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’m sorry everyone, but I’m feeling lousy and can’t write much today. Last night after tucking in the girls I felt so sick. I spent most of the night throwing up. I hope I don’t have the flu. I didn’t do much yesterday. I guess my body knew what was coming because I felt “off” all day long. Please “talk” amongst yourselves today. I’ll read what I can and hopefully catch up later.
Have a blessed day !
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…
Lazy day at home yesterday. Clipped coupons, did grocery list, won 39 swagbucks(no surveys listed for 3 days now), all meals made at home, won free pkg of Thomas english muffins. Planning on doing some baking today.
Spent the day getting organized for the coming week and hanging out with my younger son. Took him to ihop for lunch and split a breakfast for $10 including tip. Thankful for the advice and prayers:)
Karen, so very sorry you are sick! I hope after some rest you will feel much better. Take care:)
Karen, will be praying for you that you feel better so and that the girls and Ro don’t catch it. Hang in there!!!
Sorry you are feeling so lousy. Try and get some extra rest (as much as you can with two 5 year olds!) and drink lots of extra fluids.
Worked a 10 hour shift and made a few stops after work. With working all these extra hours (70+/wk) and my hubby away from home, I find myself eating out a little more often. I am challenging myself to keep this extra expense under one hours wages per week.
Prayed for all the ladies on ML2S. Earned 114 swagbucks. Transferred money for our tithe out of our day-to-day account. Hope to make it to church on Thursday.
I find it very hard to not eat out too when working so much.
So sorry Karen. You deserve a day off. Take care of yourself!
Feel better Karen, we have had a nice relaxing weekend celebrating my daughter’s 3rd birthday. Just a small celebration on Sat and yesterday was a no spend day!
Oh, honey, I know how are feeling. I went to bed Friday night and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I felt awful. It hits like a ton of bricks! My stomach was awful all night, fever, etc. But, I did feel better Saturday and by Saturday night I was so much better. I hope it passes just as quickly for you. I think it was a touch of the flu, and considering I just got the flu shot last week, I think it went hand in hand with that. Praying for a really quick recovery for you and that your husband and girls do not catch it! Yesterday, the only money spent for us was on a few mystery shops, but we get reimbursed for what we spend and more next month!
I did my big grocery shopping yesterday and did spend more than I planned but it wasn’t bad for the amount I got. I really just need to get a few more things but with the sales and coupons it shouldn’t be that much. It was nice here this weekend and I got to go outside and enjoy playing with my little man.
My husband just called and said he feels like he got hit by a Mack truck so it looks like all this sickness has finally caught up with him. On the plus side his work place has an on site doctor that is free to employees so he can save there. Karen I hope you get to feeling better soon it is so hard with little ones.
Prayed for the finances of families on this site. Paid our tithe.( The only area in the bible it says you can test God. He promises to “throw open the floodgates of heaven..that we won’t have enough room to store the blessings.”Malachi 3:10)
Clipped coupons from paper, got the cheap granola bars and popcorn at Walgreens(w/ coupons) free lunch at church..there were 8 of us(my son brought 2 friends)
dinner was artichokes and spaghetti and gf brownies.
Oh, and prayers for your health, Karen.
You have been such a daily inspiration to me. In the past yr and 1/2 of being on your site, we have paid off $55,000 in debt and put $6,200 in our emergency fund!
Thanks, Karen, hope you feel better soon!!
I should also add, in 24 yrs of marriage, we have never had an emergency fund.
Wow, Christy. You seriously just made my day ! I’m beyond thrilled for you
Wow!! That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you!
I can honestly say that we have yet to miss what we tithe and have definitely gained a great joy in giving it back.
Bless your heart I hope you feel better. That stuff already came through this house and God willing I won’t come again. No money spend, didn’t even leave the house. Hubs did spend some on some meds but that’s all. I in fact made some money buy selling a few things. Today I have to make a run to the grocery store for just eggs and then to take my oldest to get lunch. I always take him out to eat on a day out of school. He’s having a friend over tonight so I am sure they will eat me outta house and home. I will be cooking dinner at home. The temps are supposed to drop tonight so the gas logs are coming on. Gotta keep my babies warm. Have a blessed day my ML2S gals.
Yesterday we had a bball game and surprisingly we didn’t spend any money. We ate before we left the house and I brought water for my son that was playing. My other son of course asked to go to the concession stand but we didn’t bring any money in so we got out of that. I swear I will be so glad when bball is over. It’s hard to tell how much money we have spent on this.
Hope you feel better, I’ve been sick too and praying my 12 week old doesn’t get it. For entertainment for my older daughter yesterday I covered our kitchen table with paper and let her color all over it. Hours of entertainment for free!
I wish my son (12) was that easy to entertain. He is to the age that spending money is the only way to entertain him. I hope your lil one stays well. I have a 5 month old and so he can’t have the flu shot so we stay home a lot. I am such a germ hater and scared to death that my boys will get sick.
Get well soon! (At least when I am sick, I don’t spend money—restaurants are not even a temptation!)
Very true. It’s a no spend day and pretty good for the scale too
Take care of yourself Karen! Hope you feel better.
Yesterday was pretty calm. Made $20 selling some baby clothes to a friend. Got most of them sorted and ready to hang and tag for the consignment sale, though I think I will offer to let other moms come shop my daughter’s closet first. Chatting with my friend yesterday, we both agreed that we want to price our clothes to move, not come back home to us. I got to order my purse and wallet!! I saved almost $300 on my set, so I was excited.
Had to pay $12.24 as my co-pay at the podiatrist today. Doctor also gave me an order to get a pair of hard soled shoes like Dansko or be prescribed a surgical shoe to wear for 2 weeks. If things don’t improve, I’ll be stuck in a surgical boot–which will be oh-so-hot for hubby’s return.
Just wanted to chime in in wishing you a better day. Remember lots of fluid! Please take care!
Karen I hope you feel better soon. Please rest, drink fluids and eat soup or crackers. You know the drill, do for yourself what you would do for the kids or Ro!
No spend here again. We had Roast, potatoes and carrots in the crockpot and I made Northern Beans on the stove.
Clipped all my coupons and going to make a few store runs tomorrow before hubby goes back to work on Wednesday.
We have decided to sell our truck. We still owe a year on it. We will make about $3300 on it. It will also free up $400 a month. We will use one car for a while until my hubby finds a used truck to drive back and forth to work. He only drives about 18 miles round trip each day for work. This will allow us to put the money in the emergency fund and also add to our income each month.