Schedule changes

I've a flexible schedule in that I can start anytime between 6:30-8:30. I get in at the earliest and leave as soon as 3pm. I've always worked this schedule aside for the 2 years we were shutdown. 

My wife gets home closer to 6, so I do dinner and chauffeur duties when she can't.

My daughters take music lessons. One plays guitar while other has singing and drums. Three lessons between them each week, but only two days a week do we go since they overlapped. 

They both were on Wednesday until winter when guitar girl had a schedule conflict and moved to Friday at same time as drums. 

Guitar girl's pre-existing conflict reemerges in July so I looked into moving back to Wednesday. Opening was not convenient with other child's lesson, so I moved both of her lessons to Thursday back to back.

Today is the first scheduled Friday off from music lessons in years. Nice to come home and be able to take nap.

Rioting

 I fail to understand rioters. We're at a time when martyrs can be made by the use of patsies being in the right place at the right time.

I don't condone violence, but anyone could use the opportunity of "chaos" to create a catastrophe to paint false images of authoritarian behavior.

Nothing about the rioting is organic. Pawns are probably being played with hopes of blood in the streets it seems for their end game is nonsense or unacceptable to the general population.

Living well isn't cheap but garbage is expensive too

My older daughter is having a couple parties this weekend for friends groups.

We don't drink name brand soda, so I was shocked that a 2 liter of Coca-Cola is going for $2.99.

I very rarely drink soda. I'm a coffee, water and milk(protein) sort of person. I've tracked my calories for the last 15 straight months. My calories serve purpose. I feel like garbage when drinking a coke anymore. 

I don't eat sweets like donuts and ice cream as much but I have a problem when it comes to fresh baked cookies or Peanut M&Ms.

Crazy to think I weighed as much as I do now when I used to work at a car wash or at FedEx and ate a container of Moose tracks ice cream and a dozen chocolate donuts from Aldi almost every day when I got home. No fruits or veggies. 

Turning 40 made that diet impossible. I don't eat nachos daily like I used to, but there are weeks where I do. I don't eat junk unless I've been good for a stretch.

In college after dorm days, I used to not eat meat during the week. Basically, I ate oatmeal and rice and then ate steaks and hamburger on weekends. Is that binge eating? Probably... the way I ate, but when I was 21, I drank beer most days and didn't really eat meat aside from Taco Bell. Weird to think I had a drinking problem but people thought it.

Ambrose Bierce

I've a couple friends I met through my current job. They were hired a couple years ago, but one left within his first year. Long story, but we try to get together and bowl once a month. 

We were good about the monthly meeting up until I couldn't physically do it and thus... well, we went an extended period between bowling so we had the idea to do a book club and cigar night. 

It's not formal, yet. We just threw the idea out there without any NAYs. Somehow Ambrose Bierce was picked as the author to read. We chose Negligible Tales. 

Two of us had to get copies from a library to read. I've read most of these Negligible Tales, and I am struck by the idea i could write better than Bierce. 

It's interesting having friends. I've not really had any since college, aside from whom I married, or course. 

Why doesn't everyone use Ibotta?

 Free money is being left on the table...WHY?

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I asked Grok what else I could use to get cashback. Here are some of the best apps like Ibotta for earning cashback on your purchases in 2025, based on their features, ease of use, and reward potential:

1. Fetch Rewards
   • Best for: Earning points on any receipt, especially groceries.
   • How it works: Scan any grocery or retail receipt to earn points, no need to preselect offers. Points are earned for purchasing products from partner brands (e.g., Kraft, Pepsi) at any store. You can also earn bonus points for special offers or referring friends.
   • Cashout: Redeem points (3,000 points = $3) for gift cards to retailers like Amazon, Target, or donate to charities.
   • Why it’s great: Simpler than Ibotta since you don’t need to select offers beforehand, and it has a lower redemption threshold ($3 vs. Ibotta’s $20). Can be used alongside Ibotta for maximum savings.
   • Source:
2. Rakuten
   • Best for: Online shopping.
   • How it works: Earn cashback (1-12%) by shopping through the Rakuten app or website at over 3,500 partner retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Macy’s. Offers a browser extension for automatic deal alerts and occasional double/triple cashback promotions.
   • Cashout: Paid quarterly via PayPal or check, with a $10 welcome bonus for new users.
   • Why it’s great: Extensive retailer network and no receipt scanning required. Ideal for frequent online shoppers.
   • Source:
3. Checkout 51
   • Best for: Grocery shopping with generic offers.
   • How it works: Browse weekly offers, purchase qualifying items at any store, and upload your receipt to earn cashback. Offers are often for essentials like eggs, milk, or bread, and aren’t tied to specific retailers.
   • Cashout: Redeem at $20 via check or PayPal (PayPal in testing).
   • Why it’s great: More versatile than Ibotta with generic offers, but fewer online shopping options and a similar $20 cashout threshold.
   • Source:
4. Shopkick
   • Best for: In-store engagement and low cashout minimum.
   • How it works: Earn “kicks” (points) by walking into stores, scanning barcodes, submitting receipts, or shopping online at partners like Amazon, Walmart, or Sephora. Can link a credit card for extra kicks.
   • Cashout: Redeem kicks for gift cards starting at $2 (e.g., Target, Amazon).
   • Why it’s great: Unique earning methods (e.g., store visits, scanning) and a low redemption threshold make it versatile. Can be used with Ibotta for additional savings.
   • Source:
5. Dosh
   • Best for: Passive cashback on travel and retail.
   • How it works: Link your credit/debit card to earn cashback automatically at participating stores, restaurants, or travel services (e.g., Macy’s, Ulta, hotels). No receipt scanning required.
   • Cashout: Redeem via PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards at $25.
   • Why it’s great: Hands-off approach, ideal for travel and dining, but retailer availability varies by location.
   • Source:
6. Receipt Hog
   • Best for: Gamified rewards for any receipt.
   • How it works: Scan receipts from any store (e.g., Costco, McDonald’s) to earn coins. Additional coins from surveys, sweepstakes, or “Hog Slots.”
   • Cashout: Redeem 1,000 coins for PayPal cash, Amazon, or Visa gift cards.
   • Why it’s great: Fun, gamified experience, but rewards accumulate slower than Ibotta, and it has a $20 cashout threshold.
   • Source:
7. Swagbucks
   • Best for: Multiple earning methods beyond shopping.
   • How it works: Earn points (SB) by scanning receipts via the “Magic Receipts” feature, shopping online, taking surveys, or watching videos. Partners include Walmart, Amazon, and restaurants.
   • Cashout: Redeem for gift cards or PayPal cash at $3 (300 SB) or $25 for PayPal.
   • Why it’s great: Versatile with many earning options, but points accumulate slower for receipt scanning compared to Ibotta.
   • Source:

Tips for Maximizing Cashback:

• Stack Apps: Use multiple apps (e.g., Ibotta + Fetch + Shopkick) for the same purchase to maximize rewards, as long as receipts aren’t uploaded to multiple Prodege apps (Swagbucks, Tada, etc.).
• Link Loyalty Cards: Apps like Ibotta and Dosh allow linking store loyalty cards for automatic cashback without receipt uploads.
• Check Offers Regularly: Offers expire, so check apps before shopping to ensure eligibility.
• Combine with Credit Cards: Use a cashback credit card alongside these apps for 3-6% additional savings.
• Privacy Note: Review each app’s privacy policy, as they may collect purchase data or location info.

For more details, you can explore these apps on their respective websites or download them from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Always verify offers and redemption terms before signing up.