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-$17 of grocery budget at Meijer
Dining-went to our local minor league baseball game (kids got in free and used vouchers for free kids meals; we used an Entertainment coupon and got nachos, peanuts, and a soft drink…all for free)
Declutter-donated10 boxes of clothes to our school district’s free community yard sale
No eating out.
Walked 3 1/2 miles.
On budget for month and actually a little ahead. Trying to payoff credit card instead of a disney trip right now. Already paid a little extra this month and it’s only the 4th!
Minniemize: Power walked with my son (in the stroller) tonight. 1.25 miles. = 20 minutes.
Declutter: I didn’t do 25 things but I did round up all the things that we are not using but are on recall and took care of them. IE: the Wendy Bellissimo Infant Sling. I could choose another item. I chose a two pack of puzzle sets – that included one for age 1-3 and one for ages 3-6. Perfect for my boys and I plan to put them away for Christmas gifts. $0 Christmas gifts AND I got rid of the recalled sling taking up room in the closet. Yeah!
No Dining Out: Nope, not here. We had chicken pot pie tonight!
Minniemizing Me: Worked out 20 minutes with the kettlebell.
Decluttering: Started on my spare bedroom today! I limit myself to the 25 things you suggested, because otherwise I would get burned out, but once I get on a roll, its sometimes hard to stop.
Budget – No money spent yesterday.
Dining – We ate at home yesterday.
Minniemizing – No exercise except for busy, busy, busy with a classroom of 21 students!
Declutter – Cleaned out a TON of plastic bags and gave them to my friend who is holding a consignment sale.
Budget- no money spent
Dining – no dining out
MinnieMizing – worked out with my fiance a little bit so I could force him into getting into shape for his mandatory PT test [military]. I’m also running around like a chicken with my head cut off at work [taking a break because it is hot & I’m dizzy]
Budget: Left my ECB at home, so no shopping today! Lol.
Declutter: going home later & cleaning. /sigh. Don’t look forward to that at all!
Eating out: Yeah, failed. I stopped at Braums on my way to work. BUT, I won’t eat out for dinner! Lol.
No Dining Out: Even though we were tempted to grab a hot dog or pizza at Sams, we were wise and ate lunch at home. My husband also made burgers and baked breaded zucchini tonight. Yum!
Minniemizing: I finished the 9 week Insanity workout program last week and took measurements today. I am down 10 lbs and over 10 inches. I am going for walks and lighter workouts this week and plan to start a new program next week. Only 15 more pounds until my final goal, but I’m breaking it into 5 lb mini-goals that feel more attainable. Hope to be at goal by January!
Minniemize – I worked out yesterday – 2 miles on the treadmill. I didn’t work out today as it’s my day off of working out.
Budget – spent .98 at Walmart – taxes on 5 free items. Went to McDonald’s and got a free drink, free sandwich, and free mango pineapple smoothie (between me & my kids). Then we went to Murphy’s (Walmart) and got 2 free packs of gum.
No dining out – no dining out for us yesterday or today. Last night we had beans & cornbread, so tonight we’re having bean burritos.
Declutter – went thru DS’s clothes and tossed a shirt that will be too small for school.
No dining out – My husband is out of town so we had sandwiches for lunch and my kids want mac & cheese for dinner.
Minniemize – Jogged 3 miles
Budget – $0 today :)
Declutter – went through my daughters clothes today. Have a bag for goodwill :)
NDO: Nothing yesterday. For dinner we had Italian turkey patties, tossed salad, and homemade french bread dipped in an olive oil/homemade pesto mixtute. It was so good!
Decluttering: Worked more on my desk yesterday. Sorted through last year’s school folders and filed/threw out a bunch of papers.
Budget: Did a little back-to-school shopping at the Dollar Tree today. Spent about $6 at the grocery store, so $18 so far this week. .
Minnemize: No walking yet today, maybe it will be a little cooler after dinner.
Minniemize: Run, Run, Run! I’m still hoping for my gym membership instead, so we’re inside instead of outside.
Declutter: We kinda failed at this one. :-( Too much to do to prepare for a giant bike ride coming up!
Budget: Had to guy buy salad dressing and milk, because I left it out on the counter. Score one for the budget monster.
Dining: All meals accounted for! They weren’t pretty, but they were complete.
Budget: We are staying around the house today and going to the pool. I do not plan on spending any money.
Minnimize: I took a morning walk.
Declutter: I am cleaning out another closet today.
Dining Out: I am cooking all meals at home today.
Budget: Had to make an unexpected stop at the grocery store (one of those days), but it was better than eating out and still within the budget
Minnimize: 5 miles on the elliptical
Declutter: Went through my linens yesterday and organized them and got three sets of sheets to donate
Dining Out: All meals cooked at home.
NDO – Did well – packed lunches and had hot dogs/salad for dinner.
MM – I didn’t get a chance to exercise but I did watch what I ate yesterday – the hot dogs mentioned above were FF. Also went to a dress fitting for a wedding I am in….. the dress was looser in most areas so even though the scale doesn’t show much loss, the inches are disappearing!
Declutter – starting working on decluttering my make up. I have bits and pieces in each of my bathrooms at home plus some in my purse and desk at work. I’ve tried to gather everything up and start going thru it. Throwing it out if I think I won’t wear it anymore or if it is old…..
Budget – I did go to Publix yesterday and spent $6 but everything I purchased had a coupon to go with it. This weekend will be the spending weekend. It is a tax free holiday and we are planning on taking advantage of that for clothing needs. But the fact that I knew this was coming meant I was able to budget for it.
No dining out for us, we grilled steaks.
No dining out: I got really hungry at school and gave in to getting fries. But they’re really really really REALLY good fries.
Minniemize: Obviously I ate the fries. I did 30 day shred twice yesterday to make up for lost days. I haven’t really lost any weight, but I think I’m stronger and I think I’ve gotten more muscle, so I think that’s a good thing.
Declutter: Major dishwashing 2 days ago. Major room clean up today. Nothing yesterday, unfortunately.
Budget: For the week, I think I’ve been doing pretty good. I didn’t spend anything from Sunday until Wednesday. Spent $1.99 this week so far, but I need to pay electricity bill soon, and because i haven’t paid it for a bit, it’ll be around $100 or so.
No Dining Out: Family in town – no eating out. Big Family meal tonight
Minniemizing for the Mouse: 45 minute treadmill
Budget Challenge: Got my 7 FREE Cascade trail samples and 8 Degree deodorant samples last night from the local Walmart
Decluttering Challenge: Kitchen decluttered – yeah
No Dining Out: Still doing awesome and haven’t are out. :D
Budget: My Walmart just started doubling up to 99¢. So I got Mr Clean magic erasers, mr clean multi surface cleaner, multi surface cleaner refill, cascade complete 3 pack, 2 oral b cavity defense toothbrushes, satin care shave gel, olay travel shower gel, and a downy unstopables sample (attached to mr clean refill) all for $3.43!!
Minniemizing: Went grocery shopping. Enough said. Haha
Declutter: Went through more books and sold 113 to a woman for her son and got to add to my fund :D
You got some awesome deals :)
No dining out:
I was planning to make supper last night, but wasn’t feeling well so my husband was super sweet and bought Subway. :) I feel a lot better today!
Minniemizing:
Stayed under calorie budget but didn’t walk in the heat.
Decluttering:
Just the usual straightening up around the house.
Budget:
Supper for both of us from Subway for $10 (husband got that military discount) :)
No Dining Out – we went out for lunch yesterday. $10 for that. But we had leftovers for dinner while hubby was a work function.
Budget – No household money spent. I tracked my other purchases. I’m so excited that Sam’s is doing their open house. I’ve been working on prepping a list and doing a price book to see what would be cheapest at Sam’s.
Declutter – I really should be moving stuff back from crammed in corners that didn’t get painted, but I’m finding I really don’t miss see all the stuff. Guess I need to get rid of it then!
Budget: we went shopping for our baby shower and purchased all the decorations we needed for under $50. Though it didn’t work out that I got to use my coupon (ended up having to go to 2 different stores rather than buy it all at one), the manager at the second store was great and gave us 15% off for our trouble!
No Eating Out: still going strong! No money spent on eating out…Made grilled cheese and soup for dinner last night!
Minniemizing: it was rainy here yesterday so we didn’t get to go out and play on the playground/walk the dog like we normally do. Instead we walked while shopping out yesterday evening for over an hour. I can’t lose weight right now, considering that I’m pregnant, but I’m maintaining my weight and not gaining a ton by keeping active and eating better!
Decluttering: I cleaned up the whole house last night and got rid of clutter that has just been sitting around for weeks (or months even!). Today’s goal is to actually finish clearing off my dresser and putting the last 3 boxes away (we moved in 6 months ago and there are still 3 boxes sitting on the floor in my master bedroom full of stuff that needs to be sorted/sold/tossed out)
Keep it up everyone! It’s helpful to see other people trying to keep their lives in order too!
Minniemize: Finally cooler temps have arrived in IL!! Taking the kiddos for a walk today.
Declutter: Finding a place for 25 things today. May do this in my classroom as I begin getting it ready for the school year too!
Budget: Getting coupons together to match Kroger ad that begins today.
Dining: No dining out for us today……meals planned!
dining out- has not been good the last couple days but I can still try for the rest of the month
minniemize-thank you so much I love the Jillian Michael 30 day shred. The best workout I have ever done and only in 20 minutes.The best 6.99 I have ever spent. I highly recommend it
budget-doing good really not spending
declutter-took a break because I am re-painting a cradle for my girls their grandma gave them that her father made her. I am using the left over primer and paint from our bedroom. so far primed and looks great now paint
Budget – Paid $2.73 for $22.73 worth of groceries.
Decluttering – Bought some new slim line hangers for the closet and managed to get my husband to declutter some more clothes as he hung them up one by one and reevaluated. Spent more than I ever have on hangers – about $75 for 170 hangers but, we should never have to buy any ever again. I will recoup a little of it back when I resale all our other plastic hangers.
No dining – I used two free coupons for chick fil a for lunch. We had leftovers for dinner.
You did awesome on your budget!
No dining out: We had a blackened salmon salad for supper. Hubby took sandwiches for work.
Budget: $0. I did get a small travel size Crest kit in mail with $4 worth of coupons to go with it.
Minniemize me: Threw out the rest of kiddo’s birthday cake, so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat it. Walked 2 miles, water, green tea & portion control.
Dining Out: No dining out today.
Budget: Working on my shopping list today and getting my coupons ready!
Minniemizing: Had my whole-grain bagel and lite sugar for breakfast this morning, and I have my meals planned for the rest of the day.
Decluttering: The kids went back to school this morning, so I’ll be working on cleaning out some kitchen drawers today while they’re gone.
minimize – 25 minutes jogging. down 10 pounds! what a slow process getting back into shape is. . .
I love the ideas of recluttering the house and staying on a budget. Harris Teeter is having Super Double coupons next week so I will be matching specials with sales and using coupons that are to expire soon.
Budget: Not even bills came out of our account yesterday! We TRULY had a $0 day :D.
Minnimize: I’m so proud- I walked on the treadmill! Only 5 minutes before I got bored and hopped off, but I did a few core exercises too.
No Dining Out: We had leftovers for lunch and grilled chicken for dinner! :D
I just love $0 days! :)