One of the biggest reasons for creating MommyLuvs2save was to create a community of moms and dads who want to help their family save money when buying essentials in order to free up money for debt repayment. My own family has paid off over $111,500 in consumer debt including credit cards, student loan debt and 2 vehicles. I am a teacher at heart. I want to use the skills that I have learned to help YOU ditch debt. I want to encourage each of you in your efforts so that one day you can feel the freedom of being debt free. I’m not quite there yet either (we still have a mortgage) so I need encouragement as well 
It can be very difficult to pay down debt. There are many temptations to spend money. We live in a culture that encourages debt and spending. In addition, expenses come up and there never seems to be any extra money for paying down debt. I want to urge each of you to participate in a challenge. Just leave a comment about one positive step you’ve taken for your family each day. Did you eat in instead of going out? Did you save money at the grocery store? Did you pay extra on your credit card? Leave a comment below and we will cheer one another on every day and every step of the way.
The challenge is to leave a comment about what YOU have done to work on getting debt free each day. One winner will be chosen to win a $50 Amazon gift card at the end of each month. To participate in the challenge you must comment on at least 10 posts during the month.
* I will also be sharing my progress from the day prior.
My Progress: I had a pretty productive day yesterday. I went to the grocery store after taking the girls to school. My store has a really decent deal on ground beef, so I bought 10 pounds of it and came home and cooked and rinsed it all. I love having a big bag of cooked ground beef in the freezer because it’s so easy to add it to different meals and get something on the table quick with no muss and no fuss.
I tackled a few cleaning jobs around the house. One of the cleaning tasks was to clean the microwave. I tried a new (to me) method called steam cleaning. Basically you put 1/2 c of white vinegar and 1/2 c of water in a microwave safe bowl and put it in the microwave bringing it to a rolling boil (I did 5 min.). It steams up and then when it’s done you just use a wet rag and everything comes off quite easily.
I did some grocery shopping. I spent $65 and the food should definitely last us for the rest of the week if not a little longer. I got some nice samples in the mail. I got 2 different coffee samples, which I love. I also got 3 FREE magazines. I think I’ve gotten 10 FREE magazines since last week. If I only had the time to read them .
All meals were made/packed at home. For dinner I heated up a lasagna that I got for FREE at the grocery store. I made a HUGE salad to go along with it. Olivia had 2 big bowls of salad. I also made JELL-O for dessert. That was a big hit too.
I used a few daily deal vouchers that I bought last year. They expire at the end of the month and I didn’t want to forget. Two of the vouchers were for Omaha Steak packages. I sent one to us and the other one to my sister and her family. Money has been a little tight for them, so maybe it will help out a little Speaking of which, are the prices at the grocery store skyrocketing or WHAT ?!!! It’s getting scary. I felt so sad when I saw this little older lady with only one orange and one banana in her cart. She was at the deli with me and she was trying to order less than 1/4 pound of lunchmeat. She was sayinig that she couldn’t afford any more than that. I wanted to slide her a few $$, but I didn’t want to offend her. I hate seeing older people struggle, or anyone for that matter. It just shouldn’t happen. How in the world do people survive these days without couponing and deal shopping. I can’t imagine, but it’s getting harder out there.
What did you do? Leave a comment We’d love to hear about it You could make 2013 your year. Who will the January winner be ? We’ll see…
I totally agree it is getting harder out there. I can’t believe the amount of money I used to throw away when I was not couponing. It was a no spend day here because I worked, and worked out which always makes me so tired. I went to a Pilates class that I have not been at in forever. The instructor can really comes down on the class which seems mean but is really motivating. I was thinking after that is probably what I sound like when I talk to my husband about money!
Prices are definitely scary and I think it’s going to get worse. I got a nice commission check in the mail and plan to put the whole thing on our home equity line. A little at a time it’s going down.
Yesterday made all meals at home. Have coupons and list ready for grocery shopping tomorrow. With the price of beef i’ll be mixing ground turkey with it and using less! I noticed that my pantry shelves are totally disorganized-canned goods mixed on 3 different shelves, etc. I plan on organizing it today so i’ll know at a glance what i have and what i need. Since tomorrow is check day i’ll review the budget for tomorrow to find extra to put on debt. prayers for all in reducing debt.
I’ve also noticed that even if a price hasn’t gone up, sometimes the portion included in the package is less…watch out for that, too! I thought yesterday was a no spend day until my husband told me he bought the kids a toy brand new on ebay. Like they need a new toy, lol. Oh well, he rarely buys them stuff, so it is sweet. And the cost of what he wanted to buy my daughter was around 50 dollars, but he found it in a smaller version and in a 2-pack. So for 16.99, he was able to get that toy for both of our kids. In the end, not a bad price. I’m just glad THAT was his purchase, and not more dress shirts for work from Abercrombie.com…that total would have been a lot worse, lol.
At least he shopped around to make it cheaper
I know, how do you help the hurting/struggling in those situations where you just have a moment.
The temp outside has not gotten above 30 since before Xmas and yesterday it was negative 17 degrees. The old boiler system in my house is working hard, but the temp in my home is 54. Then, we add plug in heaters, to help. We are expecting a $700 heating bill..I will let you know.
As for getting debt free; I saved 10c/gal on gas, turned in 4 ink cartridges, took a survey,saved 45% grabbing a few groceries, earned 35 swag bucks, got 5($1) off coupons from Butterball in the mail.
ALSO, took another link off the debt chain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(remember when you had those to print?)
I hope it’s not too high for you
I know ours was over $400 in December. I think the Chirstmas lights and company pushed it higher, but it is what it is. Being warm is a necessity. Congrats on taking a link off of the debt chain. It feels good doesn’t it ?!
The 2nd year in our house we had an over 500 heating bill. That is when I went to budget billing for Peco. Our entire house is electric so in the winter our little heat pump has to work so hard when it gets below 40 out. We use a lot of space heaters and only turn the heat on to get the chill out then let it go back down to 55. We pile on the blankets in bed.
After reading about your temperatures, I won’t complain about the 14 degrees I woke up to. Our house was a “pleasant” 59 degrees. lol We primarily heat with wood and the darned wood fairy (aka me!) didn’t get her butt out of bed during the night to add a log to the fire. We haven’t filled our propane tank (which is now down to 20%) in 3+ years and I don’t intend to fill it this year either. Awesome about removing another link from your chain. I still use a chain, too!
Another no spend day, that’s two days now!!!! Today it stops because hubs has to get gas, but if nothing else then I will be happy,
I spent a little bit of money yesterday for gas but have to ge that so I can get to work everyday. Other than that all meals were made and ate at home. I got a $26 check in the mail from one of the survey companies; I cashed out for it back in November. I keep seeing all the cute Superhero clothing and accessories on Totsy and want to buy some so bad to put up for Christmas (my little man loves superheros right now) but I just don’t know if he will love them in 11 months. Its so hard when they are little and they change their minds so often.
I have been sick in bed for 2 days, so nothing is getting done but at least nothing is getting spent either. I totally hear on the prices at the grocery store. I shop regularly at our military commissary and while those prices are supposed to be lower, I notice, especially on things we buy regularly, that prices keep creeping up. It makes me so angry because more money is being taken from my husband’s check and yet prices keep going up. I am trying not to spend much lately and actually have done well, especially after selling some items and returning some things.
Awww feel better soon Jackie !
My heart breaks for the woman you mentioned! Times are so tough!
The grocery store has really gotten nuts. I do my best to menu plan and stick to a list. I also find that I am doing smaller portions at meals and we use every leftover we have. I think we have leftover night at least twice a week now. I am trying to stick to a grocery budget and use as many coupons as I can. Our store as a half off section in each area (meat, fish, dairy, etc.) I always look there first to see if I can get any deals.
No spend day yesterday and I had to smile when I got an email from my student loan lender letting me know that I don’t need to make a payment until April 2013. Finally I am ahead on that and making steady progress. Really hoping to knock it out soon. I will continue to make my monthly payment and send any extra I have that way.
I used some viggle points to get a $25 gift card to target so with my other $50 in gc’s from other deals I’m planning to get a ton of stuff there this week. I will probably be stocking up on all the things we like to buy but are harder to get on sale. I’m hoping I’ll get at least a few gc’s back too. Other than my appt this week we should not have any more oop expenses until friday when we go out for DH’s birthday.
After work I snagged a few more deals. With working so much, I haven’t had as much time to shop. Was asked to work an additional 8 hours this week, so it will be another long week. Not getting much of anything accomplished at home, but the bigger paycheck will be worth it.
I agree 100% that prices are going up like crazy! I got a few groceries and bumped my fuel perks up to $.40 gallon…filled up today and used it. It was still $3/gal, but I guess that’s better than $3.40. Paid all the bills and will be sad once all the money leaves the account, but I like never being late.
No spend day. The car tried to turn in at a fast food place, but I managed to regain control of the steering wheel just in time!!
i hate when my car does that. lol
No spend day here for any extras. We did pick up monthly meds and a dr copay for my back injections. I finally got all my coupons printed for the drug store deals to do this week. So will go tomorrow or Thursday. I cant be up and doing or walking to much for the next two days. I earned my swagbucks and gettring ready to work on my surveys if I can stay awake long enough to do them.
Karen good luck in teaching the twins in Roller Bladding. I real dont envy you in either task.
We are just doing roller skating, but yikes, I’m not looking forward to it
Made homemade chili for dinner with lots and lots left over for the freezer
Yesterday wasn’t bad. I had running around to do, the Dr. to get a paper signed for the school nurse, the school, eye dr. to pick up glasses, pick up daughters friend at school & bring her home. While I was at the college waiting I read a book on composting. I also checked out a book on fruit trees & berries. I am getting excited about gardening. I only had to get gas. Ate all meals at home. Mail wasn’t bad–2 free twix q’s. From the Twix sweep http://twix.com/win/ you can use the free code 04040509 to enter-play 2x a day. Easy to win.
Got my $100 hh Gregg gc (that was fast) a q for buy John Freida foam colour get free shampoo or conditioner, a new bzz kit with a free morning star q- $4.99 & 5 $1 q’s.
Added 53 pts to coke acct.