This week has been busy and it has taken me a little time to get to the freebies. I am happy to announce that I have received the following freebies:
Iams sauce (for dogs)
Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner
Nexxus Shampoo and conditioner
Fructis Shampoo and Conditioner
Fructis Styling Gel
Colgae toothpaste
Here are some freebies I thought you might enjoy....
free can of mighty dog
Free sample of GODIVA truffles!!!! (Betsy and Nilka you SEE this right?!?!)
Feature films for Family Free DVD
Receive a free sample of Shampoo2go!
free Reynolds Wrap Foil "Grillaxation" Kit.
Free samples of Powerclean Inustries Products
Free sample of Guittard chocolate
Free Mini DiorKiss sample
Free Christian license plates!
Receive a Free Bag Coupon for a 5 lb. bag of any Natural Choice® Dog Food or 4 lb. bag of any Natural Choice® Complete Care® Cat Food
FREE samples of SCHMACKOS MADE WITH REAL BACON
AMC theaters Free small popcorn coupon!
By the way, my kids went to see XMen 3 and four of them got to use their AMC coupons for free popcorn with no problems!!!!
Enjoy your freebies.......
Related Posts
More Freebies
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Freebies for the Week of May 22
This week, I received my free sample of Aquafresh Whitening and a $1.00 coupon. I already put the coupon in my bag, so I can check out the prices in the neighborhood supermarkets. That way I can determine where the use of the coupon will get me the toothpaste for FREE!! I know, I'm too much. Well, I have to be frugal because so many kids deplete any supplies very quickly!
I hope you can use some of the products and save some money from your budget!
Here is the freebie post.
The Salty Don has free sea salt samples!
Advil Allergy Sinus
Schick Quattro For Women
National Foundation for Cancer Research is offering FREE mailing address labels
Free Cheek color from pauladorf.com
Free sample of Fibersure
Free 12 months subscription for Electronic Gaming Monthly
Four Seasons Pet Care Free catalog and samples
Free Sample of Safe-Guard Dewormer
Free Sample Kit (Shopping Bags)
Enter now to win one of 500 Dove Energy Glow™ product samples
Nexus Hair products, Nivea for men, contact lenses, etc
Complimentary Sample of NAUTICA VOYAGE
FREE Kick Asphalt Sunglasses
FREE Billy Graham book Hope For the Troubled Heart
Free Bausch & Lomb wear and care kit!
NEW Dove Calming Night
Clorox Toilet Cleaner Sample
Free sample of Aquaphor's Healing Ointment
Related Posts
Previous Freebie Posts
I hope you can use some of the products and save some money from your budget!
Here is the freebie post.
The Salty Don has free sea salt samples!
Advil Allergy Sinus
Schick Quattro For Women
National Foundation for Cancer Research is offering FREE mailing address labels
Free Cheek color from pauladorf.com
Free sample of Fibersure
Free 12 months subscription for Electronic Gaming Monthly
Four Seasons Pet Care Free catalog and samples
Free Sample of Safe-Guard Dewormer
Free Sample Kit (Shopping Bags)
Enter now to win one of 500 Dove Energy Glow™ product samples
Nexus Hair products, Nivea for men, contact lenses, etc
Complimentary Sample of NAUTICA VOYAGE
FREE Kick Asphalt Sunglasses
FREE Billy Graham book Hope For the Troubled Heart
Free Bausch & Lomb wear and care kit!
NEW Dove Calming Night
Clorox Toilet Cleaner Sample
Free sample of Aquaphor's Healing Ointment
Related Posts
Previous Freebie Posts
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
How To Shop At The Mall, But Pay LESS!
Yes, you can shop at the mall and get better deals than those on ebay. How do you think those people sell new merchandise for so little? I know how. My sister bought me a All-In-One (scanner, printer, copier, fax machine) for Christmas because she believes I can become rich just selling on ebay. My family marvels at my shopping skills and they love to accompany me because I find the sales and make my own! My children and I love brand name clothing and I buy them what they like, but I don't pay full price. How do I do it? Let me teach you the secrets.
All the sales are at your fingertips with the internet. I love the internet. It makes saving money on purchases sooooo easy. As long as you have a printer, you can always make your own sale! Let me tell you what happened last week. My kids wanted sneakers. The brands they like are pretty expensive. I have a Winner's Circle FinishLine card for frequent shopeers and they had mailed me a coupon for $20.00 off a $20.00 purchase and another for $10.00 off a $60.00 purchase. (Ok, so you're thinking...I don't have a frequent shopper card?!) If you don't have a frequent shopper card or a coupon you can go to the store's web site and print one up. Here is the Finishline site. If you look on the bottom of the site you will find the image that says Instore Coupon. Print it and use it in the store. You just made your own sale! If the coupon allows you to purchase merchandise that's on sale or clearance, you can end up getting it for free or for very little money. Let me give you an example, I went to Finishline with my kids. The pink Timberland boots (for girls of course!) were on sale for $29.99. I had a coupon for $20.00 off a $20.00 purchase. My final price for the boots was $9.99 plus tax!
Many stores have web sites that have coupons you can print and use at the store. Another way that you can get a coupon is by signing up to your favorite store's email list found on their web site. You will always get prior notification of sales events, offers such as 20% off a purchase and coupons by email and snail mail.
Just to prove my point, here are some of the coupons I use as well as some links to sites that give you coupons to sign up for their email list:
NY&Company
Old Navy
ChuckECheese
The Picture People
Another way I get coupons and certificates is from the store credit cards. If you have an Old Navy card, Express Card, JCPenney card or any other store, then check your mail. They often send postcards, sale catalogs, and other mailings with coupons and/or certificates right to your home. JCPenney always sneds me two $10.00 certificates good on a $10.00 purchase for Mother's Day and another one on my birthday! The coupon can be used on any purchase, so I usually look for something that is little more than $10.00 so that I pay very little for it. For example, I usually buy several packs of socks or tshirts for my kids. The final cost is usually less then $2.00! Sears is another one that sends these coupons, but they are usually in the inside over of the catalog they send to your home. Most people just toss it and never realize they could have gotten something FOR FREE!!!
I have never read any blog entries that actually EXPLAINED how to shop for name brands and pay less. I have taught my sisters and my kids this savvy shopping tip and they love it. Yes, there are clearance racks, sales, vintage (used clothing) stores and ebay, but paying almost nothing for your purchases in the actual stores? Like the commercial says.....Priceless!!!!!!!
Related Posts
How To Use Coupons To Cut Your Grocery Bill!
All the sales are at your fingertips with the internet. I love the internet. It makes saving money on purchases sooooo easy. As long as you have a printer, you can always make your own sale! Let me tell you what happened last week. My kids wanted sneakers. The brands they like are pretty expensive. I have a Winner's Circle FinishLine card for frequent shopeers and they had mailed me a coupon for $20.00 off a $20.00 purchase and another for $10.00 off a $60.00 purchase. (Ok, so you're thinking...I don't have a frequent shopper card?!) If you don't have a frequent shopper card or a coupon you can go to the store's web site and print one up. Here is the Finishline site. If you look on the bottom of the site you will find the image that says Instore Coupon. Print it and use it in the store. You just made your own sale! If the coupon allows you to purchase merchandise that's on sale or clearance, you can end up getting it for free or for very little money. Let me give you an example, I went to Finishline with my kids. The pink Timberland boots (for girls of course!) were on sale for $29.99. I had a coupon for $20.00 off a $20.00 purchase. My final price for the boots was $9.99 plus tax!
Many stores have web sites that have coupons you can print and use at the store. Another way that you can get a coupon is by signing up to your favorite store's email list found on their web site. You will always get prior notification of sales events, offers such as 20% off a purchase and coupons by email and snail mail.
Just to prove my point, here are some of the coupons I use as well as some links to sites that give you coupons to sign up for their email list:
NY&Company
Old Navy
ChuckECheese
The Picture People
Another way I get coupons and certificates is from the store credit cards. If you have an Old Navy card, Express Card, JCPenney card or any other store, then check your mail. They often send postcards, sale catalogs, and other mailings with coupons and/or certificates right to your home. JCPenney always sneds me two $10.00 certificates good on a $10.00 purchase for Mother's Day and another one on my birthday! The coupon can be used on any purchase, so I usually look for something that is little more than $10.00 so that I pay very little for it. For example, I usually buy several packs of socks or tshirts for my kids. The final cost is usually less then $2.00! Sears is another one that sends these coupons, but they are usually in the inside over of the catalog they send to your home. Most people just toss it and never realize they could have gotten something FOR FREE!!!
I have never read any blog entries that actually EXPLAINED how to shop for name brands and pay less. I have taught my sisters and my kids this savvy shopping tip and they love it. Yes, there are clearance racks, sales, vintage (used clothing) stores and ebay, but paying almost nothing for your purchases in the actual stores? Like the commercial says.....Priceless!!!!!!!
Related Posts
How To Use Coupons To Cut Your Grocery Bill!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
How To Use Paid To Read Sites!
There are several ways to make money really quickly on the internet. Paid to read sites are the fastest way to make money online. There are many of these sites, I am giving you a few of the best sites I am using. Before you jump in and start earning some cash, let me give you some helpful tips.
Maximizing Your Profits With PTR Sites
1. You sign up for free offers and/or do some surveys. They credit your account with cash. Want quick credit to your account? Use paypal!
***Every site's payout amount is different.***
2. Some of the the companies also offer incentives such as free gift cards for gas, rebates and additional gifts. Take advantage of the deals you can really use. You'll get both cash and a gift.
3. Read all the fine print (TOS) for each offer. You want to get free services and cash. You don't want to get stuck with a membership that you may not want.
4. Have a pen, paper and calendar handy. Write down the date that the trial offer ends. For example, if it is a free 14 day trial, count 14 days and write down the date as a reminder. I advise you to also write down a note to cancel a few days before, just to be cautious. (If you are thinking of canceling.)
5. Remember, you don't have to cancel the membership if you enjoy it.
Here are some of the best programs. Why do I think so? They credit your account almost instantly and they use paypal!
This site is great because you can get your first payout immediately (by paypal). Think before you make that payout request. In order to get another instant payout, you must have 3 referrals ir wait until the 15th of the month. If you do many offers on your first try, it will be a big intital payout. They send out emails sporadically to remind you to take advantage of the offers.
MaviShare
These are the two most profitable PTR sites so far. They do not send emails. You make money by signing up for free trials and offers. They also give you a $5.00 sign up bonus. Their best feature is that they use paypal to disperse payments.
InstantProfitz
FusionCash
This one will not send emails and gives you a $3.00 sign up bonus.
These send you emails that are worth .03 to .05 cents each. You get several a week. You can also make money by signing up for offers and they give you a $5.00 bonus to sign up. The payout is $40.00, but they charge you a $3.00 fee to process a check (that is their only payment option for cash payouts). I call these two my piggy banks!
Maximizing Your Profits With PTR Sites
1. You sign up for free offers and/or do some surveys. They credit your account with cash. Want quick credit to your account? Use paypal!
***Every site's payout amount is different.***
2. Some of the the companies also offer incentives such as free gift cards for gas, rebates and additional gifts. Take advantage of the deals you can really use. You'll get both cash and a gift.
3. Read all the fine print (TOS) for each offer. You want to get free services and cash. You don't want to get stuck with a membership that you may not want.
4. Have a pen, paper and calendar handy. Write down the date that the trial offer ends. For example, if it is a free 14 day trial, count 14 days and write down the date as a reminder. I advise you to also write down a note to cancel a few days before, just to be cautious. (If you are thinking of canceling.)
5. Remember, you don't have to cancel the membership if you enjoy it.
Here are some of the best programs. Why do I think so? They credit your account almost instantly and they use paypal!
This site is great because you can get your first payout immediately (by paypal). Think before you make that payout request. In order to get another instant payout, you must have 3 referrals ir wait until the 15th of the month. If you do many offers on your first try, it will be a big intital payout. They send out emails sporadically to remind you to take advantage of the offers.
MaviShare
These are the two most profitable PTR sites so far. They do not send emails. You make money by signing up for free trials and offers. They also give you a $5.00 sign up bonus. Their best feature is that they use paypal to disperse payments.
InstantProfitz
FusionCash
This one will not send emails and gives you a $3.00 sign up bonus.
These send you emails that are worth .03 to .05 cents each. You get several a week. You can also make money by signing up for offers and they give you a $5.00 bonus to sign up. The payout is $40.00, but they charge you a $3.00 fee to process a check (that is their only payment option for cash payouts). I call these two my piggy banks!
How to Use Coupons to Save Money
Recently, I was in the supermarket. A stranger started a conversation and that's when I realized....not everyone knows how to use coupons! I guess it was silly of me to make the assumption that everyone is aware of how to use them. To me, it's just common sense, but that's what the mechanic thinks when he replaces my brakes. So here is a tutorial and some sites that will get you started with some coupons and a savings in your budget. You know what they say "practice makes perfect!"
Coupons are a way for companies to attract consumers to purchase their products. They provide a 50 cent coupon with the hope that you will use it and buy their product. That may not seem like a huge savings, but it may bring the price down lower than the no frills brand and for some savvy, frugal shoppers...that may be the perfect bait. Now, using coupons gets a little more exciting when you have a supermarket that doubles or even triples them. Now your 50 cent coupon is worth $1.00 or $1.50. What does this mean for you? Well, if the product costs $2.29 and you have a 50 cent coupon and your supermarket doubles the face value, your total cost is now $1.29. If the supermarket triples the coupons, your total cost is 79 cents! That sounds great, doesn't it? Now you want to go and test this out, don't you?
Let me give you a couple of tips before you start on your quest for free groceries.
1. Read the coupons before you get to the register. It may say "Do not Double" or it may specify a certain variety or a certain size. You don't want to end up paying more because you didn't pay attention to the details.
2. Always check the expiration dates on the coupons.
3. Make sure your supermarket takes coupons. There are some warehouse supermarkets that claim to have rockbottom prices and so they don't honor any coupons.
4. Some supermarkets have register tapes that have coupons printed on them. These coupons can be combined with your regular coupons therefore multiplying your savings!
Where can you find these precious coupons? Coupons can be found in magazines, in a Sunday' newspaper in the form of an insert and even in your mailbox! My favorite place to get them is online. Every product has a customer service number on the label. You can either call the 1-800 number and ask to be added to their mailing list or you can use their email address to sign up for deals and newsletters delivered to your inbox. I have found many of their sites and have included links on previous posts for free samples and coupons. Some people buy coupons on ebay. I wouldn't do that because most of the time, you don't know what you're getting and it wouldn't be cost effective for me. I like to peruse the coupons sites and print up only the coupons I know I am going to use. Many of the online coupon sites offer coupons for pet supplies. Pet supplies are a bit pricey, so you might want to check the sites to see what you can find.
Here are just a few sites. I hope you find coupons for your every need! Happy shopping and saving!!!!!!!
Related Posts
How To Shop At the Mall But Pay Less!
Frugal Gardening?
Coupons are a way for companies to attract consumers to purchase their products. They provide a 50 cent coupon with the hope that you will use it and buy their product. That may not seem like a huge savings, but it may bring the price down lower than the no frills brand and for some savvy, frugal shoppers...that may be the perfect bait. Now, using coupons gets a little more exciting when you have a supermarket that doubles or even triples them. Now your 50 cent coupon is worth $1.00 or $1.50. What does this mean for you? Well, if the product costs $2.29 and you have a 50 cent coupon and your supermarket doubles the face value, your total cost is now $1.29. If the supermarket triples the coupons, your total cost is 79 cents! That sounds great, doesn't it? Now you want to go and test this out, don't you?
Let me give you a couple of tips before you start on your quest for free groceries.
1. Read the coupons before you get to the register. It may say "Do not Double" or it may specify a certain variety or a certain size. You don't want to end up paying more because you didn't pay attention to the details.
2. Always check the expiration dates on the coupons.
3. Make sure your supermarket takes coupons. There are some warehouse supermarkets that claim to have rockbottom prices and so they don't honor any coupons.
4. Some supermarkets have register tapes that have coupons printed on them. These coupons can be combined with your regular coupons therefore multiplying your savings!
Where can you find these precious coupons? Coupons can be found in magazines, in a Sunday' newspaper in the form of an insert and even in your mailbox! My favorite place to get them is online. Every product has a customer service number on the label. You can either call the 1-800 number and ask to be added to their mailing list or you can use their email address to sign up for deals and newsletters delivered to your inbox. I have found many of their sites and have included links on previous posts for free samples and coupons. Some people buy coupons on ebay. I wouldn't do that because most of the time, you don't know what you're getting and it wouldn't be cost effective for me. I like to peruse the coupons sites and print up only the coupons I know I am going to use. Many of the online coupon sites offer coupons for pet supplies. Pet supplies are a bit pricey, so you might want to check the sites to see what you can find.
Here are just a few sites. I hope you find coupons for your every need! Happy shopping and saving!!!!!!!
Related Posts
How To Shop At the Mall But Pay Less!
Frugal Gardening?
Here Are Some Great Posts!
This week I was included in three blog carnivals. They are all great. If you ever want to read some great posts, go to the carnival of blogs and find your topic. There is a topic for almost everything under the sun!
The Festival Of Frugality is being hosted by Jane Dough at Boston Gal's Open Wallet. This festival is for the person that is looking for tips on how to stretch their money and do more with a lot less! This is Festival of Frugality #23 and we all hope you enjoy it.
The Carnival of Personal Finance is being hosted by 2million on the blog titled
2 million- My Guide to Financial Freedom. The host did a great job! Hosting is hard work and we all greatly appreciate it!
The Carnival of Debt Reduction was hosted by the blog savvy saver. It has a lot of information that can help you accelerate your goal of debt elimination. Visit and take a look. You won't be disappointed...
Those are all the carnivals. I hope you enjoy reading about other people's struggles, failures and success stories....so that you can learn what works and what doesn't!
Happy reading!
The Festival Of Frugality is being hosted by Jane Dough at Boston Gal's Open Wallet. This festival is for the person that is looking for tips on how to stretch their money and do more with a lot less! This is Festival of Frugality #23 and we all hope you enjoy it.
The Carnival of Personal Finance is being hosted by 2million on the blog titled
2 million- My Guide to Financial Freedom. The host did a great job! Hosting is hard work and we all greatly appreciate it!
The Carnival of Debt Reduction was hosted by the blog savvy saver. It has a lot of information that can help you accelerate your goal of debt elimination. Visit and take a look. You won't be disappointed...
Those are all the carnivals. I hope you enjoy reading about other people's struggles, failures and success stories....so that you can learn what works and what doesn't!
Happy reading!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Freebies: Dealing with Email Concerns
I know some of you miss the freebies. I was pretty busy last week, so I didn't write many posts. Here is a post just for those that want to be frugal and stretch their money.
I want to say welcome to all my fellow work at home mommy bloggers!
***A little tip***
I received a comment from a reader stating that in her past experience, signing up for free offers filled up her email account with emails or spam. These free offers are from the manufacturers. You may get a newsletter or future emails from them...
Here's what you can do.
1. Read the offers and do not apply for the free newsletters.
2. You may want to open a separate free email account if this is a real concern (just in case). That would solve the problem.
BTW, I received the Head and Shoulders Ocean Lift sample during the week! See my previous freebie post for that offer.
Some of the free samples for the home:
Glad ForceFlex trash bags
receive a valuable coupon for Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser
Oxi-Clean dual stainfighter
free sample of Biz laundry detergent
ziploc bags-you choose which one!
Downy Plus Whitening
Free Swiffer Dusters and a coupon
Free beauty and hair care samples:
Tag body spray for MEN
free Bic Comfort 3 Advance Shaver
Eucerin Dry Skin therapy
Free Sunscreenz towelette
Related Posts:
Free Magazine Subscriptions
Another Freebie Post
More Free Product Samples
I want to say welcome to all my fellow work at home mommy bloggers!
***A little tip***
I received a comment from a reader stating that in her past experience, signing up for free offers filled up her email account with emails or spam. These free offers are from the manufacturers. You may get a newsletter or future emails from them...
Here's what you can do.
1. Read the offers and do not apply for the free newsletters.
2. You may want to open a separate free email account if this is a real concern (just in case). That would solve the problem.
BTW, I received the Head and Shoulders Ocean Lift sample during the week! See my previous freebie post for that offer.
Some of the free samples for the home:
Glad ForceFlex trash bags
receive a valuable coupon for Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser
Oxi-Clean dual stainfighter
free sample of Biz laundry detergent
ziploc bags-you choose which one!
Downy Plus Whitening
Free Swiffer Dusters and a coupon
Free beauty and hair care samples:
Tag body spray for MEN
free Bic Comfort 3 Advance Shaver
Eucerin Dry Skin therapy
Free Sunscreenz towelette
Related Posts:
Free Magazine Subscriptions
Another Freebie Post
More Free Product Samples
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Festival of Frugality #22
The past week's Festival of Frugality was hosted at Cash2Clutter's blog.
Festival of Frugality #22
If you want to learn some new ways of saving money, take a look and read some great posts. BTW, I love Cash2Clutter's blog. Take a look at her posts as well!
I hope all of you are enjoying Mother's Day!!!!
Festival of Frugality #22
If you want to learn some new ways of saving money, take a look and read some great posts. BTW, I love Cash2Clutter's blog. Take a look at her posts as well!
I hope all of you are enjoying Mother's Day!!!!
My Online Income Earning Experiment
So far, it's been a month since I really started concentrating on ways to make income on the internet. I am really happy with the results. Let me elaborate on my expectations.
My goals are to replace my previous income with income I can earn on the internet. I have been researching many sites that people have directed me to and so far, I have received payments to my paypal. At this end of this month, I will reveal the amounts I made from each site. I may give screenshots of my paypal and the sites, only where allowed by TOS. The google adsense payment will be on the paypal, but as you all know I can't reveal too much of that information.
The sites I have been using include:
1. a marketing site.
2. a site where you answer questions once and the payments accrue.
3. a site that pays you to submit content.
4. google adsense.
5. paid to read sites (using trial offers).
5. affiliate marketing.
6. two new businesses, using mostly online sales.
One of the sites has been more lucrative than anyone has told me and I am happy with the results. This experiment will definitely accelerate the rate at which I will get out of debt and start creating income for an emergency fund and to invest!
I'll be updating this week on an unexpected expense I was faced with. Fortunately with these new income opportunities, it wasn't such a detrimental financial blow.
Related Posts: Sites That Pay
Blogitive
Associated Content
Helium Knowledge
Constant-Content
InstantProfitz
FusionCash
My goals are to replace my previous income with income I can earn on the internet. I have been researching many sites that people have directed me to and so far, I have received payments to my paypal. At this end of this month, I will reveal the amounts I made from each site. I may give screenshots of my paypal and the sites, only where allowed by TOS. The google adsense payment will be on the paypal, but as you all know I can't reveal too much of that information.
The sites I have been using include:
1. a marketing site.
2. a site where you answer questions once and the payments accrue.
3. a site that pays you to submit content.
4. google adsense.
5. paid to read sites (using trial offers).
5. affiliate marketing.
6. two new businesses, using mostly online sales.
One of the sites has been more lucrative than anyone has told me and I am happy with the results. This experiment will definitely accelerate the rate at which I will get out of debt and start creating income for an emergency fund and to invest!
I'll be updating this week on an unexpected expense I was faced with. Fortunately with these new income opportunities, it wasn't such a detrimental financial blow.
Related Posts: Sites That Pay
Blogitive
Associated Content
Helium Knowledge
Constant-Content
InstantProfitz
FusionCash
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Using Mind Games To Stop The Cycle Of Debt
Military personnel, professionals with degrees in early childhood development and psychologists all know that you act upon what you believe. Your mind is very powerful. If you tell someone from early on they are stupid, in most cases they behave in that manner. If someone is told they are a failure, they will not even try to succeed. What happens when your mind and your actions are in complete synch? What if you used little clever mind games to get yourself out of debt? What if you did this everyday? Would you stop the cycle of debt and enter the realm of wealth?
Playing Mind Games With Credit
If you looked at your spending habits in a different way, do you think it would effect it in any specific way? The way you approach a purchase can have an impact on whether you create more debt or you choose to refrain from spending. For example, you see a suit that you love. It's on the pricey side, but it's your favorite color, style and it's on sale for $200.00. You quickly remember that you have been paying your card faithfully and you have just enough credit available to CHARGE the suit (including the tax) . Unfortunately, the purchase will bring you back to square one-your card will be maxed out again. How can you think of this differently? Let's say you make $20.00 an hour. That means that it would take you more than ten hours of your work week to pay for that suit. (Let's also say you are not satisfied or content with your current employment.) Do you really want to dedicate over ten hours of your work week at THAT job to pay for this suit? After thinking of it in this fashion, most people would walk away.
Another way of looking at the situation is thinking about what you are trading for this suit. You may not be able to go away for a much needed getaway with some friends because of this purchase. You may be getting into deep water with your spouse. Is it really worth the argument? What if an emergency arises? What then?
Think creatively. Do you really want that suit? Would you be willing to work extra hours for it? Would you sell something you don't need on ebay to make up the money? If you think it's too much trouble to go through all of that....then you really don't need to purchase the suit. Walk away.
Playing Mind Games With Cash
One of my favorite personal finance bloggers NCN tried this next trick. Cash only. You can't carry credit cards, debit cards or checks. You assign yourself a budget for each category and you make every effort to stick to it. Some people use an envelope system to disperse the cash into separate categories. If you use the money before you replenish it, then you don't buy anything else for that category. For some it works, they are wise with their budgeting. For others, they just take money out of the next envelope and keep going until it's all gone.
My cousin used a cool cash game to curb his spending. When he cashed his check he asked for large bills. He hated breaking large bills. In this manner, he would always hesitate and think, "Do I really want this? or "Do I really need this?". Who wants to break a $100.00 bill for a $1.08 purchase? When he got to the end of the week, he would save the money he didn't use and start all over again.
There is another variation of the cash game where you have a specific amount of each denomination. For example all your money is in $20.00's or $10.00's. Let me explain. My coworker always cashed her husband's check and asked for $300.00 in ten dollar bills. She explained that her husband would take a ten for every day of the month ( he usually had money left over for the months with 31 days)! He was very structured and disciplined being a reservist and a corrections officer. He would try to contain his daily expenses to $10.00 a day or less. That meant he would try to use no more than ten dollars a day in gas, food, etc. (I don;t know if this would work today with the gas prices). Whatever he had left at the end of the month, he banked!
Using Mind Games to Tame the Flesh
The power of suggestion is a strong marketing tool. Don't think so? Ever notice how many people in a movie theater get up during the first few candy, soda and popcorn commercials? With little jingles that attach themselves to our minds we are being conditioned to want to buy this or that because it will help us achieve a feeling, an emotion or a better status. Just think of Nike's slogan: "Just Do IT." We shouldn't wonder why America is in debt. We live in a constant advertising frenzy that wants us to believe this product will make us thinner, more attractive, more popular and more successful. Having that new car may bring us the right mate, living in the bigger house will make our lives more pleasurable and so on. We need to use our minds to practice abstinence from the material world. The compulsion to spend, buy and waste our resources must be curbed.
What is the solution?
1. Examine yourself and work out your emotions. What is it that the new purchase incites in you? Is it a feeling of success? Is it an andrenaline kick?
2. Learn to live with less and stop making purchases. Look at what your need is. Why do you buy all the exercise equipment? Why do you buy all those shoes that you don't wear? Why do you feel the need to trade in your car every few months? Deal with the real issue and stop using shopping as a bandaid.
3. Make the decision to purge all the unnecessary material possessions from your space. Your space includes your work space, your home and your car (for some of you that also includes your RV's, boats and vacation homes). Get started ASAP, you have a lot of work ahead. Donate, sell and give others your excess.
4. Identify the triggers of your over spending. Do you always meet your friends at the mall? Is every celebration followed by a shopping trip, the bar or another place to shop? Find new forms of recreation that don't involve spending. Bike riding, hiking, and skating all involve good forms of exercise and no expenses. Retrain your mind to reward yourself in different ways for your achievements. If you rewarded yourself in the past by buying things like jewelry, suits, and cologne/perfume use different rewards. Bake a cake, visit a park or go to a museum, find something that you like to do that is free or very inexpensive.
Retraining your mind is something that will take time. Old habits are hard to break. You will fail in the beginning, but be encouraged. Everyone falls at some point. Just get up, dust yourself off and keep on going...
Playing Mind Games With Credit
If you looked at your spending habits in a different way, do you think it would effect it in any specific way? The way you approach a purchase can have an impact on whether you create more debt or you choose to refrain from spending. For example, you see a suit that you love. It's on the pricey side, but it's your favorite color, style and it's on sale for $200.00. You quickly remember that you have been paying your card faithfully and you have just enough credit available to CHARGE the suit (including the tax) . Unfortunately, the purchase will bring you back to square one-your card will be maxed out again. How can you think of this differently? Let's say you make $20.00 an hour. That means that it would take you more than ten hours of your work week to pay for that suit. (Let's also say you are not satisfied or content with your current employment.) Do you really want to dedicate over ten hours of your work week at THAT job to pay for this suit? After thinking of it in this fashion, most people would walk away.
Another way of looking at the situation is thinking about what you are trading for this suit. You may not be able to go away for a much needed getaway with some friends because of this purchase. You may be getting into deep water with your spouse. Is it really worth the argument? What if an emergency arises? What then?
Think creatively. Do you really want that suit? Would you be willing to work extra hours for it? Would you sell something you don't need on ebay to make up the money? If you think it's too much trouble to go through all of that....then you really don't need to purchase the suit. Walk away.
Playing Mind Games With Cash
One of my favorite personal finance bloggers NCN tried this next trick. Cash only. You can't carry credit cards, debit cards or checks. You assign yourself a budget for each category and you make every effort to stick to it. Some people use an envelope system to disperse the cash into separate categories. If you use the money before you replenish it, then you don't buy anything else for that category. For some it works, they are wise with their budgeting. For others, they just take money out of the next envelope and keep going until it's all gone.
My cousin used a cool cash game to curb his spending. When he cashed his check he asked for large bills. He hated breaking large bills. In this manner, he would always hesitate and think, "Do I really want this? or "Do I really need this?". Who wants to break a $100.00 bill for a $1.08 purchase? When he got to the end of the week, he would save the money he didn't use and start all over again.
There is another variation of the cash game where you have a specific amount of each denomination. For example all your money is in $20.00's or $10.00's. Let me explain. My coworker always cashed her husband's check and asked for $300.00 in ten dollar bills. She explained that her husband would take a ten for every day of the month ( he usually had money left over for the months with 31 days)! He was very structured and disciplined being a reservist and a corrections officer. He would try to contain his daily expenses to $10.00 a day or less. That meant he would try to use no more than ten dollars a day in gas, food, etc. (I don;t know if this would work today with the gas prices). Whatever he had left at the end of the month, he banked!
Using Mind Games to Tame the Flesh
The power of suggestion is a strong marketing tool. Don't think so? Ever notice how many people in a movie theater get up during the first few candy, soda and popcorn commercials? With little jingles that attach themselves to our minds we are being conditioned to want to buy this or that because it will help us achieve a feeling, an emotion or a better status. Just think of Nike's slogan: "Just Do IT." We shouldn't wonder why America is in debt. We live in a constant advertising frenzy that wants us to believe this product will make us thinner, more attractive, more popular and more successful. Having that new car may bring us the right mate, living in the bigger house will make our lives more pleasurable and so on. We need to use our minds to practice abstinence from the material world. The compulsion to spend, buy and waste our resources must be curbed.
What is the solution?
1. Examine yourself and work out your emotions. What is it that the new purchase incites in you? Is it a feeling of success? Is it an andrenaline kick?
2. Learn to live with less and stop making purchases. Look at what your need is. Why do you buy all the exercise equipment? Why do you buy all those shoes that you don't wear? Why do you feel the need to trade in your car every few months? Deal with the real issue and stop using shopping as a bandaid.
3. Make the decision to purge all the unnecessary material possessions from your space. Your space includes your work space, your home and your car (for some of you that also includes your RV's, boats and vacation homes). Get started ASAP, you have a lot of work ahead. Donate, sell and give others your excess.
4. Identify the triggers of your over spending. Do you always meet your friends at the mall? Is every celebration followed by a shopping trip, the bar or another place to shop? Find new forms of recreation that don't involve spending. Bike riding, hiking, and skating all involve good forms of exercise and no expenses. Retrain your mind to reward yourself in different ways for your achievements. If you rewarded yourself in the past by buying things like jewelry, suits, and cologne/perfume use different rewards. Bake a cake, visit a park or go to a museum, find something that you like to do that is free or very inexpensive.
Retraining your mind is something that will take time. Old habits are hard to break. You will fail in the beginning, but be encouraged. Everyone falls at some point. Just get up, dust yourself off and keep on going...
Frugal Gardening?
The weather has been pretty good out here. The nurseries have opened for business. Lowe's, Walmart and Home Depot are all trying to sell you lots of gardening supplies. Just wanted to give you some tips on a few ways to save money....
Before you buy those expensive little disposable greenhouses (the plastic ones that have a container and a lid), let me give you a tip. Do you ever buy baked goods from your local supermarket? Do you buy cheesecake, pies or cakes? Before you throw those plastics in the recycle bin ...think again. Those plastics containers can be used exactly like those little greenhouses. I use them and can tell you, they work! Just plant your seeds the way you normally do, and then put the little containers in the plastic and cover it. It works just as well and you are recycling and re-using to save the environment.
This next tip amazed me. I always thought that it couldn't be done. One year, my ex-husband bought these deliciously sweet huge bright red tomatoes. They were from Spain. He decided to cut one up, take out the seeds and plant them in potting soil, in a plastic pie container. I never thought they would grow. Not only did they grow, I planted them outside and we had tomatoes all season! Everyone loved them, they were exquisite. We paid once for the tomatoes and got them free the rest of the season! To make your tomatoes even sweeter, put a circle of sugar around the base of each plant. I saw this on a program many years ago and it really works.
My roses are growing. Insects are already munching on their leaves. What is an inexpensive solution? Diluted dishwashing detergent does the trick! Why spend tons of money on special sprays? Go to the supermarket or dollar store, buy inexpensive dishwashing detergent for $1.00, mix with water and spray them on your rose bushes. It works.
My previous neighbor used to grow avocado plants from the pit! They were beautiful. Why pay exorbitant prices at a nursery? How did she grow them? She put two toothpicks on either side of the middle of the pit. Then she perched it in a glass of water, so that the water just touched the bottom of the pit. The rest of the pit was being held above the water by the toothpicks. Next she placed them in the dark cabinet. Once they sprouted she put them in direct sunlight. They grew beautifully. They may not give you avocados, but they make beautiful decorative plants.
There you have it! I hope you enjoyed the tips!
HAPPY GARDENING!
Before you buy those expensive little disposable greenhouses (the plastic ones that have a container and a lid), let me give you a tip. Do you ever buy baked goods from your local supermarket? Do you buy cheesecake, pies or cakes? Before you throw those plastics in the recycle bin ...think again. Those plastics containers can be used exactly like those little greenhouses. I use them and can tell you, they work! Just plant your seeds the way you normally do, and then put the little containers in the plastic and cover it. It works just as well and you are recycling and re-using to save the environment.
This next tip amazed me. I always thought that it couldn't be done. One year, my ex-husband bought these deliciously sweet huge bright red tomatoes. They were from Spain. He decided to cut one up, take out the seeds and plant them in potting soil, in a plastic pie container. I never thought they would grow. Not only did they grow, I planted them outside and we had tomatoes all season! Everyone loved them, they were exquisite. We paid once for the tomatoes and got them free the rest of the season! To make your tomatoes even sweeter, put a circle of sugar around the base of each plant. I saw this on a program many years ago and it really works.
My roses are growing. Insects are already munching on their leaves. What is an inexpensive solution? Diluted dishwashing detergent does the trick! Why spend tons of money on special sprays? Go to the supermarket or dollar store, buy inexpensive dishwashing detergent for $1.00, mix with water and spray them on your rose bushes. It works.
My previous neighbor used to grow avocado plants from the pit! They were beautiful. Why pay exorbitant prices at a nursery? How did she grow them? She put two toothpicks on either side of the middle of the pit. Then she perched it in a glass of water, so that the water just touched the bottom of the pit. The rest of the pit was being held above the water by the toothpicks. Next she placed them in the dark cabinet. Once they sprouted she put them in direct sunlight. They grew beautifully. They may not give you avocados, but they make beautiful decorative plants.
There you have it! I hope you enjoyed the tips!
HAPPY GARDENING!
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Blogitive : $125.00 in 3 days
I signed up and was guilty of forgetting to check the site regularly. Last week, I checked and in three days I made $125.00. I should be receiving my payment through paypal this Friday.
How does Blogitive work? First of all, you need to have a blog. After their review of your blog, they must accept it. After that, you need to log in to their site regularly to see if there are any outstanding offers for any of your blogs. If you choose to accept the assignment, you write a post related to the item you will be blogging about, summarize the web release that they provide and create a hyperlink to the web site of their choice with the key phrase they provide. You submit the URL on their site (to the post you wrote) and if they approve your post, your account is credited. They pay on a weekly basis by paypal.
If you are thinking of joining, please tell them I sent you. The referral needs to be identified by email address: this is mine aviandkids@yahoo.com. Please, copy and paste that email address, use Blogitive's contact us form and inform them that I referred you. Thanks, it would be greatly appreciated.
Here is a copy of the webpage to prove that the account was credited:
Contact Us Report a Bug Logout Home Open Offers Completed Offers My Blogs My Account
Completed Offers
ID Link For Blog Completed Payout
# 41509 TheClassy1 Today, 15:16 $5.00
# 41441 bloggerparty blog/ theclassy1 Today, 15:16 $5.00
# 41437 Holding It Down Today, 15:16 $5.00
# 41432 Gift Giving Made Easy Today, 15:16 $5.00
# 40680 Supermom's Writing Up Blog Today, 15:16 $5.00
# 40679 TheClassy1 Today, 15:15 $5.00
# 40611 bloggerparty blog/ theclassy1 Today, 15:15 $5.00
# 40602 Gift Giving Made Easy Today, 15:15 $5.00
# 38618 Holding It Down Today, 15:15 $5.00
# 38615 Gift Giving Made Easy Today, 15:15 $5.00
# 38376 bloggerparty blog/ theclassy1 Today, 15:15 $5.00 .......
This is what your completed offers page will look like...except I took off the clients key phrase because of confidentiality issues.
Just another site for all of you that desire to make money from home. Hope you enjoy the site and let them know I sent you with this: aviandkids@yahoo.com
Ciao!
********UPDATE@12:27am******************
I just received a confirmation from paypal that I received a payment for $115.00. I wasn't credited for the submissions I made on Friday, but they paid me for all the others!!! Obviously, I'll receive the other $10.00 combined with the $5.00 for the one I'm writing right now later this week! This site is great. They pay without a problem, the assignments are pretty easy, the posts take very little time to complete and you still make money off the adsense on your blog. Not bad?!?!
Related Posts: Sites That Pay
Associated Content
Helium Knowledge
Constant-Content
Friday, May 05, 2006
Free 12 month Subscription to 3 Magazines!
Last night I received an email from an affiliate. The email explained that they had a malfunction in their system and the coupon codes for May were not working correctly. Due to this error on their part, Mags For Less are now offering 12 month subscriptions for three different magazines for FREE!
These are the the magazines and the codes:
Get a 1 year subscription to Seed Magazine for free. Coupon code: freeseed. Offer expires May 31.
Get a 1 year subscription to Stuff Magazine for free. Coupon code: freestuff. Offer expires May 31.
Get a 1 year subscription to Computer Shopper Magazine for free. Coupon code: freecs. Offer expires May 31.
To take advantage of this deal, you must type in the appropriate code for the appropriate magazine. The offers expire on May 31. Happy Reading!
These are the the magazines and the codes:
Get a 1 year subscription to Seed Magazine for free. Coupon code: freeseed. Offer expires May 31.
Get a 1 year subscription to Stuff Magazine for free. Coupon code: freestuff. Offer expires May 31.
Get a 1 year subscription to Computer Shopper Magazine for free. Coupon code: freecs. Offer expires May 31.
To take advantage of this deal, you must type in the appropriate code for the appropriate magazine. The offers expire on May 31. Happy Reading!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Carnivals and Festivals!!!
Last week I submitted three different posts to three different carnivals. I love blog carnivals because you get to read some great posts and are introduced to new bloggers. The posts give great tips on saving money, paying your debt and more. Check out the different carnivals and read some posts. I guarantee that you will learn something new!
1. The Carnival of Personal Finance #46 is being hosted by Consumerism Commentary.
2. The Carnival of Debt Reduction is being hosted by Free Money Finance.
3. The Festival of Frugality is being hosted by The Wandering Indian Monk.
Three great carnivals, so much to learn and so little time. Go read the posts that appeal to you. Hope you enjoy the carnivals!
1. The Carnival of Personal Finance #46 is being hosted by Consumerism Commentary.
2. The Carnival of Debt Reduction is being hosted by Free Money Finance.
3. The Festival of Frugality is being hosted by The Wandering Indian Monk.
Three great carnivals, so much to learn and so little time. Go read the posts that appeal to you. Hope you enjoy the carnivals!
Saving Money on Monthly Expenses: Freebies!
I hope all of you enjoyed your weekend. Now, I wanted to write about how you can cut your monthly expenses by receiving freebies. Manufacturers need to get the word out on their new products. For this reason, they offer you product samples and coupons for your first purchase. This is great when you are trying to save money on your grocery bill and monthly expenses (hair products, toothpastes, personal hygiene products etc.). Since I am trying to get out of debt as quickly as possible, I decided to reduce the amount of money I spend in this category. Reducing the amount of money I spend on these things increases the amount of money I can use on paying down the debt.
How and Where Can I Find These Offers?
Almost every product you buy has a website address. This address can be found on the back or side of the product, near the customer service information. These websites are a great source of freebies, coupons and promotional offers. Before I had a computer, I would call the 1-800 numbers and ask to be put on the mailing list. This was a sure way to receive coupons in the mail!
Now that you understand a little about why, how and where to find these offers...I have compiled a list to make it easier!
Here are the freebies for this week. Don't forget to check the previous post. Most of those offers are still valid! You might want to check back often. I will be adding freebies to this page throughout the week. If you subscribe, you will get an email from bloglet once I update the blog. You can find the the email subscription form on your upper right hand side.
Pepcid AC
Free Sample of women's and men's Degree deodorant
Samples of the Flossbrush
Free sample of Reach Access Flosser
Coromega-free samlple of Omega-3
o.b. silk ease tampons
Free samples of Playtex products
Walmart free samples page: includes Head and Shoulders shampoo, John Frieda hair products, Serenity, Poise, Rolaids Plus, Neutrogena and more!
Free Dog or Cat Food from Nutroproducts
Free sample of Herbal Essence!
3 Free 12 month subscriptions from Mags for Less
How and Where Can I Find These Offers?
Almost every product you buy has a website address. This address can be found on the back or side of the product, near the customer service information. These websites are a great source of freebies, coupons and promotional offers. Before I had a computer, I would call the 1-800 numbers and ask to be put on the mailing list. This was a sure way to receive coupons in the mail!
Now that you understand a little about why, how and where to find these offers...I have compiled a list to make it easier!
Here are the freebies for this week. Don't forget to check the previous post. Most of those offers are still valid! You might want to check back often. I will be adding freebies to this page throughout the week. If you subscribe, you will get an email from bloglet once I update the blog. You can find the the email subscription form on your upper right hand side.
Pepcid AC
Free Sample of women's and men's Degree deodorant
Samples of the Flossbrush
Free sample of Reach Access Flosser
Coromega-free samlple of Omega-3
o.b. silk ease tampons
Free samples of Playtex products
Walmart free samples page: includes Head and Shoulders shampoo, John Frieda hair products, Serenity, Poise, Rolaids Plus, Neutrogena and more!
Free Dog or Cat Food from Nutroproducts
Free sample of Herbal Essence!
3 Free 12 month subscriptions from Mags for Less
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