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Shared Nov 8, 2015 comment

5 Things I’m Loving This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 8, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

1. This Picture of My Kids

These three got themselves up, dressed, washed their hair, fixed it, fed themselves, and got themselves out the door for early service with Jesse at church last week — all on their own! Which meant I ended up having a completely quiet morning all to myself to read and pray and then met them at church for the second service!

Moms of littles: hang in there. I know that it feels like the day will never come when you won’t be overwhelmed with changing and bathing and dressing and feeding little people, but the day will come soon when that will all be a memory of the past. And you’ll look at your kids and wonder how on earth they grew up and became so self-sufficient!

2. Fun New About My New Book

So, I kind of had a big week last week… not only did I launch my new book, Money-Making Mom, but I also got some very fun and unexpected news related to the book:

Amazon editors picked my brand-new book for their November Business & Leadership Books pick. Say what??
My book is now available in airports — the first time I’ve ever had a book sold in airports!
The audiobook is being featured on the homepage of Audible.com (you have to scroll down to See What’s New and it’s in the slider there!) I have no idea how it got chosen to featured there!

3. Thought-Provoking Books

Speaking of books, I finished two different books this past week that I just loved and that really challenged and inspired me — Rising Strong by Brene Brown and Breaking Busy by Alli Worthington. I’ll be scoping more about both of these this coming week.

You can see snippets of what I gleaned from quotes I posted on my Instagram feed recently.

4. Your Money-Making Mom Pictures on Social Media

Oh my goodness! I am just loving all of the pictures you all are posting on social media with my book. Honestly, it’s a humbling and surreal thing for others to be holding and reading a book that you wrote.

And I just cannot believe that there are already 173 reviews on Amazon!! The way you all have been cheerleading and championing me in this book launch just floors and touches me so much. Thank you for proving, once again, that I have the best readers on the planet. You mean the world to me!

5. My Husband’s Kindness to Shop for Me

I posted this on Instagram earlier this week:

How I shop…

Step 1: Make a list of what I need to buy.

Step 2: Text said list to @jessepaine with photos of ideas of what I’m sort of thinking.

Step 3: Sit at home in my comfy pants and comfy chair and get blogging work done while @jessepaine texts me pictures of Silas holding up various items that fit my list criteria.

Step 4: Have a phone call with @jessepaine to decide on the final picks.

Step 5: Try on clothes at home. Be very, very grateful that my husband loves shopping. Celebrate the fact that I stayed out of stores yet another day.

The End.

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

Shared Nov 7, 2015 comment

Gretchen’s $35 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

Published: by Gretchen on November 7, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Walmart

2 lbs Asparagus – $1.69 each (Price matched to Aldi)

2 Avocados – $0.49 each (Price matched to Aldi)

Total: $4.36

Homeland

3 Best Choice Cheese – $1.25 each

1 dozen Eggs – $2.79, used Free mobile coupon – Free after coupon

2 Chocolate Cheerios – $2 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) – $1 each after coupon

1 Mission Corn Tortillas – $2.19, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $0.69 after coupon

1 Puff Facial Tissue – $2.35, used Free mobile coupon – Free after coupon

Total after coupons: $6.44

Dillons

2 Lettuce – $0.99 each

0.58 lbs Broccoli – $1.15

1 Kroger Peanut Butter – $1.79, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each

1 Ham Steak – $2.50

2 Horizon Mac & Cheese – $1 each, used $0.75/2 printable – $0.63 each after coupon

1 Kroger Lasagna Noodles – $1.79

1 Green Bell Pepper – $0.99

1.88 lbs Bananas – $1.11, used $0.25/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.86 after rebate

1 loaf Nature’s Harvest Bread – $1.99, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $1.49 after coupon

1 gallon Dillons Milk – $1.99, used $0.20/1 Ibotta rebate – $1.79 after rebate

1 Hershey’s Snacksters – $1, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

1 Danimal Smoothies – $2

1 Ragu Pasta Sauce – Marked down to $0.99, used $0.75/1 Ibotta rebate – $0.24 after rebate

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

1 Juicy Juice – $1.79, used $1/1 Ibotta rebate – $0.79 after rebate

2 Land O Lakes Butter – $1.99 each

1 Duncan Hines Cake Mix – $0.99 (I had a free e-coupon for this but it didn’t come off my card.) 🙁

4 Cottage Cheese – $0.79 each

1 Sour Cream – $0.79

1 Colgate Kids Toothpaste – $0.99, used $0.50/1 printable – $0.49 after coupon

Total after coupons and rebates: $24.68

Total for all stores: $35.48

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Scrambled Eggs & Toast x 3

Cereal x 2

Oatmeal, Fruit x 2

Lunches

Macaroni & Cheese, Veggies

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Tossed Salad

Tossed Salad x 2

Cheese Quesadillas, Fruit

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Lasagna, Butterhorn Rolls, Sautéed Asparagus

Hawaiian Haystacks

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Tossed Salad

Mexican Lasagna, Steamed Asparagus

Ham and Hashbrown Casserole, Steamed Broccoli

French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Applesauce (from the freezer)

Salad Bar with Grilled Chicken

Shared Nov 7, 2015 comment

How Crystal’s Blog Has Revolutionized My Life

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 7, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Testimonial from Keelie of Love Hope Adventure:

Just 7 short years ago, I was a desperate mess.

At the time, I was the momma of two young boys, frantically searching for ways to save money. My husband and I were drowning in bills and not enough income to pay for everything.

Our goal was and always has been, to stay out of debt as much as possible, but at the time, it felt like we were in a losing game.

Our Financial Problem

We moved to a new town in order for my husband to take on a job at a church. Unfortunately, we were stuck with a mortgage payment and no prospects of selling our home in the town we left.

Austin, my husband, was still in seminary. It was our goal to pay for all of his education with scholarships and cash; however, we had a lot of associated costs with him commuting to the school that we could not reduce.

I had tried several different ways to earn money from home in the years prior, but nothing I put time into produced any funds; and with two young children, the cost of childcare would take everything I could earn at a job outside of the home.

The First Revolution With Money Saving Mom

Since I was a frugal person by nature, I couldn’t find any real money saving tips. Every article said to stop eating out as much and cook from scratch. Those were no-brainers to me and not the least be helpful.

A friend sent me a message suggesting I check out Crystal’s blog. After browsing the site for a few minutes, I knew I had found a resource that would help us make it.

Crystal didn’t post the usual things I read about saving money. She outlined exactly how to coupon. Her information was astounding to me.

Without her practical helps, I wouldn’t have been able to feed my family during those years. We relied heavily on my ability to snag free and almost free items.

The couponing community she established changed the way we look at life. In addition, Crystal’s ideas on life shaped our attitude towards benevolence and we have incorporated those ideas into our jobs today.

Back In a Desperate Place

A few years later, we were on the move again. This time, we were in a better financial place as we did not have an extra mortgage payment and Austin was out of seminary.

However, we moved to an area with a huge couponing community. Rarely have I been able to make deal scenarios work because stores are always out of the products I needed and wanted to buy. We had little choice but to increase our expenditures.

It was a year into the job at the new church that I realized our days were numbered. Austin was feeling a pull to step out of pastoral ministry and I knew a major income loss was on the horizon.

The Second Revolution From Money Saving Mom

Around that time, Crystal started challenging her readers to find ways to earn an income from home. She had always had a push for that, but I think she was turning the focus even more.

Can I be honest? I was really angry with her for “pushing”. I knew she was right, but I didn’t want to keep trying make money from home. I had failed in this area so many times.

Even after I started following the Money Saving Mom blog, I would sign up for everything they suggested to earn a few extra dollars. None of those outlets brought me success. I thought earning just wasn’t something I was meant to do.

Crystal posted a series on ways to earn extra cash before Christmas. One of the days was about selling your services on a platform called Fiverr.

Reluctantly, I signed up for an account over there and created a writing gig. I didn’t expect anything to come of it since I had tried so many other ideas. However, after I created a gig, I started taking orders almost immediately!

Over the last 2 years, I have built a successful freelance writing business. I didn’t set out to do this through Fiverr, but it fell on me!

The Third Revolution From Money Saving Mom

About a year ago, I finally had the courage to start my own blog. This is a venture that my husband had been after me to do for many years as I have always wanted to be a writer.

Working on other entrepreneur’s websites gave me the confidence and skills I needed to start my own blog.

My biggest passion is to help married couples grow in intimacy with one another — healthy couples make for healthy homes. I launched Love Hope Adventure a little over a year ago and I’ve been nurturing it in my spare time.

I’m at another pivotal point in my life, and Crystal’s influence has come into play once again. With her latest book, Money Making Mom: How Every Woman Can Earn More and Make a Difference, I know I will get the valuable helps I need to take my blog to the next level.

Why I Trust Crystal

In the online world, it can be hard to know who to trust and who is fake. Crystal is a person that I have always identified with and trusted.

She is the same age that I am and has three kids that are all about the same age as my boys. Not only that, she is a homeschool mom that committed to putting her husband through his degree without taking on debt. I’ve watched her live out her convictions, which happen to be in line with my own.

Crystal is very transparent with her struggles and gives hope to others at every turn. She is a real person that has found ways to stay true to herself and keep her passions at the forefront of life.

Thank you Crystal for building this amazing community and bringing us all together to encourage each other!

Keelie is married to her highschool sweetheart and is the mom of three awesome boys. She is a creator and loves sharing with the world around her. One of her biggest passions is to help married couples fall deeper in love with one another. You can read her marriage tips at Love Hope Adventure.

Shared Nov 6, 2015 comment

A Letter to the Mama Who is Freaking Out That She Isn’t Doing Enough

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 6, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

My good friend, Amy, wrote a letter to the mama who is freaking out that she isn’t doing enough. It is SO good — especially in light of what we’ve been talking about around here recently.

While I think earning an income from home can be a wonderful thing, I don’t ever want it to be done at the expense of the more important — the people who live in your home, your health, your marriage.

Here’s a snippet of her amazing post:

Dear Mama,

You are doing enough.

YOU ARE enough.

Making money from home amid the already full everyday is an amazing opportunity. I know, because I’m doing it and I have been on various monetary levels with a few different streams of income since I left my teaching job 11 years and 4 children ago. It is a gift to be able to work from home, full or part-time, contributing to the family income.

The trick is to make sure that gift doesn’t turn into a burden. A longing for more. A taunting, insisting that you could do more and be more without the weight of what’s right in front of you. If only…

Read the full post here.

Shared Nov 6, 2015 comment

Q&A: “How do you keep a healthy work-life balance?”

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 6, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance requires constant change and adjustment on my part. I have to choose to hold dear to my heart what matters most.

For example, while I love social media for connecting and networking with others, I am not a rule follower. I don’t want to be chained to a regular schedule, even if it’s what the experts say is best for growing my business.

I don’t want a blog that is a burden to me and my family. I want it to be a blessing, and so there are some choices I make for myself in order to maintain a healthy work-life balance and manage my time well.

Looking for more tips & advice? Sign up for my FREE 5-day How I Make a Full-Time Income From Home course!

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Nov 6, 2015 comment

Brigette’s $88 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on November 6, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

Cauliflower – $1.99

2 Butternut Squash – $2.58

1 4-ct pkg Zucchini – $1.99

3 Avocados – $2.07

1 Spaghetti Squash – $1.99

1 box Cinnamon Crunch Squares – $1.69

1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.49

1 32-oz container Half and Half – $1.79

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $2.59

3 pkgs Rice Cakes – $3.87

1 Artisan Baby Lettuce – $1.99

1 3-ct pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99

Total: $26.03

Harris Teeter

1 3-lb bag Clementines – $3.49 (not an amazing price, but my children love and beg for these!)

2 Dawn Dish Detergent – $2.00, used 2 $0.25/1 printable (doubled) – $1.00/2

2 McCormick Gravy Mix – $1.00, used $0.50/2 RP 10/25 (doubled) – FREE

4 pkgs Sargento Shredded Cheese – $7.98, used 2 $0.65/2 printable (doubled) – $5.38/4

2 8-oz pkgs Challenge Cream Cheese – $3.00, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1.00/2

1 large pkg Mission Corn Tortillas – $2.49, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $0.99

Total: $11.88

Save-A-Lot

4 large Pumpkins – $3.96 (I’ve been working on cooking and freezing these)

1 bunch Bananas (3.56lbs @ $0.34/lb) – $1.21

1 3-lb bag Gala Apples – $2.49

Total: $7.66

Sam’s Club

(A friend called to tell me she found large jars of Almond Butter for $3.91 each, which is a fantastic price! I’m guessing Sam’s Club is discontinuing them. The expiration date wasn’t until July, so I was thrilled to be able to stock-up! While my weekly grocery budget is around $65 a week, that does not factor in occasional bulk purchases such as this.)

10 24-oz jars Almond Butter – $39.10

Total: $39.10

Zaycon

(We LOVE Zaycon! The only thing I have ever ordered from them is chicken, but we have been thoroughly impressed with the freshness, quality and pricing, as well as excellent customer service. I highly recommend checking to see if they offer a drop-off in your area.)

40lbs of Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (@$1.89/lb) – $75.60, used $72.00 referral credits (from many of you – THANK YOU!) – $3.60

Total: $3.60

Weekly Total, including Bulk Purchases: $88.27