Money Saving Mom®

Classic View

Grid View

Shared Jan 1, 2014 comment

My Reading Goals for 2014 + 12 Books I Plan to Read in January

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 1, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

In 2013, I set very lofty reading goals. And I started out the year really strong and but then fizzled out as the months wore on.

I love to read. I can’t not read. But I decided that choosing 48 books to read at the beginning of the year was too restrictive for me.

You see, that list hung over my head the whole year. As I got further and further behind on my reading goals, I felt frustrated and guilty.

This is ridiculous, I know, considering no one was making me read those 48 books… after all, I was the one who had set the goal. But I still felt a sense of guilt over it. And every time I’d read something not on the list, I’d remember that it wasn’t on the list and that I really should be reading THE LIST.

{Just being honest here. Yes, I’m quite a crazy mess sometimes! :)}

So this year? I’m changing things up and trying a different approach. I still set a big goal to read 150 books & ebooks in 2014, but I’m not going to plan out 48 books to read throughout the year.

Instead, I’m going to take it on a month-by-month basis. At the beginning of the month, I’ll share my list of 12 books I plan to read that month and at the end of the month, I’ll share which books I read and a short recap of them.

This way, I’m still being intentional about reading, but I’m not planning so far out in advance and can pick my list based upon topics I’m really interested in that month or based upon new books I’ve recently discovered that I really want to dive into. And I can also make the list longer or shorter depending upon what I know my schedule might be like that month.

So here’s my list for January:

12 Books I Plan to Read in January

His Word in my Heart

Undaunted

You Were Made for a God-Sized Dream

Life After Art

I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t)

Fit For Faith

Eat Move Sleep

Sell Your Book Like Wildfire

Fire By Night

Samson

On Every Side

Sarah’s Key

I also am reading through the Bible using the plan in my Blessing Journal and reading one devotional from Jesus Today every day.

4 Books I Plan to Read Aloud to My Kids

Devotional: Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing

Loony Coon

The Imagination Station Book #13

Missionary Adventures of Bob & Arty: In Search of the Lost Missionary

What books are you planning to read in January? Leave a comment and let us know — and then you can come back at the end of January to tell us what you ended up reading and what you thought of the books you read!

Coming tomorrow: My Top 10 Favorite Reads from 2013

Join the 12 Months to A Healthier You Challenge 2019

Shared Jan 1, 2014 comment

Join Me for the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge!

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 1, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Note from Crystal: I originally did this Healthier You Challenge a few years ago, but you can totally still use this any time you’d like if you’re looking for some easy ways to get back on track with your health! You can see all the posts here. Or if you want a quick jumpstart, be sure to check out my 15 Days to a Healthier You course!

Happy New Year!

As I’ve been pondering what goals I want to have for this year, one area I really want to focus on is my health. It’s easy to let our health take a back burner to everything else on our to-do list. But as I share in my book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, I’ve experienced what happens when you put your health last… and it’s not pretty!

With this in mind, I’m committed to making my health even more of a priority this year. And I’d love to have you join me for the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge.

We’ll be focusing on one challenge area each month — all with the goal of being in a healthier place as a person by the end of next year. My hope is that as we work on instilling one new healthy habits each month, they won’t just be month-long challenges, but lifelong changes.

12 Months to a Healthier You Focus Areas

Here are the focus areas I’ve planned out for each month this year:

January: Exercise Regularly
February: Eat More Fresh Fruits & Veggies
March: Drink More Water
April: Cut Back on Sugar
May: Get More Rest
June: Create a Morning Routine
July: Read More
August: Go to Bed Earlier
September: Declutter Your Home
October: Cut Back on Caffeine
November: Keep a Gratitude Journal
December: Simplify & Say No

How This Challenge Will Work:

At the beginning of the month, I’ll introduce the focus area and encourage you to set a small goal for that specific area and I’ll share my goals.

Then, every Friday, I’ll have a check-in post where I’ll encourage you to share your progress & struggles and I’ll share mine, as well. If you want to blog about your progress, I’ll include a link-up at the end of the post so you can share your blog posts on this challenge.

In addition to the Friday check-ins, I’ll also probably share a few posts and guest posts on the monthly topics each month, along with sharing about related books, resources, or websites that I’ve found helpful.

Are you on social media? You can also share your progress on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter by using hashtag #12MonthstoaHealthierYou.

Will you be joining me for this 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge? If so, leave a comment letting us know you’re planning to join and what your exercise goals are for January. Remember to keep them simple and doable!

Need a small jumpstart?

If this all seems a bit overwhelming and you need some accountability to take baby steps in getting your health back on track, be sure to sign up for my 15 Days to a Healthier You course!

This 15-day course is designed to help you:

Prioritize your health so you can feel better and get more done.

Boost your energy, feel less exhausted, and take better care of your body and your mind.

Set realistic goals for self-care that you can actually follow through with.

Go here to sign up!

Shared Jan 1, 2014 comment

We Paid Cash: A Minivan!

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 1, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

A testimony from Kim from ProteanMom.com

We are big fans of paying cash for items. We use a cash envelope system (though for larger envelopes we actually keep the cash in our savings account) and we use a spreadsheet to keep track of how much is in each specific envelope.

We started using this system five years ago. And after we realized debt was going to limit our long term goals, we went to work on paying off our debt and changing our habits.

We paid off each account and celebrated our financial successes along the way. After working tirelessly for eighteen months, we paid off everything but our mortgage. And just in time, too! Our first child was born and we were so excited.

Because we were both committed to living debt free from then on, I was able to cut back my hours and stay home with our child.

Now we were debt free, but we didn’t have anything in savings.

Our vehicles, while still reliable, were already 7 plus years old. We wanted to be financially prepared for potential malfunctions or to replace the vehicles when the time came. So we pretended we still had a car payment – only we paid our “car payment” into our savings account and kept track.

When we began to seriously discuss having a second child, we realized we would have to replace my truck. We started researching cars and listed my truck for sale. We (thank the Lord!) managed to sell it for more than we had anticipated. That money went straight into the car envelope.

After some time we looked at our spreadsheet and we realized that we had met our goal. So we kept an eye out on local ads for a used minivan and found one that had the features we wanted – and it was in our price range!

We called up the seller (a small used car dealership) and took the van for a test drive. After it passed inspection, we went to the bank and withdrew our car payment money. The dealer was so excited to be paid in cash that he gave us a discount!

All in all, it took us three years to save enough for our minivan. The discipline and happiness we have gotten from paying with cash has been worth every tear and penny. And our long term goals? They’re happening!

Kim is a wife, mother of two happy little boys, writer, family chef, and a whole lot more. She works in healthcare and blogs about finding fulfillment and better ways to serve in the variety of roles that life gives each of us at ProteanMom.com.

Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.

Shared Dec 31, 2013 comment

4 Lessons I Learned From Goal-Setting “Failure” in 2013

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 31, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

2013 wasn’t a banner goal-setting year for me. I did manage to cross 13 goals off my list of 25 goals, but I spent the last half of the year feeling frustrated that I wasn’t making more progress in the goal-setting department.

As a person who thrives on productivity, feeling like you’re not making headway can be really discouraging. However, I’m trying to practice what I preach when it comes to giving myself grace, so I refused to beat myself up over the lack of progress.

Instead, stepped back and evaluated what needed to be changed for the coming year. After some thought and discussion with Jesse, I came up with four things that hampered my goal-setting success in 2013:

1. I need to set fewer goals.

I bit off more than I could chew last year in setting 25 goals. I got excited and pumped up when I was doing my goal-setting and didn’t think truly realistically — even though I really tried to.

This, in turn, set me up for failure in some of my goals. The goals themselves weren’t bad, there were just too many of them.

This year, I’m only setting 12 goals. When I look at my goals list, it feels so much more manageable!

2. I need to make my goals more specific and actionable.

Last year, I made the mistake of putting some goals on my list that weren’t specific enough or actionable enough. For instance, one of my goals was: “Wake up by 6 a.m. and exercise, shower, and dress by 8 a.m. every day.”

While this was somewhat specific, it was sort of one of those goals that was just “out there” — with no concrete ending. If I had said something like: “Wake up by 6 a.m. and exercise, shower, and dress by 8 a.m. every day for 21 days” that would have been much more doable, specific, and actionable.

This year, I tried to have every single goal on my list have a specific time frame or number assigned to it. For instance, instead of saying, “Write more content pieces for my blog” I said, “Write 150 content pieces for the blog.”

This goal has a very specific action point attached to it enabling me to track exactly how I’m doing. Plus, this allows me to break it down into bite-sized pieces (i.e. I’m shooting to write at least 3 content pieces on my blog every week. If I do this, I’ll easily hit the 150 mark by the end of the year.)

3. I need to account more for the expected.

In January of 2013, I knew I was writing a book and doing more speaking/traveling, but I didn’t seem to account for that in my goal-setting. I forgot how much time and effort book-writing and editing and marketing requires and didn’t allow time for that when considering goals.

In 2014, I’m thinking very carefully about what I already know my life is probably going to look like. There will be a lot of book marketing stuff happening in early 2014, I have a full spring travel/speaking schedule, we have a BIG thing happening as a family in April which is going to require time and transition (more on that sometime soon), and we have plans to produce a few more products in 2014.

Plus, then there’s just the daily life stuff of homeschooling and activities for our children, nurturing our marriage, being intentional in my friendships, and other ministry opportunities. So, knowing all of this, I am being much more careful about what goals I’m setting realizing that my plate is already pretty full.

4. I need to account more for the unexpected.

This was my biggest downfall in 2013.

There were some wonderfully unexpected things that happened — namely, the business exploded (our traffic/unique visitors doubled in 2013!). As a result, we had to change a lot of our processes, switch to a new hosting company, and bring on new team members to take over many of my previous responsibilities of running and managing the business so that I could focus on what I do best.

This was all very exciting, but it also meant that there was a 3-4 month period where I spent every spare moment I had available answering questions from new team members, having business meetings and conferences calls, brainstorming new processes, training new team members, and tweaking and experimenting with the new processes. Needless to say, this meant that a lot of other things had to be put on hold in the mean time while we made this transition.

The growing pains were hard, but so very worth it! And I am very grateful for the amazing MoneySavingMom.com team! Each person on the team is incredible and they’ve willingly taken over so many behind-the-scenes details so that I can now focus most all of my business and blogging time on writing, brainstorming, overseeing, and speaking — the things I love most!

In an effort to prepare for the unexpected in 2014, I’m leaving some breathing room in the goals I set. And it feels so good to know that while my goals are going to stretch and push me, they hopefully won’t overwhelm me when curve balls are thrown my way.

Want to learn more from my goal-setting failures and successes? Be sure to pre-order a copy of my brand-new book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, where I share about the lessons I’ve learned when it comes to goal-setting. If you’re longing to live a more fulfilled and purposeful life, I think you’ll be blessed, encouraged, and inspired by it. Get your copy here.

Shared Dec 31, 2013 comment

My 12 Goals for 2014 (and come share yours, too!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 31, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I learned a lot about myself and goal-setting this past year. With these lessons in mind, I’ve simplified goal-setting even more for 2014 (more on that in a post I’ll be sharing later tonight).

Jesse and I spent time really discussing what my focuses should be for 2014 and we nailed down four areas that are my priorities for this year:

Marriage: to continue to invest time and energy to strengthen and nurture our marriage and make it one of the greatest priorities
Mothering: to continue to invest in our children with the goal of teaching them character, life skills, and raising them to be responsible adults
Myself: to make my health a priority and to invest in my personal growth as a Christian, business owner, writer, speaker, and leader
MoneySavingMom.com: to invest time into blogging — not just overseeing the business and my team, but making writing content pieces one of my top blogging priorities

Having these specific areas determined at the beginning of the year will really help me to prioritize throughout the year and will give me much clearer direction on when, where, and what to say no to over the next 12 months.

With these focus areas in mind, here are my 12 goals for 2014:

Marriage Goals

1. Read 6 marriage books.
2. Write 50 love notes to Jesse.

Mothering Goals

3. Read 40 books aloud to the kids.
4. Finish memorizing Romans 1 together.
5. Go through a cooking course with the kids. (Anyone have a recommendation?)

Personal Goals

6. Read through the Bible.
7. Memorize Romans 2.
8. Run a 5K race and go through P90X again.
9. Read 150 books/ebooks.

Blogging Goals

10. Write 150 substantive content pieces for the blog.
11. Write 50 DIY/Recipe posts for the blog.
12. Blog about/participate in the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge (more on this tomorrow!)

Did you set goals for 2014 yet?

If you’ve posted goals for 2014, I’d love for you to share your link in the comments. Or, if you don’t have a blog, feel free to just leave a comment with a list of your goals. I’ll post an update at the end of each month sharing how I’m doing on my goals.Let’s encourage one another to live lives of intention and purpose!

If you’re brand-new to goal-setting, be sure to read my post on How to Change Your Life By Setting Goals.

photo credit

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Dec 31, 2013 comment

Swagbucks Paid for Everything!

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 31, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Today’s Swagbucks success story is from Sri:

Swagbucks is one of the best things I have come across on internet. In the last three years, I’ve earned more than $600 in Amazon, Walmart, and Target gift cards — which helped me purchase so many things that I can now joyously say my home is filled with items purchased with Swagbucks.

Just a few things I purchased using Swagbucks:

Klean canteen stainless steel water bottle

Thermos Nissan insulated bottle

Jeans, Books and lunch bag(for my husband)

Chicago cutlery knives

Crayons, coloring books and toys(to make gift boxes for our township kids)

Loads of Vita coco coconut water

Cuisinart stick blender

Oster citrus juicer

Aroma Stainless steel rice cooker

Low flow faucet aerators

Drying rack for clothes

Brita filters, Cereal boxes, groceries, toiletries

I can go on and on..and I only hope the list continues to be endless in future too.

My favorite ways to earn Swagbucks are:

Special offers: I get most Swagbucks from here. These include signing up for websites, doing surveys, watching short videos, trial offers, and many more. I have gotten some big bucks from trial offers. But we have to make sure to cancel before the trial period ends.

Inbox offers: Watch out for offers in your Swagbucks inbox. I recently had an offer for 2500 Swagbucks if I spend at least $25 at 1saleaday.com. I purchased a down alternative comforter for $25 and it turned out to be “better than free” as I used the Swagbucks to redeem five $5 Amazon gift cards (and still had Swagbucks left over).

Trusted surveys: I qualify for very few surveys but for the ones I do I feel that I am rewarded well. As an added bonus, I have received some products to try out as a follow up of the surveys.

Searches and Swagcodes: These give me at least 15 Swagbucks everyday.

Referrals are a definite bonus but I have never had the success. Even with out referrals it is possible to make $20 – $25 each month. Just explore all the ways of earning and in a few days you will understand which ones work for you.

Thank you, Swagbucks!

Shared Dec 31, 2013 comment

My interview with Chris LoCurto: How I got started blogging, made some major mistakes, and learned along the way

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 31, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Recently, I was honored to get to hang out and record a podcast with my friend, Chris LoCurto. Chris has been a huge inspiration to us and is a wealth of wisdom on business leadership, personal development, and entrepreneurialism.

We first learned about Chris when we attended EntreLeadership a few years back. We then became big fans of the EntreLeadership podcast that he hosted while working with Dave Ramsey.

Chris and I connected on Twitter awhile back and have become great friends. The thing I love most about Chris is that he’s the exact same person on stage and on a podcast as he is in real-life.

We’ve spent time at his home with he and his wife Debbie and they are the real deal. So caring, inspiring, giving, and encouraging (not to mention, Chris is an amazing chef — we still talk about the mouth-watering lamb chops he made for us when they had us over for dinner!)

When we were in Nashville a few weeks ago, Chris asked if he could have me on his podcast — which I was more than thrilled to do! If you’re interested in the story behind MoneySavingMom.com or the lessons I’ve learned as a blogger and business owner, you’ll want to check out the podcast.

In this podcast, we talk about:

How I got started blogging and how much (er, little) money I made in the first few years

How I tried to be like another business owner and ended up failing royally as a result

Why I first started MoneySavingMom,com and how it has changed and grown over the years

How I choose MoneySavingMom.com team members and what I look for when considering hiring someone

How anyone can grow their platform using Pinterest

The various strategies and tactics we employ to create a high-level of engagement on our Facebook Page

Listen to the full podcast here.

Shared Dec 31, 2013 comment

Free Budgeting Resources for 2014

Published: by MSM Team on December 31, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Want to get your finances in order in 2014? Here are some free resources to help you get started.

Download a free copy of Dave Ramsey’s Guide to Budgeting.

Set up a free online Mint.com account to track your income and outgo and stick with your budget.

Free Savings Tracker: Would you like to know how much you’re really saving by using coupons? You can download the free 2014 Savings Tracker and do just that and more!

Create a budget for the year and calculate the difference between your budgeted and actual expenses with this free Yearly Budget Calculator from Vertex42.

Work out a proposed household budget with this Household Budget Worksheet from Kiplinger.

Are there any free online budgeting tools you use not included in this list? Please let us know in the comments.

Shared Dec 31, 2013 comment

Aldi: Simply Nature Organic Products Return

Published: by MSM Team on December 31, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Earlier this year, Aldi tested a line of organic and natural products in their stores labeled Simply Nature. Now, Aldi has brought them back to stay, additionally including meats and produce.

Starting on January 5, 2014, Aldi will have Simply Nature product on Special Buy. Here’s a breakdown of the prices you’ll find, but please keep in mind that prices tend to vary from store to store.

Simply Nature

Organic linguine or spaghetti $1.19
Organic pasta sauce 25 oz. $1.99
Organic dressing 8 oz. $1.99
Organic salsa 16 oz. $1.99
Organic free-range chicken broth $1.79
Organic diced tomatoes $1.49
Organic toasted oats $1.99
Organic wildflower honey $3.19
Organic fruit bars 10 oz. $2.69
Organic blueberries, 10 oz. $2.99
Fruit and nut bars $3.99
Organic apple juice 64 oz. $2.49
Organic string cheese 6 oz. $2.99
Organic grass-fed beef $4.49 lb. (Wed. only)
Chicken breakfast sausage $2.99
Organic orange juice $3.79
Organic fruit preserves $2.49
Fruit squeezies, 4 pack $1.99
Granny Smith or blueberry applesauce, 24 oz. $1.59
Organic Greek yogurt, 5.3 oz. $.99
Organic frozen pizza $3.99
Sesame Lo Mein or Southwestern Fresca meals $1.69
Organic animal cookies $1.79
Organic teddy graham packs $2.49
Vegetable chips $2.99
Twisted fruit ropes $2.49

A few things to remember when shopping at Aldi:

Aldi does not accept manufacturer coupons.
Bring your own bag as Aldi does not supply bags.
You will need to insert a quarter in order to use a cart. You’ll receive your quarter back when you return the cart.

Thanks, All Natural Savings!

Shared Dec 30, 2013 comment

Savor the Here & Now

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 30, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

It was the day after Christmas. Each of our children had gotten some wonderful new presents — all things that they had long wanted and hoped for.

But after the initial excitement wore off, one of my children was very dissatisfied. Even though this child had received so many wonderful presents, they weren’t happy.

Why? Because this child was frustrated that they didn’t get that one thing that one of their siblings got.

This child whined and spent much of the day upset. They had a number of amazing new things to play with… but it wasn’t enough. They couldn’t have that one thing, so instead of happily enjoying their Christmas presents, they pouted.

As we had some great talks with this child about gratefulness and contentment, I felt inwardly irked that this child could be so discontent. But then I realized how often I’m the same way.

Oh, maybe I don’t cry over the fact that I don’t have a gadget or accessory like a friend does, but I’ve certainly wasted a lot of time comparing myself to others or wishing I was in different place in life instead of just savoring the present.

It’s so easy to think that if we lost that weight, achieved that goal, paid off that debt, could afford that dress, got our kids potty-trained, had a house cleaner, got that raise, found a new job… then we would be happy.

But what if what you’re hoping for never happens? Does that mean you spend the rest of your life discontent?

It’s wonderful to dream and plan for the future. It’s good to set goals and work hard toward them. But don’t let that keep you from savoring the here and now.

Today is the only day you are guaranteed. Don’t waste it wishing you could be somewhere or someone else. Soak up the beauty right in front of you and be grateful for the blessings you are already surrounded with.

Even if you never make it to where you want to go, contentment in the here and now will make the journey a sweet and rich experience. For truly, “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”

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

Click here to download!

Shared Dec 30, 2013 comment

10 Goals For This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 30, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

10 Goals For This Week
We’re enjoying the last few days of winter break here and keeping a really relaxed pace — which has been so nice! I’ve also been planning, preparing, organizing, and goal-setting for 2014.

I can’t wait to share my list of goals, my reading goals, and more over the next few days. Stay tuned!

Last week’s goals:

Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals

~~1. Read 4 chapters of Loony Coon aloud to the girls. Read a few picture books with Silas.~~

~~2. Write a love note to Jesse.~~

~~3. Blog about the 21 Days to a Simple Christmas Challenge.~~

~~4. Christmas Freezer Cooking~~

Personal Goals

~~5. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-25.~~

~~6. Run 9 miles.~~

7. Read Leaving Yesterday, Safe People, The Greatest Gift, ~~Who Calls Me Beautiful~~, A Winter Dream, Balance, Sell Your Book Like Wildfire, ~~Freefall to Fly~~, and ~~The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Romance~~.

~~8. Work for 30 minutes on my embroidery project.~~

~~9. Work on Christmas presents.~~

Business Goals

~~10. Write one post for the 52 Ways to Save $100 a Year series.~~

This week’s goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Read 2 chapters of Loony Coon and The Imagination Station Book #13 aloud to the girls. Read a few picture books with Silas.

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

3. Make Lavender Bath Salts.

Personal Goals

4. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-25.

5. Run 5 miles. Restart the P90X Program.

6. Start the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge (more on this in two days!)

7. Read Sarah’s Key, Sell Your Book Like Wildfire, You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream, Life After Art, and Fred 2.0.

8. Finish 1 knitting project. Work for 30 minutes on my embroidery project.

Blog/Business Goals

9. Blog about 2014 Goals, Reading Goals, and Blogging Goals.

10. Write three content pieces (more about this when I post my blogging goals).

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 Dec 28, 2013 comment

How to Save on Diapers and Wipes Without Paying for Amazon Mom

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 28, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Alisha of The Savvy Bump

Are you looking for deals on diapers and wipes but don’t want to spend $99 a year on Amazon Mom? A lot of people appreciate their membership and find that it pays for itself, but many others cannot afford or justify the cost.

However, you can still find some fantastic baby deals on Amazon without paying a fee. Here are 6 tips that will help you save:

1. Take Advantage of the Free 30-Day Trial

Amazon will allow you to use Amazon Mom free for 30 days. Make sure and take advantage of this free trial when you can get the most use out of it.

Amazon Mom members now get a registry completion coupon for 15% off (rather than 10%) about 30 days before their due date, so time your free trial at the end of your pregnancy if possible. You can also stock up on diapers and wipes during your free trial because you’ll save 20% on those baby necessities.

Note: Grandparents, dads, and caretakers are also eligible for the free trial.

2. Check for Baby Coupons Frequently

Whether you’re enjoying your free trial or simply buying diapers and wipes without Amazon Mom, make sure you always check for coupons. You can find the diaper and wipes coupons on this page and general baby coupons on this page. Check frequently because some coupons only last for a few days which means you could miss out!

Note: The coupon only applies to the first order when you use Subscribe & Save. It is completely fine to cancel your subscription after your order ships. Then you can take advantage of a coupon every time you order as long as there is one available.

3. Always Choose Subscribe & Save

Even if you don’t have Amazon Mom, you can still get a good deal by using Subscribe & Save. If you choose “Subscribe” when you place your order, you’ll save 5% plus any coupon discounts and get free shipping as well!

While the discount isn’t quite as good as the 20% that Amazon Mom members save, you have to take into account that $99 fee. Depending on your needs, you might save more by not being a member!

You can also get 15% off a variety of household items if you subscribe to 5 or more items per month. There is no minimum requirement for free shipping when you choose Subscribe & Save.

4. Use Swagbucks to Save

Don’t want to pay for Amazon Mom but you still want to get diapers and wipes at a discounted price? Use Swagbucks!

Earn 450 Swagbucks by taking surveys, using their search engine, finding swag codes, and more to earn free $5 Amazon gift cards. Just add your gift card code(s) when you’re reviewing your subscription to lower you final price.

5. Check the Amazon Warehouse for Hot Deals

You should also check the Amazon Warehouse periodically for hot deals on diapers, wipes, and all kinds of items. You will sometimes be able to score amazing deals on boxes that have been opened or returned and can no longer be sold as a new.

Not all the deals are great, especially when they’re from a 3rd party seller, so make sure and compare prices with new boxes. However, if you do see a hot deal, act fast because they’ll be sold out before you know it.

Best Deals Without Amazon Mom

Here are some of the best deals you can get on diapers and wipes without being a member of Amazon Mom.

Baby Wipes

Huggies Simply Clean Wipes (Less than 2 cents per wipe)
Pampers Sensitive Wipes (2 cents per wipe)
Pampers Softcare Wipes (2 cents per wipe)
Pampers Natural Clean Wipes (2 cents per wipe)

Diapers

Luvs With Ultra Leakguards Diapers in Size 1 (10 cents each)
Huggies Snug and Dry Diapers in Size 1 (15 cents each with coupon)
Baby Dry Diapers are the most affordable diaper from Pampers
Snug & Dry Diapers are the most affordable diaper from Huggies

Even if you don’t have an Amazon Mom account you can still get some great deals on diapers, wipes and other baby items with the added bonus that it will be delivered to your door for free.

How do you save when you shop on Amazon?

Alisha is happily married to a husband she considers her best friend and they enjoy the adventure of raising their three year old daughter together. She blogs at The Savvy Bump to help pregnant women and moms find the best maternity and baby deals.

Shared Dec 27, 2013 comment

Layered Nacho Dip

Published: by MSM Team on December 27, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This easy nacho dip is a great after-school snack, BBQ side dish, holiday appetizer, or game-day treat. It’s quick to whip up using frugal ingredients, and everyone loves it!

Guest post from Brigette Shevy

We love this Layered Nacho Dip!

This is a fantastic recipe to serve as an appetizer, a “finger food,” or as part of a Mexican meal any time of the year, but I make it often for gatherings around the holidays. People always appreciate something that’s not sweet, for a change!

Our family New Year’s Eve party was a much-anticipated yearly event in our household growing! My dad always planned a bunch of silly games that he made up (let’s just say the man is pretty creative using standard household items like toilet paper and shaving cream!)

When the games were over, the snacks began. After that, we watched old home movies and did more snacking, of course!

Although my mom didn’t serve this yummy nacho dip every New Year’s Eve, she often did – and it has always been one of my favorite snacks (and forever associated with New Year’s Eve in my mind!)

This recipe has been in our family for so long, and we have made it so many times that no one know can remember where it came from. I think I can safely say that this colorful, crowd-pleasing dip will continue to be a family favorite for many more years to come.

If you’re looking for a festive, yummy treat to bring in the New Year with, this is a recipe that won’t disappoint!

Ingredients for Layered Nacho Dip

16 oz. can refried beans
½ pkg. taco seasoning (or make your own)
6 oz. guacamole
8 oz. sour cream or plain yogurt
1/2 cup salsa (or 2 large tomatoes, diced)
4 ½ oz. can black olives, (optional)
4 oz. can chopped green chilies (optional)
1 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

How to Make Layered Nacho Dip

1. In a medium size bowl, combine refried beans and taco seasoning.

2. Spread bean mixture in a 9″ pie plat or similarly sized dish.

3. Spread guacamole over beans.

4. Spread sour cream over guacamole.

5. Top with salsa or diced tomatoes.

6. Sprinkle with optional black olives, green chilis, and onions.

7. Top with cheese.

8. Serve with nacho chips.

Recipe

Easy Layered Nacho Dip

Author Brigette

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 20

Ingredients

16 oz. refried beans
½ pkg taco seasoning
6 oz. guacamole
8 oz. sour cream or plain yogurt
1/2 cup salsa diced
4 ½ oz. black olives (optional)
4 oz. chopped green chilies (optional)
1 small onion (optional)
1 ½ cups shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

In a medium size bowl, combine refried beans and taco seasoning.
Spread bean mixture in a 9″ pie plat or similarly sized dish.
Spread guacamole over beans.
Spread sour cream over guacamole.
Top with salsa or diced tomatoes.
Sprinkle with optional olives, green chilies, and onions.
Top with cheese.
Serve with nacho chips.

Love this recipe?

Make sure to share and save it on your favorite platform below!

Pin Recipe

Brigette is a full-time wife and mother who is blessed with three amazing bundles of energy and another on the way. She enjoys music, experimenting in the kitchen, homeschooling her children, finding great deals, long-distance running, and anything chocolate.