Category Archives: All

All, The Universe

Inability To Blog, Retrograde, LOA

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Every day I want to write something, but rarely do. I want to share the deals I come across, silly things, random stories, and so much more. I contemplate what to write about, wonder if the content matters to anyone else, or if anyone will read it, and who will read it, and then how will it be received. This is all happening in my brain, while I’m doing other things. Eventually, I run out of time anyway and never end up posting anything.

So, today I decided to just blog about my inability to blog. Actually, I didn’t decide on anything, I just started typing and here we are.

In the time that I’ve been anti social here, I have actually made a few posts here and there on social medial. Posted lots of deals I’ve found recently, a few silly memes, and I even got brave and commented on a few posts. One post I made was pretty out of the ordinary for me. I don’t usually do that, but I was feeling at my wit’s end. Maybe I’ll chat about the content of that post another time.

Don’t forget, it’s Mercury Retrograde time. If you’re not familiar, see my recent post to get an idea.

I’ve been very busy trying to organize everything, in my files and in my home. I have several Google docs with a ton of information that I just can’t seem to format how I want it yet. I still never completed 2020 budget. I’ve given up and moved on to 2021. I’ll backtrack as needed until I’m caught up. I feel like it’s a never ending game of catch up. I can never seem to focus at all. I can’t sleep, then I sleep all morning. I cut out sugar, and I gain weight. Everything is upside down always.

Even still, I do my best to stay positive as much as possible. I’m a huge believer of the Law Of Attraction. I try not to get caught up in anything negative. It’s extremely difficult sometimes. But, I know the benefit of staying strong and just getting through it. Things always work out the way you want. If you’re focusing on bad things, the universe gives you more of those bad things.

That’s all for now. I have so many things to do yet before I go to sleep. As if that will happen. Check out the rest of my site and let me know what you think, and what I should post more of.

All, Cash Back, Financial, Money Apps, Updates

Scan Receipts Moved

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In an effort to declutter my site a bit, I moved the section about scanning receipts to it’s own page. There’s a lot of sites listed and information included, so I thought it was justified. As an introduction, update, or a refresher, I am including all of the apps that I have listed on the new page here.

I haven’t talked much about scanning receipts lately. Basically, for those of you that don’t know, I save every single receipt from everything. I scan them with several apps, and then log them in my budget spreadsheet. It takes very little time, and I get some money back, so why not? So far, I’ve received $175+ in cash back using the following apps, and a few more I haven’t listed yet. I haven’t updated that amount recently, and the amounts listed below do not include my current pending balances. Over time, I’ve learned to wait to cash out because the payout is usually higher.

These are the apps that I am currently using to scan my daily receipts. I’m using a Droid phone, located in PA, USA. Please use my referral links so that we both may receive an incentive. Thank you!

  • Coin Out
  • Fetch Rewards
  • Ibotta
  • Inbox Dollars
  • National Consumer Panel
  • Receipt Hog
  • Receipt Pal
  • Swagbucks
  • Coin Out:

I scan every single receipt through CoinOut, and also email them my digital receipts as well. They give you random amounts for each one, and there is a daily scan limit. You can earn a $1 incentive if you let your balance hit $20, which is what I’m working on now.

Besides scanning receipts, you can also shop through the app for cash back, enter a contest, sign up for offers, and more.

So far, I have received $23 back.

Please use my referral code: TAYT94E.

  • Fetch Rewards:

Fetch Rewards lets you scan receipts, and also checks your email for digital receipts.. They have a minimum cash out of 3,500 points, which is $3.

This has been great for getting cash back from my Amazon purchases. I just added my Giant Direct as well. I’ve cashed out $41 so far.

If you want to try them out, please use my referral code: E4HFT.

  • Ibotta:

With Ibotta, you add the offer on the app, then scan your grocery receipts and then the items that you purchased. You will get cash back added to your balance. They have a cash out limit of $20.

Besides scanning your receipts, you can also get cash back from online shopping and buying gift cards.

I’ve earned $43.35 so far from this app. I’ve seen others making a lot of money back, if you do this right.

Now that I’m a lot more active with Ibotta, I’m inviting everyone to join my team for even more savings. You can use my referral link, or referral code “N32FQ“. When you do, I receive $10. We then work together towards more cash bonuses. Thank you!

  • Inbox Dollars :

Inbox Dollars is now taking receipts, but it doesn’t seem to work well for me. They are in a beta mode from what I was told.

This is also listed on the Extra Money page, under Surveys.

  • National Consumer Panel :

National Consumer Panel is slightly different. Instead of scanning your receipt, you scan each of your items. You will need to enter things like the price, if there was a sale, total receipt amount, if you used a loyalty card, and method of payment. They also accept things that are unable to be scanned, like take out and Amazon purchases.

NCP also has surveys to complete either on the app or online.

I couldn’t find any referral information, but still wanted to share since I just cashed out $25 from here.

  • Receipt Hog :

Receipt Hog has a minimum cash out of 1,000 coins, which is $5. Keep an eye out for an occasional survey too.

I’ve made $30 back from this one so far.

There is no referral information to share. Last I checked, they weren’t taking any new members.

  • Receipt Pal:

You can scan most receipts with Receipt Pal. They also have sweepstakes that you automatically get entered in. They also give you bonus entries.

So far, I have cashed out $35 in Amazon gift cards.

If you sign up, please use my referral code: PPTWMPZJ

  • Swagbucks:

Swagbucks has a section each for clothing, Hallmark, and everyday receipts. They need to be scanned within 14 days.

I’ve made $14 so far, but I’ve heard people making a lot more.

Swagbucks is also on the Extra Money page, listed under Surveys.

For any updates on Scanning Receipts, please see the new page.

More information like this, can be found on the following pages: Financial Talk, Savings Tips, Extra Money, and Freebies.

All, Updates

It’s Been A While

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I feel like I’m so very far behind on everything. Not having a laptop for about two weeks definitely set me back quite a bit. I think after that, everything just pretty much snowballed out of control. My last post was on January 8th. I knew it was a while, but didn’t realize it was that long.

I feel like a lot has gone on since then.

To start, a few of our pet rats have found new homes. The remaining ones are getting quite large, especially the boys. The girls haven’t tried to escape lately. I think this last cage repair might have finally did it. If you like, you can follow Malakai_the.rat.king‘s adventures on Instagram.

I haven’t been couponing. I slacked with scanning my receipts. However, I have been ordering lots of freebie items. I am in the process of organizing some upcoming projects, and I’m reevaluating of a lot of things in the financial realm. I’ve also been making some updates to my site.

I have a ginormous list of so many things I want to get done. I know the majority of it will just get bounced around in my head for quite a while. I have trouble remembering, or even retaining a thought process. It’s pretty bad. It doesn’t help that I’ve been out of my ADHD meds for over a week. My OCD doesn’t stand a chance these days.

I just hope to keep up my momentum. At least, things are still getting done.

All

So Many Free Items Already This Year

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We are one week into the new year, and I’ve already bought a bunch of things on Amazon.

In my defense, most of it was FREE. In fact, out of the last ten orders, I didn’t pay for nine of them. I have received a CD storage case, wine stoppers, a hoodie, gloves, several iPhone chargers, an 80 piece tackle box, a chakra bracelet, and two towels. If anything, I paid tax. I didn’t even have to leave a review either!

I’ve been getting free merchandise for over a year now. I started out by providing reviews in exchange for products. Things like jewelry, electronics, kitchen gadgets, household items, auto accessories, clothing, pet items, office supplies, and so much more. In October of last year, Amazon removed my ability to review. It was my own fault, because it goes against their guidelines.

Since then, I’ve been on a mission find items that don’t require a review.

I already had a handful listed on the Freebies page, but I actually have been working with a few others as well. Before I share any resources, I like to personally have a successful transaction first. Some items I received because I belong to particular sites. To get the other items, I was referred to agents to place an order. I belong to several groups that will share deals, as well. I also have developed some connections over time.

I want to share as much as I can to help others.

I may post things that are no longer available, but I still want to brag about my finds. A lot things I get are on the fly, literally. I stumble across things in my Facebook newsfeed, and get Facebook messages, texts, emails, what’s app, telegram, and more. I skim through everything to find relevant deals and freebies. I buy what I can, log it in my spreadsheet, then go about my day. At some point, I collect my thoughts to try to share what I’ve snagged.

For the companies I have dealt with, see the Freebies page. Eventually, I will add my other resources, like Facebook groups, sellers/agents, and more. Please check back for updates. Thank you!

All, Updates

Thank You For All The Visits!

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I’ve noticed quite a bit more traffic on my site in comparison to previous years. Since inception 2011, 2020 had the highest amount of visitors. What’s even more awesome? I already have more visitors this month, than I did in January 2020.

All of this is incredible to me. I greatly appreciate everyone that has taken the time to visit, especially those that check back for updates. It really means a lot to me. Thank you!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram:

LadySkullshine

Smile, Sparkle, Save!

Happy Notes To The Universe

Pet Rattie Pics

All, Money Apps, Surveys

Thoughts On Inbox Dollars

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I just cashed out another $15 Amazon gift card from Inbox Dollars. That makes $45, since I started using this site in 2019. My first payment of $30 was in February of 2020.

For me, it’s been very slow to accumulate. This is because I rarely do a lot of the tasks. Inbox Dollars pays you to take surverys, watch videos, read emails, shop, complete offers, and more. But, I feel like it’s still worth it as a passive app.

If you try it out with my referral link, I’ll get an incentive. Thank you!

All, Random

2021 Resolutions

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2020 was crazy in so many ways. For me, it ended very well overall. I’m so extremely grateful.

I can barely tell you what I plan to accomplish today, let alone any serious resolutions for 2021. I just hope to continue on this path of who I am now in life. I’m far from perfect, but I’m happy, and feel like I’m in a very good place in general.

If anything, I’ll strive to better myself. Among so many things I need to battle, I may poke the anxiety bear a bit more. I need to also find more ways to focus properly, instead of letting my OCD and ADHD fight it out. I lose so much time, and my mind in the process.

Thank you to those that have put up with me along my life’s journey. Especially when I wasn’t at my best. I appreciate all of you. Mostly those that stuck through the many phases of Jessie. Even if you have been a jerk to me, I probably gained a lesson from you. So thank you as well.

All, Random, Updates

RIP Laptop 2020-2020

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Unfortunately, my laptop will not turn back on, as of this afternoon. I literally just bought it this year, second hand. It didn’t even make it to the end of 2020. It’s somehow fitting for the year we’ve had.

I’m so extremely upset about this. I can’t get any of my work done. I’ll do my best to still post, but I’m limited as to what I can really do on my phone.

Luckily, I recently started saving up my Amazon gift cards for one. I just didn’t expect it to be this soon. Or this tragic. I hope I can somehow get some files off of it yet. Have I mentioned how upset I am?

All, The Universe

Mercury Retrograde 2021

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Every year I check the Old Farmers Almanac for the upcoming Mercury Retrograde dates. I make a note of them, then keep it somewhere I can easily reference. I don’t focus on it or stress over it. I’m not obsessed, and I don’t blame everything that goes wonky on the Retrograde. Please don’t think that.

But when things do seem to be a little too out of sorts, I check the dates. Most of the time, it’s Mercury Retrograde time. When I first started writing this post a month ago, it was just to chat about it in general. Today, I felt an urgent need to pull up the draft and finish my post. I checked my dates, and sure enough….

2021:
January 30 – February 19
May 29 – June 21
September 27 – October 17

If you’re not aware of what I’m referring to, you’re far from alone in this. A lot of people just don’t know, don’t understand, and many don’t care to. It’s in the realm of Astrology. For some reason, that still seems a bit taboo. I’m not great at explaining it, but the Almanac has a great start.

It’s really rare for me to discuss the retrograde with anyone. I often notice when others are affected by it, but I keep it to myself. I like to help any way I can, but usually it’s met with ridicule and jokes. Instead, I just use it to my own advantage to avoid any issues I can. When the retrograde is going on, I know that I need to be extremely careful with things regarding communication and transportation.

I hope to buckle down and get a lot done over the next couple of weeks. I lined up a few projects for me to focus on. I’m excited for this.

Back in the day (maybe 20 years ago), when I used to frequent the book store, Astrology was located in the tiny Metaphysical/Occult section of the book stores. I’ve read several books from that section, on all sorts of subjects back then. I was the one goth chic awkwardly standing there. I could literally feel the judgement oozing from onlookers. I could hear them in my head, assuming I’m an evil witch worshipping the devil. I’ve had a lot of panic attacks over just trying to get some books lol.

All, Financial, Updates

Year End Stats Coming

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I’ll be doing my end of the year calculations soon, where I will figure out what apps and sites have been the most profitable. It will help me to determine what is worth my time to continue using.

All of it is very time consuming, regardless of what is being done. It also gets overwhelming. That’s added anxiety that I don’t need. So, I try to limit it any way I can. Not to mention, there’s only so much time in a day.

I’ll share once I have the data. I also want to do some year end assessments of some of the companies. In the meantime, I’ve been cleaning things up a bit across the site. I may be making a few more changes.

Stay tuned for updates.

All, Cash Back, Financial

Get Cash Back For Late Deliveries

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I get a lot of packages, mostly from Amazon with Prime shipping. So I rarely ever pay for shipping. So, I didn’t think this would apply to me. It actually does!

There’s a few companies out there that will keep track of your Amazon orders, and let you know when they are late. Sometimes you can get cash back. I have two currently set up. One of them is called Earny. They send me notices, but when I ask Amazon, they say they don’t qualify. The other one that I use is called Paribus, which is through Capital One. Paribus has been the most reliable and successful for me. I’ve received $16 back so far with their help.

When applicable, Paribus will send an email stating that they have detected a late delivery, and that you may be eligible for compensation from Amazon. When you click the link, it takes you to their site. There will be a pop up with the steps, along with the order number, and a pre-written message for you to use in chat.

It literally only takes one minute to do this and receive a credit. I’ve done it myself, four times. I usually get either get $3 or $5 in promotional credits. This does not go on your Amazon gift card balance. It will show up in your cart when you place an order. You’ll see it in the payment section with a checkbox for you to choose it.

I don’t have a referral link for Paribus, but I still wanted to share. Especially since a lot of things have been late recently, and we could always use the couple extra bucks.

For more like this, see the Savings Tips page.

All, Pets

Pet Rat Care Page

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While, I’m somewhat new to the rat world myself, I’ve picked up a few things that I thought I’d share. I created a Pet Rat Care page for others to reference. The following is based off of my own experiences as a new rat mom, as well as what I have learned via my own research and from others in the Facebook rat groups. I will be adding more to this page as I learn more as well.

How Many? Boys Or Girls?

You should know that rats do get lonely and depressed if they don’t have a friend. Even when you constantly play with them, they need their own rat companionship as well. Be sure to always have at least a pair of either male or females at a time. While every rat’s personality is different, girls seem to be more adventurous and boys are more laid back. I’ve also read that boys tend to be messier and will piddle more on your things. My goal is to find a super chill female.

Cage And Accessories

Since you are now looking at getting at least two pet rats, this means you will need a large enough cage for them. I’ve seen a lot of people love the Critter Nation cages. You can sometimes snag a good deal on Facebook Marketplace. Whatever kind you get, it should have multiple levels of activities with things like toys, hammocks, ropes, baskets, tissue boxes, and more. They love to explore and should stay active. If you decide to get a wheel, please make sure it’s the larger size. Otherwise, it can actually hurt their spines. Same thing with the exercise balls. They are not good for them at all.

*Please do not use an aquarium. Rats are very susceptible to respiratory issues. A tank doesn’t allow for enough air flow to get through properly. Bin cages are also not favorable, unless it’s fully ventilated and only for temporary use such as breeding.

Besides having a decent size cage with activities, I would suggest having the following:

  • Water bottle & food bowls
    • Preferably ones that attach to the cage
  • Litter box & flat, smooth “pee” rocks
    • Place in at least one corner of cage
  • Thin shower curtain clips, binder clips, zip ties, etc.
    • Great for attaching baskets & other things to the cage
  • Aspen bedding & large storage bin to store it
    • If left in plastic bag, it’s messy when dispensing
  • A good food mix & large storage bin to mix in
    • I use multiple types of food, paying attention to nutritional content
  • Vinegar water mix & unscented baby wipes for cleaning the cage & items
    • Safe & effective
  • Unscented baby wipes to spot clean your ratties
    • You don’t want to regularly bathe them

Shop around as much as you can to try to save some money.

When I first started, I purchased a starter rat setup from Petco for $110. The water bottle leaked, the food dish is a waste, and the spinning wheel seemed to just take up a lot of space. I also picked up a huge back of aspen bedding for $14, while I was there.

Once I realized the water bottle was leaking, I immediately replaced it with a perfect one from Amazon. It’s out of reach, and is really easy to refill. I later bought a slightly smaller cage for only $50, when we needed to separate the boys and girls. The doors stick a bit, but it’s not horrible.

You can also save a lot on accessories if you shop at a Dollar Tree. They have lots of baskets, plastic bins, dog ropes toys, rocks, and more. I also managed to find 230 L of aspen bedding on Amazon for only $20.

Now it’s time to adopt.

It’s better to adopt them from a rattery if possible, rather than getting them from a pet store. A rattery knows the history of the rats, and most likely has several generations invested in the line. They should also be temperament tested prior to adopting. There will usually be a rehoming fee of around $20 each on average from what I’ve seen.

Once you have chosen the right ones for you, and get them home, it’s time to start bonding. You are going to want to handle your new rats as much as possible. Be careful that they don’t wander off or jump away in the process. They are very curious. If you have other animals, gently introduce them. We have a large black lab/pit bull mix. He just sniffs at them and tries to lick them once in a while.

To see a few of our pet rat pics, go to the Ratties album.

**More info will be added soon. Please check back for updates at Pet Rat Care***

All, Pets

Pet Rats Ready For Adoption

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Our ratties are officially ready for adoption. They are six weeks old. We are located in the Lehigh Valley, PA. I already have several people interested, and I haven’t even finished getting pictures of them.

I mentuoned recently that I created an Instagram account so that I can post updated pics there. It’s @Malakai_the.rat.king, where I share stories from Malakai’s view. I’ve been having a little too much fun with that LOL.

Here’s what I have so far of our girls. When I finish all the pics, I’ll update them here as well.

All, The Universe

Happy Notes To The Universe

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I just created a separate blog called Happy Notes To The Universe. I also made an Instagram to go along with it.

I will be sharing things like happy affirmations, the Law of Attraction, and more.

I don’t normally discuss these things here

Please follow if you are interested in seeing these kinds of posts.

All, Financial

Are You Owed A Settlement?

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You may be owed money as part of a class action settlement. To find out, check the Class Action site. If you are able to claim settlement money, they quickly take you through the process to submit it online.

It’s worth taking a look through the list and checking back once in a while. I get the email notifications, but still forget to check it. I just added this site to the Extra Money page.

Per their site: “Every year, millions of dollars are left on the table in unclaimed settlement funds. In some cases, this is simply because people are unaware of their rights to claim settlement money – or are confused as to what’s involved in staking their claims.”

All, Financial, Money Apps, Surveys

Crowdtap

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I have been using Crowdtap for about two and half months now. I just added it to the Extra Money page. They have an app and a site where you can take surveys. Most of them are quick with one question, and pay three points. Some are slightly more involved, but nothing like most of the other survey sites.

When you open the app, you’ll see what resembles a bingo board full of colored boxes. You click each one to answer a question, until you have cleared the board. Then wait a moment to see if you get any more. Once it’s completely cleared, you can check the site for more surveys.

So far, I’ve made $35 with Crowdtap. If you’d like to try it out, please use my referral link. Thanks!

For more like this, see the Extra Money page.

All, Financial

Bath Bomb Freebie

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Since I can no longer write reviews on Amazon, I’ve been on a mission to find any no review items. I’m testing a few at the moment, and will add them here soon.

In the meantime, I just had to share what I received today.

I recently found a bath bombs giveaway offer on Facebook. There was a referral from someone in one of the groups that I belong to. I applied, ordered for $29.63, and had my money back of $27.95 shortly after.

For $1.68 (tax), I received this big box of 12 giant fruit scented bath bombs. I think I did well, and my daughter is super happy.

For more information about getting items for free, see the GPT Test Items page.

All, Pets

Malakai_the.rat.king

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If you’d like to follow Malakai’s stories about his rat family and the humans that care of them, he’s now on Instagram!

Yes, I’m a dork! I made my pet rat an Instagram. His bio is that we once thought he was a Suzy, but found out he’s a Malakai. He now has 31 babies with Nora and Dollie. The saga continues…

I have been posting pics of all the rats from his view. He actually has gained a few followers already. There’s a lot more rat enthusiasts out there than I realized.

If you’re on Instagram, follow malakai_the.rat.king for bunches of cute rattie pics and silly stories.

All, Updates

Smile, Sparkle, Save!

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No, I still haven’t changed the name. I’m not 100% sure that I absolutely want to. I have no issues with keeping it. I actually would rather not change it. I have used LadySkullshine as my username on everything for the past ten years.

It’s just that, it no longer really applies to my site content. Lady Skullshine originated when I was working with a lot of metal bands. Now, I’m sharing tips about saving money. It’s definitely a bit of a switch. The name doesn’t exactly scream “savings”.

I have a really hard time coming up with names. A lot of time and thought needs to go into it. Nothing I can think of really seems to fit. ‘Smile, Sparkle, Save’ is one of my favorites. I think it’s because I’ve always said “Smile, Sparkle, Shine”. That will probably be my new catchphrase lol. I’m just not sure it’s a great name to change it to.

So for now, the name will have to remain, with the happy catchphrase.

LadySkullshine
Smile, Sparkle, Save!

All, Financial, Money Apps

Another $10 From Receipt Pal

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I just cashed out another $10 Amazon gift card. That’s $45 total now, just for scanning receipts.

Recipt Pal is one of the apps that I use to scan my receipts. This one is pretty basic. Just receipts, sweepstakes, and referring friends.

If you use my referral link to download the app, I’ll get 250 points. Thanks!

For more about Receipt Pal and similar apps, visit the Savings Tips page.