Tightwad Mama Saves Money with Common Sense Christmas Shopping

I love buying presents for people, or more specifically, I love gift giving. But I won't overspend to do it. I have a long shopping list of people to buy for at Christmas and birthdays. Four kids and their three significant others, 15 extended family members, husband--and I buy several church giving tree gifts. And there's no need to buy expensive gifts. Here are penny pincher shopping tips to save money, keep costs low and buy meaningful gifts for everyone.  Tightwad Mama's Common Sense Christmas Shopping Tips

Note to Self--Check Spam Folder Regularly

 I just checked my spam folder on my email and was troubled to find some important emails had been diverted there. These were not from new contacts, but long-term connections. I had emailed back and forth with these. So how did these particular missives end up labeled spam? I have no idea.  Note to Self--Check Spam Folder Regularly

Free Ways to Earn Money--Think Divergent Employment

Unemployment is decreasing. Jobs are being created and the economy is improving. Or so we hear. I think such optimism premature and fanciful. Personal experience has shown me the way financial solvency in this quicksand economy isn't necessarily job hunting, college or even working a traditional job. Survival requires proactive, divergent thinking.

Step off the job-chase grid. I left my job teaching adult education in 1996 to homeschool. I re-entered the work force in 2005 and had to take classes to renew my teaching certificate. I couldn't find a job. I subbed, earning at most, $400 a week, before taxes, no benefits. I worked on-call and only when school was in session. Most weeks, I got 2-4 partial days. Earnings barely covered gas, insurance, vehicle costs, required business wardrobe and child care. I couldn't recoup tuition costs incurred to keep my license valid. Job-hunting for a permanent teaching slot cost me and meant missing subbing opportunities. Working put us in a higher tax bracket. We barely broke even. Even in my wealthy community, many are in similar situations.
For more on this read Step Out of the Job Hunting Market; Think Divergent Employment

Free Content Writing Site That Earns Money

My third payment just cleared and I've only been on Bubblews for about three weeks. I'll be hitting "redemption" today or tomorrow. I don't write every day, so it probably averages to four payouts in three weeks. I don't say this to brag, only to share what what's working for me. What's Bubblews? Click my referral link and find out. For more on how to make Bubblews earn money for you, read on.  Bubblews Tips That Earn Four Redemptions in Three Weeks

Cheap Summer Family Fun Ideas from Tightwad Mama

We raised and four kids in an 800-square-foot mobile home. We were solvent and debt-free on one income while I homeschooled. I know about pinching pennies and cheap family fun. Here are tightwad mama's tips to stretch your summer fun buck.

* Make money multitask. Pay with the payment form that saves most and earns best rewards: store credit cards, debit card. Save points for better rewards.

* Get admission deals. Use buy-one-get-one-free deals from vendors like Daily Deal Superstore. Save on concert, museum, amusement park, restaurants and vacation tickets. Look for events offering free kid admission with paid parents. Contact event websites for deals. I got half-price student opera tickets from the box office. An air fair distributed free tickets to school kids. They send me tickets to distribute to our home school group. Cheap Summer Family Fun Ideas from Tightwad Mama

Free Google-Friendly Ad Revenue Sites to Earn Money Blogging

I don't fully understand the magic that earns money from blogging. I do know, with ad revenue, it's the sweet spot of online freelancing. Since 2008, blog ads have supplemented my income--not just a little, $200-$800 a month. Here are free ad sites to monetize blogging. These aren't click fraudsters. They're Google-approved sites.

* Blog-Freelance Win-Win: First a word on how that sweet spot I mentioned works. Write articles for upfront pay (or performance only). Earn performance payments on page views. Several content sites pay upfront and performance. Others, one or the other. Companies form, disband or change, so search opportunities regularly. If company terms of service allow and you earn page views, blog snippets of articles with links back to original. This earns page views plus ad revenue if readers click ads while on your blog. I have blogs on Google Blogger and Wordpress. Read more Google-Friendly Ad Revenue Sites to Earn Money Blogging

Free (or Cheap) Mood Lifters, Stress Busters, Pick-Me-Ups

Depression. It's everywhere I look. Medicated or not, more people seem to getting less satisfaction from life. Here are free (or cheap) mood lifters and stress busters.

* Avoid drugs. I don't say this pedantically, but from painful experience. I took Paxil for several years. It caused health problems, didn't help depression and left me dull and listless. I believe it caused me to give birth to a stillborn baby. It was mentally addictive. I put on 100 pounds taking it. If you take antidepressants, get brand facts and don't expect a panacea.

* Don't self-medicate. Street drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine don't beat depression. They cause it. A social drink is okay but consider your mood and the timing. Don't drink alcohol or caffeine on an empty stomach.  Free (or Cheap) Mood Lifters, Stress Busters, Pick-Me-Ups

Free Printable Mother's Day Cards to Color

Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Looking for free printable crafts to make with children for Mother's Day? Children feel proud to make crafts for mom. Here are free printable cards that children can color themselves and give to mom. Family Fun (click here) has 10 free printable Mother's Day cards. Some are designed in black and white to be colored. The other cards that are designed in color, can be printed in black and white and made into coloring cards for Mother's Day. Set your printer properties to 'black cartridge' or 'print in grayscale' from the color option tab.  Free Printable Mother's Day Cards to Color

Swagbucks Earns Gift Cards, Freebies and Discounts

In 8 years of freelancing, I've tried just about every points company there is to make a little extra income. Here's my favorite: Swagbucks. Do all the things you normally do online: shop, search, answer questions, socialize, watch TV, play games, read emails and articles. And get rewarded for doing it. It's easy and takes almost no time at all. I've earned enough points to buy over $100 in gift cards to Amazon. The best point value is $5 Amazon cards for 450 pts each. You can use as many codes (online gift cards) as you want on any Amazon order. There's no limit. I bought all my Christmas gifts for two kids this way. Here's my Swagbucks referral link. Tell 'em Marilisa sent you! Click on the title link for more paid online survey companies. The article is from 2008, so some have changed but the links take you to the new companies. Your 2 Cents isn't in business anymore. 

Spring 2013 Festivals and Fairs in Detroit

Say "spring," and what leaps to mind? In Michigan, picnics, flowers, parades, and festivals -- a chance to sweep out winter blues with the last, dingy snow! Here are must-not-miss spring 2013 festivals in and around Detroit.Spring 2013 Festivals and Fairs in Detroit