Swagbucks ShoutOut

I recently joined Swagbucks.  What is it?  Its a search engine that rewards you swagbucks.  You can earn swagbucks all kinds of ways-- my favorite is when Im searching for something and a little swag dollar is just presented to me on my screen. Its fun.  Well, in the past couple of months that I have had it, I have earned enough swag dollars to redeem them for $10 amazon gift cards (where I bought my mod podge) and tomorrow I am going to have enough to get a  $5 amazon gift card (to go towards the payment of That 70s show season 8).  Im excited because you can use it as your regular search engine (I use it at work-- if I had it at home maybe I would earn more swag faster).  Well, Check it out HERE and I would get credit as you as a referral. Its nice to get referrals because some of the swag dollars they earn, you earn too!   Who doesnt love earning free stuff? And this is so easy!  Well, hopefully you check it out and then spread the word to others so you can get some referrals too!  Have a swag-tastic day!

BreadWinner

For the past 3 1/2 months, I have been the working woman. Well, I have been working longer then that-- but that is when my husband was laid off. It has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. No one ever expects something like this to happen to them, but I have decided to look at this in a good way.

First, my son now has a stay at home parent.


Jesse is our first child and it is so fun watching him learn and grow. Charles has been also learning a lot from being a stay at home dad because it isn't as easy peasy as he thought it would be! (Ha Ha, he thought it was easy). It is hard to leave the two of them every morning and trudge my way to work, but I know that they both will be so happy to see me when I get home at night.

Second, Chuck has been able to go back to school full time. It is difficult trying to squeeze in homework between macaroni and patty-cake, but he is learning fast on how to be a juggler. He is currently taking night and online classes. Hopefully this will speed up the degree process (much better than the one class he was taking a semester).



Finally, Job searching can open your eyes. Trying to find a job when companies are cutting back is difficult; it can be hard on the optimism as well.

That is why, I am so glad that job searching has brought out the best in us. Well, at least in me :) The more we look for jobs and realize there isnt much that a. he qualifies for or b. that he could actually do, I remember all that we have. First, I have a wonderful job. I am good at what I do and I try hard so that I can be the best. Second, my husband is able to receive unemployment. Yeah, it stinks for me to think he gets more from unemployment then I do working 40 hours a week, but hey! we need it! Third, we are still being blessed. The Lord hasnt stopped caring for us just because of this. In fact, he is definitely making sure that we are taken care of as long as we are taking care of ourselves.

Saving Money in the Shower

Here is a tidbit that might save you some money. Often times, I end up using more conditioner than shampoo. When this happens, I sometimes try to “catch up” with my shampoo and use more than I need so that I can buy both at the same time. Now, you don’t have to do that! One easy way to save money is to buy pump bottles. Target and Wal-Mart have them. You can buy the soap kind like above, or the plastic ones they have near the travel section. Since we are saving money, you don’t have to buy really nice ones. I mean, its not on your sink for everyone to see—Its in your shower!

You should buy one for shampoo (if you and another family member use different, but another pump bottle), one for conditioner, and one for your body wash (if you don’t use bar soap). Because your shampoo and conditioner is now in a pump bottle, it is easier to regulate yourself on how much you pump out each wash. You can also teach kids not to waste extras by showing them they only need one or two pumps. And Body Wash—that stuff goes a long way if you lather it up, so this helps to save you money.

If you don’t buy body wash, but use a bar soap—this is what I have learned. If you open the bar of soap when you get home from the store and just set it in your cupboard where it can dry out, when your current soap is out and you pull this one out of the cupboard, it should last longer since it has had time to dry out (not a day, but a couple of weeks to a month should work fine). This is what I have been doing with some soap that I bought on clearance at Wal-Mart. It is just sitting in the bathroom waiting till it is all nice and “dried” so that it can last me longer.

Happy saving money!

Please leave comments on how you save money with your bathroom supplies! Everyone could learn from your experiences!