Money Saving Mom®

Classic View

Grid View

Shared Jul 8, 2013 comment

How I Simplified Grocery Shopping and Lost Ten Pounds

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 8, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Kelsie of Pink and Rick

I hate shopping for groceries. I dread how much time it takes and how many decisions I have to make. Even if I make a plan and a list, I still hate it. My hatred doesn’t even stop when the trip is over. Afterward, I feel guilty if we waste anything!

And, I have another problem. After I got married, I put on fifteen (okay, 20!) pounds. Practically as soon as I said, “I do.” I wish I could remember what I was eating, because I was clearly having a good time!

My biggest downfall is my sweet tooth. Actually, it’s a sweet fang. Really, it’s a carb fang. I love all carbs. I could care less about eating meat, as long as I have breads and sugars.

I usually look at problems like weight gain or my hatred of buying groceries as separate problems, but this time, I decided to tackle them together. So, I started looking around for something that would help me lose weight AND simplify my shopping trip.

I started doing some research on different diets, and kept reading about how carbs spike your blood sugar then you feel hungry faster. Every day I felt hungry around 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. so I figured I needed to get my carb fang under control. So, I jumped head first into low-carb diet land.

Fast forward a few months and I haven’t lost all my marriage weight, but I’m down ten pounds. And, by cutting out lots of carbs, my shopping trip is less annoying. I love the simplicity. I buy the same foods every time, so I don’t have to think or plan my meals out. I hit up produce, meat, dairy, nuts, and a few other aisles, and I’m ready to go.

Most of the time people look at their problems as separate and unrelated, but I think our issues are sometimes connected to each other. And, if you can combine two related problems, it can really help motivate you. For instance, my hatred for the grocery store helps me stick to my diet because I don’t have to spend my time wandering down every aisle making decisions.

This post isn’t to convince you to start a new diet. It’s not to convince you to simplify your grocery shopping trip. I just hope to encourage you to take two of your problems/annoying issues and try and see if they’re related. If so, you may be able to find one solution that solves them both.

Have you ever combined multiple problems to find one good solution?

Hi, my name is Kelsie, and I blog at PinkandRick.com. I love to write about goals, finances, and my dogs, Pink and Rick. I started blogging because my dogs act crazy, and my family wanted to see pictures. Now, I’m hooked. I’m always looking for great blogs to read, so if you have time please drop by or leave a comment, and let me know where I can read about your life.

photo source

Shared Jul 8, 2013 comment

Swagbucks Paid for our Carpet Cleaner

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 8, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Today’s Swagbucks success story is from Lori:

I have been using Swagbucks for a few years now, but for much of that time, I wasn’t hardcore about it. I would watch a video here and there and get a few bucks a day for searching.

However, when I decided that I wanted to save up my Swagbucks for Amazon gift cards to purchase a carpet cleaner, I decided to invest at least one hour a day into it, sometimes even more time at night when the kids were in bed.

Some of the fastest ways to earn Swagbucks were:

Complete Surveys – I would aim to complete one or two a day. Most surveys are worth at least 50 Swagbucks.

Swagbucks Mobile TV – I downloaded the app on my smartphone and would run the mobile tv until I reached my daily 50 points limit.

Watch Swagbucks TV – I would watch videos at night.

Print all coupons from coupons.com thru Swagbucks – you earn 10 bucks every time a coupon is redeemed.

Daily Meter Goal – Swagbucks has a reward program where you have a daily goal and if you meet that goal daily for a week, a month, etc, you earn an extra bonus. For example, if I met my daily goal 30 days in a row, I would earn a monthly bonus of 300-500 extra Swagbucks.

There are so many ways to earn on Swagbucks and with putting in an hour every day, it didn’t take me long to earn enough to pay for our brand-new carpet cleaner!

This year, I am saving up for Christmas — my goal is to not spend any money on Christmas gifts!

Have you saved up and purchased something using your Swagbucks? If so, you could get a $50 gift card just for sharing your Swagbucks success stories with MoneySavingMom.com readers!

Shared Jul 8, 2013 comment

Being debt-free is such a blessing when unexpected expenses arise

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 8, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I received this email from Debra recently and I thought it might encourage some of you. Her email shows how working hard to become debt-free can really pay off when you have unexpected expenses and opportunities arise:

About three months ago, my husband and I reached our goal of being debt-free — with the exception of our mortgage. We had three+ months salary in a savings account, and a small amount in a car savings account. We were so relieved and proud of our hard work and sacrifice to reach these goals.

Then, over the twelve weeks that followed, we were challenged financially by some unexpected blessings and expenses.

Our 1st expense:

We were notified by the state that our name had been drawn out of a lottery to receive state funding for a safe room (storm shelter). This was a blessing because living in Oklahoma and not having a cellar or safe room meant worrying every time tornado season rolled around.

The funding would pay a little less than half of the cost of the safe room. So we proceeded with purchasing the safe room, tapping into our savings just a bit. What a blessing is was to have the shelter during the month of May; it was rough here in Oklahoma!

Our 2nd expense:

Our church was sending a group to Russia for a mission trip and both my husband and I felt like he should go. The cost of a ten-day trip to Russia including all air and land expenses was a hefty one.

Without fear we proceeded forward, knowing God was calling him. While saving up in the weeks prior to the trip, an anonymous donor paid $1,000 of each team members expenses; about 1/3 of the total cost. What a blessing!

Our 3rd expense:

We had our van in the shop, undergoing several repairs to the tune of $900. On the way to pick up the van, in my husband’s car, we were hit from the behind. The impact pushed us into the truck in front of us — so our car had rear AND front end damage.

The car was over 10 years old and had very high mileage, so the insurance company totaled it. We weren’t ready to purchase another car and were worried that even with the insurance money we wouldn’t have enough to purchase another vehicle with cash only.

We prayed that God would lead us to the right vehicle and He did. We were able to purchase a used small crew cab truck for my husband paying cash; using the insurance money, car savings fund and a little from our checking account.

All of this has taught us to be faithful and patient and in each situation God worked out a way for us to pay cash!

Debra is a stay-at-home mom and mother to three boys; Kalen age 10 and Jordan and Josiah (twins) age 5. She does some contract work from home and teaches a few fitness classes each week at my gym. She is passionate about being frugal and saving money.

photo credit

Shared Jul 6, 2013 comment

The Grass Always Appears Greener on the Other Side

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 6, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Shelly of Frugal Family Home

Are you content with what you have? I mean really content… or do you look at what other people have and long to have those things, too?

The better car, the bigger house, or the kids that look perfect. Why is it that we also long for the things we don’t have instead of treasuring what we do have?

There is nothing wrong with striving to be more, to do more, or to learn more. However, when you are content with what you have, you can make better decisions on how and what you want to pursue, purchase, or change. When you are discontent, the “I want it, too”, can lead you down a path that can be destructive.

When you are discontent, it can lead to purchasing things like clothes, cars, or even a newer bigger house you don’t really need or can afford. This can lead to bigger payments and a tighter budget which often results in strife in a marriage, stress at work, and a feeling of hopelessness in your situation.

What can you do to combat these feeling of discontent? Here are a few things to think about:

Count Your Blessings

Concentrate on the things that are most important, like your relationships with family and friends. Be thankful for the house you have even if it is a little small for your family. Be thankful for that ugly car that is not showroom quality but gets you to work each day. Being thankful for what you have can help you become more content.

Practice Waiting and Patience

Many people today want the big house as their first home. They are discontent with starting in a starter home and moving up when finances allow. They are discontent at the entry-level work that it takes to get to the job of their dreams. They want a brand-new car when their budget screams that an 8-year-old car is all you can afford.

When you practice patience, and wait to buy things until you can afford them, the joy will be so much greater. Instead of dreading the bill that comes each month and having to figure out how to pay it, the new purchase can be a blessing instead of a curse.

Being Content Isn’t Limiting

Being content doesn’t mean you have to stay where you are (in the starter home or the entry-level job or the old car) forever. It just means you are willing to stick with those things until you are able to move on to what you desire.

Your Desires May Not Be What You Need

Recently, we wanted a different house. Not a bigger house just the same house with more land. We wanted a bigger garden, maybe some chickens and a goat.

The timing just wasn’t right and, after many failed deals and compromising on our part, we gave up on selling our home and decided to stay put. It just wasn’t the right time.

Then we had a small bump in the road: Our son went into the hospital and because of complications we ended up staying a week. Our neighbors who we had lived along side us for 15 years knew something was wrong.

They just jumped in. They watered our garden, mowed our lawn, and helped to keep the outside of our house up for us during that week. They checked on our dogs each day and offered more help if we needed it.

This is a blessing we would have missed if we hadn’t decided to be content with the home we have. Sometimes the thing you desire most is the thing you need the least.

Being content doesn’t mean you stop striving or working towards something better. Being content just means you are willing to be happy with what you have until the time is right to move onto what your heart desires.

What is your best advice for being content?

Shelly Olson is a homeschooling mom of two, with a loving husband of 23 years. She loves to encourage others in there quest to live within their means. She shares about recipes, budgeting, homemaking, gardening, and family fun. She writes at Frugal Family Home.

Shared Jul 5, 2013 comment

4 Ways We’re Going Green on a Budget

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 5, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Jessi emailed in the following recently:

Over the last few months, my family has been working tirelessly in attempts to become more “Green” — which often means higher price tags. Since we’re on a budget and a one-income family we’ve had to learn (through trial and error) ways to live healthier without moving to the poor house.

Here are four ways that we’ve managed to stay within budget while becoming more “Green”:

1. Changing Household Cleaners: we use vinegar and baking soda to clean with. It works wonders on everything! If you can’t stand the smell just add a few drops of essential oils or if you have a lemon hanging around squeeze some juice into the mix.

2. Making Homemade Laundry Detergent: we’ve been able to not only save money by making our own laundry detergent {it’s much easier than you think!} but we’ve also been able to reduce the amount of recycling we have every week.

3. Buying Fewer Processed Foods: we’ve slowly been changing what we buy at the grocery store — cutting out the artificial dyes and slowly bringing less processed food in the house. Don’t get me wrong, we still buy some packaged food but it has to meet these requirements: no artificial dyes, no more than 9 ingredients, and we must be able to pronounce all the ingredients.

4. Eating Organic Produce: We have been slowly working our way down the list Dirty Dozen list. We decided that the first produce that we were going to switch solely to organic were potatoes and carrots. They seem to be the ones at higher risk for pesticides (and it freaks me out that you can’t get a ‘normal’ potato to spud… seriously try it. It will not spud even if it’s completely rotten).

These are just a few of the ways that we have been able to start living greener, healthier lives all while maintaining a budget. It may take you a while to get the hang of change, but it will definitely be worth it in the end!

What are ways that you’ve managed to go green without breaking the bank?

photo source

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Jul 5, 2013 comment

Gretchen’s $36 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 5, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Local Health Food Store

1.42 lbs Apples @ $0.99/lb – $1.41

4 Oranges – $0.25 each (I was so excited to see they had their oranges back in stock!)

Total with tax (7.3%): $2.59

Aldi

1 Tortillas – $0.99

1 Butter – $2.39

1 Raisins – $2.79

1 gallon Milk – $1.99

1 Sour Cream (16 oz) – $1.29

1 Cucumber – $0.49

1 pint Blueberries – $1.69

Total with tax (7.3%) – $12.57

Dillons

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

1 Cheerios – $1.99, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $0.99 after coupon

1 Multigrain Cheerios – $1.99, used $0.75/1 printable (no longer available) (doubled to $1) – $0.99 after coupon

1 Oatmeal Crisp – $1.99, used $0.75/1 printable (no longer available) (doubled to $1) – $0.99 after coupon (I haven’t seen a deal on this cereal in forever!)

4 Hefty Slider Bags – $0.99, used 2 $1/2 printable – $0.49 each after coupons (I love being able to stock up on things like this!)

1 Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper (12 double rolls) – $5.99, used $3/1 coupon from recent sample mailer – $2.99 after coupon

2 Schick Xtreme3 Razor – $4.49, used Buy One Get One Free coupon from the 6/30 SmartSource insert (took off $6.69) AND $3/1 coupon from the 6/9 SmartSource insert – Free after coupons

Other items:

1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99

1 Tai Pei Frozen Meal – $2.50, used Free coupon from recent promotion – Free after coupon

1 Tostitos Salsa – $3, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

2 Larabar – Marked down to $0.25 each, used $0.50/2 coupon from Dillons mailer – Free after coupon

3 Larabar – Marked down to $0.50 each, used $0.75/3 printable (doubled to $1) – $0.17 each after coupon

1 Lemon – $0.50

0.56 lbs Broccoli @ $0.99/lb – $0.55

1 Kroger Tortilla Chips – $1 (My Mom gave us some of her delicious homemade dip, so I had to get chips. Yum!)

1 Nature’s Harvest Bread – $2, used $0.55/1 printable (doubled to $1) – $1 after coupon

1 Silk Soy Milk (1/2 gallon) – $2.99, used $0.50/1 coupon from Dillons mailer – $1.99 after coupon

1 Almond Breeze Milk (1/2 gallon) – $2.99, used $0.50/1 coupon from Dillons mailer – $1.99 after coupon (I’m still trying to find a good substitute for milk. I thought I’d try Soy milk and this brand of Almond milk this week.)

1 Jello Pudding – Marked down to $1 (I love surprising my hubby with stuff like this!)

1 Organic Eggs (1 dozen) – $2.89

1 Vlasic Farmer’s Garden Pickles – $3.99, used Free printable (no longer available) – Free after coupon

Total before sales and coupons: $77.08

Total with tax (7.3%) after sales and coupons: $21.61
Total for all grocery items: $36.77

Menu Plan for this Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Oatmeal, Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake (for July 4th), Toast, Bananas

Lunches

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, Leftovers, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Rice, Baked Potatoes

Dinners

I only needed to plan 5 dinners this week as one night we have a work/party event and the other is July 4th. 🙂

Southwestern Rollups, Chips & Dip, Tossed Salad

German Pancake, Eggs, Fruit

CrockPot Black Bean Chicken, 30 Minute Rolls, Steamed Broccoli and Carrots

Homemade Cheese Pizza (I will make a huge batch of dough and make up individual pizza crusts, bake and then freeze them to use over the next few weeks for lunches.), Tossed Salad

BBQ Meatballs, Homemade Bread, Green Beans, Fruit

Shared Jul 4, 2013 comment

2013 Goals: June Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 4, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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

Here’s my list of 25 Goals for 2013 and an update on how I did in June:

Personal Goals

Read through the Bible in a year using this plan. {I’m on track with this so far.}
Run in at least one 5K race.
~~Complete the Couch to 10K program.~~
Memorize Romans 1 and 2 with Jesse. {This has been slow going, but I have the first half of Romans 1 almost all memorized.}
Wake up by 6 a.m. and exercise, shower, and dress by 8 a.m. every day. {Still working on this!}
Read 150 books/ebooks {See my list of 48 books I’m for sure planning to read here — I’ve read 65 books/ebooks so far in 2013, so I’m a little behind, but I’m hoping to catch up this summer. We’ll see!}

Marriage Goals

Read 3 marriage books.
Finish reading through the Psalms together as a couple.
Have overnight stay (sans children) at least every other month. {Done in May.}
Go on at least one date per month. {This didn’t happen in June, but hopefully it will in July!}

Mothering Goals

Continue memorizing together from the Grace and Truth memory book.
~~Ice-skating lessons for all three children during the first quarter of 2013.~~
~~Swimming lessons for all three children during the summer.~~ {We’re gearing up to start our third round of lessons!}
Finish at least 37 read-aloud books. {We’ve finished 22 books so far this year, so we’re on a good track here.}

Ministry/Friendships/Extended Family Goals

Weekly accountability meetings with a friend.
Get together with friends for a playdate or lunch at least once a month. {Done once in June.}
Continue being involved in our local church, couple’s group, and blogging accountability group.
Continue with weekly get-togethers with both sides of our extended family.

Financial Goals

Use a portion of the proceeds from my next book project to fund a well project.
~~Fund our Child Survival Program for 2013.~~ {Done — yay!}
~~Buy a new bedroom set.~~
Invest in another rental property.

Business/Blogging Goals

Release two new ebooks.
~~Attend one speaking conference.~~ {I attended the She Speaks Intensive in January.}
~~Finish and submit the manuscript for my next book.~~

photo credit

Did you set goals for 2013?

If so, tell us how you’re doing in the comments or leave a link to your blog post update below. Let’s encourage one another to live lives of intention and purpose!

Shared Jul 4, 2013 comment

Do It Yourself: Homemade Snow Cone Syrup

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 4, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Nothing If Not Intentional shows you how to make homemade snow cone syrup.

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 Jul 3, 2013 comment

We Paid Cash: An Anniversary Getaway

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 3, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

A testimony from Victoria who blogs at Snail Pace Transformations

Back in March, it dawned on my husband and I that both our boys would be in church camp for a week at the same time — within two weeks of our wedding anniversary! My daughter told us that she was more than willing to stay with friends for the week if we wanted to getaway just the two of us, and so a special anniversary getaway was born.

The next obstacle was paying for the getaway. We had already put away a small sum for a night out for two for our anniversary but it was not going to be enough to stretch into a 3-night, 4-day event.

I immediately suggested we go camping to keep costs down. At first, my husband was less than thrilled. But he soon warmed up to the idea.

We decided to stay at the Sand Dunes State Park in Indiana, located just a few hours away from us. We booked the spot in advance with some of the original money marked for our anniversary.

With the spot booked, we made an agreement that the rest of the funds for the trip would come from selling things we already owned and no longer needed. Here are some of the things we sold:

First, I listed all the items we wanted to get rid of in an album on Facebook. I sold an iPod to a friend, some children’s clothes to another friend and a no-longer-working (but still in great shape) mower to a friend with a handy husband who was up to a challenge.
I then used a local Facebook buy and sell group to sell a bike and an air conditioner.
Using Craigslist, I sold a plumber’s snake and a reel style mower.

After the sales, we were just a bit short of the amount of money we thought we would need, so I held an Eat From the Pantry Week, and added the grocery money saved to our anniversary trip envelope. This gave us exactly the amount we wanted.

With our cash in hand, we set out on our trip and had a very relaxing time. We rented Redbox movies to watch in our travel trailer together, read side by side for hours, enjoyed bike rides and long hikes. In fact, except for dinners, we didn’t leave the park — which saved us a lot of money.

Both of us arrived home feeling well rested, and my once-reluctant-to-camp husband said he didn’t know camping alone would be so much fun. (Of course, having a travel trailer helps!)

We also came home with $184 left in our Getaway Envelope, which we have agreed to use to take the children camping soon.

Victoria is a homeschooling mom of three who writes at Snail Pace Transformations with the mission of helping moms find the time and money they need to pursue their passions while maintaining harmony in their homes. Her own passions include running, biking and knitting.

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

Shared Jul 3, 2013 comment

Gretchen’s Target Shopping Trip: $14 worth of groceries for FREE!

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 3, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Target Shopping Trip

0.75 lbs Tomatoes @ $1.39/lb – $1.04, used $1/1 Target mobile coupon – $0.04 after coupon

1.75 lbs Organic Bananas @ $0.72/lb – $1.26, used $1/1 Target mobile coupon – $0.26 after coupon

2 Market Pantry Pasta Sauce – $1.32 each, used $1/2 Target mobile coupon – $0.82 each after coupon

4 Jell-O Pudding @ $1.52 each – On Sale Buy 3 Get 1 Free, used 2 $0.80/2 coupon from the 6/9 SmartSource insert – $0.74 each after coupons

1 Dove Ice Cream Bars – $3.04, used $2/1 printable (no longer available) AND $1/1 Target mobile coupon – $0.04 after coupons

Used $5 gift card from last week’s shopping trip

Total before coupons and gift card: $14.06

Total after coupons and gift card: Free!

See the full list of deals at Target this week.

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

Click here to download!

Shared Jul 3, 2013 comment

Reader testimonial: “I’m so glad we prioritized life insurance!”

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 3, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I was really touched by this email from Jenica and think you will be, too (she gave me permission to share it):

Six weeks ago my husband died in an accident. We were 36 and have three kids under six. I’m a stay-at-home mom and made it my job to cut costs and live frugally.

We lived by the pay cash principle and therefore have no debt but our house. We also had life insurance, term as suggested. Because of our choices I’m able to pay off the house and still stay home with our kids.

I am so glad that we prioritized the life insurance, even though we didn’t have a lot of money. I’m also so glad we lived the financial lifestyle we did.

I just thought this might be something your readers would also be interested in. It is a big relief to not have to worry about finances when I’m dealing with this huge loss. -Jenica

Shared Jul 2, 2013 comment

My Attempt At Making No-Knead Rolls {Ahem}

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 2, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

So, I can make some great bread. And usually I don’t have trouble with yeast bread. (Well, except for French Bread!)

But I got adventurous and decided to try making these two different No Knead Make Ahead Dinner Rolls and No Knead Dinner Rolls gluten-free since I only had gluten-free flour on hand. And um, that wasn’t a brilliant idea. 🙂

I’m positive that with regular flour, these rolls would be fantastic… just learn from my mistakes and don’t try experimenting with the flours. 🙂

See some of my favorite tried and true bread recipes here.

Shared Jul 2, 2013 comment

Gretchen’s Walgreen’s Shopping Trip: $18.57 worth of products, for $4.40 out of pocket

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 2, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Walgreen’s Shopping Trip

Transaction #1

1 Re-Nu Contact Solution – $7.99
Used $2/1 printable

1 Starbucks Refresher – $1
Used $4 Register Rewards from last week’s transaction

Paid $3.64 out of pocket, Received 5,000 (like $5) Bonus Reward points (for buying Re-Nu), $1 Register Rewards (for buying Starbucks Refresher) and $1/2 Starbucks Refresher catalina

Transaction #2

2 Simply Lemonade – $1.99 each
Used 2 $0.75/1 printable
And 2 $0.50/1 Walgreens coupon from the July Coupon Booklet

2 Starbucks Refresher – $1 each
Used $1/2 catalina from Transaction #1

1 Buy 1 GUM Toothbrushes – $2.49
Used $1/1 coupon from the 5/19 SmartSource insert

1 Penway Folder – Marked down to $0.37 (filler item)

1 Spot On Energy – Marked down to $0.74 (I bought this so my total would be high enough to redeem 5,000 points. I will just give it away.)

Redeemed 5,000 Bonus Reward points (like $5)

Paid $0.76 out of pocket, Received $2.50 Register Rewards (for buying GUM toothbrush) and $1 Register Rewards (for buying Starbucks Refresher)

Total before coupons, Register Rewards and Bonus points for both transactions: $18.57

Total with tax (7.3% pre-coupons) after coupons, Register Rewards and Bonus points: $4.40 plus $4.50 Register Rewards leftover

Shared Jul 2, 2013 comment

“I Stayed Out of Debt in College By Living in My Van (for real!)”

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 2, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Victoria from Snail Pace Transformations emailed me this story yesterday about a guy who stayed out of debt during college by living in his van. It definitely ranks up there as one of the more creative and original ways to pay cash for college.

Here’s a snippet of the story:

On the first night I tried to sleep in my van, I was lying in my sleeping bag sprawled out on the backseat, parked in a mostly empty Walmart parking lot. I’d wake up every 15 minutes because I was nervous that the security guard driving past my van would knock on my door and make me leave.

My new home had 60 square feet and four wheels. While most people would consider living in a van an embarrassment, a low point, or even a “rock bottom,” it would — though I didn’t realize it then — turn out to be the greatest financial decision I’d ever made.

No one would end up waking me up in the Walmart lot, and, over the next two years, almost all of my other fears would prove to be entirely unfounded.

Debt-free; Dirt Poor

In January 2009, when I’d decided to move into the van, I was nearly broke. I had just $4,000 in the bank and no possessions other than a laptop, camera, cellphone and a suitcase full of clothes and a backpack full of camping gear.

I had next to nothing because I’d just finished paying off my $32,000 undergraduate school debt. Still, after two-and-a-half years of working, I wanted nothing more than to go back to school and get my master’s degree in liberal studies at Duke University. But how could I afford tuition and not go back into debt?

My answer: a $1,500 ’94 Ford Econoline.

I’d cook in it, sleep in it, study in it, and live in it. I’d do whatever it would take not to go into debt again.

Read the full story and details on how much he saved here.

What do you think? Is this a creative and amazing? Or just plain ridiculous? Would you consider something like this in order to save money? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Shared Jul 2, 2013 comment

Swagbucks Paid for our Google Nexus Tablet

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 2, 2013 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Today’s Swagbucks success story is from Laura:

I’m a stay-at-home mom to three precious, busy boys under age five. My husband works hard to provide financially for our family. He does not buy things for himself very often, so I really wanted to surprise him with something special last Christmas.

I knew that he would love to have a tablet, but there was no room for such a large purchase in our gift budget. I could not do any work outside of the home while caring for our boys, so I had to get creative.

I’ve enjoyed using Swagbucks for several years, but I normally just earned a small gift card every month for using the search engine and occasionally entering codes. My brother started using Swagbucks surveys, and he was raving about the ability to earn lots of extra Swagbucks through the program. Several months before Christmas, I decided to give it a try.

I completed surveys during naptime or while my husband and I were relaxing and watching television in the evenings. I chose to cash out my Swagbucks for Paypal deposits, and by Christmas, I had earned enough to purchase a 32 GB Google Nexus tablet from eBay!

My husband was completely surprised and thrilled with his gift. He is now active on Swagbucks, too, and he uses his tablet to complete surveys and earn extra gift cards and Paypal cash for our family.

Have you saved up and purchased something using your Swagbucks? If so, you could get a $50 gift card just for sharing your Swagbucks success stories with MoneySavingMom.com readers!

Note: Last month’s Swagbucks gift card winner was mdschlote — congratulations! You’ll be receiving your gift card from Swagbucks today.

2hr Cleaning Checklist

2hr Cleaning Checklist

FREE DOWNLOAD: 2-Hour Cleaning Checklist!

Count Your Blessings

Practice Waiting and Patience

Being Content Isn’t Limiting

Your Desires May Not Be What You Need

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

Local Health Food Store

Aldi

Dillons

Menu Plan for this Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

Personal Goals

Marriage Goals

Mothering Goals

Ministry/Friendships/Extended Family Goals

Financial Goals

Business/Blogging Goals

Did you set goals for 2013?

Target Shopping Trip

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

Walgreen’s Shopping Trip

Footer

Sign up for myHot Deals Newsletter