Traveling, Writing and Drinking

 

I had a wonderful birthday in San Francisco with my Z! We spent the morning lounging at the spa and the afternoon hiking the hills of San Fran. Mostly, I cussed and declared I was not going to die. She replied, "Gun it... like that car over there." I could hear the transmission strain as the little car thought it could.

I'm working on the third novel in my Zhara series. Today, I could care less. Another 24,000 words to go and ten days to get them written. (November is National Novel Writing Month)

My Z! found a new beer - Sessions, which was light, crisp and refreshing. I bought Larceny Kentucky Bourbon and received Buffalo Trace as a gift. And...we visited the San Francisco Chocolate Factory. Samples galore! I bought 55% dark chocolate coins and Raspberry Dark Chocolate Truffles. Yum!

See, I've been doing it all, except posting here.

I am thankful to have the time and energy to tend my grand-daughters full time. Freedom from a 40 hour work week allows me the opportunity to explore more of life and enjoy the simple pleasures of playing with children - writing, cooking, cleaning, chasing, dressing, sorting and lots of running.

Next update, finances... How do I keep making this work?

Hot toddies to you!

Happy Harvest

I am thankful for the abundance of time, health and well-being to live freely and joyfully. This means sharing playtime with the baby and field trips with the Kindergartener. This week we returned to the pumpkin patch.

Rabbits, goats, chicken, huge catfish, ducks, and more pumpkins that you can see or count, filled up the two and a half hour adventure. For just $4, for adults with the school group, we watched children run free and squeal with delight. The nicest part was taking a break from media, news, and current event issues. Sometimes it is easy to imagine a quieter, easier life.

Today we are still in the high 80s, which is great for the tomatoes, but far from fall temperatures. Feels like August, per the news man. My gardening plan for this year leaves a lot to be desired, however, there are still blossoms for the peppers and an actual squash on the vine - one. I grow some expensive produce.

For the few days we had cool temps, I enjoyed crocheting and am learning new stitches.

There are only so many hats and slippers that anybody needs. Same with wrist warmers. I've decided that I will crochet to donate. Crocheting is good for my heart and mind. Yarn and beer, the cool breeze "of an evening," and a good movie. Relaxation.

Then there is the massive clutter I am still facing. That's another post, but as a preview - Make Space.

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray. 

Rumi

Priorities

This is my sweetie, meddling. JP turned one year old and is busier than ever. So, am I. The girls stay with me five days a week and while I had considered returning to work, I have no time. At this point, working outside my home looks like picking up overnight shifts and sleeping five hours before receiving the baby.

While I know people do this, it is not the best plan for having free available attention on a regular basis. No, there is not time for a nap as after school pick up is at 2:40 pm. Then snacks, play, review of day, dinner, baths, relax, and bedtime. The girls stay overnight twice a week as well.

We are back up at 6:45 am to prepare for school drop off for the kindergartner and wreaking havoc for the baby. In a world of free exploration, there are no playpens. Or, without playpens baby wreaks havoc. Either way, I live in a daycare. I provide a happy, healthy, safe environment for my grand-daughters to grow and explore the world.

With this goal in mind, I realize it is time to reshape my budget to adjust to the income I presently earn, rather than the one I had planned to bring home.

By commitment, I give 10% first. In the past I was saving 10%, then paying bills with the rest. As I barely earn what covers my expenses, I have saved less. Thankfully, my savings will serve as a safety net should the need arise (to pay bills). I have run up a bit of debt compensating for my lack of income, but am paying it off consistently.

This blog is dedicated to my process of enjoying my life outside of being a wage slave. So, I've been managing on two days work a week, some part-time contract office work, and online earnings. I cashed in my i-Say points for $10 gift card and am working toward my next $25 PayPal gift card with Swag bucks. When I need something I search Amazon first because I keep a credit there (through Swag bucks) and use Swag bucks to place orders (shop and earn) then PayPal to pay for them, unless I have a gift card for the store. Finally, I have a gold bracelet I am going to sell this week. I rarely wore it. The saddest part of selling jewelry is that I cannot get back what the giver paid for it.

In what spare time there is, I drink beer and crochet on cool evening. In the picture up top, JP is wearing her new slippers. Generally, I write in my head. By the time I get back to paper or computer I have forgotten what I thought. Life is busy, hectic even. My time is filled with love and laughter, cookies and tea, and little girls who love ribbons and bows or sticks and mud.

Nap time ends in a minute...

Make today a great day!!!

Namaste

Swagbucks Pays!

If you haven't checked out Swagbucks, let me offer a little more incentive.

Here's how it works:

Use Swagbucks to search and win Swag bucks.
Watch video clips and earn Swag bucks.
Shop and earn swag bucks.
Complete surveys and activities and get even more swag bucks,

Which you can turn into gifts, gift cards, or cash!

There's mine.

Today I placed an order and earned four bucks per dollar, then I paid for my order with PayPal. I'm recycling free money.

I also ordered two pounds of flax seeds for $7.58 from Amazon, paid for with an Amazon gift card purchased with Swag bucks.

450 Swag bucks = $5 Amazon credit

Want to know more?

Check out Swag bucks for yourself.

Already using Swag bucks? Share your story below.

Thanks. Saving money is the best thing going.

It might come in handy some day.

Even after two years of de-cluttering, I still have this mantra and I still believe it true. Some things are worth keeping because the price to replace them is exorbitant. For some items, I have a plan.

When my grand-daughter begins school this year I am sending all the supplies I have saved over the years with her. Some will work for her class and the others I will donate to the school.

However, we have had a flea problem this year. I think Max has more fleas as an inside dog than he ever had living outside. After trying over a dozen remedies, I remembered I had diatomaceous earth. Searching through my deck box, I found it where I imagined.

Check out that price. $0.83 for the bag. Where will I get another deal like that? DE is safe for use all around the house and on pets. Messier than I remembered, but the fleas must die!

Then, driving down the road I saw cast iron skillets tossed on the sidewalk. First I drove past, but at the corner, I thought, "Those might come in handy some day." Zooming in reverse, I backed up to the sidewalk. There must have been some fight because three skillets lay on the walk, two of them damaged - actually broken. I took the third. It fits perfectly in my counter top convection oven.

Washed and seasoned, it has performed wonderfully. Because cast iron maintains its heat, I can reduce cooking times.

Under the desk, I have boxes of stationary from previous jobs that would have gone to recycling. It comes in handy for a little girl to draw and "write letters," paint, or cut.

Before I had grandchildren, I gave away most of my children's books. As happy as I was to gift them to another family, I am just as dismayed that we don't have them. We have more and have been blessed with entire sets from other families - but you know that special thing that cannot be replaced, that's the spot.

I weigh letting go with my life's mission and goals. Things that don't fit, move on. If there's a place, it waits. I look forward to sharing the blessing of plenty. I have got a lot...

Namaste

They want me back!

I've been away sorting out life for a while. In the busiest of times, I worked for pay 44-46 hours a week, then cared for my grand-daughters for 40 plus hours. Sleep became premium.

The job I thought was mine turned out to be temporary, a fact they neglected to share at hiring, so I find I have plenty of time to rest and sleep, and garden, clean, organize, read, and blog (if I get around to it).

On the other hand, my financial situation has shifted, again. As you know by now, I much prefer enjoying my life at home. To do so, I work diligently to reduce and contain expenses. However, I have a minimalist attitude and a hoarder's desire. How to find balance...

Get a bit more cash in.

I tried selling my best and favorite linen pants on Craigslist and new with tags suits on ebay. No luck.  Finally, I donated them just for the freedom. But, before I separated from my job I found these wonderful boots for an unbelievable price -

I love them!!! They are Crocs and will last for years. They look great and I can walk to to and from work easily. Just wait until I travel back to San Fran - cute, functional, and light weight. So I sold these. I priced them way below their values and received two emails immediately. Sold that evening.

Money or not, I needed a few things I consider necessary for my lifestyle. The more you shop (online) the more emails you receive for the next great deal. The longer you delay purchases, the better the deals get. They want you back. They want me back!!!

Me, the grrl who barely works and needs every cent she has to pay the bills, like housing and utilities. They do not care about those expenses. They want me to look trendy, take the latest touted supplements, and own stylist electronics. I almost want to look, almost...but, I have a plan.

My prevailing mantra helps me delay spending:

"That's not in my budget."

It maintains my desire to acquire, yet reminds me that I have priorities.

Besides, my closet is still full of clothes available for sale. There are several other sites to consider including Amazon and Thredup.com. Better to secure financing before the purchase than to become a debt slave.

On to a far more interesting journey...

It's a New Day!

As you know, November 11, 2011 I quit my job.

I had a plan. Travel. Drink beer. Write.

I was off to a good start, but was waylaid. We'll call that done around Juneteenth 2012. By that time, I needed money - a job, so I would be Just Over Broke.

I lallygagged through a miserably hot summer, fermented everything I could find and played with my grand-daughter. I struggled through months of job search. I worked part-time.

No matter what distress I might conjure to share, the truth is I am living well. I have enough. I do enough. I am enough. There is money in the bank to pay the bills that roll in. I have a small savings. My health is okay. It could be better. I limit my complaining.

Here is the post I promised somewhere in the previous three hundred - how I manage on little of nothing, but time. My whole blog - addresses this question, but this post is about money, and surveys in particular.

I complete lots of surveys. Some are better than others and lots are changing, so jump in where is makes sense for you.

• SwagBucks I've been searching with SwagBucks for the past month. I saw those post on FB and read the reviews on other blogs, then finally committed to signing up. Basically, you earn points by searching the web, completing surveys, tasks, or special activities. There are give away points posted on the SB blog, FB page and Twitter. There are extra points gifted for your birthday, Mega Bucks Fridays, and just because searching. It is random variable reward. Since November 9, 2012 I have collected five Amazon gift cards at 450 points each. Soon I will redeem 2500 points for $25 PayPal card. That's CASH! Check it out. Easy to sign up and the tool bar allows search from any tab.
• Pinecone Research conduct product marketing surveys. They offer a cash incentive though less than it once was. I've been part of the research panel for years and it is open only by invitation. Most surveys take 10 - 15 minutes and the current payout is $3. It is the most interesting of the survey choices, except,
• Community Marketing and Insights This research company is geared toward helping business leaders understand LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) communities. They offer both paid surveys and sweepstakes opportunities. Opportunities include surveys and focus groups. Open by invitation.
• ThirdAge Advisory Leaders This panel is geared toward "mature" participants (50 years +). I have had minimal luck completing their surveys. The incentive is $3 and pays out at $20. I can never decide if I know too much in the technology realms to too little in the investment. As with many cash incentive programs, there seems to be the expectation that the participant will be making major purchases in the next six to twelve months. 
• Harris Polls were my favorite surveys for years. They were interesting to complete with high point rewards. Points are converted to actual gifts or gift cards. I redeemed points for a full body massage pad (with heat) and Amazon gift cards. Recently, this company has changed their process. Now there are qualifying questions before the survey. I decide in advance how many questions I am willing to wade through. There are plenty of other choices out there. Redeem 1250 points for $10 gift card (electronic).
• Zoom Panel Take surveys. Earn points. Redeem them for gift cards, merchandise, or donate to charitable organizations. While there are lots of invitations, I find I am rarely qualified these days. Could be I am a very different consumer than I once was. My last redemption was the glass cordless water kettle in September 2012. I love it! It is well worth the time invested.
• iSay by Ipsos Again, take surveys, earn points and redeem for charity, gift cards, PayPal and cash. The biggest difference in sites is the number of point awarded and redemption levels. 1000 points equals $10 gift cards/payout.  

There are lots of other sites and I have signed up for a dozen more. They are not included because either I didn't qualify for their surveys after multiple choices or the payout is too low for the time invested. Time = Points = Money. Unless I am just piddling with no intention of being productive, I will not invest more time than a survey is worth. I'll update this post if I find more money earning sites that are worth my time. Until then, do you have a favorite money earning site? Please share in the comment section.

Also, if you are interested in a referral link, leave a note.

Live long and prosper!

UPDATE -

Here is the best review site I have found, yet. Survey Police. I still have several that have not made their list to check. I'll let you know.

05.29.13 Update -
Pinecone has changed their reward system to points that can then be converted to gifts or cash. So far, the points equal the previous cash incentive, but now it is a long drawn out process to get the funds. The advantage of Pinecone is that when qualified, you also get to test products in your home and complete a follow-up survey which pays as well.

On the subject of products, check out BzzAgent.

• Discover and try new products and services
• Introduce friends to new products (and share special offers)
• Influence big name brands with your feedback