Money making apps

Websites

• Swagbucks.com - If you'd like to join I would love it if you'd  use my referral link - http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Bonventre
• Pampers.com - Enter codes on Pampers products to earn points. 
• Huggies.com - Enter codes located on packages of diapers or wipes to earn points. You can use the points to buy items from their catalog. 
• Kelloggs.com - Enter codes from Kelloggs products to earn points. Redeem points for coupons, and other items.

Phone Apps

• Walmart Saving Catcher - An easy app to use to save a little extra money on things you're already buying anyway. Just scan your Walmart receipt and the app will search local stores to see if any of the items you bought are cheaper somewhere else. If they find a cheaper price they will give you the difference. *Personal Experience* - I saved money the very first time I used this app! 
• SavingStar - This app has digital grocery offers that you can use at a wide range of stores. You pick which offers you'd like, enter your stores customer loyalty card information into your account, and the app will keep track of the offers you redeem. SavingStar will automatically add the value of each offer redeemed into your account. You can pick from options like cash, gift cards or charity donations with your earnings. *Personal Experience* - I love this app. It's so easy to use and I've made more money using this app than any other app so far. 
• Ibotta - Redeem rebates to make cash. Once you have $10.00 in your ibotta account you can buy gift cards, or move the money into a PayPay account.
• Checkout 51 - Browse offers and buy products at the store. Upload your receipt using the app. Once the receipt has been confirmed and your account will be credited. When your account balance reaches $20 you can request a check.
• Snap - Browse their many offers before you go shopping. Add offers to your shopping list, and when the item is bought snap a photo of your receipt, and you'll receive the money in your account. Once you have $20 in your account you can request a check for your cash. *Personal Experience* - this app has been simple to use and make money on.
• MangoHealth - This app is probably my favorite, and not one I've ever heard anyone else talk about. If you're like me and have to take daily medicine I bet you sometimes forget just like I do. This app will sound an alarm on your phone each day to remind you to take your medicine. When you tell the app that you've taken your medicine it will then give you points. After so many points you will advance to the next "level" and each time you get to a new level you get to choose a giftcard prize. The higher the level the higher the giftcard. So far I have received a $5, a $10, and a $25 Target giftcard just by using this app. $40 just for taking medicine I have to take everyday anyway. Seems too good to be true, but I assure you it's not!

These websites and apps probably won't make you a millionaire, but if you are looking for an easy way to make a little extra money try them out. With technology always changing, there are more ways than ever to make extra money. What are some of your favorite websites and apps?

Total Tuesday

It's 2015 and I am super motivated to save our family money this year. I am starting with a new budget of $50 a week on groceries. I know $50 might sound low to some, but I already have a stockpile of items so I only need to buy meats and fresh items like fruits and veggies. This past week I started the week off with a $100 budget since I saved $50 from the week before to use during super doubles. During a normal week I wouldn't make these many different trips to the store, but super doubles are a rare occasion. This is what I was able to get this week and I still came in under my $100 budget...


Trip #1
Total value = $37.03
Total spent = $12.46

• 4 cans of Planters nuts
• 3 cans of veggies
• Hungry Jack Pancake Syrup
• Hungry Jack Pancake mix
• HT Orange Juice
• Dozen eggs
• Link Sausage
• 2 Johnson baby products

Trip #2

Total value - = $33.45

Total spent = $19.79

*Got back a $10 catalina coupon to use on my next transaction.

• 3 jumbo packs of Huggies diapers

Trip #3

Total value = $33.29

Total spent = $3.39

• 4 cans of Planters nuts
• 3 bags of Tide Pods
• 3.7lbs of Chicken (not pictured)

Trip # 4

Total value = $44.47

Total spent = $8.28

• 2 scrubbing bubbles
• 2 Archway cookies
• 1 Tide pods
• 2 So Delicious coconut milk
• 2 Excedrin
• 4 Ludens throat drops

Trip #5

Total value = $ 30.15

Total spent = $12.62

*Got back a $10 catalina coupon to use on my next transaction.

• 3 packs of baby wipes
• 2 soft packs of baby wipes

Trip #6

Total value = $33.69

Total spent = $12.43

*Got back a $10 catalina coupon to use on my next transaction.

• 3 jumbo packs of Huggies diapers

Trip #6
Total value = $48.21
Total spent = $8.44

• 2 Scrubbing bubbles
• 4 boxes of nutri-grain 
• 2 packs of Butterball turkey bacon
• 2 flour tortillas
• 3 bags of meatballs

Trip #7

Total value = $51.62

Total spent = $7.34

*I forgot to take a picture of this trip.

• 2 boxes of Archway cookies
• 1 Downy unstoppable
• 4 boxes of Apple Jacks
• 1 Tropicana orange juice
• 2 boxes of Excedrin
• 1 bag of perfectly cooked meatballs

Grand total spent for the week is $84.75, and the total value is $311.91.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Amelia's 9 month update

Foods: This girl will try anything! I haven't done the lemon trick with her yet, but my guess is she'll actually like it. ;) Still on formula as the main source of food.

Size: Currently wearing 6-9 month clothing. She wears a size 3 diaper during the day, and a size 4 diaper at night.

Milestones this month:

• Celebrated her first Christmas (12-25-14) and New Years this month!

Pictures:

There are those little teeth!

Amelia's 8 month update

Every month as I post this update I can barely believe another month has passed. It really is true that once you have children time just flies! Here is a recap of the past month:

New Foods:

• Kiwi
• Raspberry
• Chicken 
• Pineapple

Size: Still wearing 6-9 month clothing, and wearing a size 3 diaper.

Milestones this month:

• On 10/29/14 I got a picture of her standing! She is now pulling up on objects to stand all over the place.
• 11/7/14 left for NY which was Amelia's first time going out of state. She did pretty well on the very long car ride!
• Got to meet a bunch of your family who live in NY; including your great grandma, grandpa, and grandma!

Pictures:

Amelia's 7 month update

Food: This girl likes to eat, and so far has enjoyed everything she's tried. New foods she has tried this month are:

• Blueberries
• Mango, blueberry, and banana yogurts
• Greens beans
• Banana Baby puffs
• Peas
• Pumpkin

Sleep:Still sleeping in her room all night in her crib. 

Size: At her doctor appointment on 10/ /14 she weighed 18 lbs and was . She is still in a size 3 diaper, and wears 6-9 month clothing.

 Milestones this month...

• As of 10/14/14 she has officially figured out how to army crawl, and is all over the place now.
• Bottom two front teeth have poked through the gums as of 10/21/14. 
• Finally got to meet your aunt Stephanie and cousin Psyreena!
• Went to a Japanese restaurant with the family for the first time on 10/22/14. You were amazed by the chef cooking the food at our table.
• She is getting better and better each day at picking up her small baby puffs and actually getting it into her mouth to eat. 
• As of 10/21/14 she is crawling with her legs. She army crawled for about a week and quickly moved onto regular crawling.

Pictures:

Amelia's 6 month update

These past 6 months have flown by! If the next 6 months go by as quick as the first 6 have, I need to go ahead and get a jump on planning for her first birthday. It's going to be here before I know it.

I just realized that I believe I've been keeping track of her monthly updates wrong. Since this is her 6th month update I really shouldn't post it until she turns 7 months so I can capture her full 6th month. I've been posting her updates as she turns another month old so really my updates have been for the previous month if that makes any sense. I really want to capture her milestones/pictures in the correct month as they are happening so I can look back at this and see exactly what month she did certain things. For now I will post this blog early but keep adding to it as things happen during this 6th month. That seems like an easy way for me to keep track.

Food: Just began to eat baby food this month. She's been such a good eater. So far these are the foods she has tried, and her reactions to them:

1. Avocado's
2. Carrot's .
3. Banana's  
4. Apples 
5. Sweet Potatoes

Sleep: Amelia has been an amazing sleeper from the beginning. She was sleeping through the night at 2 months old! She began sleeping in her crib in her own room at 5 months, and has been doing so ever since. She generally is down for the night between 7-8 pm, and wakes between 5:30-6:30 am. 

Size: Amelia is wearing 3-6 month and 6-9 month clothing. It just depends on the outfit and brand. She just moved into a size 3 diaper when she hit 6 months. 

 Milestones this month...

• Has the whole sitting up thing down pat!
• Loves to grab anything that gets near her little hands. That includes your face and hair. Ouch!
• She has her hand coordination down now and loves to play with toys. Especially toys that light up or make noises. She also LOVES her jumparoo. 
• Moves all over the place now. She can roll from her tummy to back and from her back to tummy.
• Gets in the crawling position, but hasn't yet figured out how to crawl just yet. Although I can place her on the floor and 2 minutes later she will be on the completely opposite side of the room.
• She seems to be a people person. Anytime someone pays her any attention she gets so excited. She especially likes playing with other kids.
• Standing with support. She no longer wants to lay down. All she wants to do is "stand" or sit up like a big girl. 
•  Now eating baby food, and drinking water from a sippy cup. The first food she tried was Avocado and she can't get enough of it. 
• Took a trip to Pullen Park with mommy and uncle Rodney. Got to swing for the first time, Also got to ride on a paddle boat. 

Picture time...

Amelia's 5 month update

On July 26th Amelia turned 5 months old. You have to be kidding me. There's no way it's been 5 months already since we've had her join our little family. Time sure is flying by! I love her personality. So far she is such a laid back, go with the flow, kind of baby. I couldn't ask for a better baby.

Highlights from the past month... 

• She now sleeps in her crib in her own bedroom, and she seems to love it. She's such a big girl! This is how she wakes up every morning. All smiles. =)

• 

• I've gotten her to laugh at me a few times and she's laughed in her sleep a few times, but she's still not laughing consistently yet. 
• She has now rolled over to the left and right when I place her on her tummy. (before she was only rolling to her right side)
• Also when she's on her belly now she tries to push up on her knees. She hasn't been successful yet, but I have a feeling she will be very soon.
• She hasn't officially rolled over from her back to her belly yet, but she's about 95% there. She rolls on her side but just doesn't completely roll over just yet.
• She took her first trip to the beach to visit her great grandma, and she did wonderful. She slept in the car on the 3 hour drive there and back, and also slept all night in her pack-n-play even though this was her first time sleeping away from home. Made momma proud. :)

Picture Time...