EBATES UPDATE!!!

Do you remember this post I did a while back about Ebates?

I figured that I'd do a follow up on it to keep you posted on how well it's worked for me. 

This blog is titled Rantin' & Ravin' and I want to make sure that I am fair in my reviews of products I use and recommend to you.

On a scale of 1 - 10, I would give Ebates a 7.

I haven't made too many purchases through Ebates and I've gotten almost $30 cash back. I've also referred two people, which has given me an additional $10 {$5 per referral.}

Even though you normally only get 1-3% cash back on most stores, that's $30 back in my pocket that I normally wouldn't have. So, I love this.

However... here's my rant... I have two complaints. 

1. My husband signed up as well. He uses it so that he can buy my gifts and save some money too. Smart guy! He also used it to buy tickets to fly out to see our family earlier this year. Most people buy plane tickets between 4-8 weeks in advance. We are a 6-8 week kind of people. Best deals usually happen 2 months out, so that is why we do it that early. He actually bought the tickets 8 weeks early. Well, Ebates only keeps 3 months record and you don't get your refund on flights, hotels and car rentals until 30 days after the last day of flight or rental. Well, we were never refunded. And we cannot even inquire on it because we do not have the Ebates tracking ticket #. Sad thing is, we booked our tickets during a special they were having where we would have received a double rebate. Yeah, BIG BUMMER! 

Tip: If you plan to use Ebates for travel, make sure you write down the ticket #. Keep it somewhere safe so that you can inquire on it later.

2. Ebates has relationships with many companies that I've never heard of. Occasionally these companies participate in Ebates Daily Double Refund. I check the daily doubles occasionally and if I need something from that type of site, I'll order then. I checked out their daily double one day and it was for a company called 123InkJets. Now I had never heard of them, but I was in need of some ink. Their normal percentage back is 16%, but with the daily double I was to receive 32% cash back! Plus the company had a 10% coupon code. Well, I made my purchase and I never received a refund. I contacted customer service and I was told that my ticket didn't show that I had made a purchase. I sent them all of the information they would need to verify that I had in fact made a purchase after logging in through their system and they never responded again. 

Tip: If a large amount of cash back is promised back maybe it is really to good to be true. Stick to the smaller cash back amounts. Then again, maybe it's because the company isn't well known. Stick to the popular companies.

How about you? Have you had any problems using companies like Ebates?

UPDATE: 8/1/2013 - After posting this post to my Twitter, Ebates quickly contacted me to address the issues listed above. They have since credited me for both issues. 

CLEAN AND DISINFECT YOUR HUMIDIFIER!!!

I love my humidifier! 

I especially love it in my boys room! Did you know that it can help babies sleep peacefully through the night? MAJOR BONUS!

A humidifier can also:

relieve a cold, cough, the flu, allergy, sinusitis, nose bleeds and hay fever.

It can help relieve and prevent dry, scratchy skin.
And improve the air quality at home.

It's very beneficial! But it can't do much if you don't care for it. Bacteria and mold can grow in the tanks, so it's important to rinse out your humidifier daily.

But it's also important to clean and disinfect your humidifier at least once a week. I'll admit it, it's been a while for me...

Always refer to the cleaning instructions for any appliance that are provided by the manufacturer.

What you'll need:

 

CLEANING!  

1. Unplug the humidifier. Remove the filter and rinse with cold water under the faucet. {Mine needed to be replaced, so I tossed it and added a new one!} Let it dry on a towel. Do NOT use any cleaning solutions on the filter. Chemicals can cause permanent damage to the filter. Toss out the filter once a month and replace it with a new one.

2. Remove the tank. Drain it. Add a generous amount of undiluted white vinegar to the base of the humidifier. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Gently scrub base with a soft bristle brush to remove any build up. Rinse thoroughly!

Disgusting, huh?

DISINFECTING!

Once it's been cleaned you should disinfect the water tank by filling the tank with clean water and teaspoon of bleach or 3% hydrogen peroxide. I prefer the hydrogen peroxide. Gently swish the solution. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly!

Tip: use distilled water it will help prevent minerals deposits from building up in the machine.

Remember that this is best done weekly. Some stains were unable to come off because it's been a while since I cleaned this out.

As long as this is done on a weekly basis, your humidifier should stay in perfect working order for a long time!

Happy Cleaning!

SAVE1.COM!!!

I am all about saving money! 

I never buy online without a coupon code!

My husband works hard to provide for our family and I make sure I work just as hard stretching each dollar!

I've recently been introduced to a wonderful site, Save1. 

As I read throughout their site, I was overwhelmed with the desire to share with you.

Save1 provides deals and coupons to thousands of our favorite sites. Each time a coupon or deal is used, they provide a meal to a child in need.

Here is how it works: Log on to Save1, type in your favorite store in the search box, click on the coupon code or deal link, make your purchase. That's it for your part.

The participating store sends a small commission to Save1 and Save1 then provides a meal for a child through one of their feeding partners.

Right now they have a limited promotion. They will provide one meal each time their website is shared on Facebook, someone LIKES their Facebook page, or someone signs up to receive Save1's weekly newsletter highlighting the week’s top deals and money-saving tips. Meals purchased from these three actions will be reported on the Meals Counter within 24 hours.

Their starting numbers are zero. Every person you see following them on Facebook represents a meal for a hungry child. Every time their website is shared on Facebook, the number shown in the Facebook sharing icon on their home page represents another child getting a healthy nutritional meal. And lastly, every subscriber to their newsletter will represent another child being fed.

Their Feeding Partner for this promotion is Feeding America.

Still have more questions? Check out their FAQ page, here. 

As of me writing this post, Save1 has provided 95,382 meals.

I am going to help out! Will you?

WD-40... WHO KNEW?

The history of WD-40

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts.
WD-40 was created in 1953, by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'Water Displacement' Compound. They were finally successful for a formulation, with their fortieth attempt, thus WD-40. The 'Convair Company' bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.

WD-40 Uses:
1. Protects silver from tarnishing.
2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4. Gives floor that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.
5. Keeps the flies off of Cows, Horses, and other Farm Critters, as well. (Ya gotta love this one!!!)
6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7. Removes lipstick stains.
8. Loosens stubborn zippers.
9. Untangles jewelry chains.
10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12. Keeps ceramic / terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicles doors.
18. It removes that nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen flooring.
It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.
Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19. Remove those nasty Bug guts that will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!
20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21. Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers...
22. Rids kids rocking chair and swings of squeaky noises.
23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31. Removes grease splatters from stovetops.
32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35. Removes all traces of duct tape.
36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37. Florida's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'
38. The favorite use in the state of New York, it protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.
Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41. It is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray it on the marks and wipe with a clean rag.
42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!
43. If you spray it inside a wet distributor cap, it will displace the moisture, allowing the engine to start.

The main ingredient? Fish oil

You can check out their site, WD-40 for more tips! Over 2000!

DO YOU USE EBATES?

I just recently signed up for Ebates!

I shop online for everything but my groceries and gas!

I live a bit farther away from my best gal pals and family, so I usually do my holiday and birthday shopping online. Using Ebates allows me to do what I already do, plus I get some of my $$ back! They also have current coupon codes to use too! More savings!

Here is what I've already done!

I have a lot of friends right now that are having babies. Did you know that right now, Ebates is giving 6% cash back on products from Babies R Us? I've bought some fun things for my girlfriends and I buy my diapers from them too. Ka-CHING!!!

I buy my husbands shirts, pants and ties from Kohls! They are there too! 6% cash back on them too! Ka-CHING!!!

After you spend your first $25, you get a  $10 gift card to a one of your favorite stores!

Once you've made your purchases, they mail you a check with your savings! With over 1,000 stores it won't be hard to rack in some cold, hard cash!

DIY MINERAL VEIL TRANSLUCENT POWDER!!!

I am not sure if you remember this post or not, but I decided to try one of Cara's DIY's!

Mostly because I was running out of my translucent powder.

So, here is the "recipe"...

1 1/2 Tablespoons of cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon powdered foundation

Stir together and store in a clean, used powder container. 

I actually did two different ones... the top one is my tinted one and the bottom is just the cornstarch.

Fact: Makeup can last all day by using cornstarch as makeup protector. Mix it with a bit of foundation and your face stays dry and non greasy all day.

Both work great and saves me some big bucks! 

Thanks Cara!

LET'S CLEAN!!!

I love everything to be clean.

Not for your benefit or my mother-in-law's benefit, but for me! I just like C.L.E.A.N!

I will admit, it was a  LOT easier without kids, but it's not impossible with them!

I decided to start a LET'S CLEAN series!

Every once in a while I am going to do a post on cleaning. Cleaning with homemade cleaners, creating a cleaning schedule, cleaning tips and ways to get your kids to help clean!

My first LET'S CLEAN will be cleaning the microwave!

I try to clean my microwave once every six months and this is an easy and cheap way to get it done! 

Here is my microwave before:

Here is the recipe for cleaning the microwave. 1/2 c of water & 1/2 c vinegar. Microwave in a microwave safe bowl for 5 minutes, let it sit for 2 more minutes and wipe off. It seriously is that easy. Remember to start from the top, clean the sides and then clean the bottom.

I keep the mixture and use it and a sponge to wipe down the microwave.

Here is my microwave after:

HOW TO REALLY SAVE $$$ ON YOUR GROCERY BILL!!!

I love Pinterest!

It's a great source for things from holiday menus to homemade cleaning supplies to how to save money on your grocery bill!

My biggest pet peeve when it comes to Pinterest is when I see something I pin it and when I go back to look at it, it's not all that it's hyped up to be.

The one that really bugs me the most is spend $50 a week on groceries for a family of 6!

Yeah, the problem with that is they only have dinner in those groceries... what about toilet paper, diapers, formula, laundry detergent or even breakfast and lunch?

Another problem is that they all seemed to find every coupon they need. My family must be picky because the foods they like don't make coupons... EVER!

I have searched many of these blogs that are supposed to save you money on groceries, but I have found nothing that really works for my family.

So, what was I to do?