Post Your Wins

[GoodLiving]

my win coming up

Back in 2012, I purchased a small townhouse that was a short sale for $30k I put in about $5k of work and expect to sell it for at least 100k. We had been living small while renting the house. Now, I'm going to use the proceeds to pay off the mortgage on our house. I'll be debt free. As my wife and I will be doing foster care and living on one income, our net worth won't be rising as fast as it has been doing but I'm ok with that. Until we've got reasonable health insurance for folks who retire early, I'm mostly working for our health care.

[Gailete]

I would run from propane as fast as I could. Any other form of heat would pay for itself in a couple of seasons. Oil would cost you about half unless fuel jumped up $4 a gallon. Coal would get you there for about a third of what you are paying now. The nice thing about coal is that it is not trading on the commodity markets, so the price is stable and doesn't change much. The downside is you will have to deal with feeding a coal fire. It's a little more work, but I don't mind it. It's a lot better than dealing with wood heat.

Unfortunately, I don't think things like coal would work for us. My hubby is about as physically shot as I am, and trying to get through our bitter cold winters, would mean some real workouts I would suppose that I can't deal with, He might at some points, but not all the time. Besides the need to convert the furnace and hot water heater over to whatever sort of new fuel.

[Nutria]

Unfortunately, I don't think things like coal would work for us. My hubby is about as physically shot as I am, and trying to get through our bitter cold winters, would mean some real workouts I would suppose that I can't deal with, He might at some points, but not all the time. Besides the need to convert the furnace and hot water heater over to whatever sort of new fuel.

I'd bet (a little) that coal is illegal in most parts of the US in 2017, because of pollution.

[Gailete]

One of those kick yourselves moments. My keyboard had several keys that were sticking. If I only used my computer for fun, no big deal, but as I use it for my business, I was wasting more and more time to fix problems, so hubby found a reasonably priced keyboard and I have be using it maybe two weeks. So what do I get from the Amazon Vine program to use and a review today - a new keyboard! Oh well, no problem, it is always nice to have a spare.

Had a terrific weekend in sales and then the stock market took its swan dive and no sales at all today. I've noticed over the years that even if they have never invested a penny in the market, folks for a day or two after a big loss, will keep their wallets shut.

Using my new envelopes for all the outgoing orders today worked very well. I'm saving in weight for mailed orders, saving in expense on a per envelope cost, almost 50 cents per order, and I'm savings in space. As they barely take up any space at all. The last thing we need is more cardboard boxes around! As long as they are okay with customers, this change is going to really pay for itself this year, and that is part of my plans to decrease expenses, and this is a big one!

I believe elsewhere here James Henderson had mentioned his wife and Bing and she was making money with it. Caused me to check into it and I found I already had enough points to cash in $5 to PayPal, and I'm getting closer to getting another $5 now that I know to be working on it. Thanks for the heads up. Not sure how many times I can turn this around, but if I can get $100 over the course of the year, that would be great.

[bjl584]

I'd bet (a little) that coal is illegal in most parts of the US in 2017, because of pollution.

There are two main types of coal.

Bituminous coal is soft coal. It is more common and is found in large deposits in many places around the world. That is the type that makes a lot of smoke and pollution.

Anthracite coal is hard coal. It is a lot more rare and is mainly mined here in Pennsylvania where I live. This is the type of coal that my furnace burns. It is actually smokeless and gives off the same amount of exhaust as natural gas.

Here is a link for a more in-depth explanation:

http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-anthracite-coal-and-vs-bituminous-coal/

[rennigade]

Sold 6 olympic weight plates yesterday...4-45lb plates and 2-35lb plates. Total cost for me was $125 when I purchased them ($0.50/lb.) Sold them last night for $1500. I hated to part with them since ill probably never get a chance to own those again unless I pay a LOT of money but I couldnt pass it up.

[Like2Plan]

(Don't ask me how I know ), but it turns out DH's new company does a "true up" on the 401k match at the end of the year and he received the maximum possible match.

[disneysteve]

Back in December, my wife and a friend went out to lunch to celebrate their birthdays which are a few days apart. While they were there, the manager came over to check on them and gave them a $25 gift card good from 1/2-2/8. They went back yesterday to have lunch again and use the card.

They both ordered burgers and both came out overdone. The waitress apologized and offered to bring out new ones but our friend was short on time and had to get back to work. A few minutes later, the manager came out and apologized and told them the meal was on the house. So they just paid for their desserts ($6) and the tip ($5). They didn't need to use the gift card.

Since the card expires tomorrow, my wife and I went back there today for lunch as I'm off on Wednesdays. After applying the gift card, our bill with tip also came to about $11.

So we ended up getting 4 nice meals at this place for $22.

[Gailete]

One of those wonderful moments where a gentle tone and telling a company what would be reasonable to do to make up for gross negligence has come through for us today.

If you recall, we went through 4 days without propane to heat the house or water in single digits temps. Horrible. I was made but knew I didn't to get to the point of not being so hot before I started complaining via letter. Then I got my electric bill and saw that one weekend had bumped up our electric bill by over 100 dollars! So finally, I felt in control of myself enough to write a proper complaint letter.

Just a few minutes ago, the local head honcho showed up with our next fuel delivery and gave me the ticket to show how much we had and then gave us his personal phone number, so we could call him if need be. I understand that for whatever reason, fuel outs can happen, but you shouldn't have to deal with it for 4 days since you can't get ahold of everyone. He apologized, and he said that as compensation they would credit our pre-buy with an additional $250! A deal for me and cheaper for them, since that equals 157 gallons for us and whatever their cost is for it. Probably a lot cheaper than what we pay for fuel. I am much happier about the whole situation now. With the bitter cold we have been having this year, we are sucking up that propane like crazy!

We had a nice chat and it was only after he left, and I got back to the office and realized that I had been standing around talking to him like a normal person. Up to last Thursday, I have been having horrible back pain for close to a year preceded by increasing back pain for the years before that. In March I fell on our stairs and had to go to the ER via ambulance. Have barely been able to stand since. Last Thursday I got a caudal injection in my tailbone and I feel like a new person! Every day I feel better. The whole time talking to the fuel guy, I never even got a whisper of pain from my back. For me this is a bigger win than any money or anything money can buy!

[msomnipotent]

I just got a check for $135 from ebates. I also got my $85 wrinkle cream, a little gift set from the same brand, and a little make up bag full of samples for about $30 after getting a $50 gift card for complaining and cash back from the shopping portal. I love getting those samples, but I can do without the make up bags. I have so many that my daughter and her friends use them as cute pencil cases at school. We started a trend.

[Gailete]

I love getting those samples

This time around my ink cartridges were cheapest at CVS onlive via eBates (2% cash back I think plus free shipping). I got samples as well. I was busy the day they came so didn't really look at them till a couple of days ago. One was for Organic facial something made with snail slime! They were very proud to say that no snails were hurt in the process. Who would have thought that snail slime could help fight aging skin? Me, one of the last things I would want to do is put it on my face & neck and that is where it was suppossed to go! It got round filed! LOL

I do like ebates though. I can't imagine getting $135 back though.

[msomnipotent]

This time around my ink cartridges were cheapest at CVS onlive via eBates (2% cash back I think plus free shipping). I got samples as well. I was busy the day they came so didn't really look at them till a couple of days ago. One was for Organic facial something made with snail slime! They were very proud to say that no snails were hurt in the process. Who would have thought that snail slime could help fight aging skin? Me, one of the last things I would want to do is put it on my face & neck and that is where it was suppossed to go! It got round filed! LOL

I do like ebates though. I can't imagine getting $135 back though.

I normally don't get that much back, but there was Christmas shopping and the magazines with this check. I'm guessing I usually get about $20 back with normal shopping.

[scfr]

Massive win for us this week. Got notification that I have regained employer-supplemented medical/dental/vision benefits. I can check off 1 of my 3 big financial goals for 2018. *exhale*

[Gailete]

Massive win for us this week. Got notification that I have regained employer-supplemented medical/dental/vision benefits. I can check off 1 of my 3 big financial goals for 2018. *exhale*

Well that is great news!

[msomnipotent]

I raised our 401k contribution to 12% yesterday without my husband complaining about it. I am NOT going to say that I think he finally understands that we need to get more serious about saving, because he goes and does something really stupid every single time I think he has learned his lesson. I'm just going to say that I did it without him complaining.

I also saved about $10. I had my husband pick up a thermometer from Walmart on his way home, assuming that the online price would be the same or close to store price. Wrong. So I ordered it for store pick up through Ebates and had him return the other one. Walmart is within walking distance, so it isn't a big deal to do it.

We almost lost $64 plus tax on a bag of dog food. I accidentally circled the wrong brand in the circular for my husband to buy, and then the store said they don't take returns on bags of dog food! It was unopened and brought back the next day, so they said they would do it this time. I wasn't expecting Farm and Fleet to have the same return policy as Petsmart, but geez!