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Shared Nov 24, 2015 comment

Gretchen’s $6.81 Target Shopping Trip

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 24, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Target Shopping Trip

1 Black & Decker Tool Belt Set – $10.39, used 20% off in-ad Target coupon AND 50% off Cartwheel coupon – $3.11 after coupons (Yay for a cheap Christmas present for my son!)

2 Bic Soleil Glow Razors – $5.99 each (On Sale Buy 1 Get 1 50% off), used 2 $2/1 printable AND 25% off Cartwheel coupon – $1.37 each after coupons

4 Viva Paper Towels packages – $3.99 each, used 2 $2/1 Target printable AND 50% off Cartwheel coupon – $1.49 each after coupons

Used $5 Target gift card from previous shopping trip

Total after coupons and gift card: $6.81

Shared Nov 23, 2015 comment

Choosing Gratitude Has Changed My Life

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 23, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Expressing gratitude doesn’t require money. It doesn’t require much thought or effort, but it can change our whole outlook on life.

I say this, because I’ve experienced it personally.

Three years ago, I started keeping a Gratitude Journal — a small notebook where I recorded a few blessings from each day. I was going through some health problems at the time and feeling really discouraged and weary from going to doctors, trying various treatments, and not seeing any improvement.

After I began the habit of writing down my blessings each morning, I noticed a marked difference in my attitude — even while struggling with pain and discomfort. I started noticing little blessings that I had taken for granted before. I realized how much I had to be thankful for that I hadn’t been paying attention to because I was so focused on the pain and discomfort.

Truly, the simple practice of writing down my blessings each day transformed my perspective. Instead of focusing on everything that seemed to be going wrong, I started being so grateful for all that was right in my life.

Once my health problems were finally resolved, I had found such benefit in writing down my blessings every day that I decided to continue doing it.

Since I’m all about keeping things simple, I love the concept of a having a journal where there’s just a little space to write in every day. I don’t usually have 15 minutes to journal every day, but I can find a minute or two to write down a few things I’m thankful for.

My mom bought me a journal for two years that was a line-a-day gratitude journal. I loved using it and as I’ve talked about it here on the blog, many of you have asked where you can get one, too.

I started dreaming about the possibility of creating my own gratitude journal — one that was pretty, clean, simple, and inspiring. Soon after this, a company approached us about possibly publishing a journal or gift book for us.

When I had my first phone call with them, I knew exactly what journal I wanted them to help us create — a simple Gratitude Journal! We launched these in 2014 and have loved the response we’ve gotten from so many of you who have used them and been inspired to adopt the daily practice of counting your blessings!

The Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal will inspire you to look for blessings in your every day life. It’s simple (just two lines for every day!) and doable for even the busiest woman.

Each month, there is a theme and each month’s pages have quotes and encouragement to go along with that theme. There are also a few extra pages for journaling or doodling if you’d like to include some extra thoughts or blessings.

You can get one Choose Gratitude Journal for $10, or save when you buy the two-pack of Choose Gratitude Journals for $15 — just $7.50 each!

I also created this Choose Love Mother’s Journal last year to serve as a constant reminder to moms to live and mother out of love — even on the hard and difficult days. Loving our children well not only reflects Christ’s love to them, but it’s a beautiful gift we can give them.

This journal has one line for every day of the calendar year. You can use it to record things you love about being a mom, funny stories or things your kids did or said that day, quick lessons you’re learning as a mom, special memories, or even just blessings.

The Choose Love Journal provides quick and simple way to stop and take time to record things you might otherwise forget to write down. And at the end of the year, it’s such a fun exercise to go back and read over what you’ve written from that year — reminding you of blessings, struggles, and memories shared together.

Shared Nov 22, 2015 comment

5 Things I’m Loving This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 22, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

1. A Date With This Guy

I love spending time as a family or with all my kids together, but making time for one-on-one time is really important, too. It requires more intention and sometimes some sacrifice and planning, but it’s so worth it.

It doesn’t have to be a date to Starbucks. It could be reading a book together. Or cooking together. Or playing a game together. It just asking questions one-on-one and really listening to the answers.

However it looks, make it a priority. Because these years and opportunities are fleeting.

2. A Reminder of How Much I Can Take For Granted

This is what, “I’m hungry and desperate” looks like. I flew to Kansas today and forgot to bring food with me or get anything at the airport in Nashville and they didn’t have snacks on the plane.

I was SO hungry by the time I made it to Dallas, but I didn’t have that long of a layover, so I decided to just get to my gate and then find some food close by.

Well, they are doing all sorts of construction in Terminal B in Dallas right now, so I had to take all these detours to make it to my gate. And then, when I finally made it there with little time to spare, I discovered that I was at the gate where there was literally nothing but vending machines — unless you have time to walk a long ways somewhere else.

So I ate vending machine food — something I basically never do — and thought about how entitled I am that I was frustrated that this was my only option. When you think of all the people around the globe with no food options, it reminds me just how easily I can take things for granted.

3. Watching Kathrynne Swim

Kathrynne had two swim meets this past week and it was SO fun to get to see her compete. She is so focused, driven, and committed to doing her best. And it inspires me to watch!

4. Being Able to Laugh at Myself

Sometimes, when things don’t turn out how you’d hoped they would, you just have to laugh. 🙂

Case in point: my attempt to tweak my waffle recipe this week! (See above. No, those are not scrambled eggs on that plate. That’s exactly how each of the waffles came off the waffle maker tonight. Just like that pile right there. I know. I’m just not sure how I do it! ;))

5. My Paris Mug

Drinking coffee out of my Paris mug this week reminded me to pray and feel burdened for those affected by the events in Paris, as well as so many other hard situations going on — locally and globally.

There is so much suffering and heartache around us. Sometimes it feels so heavy that choosing joy is hard.

We can’t fix all the problems in the world. But we can do our little part in our little sphere of life to live with outstretched arms.

To love wholeheartedly. To give generously. To say a kind word. To smile. To find the good and praise it. To be a safe place for others to be authentic. To listen well. To care deeply. And to live fully.

You were created to make a difference. Never forget that!

P.S. Did you get your Choose Love & Choose Gratitude Journals yet? If not, the special sale on them ends on Monday. Read more about them & grab the coupon code here.

Shared Nov 20, 2015 comment

Brigette’s $45 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on November 20, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Thanks to being well-stocked on staple items like meat, cheese, and eggs – as well as having leftover produce from last week to use up – this was a low-spending grocery week. I’m looking forward to using up some freezer and pantry items, as well as hosting Thanksgiving! What’s on your menu plan for the holiday?

Aldi

1 head Cabbage – $1.29

1 pkg Baby Artisan Lettuce – $1.99

1 jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

1 head Cauliflower – $1.99

1 bunch Bananas (2.32lbs @ $0.38/lb) – $0.88

1 Extra Virgin Olive Oil – $3.29 (which apparently didn’t make it into the picture)

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99

3 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $7.77

1 3-lb bag Golden Delicious Apples – $2.99

1 bag Tortilla Chips (already eaten for dinner – Taco Salad – before I got this picture taken :))

1 bag Cranberries – $0.99

1 4-pk Zucchini – $1.99

1 3-lb bag Yellow Onions – $0.99

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $1.99

1 2-lb bag Carrots – $0.79

1 gallon Milk – $3.29

Total: $35.32

Harris Teeter

1 bag 4-ct Grapefruit, reduced – $1.00

1 bottle Liquid Smoke – $1.99

2 boxes Nilla Wafers (B1G1) – $3.49, $0.75/2 Nabisco Cookie or Cracker, exp. 12/31/15 (SS 11/08/15)(doubled) – $1.99/2 after coupons

1 bag Rice Works – $1.59, used $1/1 Riceworks Chips, exp. 1/23/16 (SS 11/15/15 R) – $0.59 after coupon

4 jars McCormick Cinnamon (B1G1) – $3.58, used 2 $1.75/2 McCormick Spices, Herbs or Extracts, exp. 11/29/15 (RP 11/01/15 #2) – $0.08/4 after coupons

2 boxes Frosted Flakes (B1G1) – $3.68, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1.68/2 after coupons

2 jugs Xtra Laundry Detergent (B1G1) – $3.98, used $1/2 off Xtra Liquid Detergent, Nice ‘N Fluffy Fabric Softeners or Sureshot Laundry Detergent Paks, exp. 12/19/15 (SS 11/08/15) – $2.98/2 after coupons

Total: $10.56

Weekly Total: $45.88

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Cereal x 2

Toast and Hard Boiled Eggs x 2

Overnight, Slow Cooker Apple CInnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal x 2

Veggie Omelettes

Lunches

Bagels with Almond Butter, Carrots, Apples x 2

Baked Potatoes with Cheese, Bananas, Mini Peppers x 2

Cheese Quesadillas, Grapefruit, Carrots

Leftovers x 2

Dinner

Taco Salad, Green Rice Casserole

Dinner Party at my Husband’s Work

Cheesy Hamburger Potato Soup, Homemade Breadsticks

Grilled Chicken, Mashed Cauliflower, Tossed Salad

Wicked White Chili (Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook), Cornbread, Relish Plate

Thanksgiving: Turkey, Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Pumpkin Crescent Rolls, Steamed Broccoli, The Great Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie Bars

Leftovers

Shared Nov 17, 2015 comment

4 Things to Do When You Wake Up Feeling Overwhelmed

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 17, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Note: Watch my video presentation on this topic here.

I woke up one morning recently feeling completely overwhelmed. I was already feeling tired and then right before bed, Silas threw up. Which meant that I got very little sleep because I spent a lot of the night caring for him and dealing with throw up.

On top of that, I was in the middle of my book launch, so I had 10 to 25 extra projects on my plate each day, in addition to my regular responsibilities. My manager Joy was also in town, and we had a packed agenda to get through.

I walked downstairs to my kitchen after waking up, and I found a sink full of dirty dishes and the trash overflowing. In that moment, I felt like there was so much I needed to do and had so many people counting on me.

I felt SO overwhelmed in that moment, and I realized I had a choice to make. I could be discouraged and have a bad attitude all day long, or I could choose to turn my day around.

Here is what I did to turn my day around, and I want to encourage you to try these simple steps next time you’re having one of those overwhelming mornings…

1. Ask yourself why.

When I stopped to ask myself why I was overwhelmed and listed off the reasons in my head, it seemed much less overwhelming. It put everything into perspective for me and helped me come back down to reality.

I realized that the three things that were making me feel out of control were my messy kitchen, the bedding that had throw-up on it and needed to be washed, and my unpacked suitcases upstairs in my bedroom.

2. Make a short list.

My husband helped me figure out a few things that I had to get done that morning to feel less overwhelmed. Once I had on paper the few things that I absolutely had to do in order to get my day on track, I felt so much better.

{Speaking of doing things that make you happy, we took our current read-aloud to First Watch last Friday and enjoyed a yummy lunch date with Daddy and a good book. Such a great way to top off the week… You can never go wrong with hot cocoa and lots of whipped cream!!}

3. Do something that makes you happy.

Sometimes we need a “shot of happy”. That day, I lit a candle, turned on music that uplifted my spirits, and counted my blessings.

Counting my blessings helps me realize just how much I have to be thankful. Having that spirit of gratitude helped put my heart and mind in the right place for the rest of the day.

4. Jump in and do the next thing.

I knew that the tipping point was my kitchen. So after lighting the candle, turning on music, and counting my blessings, I attacked my kitchen with a vengeance.

Once I did that next thing with a good attitude, my entire perspective was changed for the day. I felt like I had accomplished so much, I felt more at peace, and I felt like I could breathe again.

I realize these are first world problems and pale in comparison to what some of you are going through, but I share this with you to encourage those of you who have overwhelming mornings like this.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Better yet, what do you do to give yourself that instant shot of happy? 🙂

P.S. My chiropractor told me these two oils together are like natural Xanax. And at the end of a really physically exhausting and emotionally stressful few months, I’m all, “Bring on the natural Xanax!” I’ve been testing them out together for the past few days (putting them on the bottoms of my feet twice a day) and I can truly tell a difference!

Who would have thought I’d be such an oil fanatic?? And here’s where you probably expect the sales pitch… Only I don’t sell oils. I buy and love multiple brands! 🙂

WANT TO SAVE $100 FAST?!Join the FREE 14-Day Savings Challenge!

Click here to sign up!

Shared Nov 17, 2015 comment

Make-Ahead and Freeze Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Published: by crystal on November 17, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

If you want to simplify your Thanksgiving meal prep this year, check out these great tips to make all your Thanksgiving foods in advance!

Shared Nov 16, 2015 comment

How Do I Decide Which Business Idea is Right for Me?

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 16, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

“My mind is buzzing with online income ideas. How do I quiet the info overload and focus, so that I can just start already?!” -a reader from Twitter

This is such a great question! When you have SO many business ideas, it can be very difficult to figure out which one to settle on. Here are 3 questions to ask yourself before starting a business:

1. How much time to do you have to invest?

Running a business is going to take a lot of time, especially if you want to be successful! Look at your calendar, and figure out how many time blocks you have throughout the week to dedicate to running a business.

You can choose how much time you invest in your business, but you’ll also need to choose a business based on how much time you truly have. (For example, if you only have a couple hours each week, you won’t want to choose a business that will immediately require your attention all day every day.)

Find time blocks in your calendar and make an appointment with yourself during those time blocks to use them to focus on building your business. Maybe it’s a 15-minute block each day, an hour a few times per week, or maybe it’s a few hours each Saturday afternoon. Whatever it is, commit to put that time aside to invest in your business.

2. How much money do you have to invest?

Don’t go into debt to start a business. Starting a business requires taking some risk, but you can set yourself up for a lot of financial struggle longterm if you bank on the future and take out loans to funds to your business venture.

I am a big believer with starting out small, starting with what you have and where you are, and working up from there. If you sign up for my FREE How To Make A Full-Time Income From Home 5-day course, you will learn about my first business idea (and how it failed).

We invested $2,000 in that initial business idea to get a computer, office equipment, and a website design. Since then, we have never invested any personal money into any online business we’ve had. We’ve just took the money from that initial investment, and then grew that to start another business, and then grew that again and so on. It’s amazing to see how that money grew over time!

Don’t feel like what you have won’t be enough. Just start somewhere — even if it’s very small.

3. How much passion do you have?

You have to have an enormous amount of passion if you want to be successful at a business. If it’s just a subject that you might be interested in, or it might be a good idea, or it might work…it’s not the right idea.

You need to be able to feel like you can talk about this until you’re blue in the face. This idea should make you come alive. It should be something you’ve been excited about for a very long time.

Once you’ve asked yourself these questions, take all of the business ideas that you come up with. Pick one idea and run with it.

Don’t stress so much about picking the perfect idea. More than likely, your first idea will not be the one that is successful and that you stick with. I know this is difficult to hear, but it’s the truth. I went through SO many blogs and business ideas before landing on MoneySavingMom.com.

Once you have your business idea, figure out how much time you have to invest and start making goals based off of that. Break your goals into bite-sized pieces that you can work on during dedicated blocks of scheduled appointments with yourself.

Quieting the Noise In Your Head

As far as quieting the noise in your head, this might be a good indicator that it’s time to take a break from collecting information and start focusing on what you know you’re supposed to do. Sometimes you have to turn off the information overload that is leading to paralysis by shutting down the podcasts, periscopes, and videos.

Start working on the goals you already have, rather than becoming overwhelmed with all the things you feel you should be doing. It is so easy to stretch yourself too thin, and it’s not worth it.

It is better to set those small goals and chip away little by little over time. Moving forward — even at a microscopic rate — is still better than doing nothing at all!

What advice do the rest of you have for this reader? Let us know in the comments.

photo credit

Shared Nov 16, 2015 comment

10 Goals For This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 16, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

My good friend, Tam, turned 45 last week. That was reason for us to celebrate. And for me to post this picture of both of us on Instagram. I still cannot believe that she’s 45. She doesn’t look it at all!

Also, I bought and wore a flannel shirt last week. Considering I can’t remember ever, ever wearing flannel before, this was sort of a big deal. 🙂

Here are my 10 simple goals from last week:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

~~1. Write a love note to Jesse.~~

~~2. Have an at-home Movie Date with Jesse.~~

~~3. Spend quality one-on-one time with each of the kids.~~

Personal Goals

~~4. Keep working on the boot cuffs I’m knitting.~~

~~5. Finish reading Just Show Up.~~

~~6. Make sleep a priority.~~

~~7. Start new weight-lifting program.~~

Business Goals

8. Don’t check email until after 12:30 p.m. every day. (I didn’t do this perfectly, but I’m doing SO, SO much better on not letting email overwhelm me and spill into so many other parts of my life.)

~~9. Get at least 3 content pieces ready for next week .~~

10. Do a Money-Making Mom scope each afternoon at 3 p.m. (Are you joining us for this? If not, you can download the Periscope app and search for my name or @MoneySavingMom to join in live. Or, you can watch the replays on Katch.me/MoneySavingMom — well, I didn’t get to this every day last week, but I did get a few Money-Making Mom scopes done. You can view them here, if you’re interested.)

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Write a love note to Jesse.

2. Have an at-home Movie Date with Jesse.

3. Spend quality one-on-one time with each of the kids.

Personal Goals

4. Get my hair cut/re-highlighted.

5. Finish reading one book.

6. Continue on with new weight-lifting program.

Business Goals

7. Work on getting a better Periscope page/call-to-action plan in place.

8. Don’t check email until after 12:30 p.m. every day.

9. Get at least 3 content pieces ready for next week .

10. Launch our Choose Love Journals and Bracelets!!!! (Stay tuned for more details and a super-special launch sale!)

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives! You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Shared Nov 15, 2015 comment

5 Things I’m Loving This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 15, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

1) New Coloring Books

I’m loving these new coloring books (thanks to Swagbucks for the Amazon credit to make fun purchases like this!)!

The girls are coloring one hymn per week during our read aloud time and we’re singing/learning that hymn that week, too. It’s such a great way to teach my kids some of my favorite hymns, plus, I love the encouragement I’m receiving from meditating on these rich words!

{By the way, these Prismacolor pencils are the best thing ever. If you missed my post and video on them, you can see it here.}

2) Family Game Night

After years of being told how amazing the game Ticket to Ride is, we finally broke down and got the game.
Our kids learned how to play it earlier this week (thanks, YouTube!) and they taught Jesse and me how to play it tonight.

Honestly, I’m not sure that there’s enough strategy and speed for it to be my kind of game, but our kids love it (I like games that are either really, really fast-moving, or have layer upon layer upon layer of strategy). Plus, it’s great for helping Silas learn more U.S. Geography!

And I just loved getting to have a Family Game Night — that’s something I want to do more often!

3) Baked Oatmeal

Have you tried Baked Oatmeal before? We love, love, love it!

Best of all, I love that it can be made the night before and then just popped in the oven the next morning. Or, you can make a big batch and freeze it!

4) Fun Pictures of my book, Money-Making Mom

People have been sending me pictures of my book this past week and I’ve just been loving it. It’s been spotted at bookstores, at airports, and even in a deer stand!

After spending so much time writing and editing a book, it means the world when others are so excited with you at its release!

Have you gotten your copy of Money-Making Mom yet? If not, you can grab it here. Or, if you’re not sure if it’s for you, you can read the first chapter here.

5) These Ladies

These are some of the ladies of our beloved Monday Group. We called ourselves the Girl Tribe and we just love being a part of each other’s lives. It was Tam’s birthday this week so we celebrated together and took a number of hilarious pictures.

We are all very different from each other in so many ways and yet we celebrate those differences and it brings so much beauty and depth to our relationship.

We laugh together. We pray together. We have heart-to-heart talks. We are open about our struggles. We have mad group texting skills. And they have even tried to teach me to karaoke… we’re still working on that one. 😉

We are committed to showing up and being involved in each other’s lives. Coming together at least once a week to sit around a table, share food, and share our hearts and burdens and victories together is truly a gift.

And here’s a shot of some of our kids playing together yesterday. Is this not the most precious thing ever??

Bonus: This Knit Top

Cents of Style sent me this knit top recently and I’ve fallen in love with it. It’s SO comfy, so versatile, and you can dress it up or dress it down.

It feels like the perfect mix between sweater and sweatshirt! {Psst! You can get it for just $14.95 shipped through Monday when you use coupon code MSMTUNIC at checkout.}

Speaking of shirts, I also got brave and got a flannel shirt recently. I think it is the first. time. ever. that I’ve worn flannel!

What are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments!

Shared Nov 14, 2015 comment

When there are no words, but silence isn’t enough

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 14, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Jesse was at a softball tournament last night, so the kids sat with me and we watched the live stream online from one of the news channels of what was happening in Paris.*

Every time the death toll number went up, we all would gasp.

Kathrynne kept saying, “I’m so upset. Think about what it would be like to be them! Think about how scared they must feel!”

We talked a lot about how they must feel, about how I felt when there were so many unknowns on 9/11, and how the children there must feel.

My kids kept pointing out the kids in the footage. How scary it must be to be them. How scared their parents must feel to be there and have their kids there with them.

I agreed. And I thought about what it would feel like to be those parents. Those men and women and teens and children. Who had no idea that last night, their lives would change forever.

I wanted to post something. But there were no words I could come up with.

So instead of posting and scheduling posts on my Facebook Page like I had planned last night, we turned off the live stream and I snuggled with my kids.

I still don’t have words today. But I felt so burdened and wanted to acknowledge the situation in some way.

And then I read Lysa’s post here and it echoed my heart. But in much more eloquent ways. Go read it here.

*Just to clarify for those who may be concerned we’d allow our kids to watch this 1) I kept asking them if it was making them feel scared and they told me, “No. We want to know about what’s going on.” 2) Since it was a U.S. news channel, the footage wasn’t graphic.

{As parents, I think it’s very important to have discussions with our kids on current events — but only at a level that our kids are ready for. We don’t want to raise our kids in a bubble, but we also try to be very careful not to expose them to things that are going to cause them to be fearful, etc.}

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Shared Nov 14, 2015 comment

Gretchen’s Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan + Freezer Cooking Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 14, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Homeland

1 Reeses Puffs Cereal – $2, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $0.50 after coupon

2 Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls – $1 each, used $1/2 printable (no longer available, doubled) – Free after coupon

1 Eggland’s Best Eggs – $2.85, used $0.50/1 MobiSave rebate – $2.35 after rebate

3 (8 oz bags) Best Choice Cheese – $1.25 each

Total after coupons: $6.60

Dillons

1 Kroger Applesauce – $2.19

1 Flour Tortillas – $2

0.95 lbs Broccoli – $1.89

1 Kroger Frozen Orange Juice – $1.59

1 Green Bell Pepper – $0.99

1 Annie’s Mac & Cheese – $1, used $0.75/1 e-coupon – $0.25 after coupon

1 Psst Garlic Powder – $1

1 Kroger Brown Rice – $0.89, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $0.39 after coupon

1 bag Bruschetta Toasts – Marked down to $0.59

1 Kroger Rice Cakes – $1.69

1 Psst Saltines – $0.89

1 Pineapple – $0.99

1 Cucumber – $0.79

1 bag Yellow Peppers – Marked down to $0.99

1 bag Apples – Marked down to $0.99

1 gallon Milk – $1.99

2 bag Kroger Frozen Chicken Breasts – $7.99 each, used $1.45/1 e-coupon AND $3/$10 Meat e-coupon – $5.76 each after coupon

2.31 lbs Bananas – $1.36, used $0.25/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $1.11 after rebate

1 Kroger Old Fashioned Oats – $3.29

Items a part of the Mega Sale (Buy 10, Get $5 off instantly):

1 Ronzoni Pasta – $0.49, used $1/1 e-coupon – Free plus overage after coupon

1 Ken’s Salad Dressing – $1.49, used $0.75/1 MobiSave rebate – $0.74 after rebate

1 Nabisco Wheat Thins – $1.79, used $1.25/1 MobiSave rebate – $0.54 after rebate

1 Land O Lakes Butter – $1.99

4 Campbell’s canned Soup – $0.49 each, used $0.40/4 printable AND $0.20/1 Ibotta rebate – $0.34 each after coupon and rebate

1 Lender’s Bagels – $1.79, used $0.75/1 MobiSave rebate – $1.04 after coupon

1 Green Giant canned Veggies – $0.49

Total after coupons and rebates: $40.79

Dillons Trip #2

I ran into Dillons today to see if they had any meat marked down. This wasn’t the best price but I really wanted to do some freezer cooking this week and desperately needed meat for that.

1 package (3 lbs) Ground Beef – Marked down to $9.50.

Total: $9.50

Total for all stores: $56.89

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Eggs & Green Peppers, Bananas x 4

Cereal x 2

Cinnamon Rolls, Sliced Pears (My Mom gave me a big bag of pears from their pear tree!)

Lunches

Macaroni & Cheese, Veggies

Tossed Salad with Tuna

Peanut Butter & Jelly Rice Cake Sandwiches, Veggies x 2

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Veggies

Cheese, Crackers, Fruit

Leftovers

Dinners

Blueberry Pancakes, Eggs, Pineapple

Steak (from my in-laws), French Bread, Pineapple

Mexican Lasagna, Asparagus (leftover from last week), Sliced Pears

Chicken Enchiladas, Tossed Salad

Dinner with family

Chicken & Rice, Green Beans

Spaghetti Pie, Green Beans, Butterhorn Rolls

Freezer Cooking

I’m planning to do some freezer cooking this week to use on busy days coming up during the holiday season. Here’s what I’m hoping to get made:

Baked Oatmeal x 3

Double Fudge Banana Muffins x 2

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls x 2

Blueberry Pancakes x 3

Butterhorn Rolls

Mexican Lasagna (doubling dinner and freezing one)

Chicken Enchiladas (doubling dinner and freezing one)

Chicken & Rice (doubling dinner and freezing one)

Spaghetti Pie x 2 (tripling dinner and freezing two)

BBQ Meatballs x 3

Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas x 2 (using the yellow peppers)

Shared Nov 14, 2015 comment

Gretchen’s Target Shopping Trip

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 14, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Target Shopping Trip

This deal on cleaner showed up just in time because we actually ran out of both windex and bathroom cleaner last week!

Buy 4 participating items, Get $5 Target gift card:

3 Windex – $3.19 each
2 Scrubbing Bubbles – $3.19 each
Used $5/5 printable

Used $5 Target gift card from previous shopping trip

Total out of pocket: $6.82, Received $5 Target gift card (Like paying $1.82!)

Shared Nov 13, 2015 comment

Make-Ahead Pancake Batter

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 13, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Save yourself a bit of time and mess in the mornings by making your pancake batter the night before and storing it in the fridge. Let me show you how I do it.

I shared the idea of make-ahead pancake batter on Instagram and people loved it… which made me think I should share a little more in-depth post on it here on the blog.

But I have to apologize in advance because you know I am the Queen of Non-Pinterest Pictures.

In fact, I posted the above photo on Instagram earlier this week and said: “I have no idea how people get those amazing magazine-worthy food prep photos. I can ooh and ahh over them, but let’s be honest: when I cook, it looks more like the cupboards threw up.” #reallife

All that aside, the tip was this: I make up pancake batter the night before and stick it in the fridge. Then, in the morning, we can have freshly-made pancakes with almost zero work or mess.

It’s so simple, but it’s one little trick I keep up my sleeve and have used over and over again.

You can also make up a huge batch of batter and then use it multiple times throughout the week.

This is the Pancake Batter recipe I always use — from my very favorite and well-loved cookbook, the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook that my mom got me as a wedding present.

I just mix up the batter and stick it in the fridge. Then, in the morning, I will sometimes add a little extra milk, stir, and cook on a griddle.

This week, I had a little helper for the actual making of the pancakes… and he decided to add some yummy chocolate chips to the batter. He’s a child after my own heart. 😉

By the way, if you can tell by his face, Silas is very meticulous about getting the pancakes “just right”. And I’m all about working myself out of a job… even if the training process requires cleaning up lots of spilled pancake batter (see floor for evidence).

Breakfast is served… and it only took me a few minutes of prep work the night before. Well, and cleaning up pancake batter off the floor after the pancakes were made. 🙂

What are your favorite quick and easy breakfast ideas?

Shared Nov 13, 2015 comment

Brigette’s $64 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on November 13, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Harris Teeter

5 cans Del Monte Green Beans – $2.78, used $0.40/4 Del Monte Canned Vegetables, exp. 1/31/16 (SS 11/08/15 R) (doubled) – $1.98/5 after coupon

1 jar Mt. Olive Banana Peppers – $1.99, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $0.49 after coupon

1 2-oz jar Tabasco Sauce – $1.50, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled), plus $0.50/1 evic – FREE after coupons

3 boxes Betty Crocker Cake Mix – $3.00, used $0.75/3 printable (doubled), plus $0.75/3 evic – $0.75/3 after coupons

4 cans Carnation Evaporated Milk – $2.28, used 2 $0.55/2 Carnation Evaporated Milk Cans, exp. 12/31/15 (RP 11/08/15) (doubled) – $0.08/4 after coupons

2 McCormick Gravy Mixes – $1.00, used $0.50/2 RP 10/25 (doubled), plus $0.50/2 evic – $0.50MM after coupons

2 5-lb bag Flour – $1.94

2 boxes Horizon Macaroni and Cheese – $2.00, used $0.75/2 printable (doubled) – $0.50/2 after coupon

3 boxes Jiffy Cornbread Mix – $0.60

2 64-oz cartons Old Orchard Juice – $2.99, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $0.99/2 after coupons

1 21-lb Harris Teeter Premium Turkey (@$0.57/lb) – $12.07

3 bags Simply Hash Browns – $3.37, used 2 $0.55/1 printable (doubled), plus 1 $0.55/1 Simply Potatoes Hash Browns – 11-8-5 SS (exp 12/31/15) (doubled) – $0.07/3 after coupons

4 8-oz blocks Challenge Butter – $5.98, used 2 $0.75/1 printable (doubled), plus 2 $0.55/1 (doubled) NLA – $0.78/4 after coupons

2 8-oz blocks Cream Cheese – $3.00, used 2 $1.00/1 printable – $1.00/2 after coupons

2 18-ct cartons Eggs – $3.94

10 8-oz bags Shredded Cheese – $13.54

Total: $38.23

Aldi

1 3-lb bag Golden Delicious Apples – $2.37

1 2-lb bag Bartlett Pears – $1.58

1 box Corn Flakes – $1.49

1 bunch Bananas (2.28lb @ $0.38/lb) – $0.87

1 large bag Greens Trio – $1.99

1 24-oz carton Low Fat Cottage Cheese – $2.29

3 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $ 7.77

2 16-oz bags Baby Carrots – $1.98

1 4-ct pkg Zucchini – $1.99

1 head Cauliflower – $1.99

1 Gallon Milk – $2.34

Total: $26.66

Weekly Total $64.89

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Scrambled Eggs and Veggies x 2

Oatmeal with Fruit (from the freezer) x 2

Cereal x 3

Lunches

Baked Potatoes with Cheese, Sliced Apples x 2

Rice Cakes with Almond Butter, Hard Boiled Eggs, Carrots x 2

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Carrots, Bananas x 2

Leftovers

Dinners

Mexican Lasagna (using corn tortillas), Tossed Salad

Venison Roast and Carrots in the Crockpot, Baked Potatoes, Butterhorns

Meat Potato Quiche, Roasted Cauliflower, Easy Italian Breadsticks

Crockpot Italian Chicken, Butterhorns, Steamed Broccoli

Lasagna Casserole, Easy Italian Breadsticks, Tossed Salad

Leftovers x 2

Snacks

Sliced Apples with Almond Butter, Popcorn, Freezer-Friendly Pumpkin Bars

Shared Nov 11, 2015 comment

Next Week’s Book Club Book Pick: Just Show Up by Kara Tippetts

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 11, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Next week, we’re going to start reading through Just Show Up by Kara Tippetts.

I’ve been reading this book the past few days and gleaning so much and I wanted to share my thoughts with you as I thought it might encourage you as it had encouraged me.

If you have a friend who is going through trauma or heartbreak, this book gives very practical and wise advice on how to walk through suffering and hard times while being a blessing, not an annoyance or causing more hurt.

After trying a few different things, I decided to just stick with scoping through books. That’s very doable for me and I can be a lot more consistent and reliable with that than with trying to scope and blog through books at the same time. However, I may throw a post or two up about a book that we’re going through if I have a chance to write one. We’ll see!

So, starting Monday, I’ll be scoping through Just Show Up every weekday morning next week — sharing what I’m learning, how the book is making me think, and how I want to change my life as a result.

If you’d like to join me, you can download the Periscope app and follow me (@MoneySavingMom). I’ll do a quick 3-8 minute scope every morning after my Morning Motivation show and would love for you to tune in live or watch the replay on the Periscope app.

2hr Cleaning Checklist

2hr Cleaning Checklist

FREE DOWNLOAD: 2-Hour Cleaning Checklist!

Target Shopping Trip

1. A Date With This Guy

2. A Reminder of How Much I Can Take For Granted

3. Watching Kathrynne Swim

4. Being Able to Laugh at Myself

5. My Paris Mug

Aldi

Harris Teeter

Weekly Total: $45.88

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinner

1. Ask yourself why.

2. Make a short list.

3. Do something that makes you happy.

4. Jump in and do the next thing.

WANT TO SAVE $100 FAST?!Join the FREE 14-Day Savings Challenge!

1. How much time to do you have to invest?

2. How much money do you have to invest?

3. How much passion do you have?

Quieting the Noise In Your Head

What advice do the rest of you have for this reader? Let us know in the comments.

Business Goals

Business Goals

1) New Coloring Books

2) Family Game Night

3) Baked Oatmeal

4) Fun Pictures of my book, Money-Making Mom

5) These Ladies

Bonus: This Knit Top

What are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments!

OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!

Homeland

Dillons

Dillons Trip #2

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

Freezer Cooking

Target Shopping Trip

What are your favorite quick and easy breakfast ideas?

FREE 50+ Easy and Cheap Breakfast Ideas!!

Harris Teeter

Aldi

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

Snacks

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