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: Yesterday was a pretty low key day. I did put a few posts on Freecycle.org requesting puppy stuff. I’m trying to get ready for the puppy by first looking there. I also poked around on Craigslist for a small crate. I’m waiting to hear back. I did get dog bowls and a few new toys from Freecycle. That should save around $20 or so. The girls have the bowls all washed and set out where they are going to go.
We ate all meals at home although I wasn’t in the mood to cook. I’m sure you’ve all had those days where you just don’t feel like cooking. Luckily I had a freezer cooking meal available, so it was easy to stick it in the oven. The girls talked about the puppy most of the day. They are counting down (5 days and counting). Being much more practical, I am excited to have 5 more days off before having to do all of the work that a puppy brings.
I forgot to mention yesterday that I got some nice freebies in the mail on Saturday. I got a $10 off of a $10 purchase coupon from Staples. I also go a FREE sample of “Food Should Taste Good” sweet potato chips. Ro and the girls polished them off. I also got my first Bzzz Agent campaign. It included a booklet of awesome coupons for Glade products. There are 2 free product coupons and a bunch of $4/1 coupons, which actually make them free. I will share them with family and friends.
I am trying to squeak through the rest of January without going to the grocery store. If I can do it I should have an extra $750 to send to the mortgage. I’m trying to beef up the emergency fund and pay something extra to the mortgage each month. Last night I caught up on some surveys. I was able to request a $36 check from Survey Savvy ! I love it that you can cash out with them even if you have as little as $1 in your account.
Ro is off today, so we are going on our mystery shopping lunch date. Our lunch will be paid for and there is also a $5 bonus. Ro really loves this particular restaurant and we never go there unless we are mystery shopping because it’s a real budget buster. It should be a nice treat for my hubby on his day off.
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…
Finished painting my 3.95 table and moved it into my son’s room. It looks great. I did my extra job last night and made $50 in about an hour. Wish that came around more often. No spend day.
Yesterday was fun! My friend and I went shopping and i got to exchange my bag I bought for one I like a whole lot more at the Coach store. It was an even exchange, so that was nice. We went out to lunch at Panera, which is one of my favorite places, but I never go. I’m going to find a copycat recipe for their broccoli cheese soup. So amazing. By the time we got home it was late and I’d forgotten I didn’t have an oven and nearly everything left in my house is oven food right now. I took the kids out to dinner, but luckily there’s enough left over that at least I will have lunch today, if not the baby too. Thankfully none of the eating out money was money budgeted–it was all birthday money and I was happy to not have to cook.
Yesterday we drove an hour to visit family…I got to meet my new nephew who was just born on my birthday 1.5 week ago. That was special. The only money I spent was on buying Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for my sister (she’s been wanting it) and sneaking it into her freezer without her noticing. That was fun.
No money spent yesterday I’m happy to report. Went to church and then had lunch with my parents like we do every Sunday. After lunch we went out back to shoot some guns and let my son practice on a new gun he got. It was so fun. We ended up eating supper with them before we left and to my surprise mama have me a huge ham and a big pack of pork chops!!!! There’s two nights of supper and possible lunch the next day. All in all my day was great. Have a few things to mail out today then home to spent NO money….. Have a great day loves.
We spent a little bit of money yesterday; I was making homemade chicken noodle soup and forgot that I used all the carrots and celery for the beef stew so I had to get more. Our dog also chewed up my lillte mans nerf football and he wasn’t very happy about it so I did buy him a new one (this one the dog won’t be able to chew…hopefully). All in all I think we spent only $12 which isn’t too bad. I have to write a check to my daughters school for gym class and then she needs her supplies for her 2nd semester at scholl; I’m talking expensive stuff not just the basics. Geez when did school get so expensive???? One pen she needs is $4 and she needs 2 of them….$4 for a pen???? Crazy.
Karen: Good for you for working to add $750 extra to the mortgage this month!!
No spend day. Received some eggs from a friend with chickens, so it is egg based dishes for a few days.
yesterday was a no spend day. stayed at home and baked a ham. i have packaged the leftover and will be able to have 5 more dinners! Clipped coupons and started on grocery list for tomorrow. Tomorrow will need to spend some money – dental cleanings and oil change for the car besides the grocery shopping. Hope everyone had a nice weekend
One of my friends who has chickens gave me 2 dozen eggs. Woo hoo!!! Got coupons organized for the week.
What is the name of the company that pays you to do your secret shopping lunch?
Got a bunch of my free magazines in the mail. We don’t pay for any subscription because so many are free if you wait. We get 8 different magazines for free right now!
It was a no spend day for me but DH did buy dog food that I had given him the $ for earlier in the week. We woke up to a light coating of snow on the ground so its a stay in and stay warm kind of day. We went to class at the library this morning and got some new books for C to read, I didn’t have a chance to look through and get something for myself so I’ll probably head down to the basement for my box of books and pick something out. I need to find some new free books for my nook. Today will be a no spend day also.
Hubby paid our tithe yesterday. I stayed at home since I’m still not feeling 100%. I’m showing some improvement, but still not where I want to take a chance of spreading it to others. Hope to be back to work in a few days. I did get all my coupons organized and have planned my deals for when I do get a chance to get out. Prayed for the finances of everyone on ML2S.
Yesterday I went out only to get groceries on my list. By the time I got home I was wiped out with my migraine again. That was all we spent yesterday. Today was a no spend day. Made all meals at home, hubby took leftover chili for lunch from yesterday. He is going to go to Walgreens in the morning to pick up Chex Mix deal. Also to Post Office to pick up one cent stamps to cover the increase for the old stamps I have. I have done real well about cooking each night and planning my meals. Working on making extra so I can have it for one meal and then freeze one meal. I almost have my coupon binder reorganized so I can be prepared when I go to the store from now on. Hubby is so cute, now he says, do you have a coupon for that! Great job Karen on the extra towards the Mortgage. We will pay our last payment on the last old hospital bill in February. Then that will leave one credit card which is current and the car. Then we will be debt free.
Wow, awesome. Glad hubby is on board and that you are so close to being debt FREE. Sorry about the migraines. I hope they ease up for you.