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 nice, low key day yesterday. We didn’t get the chance to celebrate Valentine’s day on Thursday, so Ro spoiled me by making me (and everyone else) a nice dinner using things we had on hand. We had a fresh salad, hamburgers and tater tots. He even made a cake for dessert. He was so exhausted he needed to rest after dinner. At least it gave him an appreciation for how much work it is to get dinner on the table every night. I had pity on him and cleaned everything up while he was resting. All other meals were made at home as well.
The rest of our day was pretty quiet. We ended our evening by having a couch date night and watching a FREE movie on TV together after everyone went to bed. It was really nice. The girls have off again today and go back to school tomorrow, so we have one more day for fun. They have a free swim lesson today, which should make it a fun one for them. We have enough food in for all meals to be eaten at home today.
What did you do? Leave a comment We’d love to hear about it You could make 2013 your year. The January winner of the WHYD contest was Jennifer W. Congrats and thanks for sharing your journey with us. Who will the February winner be ? We’ll see…
Yesterday I had a Thirty-one meeting and walked away with a beautiful new bag. They are a pretty generous company. I ended up eating out before the meeting. This seems to be my downfall. I know I could save so much money by not eating out so much. I guess where I’m on the road all the time, I don’t have an office job, it’s just too convenient to go through a drive through. I went to Target on the way home and got trash bags, aleve and I bought some jeans. They didn’t fit so they will be going back. This time I think I’m going to look on the clearance racks for some. They have some for like $8.
I am new to this list, so others probably know, but what is a Thrity one meeting?
It helped me to stop going to fast food when I kept track of every penny I spent eating out, even coffees. I was so horrified by the number of hours I was working only to be wasting them on food that was not good for my bottom or my bottom line, that it helped me cut the habit to one day a month.
Thirty One is a way that some women earn money from home. I think they sell products. They do have some nice things. Congrats on finding ways to cut habits that don’t do you or your family any good
Keep us updated !
Susan, I am a Thirty-One consultant. It’s embroidered bags and organization products. I sell Thirty-One as a part-time hobby type of job. I also have a full time job.
Yesterday our Keurig broke. It never worked properly from Day 1, but we’ve managed to get over a year’s worth of use out of it. Well yesterday is flat out broke. Since we don’t drink soda or alcohol or anything, coffee is our one splurge. So, my husband went to Walmart to buy a new one, but got the cheapest one available for 109 and we used cash we had, so it’s paid for! My husband also cooked dinner last night! He made my favorite which is boneless buffalo chicken (with Frank’s red hot sauce) with rice and corn. He also insisted on cleaning up, but it was getting late and he really needed to give our son a haircut, so he did the haircut while I cleaned up.
Keurig actually has really awesome customer service and they sent us a whole new one for free, we just had to send a part back and we had ours almost 2 yrs before we got it fixed
Yesterday was a planned spend day. I was completely out of pet food and also needed gas and a few other things. Really need to find the time to make a trip to Sams Club because the pet food is so much cheaper there. Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in a day! Prayed for the finances of all ML2S readers.
Yesterday was a no spend day for us. All meals were made at home and I even found a yummy waffle recipe for my hubby so I made him a batch for the whole week. That should save us some money since he needs to be out the door so early he usually gets something after he’s on the road. Earned a few swagbucks and we managed to finally sell our futon so that money went right into our safe for an emergency fund. Not much of an emergency fund but if we don’t have to use it in the next month we plan to use it for a date night to celebrate our 10 yr anniversary of our first date. I am so hoping for that….we haven’t been out in a LONG, LONG time…..probably at least a year….lol. Wishing you all a great week!!
The image of Ro “resting” after making tater tots is making me laugh.
I lost my purse yesterday.(Lack of sleep with my daughter)
Anyway, it was returned without anything missing, so I gave the lady a tiny reward. Whew.
Paid our tithe. My hubby is a joyful giver, my hand still shakes as the check goes in the basket.
I know God is performing miracles in our finances, but it is still hard to trust.
Got the cereal deal from Target and some 70% off Valentines m&ms..had $1.50 coupon, too…
brought in my own bags and paid w/ the red debit card for another 5% off.
Got free pack of socks from $10 rewards from a shoe store and a free protein bar at GNC.
Made beans and rice for dinner.
I know, it’s funny right. I barely can take a breath after making a gourmet meal ha ha.
I honor you for tithing even when your own finances are tough!
We haven’t been able to make it to church in a few weeks so I keep adding to the check we will write this coming Sunday. I keep reminding myself that this is what God commands us to do and who better to trust than God?! I have definitely seen positive changes in our financial and personal lives since obeying God in this way.
Made breakfast at home, ate lunch out on a gift card, had free papa johns for dinner. Husband is out of town for a few days so the cooking will be on the light side, and one less mouth to feed:)
No spend day yesterday. Some time this week I have to head to Lancaster to get my jewelry serviced. It’s required by my warranties to do every 6 months. I’ll probably get the cereal deal at target while I’m there. I don’t know if I’ll go today I guess it depends on the weather for the week.
I won???!!!!! I never win…. thank you so much. What did I win???? I’m so excited. Just what I need to get me more motivated. Yesterday was a no spend day. We were tempted to get dinner on the way home but decided against it and just came home and ate leftovers. We want a bigger house but want a big down payment saved up first so we are on a mission. I did pay bills yesterday, ooh what joy. I am trying so hard to get our doctors bills paid off. Who has $20,000 in doctor bills???? US, that’s who. If we didn’t have those we would be a lot better off. My car is almost paid for so I am putting every dime towards her to pay her of before summer. Have a great day.
Take heart, you will make it. We paid off debt like that after my husband had cancer and then again when I had heart surgery for a birth defect. I tried to remind myself that it was a small price to pay for being alive. You really will wake up some day with no more of that debt left, I guarantee it.
Yes, you won. Congrats. I’ll be sending you your $50 Amazon voucher in the next day or so.
Hubby & I had a planned double date night with one of his coworkers & his wife. We’ve spent all our restaurant/date night envelope cash so it’ll be eating at home from now until next payday.
Is gas on the rise for everyone else too? My car costs $40 & hubby’s SUV was over $65 to fill up this week- blah! We live close to a Dillons (kroger related) & can buy gift cards to save on gas but I’m trying to figure out if buying target gift cards will save us more than my 5% target debit card discount since I buy almost all our groceries there.
I also drive an SUV and it cost me $70 to fill up this past Sunday. Price per gallon was $3.91. With picking up extra shifts at work and needing to fill up more, I have definitely felt the increase.