Grow Your Fund is a daily post that gives you a chance to win prizes by checking in on all the various challenges you are participating in. You can choose to participate in one, two or even all of the challenges giving you even more opportunities to Grow Your Fund!
The Challenges
No Dining Out: The concept is simple, lower your family’s dining out bill and add the money you save to your fund.
Minniemizing for the Mouse: Get in shape for your trip to Disney by walking at least 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week. The average person walks 8 or more miles a day at Disney World. Your feet will thank you!
Not going to Disney? Don’t worry. You can participate too. Just commit to working out at least 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week!
Budget Challenge: Can your family stay on budget this month for groceries, entertainment, dining, etc? Do you think you could even challenge yourself not to spend a dime 5 days this month? Be sure to report on your spending vs your budget every day. The goal is to be able to add the extra money saved at the end of the month to your fund!
*If you haven’t set a budget yet, you might want to check out this post.
Decluttering Challenge: Is your stuff starting to overtake your house? Do you feel like your kids room is full of too much junk and not enough fun? If so, I challenge you to find a new home for just 25 items a day for the next 30 days. This could be 25 articles of clothing, 25 books you no longer read, 25 toys your kids ignore. Have a box for items to donations, a box for items to sell and throw the rest away! At the end of the challenge, have a yard sale and add the earnings to your fund!
The prizes
At the end of each month, I will pick FOUR winners who will each receive $25 to add to their fund. Look for the winners to be announced on the 3rd of each month.
How to enter
Leave a comment with the title of the challenges it is for. You can participate in one, two, three or even all four challenges. There will be one winner per challenge, and winners can win multiple times! It’s all done by using Random.org, so if your number comes up and you are eligible, you win! In order to be eligible to win, you must actively participate in the challenge for at least FIVE calendar days.
Click below for even more details on each challenge…
No Dining
- Take a look at your current dining out budget. How much did you spend last month going out to eat? That is money that could have gone into your fund instead! Try cutting your out to eat costs this month and adding the difference to your fund.
- Set a weekly dining out budget, if you resist going out to eat, add that amount to your fund instead.
- If you were seriously about to go out to eat (like had your coat on and was going out the door or pulled into the drive thru and then pulled back out), add the amount you would have spent to your fund.
- Going out to eat and using a coupon or paying with a gift card? You could add that amount to your fund too. For example… if you had a $25 gift card to Cracker Barrel and you used it, you could take $25 cash out of your budget and add it to the fund. Or if you used a $10 coupon, you could take $10 cash out of the budget and add it to the fund.
- You must challenge yourself. Try to spend less than you spend now. If you don’t go out to eat at all, challenge yourself to try new meals this month. As long as you are challenging yourself when it comes to your family’s eating habits, you can participate!
- You are allowed 1 freebie meal that you don’t have to count or report back to us about. Please report on everything else though so we can encourage and support one another!
- Free meals do not count against you. This is a challenge to spend less money going out to eat than you usually spend. If someone else is paying for the meal or you have a coupon to make it free, great!
- At the end of the month, you will need to comment on the very last post to be entered to win. I will choose the winner from that post and verify that you have commented on at least 5 days worth of posts. The comments must of occurred on 5 DIFFERENT days. Meaning if on the 30th, you commented on that post and then went back and commented on 4 days worth of posts, you would be disqualified. You must comment on 5 different posts on 5 different days.
Minniemizing for the Mouse
- I need to get fit for the mouse. My feet hurt so bad from all that walking and for once I’d love to experience Disney without being in pain. We are going in November, so I am hoping to make a big lifestyle change between now and then. I can’t do it alone and so I need the help from all of you!
- Check in each day and report on your progress. The goal is to exercise for at least 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week. For those of us going to Disney, walking for those 20 minutes is a great way to not only get in shape, but prepare our feet.
- It really doesn’t matter what you do as long as you are moving!
- At the end of the month, you will need to comment on the very last post to be entered to win. I will choose the winner from that post and verify that you have commented on at least 5 days worth of posts. The comments must of occurred on 5 DIFFERENT days. Meaning if on the 30th, you commented on that post and then went back and commented on 4 days worth of posts, you would be disqualified. You must comment on 5 different posts on 5 different days.
Budget Challenge
- Everyone needs a budget. Budgets will help you to be in control of your money without your money being in control of you. You dictate where your money goes and how it is spent.
- Don’t have a budget? I’ve written a few articles that should help you set one… How to Set a Budget and How to Set a Grocery Budget. You’ll find even more helpful advice under Getting Started Couponing and Your Fund.
- Each day, check in and let us know how much you spent the day before and if you stayed under budget or not. We aren’t here to critique your budget (unless you ask!), but we are here to support you in staying on track!
- Also feel free to include bargain brags. Did you find a great deal or do something creative to save money, be sure to share it with all of us!
- At the end of the month, you will need to comment on the very last post to be entered to win. I will choose the winner from that post and verify that you have commented on at least 5 days worth of posts. The comments must of occurred on 5 DIFFERENT days. Meaning if on the 30th, you commented on that post and then went back and commented on 4 days worth of posts, you would be disqualified. You must comment on 5 different posts on 5 different days.
Decluttering Challenge
- It doesn’t take long for the stuff to start taking over your home. The kids rooms start overflowing with broken, neglected and just plain weird no idea where they came from toys. Your stockpile starts to spread from the kitchen, to the hall, to your bathtub. You start finding that the home for more and more items is the middle of your living room floor. Etc!
- It can be overwhelming to take on the task of decluttering your home, but the end rewards are so worth the effort. To make the process easy, I challenge you to find just 25 items every day to find a new home for. Get a box labeled donations, one labeled to sell, and one for trash. Go through 25 items a day and either put it in one of the 3 boxes or find a new permanent place for it.
- At the end of 30 days, you will have an organized home and you can have a yard sale to add more money to your fund!
- Be sure to post every day that you have gone through your 25 items and found a new home for them. Don’t just put them back where they don’t belong.
- At the end of the month, you will need to comment on the very last post to be entered to win. I will choose the winner from that post and verify that you have commented on at least 5 days worth of posts. The comments must of occurred on 5 DIFFERENT days. Meaning if on the 30th, you commented on that post and then went back and commented on 4 days worth of posts, you would be disqualified. You must comment on 5 different posts on 5 different days.
Good luck!
Budget – The exchange store at my work had 12 pack cokes for 2.20 a 12 pack. I stocked up and put the 1.15 per 12 pack ($23.00) into my disney fund.
minimize- I played a softball game for an hour.
Minniemize-Ran 3 miles in the morning yesterday.
minimize- I am walking/running this morning and have been taking my girls through the neighborhood on bikes or scooters this week to get in fun exercise
declutter- on a major decluttering spree. I have gone through my girls closet and took out all the clothes that don’t fit, went through the nightgowns, I finally bought the extra shoe rack for $4 at Target and organized their shoes, and took away the shoes that don’t fit, I went through their playroom and took many toys out, I put everything in the basement getting ready for our clothing sale for the fall. I bought four totes from family dollars for $22 yesterday. One tote is going to be for purses, one for their outdoor toys, one for play doctor stuff. Not done yet but getting there
No dining out: we were in a rush tonight because we were having a date night to the movies and wanted to eat beforehand, so my husband picked up some dinner for us and the kids had leftovers they wanted. Our date though was cheap, besides the babysitting, because we used the Living Social fandango deal for our tickets and brought our own movie candy and bottled water that I bought ahead on sale.
Minnie-mize: did some mall-walking running errands with the kids, but was a hair too busy to get a full workout in.
Decluttering: super psyched in this area today. Cleaned both kids rooms with their help and got rid of a lot of stuff as well. Tomorrow they are going to Parents Day Out and I will go to the re-sale shop and then Goodwill to sell and then donate everything that didn’t need to go straight to the garbage. I also cleaned out and vacuumed our van (cheerios get stuck in so many places). Feels so good to get a lot accomplished!
No dining-We’ve been doing great. DH brought his lunch the last 2 days and yesterday I tried a new recipe and made these turkey meatballs in a peach sauce along with brown rice and sugar snap peas. It was actually really great and my son enjoyed it too which was good.
Minniemize-Well Mon walked the 2 1/2 mile round trip to the library and back and yesterday was just beautiful so we walked to a nearby playground for a couple of hours so got some exercise in there-walking and playing ball and such. It was truly a beautiful day. In the 70’s,low humidity and a beautiful breeze-perfect really. Eating well. See above what we ate for dinner.
budget- great sale on fall shoes for kids. saved tons.
declutter- cleaned out bill area.
dining out- used coupons for free happy meals for kiddos :O)
Minniemizing
I am half-way through my sixth week of the Insanity program.
No Dining Out
My husband and 7 year old son left for a camping trip this morning. My 4 year old and 2 year old were feeling a little bummed so I surprised them with a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts for breakfast. I ate at home and purchased 2 donuts for a total of $1.92. We ate at home for lunch and dinner.
DECLUTTER: Organize and clean the fridge. I found several things to throw out and I organized the shelves better.
MINNIEMIZE: Cardio — Elipital 20 minutes, Run/Walk 20 minutes.
Minniemizing – Walked on treadmill AND worked at school moving furniture, desks, boxes, etc.
Decluttering – Cleaned out my desk at school and completely reorganized it with baskets. Wow, does it look better!
Budget – Filled up the Kangaroo cups again for snacks at school. More money going into the Disney fund! Deposited $21.00 into the Disney fund today.
no dining out–leftovers!!!!
Minniemize me – Got my 60 minutes in on the elliptical today. Came home to the smell of beef in the crockpot and now just waiting on potatoes to finish cooking. Yum.
No dining out. Leftovers!!!
No Dining Out- Spent $6 on lunch for me & kids because we were gone all day. Had pizza for dinner but my friend bought it for helping!
Budget- Doing good so far.
Minnemize- Packing & moving boxes all afternoon!
Declutter- None at my house but I did help a friend declutter and pack everything at her house to move!
DINING – Was invited to dinner with friends but stayed home and had leftovers!
DECLUTTER – Threw away about 3 items, not much but at least it was something!
No Dining out: Went and ate sushi with a friend for lunch. It was $10, but it was totally worth it to spend time with my friend. Hubby cooked dinner.
today has been a good day for me
walked for an hour of minniemizing
ate burritos that i made for dinner so no dining out
stayed under budget when i went to the store :)
and was able to declutter a little in the kitchen tonight
Dining Out – No dining out for me yesterday. Made a simple meal for dinner before heading to a small group meeting at the church.
Minnimize – I knew I wouldn’t be able to work out because of my meeting, so I decided to make good food choices. Everything was going well till someone from cookie ice cream sandwiches to the meeting. Shoot!
Decluttering – Went through some old notes in my desk at work. In the process of transferring them all to the computer and/or file.
Budget – No money spent yesterday. Some days its harder not to spend then others (especially when there are good deals to get), but I am really looking forward to my honeymoon in September (partially in Disney) and I really want to go and enjoy it together without having to think about it then.
No dining out – grilled out for dinner, took leftovers for lunch, and put ham on the foreman for a sandwich for breakfast.
Minniemize. been using a pedometer this week – increasing my steps to 8,000.
Budget is doing better than expected by stopping by a thrift store for camping items. they were new in package too!
Decluttering – took items for donation to thrift store. organized items in our bathroom as well
Decluttering Challenge: Hauled lots of outgrown toys and clothes to the cousins. It is always nicer to come home from vacation with less stuff than you started with (at least there we intended for this to be the case, except for the missing swim goggles!). My kids are happier to part with toys if they know the cousins are getting them and the cousins think that this is spiffy!
Minniemize- I am eating less ice cream. :) I Also went for a swim with DD.
Budget
Summer budget begins…spent only $5 for a day at the beach!
No dining
no dining for yesterday…picnic at the beach for lunch!
Minniemize
ran for 30 mins on the treadmill
Declutter – Sons toys in the closet for garage sale and trash can :)
Dining out – NO!!! Pizza and wings from the freezer at home :)
Budget – Well I am now in the running for the meanest wife in the world – cuz I made my husband stay in budget – ii give him $30.00 a week to do with whatever – and I alsways tell him that he needs to make sure he has enough gas for the week – Cuz he has to drive a big truck that costs us at least 90.00 a week to fill up – so I fill it up every week and then if he decides to go on extra trips around town with his friends then he better keep his 30.00 to put more gas in his truck. Well as of today he has 7.00 in cash and he does not think he has enough gas to get to work. I stuck to my guns and asked him where his money went and he said well I bought a drink and some snacks – I then said well you better count the change in yo9ur truck and on your side of the bed and put as much in as you can cuz that is te budget untill Thursday (that is when we both get paid. So yes we are still on budget – though hubby is not happy.
Decluttering: Still working in the kitchen. We have a realtor coming out tomorrow because we are going to put our house on the market and I have to have it clean and ready to go by then.
Dining Out: No dining out for us today or yesterday
minniemizing…Walked 1 mile.
Decluttering Challenge—still running like crazy getting stuff done for VBS—will start the decluttering again next week!!!
Budget Challenge—no grocery budget money spent today—-will work with hubby tonight to see what we still need to buy (in the morning while kids are at VBS) for our camping trip that starts tomorrow afternoon
Minniemizing for the Mouse—-will get a good workout tonight toting heavy tiles & chasing after 3’s, 4’s & K’s doing crafts at VBS tonight!!
No Dining Out—no dinning out for us today—–got to save our money for our camping trip that starts tomorrow!!!
no dining out – no dining out for us.
No dining out for us.
Budget – Well I stayed under budget yesterday on my shopping only because Target was out of the Dreyers icecream I wanted. I always try to add up my total so that when I check out, if it is higher than expected, I know I need to look at it more closely. My total at Walmart was higher than expected and I watched the cashier scan the coupons and it took the $1/2 Hungry Jack potatoes but, later I realized that they were not credit on my receipt as well as one other coupon missing so they owe me $5 from missed coupons. This seems to happen often with Walmart for me:(.
No dining – chickfilA gift card used $4.17. Got a mini date my hubby tonight for TCBY since I signed up for their eclub and got a BOGO up to $5 and I got a GC for my B-day. We will eat BLTs at home before we go out.
Declutter – I realized from my organizational bible study yesterday that I really need some symblance of an office to deal with the paper in my life so that it doesn’t continue to live in the kitchen, my bedroom and the dining room table. I am discussing this with my husband to come up with a solution that works for our small space.
No Dining Out – I treated little miss to McDonald’s after her dance camp yesterday. But we ate in for breakfast and dinner.
Budget – I’m still within budget for the month, but spent some yesterday getting a 72 hour emergency kit together. No coupons for the stuff in it though sadly.
Declutter – I didn’t do anything on this one, but did clean for my mother in law’s visit.
No Dining Out: Have not dined out since family got here, my husband fixed a mean steak last night that was to die for!!
Minniemize: Swimming an lots of walking.
Declutter: Had to clean out the closet with the hot water heater, as it started pouring all in the closet!! AHH!! When it rains it pours…
Budget: Well, definitely out of budget due to our recent string of unexpected mini disasters… When it rains it pours… Will try again next month.
Decluttering- Used the if I havent used it in a year I do not need to keep it trick. Emptied one of my 2 junk drawers. It made my husband happy as he was always complaining about them! I got to say though I have to atleast keep one no matter what, he still thinks one is too many!
Budget – I’ve been putting great use to my stock pile, we are 20 dollars under budget for the week! Yahoo!
Minniemizing- Today woke up bright and early and got my walk in with my pup! Felt so good by the time I got to work :)
Budget Challenge: With agreed upon budget in place (I always have a budget but not usually in coop with hubby), when I got my kindle for my birthday, I didn’t rush right out to buy expensive cover to protect it. Instead I looked online, found some homemade covers…bought some yard sale fabric and am happy to report will be making my own for $.50 versus purchasing for $30…all because of a budget. THANKS!!
Decluttering Challenge: Paper is my nemisis, but figured that the 25 things out might help me a bit. I am proud to say that 50 pieces of paper found their way to the shredder today! Yahoo! Not huge in some worlds, but enormus for me!!
No Dining Out: We ate all meals/snacks at home yesterday.
Minniemize: I’m down a few numbers today….exercised a bit yesterday. Hopefully I can keep it up.
Decluttering Challenge: I made good progress on my room of doom last night :) I’m excited to have it finished!
Hey I like that “room of doom” I have some of those in my house. I’m going to borrow your cute name.
No Dining Out: A bit of a fail yesterday as I bought both a quick breakfast and quick dinner but it was a super busy day.
Minnimize: My Wii fit has finally stopped yelling at me for being overweight! BMI back at normal by the skin of its teeth.
Congratulations on the minniemizing! The wii’s commentary is actually a good motivator, isn’t it? Mine is still yelling at me for being overweight, but at least it’s not telling me I’m obese any more!
That is awesome about the wii! I can’t wait to hear it say normal one day… :)
No dining
We ate out last night but my mom paid so that doesn’t count. Tonight we will eat Sonic after church but we have coupons for free food. so that won’t count either. I love free food!!!
minniemize
I have been waling everyday at least 2 miles I am hoping that I will be able to start running. I may do that when is cools off so I don’t get sweaty.
I’m late getting in on this for June, but I’ll be starting July 1st. Can’t wait!
No Dining Out- Didn’t do so well yesterday :(
Budget- NO Grocery $ spent
Minniemize- None
Declutter- None
BUT I DID ATTEND A COUPON SEMINAR.. THAT HAS TO COUNT FOR SOMETHING.. RIGHT?
minimize – 1 hour walk/run
declutter – hit the car, living room & dining room. my kids are little clutter magnets. one of these days i’ll get started on a project that really needs some time & attention.
MM….on the exercise bike now! :)
Minniemize- got my walk in yesterday
DeClutter- not making much progress
No Dining OUt: Still doing well, packing lunches and snacks, my biggest savior has been bringing my own diet coke with me from home. I always buy one when I am out.
Budget: Planning my grocery trip today in hopes to save 50%
De-Clutter: Attacking the toy room today, I know this will take a few days, but the kids need to clean out and get organized
No Dining Out: Had a turkey sandwich for dinner
Minniemize: Walked
Budget: Doing well, but got my hair done yesterday. I also need to buy a few groceries today to make it through the week
DeClutter: Cleaned my apt. for four hours last night! It looks so nice now
minimize: walked for 20 minutes and worked in garden which is looking great :)
No dining out: Had Grilled Blackened Tuna, salad, & blackeyed peas.
Minniemize me: Walked 2 miles, played w/ kiddo, water, green tea, portion control.
no dining out for us yesterday.
budget…came in well below budget for our weekly expenses this week, but doggy had to have surgery, so that eats up any extra we had. Did go to walmart yesterday and price-matched and couponed and saved over 50%.
decluttering…guest bedroom is full of stuff that I have cleaned out of other areas of the house this week…now I guess it’s time to declutter the guest room :(
minniemizing… :(
Don’t you just love that Walmart does price matching! I do it all the time & it saves me so much more $ now.
No dining out yesterday.
Budget: Stayed in budget for my weekly grocery shopping with just a bit left for any extra purchases this week.