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: Still felt lousy yesterday. I can’t wait until I can stop saying (and writing) that! I rested for most of the day, so I do feel a little better today. The only good thing about yesterday was that it was a NO spend day since I wasn’t up to doing any deal shopping.
TODAY is the twin’s 6th birthday !!!!! They are so excited. I made 30 cupcakes and decorated them (with gloves on – ha ha). I almost bought them so I woulndn’t have to make ‘em, but I pushed through and got it done. They were $6 per dozen at the store the other night and not homemade and I thought it was important for me to make them. I’m driving the girls to school today and they each have a box of 15 to bring in. They are so proud about having them to take in.
Tonight is the big night. We are going to the circus with all of the cousins. There will be 8 of us and we have GOOD seats. Everyone is so excited. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. It doesn’t start until 7pm, so I may have some cranky girls on my hands tomorrow morning They are off of Friday and Monday, so hopefully they can catch up on their sleep.
I went to my WW meeting last night and lost a pound. I couldn’t stay for the whole meeting because I started coughing and didn’t want to get anyone sick. I came home and tucked in the girlies. After they went off to bed for the last time as 5 year olds, I managed to get through my inbox. I also did 3 surveys and earned 19 Swagbucks. I got a package in the mail from Amazon that was bought with Swagbucks money. It was a pretty good day.
What did you do? Leave a comment We’d love to hear about it You could make 2013 your year. I haven’t forgotten about naming the January winner. I promise I will, but I want to feel better first. Bear with me… Who will the February winner be ? We’ll see…
Here is a picture of the girls in the hospital when they were first born. Awww! I miss those days (kind of).
Fast forward to their 6th birthday party on Saturday ! Where has the time gone. Happy birthday to my little sweeties ! I don’t know if I told ya, but we did face painting at the party ! Kayla is on the left and Olivia is on the right in both of these pictures. How funny is that ?
These girls are turning into girly girls before my eyes. I wish I could hit the pause button for a few years. Above is Kayla and her AG doll in their new “Dollie and Me” outfits that I always tell you guys about. I’ve had the pry the outfit off of her to wash it because she keeps trying to wear it every day ! She also has her new “fashion boots” on. Hers are pink and Olivia’s are purple. My parents got them for them.
Happy Birthday to your sweet girls! Isn’t it crazy how they are already 6? My oldest (son) turned 6 in October and also started K at the same time as your girls, so I feel like I am going thru this journey along with you!
I hope they have an awesome, fun day at school, and how cool they can celebrate before a few days off. Yesterday I finally bit the bullet and bought myself snowpants so I can stay outside longer in the snow with my kids. Yesterday I only made it for a little over an hour. Also, they really want me to play directly in the 10-feet high snow “mountains,” so snow pants is a must. After 3 stores, I secured a great pair for 29.98 and was very pleased. My husband also did the grocery shopping and spent under our budget.
I wish I could say no money spent but the hubs took the oldest boy Valentine’s shopping. Oh my, puppy love has started. It’s cute so I guess it was money well spent. It’s raining like crazy here so we might not get out much today. I still have to get my fellas Valentine’s gifts….. Hope you all have a great day.
Happy Birthday to your girls! My twins will be 4 this Saturday and I know what you mean about missing the baby days….sort of. But I have a 7 month old right now that reminds me just how much ‘fun’ those days can be! They grow up so fast! My 6 1/2 year old seems like she’s going on 13!
No money spent yesterday. We had beautiful weather so I took all the kiddos outside and they played for hours. The baby luvs spending time outside and when we finally came in she took an amazing nap! I can’t wait for spring when we can enjoy outside more often (minus the pollen).
Hope you all have a great time at the circus!
Happy Birthday to your sweet girlies!!!
Had a meeting at a local coffee house for our daughter’s high school graduation. sob sob
The good news is that she has decided to take a yr off before college since we are moving,(and she is only 17) she wants to get settled, earn some more $ before heading off. Whew. A friend gave us a B1G1 drink at the coffee house, since Im el cheapo these days..we got tea for a grand total of $2.
Also, got free red mango yogurt, (w/ $5 gift card)
Packed up some stuff and added to March garage sale pile.
Earned 45 swagbucks and a $20 credit to shutterfly.
Did a food tasting at work yesterday and had enough leftover for the two of us at home. We almost went to ihop for pancakes so that saved me at least $15 last night. No spend day.
Beth, hope you are doing well. I am continuing to lift you and your family in prayer. How is your MIL doing?
Happy birthday to your babies. I can’t believe my son will be 2 next month, it goes by so quickly. Yesterday supposed to be a no spend but dh asked me to stop and get him something to drink for his mom’s house so I did. Heading to rite aid today to use my $20 in up+ rewards and hopefully not spend much oop. I’m planning on getting a few things that I couldn’t get with our normal budget like nuts which are so expensive. I don’t really need much so I don’t have to get a lot of the deals so I will have plenty left over to use on that.
Spent $23 online from Walmart for a gift. I ordered via swagbucks so I’ll get a little back for going that route. I worked an extra 8 hour shift. Not sure how much longer these extra hours will keep coming, but I’ll take them for as long as they are offered. Prayed for the finances of all ML2S readers.
Happy birthday to the girls! They really do grow up way too fast.
Today is my sons eleventh birthday! I did buy cake pops from a friend so didn’t save much there. Needed a little table in my bedroom for a vanity and ended up repurposing one I had so saved money!
Happy Birthday to your girlie girls!!! My “Little Girl” turned 14 today!! It goes by so quick.
Why are baby pictures so impossibly cute??
No spend day but worked on increasing our income this month because next month we have life insurance payments due. Did some overtime at work, listed some items on ebay and books on Amazon, and lent someone our log splitter in exchange for 3 dozen eggs.
I love this post about your beautiful daughters. I have a son & daughter. I’m proud to say that your blog has helped me stay motivated so much so that I have finished paying off one of my student loans. I’m glad because this will allow my family to have more money to spend on things we do need. I was also able to find a second vehicle for a little bit of nothing, so that our two parent family no longer has to share one vehicle.
Congrats Brittany on paying off the student loan. It is a great feeling isnt it. Here is to being totall debt free.
Happy Birthday Girlies!!!
I hit the family dollar to get the ibuprofen & cough drops & cat litter. One boy had a dentist appt. $105 oop & the flex spending carding didn’t work. I have to get that worked out before the other boy goes tomorrow for a crown. I took him for ice cream at McDonald’s & I had a q for free cafe mocha. I got some high dollar q’s in the mail, a free Pepsi Next q, & a $40 Olive Garden GC from points on a credit card. (I didn’t even know I had–nice surprise.)
Dinner at home.
Today I went with my sister to Charlotte for her Oncologist visit. She had her blood work done. Once they get the results then they will schedule her next appt and the PET scan to check for hot spots on the cancer. Here is to praying the chemo has worked and she is in remission.
I am happy to say that I paid off a dr bill of $200, a hospital bill of $152.93, canceled our Directv to save $50 a month, changed our cell phone provider to save $76 and paid off my Lane Bryant Credit Card $258. Can I say Woo Hoo.
It almost scares me to have money in Savings. We did have an emergency with one of our doggies and it looks like we will have to put her to sleep, but the cool thing is that we actually have the money without having to take in from the budget. Sad that it has to be for my baby though.
Reworked one area of the budget called Non Grocery items and Miscellaneous, I broke these categories down more individually to tighten up spending. Overall we did great in January with the exception of eating out. Hubby knows he needs to watch that in February.