As a VISTA, we are definitely not in it for the money. The program wants us to know what it is like to live from paycheck to paycheck, just like the people that we serve on a daily basis. I am an anomaly to the program (like I have been much of my life...always the exception to the rule in fun and unusual ways) in that my husband has a very nice job in the community in which I live. I don't qualify for the SNAP program (food benefits) and I don't need the offered health insurance. I love that I DO qualify for the health reimbursement program so my co-pays and deductible monies are reimbursed. Other benefits of the program would be relocation help and child care assistance. Both of those benefits don't apply to me because my "babies" are in college and I took a job in my area.
The last time all of the VISTAs met I loved that we were given great tips about how to stretch our dollars. The VISTAs were recommended ways to stretch their housing dollars by finding a roommate or by finding section 8 housing. Sometimes an apartment complex will have a limited number of section 8 housing units available; you never know until you ask. These were excellent ideas!
I started to wonder if I could offer any suggestions based on my experiences. My husband and I made the decision to live on one income while our children were growing up. It made things tight because our culture is really geared towards a dual income family. On top of that, we opted for homeschooling. We were essentially paying for schooling twice. Do I have regrets? No way! It isn't for everyone but I loved it. I still get a mushy, happy feeling when I remember the moment that reading "clicked" for my kids. I remember wanting to duct tape them to the wall at times but I loved watching the "light bulb" moments. However, it was a sacrifice financially and I learned a few things along the way.
Apps are your friends and can save you money! I don't have the time and energy to coupon like I did pre-COVID. It is also more difficult to find coupons now that everything is going digital. Plus, all of the couponing shows have made manufacturers change how they think. Now most stores have coupon limits and many stores no longer double coupons. What can you do? Load up on the easy apps!
My favorite app is the Receipt Hog. I just shared a referral link on my twitter feed which is embedded below my profile on the right side of the home page. You snap pics of your receipts to get coins. Sometimes you earn spins on the hog slots and that helps you get more coins. I have almost enough coins now to earn a $25 digital gift card for Amazon, paypal or VISA. Sometimes they will notice that you bought pet food and then send a short survey about pet food. I don't get spammed and I always turn off the notifications. It is literally as easy as snapping pics of your receipt.
Another favorite app is Ibotta. I have a referral link in my twitter feed as well. This one takes a few more minutes because you have to "activate" specific products. For example, if you notice a rebate on Greek Gods yogurt you need to click on it. The offers change weekly or monthly. Last week they offered me a free Red Baron pizza! I could purchase it and then get the full price in my Ibotta account. I like the "any offers"; a name brand bread company may sponsor an "any offer" for .50 off any bread. You can buy generic and still get a rebate. When you hit $20 you can cash it out for more options than Receipt Hog. I have $10 on my account now and usually wait until I hit $25 to cash out for a digital Walmart gift card. Other options are for Paypal, Chase and a host of retail stores.
My last tip of the day is a pivot to search engines. When we search on the internet, Google and other search engines take our data and use it. They want to know what sites are of interest and how often we visit. They take that data and benefit from it, so why shouldn't we? I have been using Swagbucks for years now but my kids found another one that will let them earn money to redeem for XBox gift cards. Swagbucks notices when I purchase from Amazon and gives me "cash back" on my purchases. It also gives me random points during my daily searches as I browse the internet. I typically redeem my points to get Amazon gift cards because that is the best deal. Swagbucks offers a $25 Amazon gift card for 2200 points instead of the usual 2500. The gift cards range from Walmart to Target but there are so many options. There are creative ways to earn more points but I just stick with browsing and online purchases. As a side note, I DON'T recommend installing their SwagButton on your browser; I just set their page as my home page and search from there.
There are other creative ways to save money but those will keep for another day. Hopefully someone is helped by this post. I would love feedback in the comments if this was an interesting topic. For now, I am going to gear up so that I can persuade my Yorkie that he needs to go potty when it is icy/snowy. The struggle is real. LOL!
And of some have compassion, making a difference: Jude 1:22 KJV
All opinions expressed here are solely mine and are not a reflection of the opinions of the Americorp
VISTA program or of City of Refuge in Columbia, MO.
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