They are encouraging the winner to spend $500 of it on essentials (like utilities & groceries), $200 toward goals (like retirement), and $300 on anything you’d like to spend it on.
I am a full time student and stay-at-home-mother to our busy three year old son. My husband is also a full-time student and in the Marine Corps Reserve. We are both twenty-three and have been married for five years.
Money is tight with both of us being full-time students, so if we want anything extra for ourselves or our home, we find different ways to earn money, like selling items we no longer use or by using Swagbucks.
I began using Swagbucks last year to help cut the costs of Christmas. After Christmas, I decided to save up to purchase Lowe's gift cards so we could begin remodeling our kitchen and curb some of the costs. Lowe's offers a 10 percent military discount so it helped stretch our gift cards a little further.
When my son would lay down for afternoon naps or fall asleep in the evenings, I would fill out surveys or special offers. My husband and I always use the toolbar to earn while searching the internet, and I made sure to fill out the daily polls and enter the special codes. I also downloaded the Swagbucks app so I could watch videos on my phone randomly during the day.
By devoting less than an hour each day, we were able to earn multiple gift cards. By May, we had enough Swagbucks saved up to buy 11 new brackets and handles for the kitchen cabinets that were freshly sanded and stained. The 11 new brackets and handles for our kitchen were $69.31 after our Lowe's discounts and before taxes.
Being able to make the purchase with gift cards we got from Swagbucks was amazing, especially since hardware for our kitchen was the most expensive part of our cabinet redo. Going from navy blue cabinets to a nice wood with updated hardware really made our kitchen stand out. We are still saving up Swagbucks to buy nine more brackets and handles, after we finish adding a backsplash.
I just got an email from Home Educating Family they are offering the free subscription again until 7/31 because so many people had trouble with the website last time. I just got mine and am super excited as I love this magazine and free is the BEST price!
Please note that the price of these ebooks is currently $0.00, but that could change at any time. Be sure to verify before checking out that it is still free.
These ebooks are specifically for Kindles, but you can go here to download a free application that enables you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.
Right now, you can get Thomas & Friends Magazine for $14.99 per year (8 issues) when you use coupon code MONEYSAVING at checkout. It’s rare to find a deal on this magazine–especially one this low (Amazon’s price is currently $34 for a one-year subscription).
About Thomas & Friends Magazine: Thomas & Friends is a Fun to Learn bi-monthly magazine for children 2-7. Each issue is filled with stories your children will love, a collectible poster you can hang on your wall, and a pull out workbook filled with activities like counting, matching, and reading.
This offer expires tonight 07/30/13 11:59 PM EST.
Are you looking for other magazine titles? You can use coupon code MONEYSAVING to save 20% off of most titles at DiscountMags!
Learn how recycled plastics can help you transform your home and get 10 Recyclebank Points. Then, pick up a few tips from a design expert and enter for a chance to win $500 to jump-start your very own home makeover.
$20 for a 2 Pack of Gluten-Free Seeds (CinnaSweets and Six Seed Blend) by EatSeed: Gluten-Free Saver is offering a 35% savings on two packs of premium seeds from EatSeed. With this deal, you receive two 16 oz bags of seeds for just $20 (regularly $30.80). The deal includes 1 bag of Six Seed Super Blend: the perfect mix of pumpkin, sunflower, flax, chia, sesame and hemp seeds, and 1 bag of Organic Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (Hulled) – CinnaSweet: a savory, protein-rich addition to your breakfast, snack or dessert. Shipping is included in the value of this deal!
Schar Crackers $3.11 Each Shipped: Amazon Warehouse currently has the Schar Table Crackers Gluten Free, 7.4-Ounce (Pack of 3) priced at $9.33 and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping! That equals out to approximately $3.11 each shipped! This is a Warehouse deal, so quantities are limited.
Free Essential Grocery Guide + Free Month from Taste Guru: TasteGuru is a gluten-free subscription service. Each month, they put together a box of fabulous gluten-free goodies and ship them right to your door (shipping is always included)! Even better, right now you can score a FREE month when you sign up! Plus, to make the deal even sweeter, when you sign up for a 6-month or 12-month plan, you will also snag a FREE Triumph Dining Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide!
Janelle is wife to Brad, who is celiac, and mom to 2 sweet girls, one of whom is celiac, and the other showing signs of gluten intolerance. She blogs about the gluten free life on a budget, including coupons, deals, recipes, and other money-saving tips at Gluten Freely Frugal.
About Jack & Jill Magazine: Jack & Jill is a magazine for children ages 7-10. Each issue teaches young readers about health, self-confidence, and better living through humor and adventurous stories. This magazine subscription features regular publication of reader’s stories, poems, photos, and artwork. Jack & Jill is a fun filled magazine that will engage young readers and encourage them to read and learn.
This offer expires tonight 7/30/12 11:59 PM EST.
Are you looking for other magazine titles? You can use coupon code MONEYSAVING to save 20% off of most titles at DiscountMags!
Clairol Nice'n Easy Root Touch-Up – $5.50 Buy 2 and use $5/2 coupon from the 7/7 P&G insert And use $2/1 Target printable $1 each after coupons
Crest Toothpaste – $2.50 Use $0.50/1 coupon from the 7/28 P&G insert Or use $0.75/1 coupon from the 7/7 P&G insert And use $1/1 Target Mobile Coupon (JULY4) or mailer coupon $0.75 each after coupons
Did you find a great deal at Target? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Target deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Target deals post will be deleted.
Missed the first posts in this series? Check them out here.
#5 Listen Intently
One the best ways to challenge your brain and have an never-ending stream of ideas and inspiration is to become a student of life. All of life can be a classroom — if we're a willing learner.
Everyone — no matter who they are — can teach you something. And most people can teach you amazing things, if you'll only but listen.
I'm not one who is usually short on words (I'm pretty sure my family would readily attest to that, too!), but when I am intentional about listening and asking good questions, I'm always amazed at how much I learn.
Focus on the Other Person
Most people really like to talk about themselves and their interests. The trick is to fully focus on whomever you are talking to, be genuinely interested, and to find out what gets them fired up and excited.
If I meet someone for the first time and I don't have any background or context for that person, I'll often say, "Tell me about yourself." This is one of my favorite ways to open up a conversation with someone I don't know — and you never know where it will lead!
I've learned about tragedies, triumphs, health issues, a person's dreams and hopes, and so many other fascinating things as a result of this simple question. It’s extremely open-ended but it rarely fails to produce an interesting discussion with just about everyone.
Put Away Your Phone
If you want to have a meaningful conversation, you’ve got to stop multi-tasking. Don’t be texting another friend, checking Facebook or Twitter, or searching for something on the internet.
I love the efficiency that smartphones have brought into my life. But, on the flipside, I despise how we’re unable to disconnect from the noise so we can really listen to what someone else is saying.
If you need to be on your phone when in the middle of a conversation, explain why and take care of whatever it is you need to do. Then, turn it off and turn your attention fully to the person in front of you.
Ask Followup Questions
As another person is talking, listen carefully for interesting tidbits that you want to probe deeper into. I’m always amazed at how many things I learn just by asking questions that springboard from a statement someone makes.
Don’t be shy — even if you don’t really know much at all about what a person is interested in, you can still learn so much. In fact, sometimes it’s more fun to talk to someone who has little knowledge of a subject but immense interest.
Reiterate Their Statements
I’m constantly asking why and forever prodding to get to the root of why a person responds a certain way, feels a certain way, or believes a certain way. One of the things I find is really helpful is to reiterate what I just heard someone say to me to make sure I understood and then to ask a followup question. “So you’re saying such and such, do you think that’s because of so and so?”
You might be completely off-base or maybe you misunderstood, so reiterating someone’s statements and then asking a followup question is a great way to make sure you’re both on the same page, to engage in a good conversation, and to never run out of interesting things to talk about!
By putting forth effort to listen and discuss things in-depth with others, not only is my brain expanded, but I also often come away with new ideas for blog posts or series as a result of these conversations!
What are your best suggestions for becoming a better listener? I’d love to hear!
1. Read 3 chapters of The Borrowers to the children. Read 3 chapters of Viking Adventure with Kathrynne, read three chapters of Hugh Pine with Kaitlynn, read a few picture books with Silas.
Homemaking Goals 6. Work for 30 minutes on my embroidery project.
This week's goals:
Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals
1. Read 3 chapters of The Borrowers to the children. Finish reading Viking Adventure with Kathrynne. Finish reading Hugh Pine with Kaitlynn. Read a few picture books with Silas.
How did you do on last week's goals? What are your goals for this week? I'd love to have you share your progress on last week's goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you've blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let's cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!
to download a free application that enables you to read Kindle ebooks on your PC.
Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it 
priced at $9.33 and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping! That equals out to approximately $3.11 each shipped! This is a Warehouse deal, so quantities are limited.
Here are some of the best deals at Target this week, with thanks to 
Did you find a great deal at Target? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Target deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Target deals post will be deleted.
Read 3 chapters of 
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