Making the Most out of Mommy Blogging: The Woman Behind Money Saving Mom
Crystal Paine is not your average mommy blogger. She doesn't tell you about her day or post picture-perfect images of her lifestyle for you to envy. The homeschooling mom of three based in Kansas wants to help you make ends meet, to use many pieces of information to make choices about everyday purchases. With 4 million pageviews a month, she operates one of the most well-known coupon-clipping blogs in the country, and her new book, The Money Saving Mom's Budget (Gallery Books), wraps all of her practices up in one place.
Paine told Her.meneutics that her blogging began as any other site back in 2004. "I mentioned that I spent $17 on groceries that week, and people started asking, 'How on earth did you do that?' " she said.
She created an online course that taught some basic strategies, such as how to create a meal plan and how to combine the manufacturers' and store's coupons for a double deal. "People were saying, 'I need more practical information. I need you to break it down: what should I buy at the store this week? The goal was finding practical ways to save on groceries," she said. So her blog turned into a mix of posts, including daily deals on products, tips for managing money, and ways to live more simply.
Paine, who attends an independent Baptist church with Southern Baptist leanings, sees her blog as a different kind of ministry model, one that helps people get down to the nitty-gritty details about their finances.
"I try not to use 'Christianese' so someone who is unchurched can't catch on," she said, noting that she points to her faith in various posts. "I see it as though I'm digging a well. I'm providing people help with food and clothing, helping them get out of debt, and then they're open to hearing the gospel."
On the surface, most of Paine's posts show you how to get free samples, save a few bucks, or organize your life. But she says her readers glean bigger principles.
Her mantra is to find deals, stretch your money, live on less, save more, and give more.
"It's not just about saving money but about having a purpose and a plan for your money," Paine said. "If you don't have a budget, you're not going to know if you're saving money in the first place."
I asked her about studies that suggest people may end up spending more if they have a coupon. "It's not a good deal if you can't afford it," she insists. "It's not a good deal if you don't need it. If it's going to take up space in your home, don't buy it."
As with any financial site, her blog features several advertisements along the site. She sends money made from six ad spots (about $36,000 a year) to Compassion International and Show Hope, the adoption ministry singer Stephen Curtis Chapman created. All of the proceeds from her book will go to Compassion.
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Sports Turf
My sister just got married last month and she's been asking help from me on how she can have a good start with her life's new chapter. My friend told me that book is the answer. Now I'm planning to have a copy and gift it for my sister this Christmas. Wish us luck, guys!
Shari Lynne @ Faith Filled Food for Moms
I LOVE Crystal..I have been following her for a long time and she has been such a great encouragement!! So happy to see this post about her. Blessings!
Melanie
I love that Crystal outlines how you can do this step through baby step. She assists take the mystery from budgeting and how you can truly live free of debt. And you will not find academic theories here -- Crystal is living it, proof it works. Its not always easy, also it takes discipline however it can be carried out. I discovered this audio book motivating personally - to keep pushing on as they say. It was actually the first guide I have listened to along with headphones, and I loved having it in audio contact form because I could pay attention to it while obtaining my house or planning dinner. The chapters are very well divided so that you can pretty much pay attention to it as you are able to one chapter each time. Melanie santa ana homes for sale
Murano
I love to hear these kind of stories: stories of success and charity, where you can clearly see the touch of God. - I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. -
JANE HINRICHS
This lady found her passion, her talent and is sharing it with the world. Wow - -this is great! Lord, bless her ministry big time. I appreciate that she has only six outfits and gives so much money away. Sometimes I admit I read a blog like this and realize how much I fall short in this kind of thing -- coupons just don't work for me. I don't know -- I get a bit of self-condemnation when I realize I will never excel in something like this. But we all have our own gifts. I like the idea of not buying something if it is just going to take up space in the house. I love to get rid of cluttter and stuff (though kids love to keep so much stuff)
JANE HINRICHS
This lady found her passion, her talent and is sharing it with the world. Wow - -this is great! Lord, bless her ministry big time. I appreciate that she has only six outfits and gives so much money away. Sometimes I admit I read a blog like this and realize how much I fall short in this kind of thing -- coupons just don't work for me. I don't know -- I get a bit of self-condemnation when I realize I will never excel in something like this. But we all have our own gifts. I like the idea of not buying something if it is just going to take up space in the house. I love to get rid of cluttter and stuff (though kids love to keep so much stuff)
Marcy King
This sounds like an interesting book for sure. My children are grown now, but I used to coupon on a weekly basis myself. Many a time, I took a $90.00 grocery bill and trimmed it $30.00 or $40.00. I thought that was impressive, but it appears that Mrs.Paine is still a few steps ahead of me. At the time, I was a single parent and working full time, so clipping coupons and comparing them to weekly sales was a scheduled event for me. I generally spent about 2 hours with the Sunday paper making lists of what was on sale where and recording coupons that went with the sales. Admittedly, I bought items I might have otherwise, but with three teenaged boys, it was seldom that ANY food went uneaten. Crystal seems to have some wonderful ideas just from reading this article. I'll have to check her book out as a potential gift for my daughter-in-law now that she is the one with multiple hungry appetites to feed.
Marcy King
This sounds like an interesting book for sure. My children are grown now, but I used to coupon on a weekly basis myself. Many a time, I took a $90.00 grocery bill and trimmed it $30.00 or $40.00. I thought that was impressive, but it appears that Mrs.Paine is still a few steps ahead of me. At the time, I was a single parent and working full time, so clipping coupons and comparing them to weekly sales was a scheduled event for me. I generally spent about 2 hours with the Sunday paper making lists of what was on sale where and recording coupons that went with the sales. Admittedly, I bought items I might have otherwise, but with three teenaged boys, it was seldom that ANY food went uneaten. Crystal seems to have some wonderful ideas just from reading this article. I'll have to check her book out as a potential gift for my daughter-in-law now that she is the one with multiple hungry appetites to feed.
Suzy
Very inspiring! I like that she points out that not all coupons are a good deal. I also like that she encourages and models giving as a way to be frugal! Many Christians think that good stewardship means being stingy!
Suzy
Very inspiring! I like that she points out that not all coupons are a good deal. I also like that she encourages and models giving as a way to be frugal! Many Christians think that good stewardship means being stingy!
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