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 good day yesterday. I started out by going to Ro’s work where they offer FREE dental care for employees and their families. I went for a free cleaning. It was so cool. They didn’t even ask for insurance info or anything. There are a lot of little perks at Ro’s job and we’ve decided to start fully using them. They just built a new dental suite and they offer free everything including cleanings, fillings, bridges, oral surgery, orthodontics (which may come in handy someday since both of the girls are thumb suckers 
) His regular dental insurance only covers cleanings at 70%, so it will save us some $ anyway.
When I came home, I checked our bank account and the van payoff came out of the account. Next, I hopped over to the Toyota site hoping to see a $0 balance, but it just said that the account is now closed. I’m guessing that’s the same thing, so it’s all good. Hopefully we’ll get the title in the mail in the next few weeks or so. I’m happy to back to being debt free except for the mortgage ! Woo hoo ! It was hard to see the money come and go so quickly, but now I’m glad I did it and we ditched a big debt !
I printed a coupon for a free 6 inch hoagie from a local convenience store. I also printed a few other coupons and took them to the grocery store to snag a few little freebies. I also went to Dollar General because I heard that their Christmas merchandise has been marked down to $.25. I snagged 2 boxes of Keebler shortbread cookies and a really cute 25 pack of Christmas cards for only $.75 total.
I made all meals at home. I made a huge taco salad for dinner. I gave the kids some chips and salsa to go with theirs. Olivia actually licked her plate. I sold a book on Amazon for $12. It’s all set to ship out this morning. I also listed 5 more books. I also earned 22 Swagbucks and did 2 surveys before bed. I’d say it was a pretty productive 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…
Well yesterday definitely wasn’t a no spend day. I went shopping. lol. It’s something that I never do anymore but I played hookie and went shopping. I didn’t go shopping spree crazy but I did spend about $100. And unlike in the past I didn’t put any of it on credit cards. But I did save money at the grocery store. I had a $50 gift card to Wal-mart from my husband’s work and I spent $55.
Yesterday was no spend day for me. The temperature was in the negatives, so I was not tempted to go shopping. Today will be even colder. I qualified for 2 surveys yesterday and completed them. I also got a check in the mail for $1100 which was a ton of retro from when my husband got his last raise. Boy was that a shocker and huge surprise! Straight to our Emergency Fund it went.
Yesterday was a no spend day, which was really good and nice. I was asked to take over the nursery at the gym where I work and after some thought I took the position. Husband and I are both excited. It’s a nice job that I can take the kids with me to and set my own hours, plus get a free membership for both of us! Who can complain! On the flip side, the oven just quit last night–I think the motherboard or something fried. Talked to my husband and we debated repairing, but it’s a 9 year old stove, and a cheap junkie rental type stove at that, so I think we’re going to replace it. Thankfully we have the actual savings to do that, but that means our emergency fund will take a small hit. I’m bummed that I am going to have to spend so much right now, but I guess it’s better than the alternative of eating out a lot. Thankfully the stove portion works (at least half does), but I’ll hopefully go shopping around today for a new one.
Earned a few sb last night, added some points to coke rewards. Baked two loaves of banana bread this morning with some past their prime bananas. Thawing some already cooked taco meat for dinner.
Woke up with nasty cold symptoms. Had no choice but to call off for work and will probably be off for the next several days until it passes. Can’t risk passing it onto my patients. On the bright side, there will be several no spend days to come! Meanwhile, I know the drill……plenty of rest and fluids.
Prayed for the finances of ML2S readers. Still very upbeat about making this our year!
Karen I am so happy for you getting rid of your van payment! What a load off your mind this must be.
Oh, I hope you feel better soon Yvonne. Rest up and feel better soon
That is so awesome that your van is paid off…woo hoo. I will be so excited when I get there!! My husband and I have started something new this year to where we have some loadable prepaid cards and every pay check we add a little in an emergency fund, a little in a Disney World fund and a little in a college fund. Hoping to beef those up with tax money and to pay off some little bills. Slowly but surely we will get there!!
Karen, proud of you for getting debt free(except the house) again. That is truly my goal by the end of the year.
Fun mail day…got a full can of Progresso soup, a $5 gc to Starbucks(that I immediately registered so I can also get a free bday drink) A vitamin sample, free magazines. and a shipment from Amazon( warehouse sale on food items)
Cashed in the 450 swag points for $5 gc, made roasted whole chicken and veggies for dinner.
It was a friends bday, so we went for a walk (6 degrees) and I took her out to lunch. didnt use a coupon or voucher, I thought it might be tacky…I know, I know my pride got in the way.
Just spent money on coffee, but since I gave the coffee store some baby clothes she hooks me up cheap. I did upgrade our cable and got WiFi but I got it all for the price of WiFi!!!!! Hoping for a no a spend day today. it’s too cold to be out. they are calling for snow tomorrow.
Wow Congrats on paying off the van…that is my next goal, but right now just keeping ahead. I like the idea of being debt free, but I also like building up our savings accounts. I am unsure what the best plan is but I figure we are still on the right track. Yesterday was a NO spend day and today is a SNOW day so we have not spent anything and I do not plan on leaving the house.
Jackie, one of the best things my father taught me about debt versus savings was that if you are paying more in interest than you are making on your savings account, then you are losing money. I also know that the piece of mind that comes with having savings is important, too, so just pass on my dad’s advice for you to consider.
Spent no money.
Congrats on paying off the van Karen! We sold our truck. We put a large amount left over after paying the balance on the truck in savings and a small amount in checking. That also frees up monthly
Cash that would typically be used for that truck payment. So we feel good about the decision. I stay at home so one car is fine for now. No spend day here. Made Choc Chip and Apple Cinn muffins.
No spend day today-I think it’s our 4th in a row!! Amazing what working the long hours will do for the budget. Not expecting to spend tomorrow but probably will take my hubby out for a date night on Saturday or Sunday. We’ll need groceries this weekend too but since I bought so much last weekend, probably just a few items & I have $35 in gift cards plus $25 in cash left in the grocery envelope.