by Mark Garro | Save Time, Thrifty Tips
In case you hadn’t yet guessed, I really love shopping online. Not because I enjoy spending money (obviously) but because there are SO many great reasons to do so, especially if you’re like me and have two little ones to cart around! While this post was originally written in 2016, it’s certainly all the more relevant now that it’s 2021!
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by Mark Garro | Make Money, Save Time, Thrifty Tips
Garage sales are great, provided you know how to hold a successful one! Whether you call it a garage sale, rummage sale, or otherwise, they’re such a great way to make extra cash when you’ve got stuff on hand you’d hate to just donate.
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by Mark Garro | Holiday Fun, Save Time, Thrifty Tips
When you’re a parent, buying gifts and celebrating Valentine’s Day for your partner can be complicated. Doing something outside the house requires a babysitter, money spent on presents can make you feel guilty, and finding the time to do something meaningful or creative can seem impossible.
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by Mark Garro | Reviews, Make Money, Save Time, Your Money
Is Swagbucks worth my time? My dear readers, if there’s one thing I can promise you, it’s that I will NEVER choose money over you.
Swagbucks Review
More than anything, I want to share you the ways to get out of debt, build your wealth, and spend more time with your loved ones. Yes, I do share affiliate and referral links, but they are all companies or products that I stand behind 100%.
That said, I want to warn you – SAY NO TO SWAG!
I recently tried out Swagbucks as recommended by a fellow finance blogger. Sad to say, I will no longer be following her blog.
Swagbucks Malware
Not only did it mess with my browser settings, but it came with a lot of hidden malware. Now it may have been a coincidence, but shortly after installing the Swagbucks pin, my Facebook was hacked. I like to think of myself as a savvy internet user, so I know I didn’t clink any suspicious links or visit unreliable sites; the only thing different about my day was Swagbucks. If you made the mistake of downloading Swagbucks, I highly recommend you pull it from your computer now and run a malware scan.
Legit Survey Sites
The only two survey sites I stand behind right now are InboxDollars and SurveySaavy. They don’t spam you, there’s no hidden junk that’ll mess with your computer, and you can actually make money.
Swagbucks claims that there’s no way the malware came from their site (this was in the same e-mail that they offered to pay me in the hopes that I’d “rewrite” this post and show them in a better light) but I’ve heard from multiple others that they experienced the same issues.
I can’t tell you what to do (obviously) nor can I say with 100% certainty (just 99.9999%) that Swagbucks caused the malware issues. Regardless, I feel it’s not worth the risk, particularly when you’re unlikely to make much money.
My advice is this – say no to Swagbucks and spend your time on something worthwhile!
by Mark Garro | Reviews, Make Money, Save Time, Your Money
What if I told you I’ve found a survey site that is actually signing up for? Better yet – what if I told you I’ve found a survey site that can earn you hundreds without wasting your time? It’s SurveySavvy! (more…)
by Mark Garro | Thrifty Tips, Save Time, Thrifty Home & Family
Can bubblewrap help insulate your windows? Keeping your gas bill low is always important, especially during the colder months. While there are many ways to prepare your house for the winter, there’s one great way that costs almost nothing and takes no time at all…provided you can keep your inner-child in check…
Bubblewrap Window Insulation
I had seen the “bubblewrap” method posted from time to time on Pinterest or Facebook, but never really bothered to look into whether or not it actually works. Well this year I decided to collect all the bubblewrap that came from online shopping over the holidays and put it to use.
Please note this post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through those links, I may make a commission at no extra cost to you.
To bubblewrap your windows you’ll need:
- bubblewrap
- a spray bottle filled with water
- scissors
- double-sided tape*
*I only needed the tape for our bathroom windows as the condensation seemed to cause the bubblewrap to lose its grip on the windows. All other windows are still holding nicely with just water!
Cut your bubblewrap to fit, lightly spray the window down with water, and then place the bubblewrap so that the bubble-side is against the window. And you’re done!
An Easy Way to Insulate Your Windows
Crazy easy, right?
I put the bubblewrap up about a month ago and it’s held up nicely, but you can always use a couple pieces of double-sided tape should you have any issues. With just bubblewrap in our bathroom and foyer, I’ve noticed a huge difference in temperature. It’s wonderful!
With Illinois weather being what it is, it is so nice to not be cut off from opening my windows all season long because goodness knows we’ll have a 60-degree day in the middle of February (and we did!)
I must admit, I still used window shrink wrap in some of the draftier rooms.
We bought a heat gun this year and I had to try it out! It makes such a difference. Seriously, if you plan to shrink wrap your windows at all, spend the $20 and get a heat gun instead of using a blow dryer. The time you save is well worth the money (plus you can always use it for other projects, like a DIY Worm Farm!)
I would also recommend using Great Stuff to fill in any gaps or cracks that are letting air in or out. I love this stuff and it’s also great to use outside to make sure no visitors (mice) come your way.
How do you prepare for winter?
Or are you one of the lucky ones who never sees a day below 60?