My Walk Through Life 2/13/2016

Ways To Build A Savings Account

I am a widow on a pension, and I have to stretch my monthly paycheck as far as I can get it to stretch. I have some reunions and other trips I would like to go on, so I have to think of creative ways to build a savings account. I have various accounts building on Ibotta, Checkout51, etc (all listed on my Make Money at Home Page) but I have other things going on also. 
   Every bit of change I put my hands on goes into my "piggy bank", which transfers into my savings account. I started putting my one dollar bills in also, but it wasn't building very quickly. Now I put my five dollar bills inside instead. If I have a stray buck around, I buy scratch off lotto tickets. My winnings go into the bank. (I don't buy many and I DO win a few dollars back. When I quit winning, I will quit this) 
   With bargains and careful shopping, I usually manage to still have money in my checking account at the end of the month. When my new check goes in, I transfer what is left from my old check into my savings account. Then I start my month of saving all over again.
   With the big move I made across country, and with being unemployed for six months after getting here, my credit cards got maxed out. I went from using none, to being buried by them. So, I am  on a budget and working hard to get the cards paid off. When I pay off one of my cards/loans, I roll that money into another one. If I was paying $75 a month on one bill and paid it off, I add that money into the bill I pay $35 so pay $110. I see a light at the end of the tunnel!

Please send me any other ideas to save money!! 

Collector, Inc. Think Spring and start buying outdoor and Easter decorations.

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Are you a Walmart shopper? They are proud that they compare prices to save you money, but I despise going through the flyers and trying to figure out what is on sell elsewhere, spending time showing the cashier, etc. I am not the only one, so Walmart has Savings Catcher. You can scan the ICR code on your receipt with the Savings Catcher app, or go online to Walmart.com and putting in the numbers required. You will get money back on an Walmart ecard. 

If you are looking for costumes or accessories for Easter, St Patricks Day, or upcoming birthday parties, check this out.  www.costumes4less.com

My Walk Through Life 2/12/2016

Last night I did something I haven't done in a long, long time. I sang karaoke. Okay, I didn't do a solo, but I have stage fright awfully bad, so baby steps. Sad thing is, I have always wanted to be in a band. I love to sing. But, I am a backup singer. I prefer it that way. Hide in the dark corner. Until I moved to Colorado, I sang in a choral society. I got to blend in, and it was my stress release. I don't have much stress these days, but I sure do miss my choir.
  

This is Valentine's Weekend. I don't have a Valentine, but I will be going out with friends, so it won't be too bad. Life is good as long as I have friends. It will even get me through the worse holiday for singles.
  St. Valentine was a priest in Rome during the reign of Claudius II. The emperor wouldn't allow young people to marry because he felt that unmarried soldiers fought harder than married ones. Valentine secretly married young people. He was finally found out and thrown in prison. He was beaten, stoned, and finally decapitated. He was martyred and declared the patron saint of lovers. 

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Free sample of Nivea InShower Body Lotion
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Free 2016 Read With Me Calendar
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Free 2016 Destination Dream Calendar
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Free 2016 Roadside In Bloom Calendar
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Breakfast Hints to try on your Valentine:
    Flavor your waffle or pancake batter by adding one of the following: a dash of maple flavoring, a dash of vanilla, or substitute orange juice for the liquid
   Use a flavored non-dairy creamer for your egg and mild mixture when making French toast
   Freeze apple sauce in an ice tray and add a cube into hot oatmeal. It will flavor and cool it down
   Mash strawberries and sugar with softened butter, and use as a topping for pancakes, waffles, or toast.
   Before frying breakfast sausage, roll it in flour to prevent messy splattering. It will also give the sausage a crunchy coating.

My Walk Through Life 2/10/2016

According to the psychic on Ghostbusters, the end of the world will be 14 Feb 2016. 

I started doing my Christmas shopping already. Never too early, right? Ebay and Facebook for sale sites are my friends. I can pick up cool collectibles. I think my goal this year is to buy a present each month. It will make my December budget so much easier to manage. Of course I am still collecting points with MyPoints, so I will get my free gift cards also. 





Sweepstakes

Win $250,000 from Lays Chips
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Win a trip to Las Vegas. Girls Weekend! Unless you want a free issue of the magazine, read and choose the link that allows you to enter without getting the issue.
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 Enter to win a Fujifilm Instax 8 Camera
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Win a Disney land and sea prize or a Twining tea chest
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Don't discount the surveys on your shopping receipts. Many people throw their receipts away, so your chance of winning is probably pretty good.



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Free shampoo and conditioner samples from Garnier Fructis. These little samples are good for trips. They don't take up too much room.
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Free StikWithIt sample kit. Includes your choice of note pads, mouse pad, a journal, and more
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Turn Off the TV and ......

Make Homemade Stickers (adult supervision recommended)
   Needed:
8 Tablespoons vinegar
4 packages of unflavored gelatin
1 Tablespoon peppermint extract (or other flavors that you like)
Paper, such as wrapping paper, photos from magazines, or your
   own drawings
Bring the vinegar to a boil and add gelatin packages. Reduce heat to low and stir until the gelatin is dissolved. Add the extract. Brush on to the back of small pictures to make stickers. Let dry. Lick and stick. Store remaining sticker glue in an airtight jar and it will keep for several months. It will become solid, but simply place the jar in a pan of hot water to melt and use again

Time to think about Easter Baskets

My Walk Through Life 2/8/2016

Super Bowl is over for another year. I don't much care about football, but my town was excited last night. Fireworks and people yelling in the streets. My dogs aren't bothered by fireworks (comes from living in Virginia with neighbors that shot guns off all the time, I guess) but my little guy wanted to run out and make a racket with everyone else.
  
I am so sick of the commercials bragging about how much tax money they give back. Not to me, unfortunately. I pay every year. But if you are wondering how to do your taxes this year, do them yourself with E Tax. 
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Freebies

Adult coloring is a big rave right now. Here is a free 7 page ebook that you can download.
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Scroll down to the bottom of the page. I signed up today so haven't gotten any free samples yet. We will see.
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I may have posted this before. I like free tea and coffee. One of the things I don't have to do surveys and jump hoops to get my sample.
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I don't have Jack in the Box, but if you do, try for this free burger
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Think Spring! Order Spring and Easter items here. Lots of fun items.
Collections Etc. Holiday & Seasonal

Sweepstakes

The only way I see me getting back to Hawaii is to win a trip. Here is your chance to win also.
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Woman's Day Magazine always have great contests. I have won makeup from them once. Here is a trip to Maui that they are offering. If you enter magazine contests, make sure to push the link that allows you to enter without getting a free trial. They will also send you bills to keep the magazine coming. 
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Other Uses for Coffee Filters: I have a Kuerig, so need to use up
     my leftover coffee filters:
Use to polish shoes
They are lint free, so they are great for washing windows, computer
   monitors, and television screens.
Poke a hole in the middle and put a child's ice cream cone or 
   popsicle stick through it. It will catch messy drips.
Use one to hold a taco to eliminate juicy mess
They can be used as disposable snack containers, for little ones 
   eating popcorn, chips, etc. 
Place between china when packing or storing.
Use as covers when cooking in a microwave.
Instead of paper towels (which I do not buy), use coffee filters to 
   place bacon or other greasy food after cooking.
Put a coffee filter inside a flower pot before putting in the soil. It 
   will keep the soil in the container and still allow water to flow
Since they are lint free, they are good for spreading oil or butter
   in baking dishes. They won't leave any fiber.
Dampen a filter with white vinegar and add a couple of drops of
   essential oils. Use as a dryer sheet.
If you use cloth diapers, use one or two filters as a diaper liner. 
   Makes it easier to clean up. This is a lot cheaper than the liners
   I used to purchase.
Make a sachet bag filled with baking soda. Secure with rubber
   bands. Keeps these in shoes, gym bags, or any where that
   holds smelly odors. You can pretty them up with ribbon and 
   instead of baking soda, add fragrant flowers. Nice for dresser
   drawers.
Keep them in your car for handy clean ups or washing windows.

My Walk Through Life 2/6/2016

It is Super Bowl Weekend. I am not a football fan, but living in Colorado, the excitement level is high. I am looking forward to seeing some of the commercials, however. 

My weekend will consist of me working on projects on my computer while my mother does her jigsaw puzzle. Neither one of us are into football.

While sitting on my computer, I am researching things to share with my readers. So here goes:

I discovered a great new shopping site. The Greater Good is a site that share profits with organizations such as wild life preservation, veterans, and various health organizations. I found some nice things to buy for birthdays and Christmas this upcoming year. 

Freebies

Free Wild Food samples. You can order two. I ordered tea and coffee but there is a choice of other items also.
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Sweepstakes

Win a houseboat trip on Lake Powell
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Do you want the old time candy that you miss from your childhood? Check out OldTymeCandy


Laundry Tips
Get your clothes brighter by adding 2 tablespoons of salt per load 
   of wash. It helps hod the colors in the fabric.
When washing dark clothes for the first time, use cold water and a
   cup of table salt to help colors set.
If you are like me and still hang out your clothes when weather 
   allows, boil wooden clothespins in salt water before using and 
   they will last longer.
Clean your iron by putting salt on a damp cloth and rubbing on the 
   iron surface.
For stains on white clothes, use a rinse of cold water and lemon
   juice then lay the item out in the sun. The combination of lemon
   and sun will lighten the stain.
For sweat stains, crush 2 aspirins and add to 1/2 cup water in a 
   bowl. Soak shirt for 3 hours then wash as usual.
Ring around the collar: color the stain with white chalk. Let the
   chalk soak up the grease for a couple of minutes. Wipe off the
   excess chalk, and then launder as usual. 

Unplug

It is cold outside. Here is something to keep the young ones entertained.

Water Color Paint
   Needed:
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
2 Tablespoons baking soda
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon glycerin
Food coloring
   Mix vinegar and baking soda in a small bowl. When mixture stops bubbling, add cornstarch and glycerin. Mix well. Pour mixture into bottle caps from 2-liter soda bottles or into egg carton cups. Let dry overnight. Wet your paint brush and rub it along the paint to paint your pictures.

Sweet Smelly Pictures
   Needed:
Water Color Paint (above)
Craft glue
Fruit flavored gelatin
Paper
Paintbrush
   Draw or trace a picture. Paint the picture with water colors. When the picture is dry, spread craft glue lightly over the picture. Sprinkle gelatin lightly on the wet glue. When the picture is dry, the glue will be clear and the picture will have a sweet fruity smell. 

I would love to feature your artwork. Send photos to rksteele13@yahoo.com or Instagram My_Attempt_At_ Life





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My Walk Through Life 2/3/2016

I found another online consignment shop that looks to have great items with great prices. 
swap

This is the man who sold the photo of a potato for $1,000,000. Yes. That is the right amount of zeros. I need to figure out how to do that. I have a whole house full of things that would make great million dollar photos. Some people have all the luck.

REUSE Plastic Coffee Containers

I keep looking at the coffee containers that hold my Folgers, and I am wonder what to do with them. I hate to toss them. So, doing research, here are some handy ideas:

Store compost. Make sure to label it.
My washer and dryer are in the garage. I could keep a container 
   out on my dryer to hold the lint in. (lint can be used as a fire 
   starter, or put out for the birds for nesting materials)
Use as paint cans. 
Paint pretty colors and use as canisters. Paint a label on using 
   chalkboard paint. 
Decorate with pretty paper between the container ridges. Folgers
   even has templates for you to use: Folgers
Store about anything in them. Use them in kid rooms to store small 
   toys, bathroom for toilet paper, or kitchen for cookie cutters, 
   pastry items, food. Use them in the garage for nails, small tools, 
   etc.
Cut an opening in the lid and store plastic grocery bags in them. 
   Read this to find out how you can reuse plastic grocery bags





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Valentine Starbucks Gift basket
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Everyone needs pink luggage. It would be so easy to pick your luggage out of all the black suitcases that come out of the airplane. I keep a red ribbon tied on my handle now, but these pink suitcases would be really nice.
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There are pages of kitchen and cooking items on this website that you can enter to win. I love this site. Haven't won yet.....but I will!
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Stanley Tools is giving away some great tool sets.
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I have crazy curly hair. I have to find good products to keep my hair in check. Naturally Curly has great products
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My Walk Through Life 2/1/2016

I found a new forum to sell unwanted items. There is an app that I put on my phone, OfferUp. I just made my first sell today. Happy dance!

Looking for which candidate matches your political beliefs? Go to:
Link

Maybe if I think spring, it will become so. I am tired of looking at snow. I am a warm weather kinda girl.

Win a Waterfront House in Florida
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Win A Dream Floor from Lumber Liquidators
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Win books, blanket, Starbucks gift card and more
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FREEBIES

Free promotional items for nurses. Magnets, coloring books, pins and more
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Free pet products to try and review
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Free protein bar or shake
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Free Jiffy Mix Cookbook
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Do your Valentines Day shopping through Ebates and get online discounts and MONEY BACK. 





Reuse Mesh Produce Bags:

I have a bag of oranges. I was looking at the mesh bag, thinking of ways to reuse it. Here are some I came up with or read elsewhere.

Hang it over the bath tub to drain children's bath toys

Wad it up and make stitches to hold a roundish shape. Use it to scrub pots and pans.

Store skeins of yarn it the bag, putting the ends of the yarn through a hole of the mesh. 

If you use reusable bags at the grocery store, reuse the mesh produce bags to carry produce.