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Christmas/birthday/vacation fund

January 17th, 2015 at 02:07 am

Ok, the week is not done yet, but I was able to earn other $5.00 cash from gifthulk, which brings total to $45.50. But I do worry about my $5 target GC from swagbucks, which is under revision for some reason.

I have points on other sites, which I think I better redeem soon.

Mypoints have enough for $5.00 GC
Valued opinion for $20 GC or cash
My soapbox has $12.00 available to redeem for GC also
I have InboxDollars around $26.00, but won't able to redeem until I hit $30
So, around $63 in rewards.

All this online rewards are not main resources for this funds, just little additions, which will help little by little.

Here is plan:

Bing search rewards
26 points daily 317 days , about 18 $5 GC or $90
16 points daily 317 days, about 17 $3 GC or $51

Gifthulk
Really not sure, since I am new, but I already managed receive $15.00, so hopefully $5.00 a month , so $50 cash

Swagbucks
Lately it is not crediting good and takes too much time, I will be lucky if I get to $5.00 a month, so other $50

Other sites I don't consider, since it is too much time, well let say we get $20 in whole year from other sites.

Shopkicks app
Let's say $5.00 a month, so $50

So I hope from online activities: $310 plus whatever I already earn, let's say $450-$500.

I know it is not much, but it will cover half of birthday fund.

Our progress

February 18th, 2014 at 05:55 am

My husband and I signed up for Dave Ramsey financial peace university. I am grateful that church waived fee for us. Finally, I can say my husband is on the same page with me.

So here our insight on our financials:

We paid off 2 credit cards and personal debt, so we have 2 cards to go and car loan. We was able to save $1500 for emergency fund, still need $1000 so, until we pay off rest of debt. My online survey taking, swagbucks and etc, brought us $100 in cash for Christmas plus $25 gift card for kids clothes and $20 gift card for my husband for Christmas or birthday. Also we still participating in 365 days for each kid and 52 weeks challenge, so we have around $38.00 and $36.00.

Of course all of this saving didn't come easy, my husband had to do multiple gigs and tax refund helped. Not to mention we live in very tight budget, where is no room for entertainment or eating out or any extra purchases except basic necessities, like diapers, soap and etc.

Update and week #2

January 15th, 2014 at 05:41 am

So my husband pulled it off, he had extra job and we was able to pay rent, insurance, tuition for school and cell phone bill. I am just hoping the days will be good and he will have a lot job and tips. Unfortunately, we do have food benefits., and it feels horrible. Insurance is full coverage, but not from bank. We transferred from our old car. We did try to follow Dave Ramsey method with car, but it back fired. So we took loan on practically new SUV with high percent( almost 8%). My husband just building credit, he never had credit cards, so credit not as good as I wish. But I guess we have to suck it up and deal with it for awhile.
So for this month we still have to pay credit cards, internet, and car. I wish I can use GC from Christmas fund, but they are from stores and I don't shop at the stores until I seriously needed. We have huge stockpile, well it is getting smaller, but probably will last maybe 2-4 month(household items).
So our primary money suckers a bills. And food taken care with food stamps for now.

Unfortunately I did take $77 out of house fund and $1 from emergency fund, but hopefully I will outed back next week, otherwise I keep putting coins in kids jar and I put $2.00 for week #2.

Also while going thru last year finance we realize where we did mistake. We read financial peace book and 1st step was to save $1000 and 2nd step was pay off credit cards. We did that 2 steps and for a moment we fill great, but then things went out control, my husband didn't had enough hours, weather was bad, car breakdown. So emergency fund get drained, and when job didn't picked it up credit cards went in use. I did had to put some of the bills, badly most of them on credit card. So from now on we want save at least $2500 for emergency and only then start paying down cards and the same time adding at least $100 a month to emergency fund until we reach $5000, and only then pay all extra money to credit cards. I am just hoping this plan won't backfire this time.

First week of 2014

January 7th, 2014 at 05:37 am

I finally made budget, and it consists only bills and no room to wiggle. While I realize long time ago, that our finances start going down the hill, I didn't realize how long it will take us to claim back.

I am thankful for the snow and to be honest we need more 3-4 inches snowfalls around here. I know everybody hate it, but it is money for our family (my husband cleans snow as side job). So for us it is practically money falling from the sky.

Now back to reality, I received letter saying if I won't pay car insurance by 16, it will be cancelled. It is $320.00. Also landlord send message today, saying that he didn't receive rent yet. My husband's main job was closed today, so no check today. But even with check I won't be able to pay whole amount($840). And next check only next Monday. But as next Monday will roll in we will have other bills to pay. It is like never ending cycle. I am so afraid that we will be kicked out of apartment with 2 little ones in this cold.

On positive note, I rediscovered swagbucks site. With outstanding points and some surveys I can get couple gift cards. Also I was able to redeem some gift cards from shopkick add. I found that one of survey site I used couple years ago still have my rewards and I can redeem for gift cards also. And my husband get $10.00 gift card for target as tip. So all of the gift cards or actual money equivalent from them(if I use them), will go towards Christmas budget for kids and family. I still need set up how much do we need, because we have extended family, who shows up around holidays (grrr), but nowhere to found when you need them.

And I sold one item on Facebook, after all expenses $3.30 profit, well better than nothing, anyways I planned to return it, so this goes toward down payment for house also.

6 days of non spending/ 25 to go, or as my husband said 359 to go.