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The Money Saving Mom's Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year
Crystal Paine, who has helped busy women everywhere take control of their finances, presents her most effective strategies designed for families of all sizes and income levels.
With hundreds of inspiring “why didn’t I think of that?” TIPS, plus WORKSHEETS, Paine breaks down your goals into easy, manageable steps so you can:
• Achieve a complete financial makeover
• Set up a realistic budget
• Never pay retail
• Slash your grocery bill
• Organize your time & your home
• Use coupons wisely
• Pay with cash only
• Live simply
• Become debt free
• Choose contentment
• Make every dollar count
207 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
65 people are currently reading
945 people want to read
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June 4, 2012
When you're trying to reach a financial goal, there are basically two ways to meet it: increase your income and/or cut your expenses. In reality, you have to do both. If you just increase your income, your expenses could increase at the same time, leaving you back where you started. If you just cut expenses, eventually you will run out of expenses to cut.
The Money Saving Mom's Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year by Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom focuses mostly on the reducing your expenses and not so much on increasing income. So while it is certainly necessary to cut expenses, the book does not give a full picture on how to best meet your financial goals.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am a fan of the Money Saving Mom site. It lead me to couponing in the first place. In 2009, my husband found out that he would be losing his job in a matter of months. I reacted by tightening up my already-frugal ways and started looking for more ways to save money. An article I read about a family surviving on their savings while unemployed led me to Crystal's site. As I read the posts there, a light bulb lit up over my head: I could coupon (which I had never really tried before) to save more money! I got going and found I could buy lots of food for just a little money. My desire to share what I was doing with the world led me to start Frugal Follies. (And as it turned out, my husband started a new job about a month after he was let go from the previous one, so we ended up just fine.)
This book is definitely chock-full of ideas to save money, primarily on food and drug store items. But first, the book covers goal-setting. I love the idea of having short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals, written down and reviewed regularly. And that was another thing that drew me to the Money Saving Mom site: when I first started reading, Crystal and her husband were saving to pay for a house in cash. Wow! Each month, she gave an update in percentages of how much they had saved. It was very motivating to see her savings add up, and it made me want to save more as well.
After covering goal-setting, the book goes on to removing clutter from your home. What? What does that have to do with saving money? Crystal says that if your house is in chaos, your financial life will be too. I can see this, because just a few weeks ago, I was opening some mail from my health insurance provider that I hadn't opened when it arrived a couple of weeks before. In the envelope I found some reimbursement checks - I had been charged too much by a doctor. Holy cow, had I waited just a little longer to open that envelope, the checks would have expired, and I wouldn't get that money. So I see some truth in her argument. Cleaning up the clutter will definitely be a more important goal for us!
And then, the dreaded B word - budget. Instead of just creating a budget, she suggests that you ease into budgeting with a three-month process. I liked that. I sorta keep a budget - I plan out where money is going each month, and I have a tight food budget, but I don't budget specifically for categories like clothing and eating out. So I just might! I also liked that Crystal sees that many people need a credit history to get a job, and she gives a method to create a credit history without going deeply into debt. This is one place where I disagree with Dave Ramsey, of whom Crystal and I both are fans.
She then explains how to use coupons to save at the grocery store, and also gives general explanations of how to play "The Drug Store Game." I'm familiar with this, so I didn't learn a lot, but I can see that if you were a coupon newbie, this would be an excellent introduction. It would have been nice to have more details about the drug stores' policies, but these change rapidly and would make the book dated. Still, she could have had a link to posts on her site explaining the details of each drug store's method.
The book also gives some great tips on saving money on food without using coupons, purchasing clothes and other home items, and how to earn small amounts of money. But it doesn't tackle the big purchases: cars, homes, insurance, heating and cooling, appliances, and so on.
And, in any event, I tend to read financial books not for the tips, but for the backstory of the author. And her story of living in a basement apartment is a compelling one. According to her, while her husband attended law school, they had an income as low as $650 per month at the time and were debt-free. Rent was $500 per month, and they tithed 10%, or $65 per month. So that means that for everything else, they only had $85 per month. How did they afford car insurance, life insurance, renter's insurance, and health insurance (not to mention food and gas for the car) on that kind of budget? Was staying debt-free more important than having these essential insurances? What would have happened had they had a car accident, a fire, a health emergency, or a death? Refusing to take out loans in this case was extremely risky, in my opinion.
Later, when their financial situation was much better, Crystal and her husband set a goal to save $100,000 for a house in 5 years. That means that on average, their goal was to save around $1700 per month. This is pretty aggressive for most folks, but by getting extra jobs, selling lots of stuff, and cutting expenses down to the bone, a large number of people could do this.
But she says that after the first year, they barely made the payments. Her blog says that they had saved 33% of the amount, or $33,000, in the beginning of 2009. By the end of 2009, she had saved all the money. That means that they saved $67,000 in the year. While cutting expenses may have contributed to the amount that they saved, clearly a very large income was the main way to save that amount. I would guess that most of the Money Saving Mom readers don't make that much in a year.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not begrudging her family's large income. I'm just saying that The Money Saving Mom's Budget should have focused more on earning a large income as a way to meet your financial goals. If Crystal and her husband had made only $50,000 per year, no amount of cutting would have enabled her to save $67,000 in one year. But as I said at the beginning, earning a large income alone is not enough - you have to be able to hold on to it, too. And clearly Crystal and her family were able to do both.
In any event, I enjoyed the book, despite that Crystal's backstory raised more questions for me than it answered. And I definitely learned a lot of new ideas from this book. I guess I should stop blogging and get going with the clutter cleaning!
The Money Saving Mom's Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year by Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom focuses mostly on the reducing your expenses and not so much on increasing income. So while it is certainly necessary to cut expenses, the book does not give a full picture on how to best meet your financial goals.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am a fan of the Money Saving Mom site. It lead me to couponing in the first place. In 2009, my husband found out that he would be losing his job in a matter of months. I reacted by tightening up my already-frugal ways and started looking for more ways to save money. An article I read about a family surviving on their savings while unemployed led me to Crystal's site. As I read the posts there, a light bulb lit up over my head: I could coupon (which I had never really tried before) to save more money! I got going and found I could buy lots of food for just a little money. My desire to share what I was doing with the world led me to start Frugal Follies. (And as it turned out, my husband started a new job about a month after he was let go from the previous one, so we ended up just fine.)
This book is definitely chock-full of ideas to save money, primarily on food and drug store items. But first, the book covers goal-setting. I love the idea of having short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals, written down and reviewed regularly. And that was another thing that drew me to the Money Saving Mom site: when I first started reading, Crystal and her husband were saving to pay for a house in cash. Wow! Each month, she gave an update in percentages of how much they had saved. It was very motivating to see her savings add up, and it made me want to save more as well.
After covering goal-setting, the book goes on to removing clutter from your home. What? What does that have to do with saving money? Crystal says that if your house is in chaos, your financial life will be too. I can see this, because just a few weeks ago, I was opening some mail from my health insurance provider that I hadn't opened when it arrived a couple of weeks before. In the envelope I found some reimbursement checks - I had been charged too much by a doctor. Holy cow, had I waited just a little longer to open that envelope, the checks would have expired, and I wouldn't get that money. So I see some truth in her argument. Cleaning up the clutter will definitely be a more important goal for us!
And then, the dreaded B word - budget. Instead of just creating a budget, she suggests that you ease into budgeting with a three-month process. I liked that. I sorta keep a budget - I plan out where money is going each month, and I have a tight food budget, but I don't budget specifically for categories like clothing and eating out. So I just might! I also liked that Crystal sees that many people need a credit history to get a job, and she gives a method to create a credit history without going deeply into debt. This is one place where I disagree with Dave Ramsey, of whom Crystal and I both are fans.
She then explains how to use coupons to save at the grocery store, and also gives general explanations of how to play "The Drug Store Game." I'm familiar with this, so I didn't learn a lot, but I can see that if you were a coupon newbie, this would be an excellent introduction. It would have been nice to have more details about the drug stores' policies, but these change rapidly and would make the book dated. Still, she could have had a link to posts on her site explaining the details of each drug store's method.
The book also gives some great tips on saving money on food without using coupons, purchasing clothes and other home items, and how to earn small amounts of money. But it doesn't tackle the big purchases: cars, homes, insurance, heating and cooling, appliances, and so on.
And, in any event, I tend to read financial books not for the tips, but for the backstory of the author. And her story of living in a basement apartment is a compelling one. According to her, while her husband attended law school, they had an income as low as $650 per month at the time and were debt-free. Rent was $500 per month, and they tithed 10%, or $65 per month. So that means that for everything else, they only had $85 per month. How did they afford car insurance, life insurance, renter's insurance, and health insurance (not to mention food and gas for the car) on that kind of budget? Was staying debt-free more important than having these essential insurances? What would have happened had they had a car accident, a fire, a health emergency, or a death? Refusing to take out loans in this case was extremely risky, in my opinion.
Later, when their financial situation was much better, Crystal and her husband set a goal to save $100,000 for a house in 5 years. That means that on average, their goal was to save around $1700 per month. This is pretty aggressive for most folks, but by getting extra jobs, selling lots of stuff, and cutting expenses down to the bone, a large number of people could do this.
But she says that after the first year, they barely made the payments. Her blog says that they had saved 33% of the amount, or $33,000, in the beginning of 2009. By the end of 2009, she had saved all the money. That means that they saved $67,000 in the year. While cutting expenses may have contributed to the amount that they saved, clearly a very large income was the main way to save that amount. I would guess that most of the Money Saving Mom readers don't make that much in a year.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not begrudging her family's large income. I'm just saying that The Money Saving Mom's Budget should have focused more on earning a large income as a way to meet your financial goals. If Crystal and her husband had made only $50,000 per year, no amount of cutting would have enabled her to save $67,000 in one year. But as I said at the beginning, earning a large income alone is not enough - you have to be able to hold on to it, too. And clearly Crystal and her family were able to do both.
In any event, I enjoyed the book, despite that Crystal's backstory raised more questions for me than it answered. And I definitely learned a lot of new ideas from this book. I guess I should stop blogging and get going with the clutter cleaning!
April 5, 2012
It is hard to admit, but several years ago, I found myself buried underneath consumer debt without any real plans on how to get out. I was very much into retail therapy, especially when my boyfriend at the time (who is now my amazing husband) was away for two years in the Peace Corps. It was my way of coping with loneliness. Unfortunately, it led to a lot of bad habits with the ways I spent money. It wasn't until we were engaged and talking about merging our money together that I had to come face-to-face with the consequences of my poor financial habits.
I think there are many young adults that start their adult lives without much teaching on financial planning. I did not stick to a budget until my husband and I came up with one. My parents were sporadic with giving my siblings and I allowances between money was tight, so I never really had a cash flow until I was in college and taking out loan after loan to pay for school. I was lured into the temptation of credit cards and never really found my out until my husband and I made a debt snowball repayment plan. I wish someone along the way had taught me how to manage my money wisely and how to be a faithful steward with what God has given me. I wish that I had spent my twenties saving more instead of spending every penny (and more) of what little I earned. I wish I had read/listened to something like "The Money Saving Mom's Budget" many years ago!
Luckily, my husband and I have taken a financial course at our church called The Rock Financial Life (actually a few times now) and I am happy to report that the basic principles of "give, save, live on the rest" are very much embedded and central to way we run our family financially. We have successfully paid off all our of consumer debt, are chipping away at our student loans and saving to buy a home. We praise God that we are trying out best to be good stewards from the very beginning of our marriage and that we are starting our financial life together as man and wife on the right foot.
"The Money Saving Mom's Budget" was a great reminder on all the principles that we've learned before. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking to be more financial saavy. Paine was easy to listen to and gave lots of different ideas for ways women could better manage their money. The worksheets would be helpful starting points for newbies. I especially liked the chapter on coupons because that is a new area that I have been wanting to get more into.
What I didn't like about the audiobook was that it felt like topics jumped around a lot. I have only listened to less than a dozen audiobooks in recent years and I think I would have liked this audiobook better as a printed book because I wanted to make sense of the various tips that she was giving out. I found myself wanting to take notes to remember all the little tips. This might just be because I am not a very good auditory learner. I also wish there were more Biblical references because the Bible says SO much about money. It would nice to tie some of the principles into
Overall, I hope that all women, especially moms, will take the time and effort to become more financially literate. Paine's audiobook is a great way to be a better steward of all that God has blessed you with.
I think there are many young adults that start their adult lives without much teaching on financial planning. I did not stick to a budget until my husband and I came up with one. My parents were sporadic with giving my siblings and I allowances between money was tight, so I never really had a cash flow until I was in college and taking out loan after loan to pay for school. I was lured into the temptation of credit cards and never really found my out until my husband and I made a debt snowball repayment plan. I wish someone along the way had taught me how to manage my money wisely and how to be a faithful steward with what God has given me. I wish that I had spent my twenties saving more instead of spending every penny (and more) of what little I earned. I wish I had read/listened to something like "The Money Saving Mom's Budget" many years ago!
Luckily, my husband and I have taken a financial course at our church called The Rock Financial Life (actually a few times now) and I am happy to report that the basic principles of "give, save, live on the rest" are very much embedded and central to way we run our family financially. We have successfully paid off all our of consumer debt, are chipping away at our student loans and saving to buy a home. We praise God that we are trying out best to be good stewards from the very beginning of our marriage and that we are starting our financial life together as man and wife on the right foot.
"The Money Saving Mom's Budget" was a great reminder on all the principles that we've learned before. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking to be more financial saavy. Paine was easy to listen to and gave lots of different ideas for ways women could better manage their money. The worksheets would be helpful starting points for newbies. I especially liked the chapter on coupons because that is a new area that I have been wanting to get more into.
What I didn't like about the audiobook was that it felt like topics jumped around a lot. I have only listened to less than a dozen audiobooks in recent years and I think I would have liked this audiobook better as a printed book because I wanted to make sense of the various tips that she was giving out. I found myself wanting to take notes to remember all the little tips. This might just be because I am not a very good auditory learner. I also wish there were more Biblical references because the Bible says SO much about money. It would nice to tie some of the principles into
Overall, I hope that all women, especially moms, will take the time and effort to become more financially literate. Paine's audiobook is a great way to be a better steward of all that God has blessed you with.
July 11, 2019
A great read for those wanting ideas on how to save money! I'm going to have to buy myself a copy.
December 21, 2011
This book is an easy and quick read, and chock-full of ideas for saving money. We start with the basics: budgeting, getting out of debt, saving money on everyday necessities.
I really like that Mrs. Paine focuses on goal-setting so much. Although I'm pretty frugal overall, I think that setting goals would get me a lot father—goals give you something to work toward.
I couldn't help comparing this book to Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover: they both advocate getting out of debt, not getting into debt in the first place, and living frugally and within your means. What I like so much about The Money Saving Mom's Budget is that she goes more into the nitty-gritty of making it happen: it's one thing to say you're going to spend less on your grocery bill; it's another thing to actually do it, and it's not as simple as it sounds. Crystal takes you through this step by step, as well as offering lots of other ways to save (or make) extra money.
I'm a pretty frugal person, but I love that this book still gave me a lot to think about and lots of ideas to try. Now to get moving!
Crystal Paine blogs at Money Saving Mom.
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my review.
I really like that Mrs. Paine focuses on goal-setting so much. Although I'm pretty frugal overall, I think that setting goals would get me a lot father—goals give you something to work toward.
I couldn't help comparing this book to Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover: they both advocate getting out of debt, not getting into debt in the first place, and living frugally and within your means. What I like so much about The Money Saving Mom's Budget is that she goes more into the nitty-gritty of making it happen: it's one thing to say you're going to spend less on your grocery bill; it's another thing to actually do it, and it's not as simple as it sounds. Crystal takes you through this step by step, as well as offering lots of other ways to save (or make) extra money.
I'm a pretty frugal person, but I love that this book still gave me a lot to think about and lots of ideas to try. Now to get moving!
Crystal Paine blogs at Money Saving Mom.
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my review.
March 26, 2023
If you haven’t read her book “Time Saving Mom” I highly recommend it, gave it 5 stars. This book however, not so much. First half was great, but second half was pretty dated and left me feeling discouraged and that some of the recommendations conflicted with each other or were just unrealistic.
May 22, 2012
Currently listening to Crystal Paine's audiobook "The Money Saving Mom's Budget" read by herself. She reads very quickly and I feel as if I am being yelled at hidden behind a smiling chipper voice. Going to try and push through it....
The overall information is well laid out and mostly common sense. The majority of the ideas seem to fit well only for stay at home mom scenarios. While she did suggest doing small things for money here and there, one solution to overcoming financial burden and debt is to become a 2 family working household. I say this because all of the references in this book are geared toward 2+ person households. For all of the hours in a day it would require to sit at a computer and do surveys, reward events etc,to earn anything, you are obviously not paying attention to your child(ren) so you might as well go get a part time job. Even at minimum wage with paying half of your hourly wage on child care will reduce the time spent and increase the amount made each month. Another solution is to work a different shift then your partner. It will pay off the debt faster giving you more time to spend together as a family unit.
There is never an easy way out, and the best way to avoid debt is to merely live within your means, don't have children until you are financially ready and using common sense.
I would recommend this book simply for all of the links provided to many useful resources as well as how to utilize coupons, especially drugstores, but not in audio form. Crystal read the book herself and she spoke way to fast, and I felt as if she were yelling at me from behind a big smile. I could hear her swallowing and the spittle building up as she spoke made me wince every few sentences an she sped-read the book.
The overall information is well laid out and mostly common sense. The majority of the ideas seem to fit well only for stay at home mom scenarios. While she did suggest doing small things for money here and there, one solution to overcoming financial burden and debt is to become a 2 family working household. I say this because all of the references in this book are geared toward 2+ person households. For all of the hours in a day it would require to sit at a computer and do surveys, reward events etc,to earn anything, you are obviously not paying attention to your child(ren) so you might as well go get a part time job. Even at minimum wage with paying half of your hourly wage on child care will reduce the time spent and increase the amount made each month. Another solution is to work a different shift then your partner. It will pay off the debt faster giving you more time to spend together as a family unit.
There is never an easy way out, and the best way to avoid debt is to merely live within your means, don't have children until you are financially ready and using common sense.
I would recommend this book simply for all of the links provided to many useful resources as well as how to utilize coupons, especially drugstores, but not in audio form. Crystal read the book herself and she spoke way to fast, and I felt as if she were yelling at me from behind a big smile. I could hear her swallowing and the spittle building up as she spoke made me wince every few sentences an she sped-read the book.
September 8, 2015
I thought this was a good book. If you read her blog, a lot of the material and ideas are similar (and the blog is sometimes fresher - this book is only 3 years old, but it felt a bit dated). The most helpful sections for me here were the grocery shopping and meal prep ideas. I also liked the reader stories that she shared as examples.
In the beginning, her cheeriness wasn't an issue. Towards the end, when she took a turn to the spiritual on choosing contentment, I wasn't as interested. It's not that I disagree with her or that the section isn't well-written, it's just very personal stuff and her approach didn't work for me.
Worth checking out for some budget tips. She also has a helpful resource guide and some book recommendations sprinkled throughout the chapters that would be helpful for saving in specific areas.
In the beginning, her cheeriness wasn't an issue. Towards the end, when she took a turn to the spiritual on choosing contentment, I wasn't as interested. It's not that I disagree with her or that the section isn't well-written, it's just very personal stuff and her approach didn't work for me.
Worth checking out for some budget tips. She also has a helpful resource guide and some book recommendations sprinkled throughout the chapters that would be helpful for saving in specific areas.
December 12, 2022
I'm only a Mom of creatures so some of this was superfluous but the basic concepts of budgeting and the allowable slow implementation was just what I needed.
April 20, 2022
Not a mom, but found this really helpful nonetheless! Just saved 15 dollars using coupons at the grocery store. Some of the advice is a little outdated (it was published in 2012), but the general principles are still applicable to a lot of things a decade later.
March 13, 2023
For my memory: simple book with practical advice! Idk if I can get on board about the couponing on couponing on couponing, but the clever suggestions about saving money on practical household necessities (ie. Visit an eye care school for eye visits, cook with less meat in nonobvious ways, keep a grocery price list handy for discount shopping, and review weekly deals to determine how to stock up on staples) were reasonable and helpful!
April 4, 2012
Crystal Paine in her new book “The Money Saving Mom’s Budget” published by Oasis Audio gives us ways to Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year. The book has been released in audiobook format and is available from them at Christian Audio (http://christianaudio.com) and is narrated by the author Crystal Paine.
From The Back Cover: From one of Nielsen’s Top 50 Power Moms comes advice you can take to the bank—literally! Crystal Paine, who has helped busy women everywhere take control of their finances, presents her most effective strategies designed for families of all sizes and income levels. With hundreds of inspiring “why didn’t I think of that?” tips, plus worksheets, Paine breaks down your goals into easy, manageable steps so you can:
Achieve a complete financial makeover
Set up a realistic budget
Never pay retail
Slash your grocery bill
Organize your time & your home
Use coupons wisely
Pay with cash only
Live simply
Become debt free
Choose contentment
Make every dollar count
“The Money Saving Mom’s Budget” covers topics like: getting back on track financially, how to make a budget and how to stick to a budget, how to get your home organized and thus have a more orderly life, how to save on groceries without couponing, and learning to be content.
I would recommend this book for “newbies” to the budgeting world, as well as those of you who already know how to use these principles. I may have already known much of what is in this book but it was worth my time to listen to this book and hear it again.
“What I love about the audio edition of The Money Saving Mom’®s Budget is that I can listen to it on the go – on my run, in the car, or while I’m folding laundry. AND … I love that it comes with the downloadable worksheets. I am able to work through those while listening to Crystal speak. So helpful. Perfect for my busy schedule.” –Anne, blogger (and reformed budget breaker!)
Celebrate with Crystal by entering her iPad2 Giveaway (a GREAT tool to keep track of your budget!) and RSVPing to the Live Webcast Event on 4/5!
One savvy winner will receive:
A Brand new iPad2
The Money Saving Mom‘s Budget by Crystal Paine, audio edition
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 4/4/12. Winner will be announced at The Money Saving Mom’s Live Webcast Event on 4/5. Crystal will be hosting an evening of chat, laughter and encouragement – bring your friends! She’ll share tips and advice and her husband will be joining her to share how the principles Crystal outlines in her book have dramatically impacted their family life. She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!
So grab your copy of The Money Saving Mom®’s Budget and join Crystal and friends on the evening of April 5th for an evening of fun of learning, sharing and encouragement.
Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!
Want more info about the MSM?
Click here!
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station http://www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From The Back Cover: From one of Nielsen’s Top 50 Power Moms comes advice you can take to the bank—literally! Crystal Paine, who has helped busy women everywhere take control of their finances, presents her most effective strategies designed for families of all sizes and income levels. With hundreds of inspiring “why didn’t I think of that?” tips, plus worksheets, Paine breaks down your goals into easy, manageable steps so you can:
Achieve a complete financial makeover
Set up a realistic budget
Never pay retail
Slash your grocery bill
Organize your time & your home
Use coupons wisely
Pay with cash only
Live simply
Become debt free
Choose contentment
Make every dollar count
“The Money Saving Mom’s Budget” covers topics like: getting back on track financially, how to make a budget and how to stick to a budget, how to get your home organized and thus have a more orderly life, how to save on groceries without couponing, and learning to be content.
I would recommend this book for “newbies” to the budgeting world, as well as those of you who already know how to use these principles. I may have already known much of what is in this book but it was worth my time to listen to this book and hear it again.
“What I love about the audio edition of The Money Saving Mom’®s Budget is that I can listen to it on the go – on my run, in the car, or while I’m folding laundry. AND … I love that it comes with the downloadable worksheets. I am able to work through those while listening to Crystal speak. So helpful. Perfect for my busy schedule.” –Anne, blogger (and reformed budget breaker!)
Celebrate with Crystal by entering her iPad2 Giveaway (a GREAT tool to keep track of your budget!) and RSVPing to the Live Webcast Event on 4/5!
One savvy winner will receive:
A Brand new iPad2
The Money Saving Mom‘s Budget by Crystal Paine, audio edition
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 4/4/12. Winner will be announced at The Money Saving Mom’s Live Webcast Event on 4/5. Crystal will be hosting an evening of chat, laughter and encouragement – bring your friends! She’ll share tips and advice and her husband will be joining her to share how the principles Crystal outlines in her book have dramatically impacted their family life. She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more!
So grab your copy of The Money Saving Mom®’s Budget and join Crystal and friends on the evening of April 5th for an evening of fun of learning, sharing and encouragement.
Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!
Want more info about the MSM?
Click here!
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station http://www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 31, 2012
Title: THE MONEY $AVING MOM’S BUDGET
Author: Crystal Paine
Publisher: Gallert Books (Simon and Schuster)
January 2012
ISBN: 978-1451646207
Genre: Inspirational/financial
THE MONEY $AVING MOM’S BUDGET is a book that will help turn your family’s finances around. Based on sound wisdom, this book will help you put together a budget, encourage you to pay cash (and not use credit), to pay down your debts as quickly as possible, and to take control of your life.
Each chapter includes stories by real people, like one couple who lived in a run-down trailer until they saved enough to buy a house, and then a second car, debt free. It also includes dozens of ways to save money, stretch your dollars further and bring in extra income.
Worksheets are included at the end of this book that you can either use, in the book, or use as a guide to work on their own notebook paper if the don’t want to deface a book.
I enjoyed reading through THE MONEY $AVING MOM’S BUDGET and look forward to implementing some of the suggestions in my own life. There are rules broken down into twelve months so you can introduce yourself to a new financial habit, one month at a time. Like for instance, you could dedicate one month to learning how to use coupons, shop by sales flyers, and save money on groceries. You can learn another month on how to put a little bit of money away in a fund for Christmas so you don’t go in debt for the holidays.
Excellent resource for moms, dads, couples, and even singles. $14.00. 207 pages.
Author: Crystal Paine
Publisher: Gallert Books (Simon and Schuster)
January 2012
ISBN: 978-1451646207
Genre: Inspirational/financial
THE MONEY $AVING MOM’S BUDGET is a book that will help turn your family’s finances around. Based on sound wisdom, this book will help you put together a budget, encourage you to pay cash (and not use credit), to pay down your debts as quickly as possible, and to take control of your life.
Each chapter includes stories by real people, like one couple who lived in a run-down trailer until they saved enough to buy a house, and then a second car, debt free. It also includes dozens of ways to save money, stretch your dollars further and bring in extra income.
Worksheets are included at the end of this book that you can either use, in the book, or use as a guide to work on their own notebook paper if the don’t want to deface a book.
I enjoyed reading through THE MONEY $AVING MOM’S BUDGET and look forward to implementing some of the suggestions in my own life. There are rules broken down into twelve months so you can introduce yourself to a new financial habit, one month at a time. Like for instance, you could dedicate one month to learning how to use coupons, shop by sales flyers, and save money on groceries. You can learn another month on how to put a little bit of money away in a fund for Christmas so you don’t go in debt for the holidays.
Excellent resource for moms, dads, couples, and even singles. $14.00. 207 pages.
November 25, 2011
I was given an advance copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
This is a quick, easy, and encouraging personal finance book...how often do those qualities go together?! It was also much more than a book about money. The principals of being careful with your finances extend to all aspects of purposeful living. Crystal Paine writes MoneySavingMom.com, and this is her first book. As someone who reads her blog regularly, I was familiar with a lot of the material in this book, but it didn't seem redundant or boring.
The chapter on budgeting your time was especially helpful for me. I am challenged to now budget a specific amount of time for certain tasks and focus fully for that time, instead of getting distracted by several tasks all at the same time.
Crystal gives step by step instructions on bow to pair down your budget, live within your means, give generously to others, make a little extra money, and de-clutter your life. Most importantly, she reminds us to be content - not envious of what others have or comparing situations. So important!
Additionally, all the proceeds of his book are being donated by the author to Compassion International.
This is a quick, easy, and encouraging personal finance book...how often do those qualities go together?! It was also much more than a book about money. The principals of being careful with your finances extend to all aspects of purposeful living. Crystal Paine writes MoneySavingMom.com, and this is her first book. As someone who reads her blog regularly, I was familiar with a lot of the material in this book, but it didn't seem redundant or boring.
The chapter on budgeting your time was especially helpful for me. I am challenged to now budget a specific amount of time for certain tasks and focus fully for that time, instead of getting distracted by several tasks all at the same time.
Crystal gives step by step instructions on bow to pair down your budget, live within your means, give generously to others, make a little extra money, and de-clutter your life. Most importantly, she reminds us to be content - not envious of what others have or comparing situations. So important!
Additionally, all the proceeds of his book are being donated by the author to Compassion International.
February 16, 2012
Wow I seem to be reading many books that I find interesting and have great ideas but I don't plan on following for the whole book.
What I liked about this book? Crystal Paine, the author, cuts things into very small chunks. She asks basic questions about goals and goals that aren't just about money. What do you like to do? Do you have a time budget?
Now you might want to ask, why does a book called money saving budget have a question about time? Well when you can budget your 24 hours and reduce clutter and know where things are then you don't have to waste time looking for that little craft dohdah which you ultimately go out and buy at the store because you can't find the three you already have. Budgeting is a tool to utilize your resources. Time is a finite resource. Your money is also a resource.
She does have some excellent ideas and web sites that she includes in the book proper as well as in her appendix. She also has a pretty down to earth way of looking at things -- take a month and work on this one thing -- don't come back until you got this down.
She doesn't expect miracles in 10 days.
I think this could really help a person! Read it just for some great ideas and some helpful worksheets.
What I liked about this book? Crystal Paine, the author, cuts things into very small chunks. She asks basic questions about goals and goals that aren't just about money. What do you like to do? Do you have a time budget?
Now you might want to ask, why does a book called money saving budget have a question about time? Well when you can budget your 24 hours and reduce clutter and know where things are then you don't have to waste time looking for that little craft dohdah which you ultimately go out and buy at the store because you can't find the three you already have. Budgeting is a tool to utilize your resources. Time is a finite resource. Your money is also a resource.
She does have some excellent ideas and web sites that she includes in the book proper as well as in her appendix. She also has a pretty down to earth way of looking at things -- take a month and work on this one thing -- don't come back until you got this down.
She doesn't expect miracles in 10 days.
I think this could really help a person! Read it just for some great ideas and some helpful worksheets.
June 7, 2012
I used to follow Crystal's blog a while back, so when I saw this on the New Books shelf at the library, of course I had to pick it up.
I feel like I'm pretty on top of things with our budget, but I would like to be saving a little bit more (I'm trying to figure out how to save for replacing our vehicles down the road), so this came at a good time for me.
I like that this starts you off in reasonable chunks for learning how to set goals, budget, save, and use coupons. It can be very easy to dive right in full-force and get overwhelmed, especially reading her site, so it was good to hear that she advocates starting slowly.
Crystal can often come off preachy, and she doesn't leave a lot of room for nuance, but it's always good to get motivated to take control of your finances.
This was a quick read - I got through it in about an hour and a half, but I'm also pretty familiar with her approach to things.
Three stars.
I feel like I'm pretty on top of things with our budget, but I would like to be saving a little bit more (I'm trying to figure out how to save for replacing our vehicles down the road), so this came at a good time for me.
I like that this starts you off in reasonable chunks for learning how to set goals, budget, save, and use coupons. It can be very easy to dive right in full-force and get overwhelmed, especially reading her site, so it was good to hear that she advocates starting slowly.
Crystal can often come off preachy, and she doesn't leave a lot of room for nuance, but it's always good to get motivated to take control of your finances.
This was a quick read - I got through it in about an hour and a half, but I'm also pretty familiar with her approach to things.
Three stars.
May 1, 2019
Can I just admit something right up front?
I think we all have our ways of giving our brain some down-time, where we passively entertain ourselves with things of little substance. I think TV shows meet that need for many people, but alas, something about my brain does not let me enjoy TV. So when I am tired but somehow need noise, and want to be distracted, I turn to my version of TV: audiobooks on cleaning, or budgeting, or both. Ideally in a setting that has little to do with my real life. This, my friends, is my version of absurd mindless bliss. Now, granted, I don't often feel the need for these books, but every few months, or after reading way too many deep books in a row and being emotionally spent, these books are fantastic. Seriously, give it a try. Sometimes the books actually turn out to have somewhat useful ideas too, so that's a double win, like trying to commit to cleaning just 15 minutes a day, but every day, using a timer. There are worse ideas, and why not, right?
Anyhow, I digress. But all of that is to say that I happened to find myself craving something light, and so downloaded this audiobook. And for what I needed, it was great.
Which isn't to say it doesn't have value, but it is just a book written for a completely different audience, one that is clearly interested in couponing, which I am not. I also happen to live in a country that doesn't have coupons, thank goodness, so I don't even have to feel guilty about having zero interest in wanting to save a few pennies through what always seems like way too much work. (Sorry, maybe I just don't understand the couponing world. No offense, couponing folk! You do you. I'll do me.)
But if you are reading this and actually want some information about this book, here it is: in a nutshell, most of these books are a copy of Dave Ramsey's ideas: live as frugally as you can (small space, old car) until you can pay cash for your purchases (of a car, a house), only use cash (credit cards are the devil in their mind), and find ways to enjoy simple, cheap fun. Also, you need a budget, because you need to be the one in charge telling your money what to do.
All of these ideas seem solid enough, although not new. Although the hatred of credit cards has always been confusing to me, but I might just be differently than most, because I have never, even for a second, looked at my credit card and thought: free money! Or: I can't really afford this, but no worries, I have a credit card! I suppose I have always been aware that it is still my money I am spending, and need to pay each month, and so have been in her words one of the 'magic unicorns' who never overspent but instead used it for rack up a LOT of free flights, that I have also used. So I suppose this is the one thing I will always take issue with, but the more I reflect on it, the more I realize the sentiments are the same. They push for cash only as a way to say screw-you to banks and credit card companies, and I used my credit card (and pay in full each month) as a way to say ha-thanks-for-the-freebies-I-win, so I suppose it is just a matter of knowing yourself well enough to decide which works for you.
But what I do agree with, completely, is needing a budget. I love budgets. Need help with a budget? Contact me. I love designing them. I am an utter finance dork at heart, disguised as an academic in the humanities.
I also completely agree with the idea of living small until you have the money to live in any way you choose to, whether staying small or not. I think most of the good things that have come to be in my life go back to how we live in the first years after college as if we were still in college and saved a ton, letting us then buy a house during grad school. But again, this is all very Dave Ramsey-ish, and while his book is a bit too angry-man-ish, it is solid and worth reading if you haven't.
So what is new in her book?
For one, a lot more focus is put on how to save money, specifically in terms of food spending, through couponing, etc.
And the other thing, the part I actually enjoyed the most, was her focus on needing to declutter your home. This KonMari-esque part of the book was by far the best part, because she argued - and I completely agree - that it is hard to get anything else in order, especially your finances, if your home is a disaster. You will lose paperwork. You will be overwhelmed with cleaning. You will not have energy to tackle a new task. And most of all, you will think you need more than you do. So declutter, people! Top to bottom, get rid of everything you don't love and absolutely need. And then don't let it come back. Be vigilant. And then enjoy less stuff and more time for fun.
I think we all have our ways of giving our brain some down-time, where we passively entertain ourselves with things of little substance. I think TV shows meet that need for many people, but alas, something about my brain does not let me enjoy TV. So when I am tired but somehow need noise, and want to be distracted, I turn to my version of TV: audiobooks on cleaning, or budgeting, or both. Ideally in a setting that has little to do with my real life. This, my friends, is my version of absurd mindless bliss. Now, granted, I don't often feel the need for these books, but every few months, or after reading way too many deep books in a row and being emotionally spent, these books are fantastic. Seriously, give it a try. Sometimes the books actually turn out to have somewhat useful ideas too, so that's a double win, like trying to commit to cleaning just 15 minutes a day, but every day, using a timer. There are worse ideas, and why not, right?
Anyhow, I digress. But all of that is to say that I happened to find myself craving something light, and so downloaded this audiobook. And for what I needed, it was great.
Which isn't to say it doesn't have value, but it is just a book written for a completely different audience, one that is clearly interested in couponing, which I am not. I also happen to live in a country that doesn't have coupons, thank goodness, so I don't even have to feel guilty about having zero interest in wanting to save a few pennies through what always seems like way too much work. (Sorry, maybe I just don't understand the couponing world. No offense, couponing folk! You do you. I'll do me.)
But if you are reading this and actually want some information about this book, here it is: in a nutshell, most of these books are a copy of Dave Ramsey's ideas: live as frugally as you can (small space, old car) until you can pay cash for your purchases (of a car, a house), only use cash (credit cards are the devil in their mind), and find ways to enjoy simple, cheap fun. Also, you need a budget, because you need to be the one in charge telling your money what to do.
All of these ideas seem solid enough, although not new. Although the hatred of credit cards has always been confusing to me, but I might just be differently than most, because I have never, even for a second, looked at my credit card and thought: free money! Or: I can't really afford this, but no worries, I have a credit card! I suppose I have always been aware that it is still my money I am spending, and need to pay each month, and so have been in her words one of the 'magic unicorns' who never overspent but instead used it for rack up a LOT of free flights, that I have also used. So I suppose this is the one thing I will always take issue with, but the more I reflect on it, the more I realize the sentiments are the same. They push for cash only as a way to say screw-you to banks and credit card companies, and I used my credit card (and pay in full each month) as a way to say ha-thanks-for-the-freebies-I-win, so I suppose it is just a matter of knowing yourself well enough to decide which works for you.
But what I do agree with, completely, is needing a budget. I love budgets. Need help with a budget? Contact me. I love designing them. I am an utter finance dork at heart, disguised as an academic in the humanities.
I also completely agree with the idea of living small until you have the money to live in any way you choose to, whether staying small or not. I think most of the good things that have come to be in my life go back to how we live in the first years after college as if we were still in college and saved a ton, letting us then buy a house during grad school. But again, this is all very Dave Ramsey-ish, and while his book is a bit too angry-man-ish, it is solid and worth reading if you haven't.
So what is new in her book?
For one, a lot more focus is put on how to save money, specifically in terms of food spending, through couponing, etc.
And the other thing, the part I actually enjoyed the most, was her focus on needing to declutter your home. This KonMari-esque part of the book was by far the best part, because she argued - and I completely agree - that it is hard to get anything else in order, especially your finances, if your home is a disaster. You will lose paperwork. You will be overwhelmed with cleaning. You will not have energy to tackle a new task. And most of all, you will think you need more than you do. So declutter, people! Top to bottom, get rid of everything you don't love and absolutely need. And then don't let it come back. Be vigilant. And then enjoy less stuff and more time for fun.
April 27, 2023
I read some of Crystal's other books and decided to jump on this one.
I loved the little nuggets of frugal wisdom. I have been watching her grocery shopping trips throughout the years on her blog and wondered how did she accomplish buying groceries at rock bottom prices.
After reading the budget book, I finally get it. After reading both her time-saving mom book and this one, I finally realized the importance of sticking to goals and plans. Interestingly enough, it took both books for the wisdom to settle in with me.
I gave the author five stars because all the nuggets of wisdom plus detailing her frugalness with some background was the kind of inspiration I needed to get myself jumpstarted.
I believed the lie all these years that I'm not wired for goal setting or I'm not wired for planning. What that thinking has done over the years has been to accomplish less of what could have been accomplished in my life.
I like the best the author's wording with phrases like "Savings begets savings" and "financial intensity" and "inching forward is moving forward". I have several pages bookmarked and these phrases underlined plus others so that I can go back to them at anytime.
I have taken a couple of goal-setting, budget webinars and thought that comparatively, Crystal's book was a far better asset to me. Her wording and her own frugal ways in the book spoke to me far more than the dryness I got from the webinars.
The book does need updating since 2012, yet the foundational principles hold true. I'm rereading the book for all the references to other websites.
An update would be fabulous! There's been new apps out there that could help one's grocery spending. I would have liked more depth in certain chapters.
I would have liked it if the author used scripture or referenced the bible or even her flare prayers in this book. I would like to see the author be more bold about her knowledge of the Bible in her writings.
Overall, I am still sticking with the five stars rating.
I never understood the author's buy ahead principle until now. I never saw myself being able to do the goal-setting and budget planning and the meal planning and the saving and sticking with it until now. In the past, I would stick to something for a few months and fall off the bandwagon.
I'm not sticking to the addiction of...... plan yet get nothing accomplished. Call it what it really is.........an addiction to "accomplish nothing". Cycling with less fruit to show for your efforts is not admirable and I'm talking to myself here.
Maybe a visual is better....ever seen a dog chase it's tail. That's what it feels like when you keep cycling.....get a plan in place and by a few months fall off the bandwagon. And on and on the cycle continues. Again I'm talking to myself here.
Crystal really has hit the nail on the head. Budgeting and goal setting gets you to targets. Time budgeting frees you up to financial budgeting which gets you to your financial end targets.
Thanks to the author for stepping out of her comfort zone and being bold enough to put herself out there to others.
I loved the little nuggets of frugal wisdom. I have been watching her grocery shopping trips throughout the years on her blog and wondered how did she accomplish buying groceries at rock bottom prices.
After reading the budget book, I finally get it. After reading both her time-saving mom book and this one, I finally realized the importance of sticking to goals and plans. Interestingly enough, it took both books for the wisdom to settle in with me.
I gave the author five stars because all the nuggets of wisdom plus detailing her frugalness with some background was the kind of inspiration I needed to get myself jumpstarted.
I believed the lie all these years that I'm not wired for goal setting or I'm not wired for planning. What that thinking has done over the years has been to accomplish less of what could have been accomplished in my life.
I like the best the author's wording with phrases like "Savings begets savings" and "financial intensity" and "inching forward is moving forward". I have several pages bookmarked and these phrases underlined plus others so that I can go back to them at anytime.
I have taken a couple of goal-setting, budget webinars and thought that comparatively, Crystal's book was a far better asset to me. Her wording and her own frugal ways in the book spoke to me far more than the dryness I got from the webinars.
The book does need updating since 2012, yet the foundational principles hold true. I'm rereading the book for all the references to other websites.
An update would be fabulous! There's been new apps out there that could help one's grocery spending. I would have liked more depth in certain chapters.
I would have liked it if the author used scripture or referenced the bible or even her flare prayers in this book. I would like to see the author be more bold about her knowledge of the Bible in her writings.
Overall, I am still sticking with the five stars rating.
I never understood the author's buy ahead principle until now. I never saw myself being able to do the goal-setting and budget planning and the meal planning and the saving and sticking with it until now. In the past, I would stick to something for a few months and fall off the bandwagon.
I'm not sticking to the addiction of...... plan yet get nothing accomplished. Call it what it really is.........an addiction to "accomplish nothing". Cycling with less fruit to show for your efforts is not admirable and I'm talking to myself here.
Maybe a visual is better....ever seen a dog chase it's tail. That's what it feels like when you keep cycling.....get a plan in place and by a few months fall off the bandwagon. And on and on the cycle continues. Again I'm talking to myself here.
Crystal really has hit the nail on the head. Budgeting and goal setting gets you to targets. Time budgeting frees you up to financial budgeting which gets you to your financial end targets.
Thanks to the author for stepping out of her comfort zone and being bold enough to put herself out there to others.
July 3, 2018
I consider myself a frugal person and even though most of these books give the same tips I still like to read them once in a while because there's always a few nuggets of information that I get that I never knew before. I really liked how the author shared very simple and doable tips. She didn't go onto financial investments or major life altering changes. Her ideas were straight forward and most of them only take a few changes in paradigm to make it work for your life.
My favorite information was about all the websites that can help you save money on. I've never heard some of the sites shares so I will definitely check them out soon.
I also liked how she shared her story, especially during those times when the money was most tight for her and her husband. The frustrations and feelings of despair that she talked about were relatable to me as I've gone through that before too. It feels good to know that someone has walked my shoes before and have come out stronger and wiser. I especially liked what she said about how not having money can either make you bitter about life OR be content for what you have. She of course chose the latter and I have too. It is so freeing to know that you walk in this life without debt and that you can stop and appreciate all of the blessings that come into your life. All because you knew a life when you didn't have them before.
My favorite information was about all the websites that can help you save money on. I've never heard some of the sites shares so I will definitely check them out soon.
I also liked how she shared her story, especially during those times when the money was most tight for her and her husband. The frustrations and feelings of despair that she talked about were relatable to me as I've gone through that before too. It feels good to know that someone has walked my shoes before and have come out stronger and wiser. I especially liked what she said about how not having money can either make you bitter about life OR be content for what you have. She of course chose the latter and I have too. It is so freeing to know that you walk in this life without debt and that you can stop and appreciate all of the blessings that come into your life. All because you knew a life when you didn't have them before.
Read
December 21, 2024I was looking forward to receiving this book after reading Crystal Paine's blog, [...] I have enjoyed it and have already started to implement some of her suggestions.
The book is well written and Crystal is down to earth and likeable as an author. Although some of the information is specific to America, most of the advice can be used outside the US and while the author is a homeschooling mum, the book is aimed at both working and stay-at-home mums. I particularly liked the photocopiable forms she gives at the back of the book and also the fact that she talks about managing our time well, rather than just our money and ends the book with a chapter on being content, whatever the financial situation you're in.
Money Saving Mom's Budget is a challenging but encouraging book and doesn't leave you feeling like a failure! Will recommend this book to my friends and family.
The book is well written and Crystal is down to earth and likeable as an author. Although some of the information is specific to America, most of the advice can be used outside the US and while the author is a homeschooling mum, the book is aimed at both working and stay-at-home mums. I particularly liked the photocopiable forms she gives at the back of the book and also the fact that she talks about managing our time well, rather than just our money and ends the book with a chapter on being content, whatever the financial situation you're in.
Money Saving Mom's Budget is a challenging but encouraging book and doesn't leave you feeling like a failure! Will recommend this book to my friends and family.
June 3, 2020
Crystal Paine (who I love), give practical, helpful tips on slashing your spending. I loved her ideas on couponing, I've heard of people doing that, but have never done it myself. Yet, because I live in a rural area, that part didn't seem super practical since I don't have a CVS close. I think my best bet is to go to the local Aldi and save.
Her time budget idea was also new. Instead of setting aside a certain time of day to do a task, give yourself a certain amount of hours or minutes and do it when it is possible. For moms with young kids, this seems much less frustrating than setting a specific time.
This is a great book for saving pennies. I saw she has a book about making money, which I would love to read also.
Her time budget idea was also new. Instead of setting aside a certain time of day to do a task, give yourself a certain amount of hours or minutes and do it when it is possible. For moms with young kids, this seems much less frustrating than setting a specific time.
This is a great book for saving pennies. I saw she has a book about making money, which I would love to read also.
July 13, 2024
This is not a ‘read and run’ resource. Rather, I see it as a read, be inspired, and then ACT on changes you need to make.
As Ms. Paine goes through the different rules, she provides specific examples of others who have tackled that particular component. I love hearing about the success of others and how it has blessed their lives.
While I was expecting plenty of tips for paying down debt or saving for something special, what I didn’t expect was a section talking about budgeting your time. Wow! I know that is an area that needs improvement as well. And, I’m taking this as another way God is speaking to me for putting focus where it needs to be rather than wasting any of our resources (financial or otherwise.)
As Ms. Paine goes through the different rules, she provides specific examples of others who have tackled that particular component. I love hearing about the success of others and how it has blessed their lives.
While I was expecting plenty of tips for paying down debt or saving for something special, what I didn’t expect was a section talking about budgeting your time. Wow! I know that is an area that needs improvement as well. And, I’m taking this as another way God is speaking to me for putting focus where it needs to be rather than wasting any of our resources (financial or otherwise.)
September 14, 2019
I listened to the audiobook which wasn’t the right format for this book. She provided some information about some websites she uses for certain things which is probably the most useful takeaway from the book. Some of her strategies were just tedious to listen to because she went into GREAT detail about exactly what items belong in what category for coupon organization or for budget planning for example as if we couldn’t get the idea from a couple of examples or even figure it out on our own. I’d say skip the book and just check out her blog: https://moneysavingmom.com. If you’re still interested in checking out this book, I’d recommend a kindle version or physical copy.
June 17, 2021
I love all things Crystal Paine! However, I think this book would be good for someone who has no clue whatsoever on how to save money. If you have already read books on finance, this book is more like “here’s some ideas you may not have thought of.” Most of it was common sense but I just love listening to Crystal Paine through audio. She’s relatable and even though I knew a lot of the tips, I did learn some new ideas.
March 8, 2023
I found some helpful information in this book. I appreciated that the author is a Christian, has actually lived on a very low income, and understands budgeting. Many good tips. I did feel a lot of the information is a little outdated maybe? Or maybe I am just not a couponer. I also felt like maybe it was too broad. Not sure if that was the aim or not. I also did not feel her methods were anything extremely special or groundbreaking. Overall an ok book.
May 21, 2023
I really enjoy Crystal Paine’s systematic and efficient approach to parenting, timeliness, and money. I found this book on budgeting to be very similar to Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace” approach, but Paine dives deep into the nitty gritty of actually how to save/stretch your money further, which Dave Ramsey rarely does. Although Paine has a lot of good advice on couponing, I really appreciated her list of 25 ways to save on groceries without couponing. Great for newbies like me!
March 19, 2024
Very interesting book and more helpful conceptually than practically. She would say a lot in the book that she would be able to get stuff for like a dollar and sometimes things in the negative. I felt very outdated some of the information shared, but in general it did seem like a helpful book. If you have to live off of less than 1000 a month and have a family, maybe you would do all of the things that she did staying at home not working.
September 7, 2024
I listened to the audiobook through Libby! There were so many practical, helpful tips that I can easily implement in my life as a first time mom. I liked the real life examples and the personal stories. I loved all the resources and information. My favorite part was when she talked about the importance of decluttering and saving time! I would recommend this book to moms who need some inspiration and TONS of ideas on how to save money!
January 7, 2018
A bit dated at this point, but this reference is still full of great information. Small changes here and there can add up to a big difference in the end. Budgeting and saving is a mindset and she drives that point home. I'm not convinced to go totally cash only, but I do agree it is a very effective way to to curtail spending.
June 3, 2019
Some helpful tips. I rated 3 stars because it’s really more beginner focused- talks about setting up a budget, meal Planning, etc., which are things I’m already doing. Was looking for some further tips. Did find some helpful tips here, but some info is already dated in these quickly changing times.
February 25, 2020
Lots of great tips, but only if you're only starting out on a money-saving journey.
None of this was ground-breaking for me. It felt like a lot of buzzwords and clichés that I've heard in all other money books. So, despite a whole chapter on clutter (love "Hoarders"), it didn't hold my attention.
None of this was ground-breaking for me. It felt like a lot of buzzwords and clichés that I've heard in all other money books. So, despite a whole chapter on clutter (love "Hoarders"), it didn't hold my attention.
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