Earn Money & Gift Cards Volume 2

I started out by telling you the absolute BEST way to earn gift cards to help your family, but lets not be so hasty as to stop there.  And why should we stop there?  There are so many GREAT programs out there to help you, you just have to know where to look.  And THAT'S what I'm here for.

I have seen so many horrible scams out there, I want to make this as simple as I can for you so that all of the guesswork is done.  I don't want you to have to scour the web for great programs, or hunt through the App Store to try to find the best ways to earn.  I'm going to put them here.  

You may be asking yourself WHY I am doing this?  Well, I have a few reasons.  First, the more people that join in on a great opportunity.. it only makes it better for everyone.  The more participants there is, the greater the opportunity for growth and additional opportunity opens up for all of us.  Second, I truly LIKE to help others learn to save money and get free things!  It's sort of my way of paying it forward.  My family, like so many nowadays, lives paycheck to paycheck... so I know first hand what it's like to struggle to make sure all of my bills are paid, and there's enough food in the cabinets to keep my kids' belly's full.  Before I learned about couponing (and we'll get into that soon too), and how to earn these great rewards, it sometimes was a true nighmare to me.  To honestly not know where your next meal is going to come from is pretty scary, and not a memory that I care to dwell on, nor do I want anyone else to have to feel that way.   And third, many of these programs that I will be talking about have reciprocating bonuses.  You get a bonus for signing on using my referral link, and I get a bonus for referring you.  Often times, it's a one time bonus.  Other times, it is an on going bonus.  So it's a win-win.  

So, lets go on to my second favorite program!  I am so excited, because this is yet another EXCELLENT program.  It's called SwagBucks.  Based on the same principal as before with MyPoints, you earn points  (virtual currency also known as Swag Bucks) for doing the things that you already like to do on the internet.  Do you search the web?  Sure you do!  At some point, we all have searched for SOMETHING that we'd like to read about, or learn about, right?  Well, why not earn some SwagBucks for searching?  Again, you may like to play games.  Swagbucks has games for you to play to earn.  Do you like to watch short video clips?  Well, guess what!  You can earn Swagbucks for that too!

Here's the best part of Swagbucks!  Not only is it an ONLINE program, but there is also an app for that!  Swagbucks has a mobile application that you can download and interact with to earn more points!  They also have a mobile application called SBTV that you can download and earn points for watching videos right in the app!  Talk about an easy way to earn!  

Not only can you save your "bucks" to trade in for gift cards, but they also have products that you can trade them for, or paypal!  There are literally hundreds of ways to use them!  

I started out with Swagbucks a couple of years ago.  I have traded enough swagbucks to cover 2 Christmases almost completely.  I have ordered sweatshirts, video games, t-shirts, toys as well as gift cards.  

You don't have to believe me... try it for yourself!  Go check them out!  You won't be sorry you did!
Here's the link to get you started!  Be sure to set up your profile.  You earn 2 swagbucks for each part of the profile surveys you complete.

www.swagbucks.com/refer/luvmybabies

Here's a GREAT example from the rewards store of what you can save up for!!  It does NOT take long to reach any of these milestones.  What are YOU going to strive for?

Boy are you brave!

Well, you wanted them to have the great experience of...  Dun dun duuuunnn... The sleepover!  WHAT were you thinking??  You already have 3, so you're thinking what's 3 more right?  "I can handle this!"

WRONG!  Whatever your imagination has created for you in that perfect little world known as your mind, throw it out!!  Dump that right in the trash!

Those party games you planned?  HA!  Too babyish.  The movies that you picked out and rented thinking they'd be perfect? HA! Better plan on settling in with the hubs for a movie night, because they want nothing to do with what you've chosen!

The world of sleepovers and slumber parties as you knew them are a thing of the past.  The "hit" at parties nowadays? The pizza (of course), the tablets (Apple or android doesn't matter as long as you have youtube and netflix), and an xbox.  They are quiet and content, with the occasional giggle-fest.

So much for the days of monopoly, scrabble and scattergories, unless of course they're electronic!

Ahhh, tomorrow is a new day.  Tomorrow they go OUTSIDE!  Tomorrow will be filled with hide and seek, laser tag, nerf wars and whatever else I can come up with to keep them going!  Oh wait!  There goes my fantasizing again.  

I guess we wait to see what morning holds.  There may not be enough caffeine in the house!

Wish me luck y'all!

Earn money & Gift cards. Volume 1

How many of you like free money?  Do you participate with websites that legitimately help you to earn gift cards for the things that you are already doing?  I know I do!    I participate in various programs, apps on my iPhone, and websites that have earned me NUMEROUS gift cards and cash.  Over the course of the next few days, I thought I would go over the very best ones that I use. I'll tell you what I know to work, how they work, and can show you on many that they ARE legitimate.  

I would also love to hear from you what programs and apps that you use.  I am willing to try them all and will review each of them to give you honest feedback.  If you've heard of some, but want feedback before you try them, let me know that as well.   I know that I personally paid for my family's Christmas this year thanks to gift cards that I earned through these various programs!  Talk about a load off my mind this year!

I think I'll begin with my absolute FAVORITE!  MyPoints!

I have used MyPoints since I can remember.  It has earned me no less than $50 in gift cards each year for the past 6+ years.  This year it was much more than that!  I received more than $300 in gift cards!  

MyPoints offers points for doing MANY of the things every day that you already do!  

*Do you read your email?  I know I do, and mypoints sends up to 10 emails every day that offer you opportunity to earn points.  *Do you shop online from walmart, kmart, target???  Why not earn points for every dollar that you spend already?  There are literally HUNDREDS of retailers that participate with MyPoints to help you earn.  * Do you play games?  Why not earn points while you play?   * Do you coupon?  Why not earn points for printing and using those coupons?  

There is no cost to join MyPoints, but can you see the great benefit here?  It's been around for years, but yet you're just now hearing of it?!  

You can go to their website and join, or use my referral link and earn bonus points for doing so.  

Don't forget to like my Facebook page www.facebook.com/FYEDMom for updates, special deals and giveaways. You can message the page with your email address to get your personal invitation to MyPoints.  

Stay tuned for my next installment of ways to earn!

Home made or store bought?

Over the past few years, I have tried doing things the old fashioned way... Some may call it the cheap way.  However you look at it, that's me.  I will try anything once if it will save my family money. If it works well, I gladly continue.

Up until I got pregnant with my youngest, I was making my own laundry soap, dishwasher soap, and yes.. Even my own shampoo!  You would not BELIEVE how much money you can truly save going this route, not to mention how much better your clothes even feel when you put them on!  

Did you know that using vinegar instead of fabric softener will make your clothes nice and soft?  Imagine!  How much do you spend on softener?  At least $3-5, right?  How much is vinegar??  It's CRAZY, the little changes you can make to cut corners and increase your budget little by little.

Well, I have just found a new way to make laundry soap that I am DYING to try.  Thought that I'd give it a shot, make up a batch and see how much better I like it.  I am again sick and tired of paying upwards of $10 just because I like the smell of a certain laundry soap.  I'm so done and OVER it!

If you, like me, like to save money and would like to try your hand at making this laundry soap.. Stick around.  I'll be making this new recipe this weekend and will keep you posted as to how well it works and a cost comparison!  I'll even take photos of the process so you can see step by step how it's done.

Can't wait to get this going!  Almost so excited I can't sleep!

From an Everyday Mom

Ok, so I'm not going for Mom of the Year here, but at least I CAN say that my children and their happiness is my top priority.  I am a mom of all trades, and a master of none.  I am raising two girls and a boy, and I must say that raising one over the other is NOT any easier.  Boys are just as complex of a creature as their female counterparts.  They still have their mood swings; the tantrums; the meltdowns.  We still have our good days and our bad ones.

Through this blog, I hope to show you all that while being a mom is not the easiest job in the world, it IS the most rewarding.  Here we can talk about the day to day life, from the mundane to the most exciting.  We can talk about couponing and recipes; cloth diapering versus disposables.  We can talk about the joys and heartache of working outside the home; and working FROM home.  We can talk about the trials and tribulations of being, simply put, the "stay at home mom."  They are all WONDERFUL experiences!

Like you all, I believe I have a grasp on what works for my family.  My hope is that together we can find what will work for you as well!

I would love to share my life with you; my knowledge, my opinions, and whatever else you may seek to know.  Stick with me, as together we can learn and grow!