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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.

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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!

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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!


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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.

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

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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!

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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!


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Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 3, 2013 comment

52 Different Ways to Save $100 Per Year: Rent Movies for FREE {Week 13}

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52 Different Ways to Save $100 Per Year: Rent Movies for FREE {Week 13}

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

At the beginning of every week in 2013, I’ll be sharing a different way you can save $100 this year. If you do all of these things, you’ll be able to save over $5,000 this year alone! Many of these things will likely be things you’re already doing, but hopefully all of you will pick up at least a few new ideas or some inspiration from this series.

One of the ways my husband and I have saved a lot of money over the years is by having at-home movie nights instead of going to see a movie at the theater. On the rare occasions when we do go see a movie, I always choke at the prices they charge.

$8+ per ticket? That adds up quickly!

We love a good movie as much as the next person, though, so we’ve found creative ways to enjoy the occasional movie on the cheap. Here are some of those ideas:

The Library

When Jesse was in law school, we lived in Topeka, KS, home to one of the best libraries in the U.S. (yes, I’m a little biased and oh how I miss that library!). Not only did we check out dozens of books each month, we also frequented the DVD section for our at-home movie dates. You can’t beat FREE DVD rentals!

Not all libraries offer free DVD rentals, but if your library does, take advantage of it! Our kids especially love checking out old TV series to watch during movie time each day.

Redbox

Sometime near the end of law school, Redbox came to town and we switched to getting most of our movies from the Redbox kiosks. Back then, they gave away free movie codes like they were going out of style so whenever we wanted to get a free movie, we’d just check Inside Redbox for a valid code.

Now, the codes are a little less frequent, but they still release them on occasion. Coupon Dad keeps a running list of free Redbox rental codes and I also post any that I find as they are valid. (There’s a free Redbox code available through May 8, 2013).

You can use one free code per card, so if you have multiple cards, you can use the free codes more than once. If you have a texting plan, you can text SIGNUP to 727272 and you’ll get a free rental code the first Monday of every month, plus Redbox coupons and occasional free rental codes throughout the month.

Amazon Instant Video Rental

Thanks to Swagbucks, Amazon is becoming more and more our go-to place for renting movies. The Amazon Instant Video library contains thousands upon thousands of movies, TV shows, and more.

They occasionally release free Instant Streaming credits that we use to download movies and they also often have $0.99 rental specials. The thing I love best about the $0.99 rental offers is that you have 30 days to start viewing them. So I can purchase one and save it for a movie night later in the month. Once you start viewing the video, though, it’s only available in your account for 48 hours.

I use a few of the Amazon gift cards I earn through Swagbucks each month to pay for some Instant Video library purchases from Amazon. We’ve been very happy with Amazon video rentals and we love that we don’t have to mess with going out and getting a video or the possibility that they might be all rented. In addition, if we’ve had any connectivity issues with a movie playing, Amazon has always refunded our money all on their own — even when the connectivity issues weren’t anything major.

There are also other options like NetFlix, Hulu, and watching shows online, but the library, Redbox, and Amazon Instant Video are our top three favorites.

How Much Can You Save?

If you go to a theater once a month and spend and average of $20 (two movie tickets + popcorn), you’ll save around $240 per year by having at-home movie nights. That’s fairly significant!

Plus, you don’t have to mess with finding a sitter and you can make your own snacks — which are much better than most of those icky movie theater options (can you tell I’m not a soda pop and candy bar girl?!).

Do you like at-home movie dates? What are your favorite alternatives to paying for movie tickets?

photo from Big Stock

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 3, 2013 comment

Ask the Readers: Help me stretch our $200 per month grocery budget!

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Ask the Readers: Help me stretch our $200 per month grocery budget!

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

Today’s question is from Kari:

My husband and I recently started the Dave Ramsey program and we are halfway through baby step #2 (the debt snowball). I’m having a hard time with how much I should budget for grocery — and making that stretch for the whole month.

Can any of your readers share some ideas and/or cheap recipes for a family of 4 (our boys are 3 and 5) with a $200 monthly budget? I am doing a lot of freezer cooking, making a lot of rice meals, and using my bread machine like crazy, but I am having trouble with wanting to use meat but just cant afford it. We are already doing some meatless meals and I am buying my flour in bulk at Sam’s Club. -Kari

Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 3, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #3

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #3

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 3, 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 to do our room (I’ll save the girls’ room for later this month, because it definitely needs a good cleaning!).

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!

Are there any bedroom-cleaning tasks that you’d add to my list? Let us know.

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!

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Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 2, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #2 Update

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #2 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 2 Project go?

I have a confession to make: I only scrubbed one bathroom.

But my kids clean their bathroom every day, so I skipped that one and I plan to do our bathroom tonight (and I’ll show you pictures of my accomplishments there later this week). Excuses, excuses, I know.

Coffee + my cleaning = ready to go!

Here’s what I look like in the mornings before my workout and shower: Yoga pants and sweatshirt, headphones in, and — yup — no makeup or even so much as a brush run through my hair. Yikes! 🙂

Oh and in case you’re wondering about the signs on the door behind me in the picture above. The closet off the bathroom is Kathrynne’s “office”. It’s constantly changing as far as what sort of business it is, but it is currently a travel agency. 😉

Tackling the sink with my trusty Norwex cloth.

And then it was on to the toilet.

I broke out the Mr. Clean Eraser for some scuffs on the floor.

Speaking of Mr. Clean Erasers, did you know you can purchase them in bulk for much, much cheaper online? They aren’t Mr. Clean Erasers, but they are made with the same thing that the Erasers are made from. Just look for MELAMINE SPONGE CLEANING ERASER CLEANERs on eBay or Amazon. I just ordered a pack recently, thanks to this hot tip from Pinterest.

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!


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Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 2, 2013 comment

Earn While You Burn: 5 Benefits of Being an Exercise Instructor

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Earn While You Burn: 5 Benefits of Being an Exercise Instructor

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

Guest post from Leslie of PeterAndLeslie.blogspot.com

Would you like to get paid to exercise?

I was taking an aerobics class last year when the instructor suggested that I get certified to teach. It didn’t take me long to conclude that getting paid to exercise would be a good thing for our bottom line (pun fully intended)!

Staying fit is something most people seem to struggle to find time for, but if you’re already a regular exerciser and you can bring in a little income while you’re at it — that’s a good use of your time! And if you’re not a regular exerciser, getting paid to exercise may help keep things affordable and keep you consistent.

5 benefits of being an exercise instructor:

1. Savings.

Getting certified as a group exercise instructor will require an initial investment, but if you teach at a club or gym, you will most likely receive a free membership there. This may also include free or discounted family memberships and other classes or programs that may be offered.

Right now, we’re saving about $600/year in gym membership fees.

2. Flexibility.

There is a broad selection of gyms and clubs that offer a variety of aerobics classes at various times from early morning to late evening. There is a good chance you can find a type of class you’d like to teach at a time that works for you. Of course when you’re just starting, you may have to be flexible, but there are a lot of options.

3. Childcare.

Many gyms offer childcare which contributes to both flexibility and savings: you can take your children to work with you, and you don’t have to pay for baby sitting.

4. Income.

I’ll admit, the income will probably be small, but even an extra $100/month could make a big difference for some people. Additionally, staying healthy and fit may pay dividends in the long-run in terms of health care costs.

5. Chiseled Physique.

Okay, this might have more to do with your genes and your dietary habits than with your decision to acquire a group exercise certification, but I will say that my arms are more toned than they’ve ever been! I mean, that’s not saying too much, but my husband noticed! 🙂

How to Get Started:

If you’re not already doing so, start take a variety of group exercise classes so that you can familiarize yourself with the format. Talk to the instructors to find out how they got certified; ask them about employment opportunities at the gym.

There are several organizations that certify group exercise instructors, and all will require an initial investment: the fee for the certification workshop and study materials. However, there my be ways that you can cut down on those initial costs.

A little online research will help you learn about the options and compare prices. If there is not a workshop hosted near you, some organizations also offer online certifications. I got certified through AFAA, and all organizations will require you to also be certified in CPR.

Here are some ways that you can minimize the initial costs of certification:

  • Try to find someone who has already been certified and borrow their study materials — this saved me almost $100.
  • Look for cheap or free CPR classes. I had to pay $90 for my class, but I have since learned that there are online classes that run about $20 or so.

For me to get certified through AFAA and get a CPR certification, I paid roughly $400. It’s not pocket change, but you may be able to recoup that investment quickly.

If you go ahead with certification, be sure to network with the people at your workshop — the instructors and other students. I got my job through the instructor at my AFAA certification workshop.

After I had my second child, I struggled to get back in to regular exercise. This job increased my enthusiasm and commitment and helped me to shed the last of my baby weight.

It may not be for everyone, but you may be surprised to find that it works for you. I never saw myself doing something like this, but it turned out to be a good decision for me.

I’m able to generate a little cash flow while staying in shape and encouraging others to do the same. And those toned arms don’t hurt either!

When she’s not teaching aerobics, Leslie she does a lot of toddler lifts — which also contribute to toned arms! She lives in Houston with her husband and two young children. She loves to read, write, exercise, and cook. She blogs at PeterAndLeslie.blogspot.com

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 2, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #2

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Project #2

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 2, 2013 Project

Your project for today is to clean your bathrooms.

Here’s what I’m planning to do:

  • Set the timer for 20 minutes and put toilet cleaner in each of the toilet bowls and let it soak.
  • Remove any items that don’t belong in the bathroom, put away items that need to be put away in the bathroom, empty the trash.
  • Spray and wipe down the sink and tub.
  • Finish swishing and cleaning the toilet.
  • Shake the rugs outside (or throw them in the laundry) and mop or vacuum the floors.
  • Wipe down the outside of the cupboards and clean the mirror.
  • You’re done!

You can follow along with my list — or do whatever constitutes “bathroom cleaning” 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!

How long does it usually take you to clean your bathroom(s)? I’m going to be timing myself this morning to see if I can do all of that in all three of our bathrooms in less than 20 minutes. I’ll let you know!

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 1, 2013 comment

Punching One of My Greatest Fears In the Face

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Punching One of My Greatest Fears In the Face

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

Over the last two years, I’ve faced a lot of fears head on, stepped outside my comfort zone, and experienced the shrill joy that comes from doing what I once thought was impossible.

But there was one fear lurking in a dark closet that I hoped I would never have to face again. I had shut that closet and locked up tight almost 10 years ago with no intention of ever finding the key. As far as I was concerned, it was done. Over. Past.

What was that fear you ask? The fear of playing my violin in front of an audience.

For those of you who didn’t know, long before I was a blogger, I was a violinist. I took violin lessons for many years, spent countless hours practicing, played for many different occasions and events, and taught violin for a number of years.

As long as I was playing in a group, I loved it. But get me up on a stage playing a solo or duet and I was scared sick and a nervous wreck. I can’t tell you how many times I messed up in public due to nerves nor how many opportunities I said “no” to because I was so afraid of performing.

Zipping Up My Violin Case Once and For All

When I got married, I zipped up my violin case and put it at the top of closet. I was sad to say goodbye to what was once a big part of my life, but also thrilled and relieved that I didn’t have to live in fear of my next violin performance.

Years past, babies were born, jobs changed, and the violin moved with us and got stuck at the top of a closet with each move. I pulled it out on a few occasions, but mostly it just sat there.

I Don’t Know What Got Into Me, But I Said “Yes”

A few months ago, my sister was planning her senior recital and she said that she’d love more than anything if all of her sisters could play together as part of her recital. I hadn’t touched my violin in over three years, so I don’t know what got into me, but I told her I’d do it.

Life’s been full and I didn’t think too much about it until last week as I was practicing in earnest for the recital. All of a sudden, all of those fears from the past came on with a vengeance.

I remembered those recitals I’d bombed. Those quartets I’d squeaked through and played wrong notes in.

And I started having major panic. “Why had I signed up to do this? What on earth was I thinking?”

Every time I thought about walking up on that stage and attempting to play, I got sick to my stomach and felt my chest constrict.

I Knew In My Heart I Was Supposed to Do This

I started concocting a lot of reasons why I could and should back out. I even hoped that maybe I’d get really sick so I wouldn’t be able to do it.

But I knew in my heart that I was supposed to do this. I was suppose punch this lifelong fear of mine in the face (thanks, Jon Acuff!).

That didn’t make it any easier, though.

The day of the recital, I was a ball of nerves. I couldn’t think straight. And I had to keep stopping to pray, breathe, and remind myself that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” {I even went and hid out in the bathroom twice before the recital to try and calm my nerves!}

Punching Fear in the Face

Before I knew it: the moment arrived. I went up on stage, trembling and fearful, but determined.

My hands were shaking. My heart was pounding. And I had no idea what kind of crazy squeaking might result from my violin because I was so nervous.

But, I made myself breathe, I said a quick prayer, and I told myself, “Go punch fear in the face.”

And I did it!

No, it wasn’t an award-winning performance, but it was the first time ever that I have made it through a performance where I was the sole violinist without making major mistakes or basically botching the piece.

It felt so, so good. And I am very happy I didn’t back out at the last minute. Because I would have missed the sheer exhilaration that comes from punching fear in the face.

P.S. I’m posting a video of the performance — not because I think my part was amazing (if you have a good ear, you’ll hear some slightly flat notes coming from my violin at times!) — but because I want to inspire you to face your own fears head on and punch ’em in the face. It feels really good. 🙂

Related: I loved this post by David Molnar on how he faced the one thing he feared most.

Money Saving Mom
Shared Apr 1, 2013 comment

30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Day #1 Update

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30-Day House Cleaning Challenge: Day #1 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 1 Project go? I decided to not procrastinate and actually did my project before breakfast this morning.

I fixed a cup of coffee and turned on the EntreLeadership podcast (my husband got me hooked on it last week! I can’t believe I waited so long to start listening to it. It’s packed with such good stuff!)

The kitchen didn’t need much cleaning up this morning — mostly thanks to the fact that we had a big one-hour house clean-up session yesterday afternoon! It’s always nice to start the week off with the house in good shape. 🙂

I loaded the dishwasher and started it, wiped down the countertops with a Norwex cloth, put the things away that were out, and I was done!

The living room was in great shape, so it didn’t need much work other than some pillow-fluffing, and my computer stuff put away. And then Kathrynne vacuumed it later in the morning (that’s one of her daily jobs).

And that was that! Not too hard at all. Hopefully, it was somewhat the same at your house, 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 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