So after a lot of questions from friends and family about the giveaways, sweepstakes, and free Samples I get. I decided to help everyone out. I am now GiveAwayGirl on Facebook.
On there I let you know about any Giveaways that I know are currently going on and legitimate... now I'm human so please don't get mad if i make a mistake. But I do enter all the things I post. Just to make sure they are all working. Not to mention I'd like to win to :)
Later on I will post some ideas on what to do with all the samples you get. :)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A little time big reward or how to make money on Facebook for 10 minutes a day or less..
First I should clarify.. when I say make momey to me, if I'm saving money, I'm making money..
I follow a lot of companies on Facebook. I do get annoyed sometimes because I feel like they are crowding out posts from my friends.. but sometimes it's worth it.
You see a lot of big and even small companies do giveaways of full sized products or samples. Sometimes they use a random number generater and you have to be comment number 354, or they ask a question and the company judges the answer and awards the gift to the answer they like the most... or you have to be one in the first 2500 to complete the information sheet and hit enter.
I figure it takes me roughly any where from 1 to 5 minutes to complete one of these forms.. unless the site is slammed and then it make take a few refreshes before I can get to it.
So how does this make or (save) money for me.. well here's how I look at it.
Every free sample is worth something.. either I get to try something new with out wasting money, or I have something to donate, or if the kids use all my shampoo and forget to tell me I have a standby stash of single use packets... Sometimes I even get full sized product samples. The biggest one's so far have been a Bounce bar, Tide detergent, Swiffer duster, and at least 6 boxes of Keurig cups.
Now that sounds cool and worth the time.. but those giveaways are all rigged right? I'll never win 1... please think again.. it's worth the time. Last year I filled out a form and won a Rain Barrell. This year so far I filled out a 2 minute entry last month and won Fake eyelashes and nails from Kiss Nails... cool right? They are something I can't afford to buy but would love to have.. money saving there...
But this week has been by far the coolest for me... yes I know this may end... but here's why it was worth it to me.
My Flat Iron is on it's way out... it's over 5 years old.. I use it anytime I do my hair. I can say I've been milking it and trying to make it last because I really don't have the money to buy a new one, but need to have it to look nice.. I was contemplating trying dreadlocks out.
So I entered a few giveaways that were going on... and not only did I win a top of the line flat iron (I would have got another cheap $30 one) but a Curling Iron, Salon product, Hair Treatment, Hair Feather (my daughters will love) and a round brush.. something again that had just broke. So I look at this and see I made over $550 for a 2 minute answer... So are the giveaways worth the two minutes... I think so..
To add to this today I recived an email from a diffrent company and won Vegan Shampoo and Conditoner worth $49... I think my hair is set for the next few months... I just made/saved money and it took a total of 4 minutes to fill out these 2 giveaways... so worth it. Not to mention I could never afford to buy such high end products.. I'm a suave kinda girl...
Yes you may not win every time.. but it might just pay off to take the minute to fill in that little form!
I follow a lot of companies on Facebook. I do get annoyed sometimes because I feel like they are crowding out posts from my friends.. but sometimes it's worth it.
You see a lot of big and even small companies do giveaways of full sized products or samples. Sometimes they use a random number generater and you have to be comment number 354, or they ask a question and the company judges the answer and awards the gift to the answer they like the most... or you have to be one in the first 2500 to complete the information sheet and hit enter.
I figure it takes me roughly any where from 1 to 5 minutes to complete one of these forms.. unless the site is slammed and then it make take a few refreshes before I can get to it.
So how does this make or (save) money for me.. well here's how I look at it.
Every free sample is worth something.. either I get to try something new with out wasting money, or I have something to donate, or if the kids use all my shampoo and forget to tell me I have a standby stash of single use packets... Sometimes I even get full sized product samples. The biggest one's so far have been a Bounce bar, Tide detergent, Swiffer duster, and at least 6 boxes of Keurig cups.
Now that sounds cool and worth the time.. but those giveaways are all rigged right? I'll never win 1... please think again.. it's worth the time. Last year I filled out a form and won a Rain Barrell. This year so far I filled out a 2 minute entry last month and won Fake eyelashes and nails from Kiss Nails... cool right? They are something I can't afford to buy but would love to have.. money saving there...
But this week has been by far the coolest for me... yes I know this may end... but here's why it was worth it to me.
My Flat Iron is on it's way out... it's over 5 years old.. I use it anytime I do my hair. I can say I've been milking it and trying to make it last because I really don't have the money to buy a new one, but need to have it to look nice.. I was contemplating trying dreadlocks out.
So I entered a few giveaways that were going on... and not only did I win a top of the line flat iron (I would have got another cheap $30 one) but a Curling Iron, Salon product, Hair Treatment, Hair Feather (my daughters will love) and a round brush.. something again that had just broke. So I look at this and see I made over $550 for a 2 minute answer... So are the giveaways worth the two minutes... I think so..
To add to this today I recived an email from a diffrent company and won Vegan Shampoo and Conditoner worth $49... I think my hair is set for the next few months... I just made/saved money and it took a total of 4 minutes to fill out these 2 giveaways... so worth it. Not to mention I could never afford to buy such high end products.. I'm a suave kinda girl...
Yes you may not win every time.. but it might just pay off to take the minute to fill in that little form!
Friday, April 6, 2012
Frugal Makeup Tips
So I've been spreading my wings again to learn more ways to save on things we use around here. Just a note about me. I'm not a huge Makeup wearer... I only wear it about once or twice a week cause most of the time I am at home in Frugal/mommy/gardening/getting dirty mode.. no nead for hair and makeup.. tye my hair in a bandana and go... And my hubby actually likes me like that lol :)
But for the occaisions I leave my house I love makeup and am NOT afraid of color.. that being said I've had to learn ways to save and repair makeup and other face stuff.. you will not see my buy a $20 eye shadow.. but you may see me get it for $5 :)
#1. Repair dropped powders...
If you drop a pressed Eye Shadow or Cheek Powder here's and easy way to keep it useful.
Simply get whats left together and crunch it up with a spoon or other object, place in the make up pan and ad a few drops of Rubbing Acholol or plain eye drops (the Achool dissaptes and you won't feel it at all when you use it) Mix to a thick cream consistancy, tap lightly on the table to get the air out (you'll see bubbles rise) let sit out over night and tomorrow your back in buisness... see no more thrwing out eyes shadows and Blush just cause they broke! :) I haven't tried it with powdered foundation but let me know if you do and how it works!
#2. Make your own make up
Yep make it your self.. you have more control, can try different shades, cheaper and it's a bunch of girly fun .. check out TKB Trading They have all sorts of ingredients and instructions and the cool thing is you can buy as little or as much of a color you want.. buy bigger bags and split with friends :)
#3. Moisturizer..
Okay, I'm a girl whose skin is dry.. but my face I can coat in any mosturizer I find and after putting on a primer and base.. you see little dry skin cracks start to form and spread.. The answer a really cheap solution Rose Hip Seed Oil... Yepper inexpensive and works great it also helps tone down redness! I just rub a little in before bed and If i'm feeling a litte dry put some on before makeup and it works beautifly.. now I can use foundation and cover up blemishes that before I never could! All at the price tag of $5 for 2 oz... and it lasts forever!
#4. Samples
Okay it may not seem right to pay for samples but these are bigger nicer samples and sometimes even full size product and they are normally the "IN" thing instead of last years left overs. I've gotten every thing from a $25 sample of a $100 moisturizer to a full size Tarte product, a Full Size Essie Nail polish with the Luminous effect... to other awesome items.. you do get a few bombs but they may be something a friend likes. Check out Birchbox I've found some great things and have been able to try a lot of things with out having to pay full price! I love them! For those that want only Eco Friendly check out Eco Emi they to have good products but are a little more expensive.. sometimes their extra boxes go up for sale every month so you could try them that way to if you wanted.. All of these you can stop at any time :) The other cool thing is if you review the products you send you earn reward points.. every 100 (after every 2 boxes if you reveiw everything) you earn $10 twoards a free product.. if they screw up like send a duplicate sample or the shipping takes way to long they give you free reward points! I love this company!
#5. Follow Birchbox and Makeup companies on Facebook
This may drive you nuts in your news feed.. yet you can get lots of products on special sales that they only have for Facebook Customers and they do give a way's frequently!
But for the occaisions I leave my house I love makeup and am NOT afraid of color.. that being said I've had to learn ways to save and repair makeup and other face stuff.. you will not see my buy a $20 eye shadow.. but you may see me get it for $5 :)
#1. Repair dropped powders...
If you drop a pressed Eye Shadow or Cheek Powder here's and easy way to keep it useful.
Simply get whats left together and crunch it up with a spoon or other object, place in the make up pan and ad a few drops of Rubbing Acholol or plain eye drops (the Achool dissaptes and you won't feel it at all when you use it) Mix to a thick cream consistancy, tap lightly on the table to get the air out (you'll see bubbles rise) let sit out over night and tomorrow your back in buisness... see no more thrwing out eyes shadows and Blush just cause they broke! :) I haven't tried it with powdered foundation but let me know if you do and how it works!
#2. Make your own make up
Yep make it your self.. you have more control, can try different shades, cheaper and it's a bunch of girly fun .. check out TKB Trading They have all sorts of ingredients and instructions and the cool thing is you can buy as little or as much of a color you want.. buy bigger bags and split with friends :)
#3. Moisturizer..
Okay, I'm a girl whose skin is dry.. but my face I can coat in any mosturizer I find and after putting on a primer and base.. you see little dry skin cracks start to form and spread.. The answer a really cheap solution Rose Hip Seed Oil... Yepper inexpensive and works great it also helps tone down redness! I just rub a little in before bed and If i'm feeling a litte dry put some on before makeup and it works beautifly.. now I can use foundation and cover up blemishes that before I never could! All at the price tag of $5 for 2 oz... and it lasts forever!
#4. Samples
Okay it may not seem right to pay for samples but these are bigger nicer samples and sometimes even full size product and they are normally the "IN" thing instead of last years left overs. I've gotten every thing from a $25 sample of a $100 moisturizer to a full size Tarte product, a Full Size Essie Nail polish with the Luminous effect... to other awesome items.. you do get a few bombs but they may be something a friend likes. Check out Birchbox I've found some great things and have been able to try a lot of things with out having to pay full price! I love them! For those that want only Eco Friendly check out Eco Emi they to have good products but are a little more expensive.. sometimes their extra boxes go up for sale every month so you could try them that way to if you wanted.. All of these you can stop at any time :) The other cool thing is if you review the products you send you earn reward points.. every 100 (after every 2 boxes if you reveiw everything) you earn $10 twoards a free product.. if they screw up like send a duplicate sample or the shipping takes way to long they give you free reward points! I love this company!
#5. Follow Birchbox and Makeup companies on Facebook
This may drive you nuts in your news feed.. yet you can get lots of products on special sales that they only have for Facebook Customers and they do give a way's frequently!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Trying something new, professianal haircolor at home!
As a mom of three crazy kids and wife of a Semi driver saving money is huge for me. We normally barter things, such as produce, canned goods, skills that we can teach or babysitting for things that others can do that we can't.
I love to barter because I feel that both sides save money and get a reward far bigger then buying something or paying someone to do it for you.
This being said, the other side doesn't always come through. In this case a freind had a bunch of stuff going on so I understand why 2 months later she is still unable to help me.
Having your hair done is something I feel most women take for granted. You see $40 a month plus that $150 every other month for dye or highlights is something many women can't afford. I know I can't (the blow dryer I have had for over 7 years just died this month.. even though it wasn't in the budget hubby bought me a new one cause I'd be lost with out it).
If I can squeeze out $20 to have a hair cut once every 3 months I'm lucky. Hubby and my son.. well I have an electric razor so worse comes to worse... bzzzzz. (my 5 year old son has a mow-hawk that I can folow the lines too... so thankfully I can cut his right now). My husband likes a high and tight.. but when despreate will have me cut it. I have learned how to trim bangs and bob's.. luckly my youngest daughter likes to grow her hair out for Locks of Love.. so my oldest is the only one that has a reular hair cut and even she doesn't get her's cut but once every 3 months.
So when it comes to dyeing my hair (If I don't I have Grey highlights at 31 yikes!) I end up using the store bought cheap as you can find hair dye. For a girl who when stressed feels better by doing something crazy with her hair.. this can be stressful when you don't have the money or use cruddy product.
Enter in a friend going to school to be a hairdresser. Paying herdirectly and giving her expearience saves me a lot of money and helps her in 2 ways, a little money in her pocket and expearience cutting and dyeing extremly thick hair. By doing this the professional dye costs me less then $3 and the developer works out to cost me $2 a dye (my hairs thick remember.. most it would cost half of this) so in product my hair costs.. $5.00 for all over color and $10 for all over color plus highlights! And it's professional color OH YEAH! So paying her a little or watching her kids when needed has been a good trade.
So my friends been busy and I bought this color and developer for all over color and highlights.. As much as the people at Sally's and hairdressers make haircolor out to be this huge crazy hard thing it's not. I got the urge and decided to do it my self. All over color didn't scare me. 20 developer and Wella gel color mixed at a 2 to 1 ratio.. okay I can do that, 2 ounces developer 1 ounce color... paint your whole head and let sit 40 minutes.. wash out and boom yummy rich hair color that lasts!
The highlights though I worried about.. I mean really worried... but today I was fed up with my hair and boom I'm highlighting it. Dark Brown with Red highlights.. Mix the same as above and seperate hair and apply color where you want it.. let sit.. wash and your done.. not as hard as you think..
So I know have dark brown hair with light red highlights in spots. I can do my own hair with better product that saves me money and makes me feel better about dying my hair. It also lasts way longer because more color is put in your hair. So I now have a Sally's card and can dye my hair anyway I want with out worry. :)
Just know with a little research and will you can do what you want to at a fraction of the cost!
I love to barter because I feel that both sides save money and get a reward far bigger then buying something or paying someone to do it for you.
This being said, the other side doesn't always come through. In this case a freind had a bunch of stuff going on so I understand why 2 months later she is still unable to help me.
Having your hair done is something I feel most women take for granted. You see $40 a month plus that $150 every other month for dye or highlights is something many women can't afford. I know I can't (the blow dryer I have had for over 7 years just died this month.. even though it wasn't in the budget hubby bought me a new one cause I'd be lost with out it).
If I can squeeze out $20 to have a hair cut once every 3 months I'm lucky. Hubby and my son.. well I have an electric razor so worse comes to worse... bzzzzz. (my 5 year old son has a mow-hawk that I can folow the lines too... so thankfully I can cut his right now). My husband likes a high and tight.. but when despreate will have me cut it. I have learned how to trim bangs and bob's.. luckly my youngest daughter likes to grow her hair out for Locks of Love.. so my oldest is the only one that has a reular hair cut and even she doesn't get her's cut but once every 3 months.
So when it comes to dyeing my hair (If I don't I have Grey highlights at 31 yikes!) I end up using the store bought cheap as you can find hair dye. For a girl who when stressed feels better by doing something crazy with her hair.. this can be stressful when you don't have the money or use cruddy product.
Enter in a friend going to school to be a hairdresser. Paying herdirectly and giving her expearience saves me a lot of money and helps her in 2 ways, a little money in her pocket and expearience cutting and dyeing extremly thick hair. By doing this the professional dye costs me less then $3 and the developer works out to cost me $2 a dye (my hairs thick remember.. most it would cost half of this) so in product my hair costs.. $5.00 for all over color and $10 for all over color plus highlights! And it's professional color OH YEAH! So paying her a little or watching her kids when needed has been a good trade.
So my friends been busy and I bought this color and developer for all over color and highlights.. As much as the people at Sally's and hairdressers make haircolor out to be this huge crazy hard thing it's not. I got the urge and decided to do it my self. All over color didn't scare me. 20 developer and Wella gel color mixed at a 2 to 1 ratio.. okay I can do that, 2 ounces developer 1 ounce color... paint your whole head and let sit 40 minutes.. wash out and boom yummy rich hair color that lasts!
The highlights though I worried about.. I mean really worried... but today I was fed up with my hair and boom I'm highlighting it. Dark Brown with Red highlights.. Mix the same as above and seperate hair and apply color where you want it.. let sit.. wash and your done.. not as hard as you think..
So I know have dark brown hair with light red highlights in spots. I can do my own hair with better product that saves me money and makes me feel better about dying my hair. It also lasts way longer because more color is put in your hair. So I now have a Sally's card and can dye my hair anyway I want with out worry. :)
Just know with a little research and will you can do what you want to at a fraction of the cost!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Repotting Tomato Plant's.. or another use for canning jars.
This weekend I noticed all of our Tomatoes were getting way to leggy for their little starter pots and realized we were going to have to move them into bigger homes before planting them outside. I looked for ideas on what I could use that we could then reuse and wouldn't cost much...
I couldn't find much.. most people used bigger pots, or Solo cups or Styrofoam cups... things along those lines. Well with only $5 to our names I know that wasn't going to be happening this weekend. So I looked around the house.
We had 4 shelves of empty canning jars waiting around for canning season.. I have 3 Chive plants growing in a window that have looked so pretty for the last 2 years. They are in blue canning jars.. My mind went racing and soon enough we were putting tomatoes plants in canning jars. :) it was harder to find room for them but they are all doing great and I didn't make more trash!
I couldn't find much.. most people used bigger pots, or Solo cups or Styrofoam cups... things along those lines. Well with only $5 to our names I know that wasn't going to be happening this weekend. So I looked around the house.
We had 4 shelves of empty canning jars waiting around for canning season.. I have 3 Chive plants growing in a window that have looked so pretty for the last 2 years. They are in blue canning jars.. My mind went racing and soon enough we were putting tomatoes plants in canning jars. :) it was harder to find room for them but they are all doing great and I didn't make more trash!
How to get your five year old to beg you to vacum or I new my house was odd.. but this really proves it!
Okay.. so my family is odd.. we get weird looks when tell people we don't have a favorite tv show (I love big bang Theory but have bought 2 seasons on disc.. yea I know they are on the 4rth or 5th). We found TV was running our lives and went.. NO MORE..
We don't use a microwave AT ALL..
And all the other odd stuff.. but his new thing.. really made me laugh and feel odd... but then it made sence.
We don't own a regular vacum cleaner anymore... What? I know shocked right! We kept blowing them up.. well we didn't the kids did.. add that to converting the house to all wood type floring who needs a vacum... except we still have two bedrooms and 1 stairway that still has carpeting.. enter the SHOP VAC.. yes a shop vac.
Instead of a regular vacum cleaner that cost upwards of $200 or one that breaks after 3 months use.. we have a $50 shopvac.. It's light weight, rolls easly and has the longest hose ever seen.. what's more.. it picks up wet and dry spill and even glass with the greatest of ease..
But the biggest plus with the shop vac.... My 5 year old son BEGS to use it. It's considered a manly vacuum, a power tool that a 5 year old can use... what does this mean to me... not having to vacuum the stairs anymore :) Yea! for the Shop Vac!
We don't use a microwave AT ALL..
And all the other odd stuff.. but his new thing.. really made me laugh and feel odd... but then it made sence.
We don't own a regular vacum cleaner anymore... What? I know shocked right! We kept blowing them up.. well we didn't the kids did.. add that to converting the house to all wood type floring who needs a vacum... except we still have two bedrooms and 1 stairway that still has carpeting.. enter the SHOP VAC.. yes a shop vac.
Instead of a regular vacum cleaner that cost upwards of $200 or one that breaks after 3 months use.. we have a $50 shopvac.. It's light weight, rolls easly and has the longest hose ever seen.. what's more.. it picks up wet and dry spill and even glass with the greatest of ease..
But the biggest plus with the shop vac.... My 5 year old son BEGS to use it. It's considered a manly vacuum, a power tool that a 5 year old can use... what does this mean to me... not having to vacuum the stairs anymore :) Yea! for the Shop Vac!
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