Money Making Without a Job.

It's the new year.
I am still unemployed.
I am not used to this.

My part-time work from home job used to cover:

• The groceries
• The fuel for both vehicles
• "Fun" money (ie: movies, dinner dates, saving up for vacations/trips)

 So I am finding ways to be creative with saving money/making money, three ways I have currently found that are legitimate and actually work (because I am RIGHT there with you, saying "come on, there's got to be a catch!") are the following phone apps:

1. ibotta
   This app is my favorite so far, probably because the majority of shopping I do is for groceries (although it is NOT just groceries, they have beauty items, home items, etc). We hardly go out to eat so I generally do two grocery store trips a month and one Costco trip every other month. In my first week of grocery shopping I got $10.00 back and that was on everyday items like bananas, carrots, and lettuce.
   
   How it works:
   - Choose your store
   - Scroll through the rebates and unlock the ones you want
   - Shop
   - Once you get home scan the barcodes of items with them, then scan your receipt for other items (such as produce)
   - Within 24hrs the rebate will be added to your account, although I've never actually waited that long.
   - Once your Ibotta rebate balance reaches $20.00 you can withdrawl via PayPal, Amazon, or choose giftcards (at $25.00).
   
   Bonus- Right now if you sign-up with my referral code "dxjtxyw" you will receive $5.00 after your first use. It's a New Year, New Member special they are running! I have no idea how long they will offer it for...
   
   
   This this sounds easy enough? Head over to ibotta.com to sign-up today.
   
    
2. shopkick
   This app is easy as long as you remember to open it when you walk into the stores. I also am not fond of leaving the location settings on all the time, and unfortunately it only has the choice of "always" or "never," so before I go shopping I simply go into my settings and turn it from "never" to "always" and turn it back after I am done. Call me paranoid. Haha!
   
   How it works:
   - Scroll through the list to see if the store you are going to offers any kicks
   - Many stores offer them just for walking in!
   - Some stores offer additional kicks for scanning items, when this happens my husband and I make it a game to scan them all as fast as possible!
   - The final way to earn kicks are on large items that require a purchase of the item and a scan of the receipt (I have yet to need any of these items, although I was tempted with a delicious looking wine!)
   - Shopkicks require a significant more "kicks" to earn items, however within my first week I nearly reached a $5.00 Target giftcard. There are many giftcards to choose from such as: Walmart, RedBox, Restaurant.com, Starbucks, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, Best Buy, etc.
   - They also offer special deal for shopkick users, I saw a 20% off at Old Navy pop up a couple days ago
   
   Bonus- Right now if you sign up with my referral link: http://get.shopkick.com/chord67137 you will get 50 (or more, they always run special sign-up deals... my husband got 200!) kicks!
   
   So if you like browsing Target, swing into Walmart often for things you forgot to grab for the kids, or love technology and find yourself in Best Buy often... why not get free stuff just for being there? Sign-up here!
   

3.  Receipt Hog
   This app is the EASIEST of the three. Simply snap a photo of ANY receipt. Yep any.
   
   How it works:
   - Snap a photo of you receipt
   - Earn tickets for the sweepstakes, spins for the slots, and coins towards your reward
   - The lowest reward starts at 1,000 coins for a $5 card (I've currently submit 5 receipts, of which 3 have earned coins, 1 earned spins, and all of them entered me into the sweepstakes)

Bonus- if you sign-up with my code "koy48761" you can get free coins & spins!

I think the best part about this app is you can use ANY receipt. Your morning Starbucks. The huge grocery receipt you already used for ibotta. Your dinner date from last night. Movies. And more! Sign-up here!

Hope these three apps can make you a little money back doing things you already do!

Are there any other apps you know of that I should download? Please comment with info!
-Tay





*Disclaimer: Tay will receive "bonuses" from these two apps for having you sign up. Once you invite your friends you can earn the same bonuses!

Introducing "Thrifty Trends."

I am so excited to introduce this segment, which will be featured on the 1st of every month. Aubrey is another amazing friend I met in Hawaii who just so happens to be an interior designer! I had asked her a while back if she would be interested in guest posting for me and am so happy she said "yes!" 

Each Thrifty Trends post will show you how to achieve the desired look for less. If you're anything like me, I love getting my money's worth, but I am also stingy with what I spend it on.

I don't drink coffee (I know *gasp!*) but I do love tea... here is a current photo of my "tea bar" (*ahem* tea tray) which unfortunately has to sit on top of the microwave in my extremely-limited-counter-and-storage-space of a kitchen. After reading this post I think it's in need of a make-over!

If you complete a project inspired by her post let us know in the comments, if you use Instagram you can also hashtag #thedaringdandelion #freshlybrewedhome #thriftytrends and tag @thedaringdandelion

After you check out this inspiration post, make sure to pop on over to Aubrey's website [A Freshly Brewed Home] for more tips, tricks, and ideas! 

-Tay

 ------------------------------------------------------

Coffee Bars are pretty trendy right now and I see them everywhere! Whether you sleepily fill your mug with keurig coffee, use a french press or you have your own espresso machine, an at home coffee bar is a great accent to your home. The key to creating your own is to accent the pieces you use often with beautiful accessories and consolidate everything onto a shelf, cart or other piece of furniture. Find an area in your kitchen or dining room that is convenient and has an outlet close by. Use whatever fits in your space and piece it together as you find things that speak to you. 

If you're like me, you're on a pretty tight budget. However, that doesn't mean that you can't have a beautiful home. This coffee bar I saw as a great inspiration is actually a DIY project that Natalie at Natalie Creates designed herself. She used a really ugly white dresser and painted it this awesome mint color and added some fun knobs to create her coffee bar.

Case in point...use what you can find at Restore, Goodwill or garage sales and use some creativity (and Pinterest tutorials of course) to make it what you want! I pieced together some inexpensive accessories to give you some inspiration that can take a project to a fabulous spot in your home.

1. This clock is $8.99 at Target

2. This tray is $11 at H&M (but I see similar trays for a buck or two at Goodwill all the time)

3. Find free printables on Pinterest for your artwork! (I do this all the time)

4. This shelf is $12.99 from IKEA. If you don't have access to IKEA (sad day) Walmart has cheap ones as well

5. This French Press is expensive (even on sale) but I see these everywhere-Starbucks, TJ Maxx, etc

6. Just another free printable! (Seriously, there's soooo many cuute ones out there!)

7. You can find hooks anywhere (these are $5 for 15 at Lowes) but make sure you find ones that will fit your mug handles

8. This chest is pricey but it's a good option if you don't want to DIY (but seriously, just find an old bookshelf, dresser, desk...anything that is table/counter height and it will work!)

9. This jar is $5.99 at Target and is perfect for storing k-cups or blends (use whatever works for you or what you have around the house...repurpose those spaghetti sauce jars, mason jars and other glass things!)

10. Find some candles, flower pots, bowls, etc to accent the aesthetic in the rest of your house. 

11. These are so great for storing syrups if you make your own. Just a set from Walmart will do (or make your own using empty wine bottles and oil spouts from Amazon). 

Take away Tips:

• Don't clutter the space...just display your favorite mugs and hide the rest in the drawers or bins
• Let it reflect your style...don't use bright pops of color if you love neutrals and don't use vintage accessories if you love modern things 
• There is no right or wrong way to set up your coffee bar. You can make it as big or as small as you want with whatever pieces you like
• Remember the purpose of a coffee bar...I know that as a mama and lover of coffee, I need a place that's easy for me to grab everything I need for a pick me up (or really a wake me up..ha!)

Here is my little coffee bar-nothing fancy at all but it has a couple of my favorite things.

And here's some more inspiration I'll leave here for you all!

~Aubrey

Source

Source

Source

​

Source-and a cool tutorial of how they changed the space