One Year to Save 2015

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $1.86 since I last updated because I:

earned $0.53 from quickrewards...

earned $0.90 from isay...

earned $0.43 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$16.82 in quickrewards...
$32.15 in isay points....
$88.39 in credit card rewards...
$21.22 in credit card rewards...
$27.07 in the Disney jar...
$28.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.20 in the USD pouch...
$62.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $306.60!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $2.76 since I last updated because I:

earned $0 from quickrewards...

earned $0 from isay...

earned $0.76 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $2.00 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$16.82 in quickrewards...
$32.15 in isay points....
$89.15 in credit card rewards...
$21.22 in credit card rewards...
$29.07 in the Disney jar...
$28.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.20 in the USD pouch...
$62.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $309.36

 

[DnA2010]

Your dedication is awesome! You should work as a planner or organizer - you are so great at it! You could prob do it one day a week and be way ahead!

 

[stayhomemom77]

Your dedication is awesome! You should work as a planner or organizer - you are so great at it! You could prob do it one day a week and be way ahead!

Why thank you! I have thought about looking into that...but due to laziness haven't gotten very far. LOL

 

[stayhomemom77]

Sorry! I meant to update last night...I really and truly did but the evening sort of got away from me!

I've been powering through a bunch of things on my To Do list that kept getting postponed. (Washing windows for one, sewing up tears for another...purging junk, organizing clutter...etc) I finally decided that I had to get some of that taken care of. Winter, she comes and some of it needs to be done before the snow sets in or the tree goes up or whatever. Anyway, on top of my regular daily activities, these jobs have been fitted in here and there and so that is my long winded way of saying that last night I plum forgot to update after everything else had been taken care of.

Anyway...for yesterday...

I've added $4.04 since I last updated because I:

earned $1.34 from quickrewards...

earned $0.90 from isay...

earned $0.70 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0.60 to the Disney jar...

earned $0.50 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$18.16 in quickrewards...
$33.05 in isay points....
$89.85 in credit card rewards...
$21.22 in credit card rewards...
$29.67 in the Disney jar...
$29.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.20 in the USD pouch...
$62.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $313.40!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

Now, for today...

I've added $4.59 since I last updated because I:

earned $0.79 from quickrewards...

earned $0.45 from isay...

earned $2.35 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $1.00 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$16.82 in quickrewards...
$32.15 in isay points....
$89.15 in credit card rewards...
$21.22 in credit card rewards...
$29.07 in the Disney jar...
$28.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.20 in the USD pouch...
$62.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $317.99!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

Generally speaking...I was looking to earn/save about $250 a month. Which means that by the end of November, I should have been nearing $750. I'm not even at the half way mark yet, so that's a huge bummer.

Of course, several weeks went by where I was not focusing on the earning like I should have been, so that's a big reason why I'm so behind. Also, I'm not doing things EXACTLY like last time and more of our cash has been going to back to school stuff, Cub expenses and to refresh/replace stuff (gum, birthday cards, household items like kitchen utensils, shower liner, office supplies, Halloween decorations, etc, etc, etc) But all that buying has just petered out...FINALLY! So next month...as long as we are not wasteful, a lot more of that WAM should make it into the change jar. Although these things DO tend to creep up on you, don't they?

Of course, December poses challenges of it's own even after the Christmas shopping is done because it's just a spendy time of the year. I'm hoping to keep a tight lid on it though...I'll certainly do my best. I'm going to set a goal of $250 for December and see just how far I can get.

In January I'm going to start a new thread. New year, new thread. And since January is naturally a very lean month for us in terms of spending (no one wants to go out into the freezing air any more than they have to, so shopping runs are kept to a bare minimum) I am hoping to make up for some of this quarter's deficit. I'm going to set a goal of $350 and see if I can manage that.

So, I guess I should figure out the worst case scenario for November. Hmmm...I will be away for most of the weekend, so my earning potential will be limited. I have tomorrow and Monday to do surveys but otherwise, very little besides the automatically generated credit card funds will be available. I think my goal will be to surpass $325. Best I can do under the circumstances.

To sum up:

November goal-reach $325
December goal-reach $575

Fingers crossed I can do this!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $3.43 since I last updated because I:

earned $0 from quickrewards...

earned $0 from isay...

earned $0.38 in credit card rewards...

earned $1.05 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $2.00 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$18.95 in quickrewards...
$33.50 in isay points....
$92.58 in credit card rewards...
$22.27 in credit card rewards...
$29.67 in the Disney jar...
$29.25 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.20 in the USD pouch...
$65.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $321.42!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

Was out of town over the weekend. For yesterday:

I've added $17.47 since I last updated because I:

earned $0 from quickrewards...

earned $0 from isay...
earned $15.98 in credit card rewards...

earned $0.74 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $0.50 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0.25 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$19.70 in quickrewards...
$34.40 in isay points....
$109.96 in credit card rewards...
$23.01 in credit card rewards...
$29.67 in the Disney jar...
$29.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$65.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $341.94!!

Made my November goal plus a little bit extra!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $2.49 since I last updated because I:

earned $0.59 from quickrewards...

earned $0.95 from isay...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0.95 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$20.29 in quickrewards...
$35.35 in isay points....
$9.96 in credit card rewards...
$23.01 in credit card rewards...
$30.62 in the Disney jar...
$29.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$165.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $344.43!!

December goal: $600
Total Remaining: $255.57

*I cashed in $100 worth of PC points when I got groceries this week so I transferred the grocery money into the savings account. I can't decide when to cash in Checkout 51 or what I should do with QR either. I can get gift cards if we are going to be in the US but that would be useless to me if we vacation in Canada or Europe. I've never cashed in for anything else with them, so I dunno what I want to do about that.

**I decided to increase my goal for the month from $575 to $600. I managed to earn a lot of PC points when I got groceries this week, which gave me a nice head start. This new total will give me something to reach for! I'm done my Christmas shopping pretty much (just candy and chocolate left to buy for the stockings and the money is set aside for that) so I'm looking forward to scrounging up all sorts of extra bits for the vacation fund this month. IT IS ON!!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

For Wednesday:

I've added $5.64 since I last updated because I:

earned $0.75 from quickrewards...

earned $0 from isay...

earned $4.89 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$21.04 in quickrewards...
$35.35 in isay points....
$14.85 in credit card rewards...
$23.01 in credit card rewards...
$30.62 in the Disney jar...
$29.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$165.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $350.07!!

December goal: $600
Total Remaining: $249.93

 

[stayhomemom77]

For Thursday:

I've added $0.99 since I last updated because I:

earned $0 from quickrewards...

earned $0 from isay...

earned $0.99 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$21.04 in quickrewards...
$35.35 in isay points....
$15.84 in credit card rewards...
$23.01 in credit card rewards...
$30.62 in the Disney jar...
$29.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$165.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $351.06!!

December goal: $600
Total Remaining: $248.94

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $20.12 since I last updated because I:

earned $0 from quickrewards...

earned $0 from isay...

earned $4.12 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $1.00 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $15.00 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$21.04 in quickrewards...
$35.35 in isay points....
$19.96 in credit card rewards...
$3.01 in credit card rewards...
$30.62 in the Disney jar...
$30.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$200.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $371.18!!

December goal: $600
Total Remaining: $228.82!!

**I used up $20 in rewards dollars on my Walmart mastercard and tossed the money into the bank account.

**I also cashed in the $30.75 for Checkout 51. Apparently, I should get a check in the mail in the next four to six weeks. For now, I'm leaving the accounting the way it is but will alter it once the check is deposited into my savings account.

 

[stayhomemom77]

In an effort to earn more, I went back and read through my thread from last year to see if I could pick out anything I was doing back then that I'm not doing now. And guess what? There is!! I used to hit up my survey sites several times a day (especially QR) and constantly look for available surveys. I totally didn't remember that I used to do this!! Nowadays, I go through the surveys mid morning and I either make something or I don't. But there are surveys released periodically throughout the day that aren't always available for 24 hours. So yesterday I checked in at QR in the morning, in the afternoon and again in the early evening. And I made more money!!

I am going to attempt multiple check ins daily from now on. Here's hoping the money adds up quicker!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $7.04 since I last updated because I:

earned $3.26 from quickrewards...

earned $2.45 from isay...

earned $1.53 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$24.30 in quickrewards...
$37.60 in isay points....
$21.49 in credit card rewards...
$3.01 in credit card rewards...
$30.62 in the Disney jar...
$30.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$200.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $378.22!!

December goal: $600
Total Remaining: $221.78!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I'm at the point where I could cash in some isay rewards if I wanted to and I checked it out briefly yesterday, to see what was what. Imagine my consternation when I realized they have changed this a little bit and now charge more to cash out. Basically, 100 points no longer equals a dollar exactly since a $40 prepaid visa costs 4100 points now instead of 4000. And paypal payouts are the same!! Basically, they are charging the equivalent of $1 on all the cashout denominations. So annoying!! Alright. Rant over!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $2.49 since I last updated because I:

earned $1.80 from quickrewards...

earned $0.05 from isay...

earned $0.64 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$26.10 in quickrewards...
$37.65 in isay points....
$22.13 in credit card rewards...
$3.01 in credit card rewards...
$30.62 in the Disney jar...
$30.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$200.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $380.71!!

December goal: $600
Total Remaining: $219.29!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $22.06 since I last updated because I:

earned $0.75 from quickrewards...

earned $0 from isay...

earned $0.80 in credit card rewards...

earned $0.51 in credit card rewards...

added $0 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $20.00 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$26.85 in quickrewards...
$37.65 in isay points....
$22.93 in credit card rewards...
$3.52 in credit card rewards...
$30.62 in the Disney jar...
$30.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$220.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $402.77!!

December goal: $600
Total Remaining: $197.23!!

**I threw $19 of my monthly spending money in the vacation account. I get $100 a month as personal spending money and for years I've been tossing most of it into the vacation account. September through November's money went towards the big screen TV DH and I bought ourselves as our Christmas/Birthday present (we had to make up the difference with our spending money to get the one we really wanted...couldn't afford it with just the budget for the presents), so I decided I'd blow this month's money on something fun and frivolous.

My birthday was last week and I went out and bought myself Season 8 of The Big Bang Theory (since I already got my present in the form of the tv). And then I couldn't think what else I wanted, so I just came home. Sort of an anti climactic shopping trip. Anyway, I'm not burning to buy anything else right now, so I spared a bit to get us over the $400 mark. I may give more at the end of the month.

And I haven't officially decided what to do about my money in 2016. Part of me wants to hold it back...I'll need weight loss reward money as I continue to hit my weight loss milestones going forward but then part of me thinks...what better way to reward weight loss than to go on an amazing vacation!! But that part of me also would prefer a Disney vacation...or at the very least a cruise of some kind...so, then I wouldn't want to put it towards this particular trip. I just don't know!

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $4.60 since I last updated because I:

earned $1.08 from quickrewards...

earned $0.95 from isay...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $4.00 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $0 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$27.93 in quickrewards...
$38.60 in isay points....
$21.50 in credit card rewards...
$3.52 in credit card rewards...
$34.62 in the Disney jar...
$30.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$220.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $407.37!!

December goal: $600
Total Remaining: $192.63!!

**I lost $1.43 in PC points. Hubby ordered something from Best Buy and they somehow managed to charge us twice. When we were able to print our Mastercard bill, he brought it in and had them reverse the extra charge, no problem...but I guess my mastercard had already awarded me the PC points for that erroneous second charge, so they took them back. Anyway, I made a bunch today so I covered that shortfall and then some.

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've added $4.64 since I last updated because I:

earned $1.80 from quickrewards...

earned $0.50 from isay...

earned $0.84 in credit card rewards...

earned $0 in credit card rewards...

added $0.50 to the Disney jar...

earned $0 thru Checkout 51...

earned $0 thru Snap...

added $0 to the USD cash pouch...

added $1.00 to the bank account...

So the new totals are:

$29.73 in quickrewards...
$39.10 in isay points....
$22.34 in credit card rewards...
$3.52 in credit card rewards...
$35.12 in the Disney jar...
$30.75 in Checkout 51...
$9.00 in Snap...
$21.45 in the USD pouch...
$221.00 in the bank account...

...for a GRAND TOTAL of $412.01!!

December goal: $600
Total Remaining: $187.99!!

**I made $0.50 today by returning two carts at the grocery store. I can't believe people actually return their carts to the corral, but don't plug them in to get their quarter back. But, more money for me and my vacation fund!! So thanks, lazy strangers! Thanks a bunch.

And, I am on FIRE with my multiple check ins at QR. I've easily doubled what I was making on surveys last week. This rocks!!