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Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom®

Saving Families Money Since 2007

2hr Cleaning Checklist

2hr Cleaning checklist printable.

2hr Cleaning Checklist

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Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 9, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #9

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #9

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

During the month of April, I’m encouraging my readers to participate in a 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge (read more here, if you missed my announcement about this challenge last week). Every week day morning at 9 a.m., I’ll post the daily project and every evening around 6 p.m. EST, I’ll post an update and link-up.

April 9, 2013 Project

Your project for today is to surface clean your bedroom(s).

If you have multiple bedrooms in your house, you can choose whichever one most needs a good surface cleaning. I’m planning tackle the girls’ room today because it needs some work!

Here’s what I’m planning to do:

  • Set the timer for 20 minutes and pick up and put away all items that are out of place. (Bonus: find 7 items to get rid of.)
  • Pull out any items under the bed that don’t below under the bed and make the bed (wash sheets/bedding, if needed).
  • Vacuum/sweep the room. (Bonus: use an attachment on the vacuum to vacuum around the baseboards and vacuum under the bed.)
  • Clean fingerprints on the windows.
  • Bonus: Spot-clean the carpets and walls.
  • You’re done!

You can follow along with my list — or do whatever constitutes “surface cleaning the bedroom” to you. There is no one right way to do this. :)

Then, come back here at 6 p.m. EST and I’ll show you pictures of my cleaning accomplishments for today and have a linky so you can link up yours, too!

Join in the Chatter

::Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post on the daily check-ins. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge Pinterest Group, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.

::Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? I’ll also be sharing some of my cleaning pictures on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #Cleanin30 to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!

photo credit

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 8, 2013 comment

2013 Goals: March Update

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2013 Goals: March Update

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

While I didn’t cross off any goals in March, I did make some good headway on a number of goals. Those little bite-sized chunks that I’m tackling on a daily and weekly basis will add up over time!

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 March:

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. {We signed up for one in June — yay!}
Complete the Couch to 10K program.
Memorize Romans 1 and 2 with Jesse. {This has been slow going, but I almost have the first 10 verses from Romans 1 memorized.}
Wake up by 6 a.m. and exercise, shower, and dress by 8 a.m. every day. {Still working on this! The Early to Rise Challenge really helped!}
Read 150 books/ebooks {See my list of 48 books I’m for sure planning to read here — I’ve read 46 books/ebooks so far in 2013, so I’m on a good track to hit my goal!}

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. {Jesse & I went to the Killer Tribes conference together in March.}
Go on at least one date per month. {Done in March.}

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.
Finish at least 37 read-aloud books. {We’ve finished 16 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 March.}
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!


Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 8, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #8 Update

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #8 Update

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

During the month of April, I’m encouraging my readers to participate in a 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge (read more here, if you missed my announcement about this challenge last week). Every week day morning at 9 a.m., I’ll post the daily project and every evening around 6 p.m. EST, I’ll post an update and link-up.

How did your Project #8 go?

We clean our floors on a very regular basis, so today’s project wasn’t too much of a challenge — and truthfully, I skipped some of the floors because they didn’t need to be cleaned (it also helped that we were out of town all weekend and came home to a clean house!)

Each of the children are responsible for vacuuming one room of the house each day. Silas vacuums his room. Kaitlynn vacuums the girls’ room. And Kathrynne vacuums the living room.

Silas thinks that vacuuming is really cool.

He’ll often beg to vacuum more rooms… which I’m happy to let him do!

This is the typical homeschool aftermath in the kitchen every day. And actually, this was after Kathrynne had already cleaned up most of her stuff and Kaitlynn’s stuff.

At least there’s a lot of creativity and work going on… er, that’s what I try to constantly tell myself as the messes multiply during the day! 🙂

Kathrynne and I worked on the kitchen together. She’s always willing to help out whenever I’m working on a project and is my child who is a very focused, hard worker.

At 8 years old, Kathrynne is such a great girl. She loves all things related to LEGOs, spies, and adventure — and Jesse and I are thrilled to see her personality and interests blossom.

Even though many of her interests are much different than mine, she and I are really close — sharing lots of laughs and deep discussions throughout the day. I love her so much!

Kathrynne swept the dirt into piles and I went around with the dustpan and swept up the piles.

{Why yes, those are my pajama pants! I gave myself a PJ Day today after our busy weekend in Cincinnati. It’s nice to have a “down day” every now and then. :)}

The end result.

Join in the Chatter

::Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post on linky below. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge Pinterest Group, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.

::Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? I’ll also be sharing some of my cleaning pictures on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #Cleanin30 to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!


Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 8, 2013 comment

This week’s menu plan {It’s the perfect week for some chocolate-themed baking!}

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This week’s menu plan {It’s the perfect week for some chocolate-themed baking!}

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I think I’m on a chocolate baking kick this week (what’s new?!) Can’t wait to get to baking — and eating. 😉

Here’s our plan for this week:

Breakfasts

Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, and/or Fruit

Lunches

Mac & cheese, fruit
Snack-y lunch
PB&J, carrot sticks, apples
Cheese quesadillas, carrot sticks
Leftovers x 3

Snacks

Fruit/veggies
Popcorn
Whole Food No Bake Cookies

Pinterest Experiment {I’ll share how this goes later this week!}

The Easiest Loaf of Bread You’ll Ever Bake

Freezer Cooking {I’ll share how this goes later this week!}

Whole Food No Bake Cookies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bars
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Quick Bread
Freezer-Friendly Pizza Dough

Dinners

Dinner with extended family
Mexican Chicken Lime Soup, fruit, tossed salad
Bean & Cheese Burritos, fruit, veggies
Build Your Own Haystacks, fruit, rice
Black Bean & Corn-Topped Potatoes,
Homemade Pizza, fruit, veggies
Dinner out

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 8, 2013 comment

10 goals for this week

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10 goals for this week

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

It was so wonderful to meet many of you at the Cincinnati Homeschool Convention this weekend! Thank you for coming to my sessions, coming up to the booth, and taking time to chat with me. I was blessed by each of you who did!

Last week’s goals

Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals

1. Read 20 pages of Rascal by Sterling North aloud to the children. Finish reading Paddington Abroad with Kathrynne, read three chapters of Life With Lily with Kaitlynn, finish reading The Adventure of Laura and Jack with Silas.

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

3. Memorize Romans 1:9-10.

4. Exercise five times. {I failed miserably at this one!}

5. Finish reading Uneclipsing the Son, A Charlotte Mason Education, Sleep: It Does a Family Good, One Question, and The Chance.

Homemaking Goals

6. Follow the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge.

7. Work on embroidery project.

Business Goals

8. Tweak & practice my talks for the Cincinnati Homeschool Convention.

9. Speak at the Cincinnati Homeschool Convention.

10. Finish all my book edits per my editor’s suggestions.

This week’s goals:

Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals

1. Read 20 pages of Rascal by Sterling North aloud to the children. Read four chapters of Paddington at Large with Kathrynne, read four chapters of Life With Lily with Kaitlynn, read four chapters Little House Christmas Stories with Silas.

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

Personal Goals

3. Memorize Romans 1:9-10.

4. Exercise five times.

My book stack for this week

5. Finish reading: One Question, While We’re Far Apart, 24/6, Start, and When the Game is Over It All Goes Back in the Box.

Homemaking Goals

6. Follow the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge.

7. Work on my embroidery project for at least 30 minutes.

8. Try three new homemade cleaning recipes.

Business Goals

9. Finish tweaking recipes for my new recipes page.

10. Finish all my manuscript edits per my editor’s suggestions.

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.

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Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 8, 2013 comment

Free samples in my mailbox: Venus razor, Nescafe Memento samples, Gevalia K-cups, book by Randy Singer, plus more!

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Free samples in my mailbox: Venus razor, Nescafe Memento samples, Gevalia K-cups, book by Randy Singer, plus more!

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

We got a few fun free samples in our mailbox last week:

::Free book by Randy Singer from points accredited through Tyndale Rewards

::Free Venus razor

::Free GUM product samples

::Free Nexcare samples and a coupon

::Free Nescafe Memento samples and a coupon

::Free Nivea for Men sample

::Free Gevalia K-Cup samples

What freebies have arrived in your mailbox this week?

By the way, if you want to start getting great freebies in your mailbox, just start signing up for the freebies I post every day that interest you. Within 4-6 weeks, your mailbox will start filling up with great freebies!

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 8, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #8

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #8

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

During the month of April, I’m encouraging my readers to participate in a 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge (read more here, if you missed my announcement about this challenge last week). Every week day morning at 9 a.m., I’ll post the daily project and every evening around 6 p.m. EST, I’ll post an update and link-up.

April 8, 2013 Project

Today’s project is to sweep and vacuum all floors in your house.

If you have family members who can help, divide this up so that it’s a bit more manageable. If you don’t have anyone who can help out with this and you’re short on time today, just focus on sweeping and vacuuming the most trafficked areas of your home.

Come back here at 6 p.m. EST and I’ll show you pictures of my cleaning accomplishments and have a linky so you can link up yours, too!

Join in the Chatter

::Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post on the daily check-ins. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge Pinterest Group, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.

::Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? I’ll also be sharing some of my cleaning pictures on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #Cleanin30 to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!

photo credit

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 6, 2013 comment

How to Save Money on Music Lesson Curriculum

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How to Save Money on Music Lesson Curriculum

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Rachel from RachelWojo.com

Keeping fresh and interesting music in front of my piano students has been very important to me over the years because it keeps them interested in playing. I believe this is true for any instrument.

As a veteran piano teacher of 20 years, here are three ways I’ve recommended to families to save money on music:

1. Recycle books.

If you have more than one child taking lessons, holding on to books and using them over again is a great way to save money. The average cost for the curriculum I typically use is $20 to $24 per curriculum level. Theory or notespeller books cannot be used over again, but it is a great savings to reuse lesson, performance, recital, or any other extracurricular books.

Another tip for book recycling is to check with other parents and students to see if they have the book you need. Some communities will hold music book swaps in their local libraries and this is a great way to get new music or the lesson books you need.

One more tip in book recycling, perhaps you have two children in the same level at the same time. Instead of marking in the book, use a simple $0.99 notepad to record each student’s lesson assignment. This practice enables two students to use the same book without confusion. The assignment book can also serve as a practice journal.

2. Inquire about any discounts for which you may be eligible.

Many curriculum companies offer discounts to teachers when they purchase music. Also music stores often offer a discount to teachers or parents of students in certain qualifying programs. It is important to ask retail companies about their policies and be sure the cashier knows you are a teacher or parent.

Sometimes publishers offer special programs or incentives — like an 80% discount on Christmas music after Christmas. Be sure that you have entered your name on their mailing list as a teacher or parent so that you can receive up-to-date information.

3. Download free sheet music.

Though copyright laws dictate the freedom of publishing music, many people do not realize that there is some music considered to be “public domain” and therefore, free for distribution.

One of my favorite free level-appropriate piano music websites is Gilbert Benedetti’s site at the University of Pittsburgh. His site also contains free theory lessons and free guitar music.

Another great free easy music site is EasyByte.org, though you will need to have a basic understanding of skill levels for this site as the levels are not marked on the PDF files.

What tips do you have for saving money on instrument lesson music?

Rachel Wojnarowski is a wife, mom to 7, blogger, and piano teacher. She and her husband, Matt, enjoy caring for their busy family, whose ages span 22 months to 21 years and includes a special needs daughter. Rachel leads community ladies’ Bible studies in central Ohio and serves as an event planner and speaker. She enjoys running and she’s a tech geek at heart. Reader, writer, speaker and dreamer, you can find Rachel on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and of course, on her blog!

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 5, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #5 Update

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #5 Update

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

During the month of April, I’m encouraging my readers to participate in a 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge (read more here, if you missed my announcement about this challenge last week). Every week day morning at 9 a.m., I’ll post the daily project and every evening around 6 p.m. EST, I’ll post an update and link-up.

It was such a good day here in Cincinnati at the Midwest Homeschool Convention! I’m loving having my family with me on this trip and it’s been amazing to get to meet so many of you. {See a picture from this morning’s session here.}

Before I left, I cleaned my bathroom… which was in great need of some cleaning. 🙂

(I really need to come up with a good solution to having a big gallon jug on the countertop that I use for my twice daily saline rinse. I welcome any suggestions or ideas you all have. I’m sure there’s a great solution, I just have yet to figure it out!)

Love this verse taped to my mirror from Ann Voskamp and Holly Gerth. Such a great reminder!

Looking in my shower, it looks like I might be a shampoo hoarder. Don’t ask why there were two empty bottles of shampoo/body wash at the bottom of our shower.

So much better!

Join in the Chatter

::Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post on linky below. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge Pinterest Group, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.

::Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? I’ll also be sharing some of my cleaning pictures on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #Cleanin30 to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!


Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 5, 2013 comment

4 Ways that Being Organized is Helping Me Save Money

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4 Ways that Being Organized is Helping Me Save Money

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Post written by Carrie

I think it was the time I went to the store and realized I left my coupons at home. Or maybe it was the day that I paid my bill late and incurred a late charge. Maybe it was mailing a present in the mail and having to pay extra to get it shipped in time. Whenever it was… I finalized realized I was throwing money out the window by not being organized.

It is amazing how much money we can let slip through our figures by not being organized. So, my goal is to plug up these holes and start saving money — here’s how I’m planning to do just that:

1. Get a good system for paying your bills.

I now do my bills once a week. I do automatic bill-pay which lets me choose the day to pay them. All my bills are listed on a spreadsheet.

I sort them by which paycheck or child support payment the bills will be paid with. I keep a full year on my spreadsheet so I can look back and see what expenses I had last year at this time.

2. Get control of your coupons.

I love to coupon. It is a huge rush to get to the check-out and realize that I’ve saved over $50, and it’s great to come home with free food.

But I needed a system that would work better. I had the big binder, but it was just too cumbersome. I decided to try switching to the envelope system. I keep the labeled envelopes in my tote bag.

No longer do I have to worry if I forgot my coupons. And if things get too stressful, I give myself some grace and just shop at Aldi.

3. Keep track of appointments, birthdays, holiday gifts, etc.

This is another area in which I struggled. I have always had a calendar book which I used to keep my appointment. The problem was I didn’t look at it every day.

Now, before I go to bed, I check it over to see what the next day will bring. Then if I need a form filled out for the school, I have it ready. If I need to go to the doctor’s office, I make sure I have my list of medications updated and in my wallet.

4. Streamline your life. 

I’ve been reading a lot of great books on streamlining your life, saving money, and organizing. It is amazing how all these areas can tie together.

If you streamline your life, you will be more focused and organized. You won’t waste money buying things you already have.

For example, I have five boys and I spent hours sorting through all their old shoes. I have over 40 boxes of shoes!

Now when one of the little ones needs a bigger size shoe, I just go the closet and retrieve it. It saves me a trip to the store, which streamlines my life, it saves me money by not buying another pair, and it makes it easy to find the shoes in one quick look. This is just one area in which I’ve been working and I have many, many more to go.

Carrie is a single, working mom of five wonderful boys who lives in Pennsylvania.

photo source

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Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 5, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #5-7

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #5-7

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

During the month of April, I’m encouraging my readers to participate in a 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge (read more here, if you missed my announcement about this challenge last week). Every week day morning at 9 a.m., I’ll post the daily project and every evening around 6 p.m. EST, I’ll post an update and link-up.

April 5, 2013 Project

With the weekend coming up tomorrow, today you get to choose your project from the list. You can either surface clean the living room and kitchen, clean a bathroom, or clean your interior windows.

Or, if you have a lot of extra time and energy, you can choose more than one project. Just promise me you won’t aim too high and then end up feeling disappointed with yourself if you don’t get it all done, okay?

I decided to clean our bathroom, since I didn’t get to it on Tuesday. {I already did my project on Wednesday as I’m at the Midwest Homeschool Convention today!}

You can see step-by-step instructions on how to surface clean your living room and kitchen here. Or, step-by-step instructions on how to clean the bathroom here.

Come back here at 6 p.m. EST and I’ll show you pictures of my cleaning accomplishments and have a linky so you can link up yours, too!

What project are you planning to tackle today?

Join in the Chatter

::Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post on the daily check-ins. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge Pinterest Group, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.

::Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? I’ll also be sharing some of my cleaning pictures on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #Cleanin30 to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!

photo credit

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 4, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Day #4 Update

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Day #4 Update

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

During the month of April, I’m encouraging my readers to participate in a 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge (read more here, if you missed my announcement about this challenge last week). Every week day morning at 9 a.m., I’ll post the daily project and every evening around 6 p.m. EST, I’ll post an update and link-up.

Well, we had a last-minute hiccup with all our technology before my talk tonight and while I was supposed to be writing this post, I was instead frantically try to get my Powerpoint to work and notes to pull up on my iPad. The mic also wouldn’t work.

It was just one of those nights. But regardless, the talk went well and I loved getting to meet so many of you.

And now I’m finally back in my hotel room getting to this post! 🙂

Clearly, my laundry room needed some work. Oy!

I’m not sure I want to know what dripped down from the dryer onto the floor there.

I had the “brilliant” idea to vacuum up all the lint with the vacuum. But that did go so hot since our vacuum isn’t the best (our Dyson finally bit the dust awhile back and we replaced it with something cheap for the time being. I think you get what you pay for when it comes to vacuums!)

Ah, so much better!

Join in the Chatter

::Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post on linky below. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge Pinterest Group, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.

::Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? I’ll also be sharing some of my cleaning pictures on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #Cleanin30 to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!


photo credit

How I'm Earning $80 in Free Gift Cards Every Month
Shared Apr 4, 2013 comment

How I’m Earning $80 in Free Gift Cards Every Month

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How I’m Earning $80 in Free Gift Cards Every Month

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

How I'm Earning $80 in Free Gift Cards Every Month

By Laura from Our Coupon Adventures

I’ve been earning $80 in free gift cards every month. How? Well, here are the four ways I’m doing it:

1. Viggle

This is the easiest and most rewarding way that we earn money from home. All you do is simply download the Viggle app on your smart phone and start checking into your favorite shows!

My husband and I “Viggle” everyday and we earn about $40-$45 in CVS gift cards each month (Although you can also earn Starbucks, Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, and many more…).

If you have more smartphones in your household, it will be easier to earn even more gift cards each month.

2. Swagbucks

Swagbucks are another easy way to earn gift cards for doing things you already do: Searching the web, shopping online, printing coupons, etc. Use the Swagbucks search engine when online to easily rack up points.

With little effort, it is easy to earn $5 a month in Target, Wal-Mart, or Amazon gift cards. If you shop online, take surveys, and watch the videos, you will earn even more points. Also, when referring friends, you will earn points when they search online, so the more friends you refer the easier it is to earn more gift cards!

3. Shopkick

Shopkick is a great app if you are regularly at Target, Wal-Mart, or even the mall. All you have to do is download the Shopkick app and start earning points!

When you walk into stores, open you app and you can earn points just for being in the store. You will have a list of products available to scan at the stores, and each item will be worth a specified amount of points.

Also, if you link your debit card to Shopkicks, participating stores (like Toys “R” Us) will reward you points for each dollar spent. When you reach 500 Shopkick points (which is very easy to do), you can redeem a $2 target gift card. You can continue to do this every time you’re at the store, and the gift cards will add up pretty quickly!

4. Jingit

Jingit is great because you earn actual money (that can be added to your Jingit debit card). Simply download the Jingit app on your smart phone and log in on your computer.

You can earn money from watching ads, scanning products at Walmart and even for buying those items. It is easy to transfer the money from Jingit to your debit card, and can be used anywhere a credit or debit card is accepted.

By doing these little things each day, I am able to earn money that goes towards groceries, lunches out, and even gifts!

I like these apps because I honestly don’t have to put in a whole lot of effort to these four sites as they are things I am already doing (searching online and walking into stores!). Free money, why not?

Do you have any other tips or ideas for earning free gift cards?

Laura is a military spouse and a stay at home mom of 2 little girls. Her husband is currently deploying for a year, so Laura and her girls live with Laura’s sister and her family. She and her sister run a blog (Our Coupon Adventures) that discusses their efforts to feed both their families while staying on a budget.

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 4, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #4

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #4

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

During the month of April, I’m encouraging my readers to participate in a 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge (read more here, if you missed my announcement about this challenge last week). Every week day morning at 9 a.m., I’ll post the daily project and every evening around 6 p.m. EST, I’ll post an update and link-up.

April 4, 2013 Project

Your project for today is to surface clean extra rooms (laundry room, office, etc.)

I decided to clean my laundry room and worked on cleaning the washer & dryer, floor, walls, and door. {I already did my project yesterday since I’m headed to the Midwest Homeschool Convention today!}

Come back here at 6 p.m. EST and I’ll show you pictures of my cleaning accomplishments and have a linky so you can link up yours, too!

What room are you planning to tackle today?

Join in the Chatter

::Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post on the daily check-ins. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge Pinterest Group, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.

::Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? I’ll also be sharing some of my cleaning pictures on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #Cleanin30 to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!

photo credit

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 3, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #3 Update

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #3 Update

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

During the month of April, I’m encouraging my readers to participate in a 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge (read more here, if you missed my announcement about this challenge last week). Every week day morning at 9 a.m., I’ll post the daily project and every evening around 6 p.m. EST, I’ll post an update and link-up.

How did your Day 3 Project go?

I’m a little late in getting this posted because I had a doctor’s appointment this afternoon that was supposedly at 2:45 p.m., but ended up being quite a bit later than 2:45 p.m. 🙂

And I’m a little embarrassed to show you my pictures for today because our room is in need of a makeover. However, I’m all about keeping it real, so here goes…

What it looked like when you walked into our room. Yikes!

And the other side of the room. Yes, we have a young child who has taken up temporary residence in our room right now. 🙂

Recently, before I leave on a trip, I’ve started piling together things I want to take and need to take. This chair has become the catch-all for my next trip pile. Not sure that this is the most organized method out there, but it’s been working pretty well — even if it looks rather messy!

After some cleaning and straightening, things looked much better. And we have promised ourselves we’ll be buying a new bedroom set sometime in the next year since we still have the free bed frame we were given when we got married. It just keeps getting shelved for higher priorities.

The trip pile has now been moved to the suitcase. 🙂 And yes, we do plan to do something more organized about the TV situation… I don’t usually realize what a mess of cords it looks like until I post pictures on my blog for everyone to see. Ahem.

Join in the Chatter

::Want to blog about this challenge? If you’re blogging through this challenge with me, be sure to leave your link to your direct post on linky below. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the 30-Day House Cleaning Challenge Pinterest Group, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.

::Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? I’ll also be sharing some of my cleaning pictures on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #Cleanin30 to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!


photo credit