Welcome to December’s series on 31 Days of Giving on a Budget. In this series, I’ll be sharing inspiring stories from my readers and posts with practical ways to give — even on a limited income.

If you have a Giving on a Budget story to share of a way you or your family has given to others this year or this holiday season, please email me your story and a picture to go along with it, if possible. I’d love to hear it and possibly share it during this series!

Recently, someone emailed in and asked if I died tomorrow would I regret the frugal choices I’ve made?

It was an excellent question and one that gave my husband and I pause — and produced a great discussion for us as a couple. Both of our answers were a resounding“No. We would absolutely not regret the frugal choices we’ve made.”

While we’ve made plenty of mistakes individually and as a family, we have zero regrets that we’ve chosen to live beneath our means, make sacrifices, delay purchases until we can pay cash for them, and live on a strict written budget.

To some people, not getting what you want right away or doing without might seem like a miserable existence. But truthfully, we’ve found it to be just the opposite: we live very fulfilled lives and we wake up excited about each day.

However, we both believe that the reason we feel fulfilled and passionate about life — even though we’ve made counter-cultural choices that some would balk at — is because frugality is a means to an end for us. If we were just frugal for being frugal’s sake, we’d likely quickly burn out or give up.

It’s not about saving money so we can continuously upgrade our lifestyle and always be buying bigger and better things. We want to live beneath our means so that we are able to give generously to others.

There’s a world of need around us. The more we steward our money well, the more abundance we will have to meet those needs.

The more we save, the more we have to give.

Your efforts and my efforts might seem like a drop in the bucket when compared with all of the need that’s out there. But collectively, we can make a huge impact.

Let’s live simply so that others can simply live. Because truly, there is nothing more fulfilling than living a life with outstretched arms.

photo credit

Looking for a planner that tells you exactly what you need to do every day to keep your home and life in order? Motivated Moms Chore Planners might be perfect for you.

The Motivated Moms Chore Planners map out a plan for what chores you should do each day and week to stay on top of your household organization and keep your home in great shape. Check out the sample pages at the bottom of the products page to see if this system might work for you.

I’ve used this and found it to be very helpful. I definitely recommend it — especially if you don’t have the time or desire to create your own home management binder.

Use coupon code MSMOM to get $2 off the printable chore planners, making them just $6 for the 2013 planner. This coupon code is only valid through January 2, 2013.


Motivated Moms also recently released a brand-new Motivated Moms App.

(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Download a free copy of Found: God’s Will by John McArthur.

Download a free copy of Everyday Prayers.

Download a free copy of The Well-Lived Laugh.

Download a free copy of Declutter: How to Go from Clutter to Control.

Download a free copy of 52 Weeks of Family French.

Through January 2, 2012, you can get the Cornerstone Confessions Blog & Home Planner for just $3.49 when you use coupon code MSMPLAN at checkout.

The Cornerstone Confessions Blog-and-Home Planner organizes both your blogging and home management activities into one planner that includes traditional monthly, weekly, and daily planning pages as well house-keeping, blogging, social media, goal-planning, and password keeping tools. With over 70 unique pages, the planner can be customized to fit your blogging and home management needs making it the only planner you’ll need to organize your life.

Get your copy for just $3.49 through January 2, 2013, when you use coupon code MSMPLAN at checkout.

Only interested in the goal planning pages? Subscribe to Cornerstone Confessions via RSS or email to receive the goal planning pages absolutely free.

Educational Deals & Freebies Round-Up

by Crystal on December 31, 2012

Here are some of the best educational deals and freebies available right now from Katie who writes at Cincinnati Cents:

LeapFrog Leapster2 Bundle for $42.74: Amazon has their Leapfrog Leapster2 Bundle on sale for $42.74. Regularly priced at $109.99, this bundle includes the Leapster2 Handheld System, case, AC adapter, and game. This set ships for free with Super Saver Shipping.

Free Berenstain Bears Curriculum: Download a free Berenstain Bears Curriculum, compliments of Enchanted Homeschooling Mom. This set is geared towards children ages PreK through 3rd grade, and is based on the Berenstain Bears books.

Berenstain Bears Books for $1.92: Totsy is featuring a sale on their Berenstain Bears products, with books priced as low as $1.92 each. These books would match up well with the free Berenstain Bears curriculum as well.

K’Nex Classics 4-Wheel Drive Set for $11.24: Amazon has their K’Nex Classics 4-Wheel Drive Set priced at just $11.24. This set includes lights and over 300 classic K’Nex pieces.

Free Pizza Learning Pack: Download a free Pizza Learning Pack, compliments of Living Life Intentionally. This pack is designed for children ages 2-7, and includes puzzles, the food pyramid, fractions, and writing skills.

Amazon 4-for-3 Book Promotion: Amazon has a wide selection of books available on their 4-for-3 promotion. When you order 4 eligible books priced under $10, you’ll receive the lowest-priced book for free.

Free New Year’s Pack: There’s a free New Year’s Pack available from 3Dinosaurs. This pack is ideal for children ages 2-8, and includes such skills as matching cards, beginning sounds, puzzles, writing pages, and addition.

5-Pack MeeGenius e-Books for $6: Totsy has their 5-Pack MeeGenius e-Books on sale for $6. There are three different bundles to choose from – animal adventures, storytime favorites, and friendship & fairytales.

Free Alaska Travel Guide: Stop by and request a free Alaska State Travel Guide. This guide would be a nice supplement for teaching geography.

Sale on Eric Carle Books & Games: Totsy has their Eric Carle books and games on sale, with prices as low as $3. Choose from books, play sets, games, and books with CDs. Plus, if you’re a new Totsy customer, you’ll receive free shipping as well.

Katie is a wife and homeschooling mother of four who writes at Cincinnati Cents about saving money and having fun as a family without breaking the bank. She enjoys sharing new recipes, ideas for frugal family fun, and tips for spending less at the grocery store.

Starting at 4 p.m. this afternoon and going through 4 p.m. tomorrow (January 1, 2013), Sheetz locations are offering free coffee. No purchase is necessary.

Thanks, For the Mommas!

Here are some of the best deals at Target this week, with thanks to Marcy from Stretching a Buck for her help in compiling them:

Yoplait Greek 100 Yogurt Cups – $1
Buy 2 and use $0.50/2 coupon from the 11/11 SmartSource insert
Stack with $1/3 Target printable
$0.50 each after coupons

Kashi Cereal – $2.75
Use $1/1 printable
Stack with $0.75/1 Target printable
$1 after coupons

Clorox 2 Stain Fighting Spray – $1.99
Use $1.50/1 printable
$0.49 after coupon (Thanks, Deal Detecting Diva!)

Reach Floss – $0.97
Use $1/1 printable
Free after coupon (Thanks, Totally Target!)

California Pizza Kitchen or DiGiorno Pizza – $5
Get a Free 6 ct Edy’s Fruit Bars when you buy 2 Pizzas listed
Buy 3 and use Buy 2 Get 1 Free printable
$3.33 each after coupon plus Free Edy’s Bars

Purina ONE Dog Food (16.5 lb) – $19.79
Buy 2 – Get a $5 Target Gift Card
Use $2/1 printable
Stack with $1/1 Target printable
$14.29 each after coupons and gift card

See the full list of deals at Target this week here.

Find

Did you find a great deal at Target? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Target deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Target deals post will be deleted.


Download a free copy of Getting it Together: Your Guide to Setting Up a Home Management System That Works when you subscribe to KaysePratt.com for free.

I read this ebook over the weekend and thought it had some great suggestions — especially if you’re new to the idea of setting up a home management binder.

Find more recommended time management and home organization ebooks here.

Olive Garden is offering a coupon for a free Kid’s Meal with an adult entree purchase.

This coupon is valid through January 3, 2013.

Thanks, The Freebie Blogger!

Walgreens: Free Quaker Chewy Granola Bars

by Crystal on December 31, 2012

You can pick up free Quaker Chewy Granola Bars at Walgreens this week. Here’s how:

Buy 2 Quaker Chewy Granola Bars at $0.50 each
use $1/2 Quaker coupon
Free after coupon

See more deals at Walgreens this week here.

Thanks, For the Mommas!