(Special Note:  I do not plan to 'post' to this blog other than an 'update' post so you know that I've added something new to it.. that 'update' will be deleted after a week so that this post is the one you will always find, with the exception of a brief update post.  I have not completed all of the information I plan to have on here, but I've told so many people about this blog and they keep asking me about it. So, I'm publishing it now and I'll update and complete it as soon as I can! :) Anything in RED is incomplete information...please check back soon!! Feel free to share this site with anyone you think could benefit!!)

Over the last year I have come across and used many money saving sites, reward apps, and online storage sites and I have shared various ones with different friends and family.  Instead of trying to carry the information around with me or memorize all of the sites, I decided to create this blog and simply have you look for the things that interest you.  I will have many referral links, which means if you click on the link and sign up, buy or use that particular site I will benefit as well.  Some of these benefits are in the form of  more digital space (in the various clouds) others it is a monetary reward.  I will only add links to sites/apps that I personally have used.  If you click on the logo, picture, or name of the site it should take you directly to that site.  I hope something here will help you out too!

These three blogs have tons of posts a day, so beware if you choose to follow them!  I personally use Google Reader to get the updates from them.  I can access GR on both the computer and on my smart phone.  I simply scroll past the deals that I'm not interested in or don't apply to me.  They post about weekly deals at Rite Aid, Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and more.  They also share about freebies that you can receive in the mail and deals that restaurants are running.  They share about special sales and deals that department stores and websites are running.  Honestly, many of the things you find here I found out about through one of these three blogs.  You can click on the images above to go to the blogs.

(click above to go to site)

Shop at home is AWESOME in my opinion.  This last Christmas season I learned about Shop at Home and found that if I went to the Shop at Home website first and then went to the sites such as Walmart.com, JCPenny.com, Kohls.com etc. I would be able to get anywhere from 2% to 10% back on the money I was spending at that site!  I got a very nice check a couple of months ago.  They run specials frequently that double and sometimes triple the about you get back.  Also, they will give coupon codes to use on those various sites.  Here's an example. last week was my 10th Anniversary with Jim.  I checked into all the different travel sites and realized that Hotels.com had a deal I was interested in and I could go through the Shop at Home website first.  I am receiving 7% back on the booking of the hotel room AND they had a 10% code listed for hotels.com.  So, our getaway was a great deal too!  They don't have any referral code or link...it's just such a great site I wanted you all to know about it! I JUST FOUND OUT THEY DO! :)

If you sign up and make a qualifying purchase in 60 days of signing up we both get $5! :) You can use my links by either clicking on the logo above or on the side bar. 

Checkpoints is a smartphone app.  I have had it for almost a year and have earned two $10 Amazon gift cards so far.  I'm a third of the way to my next Amazon card.  Every restaurant or store that you visit you can 'check in' and get 2 points.  At drug, grocery stores, and stores like Walmart you can scan items for 10-25 points each.  I figure it is a simple way to get free items from Amazon.  My kids love scanning items while I'm shopping! Go to the Apple App Store or Google Play (formerly Android Market).  When you register if you type in 'thankful' for the bonus code you will get 50 points and so will I! :) If you'd like to learn more first, click on Mr. Checkpoints above and it will take you to their website that tells more about this app.

Swagbucks is an incredible site as well.  Since I joined just a couple of months ago I've earned five $5 Amazon cards!  There are many different ways to earn 'Swag Bucks'.  Every day they have a poll that earns you 1 swagbuck and they also have what they call NOSO which are No Obligation Special Offers.  All you need to do is click on NOSO in the earn tab and keep clicking the 'skip'  or 'see next offer' button and after you've gone past 4-5 advertisements you get 2 'Swag Bucks.'  You can also print out coupons.  For each coupon that you use you get 10 'Swag Bucks' added to your account.  They have videos that you can watch for 'Swag Bucks'.  They have movie trailers and clips from tv.  There are many more ways that you can add 'Swag Bucks' to your account. There are a lot of games you can play, the trick is to click the 'back to games' button after you finish a game that way you might get 2 'Swag Bucks'.  You can also go to any site from theirs by typing the name of the site into their search engine and you could get 5-12 'Swag Bucks' for using their search engine.  Just click on the sidebar and you can get started.  If you go to Swagbucks through this site I also earn Swag Bucks for those you earn through online searches.

You can save files, pictures, documents and more online.  This is great for a couple of reasons.  First, you have a means of backing up your 'stuff' just in case your computer decides it wants to crash.  Second, you have access to your stuff from any computer that is hooked up to the Internet.  I LOVE this feature so much because I'm not as worried about carrying around the right flash drive with me all of the time!  I work on the home desktop, my school laptop, computer lab computers, and sometimes from other computers in my classroom.  I had been paying for a online site, but there are so many free ones I've now switched!  I store all kinds of files, graphics, photos, and more on the various 'clouds'.  One of the features I love is if I update a file I've been working on it automatically updates it in the cloud!!  

I love Dropbox.  It is a great cloud. Some of the things I have saved here are graphic alphabets I use for cards, scrapbooking, school letters and worksheets etc; documents I have either downloaded or created tied in with our reading series at school; all of the graphics I am using on this blog; and pictures from my school ipod.  I also have the feature that it automatically uploads my camera pictures to Dropbox.  Now I can have access to them on any computer I'm on.  The other nice thing about having that feature is the increased space given.  I currently have 3.2GB in space & I've used 79% of it.  If you sign up by clicking on the picture above I will receive 500MB of extra space as well.

 In CX I am trying to store most of my school documents.  These are items I've made as well as those that I purchased from Teachers pay Teachers and Teacher's Notebook.  I'm trying to get these all organized in appropriate folders; lang. arts--parts of speech, book reports, poetry, etc; math--division, multiplication, etc; beginning of the year; holidays; and so on.  CX gives 10 GB & I've only used 3% so far, but I still have a lot to upload.  There is no incentive program for referrals.  Just click above to get started.

In Box I store all of my graphics grouped into the sets that I have purchased.  I also have individual pieces of clipart stored here.  I've used about 4 GB out of 50GB.

Sugarsync has all kinds of different documents of mine.  I have files that have to do with our family tree, couponing, food and recipes, technology info, microsoft clipart files, and lots and lots of printables I've collected from the web.  Sugarsync gives 5 GB of space.  If you click on the logo above and join I gain 500 MB of space.

 Other Apps for Smart Phones

Online you can buy discounted gift cards for a variety of stores.  I have used all three of these companies and I have not had any problems!  ABC Gift Cards sends out a weekly email that gives you a code for an additional 3% off the 3 sites they choose for that week.  Plastic Jungle you can go through Shop at Home to get there and you'll get 2% back on what you have spent.  It appears that the percentage off changes and can vary from one site to another.  I have purchased Denny's cards at 10% off, Dress Barn cards at 20% off, and JCPenny cards for 28% (+3% more off for being the site of the week!)  The supplies vary and at least at Cardpool you can be put on a waiting list for cards that you are interested in and they don't currently have in stock.  I think this is such a great idea for places that you know you shop at and eat at.  Why not start with a 5-28% discount before you even hit any great sales, deals, or coupons!!!??!!  You can also sell gift cards at a discount to these companies.  I have a Cold Stone gift card I'm considering doing this with since there is no longer a Cold Stone within at least 60 miles of my home.  It might be better to have some cash rather than an unused gift card laying around.  ABC and Plastic Jungle are both Better Business Accredited Businesses. (non of these companies have referral programs that I am aware of..I just want you to know about them too!!)

OTHER SITES

A New site that I have been using is Plink. It rewards you with points when you use your debt card at registered locations.  The three I have linked are Burger King, Taco Bell, & Arby's.  You can also get points for shopping at Gap & Old Navy.

Instant Cash Surveys

Inbox Dollars
My Points
Recyclebank

Ebates is like Shop at Home.  Honestly I haven't used it as much yet, but I am starting to check which one will give a higher percentage of cash back when I find a deal at a specific website. The referral reward for this is that I get $5 for each person who signs up; if 3 sign up before the end of September, I get a bonus $30!  They also send out emails & frequently have double bonuses for various sites. As I write this Nordstrom is 5%, Gap is 2%, Drugstore.com is 12%, JCPenny is 8%, Macys is 6% plus they have a code for an additional 15% off your order...there are others, but at least that gives you an idea.
Note: (written March 17, 2013) I now check both Shop at Home & Ebates to see who has the higher cash back whenever I am making a purchase online.  I have now used Ebates a lot.
Lettering Delights
Things you should know about Rite Aid, Target, & Starbucks!

Check out my Pinterest boards as well!  I have food boards, teaching boards, & a Tips, Tricks, & Other Great Ideas boards! Just click on the image above!