can be very expensive, but there are many ways to cost effectively start and maintain a garden.  Whether you are looking to grow a container garden, start a large backyard garden, or reduce the cost of an existing garden, you’ll learn to produce more for less.

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Panera Bread Meeting Room, North Kansas Expressway (adjacent to Library Station)
Springfield, Missouri
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door (if seating is available)

*Note:  If you have taken the Grocery Budget Bootcamp, you will receive some duplicate information.

No Coupons?  No Problem!

Registration is required. Registration fees are non-refundable or transferable. If you cannot attend a workshop, you may elect to give your ticket to another person within 48 hours of the workshop. You MAY NOT use the ticket for any other workshop. Please contact classes@gatewaytosaving.com to do so. Due to limited seating and the educational atmosphere of this event, no children will be allowed without prior written consent.

Join us for the first public No Coupons? No Problem! workshop!  Until now, this workshop has only been presented in small segments at conferences and events.  This is BY FAR the easiest and most efficient way to save on your purchases.

In this workshop, we will go over marketing traps set by stores that are designed to get you to spend more.  Grocery stores are known as the ‘Marketing Masters’ and are better at taking money out of your pocket than a casino.  Learn what to look for and how to avoid it to save up to 50% on your purchases- and not have to mess with a single coupon!

We will also talk about efficient ways to build your list and plan your menu. We also cover how to save on meats by discussing the best price points, which cuts to buy, and how to preserve.

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Panera Bread Meeting Room, North Kansas Expressway (adjacent to Library Station)
Springfield, Missouri 

New Workshops Posted | Ultimate Couponing I, Budget Gardening, and No Coupons? No Problem! is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

0 comment(s)

I mentioned the $30 china cabinet in my post about our $182 Kitchen Makeover.  The china cabinet was one of mom’s Craigslist finds.  At the time, she was unsure of what to do with it so she removed the doors and just began to paint it yellow (did I mention that she likes to paint?)

Our kitchen really needed some more storage space added to it.  We have one open wall that we weren’t quite how to make it a functional storage space.  Oh, we had lots of ideas, but many were going to be time consuming, expensive, or completely not functional. 

We decided to haul the china cabinet in and see what it looked like. 

As you can tell from the massive amount of stuff on it, we decided to keep it.  It works so well to hold snacks, fruit, cereal, and canned goods. 

It is in definite need of organization, but it’s working for now.   Maybe that should be a future post.

For now, here are some links to some of the things pictured:

Waechtersbach 72-oz. Solid Serving Bowl, Orange Peel.

Rachael Ray Stoneware 1-Quart and 2-1/4-Quart Oval Bubble & Brown Baker Set, Orange

Ball Regular Mason Canning Jar 1 Qt., Case of 12

Ball Wide-Mouth Plastic Storage Caps

If you are looking for a china cabinet JUST like it, there is one on Craigslist right  now at West Plains (it’s the one in the first photo).

Do you have any advice for some great storage items for this piece of furniture?  I’d love to hear some!  The brighter, funkier, and more retro, the better.

Stay tuned for a post on my $10 Pineapple Table!

My Budget Kitchen Remodel: Part 2 | The $30 China Cabinet is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Upcoming Workshops:

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? The Diary of a Discount Shopper Series is sure to have you rolling on the floor!

0 comment(s)