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Our Debt Free Family

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Have You Tried Walmart Savings Catcher?

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<p>No matter what you're trying to do, there seems to be an app for everything. Trying to lose weight? There's an app for that. Trying to save money? There's an app for that too. What about apps that make sure you're getting the deal you are promised?</p>::Pexels
No matter what you’re trying to do, there seems to be an app for everything. Trying to lose weight? There’s an app for that. Trying to save money? There’s an app for that too. What about apps that make sure you’re getting the deal you are promised?

We’ve already reviewed Paribus, an app which scans your email inbox for receipts and makes sure you got that company’s guaranteed price. But what about Walmart’s Savings Catcher app? It is supposed to do *basically* the same thing but only with your purchases made in-store at Walmart but how useful is the app itself?

About Walmart Savings Catcher

Like Paribus, the Walmart Savings Catcher app is trying to help you save more money by making sure you are getting the price-match guarantee that Walmart offers. For the most part, the app is easy to use and a great way to make sure you’re getting the best deals possible without having to bounce from store-to-store shopping specific deals.

Instead you can simply head to Walmart and then scan your receipt with the app afterwards and let it do its magic. Within a couple days you’ll see money credited to your Savings Catcher account.

How Walmart Savings Catcher Works

The Walmart Savings Catcher app is fairly user friendly. Once you download the app from the App Store or Google Play (it is free) you’ll have to set up an account. This only takes a couple minutes. Then you are ready to start racking up your Walmart savings.

After your next trip to Walmart scan the QR code at the bottom of your Walmart receipt with the Walmart Savings Catcher app. (You can scan up to a week after the purchase date.) After your phone has successfully scanned your receipt your work is done. Sit back, relax and let the app do the rest of the work. If you receive Savings Catcher cash you’ll get a notification and it will be added to a gift card that can be used in store or online.

More About The Savings Catcher App

Walmart also has a number of other things listed on its website to keep in mind about the Walmart Savings Catcher app. Here are some of the more frequently asked questions:

  • Is there a minimum purchase required to use Walmart Savings Catcher? No minimum purchase is required.
  • What type of promotions does Savings Catcher include? If the price is listed in the advertisement, the Savings Catcher app will honor any BOGO deals and sales prices in your area.
  • What promos aren’t included? Any promotion that requires you to buy an item to get another free (ex. “buy a bag a tortilla chips to jar of salsa free”). Walmart will not honor purchases that allow for a free gift card either, nor will they honor closeout sales, BOGO sales with no listed price in the ad, percentage off entire sections (ex. 40% off all men’s clothing) or competitor-specific deals.
  • Can you use Savings Catcher online? No. You can only use Savings Catcher for your purchases made in the store.
  • Are items on layaway eligible? No. Layaway items are not eligible for Savings Catcher perks.
  • Can you still use coupons? Yes! Using coupons and your Savings Catcher may save you even more cash because Walmart compares the price before the coupon is applied.

If you have any other questions or are interested in learning more about Walmart Savings Catcher, check out their website or give them a call on their customer service line at 1 (800) 925-6278.

Have you tried the Savings Catcher? How much have you saved? 

Photo: Walmart

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Budget-Friendly Outdoor Activities for Summertime

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<p>Summer is almost here and if you're like most people you're ready for warm weather, beach trips, vacations and spending some time in the sun. If you're like even more people you're worried about sticking to your budget this summer.</p>::Pexels
Summer is almost here and if you’re like most people you’re ready for warm weather, beach trips, vacations and spending some time in the sun. If you’re like even more people you’re worried about sticking to your budget this summer.

When everyone is out of school and people are taking vacation it is easy to forget that you still have a budget to adhere to. Having a list of go-to budget-friendly outdoor activities for summer can help out a lot if you’re in a pinch for something to do.

Budget-Friendly Outdoor Activities for Summer

Creating a list of budget-friendly activities for the summertime isn’t too difficult. There are a TON of things to do (especially outside). Here are just a few:

Cheap Things to Do This Summer

  • Water Balloon Fight: Holding a water balloon fight can be fun, especially if you have kids and it is fairly inexpensive. You’ll just have to foot the bill for the water and the balloons (which you can find fairly cheap at the Dollar Store).
  • Water Guns: Similarly, water guns can be found at the Dollar Store and it can be great fun. Even if you and your adult friends get together for a water gun fight, it will be an afternoon of great fun!
  • Play With Chalk: No one is too old to play with chalk. Find a spot on the sidewalk or in your driveway and make some art. It is extremely cheap and a great budget0-friendly outdoor activity.
  • Take a Day Trip: If you live in an area where you can make a day trip fairly easily, plan one! Day trips can save a lot of money because you won’t be spending cash on lodging and you can also plan to pack food so you don’t have to pay restaurant prices. If you like being outdoors, this list of destinations has 50 amazing places to travel!
  • Go Fishing: Fishing is a relatively inexpensive outdoor activity if you have fishing rods already. If not, it can be costly the first time but will provide hours and hours of entertainment on the low.
  • Host a Potluck Cookout: If you want to get together with friends why not host a potluck cookout? You can provide the hamburgers and hotdogs and have your friends come prepared with side dishes and drinks.
  • Check Sites Like Groupon: Groupon and Living Social have great local deals throughout the entire year. If you’re looking for something cheap to do, both sites are great places to look.
  • Happy Hour: Feel like having an adult beverage? Make sure to check your favorite bar’s happy hour. Usually around 5:00 they will run specials on different drinks. Additionally, many bars have drinks specials day-to-day so you’ll want to ask your bartender about what’s on special the day you go.

Free Summertime Activities

In addition to cheap things to do over the summer there are also some activities you can do for free. Here are a few I came across:

  • Cheap/Free Movies: My local theater offers free kids movies throughout the summer. Check your local theater to see if they do the same.
  • Look Out For Free Events: Many community centers hold free events when the weather is nice. Look on billboards and other posting centers throughout town.
  • Learn Something New: Check your local community centers for free classes. You may be able to learn a new craft or skill for free.
  • Hit the Library: Another great place to find free classes and events is the library, not to mention all of the free books your heart could desire.
  • Volunteer: If you’re still looking for something free to do this summer, volunteer. There is likely a local shelter or organization in need of your help.

These are just a few budget-friendly outdoor (and indoor) activities that you can try out this summer. If you have one you think should be added to the list, let us know!

Photo: Brinkley Walser Stoner

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How to Entertain on a Shoestring Budget

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<p>Throwing parties is one of my favorite things to do. The planning that goes into it is something I truly enjoy. After moving into my new place (finally) I've been thinking about throwing a housewarming party but have a tighter budget than I used to.</p>::Pexels
Throwing parties is one of my favorite things to do. The planning that goes into it is something I truly enjoy. After moving into my new place (finally) I’ve been thinking about throwing a housewarming party but have a tighter budget than I used to.

An easy fix to this issue would simply be to not throw any parties or have one nice get-together a year. However, I enjoy entertaining too much to completely cut it out of the budget all together, which lead me to come up with a few tips on how to entertain on a shoestring budget.

How to Entertain on a Shoestring Budget

The truth is that many people are on tighter budgets than they used to be. Potluck dinners, BYOBs and budget-friendly parties are becoming more and more common. If you’re looking to entertain on a smaller-than-usual budget, here are a few ideas to consider:

  • Hold a potluck: Ask your friends to bring a side dish, dessert, beverage or even plates, napkins, etc. to lessen your financial burden. This will allow everyone to contribute and it will allow you to stick to your party budget.
  • BYOB: If you’re trying to entertain on a shoestring budget you’ve probably already announced your party is BYOB. Alcohol is expensive and, although it used to be considered taboo, BYOB parties are becoming more common as booze prices rise.
  • Don’t buy brand name: When you purchasing items for your party (ingredients, snacks, etc) shop the cheaper, generic brands. Chances are no one will be able to tell the difference and it’ll allow you to stick to your budget.
  • Borrow instead of renting: Many people rent tables and chairs for their parties. Instead of spending the money renting, check with friends to see if they will lend you items.
  • Buy labels to avoid waste: Get permanent markers or stickers to mark cups at your party. This will prevent you from throwing away drinks and cups because of confusion.
  • Cheap entertainment everyone enjoys: Get a deck of cards or a fun group game (I recommend Apples to Apples or Cards Against Humanity). These can provide entertainment at the party for a low price.
  • Hold a “rent party”: It is becoming more common to see people charging admission to their parties. These are oftentimes called “rent parties” because people use them to raise the money for rent at the end of the month. It isn’t unheard of for hosts to ask their guests to chip in (especially if they are footing the bill for everything).
  • Don’t be afraid to end the party: Lastly, don’t be afraid to tell people to go home. You may spend more money than you intended if the party lasts longer than you thought it would. If people stay longer they’ll eat and drink more. Don’t be afraid to include an “end time” on your invitation.

There are plenty of other great ways to entertain on a shoestring budget out there as well, including making your appetizers from scratch. If you’ve got something you think we should add to the list, let us know.

Photo: Italian Made

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Can You Really Plan a Family?

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Plan a family

I grew up knowing that my sister and my pregnancies were not planned out. We grew up living paycheck-to-paycheck but we never needed anything we didn’t have. I also remember the first time I learned other people planned children. Planning a family is something that always interested me but can you really plan a family? If so, how do you do it?

Can You Plan a Family?

The answer to this question isn’t an easy yes or no. Personally, I don’t think I could ever be prepared enough for a family (children, at least), which is why I’m not planning to have one. However, other people have seemingly been able to plan out their family and do it fairly successfully.

There are things you won’t be able to plan for though. You’ll never be able to fully prepare and plan for emergencies or the unexpected. For example, if your child has health problems you may wind up in debt paying for hospital bills, etc. There is no way you could have known that they’d be sickly though, so you had no way to prepare for it.

You can plan a family in other ways though. You can save money and create a solid foundation for your spouse and kids but how do you go about planning a family?

How to ‘Plan’ a Family

As stated above, there will always be costs that you cannot plan for but there are ways to plan a family. Here are a few things you’ll want to ask yourself.

  • Will you need fertility treatment? If you need fertility treatment you are likely already planning a family, however, you will need to budget additional funds to pay for any fertility treatment you receive. This is not usually covered by insurance.
  • How much time will you need off work? Most mothers (and fathers) need some time off work around the birth of their child. It is an emotional and tiring time for everyone. You’ll want to plan for how much time you’ll need off and establish with your place of work whether or not it will be paid.
  • Do you plan on using daycare? Once you return to work (if you choose to do so) you may have to pay for daycare for your child. Many establishments will care for newborns at a higher cost. You’ll want to recreate your monthly budget and add daycare to the list of bills.
  • Do you have insurance? What is covered? Some insurance companies cover most of your child’s birth but not many companies cover everything involved in the delivery (including pain meds). You’ll want to see what is and isn’t covered so that you can save the difference.
  • Do you have enough space in your current living situation for a baby? Will you have to move? If so, that is a huge expense that you’ll need to plan for.
  • Will you have any help from family? If you’ve got family in the area you may not spend as much on some things. For example, if your mother watches your child you may save the cost of daycare.
  • Do you plan on having a baby shower? If you plan on having a baby shower you can also save quite a bit and get some items you need for you child.

Each of these questions (except the first) are things people with unplanned pregnancies usually have to figure out over the span of nine months. People who plan a family are able to control how much time they have to save the money necessary for the cost of having a child. The first few years of a child’s life can be some of the most expensive so saving money is crucial for planning a family.

Once you and your partner have established savings goals and reach them, you are ready to start your family! Or, like many others, you could plan it out in nine months. What do you think? Can you plan a family? 

Photo: Crypto

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Kitchen Staples: How to Stock Your Kitchen Without Breaking the Bank

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kitchen staples

If you read Monday’s blog post you know I’m no stranger to moving. In fact, I consider myself a bit of a moving professional at this point. That being said, there are some things that go overlooked when you are starting fresh in your new place. One of the biggest rooms that gets overlooked is the kitchen.

When you are getting ready to move most people focus on getting the place furnished. Not many people are concerned with their kitchen. Of course you can bring your old pots and pans, cooking utensils, etc. from the last place but you likely won’t be moving your food.

Repurchasing all of the food items that are normally in your kitchen can get costly though. So, I came up with a kitchen staples list and a few ideas on how to stock your pantry without breaking the bank.

Kitchen Staples

Kitchen staples is a term used for those items that are always in your pantry but you may take for granted at times. Think about that bag of flour that you know is in your kitchen right now or the spices you are certain are above your stove. All of those items are staples that normally stay behind when you move from one place to another. You don’t even realize how convenient having these kitchen staples is until you need them.

  • Bread Crumbs 
  • Broth
  • Canned Tomatoes – Diced, crushed, tomato paste, etc. can come in handy with some recipes!
  • Canned Beans
  • Dressing/Sauce – You’ll need to buy ketchup, mustard, mayo, any other regular condiments as well as cooking sauces (like soy).
  • Flour
  • Frozen Goods – Frozen veggies and quick meals are great kitchen staples to have at your fingertips.
  • Minced Garlic 
  • Nuts – Read about why I always buy my nuts in bulk.
  • Oils – Cooking oils (vegetable, peanut, etc)
  • Pasta and Pasta Sauce
  • Rice
  • Salsa 
  • Spices – Depending on how expansive your spice cabinet is you may want to consider moving this with you! Spices can be pretty expensive.
  • Sweeteners 
  • Wines – Cooking wines. Again, consider moving these with you (especially if they are unopened).

Your personal kitchen staples list may vary. For instance, if you have an allergy or dietary restrictions your list may have additional or removed items from the list. You may also consider some kitchen items to be “must haves” that others do not.

Stock Your Pantry For Less

Now that you have the preliminary list of kitchen staples you may be thinking, “there is no way I can afford to restock an entire kitchen.” Well, don’t worry! There is.

In my experience the best way to combat the cost of groceries and other kitchen items is to compare prices. It is likely that you’ll be able to find most of these items on sale in your area (and there may even be a coupon circulating). You can also try shopping at Aldi (something I recommend). By switching to shopping at Aldi many people have been able to cut their grocery bill down significantly so stocking your new kitchen with groceries from there should help cost as well.

If you have any items you think should be added to the kitchen staples list or how to stock up for less, please let us know! We’d love to hear from you. 

Photo: Vogue

Get Community to Get out of Debt

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Everyone that has ever been on the road of becoming debt free, knows that you have to be “weird,” like Dave Ramsey says. There are a lot of sacrifices you and your family must make in order to live a frugal lifestyle so you can throw every penny toward your debt. We’ve all experienced that moment when [Read more…]

8 Ways to Donate Your Stuff to Help Those in Need

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You’re on a mission.

You’ve searched your house from top to bottom, closet to garage, storage box to storage shed. You pulled out everything that you wouldn’t mind parting with so that you could make some extra money.

You’re motivated to declutter and simplify your finances… and your stuff.
[Read more…]

How Alice and Scott Paid Off $200,000 of Student Loans in Less Than 7 Years

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Today I have the honor to share with you the debt free journey of one of my closest friends!

Alice and I met during our sophomore year in college back in the year 2000.

Even back then I saw how determined and focused Alice was when she set her mind on accomplishing a goal.

I am so excited to share with you how she and her husband paid off almost $200,000 of student loans in less than 7 years!

In this interview, Alice shares why they worked so hard to pay off their student loan debt and how they remained focused on their goal for so long.

Here is the interview:

ME: Thank you for sharing your story with Our Debt Free Family! Please introduce yourself so our readers can get to know you.

My name is Alice, and I’m 33 years old. I’m happily married to my best friend, Scott.  We have one son, and we just celebrated his first birthday. We live in Oregon. 

ME: Thanks, Alice! What made you decide to focus on becoming debt free?

I came from a poor upbringing, and my family never taught me how to manage my finances.

During college I opened up a credit card and ended up with about $10,000 in credit card debt. The only way I could pay the minimum balance was by doing cash advances from that same credit card.  It was the most awful feeling in the world, and I felt like I didn’t have any control over my life.

Fortunately, after my first summer internship in grad school, I was able to pay off that debt. I never wanted to put myself in that situation again.  

The only debt I felt was justified were school loans and a mortgage. I didn’t initially plan to pay off my school loans so quickly. However, when I found out that my husband and I were unable to write off the interest on our school loans for taxes, we made it our goal to pay them off quickly.

We also wanted to make sure we were debt free (besides our mortgage) by the time we had kids. <p>We also wanted to make sure we were debt free (besides our mortgage) by the time we had kids.</p>::Pexels

ME: How much debt did you pay off, and how long did it take you?

Our student loans totaled about $200,000, and we paid them off in about 6.5 years.

ME: That’s awesome! What did you do for work while you were paying off your debt and about how much did you earn during that time?

My husband and I are both pharmacists. Our total annual income is over $100,000.

ME: What sacrifices did you make to reach your goal?

I don’t feel like we really made any sacrifices.  I never had much growing up, and I’ve kept that mentality to live a more minimalistic lifestyle. We never felt the need to buy luxuries like expensive cars, jewelry, or electronics.

ME: What are your best money-saving tips?

Max out your retirement if you can.

In addition to that, automatically put a percentage of your paycheck into a separate account that you know you won’t touch so you never see that money to begin with. Then you won’t have the urge to spend it, and you can use it for your next financial goal. 

ME: That’s a smart strategy! What would you say to someone considering starting their own debt free journey?

The journey is tough, but once you’re debt free, the feeling is so rewarding – this huge weight is lifted. Also, when you get your paycheck, that money is truly yours.

ME: Mike and I can’t wait to experience that feeling! Have you made any big purchases with cash? If so, how long did it take you to save for those items?

We saved for about half a year for the car. For our vacations, it usually just took us a few months to save. For our wedding, we saved for about half a year. For our down payment for our house, it took us about two years to save.

ME: Amazing! You did all of that while you were paying off your debt! What has been the best part about your debt free journey?

Both my husband and I have the same mindset when it comes to finances, which has made our journey so much easier.

We never felt like we weren’t able to enjoy what we loved doing, which was to travel. To ensure we were still able to do that and pay off our debt simultaneously, we just reprioritized where our money went.

You can be frugal and still have fun.<p>I want to thank Alice and Scott for agreeing to share their story with us.</p>::Pexels

I want to thank Alice and Scott for agreeing to share their story with us.

While they are both pharmacists and they earn a healthy living now, that wasn’t always the case.

Alice and I spoke after the interview, and she agreed to let me share a little more about her story.

She mentioned her poor upbringing, but Alice had more challenges during her childhood than her family’s financial situation.

When she was little, she was part of a family of five that included her grandma, her younger brother, and her parents. Her dad was the sole income-producer for the family, working as a cook at a Chinese restaurant.

Her mother never worked because she had mental disabilities so Alice took on the cooking and the cleaning for the family.

When her mother’s disabilities grew worse, she became violent, and eventually, Alice’s little brother and her grandma moved to live with her uncle in another state.

Alice decided to stay with her parents and lied to avoid being placed in foster care. Her dad tried to escape from the problems at home and developed a gambling addiction, losing most of the little money that he earned for the family.

Alice started bussing tables at the age of 14 because she constantly feared that she and her parents would be out on the street at any moment.

Throughout all this, she clung to the idea that if she worked hard in school, she could create a better life for herself and her family.

She earned straight As in high school and college and put herself through graduate school (where she met Scott) so that she could provide financial stability for her own family one day.

So this is more than just a story of how two pharmacists paid off their student loans.

This is a story of how Alice chose to overcome the challenges in her childhood through consistent focus, determination, and hard work, and now, she and Scott are well on their way to achieving true financial freedom.

Where To Go From Here

If you are struggling with your student loans, know that there are options available to help you out.  One thing that a lot of people with large debts often don’t consider is balancing their payoff planning with refinancing.  If you do owe a ton, consider going with an outfit like Social Finance (SoFi) and refinancing.  If you owe more than 10% interest it might be worth your time.  Click the link here or go with the banner below to contact them.

<p>get personal loan rates</p>::Pexels

More Loan Options

If you have federal student loans, you can look into income-driven repayment plans that can limit your monthly payments to a percentage of your income. If you have a good job and credit score, you may be eligible for student loan refinancing. In this case, a lender will pay off your old loans and issue you a new one with either a lower interest rate or lower monthly payment. To learn more about refinancing, check out this resource.

For more of our great articles, consider reading these:

How To Pay Off Debt When You’re Behind On Your Bills
How Lauren Greutman, The Recovering Spender, Paid Off $40,000 of Debt
Learn About How Ron and Thu Paid Off 137,000 in 7 Years
Easily Save Money With Paribus
Frustrated With Great Lakes
Walmart Savings Catcher Phone Number