I got the chance to review Crystal Paine’s new book, The Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year,
which is available for sale on January 10th! Crystal is also an amazing blogger at MommySavingMom.com. This was the first money saving blog I followed and I suggest checking it out if you haven’t already! She’s a great inspiration.
I really should have gotten this review and giveaway done much sooner, but… I misplaced the book she sent me for a good couple of weeks! After having some panic attacks I found it while cleaning my room in one of the MANY piles in my room. Chapter 2 of this new book will teach you all about piles. (DON’T MAKE THEM) I’ve been trying to clean the piles out of my room for days, and it’s not easy. It’s so easy to start one though, I’m the Queen of Piles! While cleaning my room, I’ve found: this book, 4 EXPIRED coupons for free products, a $10 gift card, and lots of other things that need to find a home. Too much time and money wasted on piles…
is for savvy shoppers young and old, experienced and beginners. The book goes through decluttering your life, freezing your credit card, couponing, making a budget, and much, much more. What’s great about the book is that it feels like Crystal is talking right to you, not some 75 year old man! It’s simple English with little jokes and tidbits along the way. You’ll also read personal accounts from real people about how making these changes changed their life. The book’s a quick read packed with help to get your family out of debt, tips to keep you from going into debt, and outside-the-box ways to save money, because not everyone wants to coupon.
I’m glad I’m reading this book now, as a 19 year old, so I can use these lessons to make my financial life a bit easier when I’m older. Maybe all college students should learn how to budget?! My mom, whose age will stay undisclosed, could also find great help in this book. Making a budget is so, so important, and Crystal lays out how to make one that your family can stick with. I encourage you guys to read this book, I promise you will leave with something beneficial from it! You can preorder it on Amazon here
We are also offering a FREE copy of the The Money Saving Mom’s Budget to one of my lovely readers! Please leave a comment on this post telling me how you could make your personal budget better.
For a second entry, become a fan of the Savvy Student Shopper on Facebook and leave a separate comment on this post letting me know that you are a fan (new or old).
128 Responses to “*GIVEAWAY & Book Review*: The Money Saving Mom’s Budget!”
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I could make my personal budget better by setting aside money for things I really need to save for (my wedding) and only spending when I can get a great deal.
Already a fan of Savvy Student Shopped on facebook
I could make my personal budget better by waiting for the products I usually buy to go on sale and stocking up and only splurging on things like Starbucks wen I have a giftcard.
I’m a fan of Savvy Student Shopper on facebook!
I could make my personal budget better by finding out where the excess drizzles way to every month!
I like you on FB
I could make my personal budget better by not eating out as often. I love it and do it at least once a week. I could easily cut down to once a month. Something I probably should do but cooking one dinner a week is my gateway.
I am a very frugal person as it is, my mom says borderline cheap, but there is always room for improvement. I can make my budget better by writing down my shopping list for all places that week and making sure I have all my coupons in hand, and only making one trip to town when my hubby gets home after dinner (i am unable to drive) instead of multiple during the week.
and making sure my baby and hubby are fed and can hlep with coupons to avoid boardom and unplanned purchases.
plu
I am a fan and have already “liked” on facebook
I could make my budget better by avoiding the drive through. I am eating a wendy’s frosty as i write this : / !
and I am already a facebook fan!
I am already a fan on facebook. I go on your site every day. Thank you for your help in couponing.
I am a fan on facebook already. Just love your web pape. Thank you.
I am already a fan on facebook. Just love your web site. Thank you.
Ooo awesome giveaway, brandi! I could get a personal budget together with this book. We have had such a tough 18 months, that I’ve barely got a handle on our finances. This year I want to have a fresh start and setup an actual budget for my family. I didn’t really have any resolutions this year, because most everyone fails at them, including myself. But maybe this one will be mine: Get my family on a budget and STICK to it!
Oh and I like you on facebook already
a new fan on facebook but not the site
How funny that you mention Money Saving Mom, I just happen to have Crystals page opened on another tab while reading your site. I would LOVE to win her book. I recently had a baby, and currently taking college courses too, and I REALLY need to watch my spending. I have saved a lot buy couponing and trying to budget. I need to learn how to put aside money for my savings while buying the necessities for my family and still pay bills. Time to budget.. to get ahead.
i’m dying to read this book. my husband is going back to school so my job is going to be saving us money
New fan on facebook..but I’ve used your site for a few months now.. : D
I’m planning to plan out my coupon trips more elaborately so I don’t loose money on little things like forgetting to get my change (unfortunately, yes I forget).
I liked you on facebook with a different email address. iheartcooki (at) gmail (dot) com
I could make my personal budget together by not buying every bargain. Do I really need it is what I need to ask myself. I buy because its cheap I need to buy what we need.
I could make my budget better by not browsing stores. I might score some great deals. But did I really NEED them???
I am a FB fan!
im already a fan on your facebook page. i will really like to have/win this book it will help creating a budget and also to stay out of debt, my couponing skills are getting a lot better its just the extra expendings that i dont know to control. thanks for the contest opportunity and thanks so much for this wonderfull blog ofyourbthat had save us a lot of money
I can improve my budget by using cash for my purchases. I think it is much more difficult to part with cash than swiping a card.
pick me pick me! especially if she has tips for making a family budget…
oh, and I’m your #1 fb fan
I could improve my budgetary skills by not making SO MANY impulse buys. I really need to learn to make a list and stick to it when I go shopping.
And I am a new Facebook Fan..
I need to budget more for unplanned purchases. They always happen!
We are horrible about working from a budget. Our income can vary a lot from month to month, so it’s really hard to sit down and make a budget. I am hoping this book will help with that!
My challenge is feeding 7 kids healthy with lots of choices on a budget. I would love to know her secret!
We’re getting ready to have to learn to budget. We’re expecting our first child in a few months. We’re gaining one more body, losing my income, and still having to pay regular bills, a car payment, a mortgage, and a hefty student loan. We could use Crystal’s wisdom!
Just became a fan on Facebook
could use help creating a budget and sticking to it
Our budget could be better if I would be more intentional about sticking to meal plans!
I have no choice but to make my budget better. My exhusband is $31,500.00 behind in child support (no that is not a typo) and I have an injured back from a car accident and can no longer work…so any way that I can provide a better life for my two sons would help…I feel as I have already cut so much but with your help, maybe I can find other ways!!!
Avoid eating out because we’re too busy to cook!
I could make my budget better by planning it with my husband!
We could do better with our budget by making it a priority to save more.
I need to just look at my budget more that I put together.
Plan evening meals better so I don’t eat out because I’m to tired to cook.
I’m already a fan on facebook
I’ve got to stick to my budget or eliminate some of the items like large grocery bills.
I would love to be able to stretch our budget farther
I am so FLAKY with a budget! I need to be more consistent…
Better budget? Probably following through more often to see if we are closer to goals…..also new motivation and renewed goals.
I think implementing the cash envelope system would really help out my budget.
I could budget better by not using my credit card for everything.
My budget would be better if I didn’t eat out as often.
I could make my budget better by not buying things I don’t need and just letting it sit in one corner
I need to budget down to the dollar instead of leaving a slush fund unbudgeted
I liked your page on Facebook as well..glad to find your blog!
My clothing budget needs reworked. I always underestimate what we will need and end up doing without. Going to fix it!
Liked you on FB
We are pretty good at watching the budget…what would make it better at this point would be finishing off paying those student loans!
We’re trying out the cash envelope system this year, and hoping it helps us stick to our budget.
Would love to win the book!
lol actually having one would make it better
I’m a fan on fb
Personal budget? Maybe if I made any $ I could have one! lol
STARTING a budget would be the first step for me.
I could improve my budget by sticking to it
I am now also a facebook fan!
My budget could be better if I actually made one!
I could communicate more with my husband on where our money goes.
I could make my personal budget better by updating it… as prices have gone up and we’ve made some lifestyle changes (more organic, etc.) our old budget just isn’t working anymore.
I could make my personal budget better by using coupons more often to save on groceries and toiletries.
I could make it better by saving more on my grocery bill
I could make my budget better by using cash not cards.
My budget could be better by putting any extra income immediately into savings – only budgeting off a standard amount each week (my husband has occasional OT).
I need to keep grocery budget!
Thanks subscribe
One of the ways we could save more is by saving money and putting it in our account and NOT taking it out!!
it would help us get started on a better budget & stick to it
I would like to make a workable budget for our family so I don’t feel so stressed about spending money!
FB fan
I am horrible for budgeting anything. I really need help on this. I could really use some advice. I have no idea where to start. I’m a fan! Great Blog!
Want to budget gifts-love to give them but seem to spend too much
I’m a New Fan! Your site is really nice and simple. I like that!
not to eat out unplanned so oftem!
We could definitely save a lot more money if we quit smoking. Which we plan to do in the next month.
I’m also a fan on FB
We spend to much money on our misc category…. our misc category tends to be a justification for impulse purchases. “We’ve got money in the misc fund. . . “
i hope to make our budget better by saving some money this year!
I could improve my budget by sticking to it
We could improve our budget by trimming more from the “Groceries” category.
I could make our budget better by increasing our miscellaneous amount. We keep it small but it’s never enough!
TO make my budgeting better is to leave my credit card at home and to use cash only. I’d miss out on more “good deals” but would save a ton of money. Who knows I might be able to save enough to take my son to Disney world?? lol
Sticking to my budget and keeping track
Follow on FB
I love Crystal’s ideas. She has a great heart for Christ, and great ideas to engage her family on a budget. I would love a copy of her book!!!
I perhaps could make my budge work better by bringing cash to the grocery store instead of my credit card.
I could make my budget better by reading this book! I will learn new ways to use coupons and to stock pile items my family of five use and eat. I need to learn new ways to budget so that we have more money to go to the grocery store!
we really need to SAVE this year.
Would love this book because I do not use a budget but our financial situation has changed a lot in the last 3 years and I need to learn to budget and save better.
I am a fan of your web site. I would love to read these books. I am on a very low budget. thank you for your time and your savvy shopper.
sticking to my budget no matter what I think I need
I think going to an all cash budget would help me to not overspend and paying off my debt.
This book, of course! Honestly, I really need to just pay closer attention and watch the little things. While they may seems like small purchases, buying several small extras can really eat away at a budget. I share my budgeting struggles and triumphs at http://www.theholeinmyhandbag.blogspot.com
Transparency and encouragement is what it is all about! Let’s pinch pennies together!
I LOVE what Crystal says about living a counter-culture lifestyle. That’s the goal!
We need to avoid take out food in order to improve our budget!
Being a recent graduate it’s hard to get a firm budget in place. Because you have student loans that have piled up not to mention credit cards that you used to get you through month to month. Between all of that having a budget just seems so overwhelming. Where do I even begin to tackle my student loans on top of my other bills and obligations? Maybe this book would be a good way to start small and get me on the right track to even having/knowing how to set-up a budget. Gotta start somewhere.
I am a new facebook fan of savvy student shopper!
There is always room for improvement in our family budget! This year I’m planning to focus on not running out to the store if I need something small. It’s a budget buster for sure ’cause I never end up with just that one thing in my cart!
I’m a Facebook fan!
I could make my personal budget better by learning how to make and plan a budget. I’m a new college student living on my own. Being thrown out into the “real world” has been somewhat difficult. Any new way to save and use coupsons would really help during this time.
I am a new facebook fan of the Savvy Student Shopper
We’ve used a “guideline” budget, but we really need something to STICK to!
I am nearing graduation from college, and now is the time to know how to budget in the real world and not move home with my parents!
making budget better by paying off credit cards
“liked” you on FB
I need to reign in my food budget.. especially my takeout or fast food spending.
My personal budget could be better if I could stick with one method and stick with it.
Hi, I need to cook more and eat out less to save money.
This book could help me.
I could work harder saving for retirement
Looking a savvy student shopper helps me save money everyday. I always use coupons now and I don’t have the time to find all the good deals on my own. Thanks Brandi.
I could make my budget better by learning about Crystal’s freezer cooking ideas.
I’ve been a Facebook fan for months! I follow your posts religiously
we could tidy up our budget a bit. since we’ve started the dave ramsey plan, we’ve added things here and there in our budget “as long as we’re not putting it on the credit card”… but it’s not stuff we totally need. Time to re-read the book!
i like u on fbk! (cassie k graham)
Will be a great read,hope I win!
Love contests
I’m a college student too, and this would be great for me to start with even now since when are we poorer?!
just creating a budget period would be a substantial help for me!
i like savvystudentshopper on facebook
I can make my budget better by setting a number and not going over it!!
I like Savvy Student Shopper on facebook.