Earn money with Bing and Swagbucks

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 (Contains Referral Links)

Have you heard and signed up for Bing Rewards yet? I signed up about a year ago. I earn points by searching and turn them into gift cards. Everery time I get on my computer I spend a few minutes searching under Bing. I earn at least 16 points and now Bing rewards will reward you for searching on your phone too. Now you have the ability to earn at least 26 points. Additional points can also be earned by referring a friend.

What's really great is that I earn points on Swagbucks too. Recently Bing added Swagbucks as a reward.  I take my 500 Swagbucks and use 450 to purchase an Amazon gift card. Woo-hoo 50 Swagbucks left over!

Over the past year I have used my gift cards on Amazon to purchase Home school items along with other little things for me and my family. I've tried the surveys and other ways to make a little extra cash and this has been by far the easiest. It takes a few minutes a day but adds up over time. I'm not making much but every little bit helps.

Adventures in Budgeting: Update

Well my husband and I have been on this adventure for nine months now. It has been such an amazing journey. I always knew that money is one of the most argued about topics with married couples. I think I understand that better now then ever before.

Until we created a budget we had no control over our financial situation. The bills kept coming and we kept paying. It seemed like we were on the hamster wheel. We kept running but went no where.

My husband would get upset at least a few times a month because I spent X amount of dollars at a store or he thought there should be more money in our bank account.

I understand now it wasn't that he was mad at me but at our situation. He works long hours to bring home a paycheck that is gone before we even get to see it. Since he is the bread winner of the family, it is disheartening for him to see all his hard work not paying off.

For the first time ever I can buy clothes or shoes and my husband knows that we already have money set aside for that purpose. He doesn't get upset thinking that his money is disappearing too fast. Although he rarely looks at our budget, he is welcome to any time and I don't feel I have to hid anything from him. We discuss almost all purchases making sure it is worth spending the money and we have the money to spend.

I never thought I'd say this but I actually enjoy paying my student loans. Of course I hate that we have less money to spend or save but when we started 9 months ago we had 6 debt payments totaling over $37,00. We are now down to 2 debt payments totaling $21,000. We still have a ways to go but we are paying things off faster then I thought possible. I enjoy being able to pay extra to my student loans that is at least 9x the normal payment.

God has really been blessing us on our journey. Money seems to just start appearing out of thin air. Never before have we ever paid this much extra towards debts or had this much in our savings. Going into the winter we feel confident knowing that we will have money in savings to cover the difference of unemployment and our expenses.

We are finally in control of our money and it feels good. We don't have a strict budget but a flexible one but we are still more cautious and consider our purchases more diligently. We never spend more then we take in. We are on our way to becoming debt free!

Saving money by cleaning with vinegar

 In my quest to find affordable, non-toxic cleaners for my house I came across many people starting to clean with vinegar. For 4 years now I have been doing almost 100% of my household cleaning with only vinegar and baking soda. 

It is so incredibly cheap and very efficient. My allergies have been much better. Commercial  products add a lot of extras that I am very sensitive to and the vinegar and baking soda do not bother me at all.

Around the house I have spray bottles in both bathrooms and the kitchen for all surfaces. It is made up of about 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water. I soak my vinegar in orange peels for about two weeks and it gives it a slight orange smell. When I don't have orange peels or any other citrus fruit available, I add a few drops of essential oils. This helps with the strong odor from the vinegar. The good thing is once the vinegar is dry you can't smell it any longer.

In the bathroom I not only use it on the counters but also the the toilet. I spray down and wipe the seat and rim and throw in about a cup of vinegar in the bowl with about a half cup of baking soda. I let that sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing it. The bath toys all get sprayed or soaked in vinegar and I will spray the shower down with my vinegar spray between deep cleanings.

Vinegar is so versatile that I also use it in the laundry room. As I said I have very sensitive skin as does my 4 year old. There are so many detergents and fabric softeners that irritate my skin. I now make my own laundry detergent and instead of using fabric softener, I put vinegar in the rinse cycle instead. Once it is dry there is no smell except a clean smell. When I need to clean my wash machine, which should be once a month, I pour a little in then to help disinfect my wash machine.

Vinegar is versatile. I don't have bottles of different cleaners laying around. When my little ones get a hold of the bottles because they want to help too, I never worry about them getting it in their eyes, on their hands or putting the spray bottle in their mouth (although it is really gross). I feel safe cleaning for my family. 

Vinegar soaking in orange peels. Reusing some old jars to do so.

Need a little extra cash?

Are you looking to make a few extra bucks? Who isn't. Several months ago I signed up for Swag bucks. This actually works. I have made about $50 already and it takes almost no time at all. I save for birthdays and Christmas. A few extra bucks can really go a long way.

It is so simple. All you have to do is search the Internet. Sounds too good to be true right? Well that's all you have to do. As you search during your day you'll randomly get awarded swag bucks which get turned into gift cards. It comes out to about a penny a point depending on which gift cards you would redeem. 450 points gets you a $5.00 gift card to Amazon.

On an average day I get at least 15 points just by searching like I normally do. Typically I receive enough points for at least one gift card a month sometimes two. Fridays they give away big points and I recieve 30 or more points.

There are several things you can do to increase your points. One way is to click through their site when shopping online. Walmart, Target, and Kohl's are just a few stores that earn you at least 1 swag buck per dollar spent and it is better than 1% cash back. Some stores offer 3-6 swag bucks per dollar spent. There are also activities, swag TV, surveys, and other offers which allow you to earn additional swag bucks.

Check out Swag Bucks and get signed up to start earning a little spending money.

Saving money by cleaning with baking soda

Baking soda is super cheap and one of the best cleaners I've found. It can do so many things that I don't need multiple cleaners. I get a 13.5 lb bag at Sam's Club for $6.68 and it lasts several months. You can also purchase 13.5 lb Baking Sodaat Amazon.com.

Now let me tell you a little about how I clean with baking soda.

• My glass top stove: pour baking soda on dirty and caked on spots. Put warm soapy towels on the baking soda for about 15 minutes. (Make sure you ring the towels out so they are not too wet.) Scrub away those spots. Works better than the cleaners you buy in the store.
• I pour about a 1/2 cup of baking soda in the toilet and then about a 1/4 cup of vinegar and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Scrub clean and voila you have a clean toilet. 
• When kids spill on our carpet I soak as much as possible up with a towel and then sprinkle baking soda over the spill. I let it sit for around 12 hours and then vacuum it up. No stain!
• Baking soda, water and a scrubby clean my showers and all the scum off the walls and tub. Just make a paste and scrub away.
• My 18 month old gets very bad diaper rash with open sores. I poor a cup or two in her bath water and it helps clean it out. This works for any kind of rash. Use it on poison ivy, poison oak, bee stings, and mosquito bites.

Cleaning supplies can be expensive. I have found that the cheap in expensive ways of cleaning work just as well or even better than most commercial cleaners. The best thing about baking soda is I never have to worry about my kids getting into poisonous cleaners.

Saving Money on dishwasher soap

As a stay at home mom who is in charge of the shopping and the finances I know how much things cost and I'm always trying to find ways to save money that doesn't require hours of clipping coupons. One thing that seems to add to our budget is dishwasher soap. A container lasts a little over a month and then I am always having to buy the Rinse Aid to go with it. The most logical way to save money would be to hand wash everything but doing dishes three times a day doesn't really sound fun, does it?

A few years ago I started cleaning with baking soda and vinegar. I found a recipe for dishwasher soap. It worked fine but it was a tablespoon of one thing and two of another. When we moved into our new house it just didn't work very well and I gave it up.

A few months ago I came a across a recipe that was so incredibly simple that I figured I should at least give it a try. I did and it worked great! I have been using it for 2 months now and don't plan on going back to store bought. I did change a few things in the wash routine that has helped tremendously. 

Here are some tips in making the most out of your dishwasher:

• RINSE everything. The less food on the dishes the better.
• Clean out the bottom of the dishwasher every single time. You'd be surprise at the food that was left on dishes.
• Run hot water in the sink with disposal for a few minutes before you start your dishwasher.
• Run your garbage disposal and make sure it is clear before you start your dishwasher. 

Dishwasher Soap Recipe     
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1 Tablespoon Lemi Shine or Lemonade (sugarless kind)(this becomes your rinse aid)       

2 Tablespoons of soap in each load. (This last about a month and I run the dishwasher at least every other day)



You can use Lemi Shine to clean your dishwasher also, which I would recommend doing once a month especially if you have hard water. 

I'd love to hear if it worked for you!

Prom Dress Redos

 In wanting to declutter and re-purpose things I have, I came across my old formals. I had no idea what to do with them. I probably won't get anything for them if I try to sell them, so what do I do with them? 

Here's where having three little girls comes in handy. My now 4 year old is a little princess and dresses up almost every day. I shortened my old formals and they became her "new" princess dresses. It is so easy to do even if you don't have a sewing machine. All you need to do is get some stitch witchery from Walmart and hem the bottom to fit.  So simple and your little princess will be so delighted.

If you no longer have any laying around this is the perfect chance to ask your friends if they want to donate any of their old formals to you. Check out garage sales too, you may get lucky and find a few for a couple of bucks. I'd rather do that then spend $20 or more on a single dress-up dress that is poorly made. Everything has to make it through three girls.

Decorating on a budget

Decorating has always been hard for me. I love a decorated house, don't get me wrong. I just hate walking out of a store paying way more than I wanted to. 
My mom has always been a big decorator and I my house is boring compared to hers. My mom has several tubs full of decorations and I have one. Half of it is hand me down Christmas odds and ends from my mom. After realizing that, this year I have decided that I need to decorate just a little more. I don't need 4 or more tubs full, but pieces I actually like and use.  
I started by pulling out things I had and reusing them in different ways. I can't spend much this year so I will use what I have first and see if I can get by spending a few dollars here and there to get my house festive.

Here are my tips on decorating for Christmas on a budget.

1. Don't over do it. Sometimes a few simple things is all you need. The houses in magazines may look nice but the cost to decorate for that photo is enough to purchase a new car. 

2. Your tree is your main decoration, make that the focus. It will be what your guests notice most. I picked blue and silver for my tree colors 7 years ago and have added to it since. We have an open floor plan so I try to stay with blue and silver with anything in that space.

3.  A little touch here and there is all you need. A scented candle in the bathroom will remind visitors of Christmas (sight isn't the only sense we have). Get seasonal dollar store towels for your kitchen. They may be cheap but they don't look too bad.

 4. Think small, not big. Add one thing every year or change something you already have. If your tired of that old wreath, take it apart and redo it. A trip to a craft store and a few dollars will make something look new again. 

5. Everyone loves holiday dishes. Instead of buying a whole set, (which you probably don't have space for anyway) get a few dishes for entertaining. A couple cookie plates or bowls are more than enough. They can also be used as decoration by hanging them on a wall or putting them on a shelf.

5. Craft stores like Hobby Lobby have all Christmas craft items on super clearance, often 70%, just before and right after Christmas. (I got Christmas balls for my tree one year for less than $1.00 for a pack of four)  Get pieces that can be used in anything. The picture below is an example. It can be used in just about any craft project and will stand the test of time.  
Invest in a quality wreath. Hobby Lobby, JoAnne's, and Michaels are great places to get your wreaths or swags. They are much better quality than you can find anywhere else. They are also at least 50% off before and after Christmas. These will stand the test of time when you are continually pulling them apart and redoing them.

The most important thing to remember when you are decorating is to keep things simple for you. The more you have in decorations, the longer it will take every year to put up and take down. As a mom of three little ones, I don't have time to spend hours decorating my house. My goal is to just make my house inviting not overwhelming and not go in debt over it. Sometimes less is more.

Saving Money: Diapers

     About a year and half ago my husband and I had two in diapers and one more on the way. The cost of diapers every month was getting very expensive. We were spending around $80 a month on two and wipes were about $10 (I made my own out of paper towels).
     I had looked into cloth diapers when I first got pregnant but didn't do very well research and decided against it. The sticker price on one cloth diaper is usually what turns people off. Who wants to pay $20 to $30 for one diaper?
     After really looking into cloth diapers, I decided to finally give them a try. Most cloth diaper retailers give you 30 day trial period. This made me feel much better about trying and seeing how I liked them.
     I honestly thought I'd try them just because we needed to save money and I was willing to sacrifice the convenience of disposables. What I found out as I entered into the cloth diaper world is that there are so many options making it very convenient. I also found out that no matter how worn out your diapers are, some one is always willing to buy them from you when you are finished with them.
     So a year and a half later I have spent less than a thousand on diapers for two kids full time. I have tried pocket diapers, All-in-ones, hybrids and flats. My two year old is beginning to potty train so I will begin selling some of my diapers and get some back. The money I put into diapers was completely paid off from uses in about 6 months. I make my own flannel wipes out of scraps so we are saving about $120 a year just on wipes alone. In the end we will save at least $2,000 possible more. It has been worth it and I find myself LOVING my cloth diapers.

If you are curious about cloth diapering check out Changing Diapers Book by Kelly Wells. Click the link on my sidebar to learn more. Almost every question about cloth diapering is in that book. It will give you an idea about each different option and help you decide what is the best option for you.



     

Saving Money: Making your own laundry soap

     If you are like any normal American family, you are trying to find ways to save money. One way to save money is to make your own laundry soap. It is so super easy and saves our family money.
     It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and for our family of 5 it lasts about 6 months. When I calculated the costs, it comes out to less than $.01 a load! It has been a huge saving. Depending on your brand, most store bought start from around $.20 a load.
     Because of the low sudsing sensation, it works perfectly in HE washers. My clothes have never been so clean. It is gentle on the skin, which is important for our family since the girls and I all have eczema.
  

My Recipe

1 Cup grated soap (I use Felsneptha but you may use any other bar soap. Favorites are ivory and dove)
1 Quart of water
1 Cup washing soda
1 Cup borax
5 gallon bucket

1. Grate your bar of soap. (I often do this in front of the TV at night when my kids are asleep. One bar of Felsneptha makes two cups so I grate the whole bar and save half for later.)
   
   
   
2. Fill the 5 gallon bucket about half full with warm water. Add the washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved. 
   
   
   
3. Boil 1 quart water in a saucepan. Add grated soap a little at a time until all the soap is melted. Add to the 5 gallon bucket. Stir.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Fill the bucket almost to the top. Leave some room in case it is too think and you need to add a little water. (I usually fill it in the shower)
   
   
   
5. Let sit for several hours. (I continually check on it and stir it)
6. Stir until it is fairly smooth. (It will be one solid chunk. I use my hands and arms to stir and break it up.)

Now it's ready. All you need is about 1/4 to 1/2 cup per load. 

Let us know what your favorite laundry soap recipe is.