Money Earning Apps

A lot of my posts feature money earning apps or rebate apps. I've been using ibotta for about 18 months and have gotten over $100 back. I shop for me and my husband. For those with larger households, you could earn a lot more than what I have.

Get started by clicking this link: https://ibotta.com/r/dxueqlv 

Dining on the Intercoastal

I had the occasion recently to dine on the Intracoastal Waterway. 

The restaurant looks like an old fishing shack from the road and has that same feel on the inside. If you don't wander outside to the multi level deck, you miss the views of the water and the possibility of al fresco dining. 

The dinner was delicious. The company was delightful. It was a very pleasant evening on the water. Florida living at its finest!

What a beautiful sight! 

Passover

A woman from our small group brought matza ball soup and salad to accompany unleavened bread. She has just experienced a seder dinner that had been modernized by incorporating Christian scriptures to enhance the Jewish celebration of Passover (see Exodus 12). 

We ate the soup and salad along with some unleavened bread. Later, we read out of a Messianic Passover Haggadah booklet. 

We read in 1 Corinthians 11:26 that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim Jesus' death until he comes again. 

The unleavened bread at the table had holes in it symbolizing the holes in Jesus' hands, feet, and side. The bread also had burn marks symbolizing that by his stripes we are healed. 

The bread is unleavened meaning it does not have yeast. Jesus warned us about having yeast mixed in and the effects. Yeast transforms the dough and makes it puffed up. We are not called to be puffed up and transformed by something other than the Father. 

What a beautiful tradition to celebrate one of God's monumental works in the Jewish history, our history. God protected those who obeyed him by sprinkling blood on their door posts. Those who obeyed were spared from death.

Mentos Freshness

I like to carry mints in my purse. You never know how fresh your breath is until you have to talk to someone. In my case, it is usually an opportunity to meet someone new. I don't want my first impression to be a smelly one. 

Mentos NOWmints come in a tin and are priced $1.99 per tin at Publix. I found a BOGO coupon which lowers the price by 50%. Great savings already! Then, I was alerted to a rebate on Checkout51 for 50¢ per tin (up to 4 tins).

Here is the breakdown: 

  $7.96 for 4 tins ($1.99 each)

- $3.98 (after 2 BOGO coupons)

= $3.98 out of pocket

-$2 rebate from Checkout51

= $1.98 for 4 tins (or 50¢ each)

Free Audiobooks

Christianaudio.com has a ton of audio books. Each month they offer a free audiobook! They host authors like Francis Chan, Tony Evans, Matt Chandler, and Lysa Turkeurst. 

There is an app where you can listen to these audiobooks anywhere you are. You can also download the files to be made accessible on a computer or on a mobile device. 

I've built up my audiobook library on free books alone. I listen to them in my car via USB key when I l have long commutes. I have also listened to them on my iPad for plane trips, such as my recent trip. 

The Vacation Life

Living in Florida feels like being on vacation perpetually. I grew up in New York State so seeing palm trees signaled vacation. I still feel this way even though I'm surrounded on a daily basis.

One of the fun parts of living a vacation life is the restaurants reinforce this impression. We went to a restaurant recently that resembles a tiki lounge. The roof was thatched with the kind of material used on hula skirts. What a beautiful atmosphere and great food!

I resisted the idea of being relocated to the Florida office. I had notions of high heat and uncomfortable humidity. While that is part of Florida, I've come to appreciate not dealing with snow. 

It is all part of God's big world!

Travel Tip: Empty Water Bottle

Given so many do's and dont's at airports these days, air travel has become more complicated. For example, no liquids can be carried onto a plane that were brought from outside the airport. If you have a cup of coffee or a bottle of water on the way to the airport, you must consume it in its' entirety prior to going through security. 

Airports have seen the benefit to them in this liquid ban. Prices of items in airports typically are higher than elsewhere. Liquids are now priced higher than ever before. 

There is a work around (for water at least). I travel with an empty water bottle. Airports are now equipped with water bottle filling stations. Eureka!

In selecting a water bottle, I choose one that can be squished and then will take the original form. This way it fits in my purse or 'personal item' without taking up a lot of room.  

Once I'm on board the plane, I place the water bottle in the seat pocket in front of me. 

I'm reusing water bottles and saving money on bottles of water at the airport. This is a budget friendly solution along with a green solution!