I actually landed this job because I would send out emails ranting about the debt that Americans were in and how we were spending more money than we were making. 

The average American spends more money than they make. When will this stop? It is going to catch up with us at some time or another.

I wrote that statement three years ago.  Indeed, it has caught up with us.  We are in a mess right now, mostly due to overspending and people borrowing money.  Trust me, I’ve learned my lessons along the way too.

Blogging has been a great experience for me.  It helped me to rediscover how much I enjoy to write.  Along the way, I’ve met some pretty amazing bloggers and readers.  Some great friendships have been formed.  I normally don’t like to toot my own horn (it’s just awkward), but here are some pretty neat things that have happened:

• I was interviewed on the nationally syndicated Cooper Lawrence Show several times.
• For a few months, I had a weekly Thrifty Mommy segment on the Cooper Lawrence Show each Thursday night.  Cooper would read some of my money saving tips.
• I was invited to attend a Pampers Mommy Blogging Event.  Last year, I flew to Ohio to tour the Pampers headquarters and meet with Pamper executives. I met some pretty cool blogging chicks too and learned about the good that Unicef is doing.
• I interviewed Teri Gault, founder of The Grocery Game and Michael Smith, chef on The Food Network.
• I was part of the opening act for the Clark Howard Show in North Carolina.  I’m a big Clark Howard fan, so this was a real treat.  I met Clark and at the event I spoke about saving money with coupons.
• I recently had my first article published.  I hope it won’t be the last!

Thanks everyone for reading my tips and encouraging me along the way.   I hope you’ll stick around and have some cake and read more of Thrifty Mommy.  

image sxc.hu

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Don’t worry.  I didn’t go through a nine month pregnancy and childbirth without telling you.     My husband and I are adopting a 10 (soon to be 11) year old.

We met J while we were working at the group home last year. Sometimes in life you question God and wonder why He placed you in certain places in your life.  Sometimes you’ll never know why.  In this particular case, we know the reason.  It was to help out this sweet young man.

I won’t share pictures of J until it’s closer to being official.  And I must come up with a nickname for him!  It just wouldn’t be right to have Alligator girl and Cuddlebug on here, but no nickname for J.

We start our home study today, so I need to get back to work!  Have a great day everyone!

image is mine

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We may be at a new location and have a new look, but don’t worry; we will continue to help you save money.  Thrifty Mommy will still provide you with coupons, tips, strategies, recipes, sales, and many other ways to save you time and money.  Feel free to leave a comment letting us know any topics you’d like tackled.

We look forward to many more great conversations with you.

Image: istockphoto

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You totally supported my and b5’s decision to bring Karen onboard a couple of years ago, and I am whole heartedly appreciative of all she has done.  She will do all of you proud as Thrifty Mommy goes on.

There will be some changes in Thrifty Mommy’s future.  Some you will see and some you will hopefully not even notice.  Stick with Karen and you will save tons of money.

I want to say “Hello” officially to Jennifer.  She is another fine b5 blogger and you will enjoy her insight.

Stay conversational and keep Karen on her toes.  Keep those comments coming and I will see you around.  Keep saving money and time.  I hope to keep up with all of you around the blogosphere.  You guys are awesome!  I will miss all of you.  <wiping tears>

Thanks to my dear friend Kelly for her many years at Thrifty Mommy.  She will be missed.  We wish her well.

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Where I am in my thrifty journey

When I am grocery shopping, I can stretch pennies until they think they are dollar bills, but I am not so great with the saving portion of a thrifty life. I am working on learning more about all that confusing Roth IRA and investment portfolio stuff.

I am doing pretty well with debt issues and will be sharing tips on paying off mortgages and the pros and cons of paying off car loans with you. (I paid mine off and it wasn’t my smartest financial move, but it sure is nice not to have any payments until it dies in a few years.)

Blog topics I’d like to share

I’m thinking to share a lot of the deals at the chain stores I shop in with you, but I don’t want to bore you to tears. Would you like to know things like which stores are having a mega diaper sale and where you can be paid to stock up on toothpaste this week? Let me know.

I’m also big on cheap kid entertaining ideas, inexpensive holiday tips and recycled stuff.

Where are you?

I’d love to hear where you are on your thrifty journey. Knowing what you are interested in can help me tell you what you want to know.

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Remember going on scavenger hunts when you were a kid? Sometimes they were the most fun part of a social gathering – wasn’t it fun to be given a list and going off with your teammates to locate feathers, safety pins and purple crayons? b5Media’s Home and Dining Channel also remembers. What better way to reward our loyal readers than with a fun Fall Harvest Scavenger Hunt?

Here’s how it works:

On October 1st, participating Home & Dining blogs will post a list of words and the date that word is to appear in Home and Dining. Each day those words will appear on one of the participating blogs. It could be in a title of a blog post, it could be the post’s particular theme that day, or it could just be a word in a paragraph somewhere.

Contest participants will locate each word and write it down. On October 31st, the last day of your contest, send your words to Deb, from Simply Thrifty, at the email address listed below.

Here’s the rundown:

1. Words and rules will be posted to each participating Home & Dining blog on October 1st.
2. A list of participating blogs will be posted as well.
3. Each day, participants are to check out each participating blog to find which one hosts the day’s word. Sometimes the word will pop out at you, other times it won’t be so obvious.
4. After October 31st, send your lists to Deb at deborah.ng@b5media.com. Each list should list the word, day it appeared, and blog on which it appeared. Those who complete the scavenger hunt, or have the most entrants, will be entered into a drawing to win a gorgeous autumn gift basket. Entry cutoff date is November 7th.

We hope you enjoy participating in the Fall Harvest Scavenger Hunt. We’re having a blast planning it – and blogging it!

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