Oh, the deals to be had!

I'm found my new addiction: saving money! I turned on to some really great blogs to save money both online and off from a Facebook friend and can't stop. These sites show the best online coupons, deals, freebies, samples, and much more! If I'm missing some, feel free to drop a comment and let me know! Hope my new article helps you score some great deals! I scored a hoodie and long sleeved shirt for my daughter for under $5! Today, I got 2 boxes of checks for $4.05, and yes that included shipping! I also love getting the heads up on new samples and giveaways too. I love getting mail and tracking packages, especially when it's costing me next to nothing!

How shopping online can save you money

Back again...

It's been a long time, but I'm back! I am looking forward to posting more often and writing even more. Recently, I've reentered the world of couponing, which is so much fun! Everyone loves to save money and with wonderful resources like KrazyCouponLady, it's even easier spotting deals. I will be writing an article very soon for beginners who want to learn more about how to get started.

Also, I've been more focused on my routines with FlyLady and looking forward to getting this house spotless by the holidays. Here is my most recent article on Helium about how to clean your refrigerator. Happy November!

Tips for cleaning your refrigerator

P.S. If you are interested in creative writing, I've written some poetry and great flash fiction for a contest that closes tomorrow:
Flash Fiction: The lost paycheck
Flash Fiction: His first paycheck
Poetry: Nickels and dimes
Poetry: If I had a million dollars
Poetry: Play Money

Banana Bread

I really look forward to the bananas ripening beyond reasonable consumption. That means it's banana bread (or muffin) time. Today was one of those days, and I found a great recipe that I had to share. It is super easy. No sifting, no mixer, and only uses one bowl! And it tasted great! The only modification that I made to this recipe was that I added some chopped pecans. Feel free to add walnuts, chocolate chips, whatever you like!

Simply Recipes - Banana Bread

Having Fun With the Kids

One of the many benefits of being a Stay-At-Home parent is getting to spend so much quality time with the kids. However, it is challenging entertaining them throughout the summer months. But I love a challenge! Through one of my other blogs, 72 Days of Summer, I am documenting out experiences together this summer. Having this blog has inspired and motivated to come up with new and exciting activities with the kids. Today we made a Solar-Powered Pizza Over, went to the movies for free, and made cookies.Tomorrow I will be perfecting a kool-aid based hair dye and so much more! Here are some more ideas for summer activities with your children:
Summer Fun for Kids
Fun for Kids - Homemade Entertainment
Easy arts and crafts for toddlers

Homemade Cleaners

I truly believe that my children do not get sick as often as many others because I refuse to use store bought cleaners. The only cleaners I need are dish soap, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and baking soda. I do use dye and fragrance free laundry detergent for the most part, but even make laundry detergent on occasion. Inhaling chemicals is terrible, even if it is only for cleaning. Vinegar is a great disinfectant and  baking soda is a great alternative to other harsh abrasive cleansers. It deodorizes as well. Here are some great recipes for homemade cleaners.

Easy Homemade Detergents and Cleaners

Stress

Stress is a huge part of my life, but it is manageable. I think that giving in to the stress is important. There are sometimes where you need to take a breath and remember that distractions, problems, and other disappointments happen, and there is nothing that you can to do stop them. However, there are things that you can do to help manage these situations and keep your stress levels in check:

Take a Break -Unless you are engaged in a time pressing, life-or-death situation, it is perfectly acceptable to take a break. If your little one is begging for your attention and you have your mind elsewhere, try and switch gears. Hugs should be always welcome, and not only do your children need you, but you need them as well. If distractions are a problem, take a time out and engage your child in an activity. Once he or she is in active play, and is safe, feel free to step away and go back to what you were doing, but don't forget to take breaks regularly.

Clutter Creates Stress - Clutter has got to be my number one pet peeve. Working or functioning in it drives me absolutely crazy. If you are in a horrible mood, this could be the cause. If I am too worked up to clear it out myself, I micromanage this task to my four children. Today, I happened to be feeling really terrible and needed a nap. Not only did my daughter let me sleep, but she cleaned up the room and made sure that her brothers were entertained. When your children do do something nice for you that wasn't asked, make sure they know they are appreciated. It is surely to happen more often. :)

Do You Enjoy Writing?

For me, writing is a passion, and without it, I am without direction. I am constantly writing articles, short stories, and blog posts. It keeps my mind active and helps me to make a few extra dollars each month without seeking outside employment. It isn't much, but I hope that one day it will eventually ease my financial burdens. If you share the same interest, here are a few sites to look into:

1. Helium - This is, so far, my absolute favorite site to work for. It may seem a little complicated at first, but once you dive in, you will learn as you go. Anyone can write for Helium, but articles are rated and payment is decided on multiple factors. Articles and creative writing pieces are rated by your peers, which means that you, also, take part in the rating process. There is a small bonus if you rate more than 500 pieces in a 3 month period. The highest rated, most viewed articles earn the most ad revenue, plus there are bonuses available once you begin earning stars. The higher your articles are rated and the more articles you write on Helium affects how many stars you have. There is a very informative Help section that will explain exactly how Helium works. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask.

2. HubPages - This website is also great, and unlike Helium, you are always in control of the title and content. Monetizing HubPages works a lot like monetizing blogs, so you are in charge of setting up ads and affiliate settings. Setting up a Google Adsense account is your first step to effectively monetizing your HubPages. If you aren't sure how Google Adsense works, click here.

3. Blogger - If you found my blog, you probably know about Blogger. I like Blogger because it is simpler than WordPress and other blogging websites to monetize, because Google Adsense is built right in. If you aren't sure what to blog about, start with your passion. Is it a hobby, your family, a sport? Go from there. I have multiple blogs for various pieces of my life.

There are also several other sites that I have not had very much luck with. Associated Content is one of them, as is Freelancer. I really wouldn't suggest going the freelancer route because it pays far less than sites like Helium, there is a huge amount of competition for these jobs with interviews and resumes, AND most importantly, you do not get to keep the rights to your work.

If you are looking for other ways to make a few extra bucks online without and investment, here is another article that I wrote on the subject:
Top 10 Easy Ways to Make Money Online For Free

Happy Writing!