Do you trade in?

Do you trade in your old electronics or just let them sit around the house collecting dust? Trading in old electronics is a fantastic way to make a little extra money. While you don't get a great deal of money for most things, every little bit helps.

Here are the top four in our opinion that we've found. Do you use a trade in program? Let me know, I love finding new hidden gems.

• Game Stop - trade in old video games and consoles
• Amazon- trade in most electronics, books, video games and consoles
• Best Buy - trade in most electronics, video games and consoles
• Kodak - trade in most electronics, video games and consoles

My husband and I upgraded to the iPhone4 for only $38 each. We traded in our two old iPhone 3GS for $156 in Best Buy gift cards each, then took our Best Buy gift cards over to the mobile store to pay for our upgrades. (We also used a $10 gift card earned for FREE with Shopkick)

Swag Bucks offer that could earn you $40 in Amazon gift cards

 

Swag Bucks is offering 3600 Swag Bucks when you sign up for a Discover Credit Card. That is enough Swag Bucks to trade in for 8 $5 Amazon gift cards (you can only redeem two like prizes a day, and 5 total in a calendar month). Check their home page for offer and offer details.

Why am I telling you about this offer? Because my husband and I have a Discover Card (and we pay that sucker off every month). Because we never carry a balance it is same as cash, just earning up to 5% cash back on every purchase we make. We're making our money work for us. This especially works out well when I shop through Ebates and earn cash back from both Ebates and Discover on the same purchase.

Not a member of Swag Bucks? Sign up HERE. 

Disclaimer: Please be RESPONSIBLE with your credit. While this is the best rewards credit card we've found, it only works if you pay off your ENTIRE balance EVERY month. Make educated, responsible choices when it comes to your credit.

Also please note: I am not a financial adviser. Nothing I say should be considered as advice coming from a financial adviser. This works for us and I am sharing what my husband and I do that saves us money

Ebates: Get Paid to Shop!

If you ever buy anything online then you need to sign up for Ebates right now. I buy almost everything online now a days, not only do they have my size, but it is just easier than attempting to go out in the blizzard conditions. To join now, click HERE.

How it works: You go to Ebates.com. Search for the store you want to buy from. Click the link from Ebates.com to head to the new website and that is it. By just checking Ebates first you will earn a percentage back.

Since joining in November I have earned over $67 from Ebates. In February I will be getting a check that I can deposit into our checking account. I am literally getting paid to shop for things I already buy anyways.

I highly recommend joining Ebates and doing all your shopping through them. Just another way to stretch that dollar!

Swagbucks just got sweeter!

If haven't already, go HERE and sign up for Swagbucks. You earn Swagbucks simply by searching and can trade those Swagbucks in for Amazon Giftcards and other prizes.

What makes this even sweeter is Amazon just released a new program called Amazon Mom. It is a free 3-month trial with Amazon Prime. With this program you can save up to 30% with the subscribe and save, get FREE two-day shopping, and for every $25 in a single purchase you earn another free month up to a year.

For more information, Head over HERE. Thanks MommySavers for the heads up!

How I bought $125 worth of stuff for only $20.91 at CVS

First thing is, Do you have a CVS ECB card? If not, sign up for one!

Several things I do before I go:
- I get two Sunday papers a week. I clip coupons for things that I might or might not want to stash for a sale.
- I constantly search several sites, boards, and blogs for good coupons to print. (I've found some of the best coupons are printable, so get a good printer that doesn't use a lot of ink.)
- Always check out the ad in the Sunday paper and plan accordingly.

Frizz-Ease
CVS price 2/$10
Get $5 ECB (Extra Care Bucks are gift cards that print at the end of your receipt for you to use when you come back, I usually have a stack to roll over to each purchase)
Used 2 $2.50 off coupons (http://www.johnfrieda.com/news_and_offers/special_offers.asp)
Final price = FREE

L'Oreal Studio Gel
CVS price 2/$5
Used to 2 $1 off coupons from last Sunday's paper
Final price = $1.50 each

L'Oreal Ever Strong Conditioner
CVS price $5.99
Get $5 when you buy two
Used 2 $2 off coupons from Sunday Paper
Final price = $1.49 each

Shick disposable razors
CVS price $7.69
Special Buy One Get One FREE
Used 2 $3 from Sunday paper
Final price = $.85 each
(You can combine manufacturer coupons with CVS specials for big savings!!)

Kotex U
CVS price $4.99
Get $4.99 ECB
Use $1 coupon ( http://www.ubykotex.com/get_coupons/print )
Final Price = FREE plus $1 in coupon overage!

Irish Sprine/SoftSoap
CVS price- varies
Get $5 if you buy $15 worth of featured products
Used 2 $.50 off Irish Spring
Used 2 $1 SoftSoap
Final Price for 3 3-packs of bar soap, Irish Spring shower gel, 2 SoftSoap shower gel = $7 or $1.17 each

Aveeno
CVS price - $5.99 for big bottles/$3.49 for small bottle
Spend $20 and get $10 in ECB
Used 2 $2 off 2 Aveeno lotions ( printed, but campaign is over)
Final price for all 4 bottles = $1.86 each

Collgate Wisps
CVS price - $2.59
Buy Two, Get One FREE
Used 2 $.50 off coupons from Sunday paper (Could've used three)
Final Price = $1.39 each

Biore Pore Strips
CVS price - $4.99
Get $2 ECB
Use $2 coupon from their facebook page, under sweepstakes tab.


Websites I use: http://mommysavers.com/boards/whats-store/160386-cvs-deals-coupon-match-ups-7-25-7-31-a.html

http://mommysavers.com/boards/couponing/

IRS Grants Military Spouses Six-Month Extension to Pay 2009 Tax (MSRRA)

I've already filed our taxes, but I didn't work last year. For those wives getting a little nervous, here you go! I know this year is beyond confusing with the passing of MSRRA, but the Government is meeting us halfway.

Good Luck filing ladies!

"IRS Grants Military Spouses Six-Month Extension to Pay 2009 Tax

On April 15, the IRS issued Notice 2010-30, which gives certain civilian spouses of service members on active duty an extension of time through Oct. 15, 2010, to pay their 2009 federal income taxes. However, civilian spouses were not granted an automatic extension of time to file a return.

The extension applies to civilian spouses of service members who were away from their tax residence during 2009 to be with their service-member spouse serving on military duty in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands and who maintained their tax residence in a state or in D.C. under the terms of the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (PL 111-97), which was enacted Nov. 11, 2009.

To be eligible, the civilian spouse must have worked in a U.S. territory and claimed tax residence in a state or D.C.; however, federal employees working in American Samoa, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands are not eligible for the extension and neither are individuals working in Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands to whom IRC § 935 applies (under which taxpayers may treat amounts withheld and paid to the relevant U.S. territory as being paid to the IRS).

The notice provides procedures for eligible taxpayers to follow. These include marking “MSRRA” in red ink at the top of the tax return and attaching a signed and dated declaration, using wording specified in the notice.

Under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, the fact that a military spouse is present in or absent from a jurisdiction in the United States will not affect that spouse’s residence or domicile for tax purposes, as long as that presence in (or absence from) the jurisdiction is due to the service member’s compliance with military orders. In addition, any income the military spouse earns in a jurisdiction will not be treated as income from services performed or sources within that jurisdiction if that spouse is not treated as a resident of the jurisdiction under the act.

According to the notice, certain taxpayers who worked in a state or D.C. in 2009 and who claimed residence in a U.S. territory in 2009 under the act can apply for a refund of federal taxes that were withheld by the taxpayer’s employer or for estimated tax payments. The notice outlines the procedures civilian spouses should use to submit a refund claim under these circumstances."

http://ow.ly/1zbRt

Discounted Flights!

American Airlines will give the Military a discounted rate apparently! I have not personally used it yet, but another wife told me about it.

Just call 1-800-433-7300 and ask them for the Active Duty discount. They also will wave your baggage fees.

I would double check on Kayak.com to make sure you are getting the best deal before you call, but still every dollar counts!

(US Airways wave all baggage fees too)

MyCAA is coming back!

A Message from DoD:

In the days following the announcement of a temporary pause of the Career Advancement Account - MyCAA - we have heard your feedback, suggestions and concerns.

We are pleased to announce that the MyCAA program will resume operations on March 13, 2010, at 12 p.m., noon (EST), for military spouses who currently have existing MyCAA accounts. Those who have an existing account will have access to the entire Web site, including the ability to create and have financial documents approved.

We are currently developing options for the long-term management of the program and expect to be able to announce the details soon. Until then, no new accounts can be created. During this time, Military OneSource Spouse Education and Career Consultants will continue to be available to provide education and training, career exploration, assessment, employment readiness and career search assistance.

Tommy T. Thomas
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
Military Community and Family Policy

https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/default.aspx

PCS and Money

PCS – Permanent Change of Station – or moving. Relocating. Completely uprooting your entire family and trucking across the country. It is one of the things that are certain in the Military life; Death, Taxes, and PCS’ing.

Let’s talk money. Moving is expensive. No one is disputing that, but the Military has a few extra allowances to assist in the cost of moving.

DLA (DisLocation Allowance): The purpose of DLA is to partially reimburse a member, with or without dependents, for the expenses incurred in relocating the member's household on a PCS, housing moves ordered for the Government's convenience, or incident to an evacuation. This allowance is in addition to all other allowances authorized in this Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR) and may be paid in advance. (http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/dla.html) I highly recommend taking this in advance to help ease the cost of moving. This allowance amount changes every year. Always look up on the DOD Travel website for the current rate.

POC (Privately Owned Conveyance) Mileage Rate: Since you have to drive your car(s) to your new duty station, the Military will pay a Mileage Rate. As of January 1, 2010 the rate is 0.165/Mile/per vehicle. (http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/faqpovpast.html)

TLE (Temporary Lodging Expense): If you have not found a house when you are due to report at your new Duty Station, you will live in the on Post lodging for a few days until you find a place. To help cover this cost there is TLE. TLE is very complicated, so make sure your Soldier/Airman/Seaman clears everything with S-1 first.

For more FAQs go to http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/faq.html

Want free samples?

Who doesn't like free stuff? Here are a few samples I found today:



Free sample of Huggies Snug'n'Dry:
https://www.shoppersampling.com/orders/index.php?sid=86674&lang=en

And this is a wonderful resource for more free samples: http://mommysavers.com/boards/samples-freebies-offers/

HOPE Scholarship for Georgia Military

Just found this out:

"For anyone stationed in GEORGIA...check out the Early HOPE Scholarship. The state legislature has expanded the program to include military (AC, AGR, RC, and NG). If your child is presently attending or will be attending a "poor performing" school, you would be eligible for a voucher ($5k-$9K per child per year) to send your child to private school."

http://www.educatedgeorgia.org/foradvocates-q10167-c1-What_is_the_Early_HOPE_Scholarship_Program.aspx

MyCAA is shutdown! Where is all the money going?

You know, I always try to be positive. I am a pretty upbeat, albeit sarcastic, person. But I am starting to get pretty freakin' pissed.

First, Education Centers close.

Second, Congress takes forever to approve the Defense Budget.

Third, though the Defense Budget is the largest in recent history, not much of the money is going to the Military. Most of the money is earmarked for special projects. Thanks Congress!

Forth, Our COLA is cut. We are living in Chicago. With a 11.25% tax rate. No Commissary. Now, what makes me so furious is if you are living somewhere and they lower your BAH rate, it's alright. You get to keep your original rate. Not with COLA! (Cost Of Living Allowance). And they didn't just take away twenty bucks or so... NO! They cut it in half. IN HALF! Guess we aren't eating beef for awhile.

Fifth, Now MyCAA is shut down. This is a program for Spouses to go to school to have a career that can move with their Soldier. It is very difficult to live on a single income nowadays. No explanation why MyCAA was shut down... Not much information going out... Such crap.
Here are a few links about MyCAA shutting down:
http://marnemessages.blogspot.com/2010/02/dod-halts-mycaa-program-unclassified.html
http://military-education.military.com/2010/02/new-faqs-for-halted-mycaa-program/
So many Spouses are now scrambling to pay for their classes that they assumed were covered.

I am very frustrated at, what I feel, is a complete lack of support from Congress. They are really sticking it to us this year. Guess who I'm not voting for in 2010!