CreativeGreanLiving.com shows you how to make homemade cold process dill pickles.
Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
Summer Bucket List
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Slow Down Challenge: Multitasking is a Myth (Day 3)
This week, I’m joining Jeff Goins for his Slow Down Challenge. If you want to participate, sign up for the free Slow Down Challenge email list. Also, you might consider grabbing a copy of his book, The In-Between. Jeff is such an inspiration to me as a writer and I highly recommend reading all of his books, if you have a chance!
I’ve been reading The Myth of Multitasking recently. It’s a really simple read, but it’s been very thought-provoking.
I always thought I was a pretty good multitasker. Now I’m not so sure. You see, according to the book — and I’m beginning to be persuaded it’s true — there is no such thing as true multitasking.
Instead, the author makes the case that what we call “multitasking” is really just an inefficient way of switch-tasking. When we are trying to do two things at once, we’re really just switching back and forth between two different things — taking a much longer time to do both.
(The author does say that there’s such a thing as background tasking, where you are listening to music while cleaning, etc. But when it comes to tasks that require concentration, he makes a strong case that multitasking is a misnomer.)
Today’s project for the Slow Down Challenge was to focus completely on one task until it was finished. I chose the task of writing four handwritten cards that I’ve been meaning to write for two weeks. The project has been on my to-do list for two weeks and it was high time I finish it.
So I got the cards out, set the timer for 20 minutes, and jumped in. I did really well at focusing for 20 minutes, but I only had written 1 1/2 cards by then (yes, these were long handwritten notes — I had a lot I wanted to express in them!). I kept plodding along, but I realized that I had a lot of trouble staying completely on task after 20 minutes.
I finally finished up the cards at the 50-minute mark. And it felt really, really good to have them done, but I also realized that I need to work on my concentration more. Or, maybe just accept that I need to split my tasks up into 20-minute blocks since that seems to be about my maximum time-frame for working with focused intensity?
Confession time: I did stop one to briefly talk with Jesse and I also checked my email on my phone a few times. But I promise it was after the 20-minute mark. 🙂
By the way, if you missed Carrie’s post on time management from earlier today, you should go read it. Lots of great food for thought there on staying on task.
What project did you try to tackle and finish with full concentration today (read today’s challenge details here)? Tell us in the comments or blog about it and leave your link below.
Gretchen’s $49 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Aldi Shopping Trip
1 Flour Tortillas – $0.99
2 Canned Green Beans – $0.49 each
1 Cantaloupe – $0.99
1 Grapes – $1.58
1 Grape Tomatoes – $1.49
1 gallon Milk – $1.99
1 Canned Chili Beans – $0.59
1 Brown Sugar – $1.29
1 Sour Cream – $1.29
Total with tax ($0.80) – $11.99
Dillons Shopping Trip
1 lb Sterling Silver Ground Beef – $3.99
1 Kroger Chicken Drumsticks (4.14 lbs) – $4.10
2 Kroger Cheese (Shredded & Block – 24 oz each) – $4.99, used $1/1 Super Sale e-coupon (took off $2) – $3.99 each after coupon
1 Ham Steak – $2.79
0.80 lbs Broccoli Crowns @ $0.99/lb – $0.79
1 Kroger Frozen Hashbrowns – $1.99
2 Santa Cruz Organic Strawberry Lemonade – $1.50 each, used 2 $1/1 printable – $0.50 each after coupons
1 Pillsbury Gluten Free Cookie Dough – $4.49, used Free coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
1 Kroger Applesauce – $2.19
1 Kroger Just Fruit Jelly – $2.15
1 Kroger Cream of Mushroom Soup – $1
1 Dillons Large Eggs (dozen) – $0.99
1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99
1 Nature’s Harvest Loaf Bread – $2, used $0.55/1 printable (doubled to $1) – $1 after coupon
1 Red Mill Wheat Bran – $1.69
2.33 lbs Bananas @ $0.52/lb – $1.21
Total before sales and coupons: $58.75
Total with tax ($2.92) after sales and coupons: $36.78
Total for all grocery items: $48.77
Menu Plan for this Week:
Breakfasts
Cereal, Toast, Bananas, Oatmeal
Lunches
Tossed Salad, Leftovers, Cheese Quesadillas, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Scrambled Eggs
Dinners
Chicken & Veggies in Crockpot, Bran Muffins
Tacos, Fruit Salad
Steaks on the Grill (gift from Crystal), 30 Minute Rolls, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Pop-Up Pizza Casserole, Tossed Salad
Spaghetti with Garlic Gravy and Lemon Chicken, Gluten-Free Oatmeal Spice Muffins, Steamed Broccoli
Hashbrown Casserole, Green Beans, Cantaloupe
Work Party
6 Ways To Save Time and Get More Done Online
Guest post from Carrie of Natural Mom Talk Radio
Every work-at-home-mom wants to maximize her time online. Whether you are a blogger, virtual assistant, writer, or crafter, here are six tips that will help you get more done in less time when you boot up your computer:
1. Define Your Purpose
Before you even open your computer, know exactly what you’re going to accomplish and get right down to business.
I’m reminded of those movie scenes of medieval times when a traveler arrives at the gates of the city. Before he is allowed in, he must state his business. Doing so will help you avoid aimlessly checking email, social media accounts, and the like (who, me!?). Personally, I find it imperative to have a to-do list at my side so I don’t get sidetracked.
2. Analyze
What are the steps you regularly take in your business? Are they paying off for you? Are your marketing efforts producing measurable results?
It’s important to track these things so you don’t waste time in unprofitable activities. For example, getting to know your website stats so you can see where your traffic is coming from is vital.
Another area to analyze is your own energy and productivity levels. In her book, 2K to 10K: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love, author Rachel Aaron said that she created a spreadsheet to track how much she wrote at various times of the day. She was shocked to discover that simply by changing her writing schedule a bit, she could produce far more words in the same amount of time.
3. Think Like Henry Ford
Henry Ford didn’t invent the car. He invented the assembly line, which made cars affordable, and that changed everything.
Mass production saves time, money and energy. How can you use the assembly line approach in your work? By batching similar activities together.
If you have a time slot to write an article and get on a roll, write two articles. Don’t check your email all day. Check it once or twice a day, when you’re actually at a computer and can answer emails.
Need to make some changes to your site? Wait until you have several tweaks, and do them all at once.
Brain researchers have told us that each time we have to switch gears mentally, we lose time and focus. So stay in flow. Multitasking doesn’t really work.
4. Automate
Tools like autoresponders, vacation response settings in email, signature lines, e-courses, FAQ pages on your website, scheduling posts in your blog, etc. are all wonderful pieces of technology that allow you to do something once and benefit from it over and over.
For instance, if you are a virtual assistant, you probably find that clients ask you the same questions over and over again. Copy and paste those into an FAQ page on your website to save yourself time. If you’re in direct sales and have a downline, train them all at once using Google Hangout, webinars, teleseminars and such.
5. Identify Your Shiny Objects
In some way, we’re like that dog in the movie Up. (Squirrel! ) We get distracted by shiny objects online. Maybe it’s email, Twitter, visiting message forums, reading too many blogs, Facebook or Pinterest — oh, don’t get me started on Pinterest!
You might just have to eliminate some of your social media accounts if they aren’t anything more than a distraction. Consider using some of the free software available to help you block these, because here’s the honest truth: Anything that doesn’t directly earn you income needs to be done in your free time, after money-making activities.
6. Use a Timer
If you have young kids, you probably know the power of the timer. The timer keeps your preschooler in time out. The timer tells your impatient child “how much longer?!” until something happens. Etc. Why not utilize the mysterious power of the timer on yourself?
If it currently takes you 45 minutes to write a blog post (which you should know from the “analyze” portion), challenge yourself. Set the timer for 35 minutes then hit publish. If you have only an hour to work while hubby plays with the baby, set a timer for 45 minutes and work quickly, then check email and Twitter.
These are a few of the tips that have helped me to stay focused and get more done online… do you have anything else to add to my list?
Carrie, a wife and mom to seven lively kids, writes about homeschooling, practical frugality and natural parenting at Natural Mom Talk Radio. She is the author of the ebook, Slash Your Grocery Budget *and* Eat a Whole Foods Diet with ALDI.
Shared Aug 21, 2013
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The live Google+ webcast is tomorrow (Today’s the last day to submit your questions!)
The live Google+ webcast is tomorrow (Today’s the last day to submit your questions!)
Just a reminder that the live Google+ webcast is tomorrow!
On Thursday, August 22, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST I’ll be doing a live Q&A on Google+! During that hour, I’ll be answering as many of your pre-submitted questions as possible. There’s no set topic for the event — so feel free to ask me anything and I’ll answer as many questions as I can!
This will be a fun way for us to just get to hang out live for a bit. (I wish it could be in real-life — but virtual chatting can be the next best thing to real-life chatting!) You can just show up and tune in or you can participate in the live chat that will be happening at the event page during that time, too.
There are two ways you can submit your questions ahead of time:
2. Post your questions as a comment on the Google+ event page.
I’ll pull questions from both places and answer them during the live event. It’s likely that I won’t be able to answer every question that’s submitted — but, if I can’t get to your question, you may see your question used as inspiration for a future Money Saving Mom® blog post!
To watch the Q&A session live, just head over to the Google+ event page at 3:00pm EST on August 22nd. You don’t have to have a Google+ account to watch the event (but if you’d like to participate during it by leaving comments on the event page, you will need to have a Google+ account).
We hope you’ll join us on August 22, 2013 — and feel free to invite your friends, too!
By the way, don’t forget you can follow Money Saving Mom® on Google+ and join the Money Saving Mom® Google+ Community!
Shared Aug 21, 2013
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Ask The Readers: Quick, easy, budget-friendly school lunch ideas?
Ask The Readers: Quick, easy, budget-friendly school lunch ideas?
Today’s question is from Sarah:
My kids’ school has bumped hot lunches up to $4.10 this year! While I usually pack lunches, there’s no way my kids will get the option for one school lunch per week at these prices.
So I have a couple questions:
1. How much do you usually spend on the ingredients for cold lunches?
2. What are your go-to lunches that are quick and easy to prepare? (I don’t mean cutesy ideas like you see on Pinterest, but quick and practical.) -Sarah
Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
Shared Aug 21, 2013
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Gretchen’s CVS Shopping Trip: $50+ worth of products for $4 out of pocket!
Gretchen’s CVS Shopping Trip: $50+ worth of products for $4 out of pocket!
CVS Shopping Trip
1 Kit Kat Minis – $2.67
Used $2.50/1 CVS printable (no longer available)2 Infusium Shampoo – $5 each
Used 2 $2/1 coupon from the 8/18 SmartSource insert2 Revlon Lipstick – $6.99 each
Used 2 $1/1 printable
And used $4/$12 cosmetics CVS coupon from in-store coupon machineAlways Pantiliners (80 ct) – $6.99
Used $2/1 coupon from the 7/28 P&G insertUsed $14 ECBs from my last shopping trip
And used $3 off CVS coupon from my email inbox (Birthday rewards!)
Total before coupons, sales and ECBs: $50.64
Total with tax ($1.90) after coupons, sales and ECBs: $4.04, Received $3 ECBs (for buying 1 Always), $4 ECBs (for buying 2 Infusium) and $8 ECBs (for buying 2 Revlon)
Slow Down Challenge: Savoring What’s Before Us (Day 2)
This week, I’m joining Jeff Goins for his Slow Down Challenge. If you want to participate, sign up for the free Slow Down Challenge email list. Also, you might consider grabbing a copy of his book, The In-Between. Jeff is such an inspiration to me as a writer and I highly recommend reading all of his books, if you have a chance!
This afternoon, there were quite a few whiny attitudes at our home. Remembering that today’s challenge was to stop and savor life, I decided to do something fun and out of the ordinary.
I called the kids to the kitchen and told them we were going to take a little break from homeschooling to have some hot chocolate and read aloud together. Hot chocolate is always a special treat and, even though it was a hot day, they were thrilled.
We made the hot chocolate together and then they all watched/listened to a little of The Creation by Haydn on my phone while sipping their hot chocolate (this was one of the projects we were supposed to do as part of our My Father’s World Creation to the Greeks curriculum this week.)
I then sat down and read aloud to them for about 20 minutes. It was the perfect afternoon antidote.
After this impromptu break, everyone went back to the rest of their school projects for the day feeling refreshed and in much better spirits. It’s amazing what taking a little time to savor life can do!
How did you stop and savor life today? Tell us in the comments or blog about it and leave your link below.
Shared Aug 20, 2013
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Today’s Aldi Shopping Trip (and the most I think I’ve ever spent in one shopping trip!)
Today’s Aldi Shopping Trip (and the most I think I’ve ever spent in one shopping trip!)
We’ve been mostly eating from the pantry and freezer for the past few weeks, so it was time for a big stock-up trip to replenish our bare freezer and refrigerator. I brought a long list and the grocery cash envelope, but I confess that I almost choked a little when the cashier told me my total… I think that’s the most I ever remember spending in one shopping trip!
I did buy a few treats for the kids — they’ve been so great to willingly eat some interesting pantry meals and I wanted to surprise them with a few fun things as a reward. Capri Sun Juice Pouches and Cheese Crackers are just about the best things ever according to my children and, based upon their excitement over them, I’m pretty sure it was $4 well spent. 🙂
Aldi Shopping Trip
2 bags of oranges — $1.49 each
2 cartons of blueberries — $1.29 each
2 cartons of red grapes — $1.58 each
2 cartons of strawberries — $1.49 each
1 box of cheese crackers — $1.89 (a special treat for Silas — I was thrilled to discover these don’t have food coloring in them!)
4 blocks of Cheddar cheese (8 oz. each) — $1.79 each
1 tub of sour cream — $1.29
1 block of mozzarella cheese — $1.79
1 bag of chicken breasts — $5.99
3 bags frozen corn — $0.95 each
2 bags frozen broccoli — $1.09 each
Capri Sun Juice — $1.95 (This was another special treat for the kids.)
1 bag tortilla chips — $1.19
1 bag corn chips — $1.19
6.72 lbs of bananas — $1.85
40-oz. bottle of Ketchup — $1.29
1 bag of dry pinto beans — $1.79
2 bags of baby carrots — $0.99 each
10 lbs. of potatoes — $2.99
1 bag of onions — $1.69
1 carton of green grapes — $1.58
3 cans of diced tomatoes — $0.59 each
1 dozen eggs — $1.39
2 cans of green beans — $0.49 each
3 cans of black beans — $0.59 each
2 bags of flour tortillas — $0.99 each
3 peaches — $1.17
2 bags of frozen peas — $0.95 eachTotal with tax: $68.40
Also shown: 6 grapefruit from the health food store — on sale 3 for $1. I ran by there on the way home, but only found a good deal on grape fruit as the markdowns were all really picked over and there weren’t any other great sales.
Shared Aug 20, 2013
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8 Quick & Healthy Breakfast Ideas To Start the School Year Right
8 Quick & Healthy Breakfast Ideas To Start the School Year Right
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Guest post by Laura Coppinger who blogs at HeavenlyHomemakers.com:
Well summer, it’s been fun. A slower pace, more leisurely breakfasts, relaxed mornings — it’s all been great. Now it’s time to get back into a routine, and I’m going to need to pick up the pace just a little bit.
But so help me, I will not trade relaxed, happy mornings for a frantic frenzy. Stressfully trying to figure out a harried breakfast, or compromising with foods that are expensive or less-than-nourishing is not an option. So how can we get school day mornings off to a great start?
Have a Plan
Healthy breakfasts that hit the table quickly rarely happen without a little forethought. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, it doesn’t need to take much time. Simply think ahead toward what will be filling and nourishing for your family. Make a list of some favorites. Here are some of ours:
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- Applesauce Bread, served with eggs and fruit
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- Scrambled Egg Sandwiches, served with fruit smoothies
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- Baked Oatmeal Cups, served with berries
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- Easy Breakfast Casserole, made ahead of time, served with fresh fruit
Pull It Out of the Freezer
So many great (and inexpensive) breakfast foods can be made ahead of time and frozen for healthy convenience. Taking time once or twice a month to prepare food ahead of time for the freezer allows me to quickly pull something tasty out to reheat on the fly, without taking time out of our busy morning to dirty mixing bowls, pots, and pans. Some of our favorite breakfast freezer foods are:
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- Breakfast Burritos, served with grapes or oranges
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- Whole Wheat Waffles, topped with berries
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- Pancake Sausage Muffins, served with applesauce
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- Giant Breakfast Cookies, served with fruit and yogurt
If you haven’t tried freezing muffin batter so that you can quickly bake muffins without any effort, you’ve got to try it. It’s my favorite time saving, freezer cooking method yet!
Make it the Night Before
I have found that while I’m making dinner for my family in the evening, I often have a few extra minutes while I wait for water to boil, meat to brown, or vegetables to steam. During those few minutes, I try to do some prep work toward our breakfast for the next morning.
I can crack open eggs for a casserole, stir together muffins, mix together dry ingredients for pancakes — anything that will save me time and effort on a busy morning! And I’ve found that if I’ve got the oven on to bake our dinner, if I have room, I may as well bake something for tomorrow’s breakfast too.
No time to make breakfast in the evening? How about after you get the dinner dishes cleaned up, you set out bowls, spoons, and Homemade Grape Nuts Cereal or some of Money Saving Mom®’s Homemade Instant Oatmeal for a quick breakfast the next day?
What do you do to make healthy breakfasts simple at your house? Here’s to a great school year, a fresh start, and many a delicious breakfast!
Laura Coppinger and her husband are raising four boys, ages 8-16. Their homeschool mornings often begin with a hearty breakfast such as described above, which keeps her hungry crew full until lunchtime — usually! Laura blogs at HeavenlyHomemakers.com where she encourages women daily in their effort to: eat simple, whole foods; enjoy family life; be grateful; and laugh at the spilled buttermilk and flying nerf darts.
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Shared Aug 20, 2013
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How I Was Able to Get Quality Operation Christmas Child Items for Less Than $7 Out of Pocket
How I Was Able to Get Quality Operation Christmas Child Items for Less Than $7 Out of Pocket
Samantha emailed in the following about how she got some great deals for her Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes:
I received a $10 promotional Kohl’s gift card in the mail last week (good for $10 off anything in the store). I also printed the $10 off $25 Kid’s Apparel coupon you featured on your website. I also receive emails from Kohl’s often with 15% off coupons.
I had all these available at once and I knew my 2-year-old twins did not need anymore clothes (thanks to their grandmas’ bargain shopping already), so I used these coupons towards items for the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.
I bought all of these items either on sale or on clearance:
- 1 girl’s shirt – $4.00
- 1 boy’s shirt – $3.20
- 2 pairs of girl’s flip flops – $5.60
- 1 toddler girl’s hat/glove set – $3.20
- 1 girl’s hat/glove set – $3.00
- 1 7-pack girl’s socks – $7.99
Total before coupons and tax: $26.99
Total after coupons and gift cards deducted: $5.94
Total after Ohio tax added: $6.33
I was happy to get some quality items for less than $1 each to put in our boxes. Thanks for post about the $10 off $25 Kohl’s coupon!
Have you gotten a great deal thanks to a tip you’ve found here on MoneySavingMom.com? Take a picture of your deal/purchase and write a short post on the deal details and submit it here. If your submission is chosen to be posted, I’ll send you a $25 Amazon gift card! Note: the more creative, unique, and well-written your post, the more chance it will have of being posted.
Shared Aug 20, 2013
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Monthly Sponsor Spotlight: An interview with Jon Acuff, author of START
Monthly Sponsor Spotlight: An interview with Jon Acuff, author of START
We’re excited to be promoting START by Jon Acuff as one of our featured monthly sponsors in August. We had the opportunity to interview Jon and get to know him a little more recently:
Jon, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became a writer and speaker.
Before I started working for Dave Ramsey, I was what my wife called a “Serial Quitter.” I had eight jobs in eight years. I would leave one job for the next not really knowing what I was going after. After realizing that the common denominator was me, I knew I needed to do something different.
I have always had a passion for writing and speaking. In 2008, I started a blog in my kitchen called Stuff Christians Like. I didn’t expect it to grow as quickly as it did.
Then, I thought it would be interesting to write a book, and I began doing more speaking. After speaking to Dave Ramsey’s team a few times, and interacting with his company on a regular basis, he asked me to join his team in 2010.
Tell us about your latest book, START, and specifically how it applies to moms?
The book started after I had a conversation with a grandmother on a plane. She asked me, “What do you do when all your excuses for not chasing your dream are gone?”
It was a profoundly sad moment, because for the first time she was looking back on her life and realizing it had passed her by. I started wondering how I could avoid the same situation. How could I get to 80 and not look back on life and realize I had missed my purpose?
I’ve found that a lot of moms give up on their dreams because they don’t think they have time, or they’re afraid to take a chance. START shows people how they can live the lives they want to live, whether they have a family or full-time job, and how they can include their family in their dreams.
A lot of people don’t start on their dreams because they don’t have time. What would you say to that?
I hear all too often that “I’m just too busy” or “If only there was more time in the day.” Well, I’ll tell you where you can find more time. Wake up at 5:00 a.m. every morning before your kids and spouse wake up. Or stay up an extra 30 minutes.
If you’re going to go after your dream, then you have to carve time out in your day. If your dream isn’t worth 30 minutes, you’ve either got the wrong dream or you’re just pretending you have one.
For those who have recently lost a job, or have a spouse that lost a job, how can they stay encouraged?
First, remember that you lost your job, not your identity. Fear and doubt try to make you think you lost who you are, but you can still be a great wife, a great husband, a great friend, or anything else.
Next, make finding a job your new job. Don’t ever think as yourself as jobless. Finding a job is your full-time, forty-hour-a-week job. Use social media and get plugged in with a community of people.
Remember, this is just a season. And although it may take longer that we want, it will come to a conclusion.
Many people have dreams, but don’t have the resources to fund them. How can they go after their dream if that’s the case?
When I started my blog, I didn’t have a fancy design or photos. I used a free template. With the free technology we have at our hands, anyone can play. Moms are making thousands on blogs, and teenagers are starting businesses on Facebook.
But social media isn’t a silver bullet. Start small. If you’re realistic about your present circumstances, you’ll know whether you should invest the time and money into your dream.
Money is certainly a legitimate obstacle to your ability to pursue your dream, but it doesn’t have to be. If you approach money in the right way, it will fund and fuel your dream, not curb it.
Fear plays a large part in people’s decisions, especially when starting something new. How can people overcome fear?
I’ve found that the voice of fear only gets loud when you’re doing something that matters (click here to tweet this!). There are a lot of haters out there, and a lot of things that will try to crush your dream, including your own voices of fear.
When people are dealing with fear, I tell them to do two things. First, write your fears down. The minute you see your fears on paper, you usually realize how stupid they are. Second, share them with others. Fear and doubt like to make you feel alone. Find someone who can help you see what’s really going on and can encourage you.
You talk a lot about purpose. How does someone find their purpose?
One of the worst things people can do is try to find their purpose in life. Not only does it put tremendous pressure on you, but it also paralyzes you and prevents you from starting on anything else. The problem is that we think our purpose has to be perfect and that we only get one.
I’m not a fan of finding your purpose, I’m a fan of living with purpose. Purpose is not a final destination. You don’t have to know the finish line before you cross the starting line. Purpose is attracted to motion, and if you start where you are you’ll probably encounter purpose when you least expect it.
How can we stay focused and encouraged on what you would call “the road to awesome?”
It’s possible to honor all of your commitments even while you completely change your life, but it will take some hustle. Anyone can be average, but if you’re going to be awesome you’re going to have to work hard, sacrifice, and do it with energy and enthusiasm.
Don’t wait to start on your dream. Start where you are, and start today.
To learn more about Jon and START, head over to Jon’s website.
Interested in becoming a monthly sponsor or advertising with us? Find more details here.
Do It Yourself: A No-Sew Way to Recover an Ottoman
Suburble.com shows you how to recover an ottoman — no sewing involved!
Shared Aug 20, 2013
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How I’m Paying to Ship 20 Operation Christmas Child Boxes Using Swagbucks
How I’m Paying to Ship 20 Operation Christmas Child Boxes Using Swagbucks
Today’s Swagbucks success story is from Kimber:
Two Christmases ago, my family wanted to find an act of service that we could do in honor of my mother-in-law. We decided to pack three shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.
We shopped, packed the boxes, and took them to the drop-off location as a family. We took pictures of our kids with the boxes, wrapped up the pictures with a printed copy of the e-mail that said where our boxes ended up (Mexico), and presented the gift to my mother-in-law on Christmas morning.
I was hooked!
Last year, I eagerly shopped in October and November, hosted a fun craft night/packing party for my friends, and filled 13 shoeboxes. My only problem was, I had used most of my “shoebox budget” when I shopped.
Several friends and family members contributed cash to help pay for shipping, and my husband was very gracious about the fact that I ended up spending more than we’d planned on. But this year, I set a few goals for myself. I wanted to pack 20 shoeboxes. I wanted to shop all year long, stocking up on the best deals. And I wanted to earn the $140 for shipping ($7 per box) before November.
Shopping all year has been a joy. I have found wonderful treasures (ranging from cute notepads to warm hats and mittens) on clearance. I’ve scored great deals on hygiene items at CVS. I have collected over half of the items I need to fill my shoeboxes already, and it hasn’t even touched my budget. But that leaves one thing remaining: the shipping fees.
Enter Swagbucks!
If you’d like to track your shoeboxes, you need to pay your $7 shipping fee online using a credit or debit card. A few months ago, I made a decision: I would start saving up all of my Swagbucks.
When I reached the 10,000 point mark, I would cash out for a $100 PayPal deposit. And when I had earned another 5,000, I would again cash out for a $50 PayPal gift card.
Although OCC doesn’t accept PayPal, I planned on paying for it with my debit card and depositing the $150 from PayPal into my bank account. Voila! Shipping for 20 shoeboxes covered, plus an extra $10 to buy a few more filler items.
Our Creative Plan
But as I approached the 9,000 point mark (yay!), I realized something – I could get a better deal if I cashed out in Amazon gift cards. It is a bit more complicated, but here is the plan I worked out:
Each month, starting in June, I will use my Swagbucks to purchase 5 $5 Amazon gift cards (the maximum). By November, I will have earned $150 in Amazon gift cards, but only paid 13,500 points.
Our family frequently uses Amazon, so I will apply the $150 to our Amazon account, then use the $150 “saved” from our household budget to pay to ship my shoeboxes. With the 1500 points I’m saving this way, I can cash out for $15 in gift cards to fill another box!
How I Earn At Least 50 Swagbucks Per Day
To the new Swagbucks user, 13,500 points might seem like a huge goal. But I’ve found that just by casually using Swagbucks (as my search engine, to print my coupons from, entering codes when I see them pop up on Facebook, and occasionally using Shop and Earn), I can easily earn an average of 50 Swagbucks per day.
And if I have a bit more time to put into it (doing special offers, taking surveys, and completing other activities like the daily poll), I can earn 100 Swagbucks per day (and sometimes significantly more).
Since setting this goal for myself, I have had a lot more motivation to use Swagbucks. I am now only 3,000 Swagbucks away from my goal, and I’m getting so excited for November – shoebox packing time!
Have you saved up and purchased something using your Swagbucks? If so, you could get a $50 gift card just for sharing your Swagbucks success stories with MoneySavingMom.com readers!
Slow Down Challenge: Stopping to Smell the Roses (Day 1)
This week, I’m joining Jeff Goins for his Slow Down Challenge. If you want to participate, sign up for the free Slow Down Challenge email list. Also, you might consider grabbing a copy of his book, The In-Between. Jeff is such an inspiration to me as a writer and I highly recommend reading all of his books, if you have a chance!
We live in a frantic, rushing world. Busyness is a virtue, a badge of honor we proudly wear.
But where does busyness get us? Often, it just leads to exhaustion, frustration, stress, and burn out.
That’s why we need to take time to breathe. We need to soak up the sunshine, the beauty, the smells, the sounds, the wonder of life teeming around us in all directions.
Stopping to smell the roses is not only rejuvenating, it’s imperative if you want to lead a healthy, well-balanced life.
Today’s Project
Today’s project for the Slow Down Challenge is to walk around your home, neighborhood, or even your workplace, and take time to notice the things that other people might overlook. Read more here.
Here are a few things I saw:
A fall-scented candle.
Kaitlynn’s art project (I love how she always has some new creative project she’s working on — usually spread out over the kitchen table!)
A stack of new books that I can’t wait to dive into… just as soon as I finish up the books I’m currently reading. 🙂
Beautiful flowers in a vase.
Coupons sitting on my dresser waiting to be filed (so thankful for all of the money we’ve saved over the years thanks to coupons!)
Are you joining me for the Slow Down Challenge? If so, feel free to share about what you learn from the projects in the comments. Or, if you’re blogging about the challenge, leave your link to your blog post below.