Christmas in June? Only if I want it free in december!

@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
May 31, 2008 11:43am CST
I do GPT, surveys and such and have been cashing them out these last months and have gotten some really nice things and a nice chunk of cash (that goes into savings!) but now, JUne is my start date for my "march to a free christmas". I have done this for 2 years now and it works so great! For the sites that pay in points and you collect points an then redeem them for gift cards or cash - those sites I leave the points to collect until November - then I go shopping! THey have gift cards for most any store you can think of! I didn't use to like Gift cards (in my day it was called GIft certificates!) but lately they have come to be my best friend. I get gift cards for each of my kids to a place that they really love or a speciality store they like but can only seldom afford or a fun place they like to go. I have been giving my daughter a $50 starbucks gift card and the squeals I hear from her are compared only to those of her little daughter when I give her one for her favorite place and she knows she gets to buy whatever she wants! With the Starbucks card, she can get a treat for herself that she usually can't afford and thinks of me every time! She loves it and I know that I gave her something she enjoys and i snot sitting someplace being forgotten! These last 2 years I have done this, the kids have just loved it so much, can't see doing any different! I wait till November and then go shopping and redeem my points for the gift cards so they are in my hands in time. THen I wrap them uniquely - like I got empty cups from Starbucks and "pretended" to serve coffee, only for my daughter to pick up her's with the gift card in and see that big smile! So much more fun than standing in lines nad paying high prices.. this way too... they can go shopping after christmas and in January when things are on sale and get what they want at a cheaper price! The whole thing works out so great that the stress and all that is often associated with christmas rush and all, doesn't exist for me! And my kids are happy as they can be... So... do you start planning your christmas in June? What is your startegy? Do you have a plan for a free christmas? Share it with us!
4 responses
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
31 May 08
I wish I was that great at saving money- LOL!! I use my mylot earnings and other earnings for my soap biz...then I use that money to supplement my income. It's a vicious cycle. LOL
1 person likes this
• United States
31 May 08
What's GPT?
• United States
31 May 08
I kind of look at it as free money. It's a good thing and every little bit does help.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 May 08
What kind of gpt program are you signed up with ? Thanks,
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
31 May 08
I prefer to give gift cards too. For one thing, since I am a frugal tightwad, the shipping is cheaper! The other thing is I would rather get a gift card myself, as I can probably get more stuff for the dollar than most other people anyway. I might end up with twice as many goodies and then too it would be stuff I like and want, not somebody else's best guess. Also you know for sure that the gift card is not just a recycled gift that the person got and didn't want and sent me instead, lol. I like gift cards much better than gift certificates as they are smaller, work more places, and don't get ruined in the rain.
1 person likes this
@JudithP (295)
• Canada
31 May 08
I just started working on some of these sites a few months ago. What a great idea. Thank you for the heads up. By the way, what is GPT?