Ramblings about this money saving thang

Xxteepeexx

I start this year as a SAHM to my beautiful girl, who is nearly a year old. I'm trying to save as much money as I can by being frugal, and earn more money by Swagbucks, Adpoints, Topcashback and to a lesser extent Doyoo, Gifthulk &instagc (the last 3 I'm just going on when I remember).

I also want to get our house sorted, so have set myself a challenge of decluttering 5 items each day (grouping multiples of something counts as 1 item to me).

Today
1 - old razors
2 - a random odd sock of step-daughter's
3 - the 2013 calendar :rotfl:
4 - a bottle of skin oil from when I was pregnant
5 - 5 bottles of ood ginger beer - given to me when I was pregnant.
Also chucked out a load of general rubbish, but those are my 5 things I'm listing today.

Swagbucks has been a bit rubbish today, haven't got onto adpoints, got a few HC on Gifthulk. Not a great day overall but joined a few challenges on here so I am motivated :T

Xxteepeexx

Today has been a big UP & a couple downs.

Went for a walk with dd & popped into asd@ for a shifty at any bargains. Only spent 32p on a pack of potato cakes reduced. Paid & realised dd didn't have her hat. Went back round where we'd been & couldnt see it. Went to cust services to give name/number in case it showed up. Went round once more, nearly in tears (it's a v "her" hat, plus I'm still emotional because my grandma died) & it was sat on top of a display by the cleaners cart :T so happy!

Came home, lunch then some tidying & decluttering.
1 - nursery prospectuses
2 - lipgloss & nail polish from step-daughters room (v old)
3 - old folder from red cross training
4 - pregnancy bumpf
5 - wedding acceptance cards

In amongst the cards was a jewellery box, inside which was...£40!! :T must either be a gift from a wedding guest, or the remainder of the money I had with me to pay people - we've been married nearly 2 years! So I'm on my way to £2014 too, as well as some clutter gone

Done a bit of swagbucking, no surveys though :mad:. Cards on gh got me a few coins. Dds asleep on me so time for some adpoints.

Xxteepeexx

Will start with the decluttering
1 - bath pillow
2 - soap holder
3 - face mask
4 - body scrub
5 - some ood baby group leaflets

Have also found some happy meal toys, just going to check if they're worth ebaying, if not I'll chuck them (childrens centre don't want them).

Went to do the weekly shop today but ended up not being to get everything so may need to go for a walk to pick up the missing bits. Spent £31.32 on groceries and £3 on 2 pairs of leggings for dd. Then £40 on diesel.

Have told Dh I'm not buying any chocolate this month (still have nearly 2 full tubs of leftovers from Christmas!). We're having an Indian tonight, and we have £30 from in-laws to have a meal at our fave pub, but I've said apart from that no more takeaways/meals out in Jan. He's also been put on a budget for his pub-going. It's actually quite a large budget (allows for 10 pints) but his wallet will be cleared out every Friday, no carrying over. I think I will reduce this over time, he clearly doesn't need 10 pints!! He's asked me to control all the money, I'm going to write down everything we spend. He wastes so much on his hobby and I just don't think he realises!

Hit target on swagbucks, few coins on gh, no adpoints yet but might do some in a bit. Nothing on instagc.

Mrs_Cheshire

You sound very motivated and what better way to start whilst you have a young baby. Mine are 2 & 4 and I've been saying the same thing for nearly 5 years now. This year I'm going to do it along with starting a degree with the OU!

Xxteepeexx

We have entered a decluttering overload today! After me asking Dh to check through his coats whilst I was pregnant he has FINALLY done it - our dd is 11 months old :rotfl:

He's chucked out at least 6 coats, I found 3 pairs of shoes (mine) & 1 pair of his which have gone. Also chucked out an old oil burner and a cloth bag, without counting all the odds n sods that also went. Feeling virtuous :A
Our cupboard is now organised & dd had great fun shutting herself in it (she is now safely tucked up in bed :rotfl:)

Swagbucks has been rubbish today, nowhere near target. Tea tonight was the leftovers from the Indian last night, today has been a NSD :money:

Xxteepeexx

Again with the no surveys on swagbucks! Grrrrr.

Onto happier things -
1 - soap holder
2 - coaster
3 - happy meal toys
4 - terracotta oil burner
5 - iPad case

NSD :money:

Haven't done a lot of money making today, Sunday is the day of rest

Xxteepeexx

Getting annoyed with the lack of surveys on swagbucks. I know it has peaks and troughs, but I want the peaks please

1 - a 2011 diary :rotfl:
2 - an old necklace
3 - pair of earrings
4 - a sim card still in its info pack
5 - old hand cream

NSD :money:

Haven't been on adpoints yet, few coins on gh.

I'm away to check out the cheapest nappies/wipes etc as both asd@ and tesc@ sent me baby event post today

Xxteepeexx

So sometimes a quick grrrr is all it takes - a few surveys on swagbucks today and I'm nearly at 200 points :j I now nearly have enough for £10 PayPal but I'm not going to cash out yet - got bigger amounts to claim first!

Been shopping again today, used a £3 off £30 voucher. Used the new scan n shop thing, was able to get just 5p over £30 so I ended up only paying £27.05 and should have enough for next week, will just need fruit and a couple veggies. Have only a weeks worth of night nappies left though, but both baby events will be on by then so she shouldn't go wet :rotfl:

Did a bit of bathroom decluttering -
1 - hairbrush
2 - some conditioner that always made my hair greasy
3 - "reindeer food" (actually from the kitchen!)
4 & 5 - a couple of half empty bottles, one had been sat in the sun and was all faded, dread to think what the insides were like!

It's meant to be a big codes day on swagbucks tomorrow, shame I'll be at baby groups most of the day. Oh well, priorities :T

Xxteepeexx

Had a few days off posting, in that time I've spent £14.44. Need to go to asd@ to pick up the fruit & veg for this week, but then I should be good until next weekend.

Missed a couple of days decluttering but should get some done later.

asparagus1968

you are doing really well!

Xxteepeexx

Haven't posted on here for a while. Various reasons, mainly due to a literal pain in the neck!

So now to start afresh for February.
As of now my totals are as follows:
Swagbucks - 4059
Nectar points - 415/£2.07 (plus 113 to go on from this week, no more ads available)
Gifthulk - 2740
Will start again with the decluttering. I've thrown the odd few things out but not concentrated on it.

:money::money::money: