Money Saving Mom®

Testimony from Megan

In April 2011, we were blessed with our second child — a little boy named Whit. He was precious and perfectly formed. But there was an unexpected complication… Whit was born with brain damage.

We soon found out his reality: he does not walk, talk, eat, roll over, reach, laugh, or purposefully do anything. He came home with an array of equipment, a curious big sister, and nervous parents!

It didn’t take us long to realize we had to figure out our “new normal.” We were thankful we had two precious children, my husband had a job, and I had a home to run, but the special needs world can be difficult to navigate and we found the two commodities we often lacked were time and money!

Through trial and error, we have learned a few tips for saving some of each:

1. Take One Day At A Time

The nature of our life is unpredictable. Whit gets sick often and quickly! No two days are ever alike.

My desire for some semblance of normalcy, however, is still there. After trying many different schedules, it finally dawned on me! We live day-to-day, so that’s how we should plan!

Every morning, my daughter and I sit together to make “our list.” She enjoys the freedom to add some of her favorite things, too! Things get accomplished, daily life is streamlined, and everyone seems more content.

2. Simplify

Things are boring around here — aside from the kids! Meals are simple. We have downsized to one car. Outings consist of the library or a walk outside. Whit’s tragic situation has given us some perspective: not only is simplicity okay, we love it!

3. Give Yourself Some Grace

I can’t remember the last time I scrubbed baseboards… I have no idea when it was! And I am completely okay with that!

I have learned to let go of some things in order to hold my family closer. Sure, we hit the basics (no one wants to live in a dirty house!), but have I vacuumed under the couch cushions lately? Not a chance! And sometimes, that’s okay!

4. When In Doubt, Bring Food

We go to appointments… All. The. Time. It is worth it to spend the money on groceries our family enjoys versus paying much more for a single meal in a drive-thru. We have saved so much just by having a picnic in the car!

5. Bring Those Siblings

Our daughter often accompanies us to appointments for Whit. We save money on a sitter, but I firmly believe this is opening her eyes to a world often unseen by other children. Yes, it saves money, but the lesson in compassion is worth more.

6. Why Spend If You Can Borrow?

Our town is relatively small, but there is a wealth of organizations that have loaned us equipment. It’s often second-hand, but always serves it’s purpose. Before you spend all that money, just ask someone! The worst they can do is say no.

Megan is a lover of Jesus, Bret, and her precious babies! She’s living her dream as a stay-at-home wife and mother. Since having Whit, her desire is to encourage families as they journey through the world of special needs.

Guest post from Michelle of The Willing Cook

As I’ve said before, coming up with something original and satisfying for lunch while still remaining food allergy-safe is not always an easy task.

The most common lunch menu in our home is leftovers. It is nice, though, to have other lunch options for those times when leftovers is not an option or you’re tired of the same ol’ thing.

I have come up with a recipe today that I hope will fit that bill for you. My intention in making this dish was for a quick and tasty lunch, but we ended up having it for dinner as well. So, whether you make up a batch to eat for lunch for a few days or have it as a lunch leftover from dinner, it is sure to satisfy.

An added bonus for many of you out there is that while this recipe is safe for food allergy sufferers, it’s also great for everyone else as well. So, give it a try and enjoy!

Would you like more allergy-friendly brown bag lunch ideas? You can find more ideas at The Willing Cook by clicking on Lunch Ideas for School/Work.

Michelle is blessed to stay home with her three children (ages 10, 7, and 4), while her husband works to provide. When she’s not experimenting with allergy-friendly meals, she’s blogging about it at The Willing Cook. Through the Willing Cook, her hope is that you gain peace of mind in your kitchen (and your pocket book) and are able to serve those you love who suffer with food allergies.

Guest post from Liz of The Hesitant Housewife

When my husband and I decided to become debt-free, it was a firm decision. We had a plan, a timeline, and a finish line.

We forged ahead day after day, week after week, paycheck after paycheck, and chipped away at the mess we’d gotten ourselves into. We got second jobs, sold cars, sold our home, canceled everything, and said “No” — a lot.

If you’re working on getting out of debt right now, you can probably relate. It’s like a diet, in a way. Once you see those pounds melt away, you become so motivated and you press on, full steam ahead. However, like the old saying goes…

Keeping it off is the key!

We’ve been debt-free (except for our home) with a fully-funded emergency fund, contributing to college funds as well as retirement accounts for nearly six years now. I thought breaking the chains of credit cards and instant satisfaction was difficult during those 18 months, but I wish I had known the hard work had just begun.

Here are the five lessons I’ve learned about staying debt-free.

1. Mourn the spending.

The first few months after becoming debt-free will be exhilarating! After that, however, you will realize how little you can do with cash compared to credit. Talk with your spouse often about your feelings and struggles.

2. Tell Everyone and their dog about your success!

I find telling people about our debt-free lifestyle, the blessings it has bestowed us, and even blogging about it, has held us accountable. You are much less likely to fall back into old habits when people are inspired by your story. It’s like a workout buddy!

3. Make some “debt-free and loving it” friends!

I really struggled with feeling alone in our lifestyle when saying “No” had become the norm. Having a support group to make you realize the sacrifice is worth it will help you stay on track!

4. Make special plans to splurge.

Whether you decide to save for a big splurge like a vacation, a home improvement project, or a date night — spending money on something that makes you feel successful and is really healthy on a regular basis.

5. Find new hobbies and ways of enjoying life

If you were deep in debt, you most likely did things and shopped a lot. Adjusting to being at home and bored can be shocking. Going anywhere except the grocery store can be a bit depressing.

Plan fun, free activities that make your life feel full! The library, new parks, free community events (say “no” to the $4 snow cones!), and even volunteering can help to keep your mind off buying!

Do you have any other tips for STAYING debt-free?

Liz is redefining ‘having it all’ while being a homeschooling housewife. She enjoys finding strength from God’s word, the Today show, talking on the phone with friends, and being real about finances and parenting. She’s blogging about homeschooling and much more over at The Hesitant Housewife.

photo source

Guest post from Rebekah of SimplyRebekah.com

Anyone browsing the produce section of a grocery store can tell you that living a green lifestyle can be expensive! You could also add overwhelming, time-consuming, and flat out hard to that list. Yet it doesn’t have to be that way.

Reducing, reusing, and recycling can actually save you money while making a positive impact on the earth and/or your health and it doesn’t have to be hard!

Here are 10 free ways you can go green that are easy enough for you to do today:

1. Visit the Library

Save a tree and borrow your next book instead of buying a new one. While you’re at the library, look into the other programs they have available. With DVDs, story time programs, and Kindles, libraries go way beyond books.

2. Donate Unused Items

You might not shop at thrift stores, but other people do! Instead of throwing out your old clothes or knick-knacks, give someone else the opportunity to reuse them.

3. Unplug Unused Items

Any electronic that is plugged in is using power whether it is turned on or not. Cut back on your electricity use by unplugging that lamp in the guest room, the rarely used second TV, or your empty cellphone charger.

4. Get Some Fresh Air

Sadly, the air in our homes isn’t always as pure as we think it is. Paint, candles, and cleaners are just a few of the things that can be polluting the air in our homes. So open a window or go for a walk and breath deep.

5. Turn Off The Lights

We all know we should turn off the lights when we leave a room, but knowing and doing are two different things. Take a look around the house right now and see if there are any lights you can turn off.

6. Skip The Meat

I would love to be able to afford to eat 100% organic, free range, hormone free, grass fed meat everyday, but I can’t. Perhaps you can’t either. Don’t stress about it. Instead skip the meat all together every once in a while. My family loves black beans & rice and curried lentils.

7. Call for Updated Recycling Information

If you have been living in your neighborhood for several years, then it is possible that the local recycling program has been updated. Perhaps more items are being recycled than you realized.

8. Upcycle An Old T-Shirt

There are hundreds of ideas online for turning an old t-shirt into something fun like a scarf, pillow, skirt, bracelet, or necklace.

9. Open (or Close) The Windows

Depending on the time of day and season, closing or opening your windows and curtains can help keep your home the temperature that you want it. Recently my area experienced an intense heat wave. Despite temperatures in the 90s outside, my AC-free house was a comfortable 72 inside because I closed up all the windows and shades.

10. Educate Yourself

Conquering ignorance is truly the first step towards living a green lifestyle. A good place to start is the dirty dozen, a list of the 12 worst offenders in the produce aisle. Maker sure your organic purchase is worth it by choosing items from the dirty dozen list.

What is your favorite way to go green without spending a lot of money?

Rebekah shares frugal lifestyle tips, going green baby steps, and all of life in between at SimplyRebekah.com.