Frugal Friday with Marsha -- New Year Check In

I didn't get here last Friday to write up a first Frugal Friday of the year last week, but here I am now.

Let's see what's been going on with me in the savings and being Frugal area:

1.  For some reason, for most all of 2016, I stopped using the shopping and earning apps.  I rarely used shopkick, checkpoints (bonus code is my email address marsha.seiberling@gmail.com), checkout51, savingstar, ibotta, or receipthog.  I have NO idea why I slacked off, but I am kicking myself for lost savings and earnings!!  So far so good this year on getting back to using them.

2.  I've been waiting for the grocery store to get in these net10 phones that they had on sale for $20.  Well, they got them in finally, but then they were on sale for $10!! I ended up buying 2.  Now I can run more apps....not necessarily more, but it frees me up to be able to spend more time in the apps since I moved most of my Swagbucks apps over to the new phones.  I've already earned back the $20 that I spent on the phones.

3,  A good deal at Dollar Tree!  Dollar Tree got in the Snackeez cups.  You've seen these on TV and you can find them in the As Seen on TV section at Wal-mart for $9.88.  I couldn't help but buy a whole case of 12 of them at just $1 each!!!  These will make a great addition to my gift stash for both birthdays and Christmas this year. (They got in both the smaller ones and the larger ones---I bought one of the 2 cases that they got in of the large ones)

4.  I decided that on nights when hubby is in bed and I can't turn on the light to read before going to sleep, that I would get back to reading the books in my Kindle app.  I started with one that I actually had just ordered a sample of.  I re-read the sample and looked through the index and decided to go ahead and spend the $2,99 to buy it.  It's a nice saving book called Six Dollar Family.
I'm already anxious to possibly get back to making my own laundry soap using the recipe she shares, as well as trying to make the dryer sheets too.
It's a lot of common sense book and I am enjoying it, so I will share the link to amazon here with you.

All Business Monday---New Year Goals

I like to use the word goals over resolutions, even though I am resolving to make changes.
The problem with myself is that I make up a fine list of goals......I do rather well achieving them for some time.....then they fall by the wayside.

Last year I made out my list and even printed it 52 times.  I checked off throughout each week as I completed things on the list.  About May I just stopped.

Most of my goals do have to do with earning money:

1.  Get my paperwork organized and keep it that way---no more throwing stuff in piles here and there to get to it later.  Later for me is something months.   I will take care of any paperwork right away.

2.  I will work on my crafts and sewing daily.  Along with this I will promote a craft for 4 days each week.  I don't mean the same craft for 4 days, but a different one each day.  Originally I put this down as daily, but 4 is more realistic.

3.  I will stay up on my blog postings.  This will include adding more affiliate links in to posts to help monetize my blog.  I will find posts to do on days when I don't have a regular blog to post.

4.  I will be more social in my sharing of the work of others.

These are my goals as far as my earning goes.
You might notice that I say that I WILL do each one.

I want to add to the list that I hope to cash out somewhere, online or through the apps that I run, each day of the year.  I've already been able to maintain this goal in October and November, and I'm pretty close to getting it for this month too.  This just ensures me that I am always earning.

I'm currently reading a book call Go For It, that I will review this next Sunday.  It's a great motivational book.  I will link it below if you would like to preview it yourself before I write my review.

What are your goals?

An InLinkz Link-up

Frugal Friday With Marsha 1/3/13 AND TGIFF!

I hope this post finds you on a good start in to the new year.
So far so good on my goals and challenges, and I feel good about them.
The only one that is really frugal is the way I am saving money for my sewing hobby that I mentioned in last week's post.

On the subject of my sewing and crafts, I've been working to put projects into their own bags.  One gal that is in some of the sewing groups that I go to calls these PIGS (projects in grocery sacks).
What I hope to do is to put everything that I need into each bag that I need to finish the project.

I seriously have enough supplies to keep me busy for at least 5 years, and probably longer, in my craft room already.  I really am being serious about that!
I am going to try really hard to work with materials that I already have and not buy anything else.....period!  

I am making this a combination post this week.  I actually have a finish!   I don't think that I finished one quilt in 2013.  I did a few smaller projects----a few wall hangings, and a couple of table runners as far as sewing goes, but that was it.

This is my Penny Patch quilt that I did as part of a QAL (quilt a long).   You can click the button if you would like to click over and see what others made.    I made mine the lap quilt size.

 

I am also linking this post up to TGIFF (Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday)
 
Since this is a combination post this week, please feel free to share links in the linky this week that are also craft/sewing related if you would like!   Share posts that have to do with your New Year's goals.  And, of course share any posts you have done that are related to simple living and being frugal!

 

Squidoo Hopping Into the New Year!

How have you been doing with squidoo?  Did you make yourself any goals for the new year?
In my card file on a daily card, one says build or update a squidoo lens.   That would be nice, but instead I have changed it to do something squidoo related.

I haven't updated, or built any lenses this week.   I have, however, been visiting squidoo daily.
This blog and visiting those who link up will be my squidoo related today.

I will be building more lenses, book reviews for sure.  I have made myself a challenge this year to read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.   A lot of those will be made into lenses.....I'm kind of excited about that prospect too.
If you would like to read more about my challenge, it's posted over on bubblews.
52 Books in 52 Weeks 2014 Challenge.

I got a headstart on my goals and challenges for myself, and I feel like I am going in the right direction.  I just need to STAY in the right direction.  I'm thankful for online friends who have already been encouraging me and will continue to do so.

I can't wait to see what is linked up this week.  This week I am choosing again 2 link up my 2 bottom lenses in lensrank.



 

WIP Wednesday---First Post of 2014!

Here we are to 2014.
I have goals for my sewing and crafts.  
I'm still in the process of organizing my projects, but I am getting closer to being done with that.
I plan to do some sort of sewing each and every day, even if it's just for a few minutes.

Since my crafts involve selling them online, I really need to step up my game.  Not only in getting things done, but also promoting myself as well.

Here is what I've been up to this past week.

I have the binding on the Penny Patch quilt from the QAL (that was supposed to be done by Dec. 20) and I'm ready to start handing sewing it down.

At my last stitch group I got all of my applique bunny blocks squared up.  I still do have 5 of the 20 of them to finish embroidering around.
Everyone is asking me if I will have the blanket done by Easter---I don't honestly know!

I am getting closer to getting this toothbrush rug done.  It's an experiment one to find out how large a rug comes out when I have cut up an entire full size sheet set.  I actually love how it's all the same color.

 I am linking up with the following blogs:
 

Frugal Friday With Marsha 12/27/13

Christmas day has past and we are heading in to the New Year.
We are officially in the 12 days of Christmas now.  Do you celebrate?  We really don't here, but I have always wanted to.  

Yesterday I sat here and wrote out a list of goal and challenges for myself going in to the new year.  I may share those in a separate blog post, but will share my savings plan with you today.

I have been saving all of my change as well as $1 from every check that I get in.  This savings, I hope, will be for my sewing hobby.  I have an annual membership to pay at quilt guild.  I like to do the workshops when they are offered.  I need $60 to pay for the retreat my guild is having in June.   

This plan will stay in effect until I get this laptop paid off.  At that time I will then put $5 in from each check I receive.

I also have started a savings that I am keeping in my purse at all times.  There I am saving any change that I find around the house......you know, in the laundry, bedroom floor that hubby drops......and any change that I might find on the ground while I am out and about.  I am also putting $1 from every check in there.  This money I will use when I see something on clearance, for example, throughout the year that will make a good gift. 

Back to the subject of this laptop.  Not a frugal thing on my part.  I am buying it from a rent to own place.  If I can pay it off before February 23, the 6 month mark, then there is no interest.  I have been paying $50 or $54.16 each week in hopes of paying it off in that time.  However, I have missed 4 weeks of doing this over time.  This week makes week 5 of no payment, and this is NOT good.  Silly me anyway.  I picked out a Dell which retails for $1,039.

Lesson learned:  Had I been patient with my slow computer and had been putting that $50 into savings, I could have bought say a $500 or so computer out right.   

Do you have any ways that you save money?


I look forward to what you link up this week  :)
 

Squidoo Hopping 12/26/13

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas!   Here's also to a Happy New Year.

I read a post on bubblews yesterday and the person was pretty much making fun of those of us who make goals for the new year.  She wanted to know why we can't work on goals all year, or why can't we start now?
I commented that it just seems appropriate-new year, new you, but that I do try to work on my goals all year, and make new ones throughout the year.  And, that I have already started on the goals that I have written down.

Do you have any goals with squidoo that you would like to share?
Mine is the same as always-----to be more active.   I'm sure willing to give it a couple of months and see how things go anyway.  By a couple of months I mean a couple of months of payments, and I won't see for my efforts in January until March and for February in April.

I am going to share in the linky this week a couple of lenses that are down at the bottom on my lensranking.  

Happy Hopping!

 

Frugal Friday With Marsha 6/28/13

We have another good sale this week at our grocery store.  I'm working to gather coupons....and kicking myself again for not having them cut and in to my binder.   
Using coupons does take time.  A lot of time is spent cutting and sorting coupons, however, when it's time to find the ones you need, if you are caught up then it's fast to get out the ones that you need!

I've been playing catch up here on my blog and I currently have 4 giveaways up.  You can click my Reviews/Giveaways page from the index to find them easier.

Speaking of blog giveaways, I want to start entering them again.   I've entered one here and there, but not like I used to.  My personal goal is to enter 2 per day. 
Recently I did win a book and 3 free cards for chicken sandwiches at Chick-fil-a.
I am working on deleting the expired giveaways from my Ongoing Giveaway Linky page.  Hard work when I hadn't done so since around the end of March!  

I'm getting there gang, so hang in there with me!
I can't wait to see what is linked up this week to motivate myself and my other readers.

 

Frugal Friday With Marsha 1/4/13

 

It's a new year---what are your goals?
Among mine is to declutter and reorganize our home.  Less is more.

I've been putting things in their proper places instead of having them laying all over the house.  I'm plan to go through boxes and drawers that haven't been touched since we move in here.  Honestly I should just throw them out instead of taking time to look through them.   I'm thinking of putting stuff by the box full up on freecycle to give away.  I am listing some things in the local facebook buy/sell/trade group in hopes of making a few $$ too.

I took a few weeks off from shopping too much with coupons and I am working now on getting back in to the saving and stocking up.  I have been able to shop twice this week.
I saved over $2000 with coupons in 2012--more than double what I saved in 2011---think I can double that again in 2013?

Today from the 99 Cent Solutions book I am sharing ways to use shampoo:

1.  Get rid of ring around the collar.  Rub a little shampoo on that ring around the collar with an old toothbrush.  Shampoos containing ammonium lauryl sulfate work best.  Let it sit for 30 minutes then launder as normal.

2.  Wash away hair spray.   Hairspray tends to get other places than just in your hair.  Use a cleaner of one gallon of warm water and a squirt of shampoo to clean your sink, walls and floor.  Rinse with a clean rag.

3.  Shampoo your silk.  Hand wash your silk in cool water and a protein-based shampoo.  The shampoo will not destroy the silk and it will actually give the silk more body and a longer life.

4.  Get rid of the fog.  Foggy windshields are annoying and dangerous.  If you have trouble with your windshield fogging up on the inside, simply wipe it clean with a rag moistened with shampoo.  It will clear the fog and clean the window at the same time.

5.  Say good-bye to sapIf you get sap on your hands, just zap it away by washing your hands with shampoo.


Now it's your turn to share your frugal/simple living posts for this week!

  

Squidoo Hopping--Goals for 2013

This week let's talk about our goals with squidoo for 2013.
A few years back I made myself a goal of updating or building a new lens daily.  I've not been able to ever keep up with my goal.  This year it's my sincere goal to do so!

Even on my busiest day there are small updates I can do such as adding a flag counter, making a custom bio, checking tags, adding rss feed.  The list goes on and on.  I have a written list on ways to update and there are currently 21 items on my list.

Share one or 2 of your lenses in the linky, plus any blog posts you may have done pertaining to squidoo.  I also hope you will share your squidoo goals for 2013 in the comments section.

 

Squidoo Hopping--March is a New Month!

Let's talk about goals for March. What are yours?

My goal is to head into the mission I talked about last month, which is to get the This Day in History lenses going good.
I'm also still working on transferring my lens notes to different paper and having them in a three ring notebook in alphabetical order.

My daughter was married last night. I'm still always so busy with so many things, but hopefully with the stress of the wedding going off without a hitch, I can calm myself down and put some better order in to my life.

I did update a lens this past week, but for the life of me, I can not remember which lens that was! Once I can get in and update my lensography I will apply for giant squid 50.

So, this week I think I will share a couple of my lenses that are higher than 400,000 in rank and maybe they can jump up a bit.

Jasmine's Lapbooks

Homeschooling

Thanks for all the link up's last week! I hope to continue to see lots for me to check out each week.

Shop Hop Saturday--New Year's Edition

It's that time of year to really re-think goals...at least for most of it is.
After pretty much concentrating on Christmas the past couple of weeks, I'm more than ready to get myself back in to some sort of a normal routine.

There are my goals---not all having to do with "business"
1.  Clean and re-organize my house--and keep it that way.  This means putting things back where they belong, getting rid of excess that just isn't needed, and more.

2.  Quit smoking---easier said than done, but something I really need to be able to accomplish.

3.  Make my goal of reaching a minimum made online of $600 per month--this total includes the value of items that I get free for review and such.

4.  To reach #3 I need to be active in squidoo each and every day.  I need to keep up with working on my crafts and sewing daily.  I need to learn about different affiliates and how those programs work.  It also means better ways of getting the word out about the things I am doing online.

5.  Learn to say no when asked to do things outside of the home.  When I say yes, and doing so takes me away from home for hours at a time, my whole day ends up feeling like a waste.  Of course there are exceptions but it's been crazy.  Take me here, take me there.....

6.  Each Sunday I am going to make a list of school assignments for Jasmine.  These will be expected to be done by the end of the week.  These will be things for her to do on her own, in her own time, but preferably the times when I can't be sitting one on one with her for schoolwork.

I'm sure there are more things that I can list that I'm not thinking about right now.  No, I'm not going to go over this list in my blog over and over.  I may occasionally talk about the goals in with my regular posting however.

So...let's see.  I finally made it back into my sewing room 2 days ago after almost 2 weeks of no sewing.  I still hope to make it in there tonight, at least for some ironing and cutting to get ready for sewing.

I did post one item in my etsy shop--another set of the billowing blues washcloths.

I want to tell you about the Sweetheart Celebration coming up.  Time is getting close on being able to get your spot for just $5!!!  Please click the button on the side for more information.  I need to get myself better prepared for it.

I will be taking part in DNBuster and Friends Valentines Giveaway her blog.  You may also click the button on the side to find out more information about that.

I have one current giveaway up for Natural House cleaners.  If you haven't already, please enter to win.

I made a new page here on my blog.  It's Hand Made in 2012 (linky).  If you post with instructions on hand made items (including food), or you have made an item that you gave as a gift, please post to the linky.  I want to see LOTS of link ups and lots of inspiration.  Posts can be old or new, and do not need to be blog posts.  They can be posts at hubpages, redgage, squidoo, gather, etc etc.  You can also list you etsy or other stores where you sell hand made items.

I still have book reviews to catch up on here on my blog....music reviews and giveaways to get done, and more.
But, I am going to quit rambling for this week and spend the evening with my hubby for new year's eve.



Myspace Happy New Year Comments

Shop Hop Saturday--Still Flying (or Climbing)

I'm later than usual getting this post done this week.  There were things that I wanted to complete before making the post.

If you recall, these are my 5 mountain climbing goals that Ruthi over at abitosunshine challenged us to make:
1.  Build a new squidoo lens each week as well as update at least 2 others.
2.  Post at least 3 things a week to redgage.
3.  Post 2 things a week into my etsy store and continue to move other things to my zibbet store.
4.  Keep up with the reviews and regular postings to my blog.
5.  Sew at least a little bit each day. (this goes with accomplishing goal 3)

I did build a new squidoo lens--a music review.  I think I only updated one lens though.  Squidoo has been having it's ups and downs on whether we could get in this past week.

Again I didn't get my 3 things posted to redgage until the last minute--today.  I should change that goal to 1 a day!  Once I am in there I have a pattern--I'm a pattern type person big time.  I upload, then share, then I choose something to check out from the recommended on the side.   Then, I go and right click to open friend requests.  I click open the person before I approve the request so that I don't lose them.  I then subscribe to the person and click all content to choose at least one thing to go comment on.  Once I comment I either click a name of someone familiar to me that has already commented, or again, find something on the related list on the side.
I have loads of catching up on at redgage to return comments.  I do hope to get it in gear there too.

 I did get 2 new listings up in my etsy store.  Watch out!  I have 5 things planned to be completed and listed by next weekend.  It will be my last chance to get new items in before the Christmas Celebration starts with the online craft mall.  I also need to get a bunch of things that have expired on etsy over to my zibbet store before then.  Whew!! Busy week ahead for me business wise, especially with Thanksgiving thrown in there.

Bright Colored Quilt 

 

Bright Table Runner with Matching Hot Pads 

 

I have been keeping up with my regular posts here on my blog.  However, I am still way behind in getting reviews posted.

 

I have been sewing each day....or if not sewing working on tieing or hand sewing on a quilt.

 

In addition I just listed 2 items over at listia.  Both are sets of bookmarks.  I am trying to earn more points in hopes of winning some thread to keep up my sewing.  I keep getting out bid when there is some up for auction.

 

Winter Bookmarks--Set of 4

This is a set of 4 Winter bookmarks that I've made. They are printed on card stock and covered with clear laminate. Each measures 6 1/2...

Books > Bookmark in Hutchinson, KS

6d 23h 20m 32s

 

 

Christmas Bookmarks set of 5--Your Choice Mix or Match!

Please open the photo if you need to see the larger. This auction is for 5 bookmarks--mix or match. Your choices are Rudolph with the w...

Books > Bookmark in Hutchinson, KS

6d 23h 32m 50s

 

 

There you have it, my report for this week  :)

 

Shop Hop Saturday--Let's See About this Rock Climbing

Last week Ruthi put out a challenge with the weekly Shop Hop.  You can read about it:

Ruthi Rock Climbing Week One

I do have goals.

1.  Build a new squidoo lens each week as well as update at least 2 others.

2.  Post at least 3 things a week to redgage.

3.  Post 2 things a week into my etsy store and continue to move other things to my zibbet store.

4.  Keep up with the reviews and regular postings to my blog.

5.  Sew at least a little but each day. (this goes with accomplishing goal 3)

This past week I did build a new squidoo lens and updated 2 others.   I didn't get to redgage.  I did just post 2 new items to my etsy shop:

Cotton Crocheted Washcloths Set of 3 in Potpourri 

 

Table Runner 

 

I am behind on my reviews here on my blog  :(  I've managed to sew each day this week even if it was 5 minutes, but have spent a lot of time getting things ready to sew.

 

I listed several more books on half.com and have a stack next to me to still list.....also some in the garage that I am still pondering on listing.

The other thing I want to talk about this week is the Christmas Celebration coming up with the Online Craft Mall.  I will talk more about it as it gets closer, but I do hope you will click the banner and check it out.  Please consider signing up to be a vendor.  Until November 8 you can use the early bird special and get your spot for only $5!!  That's one hour of presentation time to sell your wares.  After Nov. 8 and up to Nov 22 sign up is $10 per spot.

 

 

That's it for me this week.  I hope you will click the button and hop along---or hop through the list of participants.

 

 

WIP Wednesday 12/29/10

Welcome to work in progress Wednesday in conjunction with Every Day Crochet.   Please click the button at the bottom of my post to play along, or check out what others have been working on.

I did finish the toothbrush rug I was working on and it's now listed in my etsy store. You can check it out here if you would like.
I started another, but only have the initial braid done, so I didn't take a photo of that.







I got out the strips and squares for the strip quilt I am working on for sewing club at church. I had finished sewing on the strips on 4 squares at our last meeting. (haven't trimmed them down yet).  I sat in front of this computer and pinned on the first 2 strips on each of the other 24 squares that will go into the quilt top.

I also got some of the squares cut to use on the next strip quilt I am going to make myself.  I needed to cut the squares to see how much of the black sheet I would have to use to finish up that toothbrush rug.  Well, for the size I am making, I am 23-10 inch squares short.  I will have to find another sheet to cut later.  I barely had enough of the black left over to finish the last round on the rug, but I made it!

I have a whole list of things that I want to get made before March 19 when I am taking part in a monster garage sale at the state fairgrounds.  Want to see what all is on my list?  You can find it here in one of my blog's on sidetick.  It's extensive, but if I keep on keeping on, I can complete everything in time.   Stopping in Early Today

Thursday January 8

Good morning.
It's off to work I go again this morning. And, they asked if I can work Friday if needed as well. I sure will be glad when this week is over.
Thankfully, the weather has been great for winter this week...I'm in a frustrated enough mood already LOL
Despite working I've pretty well stayed on track with my goals and plans here on the computer. I've still managed to get through all my paid to clicks, listed an item on blujay, worked in gather, worked in squidoo, etc. For that I am grateful.

I tried having the van jump started yesterday thinking that since the weather isn't freezing I would just put water in the radiator and drive it. Well, the battery didn't even stay up for 2 hours before it was totally dead again. So much for that plan.

I have to do grocery shopping today. I wish I could get out to Aldi's. I also have groceries that I want to get at Wal-Mart as well. Hopefully I can get to both of those places before the weekend is up. In the meantime, I have my list ready and my coupons ready for Dillon's today.

Today's squidoo lens to share is one that I built for Heather on Tweety Bird. It's really cute, I hope you will take a look. Tweety Bird for Heather

Until tomorrow, have a great day!
Marsha

Happy New Year!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Bowling was a lot of fun last night. I just got done getting the photos and videos that I took ready to post on gather. I will spend a lot of time doing that today.

it's going to be a totally new year with new prospects. Since after 13 years I am no longer working my job outside the home as a lunch aide, it will be totally new. I am working hard on getting crafts together.
Along with my vision board that I made to coach me along in what I want I had already started on keeping up with my goals before today. I've been doing well with it so far.

Since I am talking about goals, and my vision board, I want to go ahead and share the squidoo lens that I made about the book The Vision Board. I hope you will enjoy it. The book is awesome. The Vision Board


glitter-graphics.com

again...Happy New Year! I wish all my friends a blessed start to the new year.
Marsha

Sunday August 17

Good Sunday Morning! I am getting my blog written before church because it's going to be a busy Sunday. We have church, then a dinner following church. Once home I will do what I can on the computer while getting a cake baked. This evening is our swimming party and picnic for church. It's in a little town about 30 minutes away. Not sure if the weather is going to totally cooperate with the picnic plans, but I pray it does.

Today for my gather article to share, I would like to share what I posted to share what I made Willo for her birthday. Willo's Birthday Present Or a Use for Those Mismatched Socks

This week I will only work 2 days, Wednesday and Friday, then the following week I work each day. I'm sort of looking forward to it, but only for the paycheck part. I've made a savings goal and can't wait to see if I can stick to it and achieve my goals.

Have a great day!
Marsha