For those of you who did a free gas trial offer where you submit claims for $10 once a quarter, I thought I'd post an update. I cancelled long ago, but I have gotten all of the rebates that I've submitted. So it seems worth it to send in the form every three months! I have one left.

I also got a Colgate rebate of $2.69 today, a free sample and a coupon. Good mail day.

I'm calling this entry a $20 challenge entry, because even though I'm no longer doing the challenge, it came from a trial offer that I learned about via the challenge.

I've sold about $30 worth of books this week at half.com. Nice to see the pile dwindle, and nice to get the deposit from half.com too. Not tracking my challenge anymore, but if I were this would go into it.

Yesterday was a good day for not spending. Aiming for another good day today, too. Tomorrow evening we're going to the fair. Our tickts and ride tickets are already paid for, but I know we'll be eating some fair food for dinner.

Read a headline that CA gas prices are likely going to go up 20 cents a gallon. Wow.

Well, well. I got a check today from ebookdrop. No letter of explanation for why it took so long, no apology, no mention of my BBB complaint. Just a check and a promotional postcard encouraging one to use their service! Poor all around, but at least I got my measly six bucks.

I got a rebate check in the mail today, and my free Swiffer duster sample (along with some coupons that I'll stick in the coupon train for Swiffer products). That was all that was in the mail, amazingly enough. No junk mail, no bills. Just that stuff.


Auction: $51.34
Rebate: $4.99
Total: $56.33

Pending:
Rite Aid rebate ($20+) (waiting)
Survey $5 (waiting)
Survey $2 (waiting)

Auction Update:
+56.80, -2.51, -2.95 = $51.34 to add to challenge total.

Total to add for June: $51.34

Pending:
Rite Aid rebate ($4.99) (waiting)
Rite Aid rebate ($20+) (waiting)
Survey $5 (waiting)
Survey $2 (waiting)

The total for my three auctions came in at $56.80. eBay final value fees come to $2.95. Once I know my PayPal fees I'll have a grand total to add to my challenge.

I'm glad that I listed these. I have some more to try, so maybe I'll do that some time this week.

My auctions are up around $20 and end tomorrow night. Glad I put the magazines online - someone is going to be glad to have them, and I am starting to declutter and free up some shelf space.

The dinner party last night was very fun. It was nice enough to eat outside, so we all sat around and chatted in the fresh air. DH strung our mini Chinese lanternesque lights, and we had the white lights on around our out-building as well. It looked festive.

For May:
$5 gift card (received)
$20 gas rebate (received)
$8.48 Rite Aid rebate (received)
Lowe's $20 gc (received - net $19)
Gas $20 gc (received - net $19)
Lowe's $25 gc
Joann $10 gc
$1 Longs rebate
DVD: $9.88
eBay fees: -$1.35
Interest: $.95
AdSense: $13.32
Current total for May: $130.28

Total for 2006: 413.17

Pending:
Rite Aid rebate ($4.99) (waiting)
Rite Aid rebate ($20+) (waiting)
Survey $5 (waiting)
Survey $2 (waiting)

A small check came today, so that's another dollar to add to this month's challenge total. There are some good rebates this month at Rite Aid that I want to take advantage of, including one or two free after rebates for things I would actually use.

Using gift cards I spent a grand 63 cents at Lowe's today, and when I came home there was a $25 gc in the mail. Oh well. It'll get put to good use sooner or later. I also got a $10 Joann's card this week, for spending a certain amount with that credit card. They're discontinuing the rewards program in July, so I'll be cancelling that card. But I did get $20 or $30 in gc's from it, so it was good while it lasted.

For May:
$5 gift card (received)
$20 gas rebate (received)
$8.48 Rite Aid rebate (received)
Lowe's $20 gc (received - net $19)
Gas $20 gc (received - net $19)
Lowe's $25 gc
Joann $10 gc
$1 Longs rebate
DVD: $9.88
Current total for May: $117.36

Pending:
Rite Aid rebate ($4.99) (waiting)
Survey $5 (waiting)
Survey $2 (waiting)
AdSense ($10+ ...figure out 6/1/06)
Interest (find out 6/1/06)

I sold a DVD today for $10.75. Once I've mailed it I'll add in my net profits to my running May total for my challenge.

For May:
$5 gift card (received)
$20 gas rebate (received)
$8.48 Rite Aid rebate (received)
Lowe's $20 gc (received - net $19)
Gas $20 gc (received - net $19)
total - $71.48

DVD sale ($10.75)
Longs rebate ($2?) (waiting)
Rite Aid rebate ($4.99) (waiting)
Survey $5 (waiting)
Survey $2 (waiting)
AdSense ($10+ ...figure out 6/1/06)
Interest (find out 6/1/06)

My $20 in Exxon Mobil gas cards arrived today, so I'll add that to my challenge total. I also received some coupons from Cascadian Farms after emailing them - I think I got five 50 cent off coupons.

I spent most of the day outside today, doing yardwork and gardening. I have a dwarf patio lemon tree that I thought was completely dead, but it shows signs of life! I dumped in a whole bunch of compost and some more potting soil, watered it and am hoping for the best. DD and I got our green bean and sugar snap pea seedlings transplanted and dressed them with some compost as well for good measure. I don't do much to my compost pile at all, so it is somewhat slow to breakdown, but there is incredibly awesome compost at the bottom of the pile. Absolutely great.

For May:
$5 gift card (received)
$20 gas rebate (received)
$8.48 Rite Aid rebate (received)
Lowe's $20 gc (received - net $19)
Gas $20 gc (received - net $19)
total - $71.48

Longs rebate ($2?) (waiting)
Rite Aid rebate ($4.99) (waiting)
Survey $5 (waiting)
Survey $2 (waiting)
AdSense ($10+ ...figure out 6/1/06)
Interest (find out 6/1/06)

I qualified for another survey today: $2. I don't know what the minimum is for a payout however - I'll need to look into that.

Not much else to report - no book sales, no online tutoring, no rebates, no gift cards...

I'm waiting for the net market and auto vantage credits to show up on my credit card, and I'm still waiting for customer service to get back to me from esticker. I have a phone number now, so if I don't hear back tonight via email I'll call tomorrow. That's $14.99. I cancelled on 4/26 and received a shipment today. Grrr...... I'll get it worked out. I was willingto pay $3 to get the trial shipment and check it all out, but $15 for a bunch of stickers? it isn't close to being worth it.

For May:
$5 gift card (received)
$20 gas rebate (received)
$8.48 Rite Aid rebate (received)
Lowe's $20 gc (received - net $19)
total - $52.48

Longs rebate ($2?) (waiting)
Rite Aid rebate ($4.99) (waiting)
Gas $20 gc (waiting)
Survey $5 (waiting)
Survey $2 (waiting)
AdSense (figure out 6/1/06)
Interest (find out 6/1/06)

I am having to follow up on two memberships that I cancelled but still got billed to my credit card to the tune of $34.97. I've taken care of one account and should see two of the three charges reversed on my credit card. Waiting to get the third charge resolved. Be vigilant and don't let the charges slip through! Cancelling means it's cancelled and they have no right to try and charge you anyway.

I finally qualified for a $5 survey today. It will take 4-6 weeks to post to my account, according to the site, but I'll add it in as a possible source of money for the challenge.

For May:
$5 gift card (received)
$20 gas rebate (received)
$8.48 Rite Aid rebate (received)
Lowe's $20 gc (received - net $19)
total - $52.48

Longs rebate (waiting)
Rite Aid rebate ($4.99) (waiting)
Gas $20 gc (waiting)
Survey $5 (waiting)
AdSense (figure out 6/1/06)
Interest (find out 6/1/06)

My $20 in Lowe's gift cards arrived today, so I have that to add to my challenge. I had been adding the full amount, but since I'm technically netting $19, that's what I'll actually add this time around.

I also signed up for a $20 gas card today.

For May:
$5 gift card (received)
$20 gas rebate (received)
$8.48 Rite Aid rebate (received)
Lowe's $20 gc (received - net $19)
total - $52.48

Longs rebate (waiting)
Rite Aid rebate ($4.99) (waiting)
Gas $20 gc (waiting)
AdSense (figure out 6/1/06)
Interest (find out 6/1/06)

My $8.48 Rite Aid rebate arrived today, so that will get added to my challenge total at month's end.

For May:
$5 gift card (received)
$20 gas rebate (received)
$8.48 Rite Aid rebate (received)
Longs rebate (waiting)
Rite Aid rebate ($4.99) (waiting)
Lowe's $20 gc (waiting)
AdSense (figure out 6/1/06)
Interest (find out 6/1/06)

I submitted two ten dollar rebates for AutoVantage (after I'd cancelled my membership). Got a $20 check in the mail today! So, I'll go ahead and try it again during the next two quarters and see what happens.

A pleasant surprise.

For May:
$5 gift card (received)
$20 gas rebate (received)
Longs rebate (waiting)
Rite Aid rebates ($8.48 and $4.99) (waiting)
AdSense (figure out 6/1/06)
Interest (find out 6/1/06)

I took advantage of a couple of rebates at Rite Aid today and will have $3.99 coming back to me. I also took advantage of a few BOGos but am not counting that towards my challenge - I'll just accept a little extra room in the budget instead.

1 book: $5.06
1 DVD: $6.69
$30 in gift cards
$2 Rite-Aid rebate
AdSense: 16.26
Interest: 0.67
Total to add: $60.68

This brings my challenge total to $282.89.

I still have a couple of rebates outstanding, as well as possible gas vouchers and some gift cards.

For May:
$5 gift card

A good mail day - my $2 rebate arrived that I thought may have gotten lost in the mail, and $20 in gc's for Barnes & Noble.

So far this month:
1 book (net $5.06)
1 DVD (net=$6.69)
$30 in gift cards
$2 Rite-Aid rebate
Total: $43.75

Other things to track:
AdSense $11.52 and counting...
1 more Rite-Aid rebate
1 Longs rebate
ebookdrop ???
gas vouchers ???

I sold a DVD today for $7.00 - something else to keep track of for my challenge update at the end of the month. (note to self - postage was $1.35)

I used my Target gift cards today on two things I would have bought anyway, plus a pack of gum. I'll add that $10 to my challenge total.

So far this month:
1 book (net $5.06)
1 DVD (net=$6.69)
$10 in gift cards
AdSense $11.52 and counting...
2 Rite-Aid rebates (I think one may be lost in the mail - was supposedly dated 4/6 but hasn't arrived )
1 Longs rebate
ebookdrop ???
gas vouchers ???

Andrea from InsiderPages.com came through - my Target cards arrived in the mail today. Love good customer service!

So that's something else to add to my challenge when I move money over at the end of the month - $10 in Target gc's.

Still have some rebates outstanding (two from Rite Aid, one from Longs) and I'm waiting to see if the gas vouchers will be approved or not ($20).

On a side note, I qualified to test a new product through one of the surveys I'd filled out, and it arrived today. Neat! I also got some freebies yesterday - Pantene shampoo and conditioner, Olay facial clay mask and some sauce to put on dry dog food. (That last one has me a little bit nervous to try out with my dog - it doesn't take much to throw of his system and make him...er...a little stinky. )

+$5.00
+$2.40
-$1.59
-$0.75

Total to add to challenge: $5.06

It's nice when the shipping reimbursement is more than the actual shipping - helps make up for the commission.

I tried to order two books yesterday, used, from B&N.com, and both times I got emails back syaing those books weren't in stock. That isn't right - if the sellers can't supply the book then it shouldn't be listed. And I cna't leave feedback about it either. It isn't a huge deal, but it's bothersome.

The four $10 vouchers from AutoAdvantage arrived today. Now the question is this - can I use them even though I cancelled the membership? I'll give it a try.

If it works out and I get money back, I'll add it to my challenge account.

Still waiting on $20 in Barnes & Noble gift cards, but it hasn't been that long since I signed up for that membership.

I emailed ebookdrop this morning, trying to see what's going on now that it's been about two months since I shipped them my small box of books. I doubt I'll even hear back, but it's a step in the right direction.

I checked on my insiderpages.com email, to see when I'd sent in my reviews. It hasn't been 6 weeks yet (but it's close) and they say their turnaround time is 4-6 weeks. I'll give them another few days and then follow up on that - I submitted enough reviews to qualify for 2 Target gift cards, $10 each.

I'm heading to the post office today to mail out the book that sold. I also need to buy new cat food for our kitty that's been sick. Crystals in his urine - not a good thing. So we're switching to Hill's c/d wet food, and I need to pick some up today.

Feeling completely overwhelmed by stress these days. Just not dealing with it very well.

note for challenge: 1.59 for postage today

I sold a book for $5 at half.com today. That will go into my challenge total at the end of the month. I haven't sold any books in a while, so it was nice to get the message from half.com in my email today.

I have $2 coming from last month's rebate program and about $10.48 for this month's program. They have a rebate on GE compact flourescent light bulbs, if anyone's been wanting to try those out. They also have a Colgate toothbrush and toothpaste that turn out to be free after rebate. I bought only things we'll use and would ned to buy anyway, though I'm always tempted by other things when I'm browsing the aisles. I made a list this time, though, and that helped me stick to rebate items only.

I just looked at my receipt. The lightbulbs were normally 9.99 each, but they're on sale for 4.99 and then there's the rebate on top of that. Great deal! You have to buy two to get the rebate.

So $12.48 in outstanding rebates that can get added to my challenge total when they come in.

It occurs to me that I have no plans or goals with regards to my challenge money. I have no set amount I'm aiming to reach, and I have no specific plans for what to do with the money, either. I find myself just kind of squirreling away extra money.

I am having to track down what happened to an online check. My water delivery person can't find my last payment, but my online check cleared 3/24/06. So the question in my mind is who deposited that check, and where did it get applied if not to my account? I'll get it worked out, but I hate having to deal with this type of thing.

I took care of three bills this morning, while I was online. I renewed the car's registration online, in a process that took all of 60 seconds. That is so convenient - and we didn't need a smog check this year, so it was truly a painless process.

I printed out our first quarter's worth of budget ananlysis from Quicken, to gothrough later. I'm curious to see how it looks. Last month was a pretty good one for us, considering we had to buy plane tickets to Chicago and went on our little ski trip. We did well in most areas of our budget.

I will find out Wednesday what my salary will be, and then I can go in and update the budget some more. Actually I'll make a new one and apply it once I actually start earaning a paycheck.

I've got $23.10 in AdSense money, $14.43 from an eBay auction and $49.76 from an insurance refund to add to my challenge total. I also earned 49 cents in interest, bringing my new total to $222.21. I'll make a transfer to my account this week.

A friend asked me if I'd ever heard of Blue Rectangle (www.bluerectangle.com) for selling used books. It works like ebookdrop.com. I checked it out, entered the ISBNs for my books currently listed at half.com, and saw that they would buy three of my books for a whopping 62 cents. Oh well. I thought I'd pass along the URL in case anyone else wanted to try it.