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: Ro was able to go into work a little late yesterday, so we went to our favorite diner across the street for the $1.59 breafast special. Even better, Ro treated with his ”blow $$”, so it didn’t come out of the regular budget. I came home and made him and the kids a carrot cake (I’m not tempted by that). I also did a fair amount of organizing in the kitchen. I’m slowly, but surely trying to work my way through the house getting it into shape.
I did a few drugstore deals yesterday. I got 2 of my favorite Physician’s formula pressed powder compacts for only $2.15 after coupons and +Up reward. They are normally $13.95 each + tax (I NEVER pay that), but they are BOGO 1/2 off this week + if you spend $15, you get a $5 +UP reward. I also used the $3 reward that I posted last week and a $4 printable RA Physician’s formula coupon that I posted about and last, but not least a $3 coupon that was on one of them ! Whew, that was a great deal. You can beat $28 worth of stuff (+ tax) for only $2.15 + they’re my favorite and 2 of them will probably last me 6 months. I also got a few good deals at Kmart. I only spent $2.33 oop there.
Lunch and dinner were made at home. For dinner we had the DiGiorno pizza that I snagged at Target the other day. We even had leftovers for lunch some time this weekend + we still have 4 big pizzas in the freezer . I did some surveys and earned some Swagbucks after the girls went to bed. I let them stay up until 9:45 because Tangled was on TV. They were pretty tired though. I’m hoping they sleep in a little. Here’s hoping…
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…
Wow, we all were a lively group here yesterday! Took me a few minutes to catchup on what everyone was doing. Loved it!
Started my day out with prayer. So far I have Amy L, Beth, Karen and Jen on my “financial prayer” chain. Naturally I pray for everyone on this site, but I really like to pray for people by name. Feel free to add your name if you want to join the chain.
Yesterday I turned down an invite to meet for lunch/shopping and stayed home. I used the day to reorganize my office. It made for a no spend and very productive day!
Please add me Yvonne! I posted about it before but just to remind everybody, my husband is a coal miner and has been laid off 3 times in 4 years. He is working now but for about half the salary he once had. We have 2 boys. My children have health insurance but my husband and I do not. I’m praying he can get hired on full time with benefits. I’m working 2 part time jobs. We are in serious debt. Several credit cards. We cant even get our home refinanced to lower our payments. I will be praying for all as well. Thanks!
please add my name, thank you
Please put me in your prayers and I will put you in mine.
I will write down all the names I see listed for the prayer chain, from today and yesterday. Please add my family.. I think it is a wonderful idea to pray over each others finances. We know this is also a spiritual battle, as ol’ red legs would love to keep us in bondage. My heart is set on freedom.
Please add me, too. Thank you.
I would love it if you would add me to your list if you don’t mind and I will return the favor!! Thanks
Please add me as well Thanks
Yesterday I worked all day and was exhausted. Its taking me a little bit of time to get started on a regular schedule with my new job but I’ll get there eventually. I’m just grateful to be able to provide some much needed income for my family. I spent money on lunch yesterday. Boo me! If I can ever get myself on a schedule of fixing my lunch everyday I’ll save tons of money!
there was a lot to take in from all the posts yesterday. thanks for all the great ideas. now i need ideas for making money!! no spend day(didn’t leave the house) still eating from the pantry, but it looks like Mother Hubbard’s cupboard!! Still gathering things to sell. tomorrow i’ll take some pics and list them on Craig’s list. Have a nice weekend
Great job on the physician’s formula…that is an awesome price!
Yesterday I did spend a chunk of money getting my hair done. But it had been 5 months and I really needed a trims since I’m growing my hair out. However, this time I went when my husband was off work so I didn’t also have to pay for a babysitter.
Had to take the baby to the doctor for his check up so co pay there. Went to the grocery store and got some great deals and have enough meat to last us for the next week or two. I am with you Karen, trying to get things straight around here. We have a kinda small house so if one little things outta place it’s a mess. Fingers crossed I get some of it done today. I have both boys alone today bc hubs is at work so we shall see.
Good luck ! I actually think I get more done around the house with the hubs at work
The only reason our house is semi straightened is because most of it is in boxes in the basement because we had the house up on the market. Its starting to get disheveled again and I need to put more things away now.
Trying to get organized after Christmas here. Also getting serious about rebuilding my stockpile. It will be nice to get back on a schedule when kids get back in school Monday. Freezer cooking today.
Only spent $5 at Walgreens, but needed a baby toothbrush and tissue paper. Holy cow the baby toothbrushes are pricey! I don’t think it changes anywhere I go, plus I like our WG and the people there, so it could be worse. I did meet up with the lady buying my copy of Insanity, so that helped to put that $$ in my jar. Tried to start shopping for the components of the outfit, but second guessed myself too long and the top sold out. Oh well. Had pizza for dinner and stayed home otherwise. Trying to fix my computer to print out coupons. Decided to switch baby to formula, which is killing me thinking about paying for it, but can’t handle the biting any longer. Hopefully it’s only a month or so then we can go to milk.
Have you tried either 1 screaming and scaring her/him (thats usually uncontrolled) or taking away the breast and giving lo something else to chew on or just putting them down and continuing later? You have to say in a firm voice no biting and we will not nurse until you can stop biting. (sorry for the unsolicited breast feeding advise)
Went back and reread yesterdays post, thanks Lindsey for the inspiration.
Tried to do the Digorno deal but they were out at my Target. My son has a gift card there, so maybe I will try again today. I did get some other stuff there(on sale w/ stacked coupons.)
My hubby sold some coins on ebay. Printed more coupons, had ground turkey tacos for dinner. Looked over the birthdays for the next few months and planning those gifts/parties.
Prayed for blessings on the finances of the ladies of this site.
I need to mail birthday gifts for my sis-in-law, bro-in-law and mail off a purse I sold on ebay. I got a new one for christmas & thought I’d get a good amount for my old purse but not much ($9 and that includes shipping costs so I might make $5 overall). Guess it’s $5 more than I’d have had if I had just thrown it away & it won’t clutter up my closet.
Lunch was leftovers & we have plenty of food in the pantry for dinner. I need to work for a few hours either today or tomorrow & I want to hit the gym tomorrow too. 10 more days till payday when we can pay off the next debt!
Every time you think a dollar or five is not much, put it in a gallon milk jug and see how much the jug holds when you break into it in December! (I say break in because you can’t fish out bills through the small opening; you have to cut open the jug.) I think you will be amazed at how littles mount up to big.
No spend day.
I LOVE this idea! I’m totally doing this starting today!
I did some running around shopping yesterday. I got the Old El Paso deal & DeGiorno deal at Target. They didn’t have 6 pizza’s though. I did the deal once & also picked up a personal pizza which was part of the get free Dryers deal. So for only $10.97 got 3 lg, 1 small, & 2 treats. Not bad. Got 4 free quaker bars, 6 balance bars for $1, 4 pk of soft soap bars for $1.19 (clearance), 3 pk hanes women’s undies clearance for $3.97 & it had a $1 q on it all at Walgreens. Picked up 3, 3 Muskateers bars & 2 trial tresemme conditioners ($2/2 printed from red machine) for just over $1 & got a .$75 ecb.
Went to TGI Friday’s with hubby used rewards to get a free steak dinner $17.98 & went to movies to see Jack Reacher with 2 free vouchers I won.
Hi everyone. Got part of the way through reading the posts last night when hubby was ready for bed. Part of our Goals this year is to spend more time together and that is to go to bed at the same time to snuggle. We are in our 50′s raising a grandson and we have kinda put “us” on the back burner the last two years, so I have to stick to the routine and turn the laptop off. I will catch up tonight. Yvonne count me in on the prayer list and I will add everyone on mine as I have already been praying for everyone for awhile.
Today I have to go get diapers and wipes. I also bought a $1 cup of Oreos for the grandson, I had a gift card for a pair of pants I returned so I only ended up spending $8.36 OOP. All meals made at home as we continue to eat out of the pantry and freezer till payday next friday. We did go see my great niece who is 7 play basketball today. The kids all so cute, she plays on a all boys team. I did see a few things at CVS and Walgreens that would be great to get this week if I can swing the money. We shall see. I definitely will get a paper with 5 inserts.
I may even swing by and grab a 2nd paper tomorrow. I’m close to getting all the inserts I need for the deals but I need a 3rd copy for a couple and a 2nd of the SS for a few others. There is an empty house across from MIL and we know the owners and I know they just toss the coupons so I ran across to retrieve their RP inserts (they come in the circulars on thurs to her house).
Yesterday was a run around day, I ran to Dollar Tree and Walmart in the morning while hubby and C stayed home, then later we went to babies r us wher I got 3 88ct wipes for .51 after coupon and reward $ Then we hit up target for the old el paso deal and I also got DH a few more packs of gum because it drives me crazy that he will pay full price at the register when I can get it for at least a 1/3 less if not more. We were going to run to giant for a few grocery deals but LO was sleeping after dinner because he wasn’t feeling well so we just went home. I ran there today and got water and chicken for dinner.