Mail call 7/27/05

Sport's Illustrated (free)
Sport's Weekly (free)
TV Guide (free)
5 pieces of Decoy Mail (1.25)

Mail call 7/26/05

Hollywood Life (free)
$10 Gift certificate to Red Lobster from My Points
$3.49 rebate check
Time mag (free)
5 pieces of decoy mail (1.25)

Mail call 7/25/05

2 copies (not sure why I got 2) of Now and Always CD from the Billy Graham Association (free)
Easy Home Cooking mag (free)
Claritin samples and coupon (free)
Pacific Chai sample and coupon (free)
Crest Whitestrips coupon
World mag (not so free)
US News and World Report (free)
3 pieces of decoy mail (.75)
Avon Skin So Soft Whipped Body Oil (free from a sweepstakes win)

Yard sale finds from 7/22 and 7/23/05

Had some good yard sale finds from this past weekend:
Brown Stride Rite shoes for daughter .50
2 new packages of Christmas wrapping paper .50
The Tiny Snowflake book .25
Baby Faces board book .25
18mth The Children's Place snowsuit pink .50
Jacket .50
2T Osh Kosh long sleeve Christmas T .50
3 pieces of Motherhood clothing (no I'm not pregnant, just saving up!) .50 each
2T Carters Long sleeve purple T .50
3T Carters short sleeve flowered T .50
18m Children's Place pink Striped 3/4 sleeve T .50
12m Children's Place couderoy pants .50
NIB baby inner tube 1.00
Super Baby Food 4.00
Trivial Pursuit Genus 5 2.00
New Curity size 2 diapers 1.00
Knife for cutting in nonstick pans .25
Funny Footprints toy 2.00
Size 5 Black Crayola dress shoes New 3.00
Size 5 No Boundaries sneakers FREE

Mail call 7/23/05

Baby Talk mag (free)
Budget Living (free)
Self
Maisonneuve (free)
$25 American Express gift check from Shoppers Hotline
Used Playstation game for hubby

Mail call 7/22/05

Entertainment Weekly (free)
People (free)
6 pieces of decoy mail (1.50)
$5 survey check
Shoppers Hotline newsletter with a 10pt survey
The community guide
LTD catalog
Guideposts (free)
The week (cheap)

Update on Identity Theft, Yard Sales and Selling on Ebay

Oh I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I got an email today that I won from Shop Etc and Avon a Skin So Soft and Sensual Whipped Body Oil. Yay! I feel like I haven't won in awhile. But that may be because I haven't had time to enter many contests. My favorite site for sweepstakes is http://www.online-sweepstakes.com. I have won so much in the last couple of years that I have been entering. I try to enter all the new ones every day, but I am several weeks behind right now.

So, it looks like the possible identity theft may not be one after all. It looks like that collection agency may have gotten the address wrong and the phone bill was from an even older address. I still don't understand why they didn't contact us earlier about this seeing as when he moved from there, DH set up a new account in the same name. We weren't trying to hide.

I didn't go to many yard sales last weekend, but I did have success finding something to sell on Ebay. Actually I got three items. I've been working on the auctions but I haven't listed anything yet since we are going on vacation next week. But I got a set of Sesame Street Club books for 3.50 and some vintage tupperware, a pitcher for 3.00 and salt and pepper shakers for 2.00. I'll keep you updated on how much they go for.

My other yard sale purchases:
3 silver Christmas tree ornaments 1.00
Booboo bunny .50
Size 3 white sneakers 2.00
12 month pants .50
Small purse 1.00
Another purse 2.00
Cool looking silver alarm clock 2.00

Mail call 7/21/05

2 pieces of decoy mail (.50)
Giant mag (free)
Very Best Toddler mag (free)
Reader's Digest (free)

Mail call 7/20/05

TV Guide (free)
Sports Weekly (free)
Sports Illustrated (free)
Charisma and a sample of a book (free)
Interview (free)
Penny Power
5 pieces of decoy mail (1.25)

Mail call 7/19/05

Guideposts (free)
Time mag (free)
Black Book (free)
World mag (not quite so free)
3 pieces of decoy mail (.75)

Mail call 7/18/05

Rebate check from Rite Aid for June (8.98)
Coupon for a free one liter bottle of Evian
Family Circle mag (free)
US News and World Report mag (free)
Opera News mag (free)
2 Pieces of decoy mail (.50)

Mail call 7/16/05

2 pieces of decoy mail (.50)
Guideposts 2006 calendar and Expect a Miracle booklet
Bottle of Mediation Medication (Living Bread Crumbs)

Mail call 7/15/05

People magazine (free)
Entertainment Weekly (free)
Two pieces of decoy mail (.50)
Bill and junk

Yard sales and selling on Ebay

Today I took my daughter for a walk to get the newspaper. I get it every thursday because it has the yard sale listings in it and it gives me enough time to plan my route. I just recently started reading messages from an ebay yahoo group (http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/ebay_establishings/) and it has helped me greatly with what to look for at yard sales if I wanted to sell on ebay. So this week my goal will be to buy at least one item and to list it on ebay to see how it does. I have a bunch of stuff that I collected that I want to sell (mostly from around the house), but I'd like to get better at purchasing things with the thought of selling them on ebay. I guess I have to improve my "eye" for stuff. Anyway, I'm also trying to spend some time checking out the completed items on ebay in the categories that I am interested in so that I will recognize a bargain when I see one.

Mail call 7/14/05

Sporting News mag (free)
Sports Weekly (free)
2 pieces of decoy mail (.50)
Sales circulars
Bank statement

Mail call 7/13/05 and grocery shopping

5 pieces of decoy mail (1.25)
No Yolks recipe booklet and coupon
TV Guide (free)
Penny Power

Not much mail today.... I went grocery shopping this morning. I almost only buy things that are on sale and that I have a coupon for. When there is a good sale I try to stock up so that I don't have to buy it until the next time it goes on sale. This way, I have my own store in the house and I choose what I am going to make for dinner by looking at what I have "in stock". That is how I stick to my $25 a week grocery budget for three people. My purchases this week:

Giant
Three boxes of giant brand rice crispie cereal 1.00 each
32oz giant brand plain yogurt 1.84
64oz giant brand skim milk 1.39
Total: 6.23

Landis
Three containers of blueberries .99 each
Watermelon 2.88
15 jugs of generic brand apple juice .79 each
Total: 17.70

Mail call 7/12/05

2 pieces of decoy mail (.50)
Time mag (free)
US News and World Report (free)
MOPS Connections Leadership mag
Postcards mag (free)
Radar mag (free)
Oral B rebate check (5.99)

Blood donations and Identity theft...

Today I had an appointment to donate blood. I go to the place I used to work before I became a sahm. They collect blood for research purposes and so they pay an "incentive" for donating. I donate tubes, a small amount of whole blood and today I got paid $25. I'm also collecting breastmilk for them. That pays very well, but I won't be able to do it much longer since my daughter weaned herself last week. They need a large amount so I also referred my cousins and will get a referral fee for them. They are looking for even more donors, so now I am trying to think of other nursing moms that I know.

The other day my husband got a phone call from a collection agency saying that he owed a little over $200 to Verizon and that if he didn't pay, it would go on his credit report today. It was for a phone service in the room he rented before he got married. The weird part is that the phone number they say it was for was not his number at all. There was either a mistake or someone opened an account with his information. I'm not quite sure how we are going to go about fixing this or if we can, but he's planning on calling Verizon today. The room he rented connected to the rest of the house with a door that didn't lock and two teenaged sons lived there. The one got into a little bit of trouble when he was living there, so I don't know...

Yard Sale Finds

Every saturday, my husband stays home with my daughter so I can go out to yard sales. I love these mornings! I've found so many good deals. I never buy new clothes for my daughter, but she is always wearing brand name clothing that I paid no more than a dollar an outfit for. I get all kinds of stuff for around the house and whatever strikes me. This is what I found on saturday.
Pair of brown Xhileration sneakers for me 1.00
Pair of Old Navy gray pant for me .50
Pair of gold candle sconces 5.00
Small snowman picture .50
2 small christmas ornaments .25 ea
I Hate to Cook Cookbook .50
Toy keys for my daughter .25
Set of new play dishes still in package .50
New shower curtain liner still in package .50
One True Thing VHS .50
Rolie Polie Olie Telling the Truth VHS .50
Total: 10.25

Mail call 7/11/05

In the mail today:
Learning by grace: Music by Grace CD (free)
Free sample of Luna bar
Free sample of Ice Age wrinkle cream
Eckerd all in one rebate check for May (4.38) plus coupons
Parents mag (free)
Kiplinger's personal finance mag (free)
Ladies Home Journal mag (free)
Hobby Outlook mag (free)
Smart Money mag (free)
5 pieces of mail to report (1.25)

Mail Call 7/9/05

My daughter is 11 months old today!

In the mail I got:
Shape magazine (free)
Trojan mint tingle condom sample
2 pieces of decoy mail (.50)
Romantic Homes mag (free)
Crafts and Things mag (gift)

Mail call 7/8/05

Plenty mag (free)
Sporting News (free)
Info on Williamsburg for our vacation (yay!)
Entertainment Weekly (free)
People (free)
Four pieces of decoy mail (1.00)
.92 rebate check from Carefree

Mail call 7/7/05

Today's mail:
Six pieces of decoy mail (1.50)
Horse Illustrated (free)
CosmoGirl (free)
Sports Illustrated (free)
Sports Illustrated Golf plus (free)
Win from Marshalls Skate with a Star contest - $10 messenger bag
Sales circulars

Mail call 7/6/05

TV Guide (free)
Sports Weekly (free)
Outdoor Photographer (very cheap)
Penny Power
Goya Best of the Americas Mexico recipe booklet
1.7oz sample of Head and Shoulders refresh shampoo

Hubby fixed the pipe last night for only $12.08 in parts. Yay! I thought we were going to have to call a plumber.

Today I'm busy cleaning, cleaning, cleaning...with my homemade cleaners. I started using homemade cleaners exactly one year ago and I am extremely satisfied with them. Last year I was pregnant with my daughter and started becoming concerned about her breathing in all the fumes from me just trying to keep my house clean. So I bought the book "Clean House, Clean Planet" by Karen Logan (my mini review). I picked a few cleaners that I wanted to try, bought the ingredients (and really, most of the recipes use the same few ingredients) and made them up. They are easy to make and use, make my house feel clean and I'm not concerned about my daughter being around when I use them. Not to mention us or our cats either. They are cheap too. After the initial investment of ingredients and bottles, I haven't had to replenish anything until the other week. The only thing I'm still experimenting with is something to clean my tub. I used to use softscrub (and still do, I admit), but I want to find something else that works as good. I'm working on it.

In the afternoon I had my weekly trip to Rite Aid to pick up the rebate items. I usually try to go earlier in the week, so I wasn't too hopeful that things would be in stock, but I got everything but one. My shopping list:
4pk of 3x3 post it notes $1.50 FAR
12pk of Crayola crayons $1 FAR
Gum Technique toothbrush $1.50 Free after rebate and $1 coupon
Gum Super toothbrush $1.50 Free after rebate and $1 coupon
NoAd baby sunscreen 4.99 after rebate
Total spent: 4.99 on the sunscreen

Mail call

Today in the mail...
Time magazine (free)
Family Circle magazine (free)
New mail diary from Roy Morgan
Four pieces of decoy mail (1.00)
$5 Barnes and Noble giftcard (from survey)

This weekend when my husband got home from Creation, he noticed that there was a leak in the pipe to our kitchen sink. Nice homecoming. He tried to take it out to replace, but it was so old it broke in half. The top part came out, but the bottom seems corroded in, so he is asking one of our "handier" friends to look at it.

We finally finished the forever long survey from Roy Morgan! That feels so good. I didn't realize it would take so long, it was over 100 pages! Not sure it was worth the 2 blockbuster rentals we'll get for doing it, but hey, it's something.

Of ISPs and PMIs

This weekend I've been working on changing my email address everywhere. For as long as I've been online, I've had a Juno email address. I loved the ease of reading email offline. However, recently I've noticed that Juno bounces half of my mail! So my search to find a good email address was on. I wanted one that I could read email offline, but that I wouldn't have to pay for and that wouldn't be loaded with ads. After much searching, I found the answer was in front of me all along. At the beginning of the year, I changed my ISP to copper.net. I had an email address with them but I wasn't using it since I couldn't figure out how to get the email through outlook express. Finally I emailed them and they guided me step by step through the process. They were wonderful and I'm ecstatic to be reading my mail offline. Actually I think copper.net is the best, cheapest ISP there is. I pay only $99/year ($8.25 a month) and have never had a dropped connection. Before this I tried Bigzoo and I was forever being disconnected and it was SO slow! But copper.net is fabulous. Try it here:
http://tinyurl.com/agkbh

Today in my mail I got some information that I requested on getting our PMI removed from our mortgage. We bought our house not quite two years ago and put only 5% down, but we have been saving and scaping extra money together and we have paid off one sixth of our mortgage already. We have a 30 year mortgage but my goal is to pay it off by the time my daughter is 10 (she is almost 11 months now). I know some say that it is best to invest money elsewhere and take the interest deduction on your taxes as long as you can instead of paying off the mortgage early, but that is not my style. I hate being in debt and having my house paid off is something I've always wanted. So, to that end, I take surveys, report decoy mail, test products, mystery shop, mail in rebates, clip coupons, sell online and have a budget. It may sound tedious, but I actually enjoy it. Since I stay at home with my daughter now it is a way I can contribute financially. And although we have a budget, we build in fun money so we don't feel deprived at all. Actually making a budget was one of the best moves we've ever made. We never argue about money and we always have the money to pay our bills. It's a nice, secure feeling. Anyway, back to the PMI info...I think our house has gone up significantly in value and between that and paying extra, I think we can now get rid of the PMI. The next step is to have our house appraised and send in the paperwork.

Mail call and activities

Mail for today:
6 pieces of decoy mail (1.50)
The Week mag (very cheap)
Woman's Day mag (very cheap)
People mag (Free)
Dance mag (Free)
Sample of Dove deoderant and coupon
Rebate check from ACE Hardware for 14.95

Today I'm alone with my 10 month old daughter since my Youth Pastor husband is away at Creation. I haven't gotten too much done since my daughter has decided that she dosen't want to nap ever again:( I just cut and organized my coupons and looked through the sales flyers that came in the paper. I'm also working on a very long survey from Roy Morgan research. With the points I get for completing this, I hope to get some free blockbuster rental coupons.

Mail Call and Frugal Activities for 7/1/05

9 Pieces of decoy mail (2.25)
Entertainment Weekly mag (Free)
Child mag (Free)
American Baby mag (Free)
coupon for a free bottle of Propel Fitness Water

I also found this fun website where you can listen to songs and rate them. You earn points by doing it and can redeem them for fun prizes. It's easy to do while surfing online doing other things. http://www.promosquad.com

I also stopped by my daily sites. Some I check to see if I have any new surveys, some I take daily trivia for points, some I check for bargains or free stuff. Nothing good today for free. There were gozing and lightspeed surveys that I didn't qualify for

Today we stopped by the QMart and Swanns for some grocery shopping. We get a lot of produce at the QMart because it's such a good price. The people watching is also a plus...:) Then we stopped by Swanns (a grocery discount outlet). They didn't have too much that we needed today, but we did get the large containers of Coffeemate half and half for 50 cents each.

July 1, 2004

I'm starting this blog as a way to chronicle my adventures in saving money. I've been experimenting over the years with many different ways to save money and to make a little too. Some things have worked well and some things have not worked so well. I thought if I took the time to daily write what small steps I have taken each day, that I could look back and see how far I've come.