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Archive for January, 2013

Sell Off Challenge Update

January 29th, 2013 at 08:12 pm

Last night I had another item sell on ebay, it was only $5 but I'll take it for something small that was just sitting around the house. This one was a surprise becuase there wasn't any watchers on the item and when I checked with only 10 minutes left there wasn't any bidders. I have another item ending tomorrow and it would be great to end the month with another item sold! So for the month of January I've managed to sell $152.61 worth of stuff!!! Not sure how next month will go but it's still all good.

Jan Sell Off Challenge $152.61
2013 Snowflakes:$426.41

Late Sunday Snowflake

January 28th, 2013 at 05:32 am

One of the books I had listed on Ebay sold for $9.99 tonight and they already paid. I will ship it off in the morning. I'm going to relist the other item and I have one that ends tomorrow. I don't think it's going to sell but if not I will just relist.

Sell Off Challenge Total: $147.61, it would be cool to get to $150 by the end of the month but we will see

2013 Snowflakes: $421.41

Another Goal Completed

January 27th, 2013 at 03:25 am

One of my goals for 2013 is to try a new veggie or fruit every month. Well today I had red swiss chard for the first time ever. I had it in a smoothie with an apple,avocado,flax seeds,water,and a little POM juice. It wasn't bad at all, actually very mild. I caught it on sale at Whole Foods for $1.99 and it's organic!!


Jan Disconnect Day--completed
Jan New Veggie/Fruit--completed

Snowflake/Sell Off Challenge Update

January 26th, 2013 at 01:49 am

This month is turning out to be awesome for snowflakes! I haven't posted in a few days but here's where I am since last post.

Cash4Books: $4.30
Pinecone: $3
SecondSpin: $18.94
Swagbucks: $25
Survey for VA: $25
Closed Sharebuilder Account: $35

Sell Off Challenge Total: $137.62
2013 Snowflake Total: $411.42, now that's an avalanche!!!!

Legacy Drawer/Box Update

January 24th, 2013 at 02:18 am

I recently posted about getting my financial house in order and WOW is this challenge an eye opener already for me. First I realized I have too many accounts(3 checking and 1 savings) so now I'm in the process of closing a couple. Secondly, since I'm currently working on the "Financial Accounts Log" of the challenge, I'm realizing I have small amounts of money sitting in accounts I haven't used for at least 2 years. Mainly these accounts were used when I was purchasing individual stocks(Sharebuilder) and I guess I just left them open with the idea of buying more stocks at a later date. Since I haven't in the past 2 years, I sold the small amounts that was there and now I'm looking at some snowflakes of over $150!!

So food for thought...how many accounts do you have and are they all necessary?

February Financial Focus

January 23rd, 2013 at 02:06 am

As some of you may know, I follow Dave Ramsey. For the month of February I'm going to challenge myself to complete his 30 Day Legacy Drawer Challenge. According to Dave "A legacy drawer is a drawer in your home that contains all the important information that your family needs if something happens to you. It gets the name from the fact that you love your family so much that you get all your matters in order so that the information is easy to get to and understand.

It’s not just papers thrown together. It should be organized so anyone could quickly find a certain document within 20 seconds. Everything is clearly marked, in order, and easy for a grieving family member to find."

I'm not going to use a drawer but a filing system I already have. Now don't get me wrong, I have the important documents in place like a Will and a Living Trust", but are they in centralized location? Does my mom and brother(since I'm single) know where everything is located, unfortunately the answer is no. So my first course of action is to complete the "Financial Accounts Log" This will list out all my accounts with addresses and account numbers on one consolidated document.

So I leave u with this thought, if something tragic were to happen to you or someone in your family, would anyone know where to look for important information? If your answer is no, please join me in getting your financial house in order.

Sunday Sell Off Challenge Update

January 21st, 2013 at 03:36 am

Last week I had a book listed on Ebay but it didn't sell. Well I relisted it and u guessed it, the auction closed out tonight and the seller has paid. That's another $10.50 for the challenge bringing total to $118.68 and 2013 Snowflake total to $304.48! Off to list a couple more books!!

Sell Off Challenge Update

January 19th, 2013 at 08:31 pm

I got paid for one shipment to Secondspin.com for $27.37, waiting on another payment hopefully later this week. Bringing total to $108.18! Another one of my ebay items has a bid on it and it closes out tomorrow.

2013 Snowflakes: $293.98, I will definitely pass $300 so let's bump that up to $350! Go big or go home!!

Thank You for the Snowflake

January 18th, 2013 at 08:04 pm

I'm not sure if it was someone from here or not but I just wanted to say thanks for using my Cash4books referral. Because of u, I just received a $7 snowflake so I say thanks again! Hopefully u were able to sell alot of books and put some snowflakes in your pocket as well.

New 2013 Snowflake total: $266.61!

Sell Off Challenge Update

January 16th, 2013 at 07:43 pm

I had another item that sold on Monday evening for $7. That brings my total for this challenge to $80.81. My goal was to sell at least $100 worth of stuff and I should surpass that when I receive payment for the items I sold to Secondspin.com

New snowflake total: $259.61! How's everyone else doing with selling unwanted items??

Disconnect Day-Jan 2013

January 16th, 2013 at 04:26 pm

Thanks to those that joined me! I'm Back!! Wow that was somewhat harder than I thought but I DID IT!!! It's just crazy how I have become so "consumed" by the internet. The main thing that I learned but kinda already knew is that its a time filler for me. I learned that whenever I don't want to do something or I get bored then I just grab my laptop to waste time. Another thing I think will help with this is to not have my laptop in my bedroom. Since I have the wireless router, it makes it so easy to just grab it but I think if I left it in the computer room then I wouldn't use it as much(at least that's my thought process). So my 1st Disconnect Day is now complete, only 11 more to go!


Disconnect Day

January 14th, 2013 at 01:27 am

I spend entirely too much time browsing the internet while I could be doing more productive things, so I decided to have a "Disconnect Day" as one of my goals for 2013. My first Disconnect Day will be Tuesday, 15 Jan! Anyone care to join me??

My plan of action for success is to make me out a to-do-list for the day. I will start on it tonight and post about it tomorrow.

52 Week Money Challenge Check-in

January 13th, 2013 at 07:20 pm

Currently I'm saving all my $1 bills and coins for this challenge and I'm up to $10(week 4).

How's everyone doing?

Snowflakes at PetSmart

January 13th, 2013 at 12:03 am

I had previously completed a survey that printed on my receipt from taking my dog in for grooming. It was for $3 off next purchase. When I took my dog in today I asked the cashier if they accepted the survey coupon even if it had expired(which mine did a couple of days ago) and she said yes!! So that was $3 off my total and another survey for $3 printed at the end of my receipt this time! And to top it off, I guess the cashier saw how happy I was, she gave me another survey receipt that the previous customer in front of me didn't want!! So that's another $3 bucks. I will be reducing my pet envelope by $9 and adding it to my snowflakes for the year.

So I'm off to complete the surveys then I'm going back to the store and get 12 cans of dog food for free!!

Forgotten Snowflake

January 11th, 2013 at 06:23 pm

I totally forgot about a rebate that I sent off for last month I think for some dog food. Well, I got the check today in the mail for $10.99....bringing total to $236.31!!

Good Mail Day

January 9th, 2013 at 07:10 pm

I received a check in the mail for $20.16 from Shopathome. That brings my monthly snowflake total to $225.32. If you're not familar with shopathome.com, it's just like ebates in that it pays u a certain % back for just going through their site to do online shopping that you normally would be doing. I often time check both sites and go with the one that's offering the most back. I've never had a problem with either site. You can check either out on my side bar.

I should be having a few more good mail days here shortly hopefully. I sold a book to cah4books.net and of course some stuff to secondspin.com. It's going to be a good month for snowflakes!!

It's Still Snowing!!

January 8th, 2013 at 08:36 pm

Snowflakes that is, my second item sold on Ebay last night for $18.50 so I'm adding that to the Sell Off Challenge. That brings my challenge total to $69.51 and my monthly snowflake total to $205.16!! I have a few more items that I might list tomorrow as well.

SecondSpin Bonus Code Extended

January 8th, 2013 at 04:29 am

Looks like they extended the bonus code I previously posted about. If you have old CDs,movies,games sitting around, check out www.secondspin.com. They have a bonus code of NEWYEARSELL good until 13Jan for 20% bonus. Just add code at checkout. Plus if you go through www.shopathome.com(button on my side bar) you get 4% cash back. Once again code is good through 13 Jan!

Meatless Monday

January 8th, 2013 at 02:54 am

While I was deployed to Iraq from 2009-2010, a group of us started doing Meatless Monday. I've done it off and on since then but decided to try and get more consistent about it. Well today was a sucess although it ended up being a bit more hectic day than I thought it would.

I already know that prior planning is the key to my success with this so I have to make sure I plan and prep my meals on Sunday. I was also able to order my Bountiful Basket today for the first time in a few weeks becuase of the holidays. That will surely help with Meatless Monday and my goal of trying a new veggie or fruit every month!!

Sell Off Challenge Update

January 7th, 2013 at 04:47 am

I made my first sale today via Ebay for $51.01 and they've already paid. I have the item already boxed up and ready to tomorrow. I have another auction that ends tomorrow and it has 2 bids as well!

SnowFlake Coins

January 5th, 2013 at 08:17 pm

In 2012 I started keeping all of my change. Instead of counting it myself, I dumped it in a BoA deposit bag on Monday and let them count it. Doing it that way it took a few days to hit my account so it just hit yesterday in the amount of $65.65. Even though it was coins saved in 2012, I'm counting it towards 2013 since that's when I have cash in hand. So that brings my 2013 Snowflake total up to $135.65! Off to a strong start!!

SecondSpin Bonus Code

January 5th, 2013 at 02:31 am

If you have old CDs,movies,games sitting around, check out www.secondspin.com. They have a bonus code of NEWYEARSELL good until 6 Jan for 20% bonus. Just add code at checkout. Plus if you go through www.shopathome.com(button on my side bar) you get 4% cash back. Once again code is good through 6 Jan!

2013 Tax Changes for Military Personnel

January 5th, 2013 at 12:07 am

Does a pretty good job explaining this(per DFAS not me)
http://www.dfas.mil/pressroom/dfasnewsreleasearchive/Release0113001.html

2013 Goals

January 4th, 2013 at 09:24 pm

I think this is the first time that I've actually written goals down and shared them. Now don't get me wrong, I've had goals in the past but I guess I just kept them in my head to myself. So here's to something new for me in 2013. They are not listed in any particular priority.

Goal 1: Get mortgage below $75K
Goal 2: Complete 52 Week Money Challenge, goal $1378
Goal 3: 2013 Snowflake Challenge, goal $1500
Goal 4: Complete AFC exams by 31 July
Goal 5: Enroll in PhD program nlt Fall 2013
Goal 6: Eat 1 new fruit or veggie a month
Goal 7: Complete H&R Block Tax course
Goal 8: Take a monthly Disconnect Day, no internet or TV(I might split this out into 2 days, 1 for no internet and 1 for no tv)

Ebay Listing

January 4th, 2013 at 03:46 am

I currently have 2 items listed and now one has a bid with 13 watchers!!! My starting bid was $29.99 so I at least get that. I will post and update for the Sell Challenge once everything is completed.

52 Week Money Challenge

January 3rd, 2013 at 06:00 am

Yet another challenge to consider, I saw this on Facebook and thought it was a great idea and I will be doing it for 2013. Basically, for whatever week you're on, that's how much you stash off to the side. So if you're on week 2, you save $2 and if you're on week 27, you save $27. Anyone care to join??

First Snowflake of 2013

January 1st, 2013 at 11:04 pm

I received $20 extra monthly from my VA payment and an additional $48.43 increase in my retirement pay. Both are due to COLA increases and since I'm used to budgeting without these funds I will include them in my monthly snowflake totals. So that's $68.43(that I will round to $70) towards my $100 monthly goal this month. Already 70% there!!! I will probably up my goal this month once I reach the $100.