Crystal Paine - The Money Saving Moms Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year

CRYSTAL PAINE is the creator of the immensely popular website MoneySavingMom.com. She has written for Womans Day and All You and has been featured in Real Simple, USA Weekend, and on NPR. She is a wife and a mother to three homeschooled children.

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COVER DESIGN BY MIN CHOI

Praise for The Money Saving Moms Budget

Crystal Paine does it all as an entrepreneur, wife, and momand that means she knows all about finding room in a home budget! From reducing clutter to finding amazing coupon deals outside the grocery aisle, The Money Saving Moms Budget will help you make dollars and sense of your life again.

Dave Ramsey, New York Times bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host

This book is a great solution for anyone whos struggling with the high cost of groceries and is ready to get on a budget!

Mary Hunt, founder of Debt-Proof Living and award-winning author of 7 Money Rules for Life

For this mama of six, driving a fourteen-year-old vehicle, endeavoring to live frugally and to live generously, this book not only offers fresh inspiration, it offers a practical, creative plan to make your life prioritiesthe reality of your life. And her last chapter on contentment? Standing ovation!

Ann Voskamp, author of the New York Times bestseller One Thousand Gifts

Crystal will save you money, sure, but better yet, she will save you time. Smart home economists know theres no point driving around all day to save $2 when those hours could be spent working, relaxing, or nurturing your family. The Money Saving Moms Budget teaches readers to make wise choices so we can devote time and money to what matters most.

Laura Vanderkam, author of 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think

Are you looking for more wiggle room in your budget? As a mom of ten, I spent years learning to spend our dollars wisely. If Id been armed with Crystal Paines book a couple of decades ago, Im quite sure that my learning curve would have included fewer mistakes. The Money Saving Moms Budget offers real hope to real families who want to escape the cycle of overspending and debt. With a guide like Crystal by your side, you can do this!

Mary Ostyn, author of Family Feasts for $75 a Week

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Copyright 2012 by Crystal N. Paine

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

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Designed by Akasha Archer

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

Paine, Crystal.

The money saving moms budget / Crystal Paine.

p. cm.

1. Finance, Personal. 2. Home economics. 3. Consumer education.

4. Thriftiness. I. Title.

HG179.P178 2012
332.024dc23

2011026278

ISBN 978-1-4516-4620-7
ISBN 978-1-4516-4622-1 (ebook)

This book is dedicated to my wonderful husband, Jesse.

Thank you for encouraging me to jump way outside my comfort zone back in 2003 when I had a crazy idea to start my own business. Three businesses, countless failures, and nine years later, youre still my biggest cheerleader.

Thank you for believing in me yet again. I love you with all my heart.

If You Dont Know Where Youre Going,
Any Train Will Get You There

Are the Chaos and Clutter in Your Life
Keeping You from Financial Success?

Give Yourself an Instant Raise Without
Increasing Your Take-Home Pay

Twenty-five Ways to Lower Your Grocery Bill
Without Clipping Coupons

MONEY SAVING MOMS 7 RULES FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS

RULE #1: SET BIG GOALS AND BREAK THEM DOWN INTO BITE-SIZED PIECES

Month 1

Action points: Brainstorm three goals and break them down into yearly, monthly, and weekly goals; set up monthly Goal Accountability Meetings.

RULE #2: STREAMLINE YOUR LIFE AND CUT THE CLUTTER

Month 2

Action points: Create a Personal Priorities List, implement a Time Budget, go through your house from top to bottom.

RULE #3: SET UP A REALISTIC, WORKABLE BUDGET

Month 3, 4, and 5

Action point: Take the Three-Month Budget Challenge.

RULE #4: TAKE THE CASH-ONLY CHALLENGE

Month 6, 7, and 8

Action points: Cut up your credit and debit cards (or stick them in the freezer!) and take the Cash-Only Challenge.

RULE #5: USE COUPONS

Month 9 and 10

Action points: Start collecting and organizing coupons, begin menu planning based upon whats on sale at the store and what you have on hand, practice the Buy-Ahead Principle, become an advanced couponer, try your hand at other ways of lowering your grocery bill.

RULE #6: NEVER PAY RETAIL

Month 11

Action points: Look for creative ways to cut costs on items you need or want to purchase; find ways to have funon a dime.

RULE #7: CHOOSE CONTENTMENT

Month 12

Action points: Make a Gratitude List; stop comparing yourself to others; become a giver; choose to bloom where youre planted.

Harried, hurried, overworked, overwhelmed, cramped for time, stressed, frustrated... Do these words describe you? Do you feel like youre constantly being pulled in a hundred different directions? Do you go to bed at night feeling more tired and behind than you were the night before? Do you wish you could get your finances under control and stop spending more than you make but feel so far behind that brushing your teeth and showering every day feel like accomplishments?

This book is for you. Its not a get-rich-quickly manual. Im not going to tell you how to make millions off the stock market. Nor is it a volume on bizarre money-saving tactics that require hours of time to reap a few cents in savings. (I promise I wont recommend recycling toilet paper or stuffing your pillows with dryer lint!) Instead, I hope to come alongside you with simple, proven advice to help you get back on your feet and in control of your finances, to start telling your money where to go, and to begin experiencing the peace that comes from financial freedom.

Saving money is going to take time and hard work. If living beneath your means or saving sixty-five percent on your grocery bills were effortless, everyone would be doing it! However, Im convinced that anyone committed to changing their financial situation can do soif they are willing to change their habits, to persevere even when its tough, and to keep their eyes set on the end goal. The long-term benefits of short-term sacrifices and determination can be incredible.