Archive for the ‘Money & Finance’ Category

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MomAdvice Simplified: Simplify The Wardrobe

Thursday, February 12th, 2009


On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, I am very excited to share that I will be gabbing it up with my real-life friend & wardrobe coach, Kathy Friend. You are going to LOVE her and the savvy fashion advice that she offers.

Kathy is the Fashion and Style Expert on the WSBT Morning Show, the Fashion Editor of Michiana FAMILY Magazine, and Wedding Day Magazine and a Contributing Editor for and Prom Night Magazine. She also writes for a national online magazine, Blissfully Domestic.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar!

I hope you will join me and feel free to chat with me in the chat room or you can even phone in your questions. If you are having trouble picking out the best clothes for you, if you struggle with finding undergarments that fit, if you don’t know how to get your closet organized…then this half hour is just for you!

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Posted in Frugal, Money & Finance | 1 Comment »

No Spend Challenge Day 10: Caring For What I Already Own

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Yesterday I escaped the house and avoided all of the things I needed to do. Today, I began to tackle the mounting projects that have been looming. I whipped open the windows to circulate some fresh air into the house, tackled a few spring cleaning items, and tried to get our house back into shape. There is still much to do, but I got a good start on things.

I will admit it, normally I would have left to escape. Not necessarily to shop, but definitely to do something to get away. The No Spend Challenge has brought to light the fact that many of the busy things I do are just that… busy things. With no reason to spend, I can focus on taking care of the things I already possess. That is a good feeling!

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Want to join in on the MomAdvice No Spend Challenge? Make sure to add your name to the linky list and read more about our challenge. You can also join our No Spend Challenge Flickr Group and upload your pictures of what you did each day.

To read all the entries on not spending, you can visit our No Spend Challenge category!

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Posted in Frugal, Money & Finance | 3 Comments »

An Apron Full of Giveaways 02.10.09

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

I have been working hard on putting together some amazing giveaways for our readers this week.

We will be giving away this week:

Kimberly Clark Gift Pack Giveaway closing on 02/10 at 8PM EST

5- $50 Gift Cards (The last Mercedes post will run on 02/11) ALL the giveaways will close out on 02/11 at 8PM EST

1- iPod Touch closing on 02/14 at 8PM EST

You Can Make This $50 Gift Pack closing on 02/17 at 8PM EST

He’s Just Not That Into You Movie Soundtrack & Hoodie on 02/17 at 8PM EST

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Children’s Movies).”

Please let me know if you have any questions and good luck to each of you!

To enter, please follow the links below. (photo credit: cutiekatie)

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Posted in Giveaways | 3 Comments »

No Spend Challenge 9: Opening Pandora’s Box

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

The laundry is laying in piles. The suitcase left unpacked. The bills lay in a stack. Do I address any of them today? Nope! I am sitting at my computer trying to play catch-up since I didn’t have my weekend time to work.

I headed to my best friend’s house this evening and left all the piles and to-dos for another day. She made me an amazing dinner that I didn’t have to prepare. The kids played, we sipped coffee, and I knitted a little. Our children ran around until their cheeks were pink and they were sweaty and out of breath. And we sat at her kitchen table and gabbed until bedtime.

I headed home to do my work and put on my favorite free radio station- Pandora. This is a picture of what it looks like on my computer. Can you guess which radio station is my husband’s in this shot? I bet it will make you giggle! He might murder me for pointing it out, but I can’t resist!

A little catch up, a little Adele, a little quiet. The best things in life truly are free!

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Want to join in on the MomAdvice No Spend Challenge? Make sure to add your name to the linky list and read more about our challenge. You can also join our No Spend Challenge Flickr Group and upload your pictures of what you did each day.

To read all the entries on not spending, you can visit our No Spend Challenge category!

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Posted in Frugal, Money & Finance | 7 Comments »

Redbox Code 02.09.09

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Today’s free Redbox code is 25CH63. This code can be used all day until midnight at any Redbox location.

Side Notes:

– If you want to rent more than one movie for free, bring more than one credit/debit card. You can use the same promotional code, you just will need different cards to charge it to. The charge will be zero as long as you return your movie on time for the next day.

– When entering in your free movie code, you need to enter it FIRST before picking the movie. On the very first screen, click the, “Rent with Promo.” Enter in the above code and then make your selection- the amount should then total zero.

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Posted in Freebies | No Comments »

No Spend Challenge Day 8: Recovery

Monday, February 9th, 2009

I will have to share more about days 6-8 in a separate post since it will require lots of photo editing and captions, but I just returned home from Blissdom ’09 and I had the greatest time with my girlfriends ever.

I will admit it, I worked it hard while I was at Blissdom. There wasn’t a single drop of a moment that was going to be wasted while I was there. I almost didn’t even want to go to sleep and just knock on random doors and see if I could meet more people. There were so many great bloggers there that is hard to even know where to begin, but the friendships I have made are lifetime ones.

The real question is, how did I do on a weekend away from my family on spending? I hang my head and tell you that I did spend money. My grand total for spending was… $10. I almost had made it through the whole weekend on just my little gift cards, but yesterday I started feeling bad midday and knew I would need to eat something before boarding my next flight. I got a sandwich and water that put me into the “spend” category, but I am still really proud. I was one of the lucky ones though- dinner invitations and even a fabulous breakfast out. I can’t wait to share the pictures!

I feel so lucky and so very tired. My dancing shoes wore this girl out. I will admit though that I don’t think I have ever felt quite so confident or free to be me! I was just super proud to be there!

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Want to join in on the MomAdvice No Spend Challenge? Make sure to add your name to the linky list and read more about our challenge. You can also join our No Spend Challenge Flickr Group and upload your pictures of what you did each day.

To read all the entries on not spending, you can visit our No Spend Challenge category!

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Posted in Money & Finance | 14 Comments »

No Spend Challenge Day 6: Embracing the Freebies

Friday, February 6th, 2009


The biggest challenge lays before me… tackling a weekend in Nashville without spending any money. I did admit that I might need to rely on gift cards a bit, and this is exactly why. I have saved two gift cards- an American Express gift card for $25 (given to me for bag check-in at another event and I carried my bag to save the card) and loads of gift cards for Starbucks given to me over the holidays. I imagine that these are going to get me by, but a lot of factors come into play here. Who will accept the American Express gift card? How much food will be at the Blissdom conference? And the fact, that I have numerous stomach problems that are aggravated by poor diet when traveling, how healthy can I eat with my gift cards?

I scan the paper quickly before I leave. I am horrible about coupons and don’t generally spend a lot of time clipping them, but once in awhile you will find a coupon that makes it all worth it.

This coupon for a McDonald’s free coffee is going in my luggage and I am hoping to redeem it at the airport for my morning cup of coffee. I love a coupon where a purchase is not required.

Fingers crossed that I can make it this weekend without spending a dime!
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Want to join in on the MomAdvice No Spend Challenge? Make sure to add your name to the linky list and read more about our challenge. You can also join our No Spend Challenge Flickr Group and upload your pictures of what you did each day.

To read all the entries on not spending, you can visit our No Spend Challenge category!

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Posted in Money & Finance | 15 Comments »

Freebie Friday & Bonefish Gift Card Giveaway Results

Friday, February 6th, 2009

Thank you to everyone who entered! I would like to congratulate Fresh Girl on winning this giveaway!

Here is her plan for the gift card!

“Wow, I would love to win this great giveaway so I could give it to my brother and SIL. Money is extremely tight for them right now and they probably won’t be able to go out for Valentine’s Day. It would be wonderful to be able to treat them!”

We hope her family enjoys it and thank you all for taking the time to enter. Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Today I am in the air and am on my way to Blissdom to meet all of my favorite internet superstars. My batteries are charged on the camera and my bag is packed for a weekend of fun with all my girlfriends. I can’t wait to share some pictures with you.

While I am away, I wanted to offer one lucky winner a chance to win a $45 gift card to Bonefish Grill, to enjoy an amazing Valentine’s Dinner on me. I only have one to offer, but many, many, many giveaways are currently running on The MotherLoot so don’t despair if you don’t win this one. While I am in the air, the latest Mercedes GLK post will be going live and you will have, yet again, another chance to win that $50 gift card. I love to share the loot with our faithful readers- so please enter!

On February 14th, if you dine at any Bonefish Grill restaurant nationwide, you’ll get a free Lindt Excellence dark chocolate and tasting card outlining the Lindt Master Chocolatier’s “Five Senses of Chocolate Tasting.”

To enter to win for the $45 Bonefish Gift Card, please leave a comment by Sunday (at 8PM EST) and let me know why you need this gift card. If you are a No Spend participant or head over and commit to the No Spend Challenge, you can put in two entries to win. After all, who needs a fun night out more than someone who has challenged themselves to save.

I will moderate the comments when I land in Nashville so please be patient- your comment will apear.

In the meantime, be sure to swing over to Heather’s blog, Freebies 4 Mom, and get the scoop on all the freebies daily. Heather has a list of 6 ways you can get products for free that is definitely worth checking out! A big thanks to Heather for helping us with our list this week!

Health & Beauty

Napoleon Perdis Lip Gloss (free with coupon)
Bayer Aspirin Pill Tote
Underjams by Pampers

Food

Kitchen Basics “Cooking with Stock” Recipe Booklet
Metamucil (Walmart)
Benefiber On The Go (Walmart)

Entertainment

TNT Saving Grace House Party

Home & Garden

Right@Home Escape from Winter Gift Pack

Upcoming Freebie Events:

Please call your local store or restaurant to confirm they are participating in these freebie events.

FEBRUARY
7 – The Home Depot Kids Workshop – Make a trinket box with heart
14 – Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic – Make a jewelry box
24 – IHOP National Pancake Day 7am-10pm
28 – Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic – Make
a 48 race car

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Posted in Freebies | 131 Comments »

Day 5: The Most Glamorous of No Spend Days

Thursday, February 5th, 2009




I am guessing that this is going to be the most glamorous of no spend days because Redbook Magazine came to my house for a photo shoot. I mean, it doesn’t get more glam than that! I had the very fabulous and super sweet Jonathan Sprague (and his assistant Brittany) fly to good ol’ Indiana to take my picture for a story that is slated to air in April.

The clothing and shoes? Those were borrowed and then styled by the best fashonista in town, Kathy Friend. The make-up artist? Gabrielle from Camellia Cosmestics. The set? My little home transformed into a studio set. The coffee? My little coffeemaker hummed along for me all day. My nerves? Shot.

We are sharing our family’s journey into becoming debt-free with the Redbook readers and I can’t wait to see how the story turns out. I am so proud of what we have been able to accomplish and this feels like a wonderful reward for all that hard work.

A big thank you to Kathy & Gabrielle for making me look fabulous, Jonathan for flying out here to take my picture, Becky for taking care of my Emily so I could accomplish this, and my husband for taking care of Ethan while his wife played dress-up!

I have a feeling, this is the best no spend day yet!

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Want to join in on the MomAdvice No Spend Challenge? Make sure to add your name to the linky list and read more about our challenge. You can also join our No Spend Challenge Flickr Group and upload your pictures of what you did each day.

To read all the entries on not spending, you can visit our No Spend Challenge category!

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Posted in Frugal, Money & Finance | 29 Comments »

MomAdvice Simplified: Simplify The Clutter

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, I will be interviewing a very special and favorite blogging friend of mine. Laura, from I’m An Organizing Junkie, joins me for this half hour of fun to share her tips for simplifying the clutter in our homes.

Laura will be sharing great tips for how to whittle down the clutter that plagues our lives. She offers thrifty solutions for organization, ideas for toy clutter control, and how to control those spots in our house that become a dumping ground for clutter.

Laura is a Christian work at home mom living in BC, Canada. She three kids (girl 11, boys 9 and 3) who give her plenty of organizing material to work with each and every day. She also admits she is addicted to organizing and loves sharing her tips with other moms.

Just as a reminder, you can listen to the show live every Thursday at 2PM EST or you can listen later right here on my the left sidebar!

I hope you will join me and feel free to chat with me in the chat room or you can even phone in your questions. I think this is going to be another invaluable episode for moms and I am really excited about the information that we are going to share in this half hour.

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Posted in Frugal, Money & Finance | 1 Comment »

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