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Archive for December, 2012

A Year of Snowflakes

January 1st, 2013 at 03:00 am

After reading a post on the Dave Ramsey forum,I decided to keep track of all of my snowflakes during 2012. Over the past year my grand total is $10,606.99!!! I can't believe that I saved an additional $10K just by keep track of those small amounts that we take for granted. Keep in mind this isn't $10K from money I've earned or worked for but from things like rebates, returns,selling stuff, gifts, etc... I must admit that $6500 of it was from a back payment that I got from the VA for my retirement from the military but even if you back that out that's still over $4000 in snowflakes.

I share this with you as we enter the New Year to encourage you to save those small amounts and watch them add up over time. Small snowflakes do indeed turn into Snowballs with time. Here's to more Snowflaking in 2013!!!

January Sell Off Challenge

January 1st, 2013 at 01:23 am

As I mentioned before, part of another forum that I follow I will be participating in a sell off challenge. On that forum, we will competing to see who can sell the most during the month. But in all honesty, I consider us all winners if we are able to sell just one thing for some snowflakes! So instead of making it a competition, I say set a goal for yourself and see if you reach it. My goal for the month is $50 from selling stuff. That's not including any other snowflakes that I might bring in from swagbucks, rebates, etc... You count it towards your goal once you have the money in hand or your account.

So for those of you that stated you wanted to join me, just post your goal and update as necessary. So let's start this year off with some snowflakes and decluttering!!

After Christmas Snowflake

December 26th, 2012 at 09:49 pm

I received $3 check for Pinecone today bringing my monthly total to $296.54 I'm also participating in a January sell challenge on another forum I follow. Anyone want to join in?

Snowflake Update

December 21st, 2012 at 08:26 pm

I went to the casino yesterday with a friend that was in town and walked out $20 ahead so I'm adding that to my monthly totals. I also took a 30 minute survey today for the VA for which they will be depositing $25 into my account next week. I will wait to add that to my total until I see it for sure!

New monthly total is $293.54, I will definitely be tripling my goal this month, heck who knows by the time I'm done I might be able to take it even higher!!

$50 Itunes Giftcard for $35

December 18th, 2012 at 10:00 pm

At Von's they have a digital coupon for $15 off any Itunes card $50 or more. So I snagged 2 $25 cards that I will use for my nieces Bday and Christmas next year. Heck she's about to turn 18 and never can have enough Itunes!

Target $5 off $30 Grocery Coupon

December 16th, 2012 at 04:24 pm

@Creditcardfree I thought of you when I saw this. I don't know how to incude the link but if you go to the below site, it walks you through how to get the coupon.

http://hip2save.com/

Green Smoothie Challenge-Week 2 Update

December 15th, 2012 at 04:46 pm

I'm not posting here everyday but I still going strong with my challenge to have a green juice or smoothie everyday. Here's what I've had for the week!

12/8 Celery and apple juice
12/9: Celery and apple juice again this morning
12/10: cucumber,kale,brocoli,orange,mango,pineapple, sprouted flax seeds,and pomegrante juice
12/11: Juiced cucumber,celery,lemon and orablanco(first time having this,this is in the grapefruit family but isnt as sour. I got it in my BB basket on Saturday.)
12/12: remainder from yesterday and I juiced this morning but it wasn't green, carrots and orange
12/13: Juiced cucumber,lemon,celery and an apple. Need to restock!
12/14: Juiced apple and celery
12/15:Romaine,carrots,banana,strawberries,blackberries,orablanco,sprouted ground flax seeds,coconut oil and pom juice. The orablanco which is in the grapefruit family gave it a kick!

E-snowflake

December 14th, 2012 at 01:25 pm

The other day I took advantage of a special where if you bought $100 Walmart giftcard(that I will use for groceries) then you get a free $10 e-gift card(groceries as well). Well I got the $10 this morning in my email. I will subtract that $10 from grocery budget and move to mortgage snowflake envelope.

New monthly snowflake total $273.54!

Retirement Snowflake

December 14th, 2012 at 01:52 am

I retired from the Air Force 1 Sep 2011 after 21 years of service. Just found out that retirees will be receiving a 1.7% COLA(Cost of Living Adjustment) effective 31 Dec. Just checked my pay statement and that raise amount is $48.43 a month. The increase is also for my disability payment that I receive from the VA and that's an additional $20. So that's a total increase of $68.43 a month of which I will round to $70. That's an extra $840 a year!!!

I'm not sure how the "fiscal cliff" will affect anything but I'm thinking not since this is retirement pay and not wages but we will see. At least the $20 VA increase is nontaxable.

What I decided to do with the extra funds is two-fold. For the first 6 months of 2013 I will save this and all snowflakes for my vacation/travel fund. I have at least 3 trips I may be taking before July. For the following 6 months, all snowflakes will go towards Christmas fund. If I come in under budget for Christmas 2013, then I will throw that towards the mortgage. All snowflakes from Swagbucks will go towards Christmas becuase it will probably be some form of giftcard.

$10 off $50 Target Again

December 12th, 2012 at 01:58 pm

Coupon is available again, I think I'm going to be returning some stuff I bought Monday in order to use this!


http://coupons.target.com/friends-and-fans-coupons

USAA Snowflake

December 12th, 2012 at 01:38 pm

They just deposited $82.54 in my checking! Every year they tend to payout a certain amount to their members. Just another reason I love USAA.

New monthly snowflake total $263.54. My original goal was $100, let's see if I can triple it before the end of the month. Now to decided whether to put it towards the mortgage or save it for 2013 snowflake challenge. What would u do?

Green Juice/Smoothie Challenge-Week 2

December 10th, 2012 at 03:50 am

Well week one is down in the history books and I've juiced or had a smoothie everyday so far. I've decided instead of writing a post each day, I will just update this weekly thread.

I'm all set for in the morning, I'm having a smoothie for breakfast: cucumber,kale,brocoli,orange,mango,pineapple, sprouted flax seeds,and pomegrante juice. Here's to Healthy Drinking!!

Great Weekend for Snowflakes

December 9th, 2012 at 07:06 pm

1. I went to Target yesterday and spent $50 on Christmas gifts and got $10 GC. It's also awesome because I used different Target giftcards to pay for my purchase, so no out of pocket expense!

2. I took a survey for a recent Cheesecake Factory visit and they sent me $10 e-certificate.

3. Finally, I used $20 of my blow money to bet on the underdog for the boxing match last night and the underdog won. So I got my $20 back and $40 winnings!!!

4. My snowflake total for the month so far is $181 and my goal was only $100, pretty sure I will double that goal before the month is out!!!

Snowflakes R Falling

December 8th, 2012 at 04:34 am

I finally received my $60 rewards from Chase. I got payment for 2 Pinecone surveys, $6 and I just cashed in $50 of my debit card rewards for a TJ Maxx giftcard that I'm giving to my sis-n-law for Christmas.

So that comes up to $116 and we're only 7 days into the month!!

Green Smoothie/Juice Challenge Update

December 8th, 2012 at 04:12 am

I haven't posted in a couple days but I'm still going strong!!

12/5 Juiced: spinach,orange,and carrots.
12/6 Smoothie: water,ground flax seed, mixed berries,banana,spinach and PB2
12/7 Juiced:cucumber,celery,lemon and an apple

Green Juice/Smoothie Challenge - Day 4

December 5th, 2012 at 03:40 am

Juiced this morning instead of a smoothie. I had cucumber, celery,apple and a piece of lemon. Here's to healthier December!

Green Smoothie Challenge-Day 3

December 4th, 2012 at 03:24 am

I juiced and had a smoothie for breakfast!. Juice: kept it simple with celery and green apple. Smoothie kale,water,sprouted flax seed,frozen mixed berries,banana,PB2, and some lemon juice. I actually made the smoothie last night and put it in my blender bottle for this morning; it made things so much easier!

Green Smoothie Challenge: Day 2

December 2nd, 2012 at 09:04 pm

I had the remainder from yesterday(almond milk,kale,frozen banana,chia seeds,rolled oats,pineapple and greek yoqurt) and I added a TBSP of sprouted ground flax seed that I won yesterday and man did it thicken it up. I ran it through the blender and it was thicker than yesterday. Here's to healthy drinking!

Green Smoothie Challenge Update

December 1st, 2012 at 09:53 pm

What a great way to start the challenge. I went to a Green Smoothie Girl Seminar today and not only did I win once but twice!! There were tickets on our seats and both my tickets got called. I ended up with two books(one called The Big Book of Green Smoothies) and I won a bag of sprouted ground flax(which is a first for me to try). I didn't win the Blendtech blender but it's still all good.

I took a friend and she was encouraged as well.

Green Juice/Smoothie Challenge: Day 1

December 1st, 2012 at 04:14 pm

This morning I had a smoothie of almond milk,kale,pineapple,frozen banana,chia seeds,rolled oats,and greek yogurt. It made enough for 2 so I guess I have tomorrow covered Smile

I will also be attending a Green Smoothie Girl Seminar this afternoon so I will post any tidbits I learn.