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Shared Sep 23, 2014 comment

What I de-cluttered in 30 minutes this week (12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge)

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 23, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

For September’s 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge, we’re focusing on clearing out clutter. I committed to spend 30 minutes to an hour every week de-cluttering at my house.

Yesterday, I had a few hours at home by myself because Jesse took all three kids to Kathrynne’s swim team practice. So I went around and did some de-cluttering.

I got a little distracted by things that needed to be cleaned in the process, but when my 30 minutes were up, not only did I have a tub of items to get rid of, I also had a cleaner house. So it was a win all around!

Did you do any de-cluttering this past week? If so, how’d it go for you?

Shared Sep 23, 2014 comment

Do It Yourself: Pumpkin Spice Latte

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 23, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

FeathersInOurNest.com shows you how to make a homemade pumpkin spice latte.

Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.

Shared Sep 22, 2014 comment

Peek Into Our Week: Soccer, gardening, sourdough, a visit from a friend, a book launch party, and yes, I learned how to use a glue gun!

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 22, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

It’s been a full few weeks! Here’s a peek at the behind-the-scenes goings on at the Paine household…

Our kids were over the moon excited that they got to meet Phil Vischer from VeggieTales and What’s In The Bible? at the God’s Awesome Word event here in Nashville.

Honestly, I have never seen our kids so stoked about getting to meet someone!! It made me realize anew how grateful we are for how this man has impacted our children and taught them so much about God and His Word through the What’s in the Bible DVD’s!

My baby boy is getting all grown up! He’s loving soccer — especially his Saturday morning games. I’m so proud of his determination, focus, and team spirit!

We spent part of one afternoon weeding/cleaning out the front flower bed as a family. This has been on the to-do list ever since we moved here in May (I’m a little ashamed to admit that!).

We finally all decided to jump in and tackle what had seemed like a BIG project that we’d been putting off for months. Guess what? With all of us working together, it took less than 30 minutes!

This was a great reminder that sometimes a seemingly big project won’t be nearly as time-consuming as you think. So stop procrastinating and just do it!

I made my first ever sourdough bread starter that I got for just a few dollars as part of the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle sale. Move over, Ma Ingalls!

I was excited that it actually worked like it was supposed to, but was very disappointed in the taste of the sourdough bread. I learned so much about how to make a starter and keep it alive, but I think I’m going to try a different starter recipe and see if we like it any better.

I was SO thrilled to discover that Dollar Tree here in TN has my family’s favorite sandwich bread for just $1 per loaf here in TN just like they did in Kansas! Our freezer is now well-stocked for the next few weeks! It’s often the little things that can make a new city feel like home.

Huge highlight of the past few weeks: My good friend Ginger who blogs at Just One of the Boys got to come visit!

We laughed, drank coffee, window-shopped in downtown Franklin, talked blogging and books, shared our hearts, and stayed up way too late… And it was such a blast! Our whole family was sad to see her leave!

Friendships like this — where you can just be completely yourself and someone can just come and make themselves feel right at home — are such a gift!

When we made our first sourdough bread from our sourdough starter, Silas made his own little loaf with chocolate chips (his idea). I have trained him well: pretty much everything is always better with chocolate! 🙂

Ever have moments when you’re just so proud of a friend you want to burst? That was me at the book launch party for Angie Smith and Breezy Brookshire’s new book, For Such a Time as This. I love these women so much and was honored to get to celebrate their hard work tonight.

Also? I can’t wait to read through this book with our kids! It’s beautifully done and the pages contain deep truths and messages that are written at the level that a young child can grasp. Watch the trailer for this book here.

Getting to spend time with this group of women one evening last week was an honor. Each of them have inspired me and blessed me through their writings and lives. And it was worth driving for an hour in very crazy Nashville traffic to make it there. 🙂

After a long, exhausting day as a parent at the end of last week, this little gal brightened it up so much by surprising me with this freshly made cup of coffee with whipped cream and a special straw… Just because she wanted to bless me.

For me, it was much more than a cup of coffee: it was a reminder that God sees me in my feeble attempts to parent these children He’s given us, that He loves me, and that He’s at work behind-the-scenes even when I don’t see it on the surface.

I’m not a crafter at all, but these dear gals let me join them for a fun afternoon making Christmas crafts. It was a blast and it was great to step out and learn some new skills… Like the basics of using a glue gun (I told you I wasn’t a crafter!!)

Lots of Personal Processing Going On

The past month I’ve been hit hard with processing our move. That’s been good and needed, but also hard. I think that there was so much going on for the first few months and I was so focused on helping my family settle, that I didn’t have time to process things myself.

So it finally hit — a few months after the fact! I’ve cried multiple times per week (which is very out of character for me!), I’ve struggled through doubts and “what ifs”, and there have been some rough patches for me these past few weeks as I’ve continued to figure out how to navigate the new waters of this completely new lifestyle we’ve embraced as a family, new friends, new community, new situations, and so much unfamiliar territory.

I’m grateful for the people God has placed into my life who have let me be completely honest as I’ve processed. Who have listened, prayed, cared, and loved on me. Every day, I’m learning more and more what it means to be a friend and how important it is to take the time to cultivate these relationships in our lives.

So that’s a little recap on our lives from the past few weeks. Life has been full and I feel like I’ve been doing a lot of personal processing, but I also have this deep inner sense of peace and joy and gratitude. There are so many blessings in the midst of the everyday and I want to take time to notice them and be grateful for them!

How has life been at your house? Anything new, exciting, or difficult going on?

Shared Sep 22, 2014 comment

10 Goals For This Week + My Reading Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 22, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Can I be really honest with you? I kinda bombed last week.

I haven’t been getting enough sleep recently… mostly due to the fact that I’ve been trying to work on my book-writing in the wee hours of the morning. And well, that caught up with me after 2 and a half weeks.

You’d think that I would have learned my lesson by now that trying to push through when you are already running on empty is a recipe for burnout! 🙂

I limped through the first part of the week, but by Thursday, I was pretty much toast. So I re-arranged a bunch of deadlines and took Friday and Saturday almost entirely off. It felt so good and it was exactly what I needed.

After three nights of good sleep, I feel SO much better and much more inspired and invigorated about life. Which I’m grateful for!

Needless to say, I didn’t get much done in the way of reading or goals this past week. But I’m giving myself grace and trying again this week.

I’m committed to going to bed at a decent hour and making sleep a much higher priority this week. I’m wondering if I’ll end up being more productive as a result? If anything, I know that I’ll feel a lot better and be a lot more cheerful. 🙂

Last Week’s Goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Read Teddy’s Button aloud to the kids at lunch time.

2. Have a movie night with Jesse.

~~3. Write a love note to Jesse.~~

~~4. Spend 30 minutes decluttering our house.~~

5. Finish a craft/sewing project with Kaitlynn.

Personal Goals

6. Work on reviewing and memorizing Romans 1 and Romans 2:1-2.

7. Finish reading I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t), A Proper Pursuit, Manage Your Day-to-Day, Love, Skip, Jump, Eight Twenty Eight, and All In.

~~8. Run or exercise at least 5 times.~~

Business Goals

9. Work on chapters 4-6 of my book manuscript. (I worked on chapters 4 & 5 and they are getting closer to being finished — yay!)

10. Write one more post for the Time Management series.

This week’s goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Read Teddy’s Button aloud to the kids at lunch time.

2. Have a movie night with Jesse.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

4. Spend 30 minutes decluttering our house.

5. Finish a craft/sewing project with Kaitlynn.

Personal Goals

6. Work on reviewing and memorizing Romans 1 and Romans 2:1-2.

7. Finish reading I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t), A Proper Pursuit, Manage Your Day-to-Day, Love, Skip, Jump, Eight Twenty Eight, and All In.

8. Run or exercise at least 5 times.

Business Goals

9. Work on chapters 4-7 of my book manuscript.

10. Write one more post for the Time Management series.

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 Sep 22, 2014 comment

Have a business? I’d love to hear your input on marketing!

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 22, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m working on the section of my upcoming book on marketing right now and I’d love your input! If you’ve started a business, can you share your best marketing tips?

I’d especially love specific stories or details related to have you marketed by:

Offering try-it-for-free opportunities
Offering a free consultation
Word of mouth
Cross-promoting other businesses
Social media
Any other creative (and mostly free) ideas you have tried and been successful with are more than welcome!

You can leave your answers as a comment on this post or email them to crystal @ moneysavingmom.com. Thank you so very much for your help!

As always, any comments left on this post or emails you send it will be considered for publication in my upcoming book. If you would prefer to remain anonymous or not to have your comment or email published, please let us know when submitting it.

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Shared Sep 22, 2014 comment

7 Simple Ways to Save Everyday

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 22, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Sarah of Saving Money Never Goes Out of Style

When it comes to savings, we often spend a lot of time focusing on coupons, special sales, and the hottest deals of the week. However, some of us frugal moms know it goes much further than that! Saving money for your family isn’t just about hunting down the next deal, but about making small lifelong changes in your home.

Here are 7 simple ways to save money every day that are easy to implement into your daily life. While not all will work for every family, you’ll easily find some tips that are simple changes you won’t even notice or feel like you’re sacrificing.

1. Ditch Paper Towels

If you have kids in the house you know that paper towels can be a monthly investment. Between meals, cleaning spills, and wiping sticky hands you are throwing away a ton of money each year.

Instead of buying paper, invest in some nice cloth napkins for your kids to use at meal time. Grab some old hand towels and wash cloths and designate those for cleaning up spills.

Tip: Colorful bandanas make great color coded dinner time napkins for large families! Each person has their own color to use.

2. Turn Off & Unplug Electronics

This is a great way to save money. While the savings are small, they do add up over time. Turn off all electronics when not in use and make a habit of hitting light switches as you leave a room as well.

Go even further by unplugging in between uses, too. That toaster sitting out on your counter that is rarely used? Simply unplug it and save yourself some money.

3. Plan a Menu

Taking the time to make a menu plan will cut back on last-minute take out and wasted food. And don’t forget to utilize your slow cooker during the school year or a busy season!

By having a plan in place, you will use more of what you have on hand and cut back on extra spending. No more running to the store for that one ingredient you forgot!

4. Learn To Sew

This is a great tip for those with girls, especially. Old pillowcases, t-shirts, ladies’ dresses, or men’s shirts can all be easily revamped and tailored into dresses for little girls. Shopping the thrift shop for gently used clothes in different patterns and styles can also lead to fun new revamped ensembles with a bit of sewing.

If you’re not a seamstress, even something as simple as replacing a button instead of throwing an item out is helpful. Or, if you have a son like mine, when he blows out the knees in his jeans, you can easily make them into shorts for the next season!

5. Brown Bag It

Taking your own lunch consisting of healthy portions of leftovers or specific lunch items can really save you a lot of money over time. If you also learn to make your own snacks and gourmet coffee, you’ll significantly increase your savings.

Don’t have time to make your own snacks all the time? Buying a box of granola bars in store is far cheaper than buying a single bar from the gas station or vending machine.

Do your kids like Lunchables? Make your own! All it takes is Ritz crackers, some deli meat, and cheese singles, and you’re good to go.

6. Cook From Scratch

It may seem like it will take so much more time, but simple things like making soups and beans in a slow cooker can cost a fraction of what canned varieties do.

Grab dry beans for $1-$2 a pound and cook them in your crock pot all day. When cooked, a $1 bag of dried beans will often be the equivalent to 4-5 cans you would have purchased at $1each. Over a year’s time, that can add up to quite a bit of savings in your grocery budget.

7. Pay With Cash

Make a point of paying for things with cash. There is a lot to be said about the concept of not buying anything else for the month once you run out of cash on hand. It helps you stay within your means, and not rely on credit cards. It also gives you a chance to save that change in a piggy bank for rainy days, treats, or vacations.

No matter what your household budget is, you can easily put into place a few of these 7 simple ways to save money every day and increase the money in your pocket. These things can free up money to pay off debt, or simply help you stop living paycheck to paycheck.

What simple things do you do to save money every day?

Sarah is a stay-at-home mom of two wonderful children. From homeless to well-off, this single debt-free mom is most known for her ability to live well on $18k/year. Sarah loves encouraging others that dreams do come true if they are willing to consistently work for it. Follow her blog: Saving Money Never Goes Out of Style.

Shared Sep 20, 2014 comment

Brigette’s $50 Shopping Trip + Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on September 20, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 16-oz Package Frozen Strawberries – $2.19

1 48-oz Package Frozen Chicken Breasts – $6.49

2 Heads of Cabbage – $1.98

1 Bunch Bananas ($0.44/lb) – $1.38, plus receive $0.25 back from Checkout 51 Mobile Coupon

1 32-oz Carton Half & Half – $1.69 (splurge item/impulse buy that was NOT on my list! I LOVE this stuff in my hot drinks in the fall!)

1 3-lb bag Navel Oranges – $2.49

1 3-lb Bag Yellow Onions – $0.99

1 3-Head Bag Garlic – $0.79

1 16-oz Can Pumpkin – $0.89

Baking Powder – For some reason, this is not on my receipt. I am not sure why it didn’t ring up.

Total: $18.89, plus receive $0.25 back

BI-LO

4 Boxes Betty Crocker Cake Mix – $6.00, used 2 $0.75/2 printable (doubled) – $3.00 after coupons, plus receive $0.12 fuel perks

6 Bags Frozen Vegetables Green Giant Steamers – $8.00, used 2 $0.60/3 printable (doubled), plus $0.50/2 from SavingStar – $5.10 after coupons and rebate, plus receive $0.10 fuel perks, plus an additional $0.10 fuel perks for buying 10 General Mills products

Gala Apples ($0.99/lb) – $2.29

5 Packages Challenge Butter (B1G1 @ $4.89) – $12.20, used 2 $0.55/1 printable (doubled), plus $1.50/2 catalina coupon from Harris Teeter – $8.50 after coupons, plus receive $0.75/1 Ibotta App Mobile Coupon, and $1.00/1 Checkout 51 Mobile Coupon ($6.75 after rebates for 5 packages of butter! Yes please!!!)

Total after all Sales, Coupons, and Tax: $19.39, plus receive $2.25 back in rebates, and earned $0.37 in fuel perks (that’s 37 cents off every gallon of gas)

Harris Teeter

1 8-oz Baking Soda – $0.47

1 8-oz Package of Sliced Mushrooms, reduced – $1.00

6 Containers Yoplait Yogurt (3 of which are not in this picture since they were eaten immediately when we got home. I did 6 stores with 4 littles in 2.5 hours without any meltdowns. I will unashamedly admit that all the credit for that accomplishment goes to the yogurt. Which may or may not have been offered as an “incentive.” :)) – $2.22, used $0.40/6 printable (doubled), plus $0.40/6 Harris Teeter Evic, plus receive $0.40/6 SavingStar – $0.62/6 after coupons

2 Bags of Shredded Cheese ($1.37 each, limit 2) – $2.74

1 64-oz Carton Silk – $3.00, used $1/1 Silk Half Gallon, exp. 10/18/14 (RP 09/14/14), plus $1.00/1 Harris Teeter Evic – $1.00 after coupons

1 Jar Barilla Pasta Sauce – $2.00, used $0.55/1 Barilla Pasta Sauce Jar, exp. 11/1/14 (SS 09/07/14 #2) (doubled), plus $0.75/1 Harris Teeter Evic – $0.15 after coupons

2 Boxes Celestial Seasonings Tea, reduced – $2.50 (Another impulse buy… stocking up for the cooler weather that will come eventually)

Total after all Sales, Coupons, and Tax: $8.88, plus receive $0.40 back from Saving Star

Farmer’s Mart

1 Butternut Squash ($0.79/lb) – $2.12

3 Ears of Corn ($0.29/each) – $0.87

Tomatoes ($0.79/lb) – $1.15

Total: $4.14

Flower Foods Bakery

6 Loaves of Bread, reduced (3/$0.99)

Total: $1.98

Weekly Total after all Sales, Coupons, and Rebates: $50.38 (plus $0.37 fuel perks)

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

French Toast (birthday breakfast choice for my son), Cereal x 2, Oatmeal x 2, Smoothies, Eggs and Toast

Lunches

Hotdogs/Fruit/Corn (birthday lunch choice), Macaroni and Cheese/Carrots/Apples, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches/Oranges/Sliced Tomatoes x 2, Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwiches/Cucumber Slices, Veggie Omelettes/Peaches (I have a bunch of frozen peach slices, and my children love eating them straight from the freezer), Leftovers

Dinners

Papa Johns Pizza (birthday dinner choice), Cake (specific kind still TBD!)

Spaghetti, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade Breadsticks

Chicken Gravy over Brown Rice, Baked Butternut Squash, Tossed Salad

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Buttered Carrots, Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower, Leftover Breadsticks

Chicken Fried Rice, Oranges

Hamburger Vegetable Soup (using leftover venison meat instead of hamburger), Pumpkin Crescent Rolls

Leftovers

Shared Sep 20, 2014 comment

5 Ways to Live Well on One Income

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 20, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Liz of The Quick Journey

As a momma to four kiddos and one handsome hubby, I am always on the lookout for ways to stretch our money and still live well. Many people think that giving up the “two-income” lifestyle means that everything else goes with it.

Sure, you’ll probably need to pare down some, but life doesn’t need to be boring and stifling. I have found 5 tried and true ways to save our pennies and still enjoy a good life:

1. Set Goals

It is so important to set goals for your family. When you have goals in place, it makes it easier to save those pennies because you get to dream about the reward at the end of the journey.

Goals also add resolve when things might get tough. Remember, pennies add up to dollars and dollars to hundreds of dollars. So every penny counts toward your family goal!

2. Find Free Family Fun

Instead of spending a lot of money going on expensive family trips, find ways to enjoy each other without spending the money. Some great ways to “stay-cation” would be to gather around a campfire and roast s’mores with the fall season coming up. Or, go to the park for a family picnic.

Then, when you do get to experience a “true” family vacation, it will be well appreciated and the experience will be much sweeter.

3. Eliminate Desires

It is simple: the less I see, the less I want.

When we transitioned into a one-income family, I had to eliminate desires from our home. That meant eliminating TV so commercials didn’t create the “I want” effect for both my husband, myself, and the kids. The less we saw, the less we wanted things.

I also limit my time on Pinterest and websites that drive my desires. When I go shopping, I avoid those areas that encourage me to spend on things I don’t need.

4. Limit Shopping Trips:

The more I go to the store, the more I buy. Because of this, I only go to the store twice a month to prevent extra buying opportunities.

I also go with a list and stick closely to the list. Not only does this help with “little” purchases here and there, but it saves on gas!

5. Utilize Bargain Shopping

Aldi has been mentioned here on the blog many times. I love shopping Aldi and reaping the rewards that go along with that!

I also think a great way to purchase products is second-hand. Whether it be thrifting or garage saling, it saves money and still allows the shopper to enjoy “new” items without breaking their budget!

These are simple ways to pinch pennies and not feel too restricted. They have worked great for our family and I hope they work for yours as well!

What would add to my list?

Liz is a stay-at-home, homeschooling momma to four precious kiddos. She finds joy in the little moments and enjoys spending her evenings snuggled up with her handsome “high school sweetheart” hubby. Liz blogs at The Quick Journey where she shares her journey through motherhood.

Shared Sep 20, 2014 comment

Have you tried to build a business? What struggles have you encountered?

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 20, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

In a section of my upcoming book, I’m going to be talking about the struggles one can often encounter when trying to build a business.

If you have started a business or tried to start a business, what struggles have you experienced in growing your business? What are the biggest lessons have you learned in the process?

You can leave a comment answering this question or shoot an email with your answers to crystal @ moneysavingmom.com.

As always, any comments left on this post or emails sent in will be considered for publication in my book. If you would prefer to remain anonymous or do not want your comment or email published, please let us know.

Thanks so much!

Shared Sep 19, 2014 comment

Gretchen’s $57 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 19, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Health Food Store

3 Grapefruit – $0.89 each

2 (3 lb) bags Gala Apples – $1.99 each

Total with tax: $7.12

Aldi

1 gallon Milk – $2.40

1 carton Half & Half – $1.69

1 Frozen Orange Juice – $1.29

1 dozen Eggs – $1.40

1 loaf Bread – $0.99

1 bag (3 lbs) Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99

1 Honey – $5.29

1 can Refried Beans – $0.79

1 Cucumber – $0.69

1 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.19

1 Rice Cakes – $1.29

1 bag Chocolate Chips – $1.59

1 bag Tortillas – $1.19

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.69

Total with tax: $28.37

Dillons

1 Brawny Paper Towels – $1 each, used 2 $0.55/1 coupon from the 9/7 RedPlum insert – $0.45 each after coupons

1 half gallon Dillons Milk – $1 (I bought Aldi milk before I knew Dillons milk was on sale this week. I hated to pass up such a great price so I went ahead a got a half gallon.)

2 Angel Soft Facial Tissue – $1 each, used 2 $0.50/1 printable – $0.50 each after coupons

2.19 lbs Bananas @ $0.59/lb – $1.29 (PLUS I received $0.25 back from Checkout 51!)

1 Kroger Pineapple Tidbits – $1.09

1 Cottenelle Bath Tissue – $5.99, used $1/1 e-coupon – $4.99 after coupon

2 Kroger Shredded Cheese – $2 each

1 bag Kroger Brown Rice – $1

1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99

2 Flipz Chocolate Covered Pretzels – $1.25 each, used $1/2 printable – $0.75 each after coupon (PLUS, I received $1 back from Ibotta!)

2 Horizon Mac & Cheese – $1.25 each, used $1/2 coupon from Mambo Sprouts coupon booklet – $0.75 each after coupon

2 Ramen Noodles – $0.20 each

1 Mission Tortillas – $1 (These were such a great price I went ahead a bought a package even though I’d already purchased some at Aldi. They will last a couple of week so I will be using them for next week’s menu as well.)

Total with tax: $22.13

Total for all stores: $57.62 (PLUS $1.25 back in rebate cash!)

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal x 2, Scrambled Eggs & Juice x 2, Smoothies, Oatmeal

Lunches

Cheese Quesadillas, Quiche, Mac & Cheese, Apples & Peanut Butter with Carrot Sticks, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rice Cakes

Dinners

Hawaiian Haystacks, Homemade Applesauce

Leftover Chili from last week’s cooking, 30 Minute Rolls, Veggies

Savory Crescent Chicken Pockets, Steamed Peas, Grapefruit

Salad Bar, Homemade Bread

Homemade Pizza, Tossed Salad

Dinner with friends (we are bringing a salad)

Dinner with family

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Shared Sep 19, 2014 comment

Vote for America’s Smartest Shopper!

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 19, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ALL YOU magazine is on the hunt for America’s Smartest Shopper! Of 834 videos submitted, they’ve chosen the top 10. Now it’s YOUR turn to decide which of the 10 semi-finalists deserve to win the title of America’s Smartest Shopper.

You can vote daily for your favorite shopper at the ALL YOU website here. You’ll also be able to enter to win great daily prizes just for voting! The prizes including gift cards from Netflix, Target, Home Dept, GooglePlay and more.

The three finalists will receive cash prizes and will be flown to New York City to appear on the TODAY show in advance of Black Friday later this fall. The winner will be crowned America’s Smartest Shopper on live television.

Head over here to vote for America’s Smartest Shopper.

Shared Sep 17, 2014 comment

Homemade All Purpose Lemon Power Cleaner

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 17, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I was inspired by reading the All-Natural Living ebook that I got as part of the Healthy Living Bundle to continue on in my quest to slowly make the switch to more natural alternatives for household products we regularly use.

I especially loved these simple steps the author outlined:

Ditch your fabric softener/dryer sheets – These are some of the most toxic things found in the home and really aren’t necessary. There are homemade options, plus different detergent options that may make the need for fabric softener obsolete.

Make your own detergents – Making your own laundry and dish detergent are both easy and cost effective.

Make a simple All Purpose Cleaner – Even if you aren’t convinced that this homemade stuff can really replace all your cleaners, starting with a simple APC can help ease you into the transition.

Try switching out one beauty product – Not sure if you’re up to a full commitment of diy beauty products? Just pick on that you are willing to try. Maybe it’s the homemade mascara, or the mouth wash, or shaving soap.

These seem doable — even for busy moms, don’t they? I’m all about baby steps and taking it slow, so this was perfect for me.

After reading through the ebook, I picked one recipe to try and I landed on the All Purpose Lemon Power Cleaner.

All Purpose Lemon Power Cleaner

1 cup warm distilled water
1 cup white vinegar
4 Tablespoons lemon juice
10 – 20 drops lemon essential oil (you could also use orange or tea tree oil — or just omit this)

Measure ingredients into a spray bottle and shake to mix. Shake before each use.

This recipe was very easy to make and very inexpensive (especially if you opt not to use the essential oils). It smelled very strongly of lemon and wasn’t the best all natural cleaner I’ve ever used before. But I’d say that it was fair and one that I would make again.

I love that the ingredients are things I usually have on hand, but I thought the smell was pretty strong. So if/when I make it again, I’d probably adjust the essential oil ratio down or use a different essential oil than lemon.

All in all, I enjoyed All-Natural Living ebook. The one thing I didn’t love was the author plugging her essential oils site multiple times in the space of just a few pages. Once or twice would have been great, but doing it repeatedly got a little old and sales-pitchy feeling.

However, I loved that she included so many different recipes — even one for Windshield Wiper Fluid! Some were really basic, but there was a lot of variety — including recipes for homemade makeup.

Have you tried making some of your own household products or make-up? I’d love hear about how it worked (or didn’t work!) for you.

Shared Sep 17, 2014 comment

Why I Did a Happy Dance at Dollar Tree + My Amazon Order

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 17, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I ran into Dollar Tree with the kids last week to pick up a few things for Jesse’s birthday (yes, we’ re all extravagant like that! ;))

I hadn’t been in that Dollar Tree yet since we’d moved and decided to peruse the aisles to see what they had available. Imagine my absolutely delight when I rounded the corner of one aisle and saw an end cap completely stocked with Nature’s Own bread for $1 per loaf!

My family loves this bread for sandwich bread and it made me feel so very much at home to discover that Dollar Tree in TN carries Nature’s Own bread just like our Dollar Trees in Kansas did.

Our freezer is now well-stocked with sandwich bread for the next few weeks! It’s often the little things that can make a new city feel like home.

I also picked up a spray bottle for some homemade cleaner I wanted to make, some sandwich bags that were marked down to $0.50, and some brown rice.

Also pictured: my coconut flour that I ordered from Amazon using some of my Swagbucks credit. I’m excited to try it out in some new recipes.

Have any of you used Coconut Flour before? Have any recipe recommendations or tips on how to use it?

Shared Sep 16, 2014 comment

What are your favorite WAHM/home business resources?

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 16, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I want my next book to be really rich with resources on making money from home and running your own business successfully. I have compiled a list of many different resources I love, but I’m sure I’m missing some fantastic other resources.

So I thought I’d pose the question to you all to give your input: What are your favorite books, podcasts, sites, or blogs related to working from home, being a working mom, or having your own business?

Share them in the comments or email me at crystal @ moneysavingmom.com. I can’t wait to check out the resources that you share!

Shared Sep 15, 2014 comment

I don’t do this often, but I’m wholeheartedly endorsing this…

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 15, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

The past few days, I’ve talked about the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle and told you about some of the resources and why I think it would be beneficial for your family.

Some of you have been hesitant about purchasing and you’ve emailed in or commented with questions. It makes me so happy that you are carefully considering your purchasing and not just jumping in and buying something because it seems like a good deal.

I am here to help you spend your money in the wisest manner possible. I turn down many opportunities on a daily basis to promote things because I only want to promote the best of the best here.

If you are not in a financial place to purchase the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle, will you do me a huge favor and just skip this post? The last thing I want to do is to encourage you to buy something that you can’t afford.

Why I’m Endorsing the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle

For the rest of you, though, I want you to carefully consider whether purchasing the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle is a good deal for you. And I want to share 9 reasons why I can rubber-stamp this deal and stand behind it:

1. It Will Teach You How to Cut Your Grocery Bill While Eating Healthfully

Most people think that feeding your family healthfully is going to mean you have to majorly increase your grocery bill. But that doesn’t have to be the case. With resources like the Making Organic Food Affordable ebook and the Grocery Savings Made Simple: A Real Mom’s Guide course, you’ll learn practical ways to feed your family well — without breaking the bank!

Value: Both of these resources by themselves are regularly priced at more than the cost of the entire bundle. So even if these are the only two books you read, it will have been worth buying the bundle. Plus, the tricks and tips you learn for saving money on wholesome food will likely end up paying for the bundle in savings over and over again!

2. It Will Give You Step-by-Step Help to Transform Your Family’s Health

Do you want to help your family eat better and feel better but you’re just overwhelmed by all of the information out there? The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle not only comes with hands-on help ebooks like the 7 Day Real Food Challenge, 22 Days to a Fresh Start, and Let’s Do This! Getting Ahead in Your Real Food Kitchen, and Kids Eat Real Food, but it also comes with a “Getting Started” Guide to help you identify the most valuable resources for your specific health priorities.

Value: These 4 resources mentioned are (again!) worth more separately than you’ll pay for the entire course. And the money you could potentially save on doctor’s visits and medication could be substantial. But not only that, think of the gift you’ll be giving your family by helping them live healthier lives!

3. It Will Clear Up Your Confusion Over Essential Oils

There are a lot of confusing and conflicting viewpoints about essential oils out there with different people telling you different brands are superior to others or the only safe ones to use. Going through the Essential Oils & Natural Health course will educate you on why essential oils work and how to use them. Best of all, the course is done from a completely non-biased perspective when it comes to essential oil brands.

Value: The Essential Oils course is a value of $95! And you get it + all of the other resources in this bundle for just $29.97! That’s definitely what I call a deal!

4. It Will Help You Sleep Better

Okay, so I can’t completely guarantee this one, but it’s been true for me! One of the bonuses you get with the purchase of the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle is a choice of a free 2-oz liquid herbal formula from Trilight Health. I chose the Peace Treaty and I have quickly decided this stuff really, really works. In fact, if you need to get up really early for some reason, don’t take it before bed, because it truly knocks you out. 🙂

I experimented with taking it and not taking it the past week and can tell a significant difference in how well and how deeply I sleep when I take it as compared to when I don’t. Your results may differ from mine, but for me, I think this stuff rocks!

Value: You do have to pay shipping — which is around $3-5 per order — but getting a bottle of this herbal formula for just a few dollar was very worth it to me. I likely would have never tried it and discovered how well it worked had it not come as a bonus with the bundle!

5. It Will Inspire You to Lose Weight & Stick With Your Fitness Goals

Do you wish you could find a way to stick with exercise goals and actually lose those persistent pounds? The Fit2B course in this bundle might be a great help to you! It contains 5 lessons with 5 videos outlining 5 days of different routines containing 5 exercises done 5 times for 5 sets! And best of all, you can do these lessons in 10-15 minutes!

Plus, you’ll get a free 4-month subscription to Stay-At-Home Yoga. While I’m not much of a yoga person, I checked this online fitness program out and was impressed with it. I especially loved how mom-friendly it was and that she offers really quick workouts for busy days.

Value: This course and the subscription are regularly priced at more than the cost of the entire bundle! Plus, you won’t have to pay for a gym membership or any fancy workout equipment.

6. It Will Save You Money on Gifts For Others

One of my very favorite things about the Healthy Living Bundle is that you are allowed to gift any resources or bonuses you don’t plan on using or reading. Yes, you read that right! So if you only are interested in 10 of the ebooks, 2 of the courses, and 2 of the bonuses, you can give all the others away!

You could use these as gifts for a friend’s birthday or an upcoming special occasion. You could split them up as gifts for multiple friends. Or, you could just share them as a way to bless someone who is interested in healthy living.

The bonuses would especially make great gifts! I loved the Made On Lotion gift set and it would make a really fun and unique gift for a friend who loves all-natural things. Shipping is only a few dollars and it’s well worth it for these high-quality products!

Value: If you used three of the bonuses/ebooks as gifts for friends for upcoming occasions, that could pay for the cost of the bundle itself — because you wouldn’t need to spend any money on gifts for those three occasions!

A picture of some of the bonuses I got from the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle!

7. It Will Give You New Recipes for Special Diets & Allergies in Your Family

If you have a child or another family member who is gluten-free, diary-free, Paleo, or diabetic, this bundle is a goldmine of great resources and help! If you need recipes, encouragement, or inspiration for how to cook, bake, freezer cook, and menu plan when you have allergies, you’ll find a plethora of help in the ebooks like: 31 Days of Gluten Free Meals, Allergy-Free Cooking, Allergy Friendly Comfort Food, Gluten Free 30 Day Meal Plan, and Grain-Free Meal Plans Freezer Cooking Guide.

Value: Not only will you no longer have to scratch your head and throw up your hands in despair wondering what you’re going to cook or bake, but you’ll no longer feel so alone. These ebooks will come alongside you and help you to feel like you can do this! You can find recipes to cook and meals to make — even with strict diet restrictions!

8. It Will Challenge You to Think Outside the Box

One thing I loved about this bundle was that it felt like I was getting a college education on health and wellness! As I read through many of the resources, I learned many new things, was exposed to new ideas, and was challenged to reconsider what I believe about health.

I feel like there’s so much value in constantly learned and growing as a person. I don’t ever want to become stagnant. I want to challenge my mind and my beliefs and always be willing to try new things if it seems like it might work well.

Value: You can get educated on a wealth of health and wellness ideas — from the comfort of your own home on your own time table — with the resources in this bundle. Even if you decide to keep living like you currently are and don’t change much as a result of learning from these resources, exposing yourself to other mindsets and philosophies is always a valuable thing.

9. It Is a Risk-Free Purchase With a Money-Back Guarantee!

If you are still sitting on the fence right now wondering whether or not you should take the plunge and buy the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle, here’s why you should: it’s a risk-free purchase.

That’s right! There’s a 100% money-back guarantee on it for up to a YEAR! So if you purchase it and then decide it’s not as helpful as you’d hoped or that it’s not worth the price you paid, you can get a full refund — no questions asked.

So what are you waiting for? Click below to purchase your Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle while there’s still time!

P.S. Remember, this offer ends December 30, 2014 at midnight! Get it while you can!

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

2hr Cleaning Checklist

2hr Cleaning Checklist

FREE DOWNLOAD: 2-Hour Cleaning Checklist!

Lots of Personal Processing Going On

How has life been at your house? Anything new, exciting, or difficult going on?

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

1. Ditch Paper Towels

2. Turn Off & Unplug Electronics

3. Plan a Menu

4. Learn To Sew

5. Brown Bag It

6. Cook From Scratch

7. Pay With Cash

Aldi

BI-LO

Harris Teeter

Farmer’s Mart

Flower Foods Bakery

Weekly Total after all Sales, Coupons, and Rebates: $50.38 (plus $0.37 fuel perks)

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

1. Set Goals

2. Find Free Family Fun

3. Eliminate Desires

4. Limit Shopping Trips:

5. Utilize Bargain Shopping

What would add to my list?

Health Food Store

Aldi

Dillons

Menu Plan for This Week

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

All Purpose Lemon Power Cleaner

Why I’m Endorsing the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle

1. It Will Teach You How to Cut Your Grocery Bill While Eating Healthfully

2. It Will Give You Step-by-Step Help to Transform Your Family’s Health

3. It Will Clear Up Your Confusion Over Essential Oils

4. It Will Help You Sleep Better

5. It Will Inspire You to Lose Weight & Stick With Your Fitness Goals

6. It Will Save You Money on Gifts For Others

7. It Will Give You New Recipes for Special Diets & Allergies in Your Family

8. It Will Challenge You to Think Outside the Box

9. It Is a Risk-Free Purchase With a Money-Back Guarantee!

So what are you waiting for? Click below to purchase your Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle while there’s still time!

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