$300 12-Week Christmas Money Saving Challenge

I know, I know...a lot of challenges all at once but that's just the mood I've been in. ;-) Our 30-Day Full Body Fitness Challenge starts on the first (or you can start now, if you want!). We haven't had a finance challenge in awhile so why not now?!

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I promise I am going to post more soon about our lifestyle, how we live below our means, and share more about how we save (you can read about some of it here and here). There's just a lot of different angles for me to go into and I get overwhelmed so that's why I haven't published it yet. ;-) BUT I did want to go ahead and publish this 12-Week Saving Challenge so that you have time to get started before the holidays. Read on though, there's more.

My family wasn't that crazy about birthdays, and by crazy, I mean we weren't over the top. Growing up, Christmas was always our big holiday. Just a side note, my family has been selling Christmas trees for over 30 years at our family farm. Christmas was when our entire family got together and it was truly a special day and time. We did also get a lot of presents for Christmas but nothing extreme, especially compared to some stuff I've seen lately. When Scott and I got married we did continue on with the what some would consider "over the top" Christmas. We didn't really spend a lot of money but still felt the need to exchange gifts even if it was something that we already knew about (which it always was).

Fast forward, now Scott and I don't give each other gifts. Instead we save our money for trips and other experiences. People always ask how we travel so much and it's because we don't give anniversary, birthday, Christmas gifts, or gifts for any other holiday or made up holiday in between. I'm not saying that this is the answer for everyone but it allows us to spend money on what truly matters to us, instead of spending money on things.

RELATED: Read about our travels.

Not only do we save the money we don't spend on traditional gifts to travel but we also try to donate our time and money to charities throughout the year and during the holidays. The way that we look at it is there are so many people in this world who have so much less than we do. Instead of buying each other something that's just going to sit around we would rather help other people. That's why I wanted to create this challenge. You can use this challenge to save money to buy gifts for your friends and/or family or you could use the challenge to save money to use for "random acts of kindness" throughout the holiday season - and even continue it into the new year! No judgement here - it's your challenge and you use the saved money as you see fit.

If you follow this money saving challenge you will end up saving $300 in 12 weeks. This amount of money can easily be saved each week if you cut back on your dining out, drinks out, and unnecessary and small purchases that you probably overlook right now. Things like buying coffee, soft drinks, appetizers, and desserts add up quickly! Skip those!

If you do plan on using this money for "random acts of kindness" some ideas are paying for a strangers gas, food, or even put together bags for the homeless or a local hospital! The possibilities are endless! You don't have to spend money to be kind to others though, you can volunteer with local organizations or visit nursing homes or hospitals. Hopefully what you receive in return will encourage you to continue this after the holidays.

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Interested in more money saving challenges? Try one of these:

Save $1,000 in 3 Months

3 Month Money Saving Challenge

Beginner 6 Month Money Saving Challenge

52-Week Money Saving Challenge

12 Month Money Challenge

$300 12-Week Christmas Money Saving Challenge

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Looking for a printable version of this challenge? We've got you covered! Join our newsletter and you will be taken to a black and white printable version right away! Grab the printable challenge here.

Eat Clean Food Prep {Winter Favorites}

Last week we shared our favorite winter food prep recipes and here they are in action! We actually tend to make the same things year-round but definitely, add in more of the chili and soup during the winter! This week we had a pretty big food prep so we are ready to tackle the week!

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Eat Clean Food Prep {Winter Favorites}

Proteins:

• Honey Chipotle Ground Chicken
• Greek Chicken
• Chicken Salad
• Bison Chili
• Eggs
• Protein Bars

Carbs:

• Quinoa
• Sweet-Sweet Potato Cubes

Misc:

• Juice

You can learn more about food prep on this page and also read about our eBook here.

Winter Food Prep Recipes

Side Note: Time is running out to join our Winter Workout Challenge! The last day to join is Monday (Jan 25!). Get the details here.

Ahh, it's the time of year where the days are short (light wise) but seem to last forever. It's easy to fall back into bad habits because it's "too cold" to do anything and it's easy to just cover up! Don't give up, we want you to continue and/or start your healthy habits this winter!

While we will certainly eat anything at anytime of year, we definitely have our favorite winter recipes. Nice warm soups and chilis, hearty and filling sides, and fragrant breakfast recipes! Below are a few of our favorite foods to prepare in advance during the winter time. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Winter Food Prep Recipes

Crock Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats - Prepare a big batch of these delicious oats overnight and you will have a yummy smelling house AND a yummy breakfast for days! These are great hot OR cold! There's a good reason they have been one of our top recipes for years! Pair this with eggs (we help you boil, scramble, or make an omelet!) or another protein source (here are some options if you don't like eggs!) for a complete meal.

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Turkey Chili - It sounds like an odd combination but - trust me - it is amazing. This is another one of our top recipes! You get everything you need for a complete meal...protein and fiber! Eat it for lunch or dinner! We usually make ours with ground chicken breasts instead of turkey.

Southwest Style Bison Chili with Quinoa - Scott LOVES this recipe. It's easy to make and tastes great leftover. We actually like it cold (as leftovers) but it's delicious warmed up again too!

Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash - These are similar to our Sweet-Sweet Potato Cubes but I love butternut squash this time of year. Seriously, they will melt in your mouth and you might have a hard time putting them away after you prep them.

Creamy Broccoli Salad - This is the perfect option if you are looking to get more veggies in but in a creative way! Eat a small bowl as a side dish with a meal or pack it into a large bowl for a complete meal on its own! This recipe comes from our friend, Kenzie at Hettman Homestead.

Need a little help with food prep? We have an ebook for you! Also, browse the posts below for food prep inspiration!