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!

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

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)

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.

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??

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.

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!!!

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!!

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?

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!!

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!

@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/

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!

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!

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.

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

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?

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!!

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!!!

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!!

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

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

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!

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!

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.

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

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

I got a $3 snowflake from Pincone bringing my snowflake total for November to $144!

Just ran across it on the app store. Looks like it was just released!

Go grab it and start earning!


http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/RetiredAFGirl

For those us who plan to partake in Cyber Monday, why not make a few snowflakes in the process. If you go through ebates.com or shopathome.com websites, you may earn cash back on the purchases that you were going to make anyway. Just an easy way to make a few snowflakes off of your planned shopping.

I do have banners to both on my side bar for which I would get a referral. Referral or not, I've used both and have never had a problem.

At the beginning of the year alot of us made it a goal to eat healthier. Regardless of how you've done so far, I thought this would be a great way to not only end the year but also lead the way into the new year. Basically you set a goal as to how many days in the month of December that you will either juice or have a smoothie with something green in it. It can be green grapes,spinach,kale,celery, a green apple, etc... you get the picture.

The challenge will run 1-31 Dec and you just post whatver you had. My goal is to have a juice or smoothie everday during the month of December. Here's to 31 days of healthy drinking!! Would you like to join me???

@Creditcardfree, r u in again?

ETA: Will do the smooth packet method to help with success: http://laceyinloveblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/diy-smoothie-packs.html