Christmas Fund Update 2012

Ok so I am now on the tail end of my Christmas Fund. I actually have reached my goal but I haven't cashed out a couple of survey sites that have a total of $25 in them. Yes, this is all after I actually cashed out last month. I get that many surveys.

So without those let's add what I have so far. Two $5 giftcards from Target and $7.93 in spare change.

Lets add. That comes to $17.93

Adding that to my fund come to the total of: $581.79 (so with my $25 I haven't cashed out I HAVE REACHED MY GOAL!!!)

I will let you know when I end up in November how we use the extra funds. Thanks for following along. And stay tuned to Couponing to Christmas!

Christmas Fund 2012 Update

So this past week was a decent week. Its slowly coming but I think I will reach my goal by September. So here is the run down of this week's fund. We are working on our backyard. Doing all the things we can do before the big projects take place once I start getting a paycheck again. We had this really ugly shade cover thingy that hung over our patio. It was able to roll out and create this shade. Which would be nice if it was pretty but it was SO GROSS. I realized a long time ago that it wasn't painted behind it the same color as the rest of the house but I was tired of looking at it and the non painted color looks way better than THIS THING. So I asked Joel to take it down and recycle the metal. We got $9 for it. Then I got $15 worth of Target gift cards for buying multiple items at the same time. And I had $4.33 in change.

 

So here is the run down of what I have so far.

Cash: $9
Gift Cards: $15
Change: $4.33

Total: $28.33 this week

Grand Total: $563.86 (Goal is $600)

I AM ALMOST THERE!!!! WOO HOO!!!!

Finally Enjoying Summer

As a substitute teacher I get to enjoy picking my schedule and how much I work during the year. But it also means that come June 1st I am a FULL TIME STAY AT HOME MOM! My dream is to be able to do this all year round. But as for now I work part time. Hopefully in a couple of years I will be able to be a SAHM. So the first few weeks of summer break were rough. It started on Mother's Day/Birthday weekend. We at first thought it was food poisoning but then I noticed how many people were affected at the same time we were and we realized that Joel, Nathan and Zachary (I was the carrier) had the NORO virus. Its a nasty stomach flu virus. Nathan had it the worst. I have never experienced something so heart wrenching than my 3 year old up all night every 20 minutes sick to his stomach. Once we thought they were over the worst of it I worked a few more days. Then we spent a weekend in Scottsdale. Then Joel's parents got it. That's how we knew it wasn't food poisoning.

I was able to finish out the school year, then the first week of break Nathan came down with a fever of about 102 for a few days. It also meant he had to cancel his very first swim lesson.

Glow sticks in the bath. Just a way to have fun at home.

Then the following week on his first day of swim lessons he woke up with blood shot eyes. He wasn't complaining about them or rubbing them so we just assumed that he was extra tired or the wind dried them out. He went to swim class and had a blast. But the next morning his eyes were not better. I called the doctor's office to see if I needed to worry and they said to come in ASAP. Nathan had viral pink eye in both eyes. Nothing we can do but wait it out and wash everything. We were told it could last up to two weeks. Thankfully, it only lasted about 5 days total.

Nathan's first swim class! His Superman arms!

We are now ALL HEALTHY! Praise God. Summer is in full swing. We are shopping, going to play places, having friends and families over and swimming! I love it! Nathan has 6 more weeks of swim classes then he starts preschool. We will see how he is after the 6 weeks to see if he will continue with swim classes or not.

Zachary is pulling himself up and taking steps to standing on his own. He can push things around on his feet but not very well yet. He just likes crawling and he can crawl fast enough that walking to keep up with big brother doesn't matter. :) I can't believe he will be 1 in just a few weeks!

 We have been spending a lot of time at Lowes. We are finally working on fixing up our backyard. Its going to take a few months but we are getting there! I can't wait to show it off!

SUMMER IF FINALLY HERE AND LOVING IT!

Christmas Fund 2012

Well, the past couple of weeks have been slow since I am building up my points again on my surveys and we have had a couple of different illnesses hit our family. But I still managed to get a few things in this time around. We had to go to the zoo to renew our pass and on our way we turned in our meager bag of cans (we don't drink a lot soda). I also got a Target Gift Card for buying two boxes of Up and Up diapers (super awesome deal with coupons too)

So let's recap.

$3.00 for recycling cans
$2.51 in spare change
$5.00 Target gift card
Total: $10.51

Grand total for the year: $535.53 (Goal is $600)

Christmas Fund 2012 Update (half way point)

So I cashed out all my points on my survey sites. I was able to get things that we needed and gifts that I will save for Christmas. Some things I will have to transfer cash from our budget to our fund to make it all even but its still a really good amount that I have saved up. Remember I started Jan. 1, 2012. I cashed out at the end of December last year to be able to start form scratch to see what I can save. So here is the run down of what I have so far.

I cashed out for:

• a Costco membership (we canceled ours 2 years ago) $55 value
• I redeemed other points for a Pixar DVD for Nathan - $25 value
• I have a $20 check coming the mail
• $25 Lowes gift card and a $10 Chilis gift card
• $25 PayPal
• $10 PayPal
• $5 Target gift card from Target

 Each Bullet Point is what I cashed out at each of  my survey sites (except for the Target Gift card)

 Total: $175

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grand Total so far saved: $525.09 (Goal is $600)

I only need $74.91 to reach my goal. And I am hoping to make that with spare change, recycling cans, a few more things to sell on craigslist, and gift cards. Woo HOO!

PS. If you are interested in any of these sites please let me know. I get credit for recommended them to sites. Thanks.

Christmas Fund 2012

This week was such a good week I couldn't wait to post until after I cashed out my online survey points. So here is a quick update on our Christmas Fund 2012.

I sold Nathan's train table. We are constantly building trains on the floor and the table was just taking up space. So I posted it on craigslist and BAM, it sold in a couple of days. I also posted a year's worth of baby clothes and that sold the same week. Then I received a rebate in the form of a debit gift card.

So now the total:
Train table: $25
Baby clothes: $60
Rebate: $15
Spare change: $2.04

Total: $102.04

Grand Total since Jan. 1, 2012: $350.09 (goal is $600) Over half way there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Never Ending List

Being a home owner has its perks.

Building equity
Having a detached living area from others
More room
Freedom to paint and decorate as you like
A yard
More storage
A garage


But with these perks comes so much responsibility. There is no such thing as a landlord to come and fix whatever is broken.

So we have started a home list. Things that we need to save up for and get or purchase in the near future. And I thought I would share it with you. Also the list includes just things that we need to check off our to do list.

Finish the backyard

• gravel
• block wall on the back and right side
• add trees
• add a garden
• plants
• flowers
• garden lights
• walkway
• extend the porch cover 
• cut down tree on the side of our house
• get a new gate
• patio furniture However we do need new cushions for our chairs
• finish border around the grass

Outside Projects

• Finish landscaping the front yard. Or revamp it entirely.
• paint the house
• get a new roof for the front of the house

Rest of the to-do list

• Twin mattress for Nathan
• Bed Frame for Nathan (we are borrowing one until the one we want goes on sale)
• drip system timer Just found out today that we cut through our front yard drip system when we replaced some pipes so this is done. :)
• light bulbs for outside garden lights in our front yard
• cut down our front yard tree that's half dead
• get new breaks in Donna's car
• couches and new living room furniture
• new car seats
• a new microwave hanging above our stove
• a border around our kitchen window
• plate holder decor for the wall in the kitchen
• nightstand in our room
• TV for our room
• wood flooring
• new floor boards
• new door frames around some doors
• get popcorn removed from ceiling
• fix ceiling in  master bedroom from leak
• back splash tiles in kitchen
• take stuff to the dump
• move gravel from back yard to fill in gaps in the front yard
• get a new toaster oven
• paint master bathroom
• redo guest bathroom
• new ceiling light/fan for kitchen
• dining room light
• new windows and sliding door
• new front door and screen
• new inside doors
• paint inside the garage
• get evap cooler and AC serviced
• decor for above the TV
• more shelving for garage
• new keyboard
• wiper blades
• windshield wiper fluid
• get fluid sprayer fixed
• get blinker handle fixed
• plantation shutters???
• get new door handles and locks
• get new curtains/blinds for sliding door
• get new flooring in master closet 
• finish painting boys room
• get new curtains for boys room

 As you can see we have a long never ending list (because I keep adding to it) of things to do. Plus, the kitchen, even though we have put a lot of hard labor into, may just get gutted and redone as well. Lots to do and lots of money to save to get it done. Thankfully we are making a plan and timeline in hopes of getting most of it done in the next couple of years. Its always fun to cross something off!