What's worked, what hasn't.

I shared with you many ways I was experimenting with saving and making extra money, most of them were more trouble than they were worth. Here are my reviews:

Survey sites: These are utter rubbish for people that actually have things to do, your time is worth much more than the pennies you "might" earn by taking and trying to qualify for surveys. If you are a college student with loads of free time, or perhaps a hermit with no social obligations these might work for you, me not so much.

Market research firms: If you can find a legit one in your area these are fantastic money makers! The money is quick, easy, cash and usually somewhat fun (or at least interesting) in the making. I'm in Southern California and I am signed up with Trotta and they contact me with all kinds of opportunities, unfortunately I often don't qualify or the study is full - but when I am eligible it's great.

Couponing: As much as I would love to tote the benefits of couponing, because it works for so many, I just can't. It's too time consuming both in the clipping/planning and in the shopping experience. Also, I'm finding that most the stuff I'm trying to buy (fresh, healthy, ect.) are not coupon items. Things like diapers and such are still coupon favorites for me, but I'm not going to be featured on extreme couponing anytime soon.

Group discount sites: These have been wonderful for us! I keep my eye out for great deals on fun things and that is how hubby and I afford to go out on dates still. That being said, I have disabled the email feature and don't check the sites unless I have extra spending money. That way I'm not tempted to spend precious plastic money on a great deal (like I did earlier this week thanks to my mom making me check Zulily, now we have a wagon in route to our house). Hubby and I just went indoor rock climbing for the first time yesterday thanks to a deal I bought him for Christmas, and we will be going sailing in the next 2 weeks too!

DIY: I'm finding out how much fun and prideful it is to do things yourself. I've tried my hand at homemade cleaners and love them, we are currently refurbishing an old and outdated dresser and finding it both fun and a better way to spend our family time than our habit of eating out and shopping.

Cooking: it's growing on me, I still hate the mess and the shopping but now that my pantry is well stocked with the basics I'm finding cooking cheaper and more enjoyable than before. I will have even more fun once Handy Hubby finishes P90X and I can cook whatever I want again.

Control Journal on iPad: FAIL. I'm a paper and pencil gal, I'll be attempting this again the old fashioned way and see if it works better.

What are your favorite money saving/making things? Please share your experiences too!

Sunday Funday 7/24/11

Tomorrow is a big day! I've been reading KrazyCouponLady.com all week and I'm getting more and more confident about going out and working some deals.

Last month I went to CVS to earn some extra bucks, but have been too busy to go back and and use them since. Tomorrow I am planning on working a couple deals laid out on KCL in order to roll at least some of them over (using my ECB to earn more ECB) because they will expire at the end of the week!

I'm also going to brave Target and work a couple of their deals, mostly to just test the waters there. Earlier in the week, a friend on FB posted about a sample of free Huggies from Target.com. I was so excited to learn about their "Sample Spot", where you can request samples of products...samples through the mail usually mean coupons! While I'm at Target I'm also going to grab a binder, some sheet protectors and page dividers to start my very own Coupon book. I'm hoping to be super organized (couponing wise) before I go back to work mid August.