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I've hinted about it for days now, and finally here it is – your chance to win a $500 Walmart gift card!!!
Just in time to make your holidays a little happier, Nickelodeon and Walmart have teamed up to offer this fabulous contest hosted by the Elevenmoms.
Yep, that's right – each Elevenmom is giving away one $500 gift card on her blog, so you have 20 chances to win! Find details on the Elevenmoms site on how you can enter to win each one. Please note that you may only win once.
So who wants to add $500 to their holiday budget? You didn't really think I was going to make this EASY for you, did you? You're going to have to work a little bit for a prize this big.
In light of the tough economic times, this contest is all about discovering new ways to help each other save money. Yesterday I wrote a post detailing seven easy ways to cut at least $1 from your budget per day in the hopes that it would inspire you to participate in The One Dollar Give. I only just scratched the surface though, and I know that you all have some amazing tips to share as well.
So there you go – holiday-themed or not, I want you to share your best methods for cutting back by at least $1 a day!
Methods of Entry*
Every reader can submit up to three (3) different tips to enter this contest. Choose one each of any combination of method one, two, or three for up to a total of 3 entries!!!
YOU MUST LEAVE A TIP WITH EACH ENTRY. ENTRIES THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES BELOW WILL BE DELETED.
1. Leave a comment sharing your best money-saving tip to cut at least $1 a day out of your budget!
2. Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email and leave a separate comment letting me know you have done so along with another money-saving tip. If you’re already a subscriber, simply leave a separate comment letting me know you’re already subscribed along with another money-saving tip. Lovin’ my subscribers! You guys make this all possible.
3. Spread the word about this contest in some manner and come back and leave a link in a separate comment along with another money-saving tip. If you have a blog, you can blog about it. But if you don’t have a blog, you’re not at a disadvantage. You could review and Stumble it. You could Twitter it. You could post about it in a forum. Use your imagination!
*Please read the rules for entering and the timeline information carefully as this contest differs from the usual giveaways that I host.
It is important that you leave a separate comment for each type of entry because each comment is equal to one entry. Sorry to harp on this, but it really is that important to tally and select the winner easily, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me simplify the process!
Prize:
1 $500 Walmart Gift Card
This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, December 15th. The judges will select ten of their favorite entries to be highlighted on Deal Seeking Mom, and I’ll use Random.org to select the winning comment. The winner will be posted on Tuesday, December 16th, and the prize will be mailed out on December 17th. Good luck!
While you’re in a contest entering mood, don’t forget to check out the Giveaway Gathering for a variety of contests being hosted on Deal Seeking Mom readers’ blogs!
Tara Kuczykowski is a married mom of three boys and two girls, ages 2 to 8 years, living in Columbus, OH.
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To save $1 a day, be sure to turn off OR unplug all electrical appliances that aren't in use. Phone chargers, coffee pots, the computer... you waste a lot of money to have these items running constantly.
A second tip to save $1 a day, when doing laundry try and dry consecutive loads in your dryer rather than let it cool off between loads. The price to reheat your dryer between loads can add up quickly. And be observent of your water usage compared to load size... no need to use an entire machine full of water when only half the water is sufficient!
A second tip to save $1 a day, when doing laundry try and dry consecutive loads in your dryer rather than let it cool off between loads. The price to reheat your dryer between loads can add up quickly. And be observent of your water usage compared to load size... no need to use an entire machine full of water when only half the water is sufficient!
My toddler and I stay home when possible. It keeps me from picking up those extra things at the store and grabbing lunch on the way home!
My toddler and I stay home when possible. It keeps me from picking up those extra things at the store and grabbing lunch on the way home!
A third tip to save $1 a day, when planning your errands for the day, plan out your road map ahead of time. It's easy to waste gas driving, so determine the shortest route from point A to point B and so on. Don't backtrack while driving!
A third tip to save $1 a day, when planning your errands for the day, plan out your road map ahead of time. It's easy to waste gas driving, so determine the shortest route from point A to point B and so on. Don't backtrack while driving!
I subscribe!
Here's my tip: I buy most holiday items after the holiday has passed. Most themed items are half off or more!
I subscribe!
Here's my tip: I buy most holiday items after the holiday has passed. Most themed items are half off or more!
I buy the coupon books from the elementary school. They are $20. But they have a free oil change, 8 $5 off coupons at the grocery store. Just those alone make the book worth it. Help a cause and save money!
I buy the coupon books from the elementary school. They are $20. But they have a free oil change, 8 $5 off coupons at the grocery store. Just those alone make the book worth it. Help a cause and save money!
I updated my Facebook status to tell people about your giveaway!
Tip #3: Instead of buying bottled water we invested in really great to go bottles and take our water that way. Sure it was an initial investment but it saved money over time and helps the enviroment!
My tip is to cook enough dinner to 2 nights. Not only will this save you money by using less electricity it will save you time the next day!!
I updated my Facebook status to tell people about your giveaway!
Tip #3: Instead of buying bottled water we invested in really great to go bottles and take our water that way. Sure it was an initial investment but it saved money over time and helps the enviroment!
My tip is to cook enough dinner to 2 nights. Not only will this save you money by using less electricity it will save you time the next day!!
Tip #3
ok, this is tacky but hey, it saves dollars. I regift. Yes, I am a regifter. I make sure I do not regift to the wrong person. If you are not going to use it. Give it!
Tip #3
ok, this is tacky but hey, it saves dollars. I regift. Yes, I am a regifter. I make sure I do not regift to the wrong person. If you are not going to use it. Give it!
My tip is to not but prepared foods. An example would be that I make my own salad dressing. Mix a little vinegar and olive oil and some spices and store in a jar and you have salad dressing for weeks! Plus it is much healthier than store bought who know how many preservatives are in there!
My tip is to not but prepared foods. An example would be that I make my own salad dressing. Mix a little vinegar and olive oil and some spices and store in a jar and you have salad dressing for weeks! Plus it is much healthier than store bought who know how many preservatives are in there!
We live in the country in an old brick farmhouse, and this year, with propane being so high, we needed to figure out how to keep the house warmer, but cut down on the LP. So we bought some house insulation foam sheets, and my dh cut them to fit the windows (did I mention our windows are not only aluminum replacements, but also about to fall out of the house?) and I have put insulated curtains over many of them. A dungeon yes, but now warmer. There was an initial investment, but it can be reused every year, and definitely has saved us from turning up the heat so far.
KellyH
skyviewksh@yahoo.com
We live in the country in an old brick farmhouse, and this year, with propane being so high, we needed to figure out how to keep the house warmer, but cut down on the LP. So we bought some house insulation foam sheets, and my dh cut them to fit the windows (did I mention our windows are not only aluminum replacements, but also about to fall out of the house?) and I have put insulated curtains over many of them. A dungeon yes, but now warmer. There was an initial investment, but it can be reused every year, and definitely has saved us from turning up the heat so far.
KellyH
skyviewksh@yahoo.com
I'm a happy subscriber!
To save money during the week (daily): I bring my lunch to work and eat at my desk. This saves money by not buying lunch and gas by not going anywhere. Occasionally I'll walk in the downtown area or the nearby park if I want to get out.
I'm a happy subscriber!
To save money during the week (daily): I bring my lunch to work and eat at my desk. This saves money by not buying lunch and gas by not going anywhere. Occasionally I'll walk in the downtown area or the nearby park if I want to get out.
I'm a subscriber! This year, I have concentrated on not making extra trips in the car. We live in the country, but close to town. However, even a quick trip to town can cost us $2 when gas is $4. instead I plan ahead to do many things at once, sometimes have to stay a little bit in town waiting for someone to get done with an activity, etc.
I don't know if this is $1 a day or not, but for those of us who drives lots of miles, the money adds up over the course of a month. We have definitely cut $30 a month from our fuel bill.
KellyH
skyviewksh@yahoo.com
I'm a subscriber! This year, I have concentrated on not making extra trips in the car. We live in the country, but close to town. However, even a quick trip to town can cost us $2 when gas is $4. instead I plan ahead to do many things at once, sometimes have to stay a little bit in town waiting for someone to get done with an activity, etc.
I don't know if this is $1 a day or not, but for those of us who drives lots of miles, the money adds up over the course of a month. We have definitely cut $30 a month from our fuel bill.
KellyH
skyviewksh@yahoo.com
I'm already a subscriber.
#1
Buy items that are on clearance/sale in larger quantities so when you run out, you don't have to go to the store and pay full price.
I'm already a subscriber.
#1
Buy items that are on clearance/sale in larger quantities so when you run out, you don't have to go to the store and pay full price.
I would suggest that you can save easily $1 per day by shopping for clothing at used clothing stores. You can frequently find kids and adults clothing for over 75% off retail.
Kristen´s last blog post..Walgreens Deals through 12.06.08
I would suggest that you can save easily $1 per day by shopping for clothing at used clothing stores. You can frequently find kids and adults clothing for over 75% off retail.
Kristen´s last blog post..Walgreens Deals through 12.06.08
My tip is to take leftovers for lunch. When I am planning my menu for the week, I make sure that at least a few times during the week I plan meals where I'll have leftovers. It is so much nicer to eat food that I prepared rather then heating up a frozen dinner.
My tip is to take leftovers for lunch. When I am planning my menu for the week, I make sure that at least a few times during the week I plan meals where I'll have leftovers. It is so much nicer to eat food that I prepared rather then heating up a frozen dinner.
#2
Have solar window screens put on the windows, especially those windows facing west. This will cut down on the summer electric bill. And take them off the west facing windows in the winter, to allow more sunlight into the house and cut down the winter heating bill.
To save money, I subscribed to my local paper so that it is delivered to my home every Sunday morning. This saves money because I don't have to waste gas by driving to get one and can plan my store visits around my work commute or other errands.
#2
Have solar window screens put on the windows, especially those windows facing west. This will cut down on the summer electric bill. And take them off the west facing windows in the winter, to allow more sunlight into the house and cut down the winter heating bill.
To save money, I subscribed to my local paper so that it is delivered to my home every Sunday morning. This saves money because I don't have to waste gas by driving to get one and can plan my store visits around my work commute or other errands.
#3
Posted on my facebook page. "Kristen Giles Soller"
Drive the speed limit!! By leaving on time and not being in a hurry, you can save a lot in gas expense. You might even find that your traffic lights are timed for the posted limit and you won't be wasting gas sitting at the lights.
#3
Posted on my facebook page. "Kristen Giles Soller"
Drive the speed limit!! By leaving on time and not being in a hurry, you can save a lot in gas expense. You might even find that your traffic lights are timed for the posted limit and you won't be wasting gas sitting at the lights.
#1 - I get up 5 minutes earlier and plan out what I'm going to spend that day. I sort of budget the day, and I commit to only spending that much. That way I account for what I need or want to purchase, limit impulse buys, and keep on track in the big budget picture. I am finding that when I do not do this I spend about $200 more a month.
#1 - I get up 5 minutes earlier and plan out what I'm going to spend that day. I sort of budget the day, and I commit to only spending that much. That way I account for what I need or want to purchase, limit impulse buys, and keep on track in the big budget picture. I am finding that when I do not do this I spend about $200 more a month.
I run the dishwasher late at night. I read somehwere that some CU's dont charge as much during off peak hours...
mom 2 hmm x 3 @ gmail.com
I run the dishwasher late at night. I read somehwere that some CU's dont charge as much during off peak hours...
mom 2 hmm x 3 @ gmail.com
I am a email subscriber...
another tip is I make my own baby food.
mom 2 hmm x 3 @ gmail.com
#2 - subscriber entry
This year I made sure to weatherproof my house for winter.
(1) I went through and sealed up all of the window cracks (I did not seal anything permanently, since to do so I would not be able to open the windows again) with a simple foam piece (available at Wal*Mart for about $3 each, length varies depending upon how wide the strip is but I was able to do several window casings with one pack).
(2) I bought the clear plastic window wrap kits, $10 each at Wal*Mart (I really only ended up needing one, I gave the spare to a neighbor in trade for babysitting) and used them on all of my windows.
SAVINGS: My electric bill has been $200 less the first month and $300 less this last month (compared to last year, and adjusted for increase in electricity prices).
I am a email subscriber...
another tip is I make my own baby food.
mom 2 hmm x 3 @ gmail.com
#2 - subscriber entry
This year I made sure to weatherproof my house for winter.
(1) I went through and sealed up all of the window cracks (I did not seal anything permanently, since to do so I would not be able to open the windows again) with a simple foam piece (available at Wal*Mart for about $3 each, length varies depending upon how wide the strip is but I was able to do several window casings with one pack).
(2) I bought the clear plastic window wrap kits, $10 each at Wal*Mart (I really only ended up needing one, I gave the spare to a neighbor in trade for babysitting) and used them on all of my windows.
SAVINGS: My electric bill has been $200 less the first month and $300 less this last month (compared to last year, and adjusted for increase in electricity prices).
We plant a big garden in the summer and then we put up food. We have a freezer full of veggies for this winter!
We plant a big garden in the summer and then we put up food. We have a freezer full of veggies for this winter!
I subscribed
I subscribed
I emailed my sister about your contest
my Third tip is we run space heaters and turn the thermostat way down low...
mom 2 hmm x 3 @ gmail.com
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