Swagbucks is a search engine like Google and Yahoo but you earn points for searching through Swagbucks. You then can redeem your points for gift cards (I get Amazon egift certificates) or prizes…even money from Paypal!  If you download the toolbar, like I have (so easy to do!) you will be amazed at how much easier it is to earn points without even trying.

Swagbucks is free to sign up and easy to use and they pay you for doing what you naturally are doing on the internet anyways…searching! Click here to sign up for free!

I want to revisit a post or 2 of mine from the past.  Every now and then I share how I save money by using these free sites! I know learning something new isn’t always fun or easy. Believe, I know! I had to teach myself basically how to blog, how to blog with WordPress, how to get around the code, how to… (fill in the blank). But the following three sites I tell you about are not hard to use. Trust me. Be sure to click on the links to my past posts on these sites so you can learn a little more.

Swagbucks.

Swagbucks is a search engine -  like Google or Yahoo, except they reward you for using them to search the internet. I drug my feet for awhile using them and then I got “smart” and downloaded their toolbar. It wasn’t hard to do. Hello, I’m ‘Miss Technically Challenged” here! If I can do it,  you can do it   After I downloaded the toolbar the points were coming naturally and without any real effort at times on my part… I mean, I’d get points for not really trying. It seems like you are rewarded for just having it , plus you get alerts to special codes you claim for more points in addition to the points you get for just doing your natural internet searching.

The TAKEHOME:  I’ve earned $20 in Amazon egift-certificates already! (I have a friend who may be earning $10-$15 a month in these gift cards.)

They have lots of prizes and they have gift cards to choose from. You don’t have to take Amazon’s. Oh yeah…and its FREE to sign up to use. So what are you waiting for ? And Amazon offers dirt cheap deals on popular magazines at times too…I got a $5 subscription to Country Living for someone as a gift once. Want to see what else Amazon offers for cheap? Check the search box in my sidebar.

Ebates & Cashbaq.

These are separate shopping sites that pay you a $5 bonus for signing up (free sign up too!) AND you earn a % of your purchase price back- it comes back to your pocket. And you can use coupon codes to save even more money. All you have to do is sign into your account and then pick your store – in the past I have shopped for Dell ink and The Children’s Place for my sons.  You are buying through your store of choice but you earn $$ back from your purchase. Cashbaq or Ebates will pay you that money. You can sign up for both Cashbaq and Ebates.

The TAKEHOME:   Depending on the site you use you make money off  your purchases plus off your friends you sign up through your link.  Only use when you need it…I don’t do a ton of online shopping but I do some and I’ve earned over $85 in cash and gift card between these sites in the past year. And again, they are free to sign up.

Click here to  see how I saved money on My Son’s Shoes or to read about My Money Saving Ways.

These sites can only be beneficial if you use them. If you don’t do any online shopping at least sign up with Swagbucks and earn gifts cards for free- pay for magazine subscriptions you can’t afford or use them to pay for Christmas!

Happy Savings!

(My post re-do).I decided about a week ago to start using charts to help my boys with learning good habits, responsibility and good behavior. My boys are 5 and 3 years old. I did find some “free” printable charts online I’d like to share with you.
I will add that this system has really had a positive effect on my 5 year old…the 3 year old, well, he likes to copy his brother so its okay with him- except he thinks coloring in the blocks is too much work! I also have stickers, etc.. if they want instead of coloring.

I assigned each boy a folder (the 10cent kind with pockets and prongs inside that you’d find on sale in the back to school season). Inside they have three main charts.

First, I use this basic block style chart I found here at Simplemom.net to fill in basic daily chores like brushing teeth, picking up toys, helping mom and dad, staying in bed at night…etc..

Second, I use this cute character chart with two separate sections I found at another site found here to list current/future issues the kids’ need to work on…I picked out Arthur and Bob the Builder. Here I list issues that may get moved to the daily chart eventually.

Third, I use this cute chart that focuses on ONE single objective. Each day (doesn’t have to be consecutive) each boy does well enough (doesn’t have to be perfect) on THAT one goal he gets to fill in one spot which leads closer to an earned prize! I picked out the frog chart for my 3 year old and the bike path for my oldest.

I do find that I need to remind my boys about the chart and help them learn these goals. I noticed yesterday I didn’t tell them to brush their teeth in the morning and they didn’t seem to remember. Sometimes when I tell them to pick up their toys or clean up their mess they think its too big of a job for themselves to do alone. I can see they need my example, working alongside them. Keep that in mind too.

And something else I realized…I need this chart-exercise for them as well because it keeps me accountable for teaching them things they need to learn at home.  My job is to prepare them to be able to live without “mom and dad” someday.  It all starts with the simple things like…brushing their own teeth and learning how to treat each other right.

**If you find these charts don’t work for you feel free to search for more “free printable chore charts”.  But, before you do…I recommend signing up for FREE with Swagbucks…do your search through their engine so you can start racking up Swagbuck points withwhich you will redeem for gift cards or maybe money! Its a great way to pay nothing out of pocket while you get to start earning freely…cover birthdays or Christmas this way!