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Micah’s Unexpected Hospital Stay

How To Graduate College Debt-Free

What I Got Wednesday: Tamara Scored a Great Deal on Trash Bags!

Gretchen’s $115 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Plan for 6!

Crystal’s $147 Kroger Delivery Order

Micah’s Unexpected Hospital Stay

This episode is a reminder to trust your God-given intuition. If you feel something is wrong or off, get it checked out.

In this podcast, we share the story of Micah getting really sick recently and how it ended up landing him in the hospital. We got so many questions from you all about his illness and how we knew when it was time to take him to the hospital/what we experienced, that I thought recording a podcast episode sharing in-depth might be helpful.

We’re so grateful that Micah is doing better now and fully back to his sweet, busy, silly self! We missed all his smiles and laughter and singing while he was sick!

In this episode, we also give an update on what we’re reading, share a reader’s response to last week’s episode, and we have a fun and friendly “argument” over audiobooks.

In This Episode

[0:35] – This week, we’re sharing about Micah’s recent sickness and hospital stay.
[1:27] – Jesse is still reading Three Felonies A Day by Harvey Silvergate and Alan M. Dershowitz because it’s a dense read.
[2:01] – I’ve been reading I Want God by Lisa Whittle.
[4:10] – I share a message from a listener about commentary in last episode about Farmer Boy.
[6:07] – Jesse and I have a friendly discussion about whether audiobooks count as “reading” and he shares about the John Grisham audiobooks he’s listened to recently, including Jake Brigance trilogy.
[8:45] – I had a very full weekend planned, including my last girls-only youth group camp and attending my friend’s wedding, but that all changed when Micah got sick.
[12:04] – We knew we needed to do something and ended up calling and asking about getting Zofran.
[14:01] – Micah’s symptoms persisted, prompting a pediatrician visit.
[18:39] – We ended up in the ER and it took many attempts plus two rounds of sedatives to finally get the IV in.
[24:31] – After hours of IV fluids in the ER, they ended up deciding to admit Micah as his labs didn’t look good.
[29:23] – I touch upon some of the lessons that were learned from this experience.

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine

Books

Crystal Paine on Instagram
Crystal Paine on Goodreads
Money Saving Mom
Money Saving Mom on Facebook
Money Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook group
crystal@moneysavingmom.com

How To Graduate College Debt-Free

Are the rising costs of college tuition concerning you and your teens? Do you think piles of college debt are inevitable? Keep reading for a bunch of clever ways you might be able to shave thousands off your tuition bills!

Whenever I talk about Jesse going to law school debt-free, I find that people can’t fathom how this could be possible.

There’s a real belief out there that most college graduates will end up with lots of student loans — that this debt is “unavoidable.”

I wholeheartedly disagree!

10+ Ideas for Saving on College Tuition

With a little bit of effort, a little bit of research, and a can-do attitude, I’m confident you or your student can get a college degree with little to no debt at all.

Don’t believe me?

Here are just a few ideas to get you thinking…

1. Attend an in-state school.

In most U.S. states, it is significantly less expensive to attend an in-state school versus an out-of-state school or private school.

There are also a variety of “state scholarships” you can qualify for if you attend a state school in your own state (with a certain GPA + SAT/ACT scores).

Tennessee has both TN Promise and TH Hope scholarships for these students — adding up to a few thousand dollars per semester! Other states have similar programs: Florida has Bright Futures, Georgia has the Hope Scholarship, etc.

2. Choose a less expensive college for gen ed credits.

Community colleges are a great way to get lots of general education credits out of the way before transferring to a 4-year college or university, and their cost per credit is much less expensive!

Just do your research to make sure the credits will transfer.

3. Live off campus.

While you might miss out on some of the campus life activities, you’ll also “miss out” on a huge amount of debt!

Dorms are often very pricey, and our girls are each saving $10,000 – $12,000 per year by living off campus!!

4. Live on campus.

Yes, there are two sides to every coin!

If you can find a scholarship that applies to room and board, there are lots of ways to save by living on campus.

For example, you don’t need to drive to and from the school each day, saving gas (and time). And — if your scholarship could be applied toward the meal plan — that would save you money on food as you wouldn’t need to buy many groceries.

5. Apply for every scholarship you can find.

There are SO many scholarships available these days — you just need to hunt for them.

One follower mentioned her daughter applied for several $500 scholarships. She got them since she was the only one who applied — and they all added up to big savings!

Yes, it takes some work, but it could pay off big-time (literally!).

6. Look for specific scholarships from your school.

Once you decide what school you will attend, find all the scholarships available and start applying.

You can often “stack” various scholarships (just like coupons!) for an even deeper discount.

Some followers mentioned that their kids got more scholarships than the cost of tuition and were able to use the overages to pay for room and board, meal plans, and even books!

7. Take AP or Dual Enrollment classes in high school.

Many high schools offer Advanced Placement (A.P.) and Dual Enrollment classes that count for college credit while the students are still in high school.

It’s not uncommon for high school seniors to graduate with 20 or more college credits that will then transfer to their college and provide an opportunity to graduate a semester or more early (saving TONS on tuition).

8. Know what your income qualifies for.

You might be surprised by what is considered “low income”, especially if you have multiple kids around college age at the same time. Be sure to fill out your FAFSA form, even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for financial aid.

Do a little research to figure out if you qualify for state funding or grants that could be applied to college tuition. These do not need to be paid back and are essentially the same as a scholarship.

9. Encourage teens to start saving.

Help your teens find part-time jobs during the school year (and especially during summer months) to save up money for college tuition.

It’s not unreasonable to challenge your high school and college students to save $5,000 – $10,000 per year to put towards tuition.

In most cases, they can still work part-time while keeping up with their school work and participating in extracurricular activities.

10. Find a job with tuition reimbursement.

And speaking of teens finding part-time work, more and more companies are reimbursing college students for each credit they get while working for the company.

This is a great option for people working in a specific field who go back to get a Master’s or Doctorate, but there are also many entry-level jobs that will pay for a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.

Places like Chipotle, Walmart, Costco, Starbucks, Papa John’s, and Amazon offer reimbursement programs for full- and part-time employees.

11. Become an R.A. (Resident Assistant).

Most colleges and universities offer free (or very reduced) room and board to students who would like to serve as an R.A. for their dorm floor.

This could shave off a huge portion of their overall tuition bill, teach valuable leadership skills, and provide ample opportunities for getting involved with campus life and other fun activities around campus.

12. Work for the college.

Many colleges offer on-campus jobs for students — both during the year and over the summer.

One follower said that her child went to College of the Ozarks and got FREE tuition for working 15 hours per week (plus two 40-hour weeks) during the year!! They also have the option to work during the summer to pay for room and board.

Another follower mentioned that her husband got his Master’s degree completely free by first getting a job at the university he wanted to attend. The university offered free tuition that covered everything but books!

What else would you add to this list?

As you can see, there are so many ways to significantly reduce the rising cost of college tuition — you just have to get creative and be willing to do the research/work.

Remind yourself how thankful your “future self” will be without the burden of deep college debt. That should be motivation enough to keep pushing forward when you’re tired of all those scholarship applications!

We’d love to continue this conversation in the comments…

Do you have any other ideas for how to graduate from college debt-free?

What I Got Wednesday: Tamara Scored a Great Deal on Trash Bags!

We’re excited to roll out a brand new feature called What I Got Wednesday — where we share some of the best savings submitted to us by readers!

This Week’s Savings Spotlight: Tamara’s Savings on Trash Bags!

Check out the deal Tamara scored on trash bags!

“Recently Walmart has been pulling products off the shelves and marking them way down to move quickly. I couldn’t understand why until I saw the shelves where the products used to sit. Products include diapers, feminine hygiene, trash bags, etc. All name brands are changing quantities and raising prices. For example, tampons going are going up two dollars, yet four less in box. I checked other stores and some were offering this online. I’ve gotten several great deals including Hefty bags for $5 and $3 a box! Some other brands were only $1.50 for scented!”

Want To Be Featured?

Want to submit your savings for a chance to be featured? Simply go HERE and fill out the form! Each week, we’ll pick a few of the best submissions to be featured.

(And we might even throw in a fun little surprise for you if you’re picked! Free coffee, anyone?!)

Gretchen’s $115 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Plan for 6!

Aldi

1 gallon Milk

1 carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $5.19

2 cartons Half & Half – $2.79 each

2 boxes Mac & Cheese – $0.57 each

1 bag Frozen Chicken Breasts – $8.49

1 bag Flour – $2.35

1 bag Sugar – $2.85

1 dozen Eggs – $2.05 (We’ve gotten several dozen free eggs from our neighbor’s chickens the last week so will mostly be using those!)

2 cans Green Beans – $0.63 each

1 bag Potatoes – $3.49

1 can Refried Beans – $0.99

1 pkg Roast – $8.81

1 bag Flour Tortillas – $1.95

1 bag Potato Chips – $2.19

1 box Protein Bars – $4.69

1 pkg Cheese Singles – $1.95

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup – $0.67

1 Honey – $4.99

2 pkg Chocolate Chips – $1.59 each

1 bag Shredded Cheese – $3.69

1 Olive Oil – $4.89

1 Ranch Dressing – $1.95

1 Strawberry Preserves – $2.39

1 Grape Jelly – $2.55

1 Apple Juice – $1.89

1 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.95

1 bag Peppers – $3.19

1 bag Caesar Salad – $2.79

1 Cucumber – $0.95

1 Pineapple – $2.89

1 bag Romaine Lettuce – $2.89

1 bag Oranges – $2.99

1 Hot Dog Buns – $1.29

2 loaves Bread – $1.25 each

1 bag Red Grapes – $3.63

Total: $105.25

Grocery Outlet

1 Frozen Waffle Fries – $0.99

1 box Protein Waffles – $2.49

2 Skippy Peanut Butter – $1.99 each

2 Ketchup – $0.50 each

2 boxes Airly Crackers – $1 each

Total: $10.46

Total for all groceries: $115.71

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Eggs, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Yogurt, Oatmeal, Waffles

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches/Chips/Grapes x 3, Turkey Sandwiches/Crackers/Yogurt/Veggies x 2, Mac & Cheese/Oranges, Leftovers

Dinners

Grilled Steak (my husband picked this up last week on clearance and froze it), Waffle Fries, Biscuits, Caesar Salad, Homemade Ice Cream

Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon

Chicken Noodle Casserole, Apple Muffins, Steamed Broccoli

Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, Homemade Breadsticks

Bean Burritos, Chips & Salsa, Sliced Oranges

Tossed Salad Bar with Grilled Chicken, Banana Muffins

Pizza & Breadsticks

Crystal’s $147 Kroger Delivery Order

I’m continuing to love using Kroger Boost and getting groceries delivered straight to my door without spending extra for delivery or a tip (tipping is not allowed with Kroger Boost when you use a Kroger delivery truck).

The Giant boxes of General Mills cereal were on sale for $3.49 with the digital coupon, so of course I got 5 of them! I was excited because there was a flash sale at checkout to get a gallon of organic whole milk for $3, so we had lots of cereal this week for breakfasts, snacks, and even some people ate it for a quick dinner a few times!

Apples were on sale for $2.99 for a 3-pound bag. The kids’ favorite Nestle drumsticks were on sale for $3.99 each. I get the boxes with the small cones and there are 20 in the box, so it ends up being a pretty affordable really fun snack, especially for the little kids!

The Keebler Peanut Butter Cracker packs were $1.99 for the 8 pack and Kierstyn had one in her lunch every day at school this week and will have them next week and the following week, too!

Strawberries were on sale for $3.99 for the large tubs. I got a big jar of Smucker’s natural peanut butter completely free because I had a coupon for a free jar of Kroger peanut butter and they were out of the natural peanut butter so they substituted a much larger jar of Smucker’s!

Digiorno Pizzas were on sale for $3.99 each. I always like to have 4-5 frozen pizzas on hand at any given time + brownie mix so that we can invite teens over at the last minute and always have something to feed them!

All total for these groceries with tax (yes, we have tax on food in TN), it was a little under $148! Right under our $150 weekly grocery budget — yay!