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: Well, well, well, I had me a little savings bonanza kind of a day yesterday. I woke up feeling better than I’ve felt in weeks and it felt great. Of course the girls talked me into taking them to school, but as soon as I came home I got to work on getting deal scenarios together for my shopping trip. I went to Rite Aid for Cheer detergent ($2.54 after discount + $2 coupon), Ragu spaghetti sauce and Vaseline lotion ($.99 after UP+ reward). I used rewards from a prior trip, so only $.83 out of pocket. At Walgreens I got 12 Velveeta Shells & Cheese and 4 Velveeta Cheesy Skillets. They were $1 each after coupons. Target was my BIG trip. I got a cart full of groceries for only $12. I used three $5 gift cards from other deals (total was $27). I also earned three more $5 Target cards. It was AWESOME !
I made all meals at home. I made the Cheesy Skillets for dinner with peas and rolls. I actually had a Weight Watchers meeting and I lost 1.6 lbs. Slow and steady wins the race I guess. I’m down 42.8 lbs. I’m itching to get to 50, so I’ll keep pushing ahead.
I got an Ebates check in the mail yesterday. It will go in the bank today! I also got 2 free magazines and a free sample of Cheerios Medley Crunch. I did do a few surveys before heading to bed. I listed 3 items on Ebay and I ordered a few sets of coupons on Ebay that should help me get stocked up on a few of our favorite things. We did have to fill up both of our cars with gas last night, so that was a hit. Gas has really shot up lately, hasn’t it ?
What did you do? Leave a comment We’d love to hear about it You could make 2013 your year. Who will the February winner be ? We’ll see…
I’m so jealous Karen of your shopping savings. I keep telling myself I’ve got to get back on the coupon bandwagon. I think I need to just start with one or two places close by to maybe get a stockpile again then go to other places after that. I also got an Ebates check in the mail. That seems to be the easiest way to save money. You don’t even know you are doing it then they just send you a check.
I need everyone’s advise on what to do about medical care for my husband and I. My children have coverage for now but my husband and I don’t. The problem is I have had a lump in my breast for a few years now. I had a mammogram about 3 years ago or so and it was fine but it’s something that needs checked on a regular basis. They keep telling my husband that they are going to hire him on full time and we will get insurance but who knows when that will happen. Next month I can get health insurance under my work but I have to get the plan myself and they will pay for half of the monthly bill. My biggest concern is what if I go to the doctor and they tell me the worst news. If I go ahead and get the insurance myself I’m afraid I will be stuck with that because it will be a pre-existing diagnosis. What do you guys think?
It were me, I would take the insurance. I have always felt that not having insurance is like playing with fire.
I agree with Yvonne, and from experience. My husband was 28 and I was 30 when we each got a catastrophic illness. We still ended up in debt, but for far less than the over $500,000 of medical bills.
I think it is now illegal for them to deny coverage due to a prexisting condition.
After a terrible financial year, we are finally getting back on tracks. We went through a law suit this year and lawyers are so expensive! My husband went through college entirely on loans and I was just able to pay off all his student loans! It feels so good to make some progress. Now we only have his car to go (and of course the house!) and I’m hoping to have the car done by this summer.
Glad you are back on track. 2012 was difficult for a lot of people. I continue to feel extremely positive for 2013 and it sounds like you are making it your year too!
I love all the encouragement from this blog! Way to go, Tara! I’m so glad you are feeling better, Karen! Well, yesterday my husband and I both went onto the Verizon website and reviewed our cell phone plans and realized we could both get our bills down a tad lower. Together, we chopped $15 off a month. Not a lot, but every little bit helps, right? Also got an Ebates check in the mail for $139! Woo hoo! Had to go grocery shopping. WANTED to go out to lunch since my husband was off, but we stayed home and saved money.
Only spent $2 on dinner for three, I had that many coupons. That girl ringing me up looked at me like I was crazy, ooh well I eat cheap and I’m sure she paid full price so I will take the funny looks. Today is going to be a spend day, little fella needs formula……. he’s gotta eat too. Hope you all have a great day.
Im still on a savings high after Target. My cart was so full, it came to $33.58 out of pocket. Dang, yours was $12, the cashier must have been amazed!
I was so excited. Got a month’s worth of cereal, ketchup, 3 bags of dogfood, yogurts, free m&ms, coffees, and bunch of other groceries AND 90% of valentines stuff. My favorite was the gift bags for 19c each.
Our heating bill went down this month to $425. The average daily temp was 23 degrees, last month the average daily temp was 8 degrees. Im so glad its warming up. I have never had a winter like this.. ( 10+ years in the Colorado mountains)
Ate at Cafe Rio, their Taco tuesday deal, its so much food we have leftovers for lunch today.
Karen, I just wanted you to know that you inspire me everyday. I look so forward to your emails. I too have alot of debt and I am taking it day by day. Can you tell me what your favorite survey sites are? I want to start doing them at night to get gift cards to reduce our food bill. Thank you so much for all you do.
Thank you so much Susan for your kind words. I LOVE to inspire people to get rid of debt. It is so freeing and I want it for all of you guys. Surveys are a great way to add to the budget. I have a list of good ones on mommyluvs2save.com. To see them go to the site and along the top you will see the title “surveys”. I just checked to make sure that they are all accepting new members and they are.
Keep us updated on your progress. We love cheering one another on
Work called and canceled me for the day. I was thankful since it gave me a chance to spend a day with my hubby who had been away for several weeks. He was able to fix the fan blower in my car, which saved a good amt. We also got our taxes back from our accountant. With factoring in what we will get back from the state, we will only need to come up with $178 for federal. I was very relieved as they had already taken plenty from us. Now with those behind us, our snowball can resume! Prayed for the finances of all ML2S readers.
Ate a meal last night made entirely of freebies gathered over about a month and stored in the freezer. Too bad I can’t eat shampoo, as I have lots of that gotten for free!
Got a small but unexpected commission cheque, and it is now in the bank. Also got money that I was owed from last month for child tax credit and my ex paid his bi-weekly child support. So I paid half of my daughter’s cell phone bill and a portion of the overdue amount on one cc. Question is, with the remainder, do I keep it in my account, or start an emergency fund or pay off the gym or one cc completely or make a payment on the braces (which I will get back eventually)? I’m not used to seeing money in my account, so I don’t want to spend it all at once! I do have to get some groceries tonight, so I will dip into it just a little.
Well, I can’t say for sure since I don’t know how much $$ we’re talking about, but if it was me I would put as close to $1,000 in a baby emergency fund as you can(the is Dave Ramsey’s baby step #1) and then use the rest (if there is any leftover) to pay down that credit card if that’s your smallesd debt. Having $1,000 in the bank in case of emergency will bring you peace and it will also keep you from using your credit cards. Try to stop using them and pay them OFF ! Just my humble opinion.
I ran out yesterday to pick up a few things but it was a bust. I did get 2 free Ken’s dressings. My friend had been to the store & the big bottles were on sale for $1 & we had a ton of q’s. I guess someone realized that was a mistake & changed them back to full price. Stopped by Target–no Valentine’s anything left & the “free” ketchup was $2.69 at our store. That store always seems to have higher prices. I did get the cereal though. I think I spent $5 oop.
Ate lunch & made dinner at home. Got a new Bzz in the mail for Garnier Olia hair color. I can’t wait to try it out.
My hubby got a $25 Target gc from his boss as a thank you so that will help with dog food & groceries.
Karen I wish we had a Target near us but he closet one is an hour away! WE ate out of the freezer tonight. I opened the door and anything that was opened bag, it got cooked. My husband and son looked at me like I was crazy, but they ate it with no complaints. lol. I am trying to clean out any old stuff that they push to the back before I add any new stuff.
Well our State tax has come in and we are waiting on our Federal. I am still emotionally drained over the fur baby costing us so much money (basically our entire emergency fund) so I am starting all over again building it up. I truly cant explain to you how it tore my nerves up. I was so excited to be making such good progess by paying off the old bills and credit card and then having the Baby emergency fund and then it was gone in a moment. Oh Well, baby steps!
I earned 62 Swagbucks. I did several surveys.
Awww, just think of it like this: Your “baby” emergency fund saved your baby ! You’ll rebuild it. Don’t lose heart
I have done so well getting our first debt ready to be paid off. I will pay the rest of it next month and be able to start on the following one. The 3 months of 5 weeks this year really help me out. We get paid weekly so it works out to almost a whole extra paycheck for us. I pay bills every friday but I can space them out a bit more on that extra week so they don’t hit us so hard. I can’t wait to have the first thing paid off and move on to the next. If I’m lucky I can have both CC’s paid off by the end of the year then I can start on my car loan and student loan. That will only leave the house and DH’s car (which he changes as often as he does his clothes it seems, we have been talking about this). I think we’ve come to a compromise because he really wants a certain type of car that we haven’t been able to afford plus we want an economy car since we both drive suv’s so we will do that then he is not allowed to trade in any cars until they are paid off or at least worth more than he owes, I refuse to lose money on cars constantly