How You Can Help: Win, Win, Win Situation!

Everyone, Meet Cadence!

9-year-old Cadence was diagnosed with two germinoma brain tumors in 2015. Now, after four rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, Cadence is cancer-free.

The family was forced to move into a tiny apartment, her mom was forced to quit her job to care for Cadence.

“They are literally drowning in medical bills,” said Angel. “With the size of these ever growing medical bills they can never get out of this debt or the small apartment the family of five was forced to move into since the initial diagnosis. They have been unable to even rent a house with the state their credit is in. Cadence has blamed herself for this and we just could not allow this precious girl to hold that on her shoulders on top of everything else and after a yearlong search for a solution we finally found an answer to our prayers.”

You can read more of her story here:
http://www.morgancountycitizen.com/a-family-in-need-of-land/

My goal is to raise money for her and her family to at least begin the process of getting a house for the family.  Every penny counts.  Every dollar counts.  Every donation counts.
What is great about this, is that almost everyone can at least contribute somehow.  Even if you don't have the finances to give money, you can go to BioLife Plasma and donate plasma.  (You can donate at any location, but use Joe Nelson from the Snellville, GA location when you sign up and register to give as your referral, and the full $100 referral will go to Cadence and her home!  and remember, ther referral $ is not given until your SECOND successful donation.  So you will need to give twice.)
Keep in mind too, that when you donate plasma - you will be actually be helping more than just Cadence!  The plasma will go to help someone with other medical issues from deficiency syndromes to hemophilia.  Plasma is in your blood and helps your body control bleeding and infection.  By donating you will help a stranger, Cadence and you will also be compensated for your time from BioLife.  Three people benefit - Win, Win, Win!
If you have been waiting to donate or looking for a way to give or just make a little extra side money - this is the PERFECT OPPORTUNITY!

https://www.biolifeplasma.com

You can also donate directly here:

Paypal:

bethechangebaf@gmail.com

checks or money orders:

Be the Change

Brandy angel foundation

1201 Whispering Lakes Trl

Madison, GA 30650

(If you would like a receipt of your donation from Be The Change/BAF for tax purposes, be sure to request one)

They are now only $1900 away from reaching their first goal!  But we cannot reach this goal without your help!  

Please, give today!

...and we are off! Let the Free Spree begin! AKA: LEVEL UP!

I've already gotten few free things today in the last week or so.  Jersey Mike's last night.  IHOP a few days ago.  A rice krispy bar from Noodles and Co.

New year.  New locations.  New challenges!

Being in a different location and having to travel mid-month again, I am having to organize to an entirely new level!

Typically, I just write down dates and work my way down by expiration date and location is virtually nonexistent as most things are relatively close.  Being in my home state and staying in different locations at different times and then also having to travel back home mid-month, I am having to watch ALL aspects of the coupons.  I made a spreadsheet listed by company, location and expiration date.  Sections by when/where I MIGHT be near those locations at those times...

Not gonna rush through it at all this year.  Slow and steady because of all of the other things I have going on this year too.
Keep in mind, this is only the first HALF of what should be coming in my email.  Half comes in 1 week prior to the birthday, half comes on the 1st.  Then a few stragglers show up on the birthday.  This list will have several additions come Sunday!  YAY!

Moving like 80mph molasses

the first night I didn't even make it to Nashville.  Ended up sleeping about 30 miles south of Murfreesboro in the cheapest hotel I could in that area. Free, cuz of the plasma donation card.  Woohoo!!  The beds were great.  I put down towels and wore socks the entire time cuz the carpets were nasty though.  Didn't see any bed bugs so I consider that a win.

Got as far as Bowling Green KY before I had to stop and work for a few...a few hours.  Met a great waitress at the IHOP though.  Lifetime waitress since she was 9 at her moms restaursnt.  I think she's early 20s now.  But she loves her job and loves meeting new people.  I had an anniversary coupon too, so my meal was free.

Found a handful of new Joe shirts along the way.  I think I'm up to 82 now.  But not 100% sure.

Stopped by a gas station to use the facilities. When leaving I saw frozen root beers, so I filed up a cup and went to pay.  Half way to the register, a lady who just paid was leaving with 6 drinks in her arms. 4 in a holder and 2 more cradled in her arms.  I grabbed the door for her then got in line.  The guy asked me, "Do you have a shoppers card?"
"I do not.  Do I need one?"
"No"
Slight pause.
"It's free this time"
I didn't understand so I handed him a $1 bill
"It's free.  No charge"
"I'm confused..."
"You held the door for he lady.  This ones free"
"Oh.  Wow.  Thank you!"

Drove thru Nashville, Louisville and Indianapolis and have not received a single LYFT request.  Odd.

Met up with my old roommate and friend in Indianapolis.  That was fun.  And also a free meal.

Total spent on gas so far to get to Chicago: $75
If you include the 1/2 tank I left with, about $90 in gas to get here. And I still have 1/2 tank to go...

Kickstart my Trip

Well.  Change of plans.  For personal reasons the trip begins a week early.

I made $9 doing LYFT on my way out of Atlanta.  Spent $25 in gas.  Using my GasBuddy app, I found really cheap gas right off the interstate.   Regular gas average price in Nashville is about $2.50/gallon

BAF: Final Answer

I decided a few things over the last 24 hours...

1) Started a Facebook campaign to raise money for BAF.  Be The Change, Brandy Angel Foundation.  Little did I know she was already working on a great campaign for her next beautiful soul!   This campaign will run all month.  Need to raise $2000-$6000 to help a young girl and her family.  Get your wallet ready, it's a great story you'll want to be a part of!
More on that later!

2) I also decided that all LYFT tips from Sept 30th-Oct 31st that I receive will also be donated to BAF and the current campaign they have.

3) Everyone has an entire month to go and donate plasma at BioLife and to use me as their referral.  For every referral, I get $100.  That money will go directly to BAF also.  You do have to donate twice in order for your plasma to be used and they must be 2 non-consecutive days.

You now have THREE ways to make a difference!
So plan now on Be The Change in someone else's life!

Give It Away

Soooo...I was thinking last night...
I am going to change up a little bit of my plan.  In a good way.
IF anyone donates plasma and uses me as their reference: ALL referral $$ received by Halloween will be donated to a charity.  I won't keep any of it.  That gives over an entire month to donate your plasma to a good cause, and also the money for the referral will go to a better cause also.

I am currently undecided on which charity to contribute to.   There are a few that I really like:

CHOA: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta 
Me and my friends have done a few things with them.  They have a great facility and do a lot of good work there.

BAF: Brandy Angel Foundation
Brandy is a friend of mine and has done several GREAT things for so many people in need.  She has helped to find kidneys, helped collect hundreds of gifts to give on Christmas to kids with cancer, and even helped on boy to fly!  I know her and her heart and know the money would do good here.

World Vision
They are very open about where their money goes, so I trust them more than some other places that help kids in Africa.  And bonus for me: I've always wanted to supply a small village with a cow...
No joke.  I think it would be cool.

If anyone has any suggestions or feedback on any of these or other charities, feel free to comment below!

Something Old, Something New...

Hello everyone!

Took a little time off from a publicized Birthday Trek, but I think this one should be one for the records and one for the general public.

So what in the world could I possibly do new, interesting and different for a Birthday Trek?  Well...it took me a while to come up with this and it has taken quite a bit of preplanning and a lot of extra hours and effort.  A lot of waking up at 5AM to make this happen.  A lot or researching until midnight or 1AM.  I have lost quite a bit of sleep getting ready for this one.
This will also be a multi-faceted Trek.  It's not just traveling.  It's not just getting free stuff.  It is still a mixture of BOTH - but with more challenges and goals than collecting 100 free things in a 24 hour period and it takes the limits off of a close proximity!

Got your curiosity piqued yet?  I hope so.

MAIN GOAL:
Travel across the United States.  Almost from border to border.  From Atlanta to Minnesota.  For free!  With the potential of MAKING MONEY along the way!

How can this be accomplished??

1) Been donating plasma for gift card $$.  First time donators can go to BioLife locations and get $350 for their first 5 donation!  After that, they give you $20 for your first donation of the week and $50 for the second donation.  By donating plasma for the last 4-5 weeks, I have made enough money to theoretically drive the entire distance across the United Stated.  AND BACK!  Rough guesstimate is it will take about $150 each way.

https://biolifeplasma.com/us/#/
(Want to donate $$$ to my trip as a birthday gift while giving to people in need - all without taking any money out of your own pocket???  You can help by donating plasma and mentioning my name as your referral!)


2) My birthday is coming up again and you now what that means to me - free food!  Not only is the gas already being covered at no cost (other than time to a worthy cause), but meals along the way will be absolutely free of charge!  My goal for this is to get at least 1 free item from every state I travel through.  I've been researching each major city looking for restaurants that are local to that area (not chains) to try and get something new and different.  But if I end up having to go to a Waffle House or Steak'n'Shake - then so be it.  Free is free!

3) I also collect shirts with my name on them.  Third goal is to gather a few more along the way.  As much as I wold LOVE to have this be a one-from-each-state, I think I may have gathered all I can from Georgia and Tennessee.  Several locations have been found in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.  By the time I leave, the plasma donations should also cover the cost of these too!

4) But I said something about making a profit....  Did you know that LYFT works nation-wide?  Did you know that you can go to a new city and automatically have work!  (as long as you still have a car)  Not sure how well this part of the trip will go, but if I can get several trips along the way in major cities, there is also a chance of MAKING MONEY along the trip!
This is also another way you can donate...but YOU can make money simultaneously too!  
My LYFT Referral code: JOSEPH41203
We can BOTH make money for the rides you give, if you sign up!


I am really excited about this adventure and very excited to be able to share it with people too - especially those that are as frugal as me and love adventures as much as I do.

Until the next post...cheers!!