by Princess Spanky Pants ~ The Real, Original, Heather T
Member since:
October 13, 2006

Points!

January 12, 2009 07:23 PM EST
views: 106 | comments: 42

I've been trying to keep track of my points, as well as trying to meet a monthly goal of $75. For that, I need to get 150 points per day, so I've been keeping track of that pretty well. I have a post viewable only by me that has daily updates, and what time the updates were made.

My last cash out was a $25 Target card on December 30th, which at the time left me with about 5 points. For the most part, all of my points have been earned since cashing out, and all but 1 day's worth were earned in 2009. Actually, I wound up with 193 points on New Year's Eve at Midnight.

As of right now, I have 1940 points. As of this morning, I was way off my 150 points per day goal- actually, I was off on my average. My average for the month was 136 points per day was all, which makes it harder and harder to catch up each day.

Today, I went ahead and did a lot of viewing/rating, but not much commenting. I also added a few posts. I'm only 10 points from my goal today already, which puts me back at 150 points per day for the average. My hope is to go well past that, to make up some of my off days. About a week ago, I was up to 160 points per day average, so being under 140 was not great. I have taken some time off lately, though, which helped cause the drop.

Hopefully I'll get my average up quite a bit today- 160 would be nice, it means I have extra space for "just in case" days.

Ideally, though, I would like to try and earn $100 a month. I don't plan to cash out anytime soon, and when I do, I want to have quite a bit set aside for camping gear. I would like a nice family sized tent, and a smaller dome tent, plus a few lanterns, sleeping bags, and a portable grill. If I can do all that, and have some money left over, then I can take the kids on an extended camping trip this summer.

Nick is planning on setting some money aside for my summer plans as well, but the more I can provide myself, the better!

What are your goals this year? Spending money, bill money, no plans? How are your point earnings so far this year? Better than before, worse than before, no change?

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Comments: 42

tammie p. Jan 12, 2009, 7:26pm EST
saving my pts for a laptop. have to have 4 surgeries this year and this will make it easier for me. good luck to you
j - Frugal Mom - r. Jan 12, 2009, 7:26pm EST
I'm not too good at keeping track of my points these days, but at least they are moving.

It sounds like you've got your goals down.

I'm gathering for vacation, Christmas, birthdays, the baby and extras.
carolyn b. Jan 12, 2009, 7:27pm EST
I haven't been on in awhile, so I haven't been keeping up with my points either. I do plan to cash out in April for a Macy's GC, I use it for our summer clothes
Amanda T. Jan 12, 2009, 7:29pm EST
my points are slow but that is because i havent been too active. i was gathering for a leaf blower but i am thinking about changing to an amazon gc to get my some something he wants
Jennifer N. Jan 12, 2009, 7:30pm EST
No goals here other than paying off my bill and ordering the 2 year novel course workbooks so that I can write before the class does (35 weeks before they write... yikes!)

That's it, though. The rest will be saved for a rainy day or whatnot.
I hope everyone does good with their goals!

I'm not sure if I'll do Target for the camping gear, or paypal for flexibility. I think if I can find some good deals before I cash out, I can get the items then repay the money to our account from paypal. Otherwise, I'll do half in Target cards, and half in paypal when I cash out in June.
Vic Needs Coffee Jan 12, 2009, 7:32pm EST
I'm hoping to do about the same as you. I want to get a laptop for my daughter.
Oh, and my other 6 months of savings will be Christmas!
Marilyn M. Jan 12, 2009, 7:33pm EST
I'll get PayPal money every time it reaches the $25 level, and hopefully that will be twice a month. On the old cash option, I was getting anywhere between $10 and $25 per week, so we'll see.

I cashed out on Dec. 30 and had 43 points on 12/31 at 2 p.m. Right now I have 1534 so I'm almost to that first $25 PayPal money. Yippee skippy.
Rob Appell Jan 12, 2009, 7:35pm EST
From reading my post earlier today, you already know how I'm doing and what my points are going towards. Make sure you check places like Freecycle, Craigslist and thrift stores; which i know you probably already do. You never know when something might come up for that camping trip you can get priced way low or even for free. Then, you'll have enough money left over to send me a postcard saying, 'Having a great time...glad you're not here!' LOL! Just a little contribution here toward your goal.
Vivian P. Jan 12, 2009, 7:36pm EST
I just plan on visiting and enjoying my time here oh the points are nice
Alta B. Jan 12, 2009, 7:38pm EST
I would like to do some painting to our place and buy the paint and other supplies with gather money.
I have been checking our Craigslist, and when it gets to be Spring, I'm planning to post about low cost or free camping gear. :) I'd like to find a tent that way if I can. Most campgrounds will let us put up 2 tents per site. Nick won't be able to go with us, and hates camping even if he COULD go with us, so it'll be just us 4 going. If I can get a family sized tent, we'll use that for sleeping. But, a second tent would be nice for the kids to hang out in alone, or to store extra items in at night, like the chairs, in case of rain.

I've never really done tent camping by myself. It's always been trailer camping. This'll be a learning time for us!
Paula C. Jan 12, 2009, 7:45pm EST
How in the world do you get 135 points a day? I feel like I'm on here constantly and am lucky to get 25
Baylee C. Jan 12, 2009, 7:46pm EST
Wow! It seems like I'm lucky to earn twenty points a day!!! Any good tips on how to to improve that?
Brittney R. Jan 12, 2009, 7:53pm EST
My points are slow, but that's nothing new for me. I get on here and there while I'm at work, but after work I'm just too tired and exhausted

I had originally intended to save for Home Depot cards for some outdoor projects this spring. However, we are now saving for new floors in the spare room (to be the baby's room) maternity dress clothes, and for my time off work.
Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Jan 12, 2009, 7:54pm EST
Who knows? You may even be able to find an inexpensive pop-up camper between now and this summer.
Kjersti W. Jan 12, 2009, 7:55pm EST
I have 369 points right now. I think I last cashed out for a gift card about a week ago. For now I am getting all Target gift cards to use to get groceries and help with part of the expenses of my All the Ballparks (www.alltheballparks.com) road trip I am taking with my family this summer.
Lisa B. Jan 12, 2009, 7:59pm EST
wow, you are doing really good. My plan is to save everything I get and not cash out till the end of may. I'm using it for a trip were going on this summer without the kids. Just a bunch of friends are going. I ended up cashing $25 out early for a target card to help with my best friends shower. I'm in charge of getting a few game prizes. The rest is going to stay safely in my gather account till I need them this summer.
I've been looking at those since last summer, Heather. I've found some decent ones for around $2500-3000. Then some not as decent, need some work for around $1500, and some 'needs a LOT of work, leaks, needs new canvas, has no wheels' ones for around $700.
Myria H. Jan 12, 2009, 8:05pm EST
I don't know how to keep track of my points, I just know they go up a few(very few) points each day.
Beth - Doing God's work Daily J. Jan 12, 2009, 8:18pm EST
I don't know how you keep track of how many points you do a day. But good luck to you.
Ashley Prince Jan 12, 2009, 8:19pm EST
It seemed like I was getting a lot in the beginning but now its slower. Maybe its just me. Well good luck with your goals! :)
I just write down how many points I have in the morning when I log on, and again at night when I log out. That way, I can see what my points are.
Karen M. Jan 12, 2009, 8:25pm EST
Ours is all going to be used for student loan debt....
Debbie R. Jan 12, 2009, 8:44pm EST
good luck to you. Maybe one day I will be able to get 150 points a day as well.
Digital Diva S. Jan 12, 2009, 8:46pm EST
Good luck. I figure they add up faster if I don't watch them.
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Jan 12, 2009, 8:55pm EST
No set goals...excpet to try and smile some more.
Larry H. Jan 12, 2009, 9:07pm EST
SURE DON'T UNDER STAND HOW YOU CAN GET THAT MANY POINTS THAT FAST, MY POINTS AREN'T GOING UP, I HAVE POSTED PICTURES, ARTICLE, RATED AND COMMENTED ON WHAT YOU POST AND OTHER PEOPLE POST. AND MY POINTS ARE GOIN UP REAL SLOW. tHINk I AM GETTING THE SHAFT MYSELF
Today I've been concentrating on viewing posts, and videos. I went through 20 pages of posts today in one sitting, but also went through other posts at different times. I opened each post to read it, or in some cases, skim it, then ranked it if I remembered. It took a bit of time in one chunk.
I'm hoping to save mine, but will use the money for spending on the work trips that I go on.
♥ Adair ♥ K. Jan 12, 2009, 9:29pm EST
I saving my points along as I can. I will probably cash out in June for Amazon gift card. It will help pay for books for my daughter in college.
Janet "Jax" B. Jan 13, 2009, 12:31am EST
I think points are a little slower right now....

I'm trying to save mine for as long as possible too....I have around 6000 right now.
Carla B. Jan 13, 2009, 2:30am EST
I add up all of my online earnings each month and put part of it in my savings account, part of it in Elliott's savings account, put part of it back for gifts, and use the rest for paying down debt, or just for fun things sometimes.
Paul M. Jan 13, 2009, 8:27am EST
How do people do it? I get 150 points in three months if I'm lucky, which usually I'm not. Even if I post more it doesn't seem to help much.
Lin B. Jan 13, 2009, 8:35am EST
Blessings on all you do and lots of points too.
Amanda C. Jan 13, 2009, 11:08am EST
I don't have as much time to spend ont eh computer anymore, but even the days I am on my points seem to add up slower.

I used to get atleast $2/day when I spent the day on here, now it is much less, like barely 1/2 that it seems.

I am just earning points to help with bills, the new baby, and anything extra I may want or need.
Monica H. Jan 13, 2009, 11:35am EST
Wow!! I would say that you are doing great. I usually am doing good if I make 50 points in a day. I'm not able to be on here quite as often as I would like too. I work three days a week, and then have two little ones at home the other four days.

I just stop in whenever I can, and I get the Target gift cards. I just cashed out for one. It's going to my sister in law for her birthday. The next Target card is going to be for me.
Denise W. Jan 13, 2009, 2:12pm EST
Wow I am lucky if I can get 100 points a day and that is if I sit here most of the day which is not helping my butt size lol
Sharla H. Jan 13, 2009, 2:28pm EST
i don't get anywhere near those points. It is so hard finding time to comment on all of these posts.
Sophie S. Jan 13, 2009, 4:40pm EST
Sounds like you're doing great goal reached or not! I have been averaging about 40 points per day and that is good for me-- that many even with the fact that I am not on here are much as I was a few weeks ago.
Ellen B. Apr 17, 2009, 3:15pm EDT
Sounds like you have a good plan worked out, I'm looking for ways to increase my points.

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