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 kind of icky. I guess part of the problem was that it started WAY too early. Our new little puppy friend decided to start crying and barking at 4:30 am. I think I got about 4 hours of sleep and it made Ro cranky, which in turn made me cranky. Everyone went to school/work so I was on puppy patrol all day. Boy, puppies are a lot of work aren’t they ?
I got my Papa Johns code for a FREE pizza late last night. I actually got two because my awesome reader sent me her code since there isn’t a Papa Johns close to her (Thanks Yvonne !). I went to CVS and did the Scott TP deal. I must have a TP addiction because I have 8 cases of it in the stockpile, but can’t pass up a great deal on it. Is there something comforting about having an abundance of TP or am I just a weirdo? (wait, don’t answer that…). Anyway, long story short, I now have 12 cases ~ he he. I also got 2 twelve packs of Pepsi products for only $1.50 each. I got a few other deals, but those are the highlights. I had $9 in ECBs and two $10 cash cards to pay for everything. I got another $10 cash card, plus some new ECBs.
All meals were made/packed at home. We actually ate dinner at my sister’s house. The kids had fun doing Valentine’s Day crafts together while we chatted and drank coffee. It was nice. When I came home and got everyone (including the puppy) to bed I caught up on my surveys and did a little work on the website. Did you guys notice that I put a link to the Debt Free Paper Chains on the site so you don’t have to search for them? If not, scroll down and look on the right. I also updated “Our Journey” to include paying off the mini-van. I also did some surveys. I will be able to cash out for a $25 gift card after another survey I fell into bed at 11 last night, which is early for me. I feel like I have an infant in the house again – yikes….
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 had to gas yesterday so I spent money there. I also got a hot dog while I was there and had so much guilt after I got it. It was only $1.50 I told myself but I just felt horrible. It’s so funny a year ago I would have told myself that $1.50 is just change and would not have thought twice about buying it!
Good for you, for having an attitude change about small change like $1.50.
Yesterday was a no-spend day for me. I was excited to see 10 dollars credited to my Capital One card for buying a double-pack of filters (for our water on our freezer). I guess Capital One had a deal going with Sears, that I didn’t even know about. I had already saved 20 dollars at Sears from buying the double pack instead of the single, and now this just boosted my savings even more. The bad news is that I woke up to what I THOUGHT was a love note from my husband…it was a note warning me that he made a large purchase. $425. Ouch!
Good luck with your puppy/infant..hope you get more sleep tonight. At least they dont take 2 years to potty train.
Our boiler(the little engine that could) went out yesterday..the house quickly went back down to 58 degrees. It was the thermal coupler, I also had the service man work on a hot water sink faucet while he was out.
I forgot to mention that I got my buying realestate agent from the Dave Ramsey website, she is awesome.
I will also get my selling agent from there too, however I will interview a few to see who is willing to work the hardest for us.
Had to send a fax and I sweet talked the lady down a few bucks. Then… dont laugh, I was so excited I ordered address labels with our NEW address(which wont exist for 8 months since it is just a dirt patch…but they were free after coupon from Shutter fly)
You really are eager to move! Now just don’t go and forget where you pack them once they arrive. lol Given all your heating woes, I hope you are moving to a warmer climate!
I spent just a little at the store yesterday; my daughter is in drivers ed at school…YIKES…and she needed some snacks since it is right after school. So I stocked her up on that. Ate leftovers from the Super Bowl party so that was nice and even had enough for leftovers today for lunch. My work is doing a free health screening today so that will be nice to get everything checked out and not have to pay a dime…I love free. I am trying to get all my coupons together and plan a Target trip before some expire. I got my free pizza too so free dinner one night!!
Paid bills yesterday and a copay to the doctors for the babies 6 month checkup. They gave me a free bottle of Advil, nice freebie but now I know why they gave it to me. Ohhhhh fussy baby for sure. Today I have to buy formula for baby and milk for big brother. Hoping to do our taxes soon and fingers crossed we get some back. Last year we owed $4000. I sure how I don’t have to pay this year. We rearranged some things so hoping it helps. Dinner is already out for tonight so that will help. Hubs is doing a medical study for the next 26 weeks ago free meds and $500 for him doing it. Hope this new need helps with his tryglisarides (sp). Hope everyone have a great day.
Yesterday was a no spend day. I did go to Menards, but everything was free by using a gift card and rebate I had. Still have a little left on the gift card for another day and will submit for a $6 rebate. While I was there, I found a really nice cookbook on clearance for $6.99 that I intend to use as a gift. I also cashed out for 3 $1 Amazon gift cards from my CheckPoints app. Won’t make me rich, but every little bit helps! Prayed for the finances of all ML2S readers.
Thanks for the continued prayers Yvonne. I’m sending them right back your way
Today I got up and made gluten free pancakes from scratch for breakfast. I had enough to freeze four more servings. I used canned coconut milk and water for the liquid and mixed that with the rice flour and let it sit overnight. When I got up this morning, all I had to had were eggs, sugar and vanilla. My 19 year old some loved them.
I would love ur recipe. My 5&2 yr. Olds ate a whole box of gf waffles today. At 5$ a box. Pancakes would be awesome. Lol
Only money spent yesterday was 1.59 for the 12pack diet pepsi at CVS. I have the speed stick coupons printed and 2 of the 1/1 coupons so today or tomorrow I will head there to get that done. DH may work OT today or tomorrow so he won’t get forced this weekend but we don’t know when it will happen till around 4 in the afternoon. C woke up when DH left for work and he just hates to see him go so he was up early this morning and crashed during lunch. He is hopefully going to take a long nap today. I have to start putting $ aside for DH to use during his soccer games. I made the tickets come out of his blow money but he wants $ for tailgating at the saturday games. Since those days I will probably get the afternoon evening free since he will take C with him I don’t mind splitting the cost of tailgating with him. I may even be able to get supplies ahead of time so he can contribute food instead of money and save us a few $.
Karen, I feel for you. I remember when our dogs were puppies and we were potty training. A good rule of thumb for how often they need to go out is 1 hr for every month old they are. So a 2 month old puppy needs to go out at least every 2 hrs (including overnight unless you don’t mind cleaning it up) and you can’t expect them to hold it for a while until they are at least 5-6 months old. We had 3 puppies at once, it was definitely messy in our kitchen while we fostered. Puppy pads in the bottom of the crate are your best friend. I would put them under his blankets though so he doesn’t tear them up, then just throw the blankets in the wash and toss the puppy pad. You will go through a lot of towels/blankets.
Made a chocolate cake as a gift for our neighbor who is always giving us eggs from her chickens. When I went over to deliver it, she gave me a package of pancake mix that someone sent her for Christmas and that she will never use. I always make our pancakes from sourdough tat I keep fed in the fridge, so this will make a nice change.
No spend day.
I’d love to get some sourdough started. Suggestions?
Last week was busy again. This time the boys were in the dentist. One broke his front tooth in 1/2. Crown!! He has a temp but next week the permanent one is going to be $366. I am sick of insurance & medicade!!
I paid our tax bill on Jan. 31, the last day it was due before a late fee. Why would I pay it in Oct? It felt good not to have to take out a loan for it. What a huge mistake not having it added in the mortgage. I paid the Kohl’s in full. I did make a list of all of the debt. Yikes, reality check. We are going to be working hard on that this yr.
I did a mystery shop for lunch one day. I got a bzz agent kit in the mail yesterday, Goya–beans, rice & adobe seasoning. They sent the product not just a q-that was cool.
I just got my first bzz agent kit. How cool ! I have to take Kayla to the dentist today. I’m sure that will cost me too. I hope your son’s tooth works out okay!
No spend day here. We had chicken potatos and carrots in the crock pot. We got our taxes done. Still fighting a migraine, but until the weather settles down it wont change. I am ready for warm weather. Karen I hope you get more sleep tonight. Rudy will settle in and the puppy pads will help. Learn to crate him also.
Thanks Shelly! We are crating him at night and when we go out
I hope your migraine gets better soon 
Thanks goodness my new cat is easier than your new puppy! Broke down and ate out with the kids. I will try to be better tomorrow! I have been taking salads to work for lunch.
Had to buy gas yesterday but that was it. Took my younger son to subway for dinner after his game, but it was free with subway rewards. I love that. Prayed for my ml2s friends.