Daily Archives:

February 16, 2015

February No Spend Month Challenge: Day 16 Recap

Day-16-

Hello again, savvy savers! So today’s challenge was to tackle selling on local Facebook groups.

So, why Facebook? Well, it’s super simple to sell your unwanted stuff on Facebook local Buy, Sell, or Trade groups. So, today I am challenging you to look for Facebook sale groups in your area to post, sell, and profit from your household items, clothing, sporting goods, and baby items. So, how did you all do? 

Here are today’s details:

  • Overall, I set a goal to sell $100.00 on Facebook.
  • I listed ten clothing items, several new with tags (NWT).
  • I have also already made arrangement for pick-up, and so my items are now listed as pending pick-up (PPU).
  • I made sure to set my Facebook setting to notify me of all new messages, so that I can quickly check messages on my pc, laptop, iPad, and iPhone quickly. I am a third done selling, and have thus far potentially earned $78.00! 
  • I feel that I am quickly going to make my selling goal! 
  • I also cross listed items into several other local groups, and a local vintage group, too!

As well yesterday I was also able to accomplish:

  1. As part of my #Choose30 Daily Challenge, I woke up at 7:25, walked my fur babies, showered, & dressed to my shoes. (Thanks, Flylady!)
  2. Worked on my daily Motivated Moms Planner.
  3. I finished a day’s worth of clerking assignments ahead of schedule!
  4. I cooked from my pantry for each meal.
  5. Read my daily devotional.
  6. I waked two miles.

Yesterday I saved:

  • I eat at home this evening for dinner, saving our family $6.95. 
  • I recycled, upcycled, and composted one bins of deluge, and saved $0.25, the cost of 1 trash bag. 
  • I cooked three meals from my home pantry, saving $6.81 in the process.
  • My family drank water today, and saved $0.69, the cost of a 2-liter of soda.
  • I also did not watch cable tv, and saved $3.68 by doing so.
  • I lost a half day’s worth of electricity costs, and saved $3.00! 
  • I earned a $200.00 tax receipt from donating goods to local charities. 

Total amount I saved my family: $21.38

This months savings goal remaining: $123.48

 

Here’s to saving,

mardi gras signature

Challenge Links:

6 Comments

Our $4,123.43 Stockpile Donation

O U R   E S C A P E

 

Today I wanted to share a different type of post. I wanted to share a declaration of pride, strength, and exhilaration!

For as you read this post, my husband and I are on our way to donate a $4,123.43 Stockpile Donation to three local non-profit groups in my area; a homeless pantry, women’s shelter, and soup kitchen. This past month, I have been planning this this President’s Day donation, where we will be able to give back to community in a large way! I am in no manner bragging, but wanted to share that while the value of this donation is so great, it’s out-of-pocket cost to my family was quite minimal, totaling only $146.71, due only to applicable state sales tax.

How was I able to accomplish this?  I diligently coupon shop for my family, make note of cyclical seasonal, national, and regional sales promotions, and actively budget in the cost of donating goods, by way of stockpile deals and savings, into our families savings envelope system. Each week I set aside four to six hours to clip and sort coupons, to devise savings scenarios, and then to shop these deals in my area; deals which I have incorporated into this very blog.

We are not wealthy, but live comfortably. My husband, a public school educator, and myself, a work-from-home clerical aid, work hard to provide a seasoned life for ourselves, rich in love, compassion, empathy, and a shared core belief in charity to others. Three years ago we began a journey of working our way out of collected debt, paying off accessed medical bills, and earnestly  saving towards retirement, and today is the conformed affirmation that our scrimping, saving, and struggling was more than worth of our combined efforts. Please note, that when I blog about my passion for savings, day in and day out,  I am completely and truly devoted to the idea that families, like my own, can pull themselves out of debt, and be able to not just spend less on your monthly expenses, but live more fulfilled, wholesome, enriched lives in the process. 

This past holiday season my husband and I pledged to give a third of our couponed stockpile to local charities in our city this year, and today is the first actualization of this pledge.

Why today? Well, for two reasons. First, it’s a Federal Holiday, and so as a family we are on a respite from work. But secondly, and most importantly, we are using this President’s Day as a living embodiment of the words spoken during the inauguration of John F. Kennedy,  the 35th President of the United States, who urged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

So today I declare that a feat as small as saving money at your local market with coupons, through slow, diligent work and determination, can manifest itself into great change, one tube of toothpaste at a time! Yesterday my family were savers, couponers, and community members. Today we are community advocates.

I encourage all of my readers to consider finding their own way to give back to their respective communities.  As Mother Teresa once said, “If you cannot feed one hundred people, feed just one.” 

Thank you all for your continued support of my blog.

Here’s to saving,

misty1 

 

 

 

2 Crochet Hooks
22 Comments

Help Homeless Students By Sharing Stockpiled Goods With Local Public Schools!

backtoschool

Calling all couponers! For this weeks Caring Through Couponing post, I wanted to discuss another great place couponed goods, especially the myriad of free items we purchase annually, that we have in excess can go to public schools homeless student initiate programs.

Did you know that the Federal Mckinney-Vento Act requires that every school district in the United States have a homeless liaison to assist with the enrollment of homeless students. Many times these liaisons also help families with things such as school supplies, personal hygiene items, and household items like laundry and dish soap. Everyday school guidance counselors, aid workers, and educators become aware as to just how many students face the atrocities of homelessness on a daily basis! As many families are helped with transitional housing and placement, many still need the toiletries, food, and clothing that couponers often have in abundance.

Everyday items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, bars of soap, and free sample packets of toiletries and bagged food, delivered in the mail, can help give those in need. We all especially need to help young students, by giving them the hand-up approach they need to achieve academic excellence. Also consider the needs of young ladies who may be without hygienic necessities, and so the free, small pouches of sanitary products we often receive in the mail, often coming in fun, cute accessories, are perfect donation items as well

Helping homeless students is vital. According to the National Education Association, homeless students are twice as likely to drop out of middle and high school aged academic programs, as their house counterparts; it only makes sense to note that academics would take a backseat to one’s home life and living situation, as children often feel emotionally responsible for the pitfalls of their families, parents, and siblings. Also, please remember that School district staff, especially teachers, often donate out of their own pocketbooks to help families and students such as these—pocketbooks that weren’t overflowing to begin with.

Consider calling your local school district, and finding out areas, and schools, that need your stockpiled couponed goods and freebies today!

Here’s to Caring Through Couponing!

mardi gras signature

Battle-Of-The-Bulge, Budget Style: Free Online Yoga Classes!

yoga-304635_640

Hello again, savvy savers!  Today I am 32 years young, I am 5’6”, and weigh 196 lbs; I am down one pound since last week. I walk my dogs but beyond this am not terribly active. My lifestyle causes sedentary behaviors; I work-from-home, blog, run two internet businesses, and perform advocacy work online as well. I am an internet-based excuser! Today this changes! Spring has sprung, and so shall I! I have taken up yoga, and have started working out with a pedometer on as well! For this weeks Battle-of-the-Bulge, Buget Style post, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite ways to exercise online, for free!

You may ask, why Yoga? Well here are a few reasons I love Yoga:

  • Increased flexibility.
  • Increased muscle tone.
  • Improved overall personal energy.
  • The maintenance of a balanced metabolism.
  • Weight reduction.
  • Consistent cardiac health.
  • Improved athletic performance.
  • Protection from injury.

I often visit the site DoYogaWithMe, where I am able to find yoga classes, ranging in length, purpose, and intensity, for free, but also follow along several workout community forums where I can speak openly and candidly with others in my situation, those trying to work through our personal issues surrounding our body image and weight. 

Times of the month when I chose to look up a Yoga routine:

  • When its too cold or wet outside.
  • When I feel stressed.
  • When I feel run down or exhausted.
  • When I need personal reflection.
  • When I seek peace and tranquility before a long week. 
  • To maintain a sense of calm this holiday season. 

There are so many benefits that can come from even a quick 30-minute yoga session, that I make time for 1-2 sessions, online in my spare time, each week. This is time set aside for my own betterment, and as a result, I am a better person, a more rational useful woman to my family, and a better blogger for my readers! I keep a mat in several rooms of my home, to ensure that I remain excuse-free in my Battle-of-the-Bulge, and knowing that I am just a few minutes away from relaxation and peace of mind, is just an awesome feeling!

I would encourage you all to try out this site for yourself as well! 

Here’s to betterment,

free-christian-valentine-clipart

1 Comment

February No Spend Month Challenge: Day 15 Recap & Day 16 ( Selling Your Stuff, Part 1: Facebook Local Groups)

Day 15-

Good morning, savvy savers! Yesterday we focused on one of the most neglected areas in my home, and perhaps yours, my couponed stockpile.  I challenge you all to clean up your stockpile! So, how did you all do? I fared well; cleaning, dusting, sorting, organizing, donating!

 PicMonkey Collage

This project took three hours, I was able to clean out three shelves of goods, and the best part… I assembled sixteen boxes worth of goods which are being donated today to a local women’s shelter and homeless pantry! Woohoo! 

As well yesterday I was also able to accomplish:

  1. As part of my #Choose30 Daily Challenge, I woke up at 7:25, walked my fur babies, showered, & dressed to my shoes. (Thanks, Flylady!)
  2. Worked on my daily Motivated Moms Planner, before heading out this morning.
  3. Read my daily devotional.

Yesterday I saved:

  • I received a $200.00 tax receipt for donating goods to charity.
  • I also did not watch cable tv, and saved $3.68 by doing so.
  • Ate from my weekly menu, three times, and saved $8.91.

Total amount I saved my family: $212.59

This months savings goal remaining: $0.00! ($1,079.75 saved thus far)

Now onto today’s challenge:

Day 16-

So this past week you’ve shown you know to kick your clutter habit, but now what can you do with all your discarded, yet viable items? Sell them of course! And this is what this weeks challegnes will be focused on. So, for today we will tackle Facebook.

So, why Facebook? Well, it’s super simple to sell your unwanted stuff on Facebook local Buy, Sell, or Trade groups. So, today I am challenging you to look for Facebook sale groups in your area to post, sell, and profit from your household items, clothing, sporting goods, and baby items.

Here are a few tips:

  1. Search for your state or region and the word “sell” or “buy” to find local buy/sell/trade groups.
  2. If there are none, you can always start one and get the word out in your community!
  3. Many of the groups are closed, so you’ll have to ask permission to join, and others only accept certain types of listings.
  4. Many have strict listing requirements and limits on how many items you can try to sell per day in order to stave off spammers and scam artists.
  5. From there you can shop from people in your area, list your own items for sale, and set your own prices.
  6. Be sure to check out each group/administration rules prior to joining.
  7. Be sure to note whether you’re willing to ship something, or—in the case of furniture or large electronics or appliances—whether you’d rather the buyer come pick it up.
  8. Be specific in your pricing and listings; do not use vague terminology, such as “make me an offer.”
  9. Be prompt in answering questions, commenting on posts, as well as taking down notices for sold items.
  10. Always check your “other” folder in Facebook messenger; those whom you are not friends with, will have messages posted to this folder, so be sure to check it often to not miss out on any awesome offers of sale! 
  11. Each 24 hours you can “bump” a listing, an action which will automatically move a listing to the top of the groups wall by typing “bump” in the comment section under your listing; this can be done once per item, per group, per 24-hour period. 
  12. Be courteous. Allow users to ask questions, and then try and sell to the first inquiry before continuing down your list.
  13. Don’t be afraid of offers or hagglers. Know your items worth, not it’s sentimental value, it’s actual worth. In order to make a sale, you must be willing to negotiate on price; this doesn’t mean accepting insulting, low-ball offers, but reasonable offers. 
  14. When scheduling a pick-up time, schedule your drop offs in a well lit, public place, and bring a friend or family member with you. Also, if selling multiple items, have your buyers come in 15 minute increments to avoid wasting gas and time waiting on buyers who may be no-shows! 
  15. Have fun! This goes without saying you should have fun, even when selling goods! 

Beyond the above listed basics, there are great benefits to selling locally on Facebook:

  • The big benefit of using Facebook like this is that you set your price and there’s no one taking a cut of your sale price or charging you to host your listing.
  • You can set your own preferred method of payment.
  • You also have the opportunity to become part of a community where people are looking for bargains as much as others are looking to declutter their homes. 

So today, I challenge you to start selling your items on Facebook!

Here’s what to do today:

  • Set a small goal, say $100.00 in value, or ten items to sell.
  • Find a local Facebook Group.
  • Join your group.
  • Prep your items for sale; make sure items are clean, ready for pick-up, sorted, and photographed. 
  • Be patient! Sales take time. 
  • Get ready to sell!

So stop checking your Facebook wall, and start raking in that cash today! Good luck!  Be sure to check back tomorrow morning to see today’s recap, and for tomorrow’s challenge, too! 

Here’s to saving,

mardi gras signature

Challenge Links:

6 Comments