Informational/Advice - Super Saving Moms

Free Old School Games

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022 SuperSavingMom Leave a comment

Remember when we were kids (yeah, I know that seems like forever ago!) and we’d go to our grandparent’s house for the holidays? Did your grandparents play solitaire, gin rummy, or do crossword puzzles and try to teach you? Yeah kids, that was the fun your parents had at grandma and grandpa’s house! No TV, movies, and cell phones. We learned and played old school games and we actually enjoyed every moment. Well, I think I found a website that I swear my grandmother could have developed herself if she was still around and had to share it with you all! A free old school game jackpot…

Solitaire.org is a jackpot of all sorts of classic card and strategy games. Everything from Sudoku, Spider Solitaire, Word Search, Crosswords, Hearts, and more! They even have Minesweeper, a classic strategy game I played back on my Windows 95 PC (yes, I’m aging myself now). Do Windows PCs even come with Minesweeper anymore? I guess I haven’t checked (or played based on the screenshot below) for a few years now…LOL! Now I can have my nostalgia without an app to download, no membership to subscribe to, no data mining, and no credit card info needed ever. Just a full library of all my favorite old school games and more that I’ve never even heard of.

What I love most about Solitaire.org is that everything is free, there are no ads to get in the way, and the games all load super fast. For every game they have on their site, there are also detailed instructions on how to play, how the game is scored, and the history of the game which the nerd in me loves. It reminds me of how my grandparents used to teach me everything about a game before we could even start playing it. From strategy tips to even tutorial videos, anyone can become a master of Freecell, Pyramid, Mahjong, and more!

The best part about Solitaire.org is that their games are safe and fun for all ages! Teaching kids about classic Solitaire to games like Minesweeper build their strategy and problem-solving skills. Looking for free games your kids can play online? Check out my other blog post about another great resource for fun and even educational games safe for kids of any age to play by clicking here!

Free Online Games for Kids

May 26, 2021May 26, 2021 SuperSavingMom 1 Comment

Looking for fun, safe, and free games for your kids to play online? I put together a list of my favorite sites that offer free games that are both fun and educational! These sites have games appropriate for young kiddos up to older teens. Best part, there is no need to go out a buy expensive gaming system and games with these free sites.

Whether or not we like it as parents, gaming is part of today’s culture. We can’t keep our kids away from it forever though we can limit their time playing and the types of games they can play. When my son was about 4 years old, I bought one of those expensive Vtech educational video game systems and a bunch of games. It was super expensive but there weren’t a lot of options online 13 years ago. Now there are so many websites available with free games for kids of all ages that are entertaining and offer some sort of educational purpose.

Some of the best ones I could find online are listed below. They are in no specific order, but here are 8 websites with free online games for kids.

PBS Kids

PBS Kids is definitely targeted towards younger kids probably around ages 2 years to 8 years old. We all probably can remember PBS shows as kids and the impact they had on us growing up. PBS is a feel-good network and now has tons of free online content as well. From games to videos to parenting resources too! Their games are targeted to provide entertainment as well as education.

Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network is the next step up from PBS Kids with content targeted towards kids from around age 8 up to preteens. They offer TONS of free content that includes fun and creative games to quizzes, strategy, and learning games as well. Kids can play games based on their favorite Cartoon Network shows and even watch videos online. No TV cable subscription needed to access the website.

ABC Mouse

ABC Mouse is an absolutely adorable mouse-themed adventure game series that is targeted towards young kids aged 2 to 8 years old. It features different adventures and games around major curriculum including math, science, reading, arts, and colors. The only bad thing is that it is only free for the first 30 days. Afterward, it costs $12.99 per month. You can also get $2 cash back through Rakuten when you sign up for a paid subscription.

Splash Learn

Splash Learn is probably one of the only online game sites targeted for very young kids aged PreK to 5 years old. Their program is used in 1 in 3 schools in the US for math and reading. Their site offers a lot of free content, as well as a paid option to unlock even more or add additional kids. This is a great site to consider the paid subscription if you homeschool your kid(s).

Plays

Plays.org was born out of the pandemic lockdowns and has grown to over 150 games and continues to add 1-2 additional games per day. Best part, they have games for all ages! They have content targeted towards young kids in preschool all the way up to adults. From classic games like Tetris to simulation games to even typing games to learn or improve typing skills. This site has so much content! Best part…It’s all FREE with no need to pay to unlock all their content.

Fun Brain

Fun Brain is just what it sounds like, fun brain games for kids. They offer content for kids age PreK all the way up to 8^th grade. Their site has games, digital books, math, and fun educational videos to watch as well. Their digital books are a great way to get your kids reading without even having to buy a hard copy book!

Disney LOL

Does Disney even need a description? We all know and love Disney! They are awesome for the entire family, young and old. They have a whole online site dedicated to games and activities for kids of all ages. From videos, coloring pages, to fun and educational games, Disney LOL has it all! All their content is also absolutely free.

Sesame Street

Last but certainly not least is Sesame Street. This classic kids TV series now offers free games on their website as well. Just like Disney, they have videos, coloring, and games. Their content is good for kids age 2 to 10 years old. No subscription necessary!

Looking for fun and free activities to do with your kiddos offline? Check out my page of free events for families and kids here: https://www.supersavingmoms.com/free-events-for-kids/

Should You Refinance Your Home?

March 1, 2021May 26, 2021 SuperSavingMom Leave a comment

With the pandemic, interest rates have hit all-time lows. So, the big question going around lately is should you refinance your home? Personally, I’m strongly considering taking advantage of this opportunity. I purchased my home a little over a year ago (first-time home buyer) and didn’t get a terrible rate, but didn’t get an awesome rate either. So, I’ve been doing a lot of research and due diligence to determine if now is the time to refinance. Below are the 3 main questions I asked myself to make the best decisions for refinancing.

What is your goal for refinancing?

First, you should think about what is your end-goal. Are you trying to lower your mortgage payment, lower your interest rate, get cash out of your mortgage, or remove mortgage insurance? Deciding what your end-goal is for refinancing is the first and most important step to starting the process. Knowing what you are trying to accomplish will help you to determine if it’s worth it in the long run. I have decided my main goals for refinancing are to lower my interest rate, remove the mortgage insurance I had to get when initially buying my home, and ultimately lower my mortgage payment. I found this article by Investopedia very helpful in determining the pros and cons of refinancing.

If you’re looking to take cash-out, check out this calculator to help determine if it’s worth it in the long-run.

Should you buy points?

Do not buy points or roll them up into your mortgage. Points may seem attractive to get a lower rate, but ultimately raise your mortgage balance and interest you’ll pay over time. If you are planning on staying in your home for a long time then buying points for a lower interest rate might be a good move, but if you plan on selling in the next 1-3 years it might not be worth the extra $$. I would say if you are staying in your home for a long time and you can pay for the points cash versus rolling them up into your mortgage then it might be worth it in the long run on interest. You can determine if buying points is the right move for you by using this calculator. As my mother (who is a Realtor Broker and Insurance Agent) always says, “Never add to your mortgage balance!”

Should you roll-up closing costs?

This question is a tough one, as I know I don’t have an extra $3-6k laying around for closing costs. However, it’s in your best interest to not roll-up closing costs into your mortgage balance even though mortgage brokers will strongly encourage you to do so. Ultimately, if you do this you will end up paying interest on those closing costs, as well as, increase your mortgage payment. It may not seem like a lot of extra money for a single month (usually less than $10 extra dollars), but over time those extra dollars add up. If you are able to save up to pay for the closing costs out of pocket, it’s the best way to go!

Good luck and get multiple offers. I was able to get my interest rate down by 2.5% without buying points, removed my mortgage insurance, and my closing costs ended up being only $3000! I’m very happy with the results of my refinance.

Sources Used:

https://www.knowyouroptions.com/refinance-overview?_ga=2.124189642.1796332860.1614652949-665058774.1613152446

https://www.mortgagecalculators.info/calc-cash-out-refi.php

https://www.mortgagecalculators.info/calc-recoup.php

https://www.mortgagecalculators.info/calc-discount.php

https://www.investopedia.com/mortgage/refinance/when-and-when-not-to-refinance-mortgage/

Photo Credits:

https://unsplash.com/photos/1ddol8rgUH8?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

https://unsplash.com/photos/uJ7NOEbTd80?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

https://unsplash.com/photos/NpTbVOkkom8?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

Full List of Smiley360 Sites to get Free Products!

December 3, 2020December 4, 2020 SuperSavingMom 1 Comment

Do you want to learn how to become a Product Tester through Social Media Marketing to get products for FREE?

Smiley360 is a WOM (word of mouth) marketing company that connects brands to influencers just like you. There are so many available programs to join that I decided to make a dedicated post.

So, below is a FULL LIST of ALL the available Smiley360 (Social Media Link) communities you can join as an influencer to have opportunities to get FREE products to test and review!

If I missed a Smiley360 Site to get Free Products, please comment below so I can add it to the list. Happy Product Testing!

1. Smiley360

2. Simple Solutions (Arm and Hammer)

3. Arm & Hammer Kitty Krew (Arm & Hammer Cat Products)

4. All Free Clear Connections (All Laundry Detergent)

5. SambuCrew (Sambucol)

6. Glimmer (Makeup and Beauty Products)

7. The Upside Community (Health and Wellness Products)

8. Snuggle Bear Den (Snuggle Laundry Products)

9. Culturelle Clubhouse (Culturelle Supplements)

10. Generation Good (Seventh Generation)

11. Sir Kensington’s Taste Buds (Sir Kensington’s Products)

12. Mucus Fighters (Mucinex)

13. Hello Friends (Hello Toothpaste Products)

14. Jolly Pets Playhouse

15. Veggies Made Great Community

Want to find even more product testing sites to get stuff for free? Head over the Free Products and Samples page here.

Full List of Smiley360 Sites to get Free Products!

May contain affiliate/referral links. Feel free to share your referral link to any of the sites listed above in the comment section!

My Favorite Cheap Beauty Hack!

August 12, 2020August 12, 2020 SuperSavingMom 4 Comments

With the pandemic, a lot of us have had to turn to DIY beauty treatments. Some turning out great and some epic fails! Being a Super Saving Mom, I have been doing DIY beauty treatments at home for years. One of my favorite at-home and cheap beauty hacks is doing my own fancy acrylic nails. And I don’t mean whipping out the UV light and spending hours trying to recreate my favorite manicures. I can spend less than $10 and 10 minutes and get a manicure that you would spend over $60 on at a nail salon! What is my secret you ask?? Press-on nails….yes, you heard me right. The press-on nails you used to play with as a kid are now so good that they can pass for a very expensive, nail salon-worthy manicure! Instead of those cute stickers, they now have very high-quality designs and patterns for every look. My go-to brand for the most patterns and long-lasting nails is imPRESS.

imPRESS has so many amazing designs, from long to short and plain French to straight up over the top with bling! The more extra the better for me, so I love that they have tons of designs with glitter, bling, and pearls. Best part is that you won’t spend more than $10 on ANY of their designs!! Even their beautiful, new couture collection is only $10.99. They literally have nails to fit anyone and everyone. And they are so cheap you can switch your look up every week and still pay less than if you had your nails done in a salon. I get compliments all the time on how good my nails look and I am NEVER ashamed to tell them I did them myself. People are always impressed! 😉 See what I did there….

The imPRESS nail kits come with everything you need to get salon-worthy nails in minutes. You simply open the kit, clean and file your nails, then find the right size nails. Once you have your nails ready to put on, all you have to do it peel the plastic backing off and stick them on. I do hold them down for about 20 seconds to ensure a very secure hold. Once you have them all applied, they will last for a week to two weeks. Plus, each kit comes with enough nails to do two manicures! When they do come off, it’s painless and mess-free. Unlike how acrylics can destroy your nails, these nails leave your nails strong and healthy underneath.

You can go from blah nails to BAM nails in just minutes. I don’t know about you, but I feel a million times more put together when my nails are on point. So, forget the salon and struggling to recreate your own manicures. Just get some imPRESS nails and get on with it!

Best part is that they have a FREE VIP Program that gives you cash back on all your orders, 15% off when you sign up for their newsletter, and free shipping on orders over $30!

Mom Bloggers and Influencers are TAKING OVER THE WORLD!

August 6, 2020August 6, 2020 SuperSavingMom Leave a comment

Are you a mom? Do you post on social media? Do you maintain a blog? Then brands want YOU to promote their products and the best part is they will pay you or give it to you for free! Mom bloggers and influencers are taking over the WORLD….oops, I mean the marketing industry. More companies and brands are now looking for moms to give them real-life testimonials and honest feedback. You don’t have to have a huge following or know much about marketing. They want real moms to provide real experiences and reviews.

There are many websites that match mom bloggers and mom influencers to brands and companies, however, there is one that I like working with the most. This company is super easy to work with and connect you with brands and companies that match your interests. It is called Intellifluence and they are looking to work with moms just like you! It is free to sign up and super easy to start applying for campaigns right away.

By signing up as a Mom Blogger or Social Influencer through Intellifluence, you will be joining their growing network and begin the process of collaborating with brands that offer fantastic free products and/or cash in exchange for honest reviews and feedback. Brands such as PetMeds, GhostBed, Nutree, and many more! From writing blog posts to creating fun TikTok videos, there are many different campaign opportunities to match your interests and specialties.

Once you join for free, be sure to complete your profile with your interests, specialties, and ALL social media accounts you use. Then brands can pitch to you offers for free products, services, and cash in exchange for your review on your various social media accounts, Amazon, and more. You can also go to their Marketplace where brands post offers that are open to all influencers. If you see an opportunity that catches your eye in the Marketplace, you can apply for it or request more details.

I’ve gotten so many awesome free products and made over $500 just in 2020 alone! I love working with a company that can connect me with brands that match my interests and allow me to build my following. It’s easier than ever now to be a mom blogger or influencer with companies like Intellifluence.

How to Save Money During the COVID19 Pandemic!

May 13, 2020May 13, 2020 SuperSavingMom Leave a comment

With businesses closing and people out of work, now is the most important time to save money and make the most out of your limited income or savings. Whether you were one of the lucky ones still receiving your paycheck while on stay-at-home orders, filing for unemployment, or completely left without work we all need to think about how to save money. There are many ways to cut your expenses, make your money go further, and even save more money for future expenses. Here are just 4 ways you can stretch your dollars further while on lockdown.

1. Buy generic products.

You may think that brand names are better but that is pretty much always not the case. Most generic products have the exact same ingredients as the more pricey brand name product. You can save quite a bit by selecting your local store brand versus the brand you saw on TV. You can find out exactly how much you can save by switching to generic with this handy calculator I found online: https://calculator.me/savings/brand.php

This calculator will show you how much money you’ll save over the course of your lifetime when permanently switching from a high priced brand name product to its functional, less expensive equivalent (generic or store-brand). Plus, it will also show you how much interest you could earn if you were to invest all or part of those savings as you realized them. As you’re about to see, “a penny saved” can REALLY ADD UP!

2. Use coupons and cashback apps.

It may seem like a lot of work to gather coupons prior to going to the store, but it’s actually not as difficult as it may seem. There are a lot of new apps available that make it fast and easy to get cashback and save some extra $$ on your everyday purchases online and instore.

Prior to going to the store, make a list of the items you need then use a coupon matchup site to find if there are available coupons for that product. Some coupons may be printable online or available digitally.

3. Stop buying unnecessary items.

I know, I know…I’m addicted to shopping as well! It’s hard to pass up that item in the store that looks cute or is on sale even though you really don’t need it. In times like these, however, now more than ever we need to stick to the essentials. If you could add up all the little purchases you make every year, you’d be surprised at how much money you could actually be saving. You can find out exactly how much with this handy calculator: https://calculator.me/savings/periodic-opportunity-cost.php

4. Sell items you no longer need.

Like the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Did you know that you could potentially earn a full-time income by selling your gently used goods or new unwanted items on resell apps?!? And most make it super easy to ship directly from home without even paying for postage or having to go to the post office. It’s simple, list your item on one of the sites listed here and then request a free USPS pick-up at your house! BAM! More money in your pocket.

Piggy Bank Photo by Fabian Blank on Unsplash

Sell Your Stuff for Extra Cash without leaving your house!

May 13, 2020May 13, 2020 SuperSavingMom Leave a comment

Like the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” You can make quite a bit of extra money by selling your unwanted, gently used household, clothing, or other miscellaneous items on numerous different reselling websites and apps. Plus, you can use the free pick-up service from USPS so you don’t even have to leave your house!

Best reselling apps and websites:

Poshmark – Listing fees are included shipping! Use promo code LIZZYLADY03 for $10 FREE to use on Poshmark!
OfferUp
LetGo
Craigslist
Facebook Marketplace
Ebay

Free Online Educational Games and Activities for Kids

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020 SuperSavingMom Leave a comment

Times are changing dramatically due to the recent pandemic. I know a lot of parents are now at home with their kids trying to not only entertain them but teach them with schools being closed for the rest of the school year. It’s difficult trying to come up with creative ways to teach at the same time also keep their attention, so I found some resources online that I thought were fun, entertaining, and educational. And the best part, they’re also FREE!

Culinary and Cooking Kids Games

Culinary Schools offers a collection of dozens of games to help familiarize children with food, farming, cooking, the culinary arts, the restaurant business, and hospitality-related careers.

None of these games contain any advertisements or extraneous branding. All games are published using mobile and desktop-friendly HTML5 web design. Links to each game open in a new tab focused exclusively on the associated game instead of having the games framed inside other web pages. Below are the free gaming collections they offer to help students have fun while learning in an interactive environment:

1. Cooking and Kitchen Work – track multiple tasks in the kitchen and learn how to follow a basic recipe
2. Food Education Games – learn about healthy foods versus unhealthy foods
3. Serving Eaters – make sandwiches or play a waiter
4. Farming – familiarizes players with farms, farm animals, and farming.
5. Other Fun Food-themed Games – match 3 in a row, deliver food, stack pancakes & more.

Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids is a free, fun, educational program designed to inspire young children to become learners for life. The robust Khan Academy Kids curriculum and original content make learning engaging and fun for children ages two to seven.

PBS Kids

PBS KIDS is dedicated to offering free access to media content and community-based experiences that support learning for young children. Their mission is to use the power of media to open worlds of possibilities for all children so that every child can reach their full potential in school — and in life.

‘The Kids Should See This’ Video Collection

TKSST is an unprecedented collection of over 4,500 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. Plus, it’s free for everyone.

Safe Kid Games

Welcome to Safe Kid Games! We’re all about safe games for kids. Our web pages are filled with the best educational games, learning games, and just plain fun games. We’re keenly focused on providing a safe environment for children. Every game here is free and is reviewed to ensure it’s safe for children. As with all things, we encourage each child’s parent(s) to review and monitor their child’s online activities to ensure they’re being safe, and also to ensure that any games or content are appropriate for their own child. Thanks for visiting and please share this site with your friends!

Out of Eden Walk

Out of Eden Learn is a free online program for students aged 3-19. The program groups students of similar ages from diverse geographical and socioeconomic settings together for collective learning experiences.

Out of Eden Learn currently offers several 8-12-week long learning experiences, or “learning journeys,” designed around three broad learning goals. All of the journeys combine offline activities with online interaction and invite young people to:

1. slow down to observe the world carefully and listen attentively to others
2. exchange stories and perspectives with one another; and
3. make connections between their own lives and bigger human stories.

Free Student and Kid Freebies during COVID19 Pandemic!

April 7, 2020May 13, 2020 SuperSavingMom Leave a comment

These are very challenging and difficult times for all of us, but especially those with kids taken out of school and college. Trying to keep them entertained, as well as, homeschooling. Here are some FREE resources for kids and students you can access during the COVID19 pandemic.

Just click on the resources below to be taken to the site to get the freebie or to learn more!

On 5/19 seniors can get one 2020 Graduate Dozen FREE by wearing their cap and gown, or other Class of 2020 swag proving their senior status, to their local Krispy Kreme shop

One Class Live Stream Tutoring

Kids grades K through 6 can get FREE access to the Time for Kids Digital Library for the rest of the school year.

Amazon has made select family titles available for FREE for all Amazon customers.

Free Audiobooks for Kids/students

Rosetta Stone free for 3 months for students

Free spectrum or charter communications WiFi for 60 days for k-12 or college

To get ABCMouse for FREE enter code SCHOOL7771 . It’s for Preschool through 2nd grade.

To get ReadingIQ for FREE enter code SCHOOL7771 . It’s for Preschool through 6th grade.

FREE Access to Adventure Academy Online Learning Program for Kids
To get FREE access to Adventure Academy enter code SCHOOL7771 . This program is for grades 3-8.

For a limited time Scholastic is giving FREE access to a Learn at Home for students from pre-k to grade 9.

FREE 30-days Self-Storage for College Students from U-Haul