Deal Seeking Mom

BIG Giveaway: $500 Walmart Gift Card Sponsored by Nickelodeon

by

Nickelodeon
I’ve hinted about it for days now, and finally here it is – your chance to win a $500 Walmart gift card!!!

walmart-500-gift-cardJust 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!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wendy

    Call companies and ask for coupons or free samples. I have found that many companies send you coupons for full size products FREE or send you free samples. Start with the products you already use. They will often have 800 numbers on the packaging or websites that you can use to request coupons/samples. Then use what they send you in place of what you would normally use.

    Wendy´s last blog post..The Last Post

  2. Wendy

    Call companies and ask for coupons or free samples. I have found that many companies send you coupons for full size products FREE or send you free samples. Start with the products you already use. They will often have 800 numbers on the packaging or websites that you can use to request coupons/samples. Then use what they send you in place of what you would normally use.

    Wendy´s last blog post..The Last Post

  5. Lisa

    My third money-saving tip: public transportation, if it’s an option in your area. I started taking the bus when gas was getting upwards of $3.00 a gallon here, because just the cost of driving to and from work was killing our budget. Now that the price of gas has dropped, I still take the bus. Instead of paying $25 to fill up two times a week, I pay $25 to fill up once a week. My gas bill is cut in half, and I get a little time to myself on the bus to read a good book.

    Lisa´s last blog post..December already?!

  6. Lisa

    My third money-saving tip: public transportation, if it’s an option in your area. I started taking the bus when gas was getting upwards of $3.00 a gallon here, because just the cost of driving to and from work was killing our budget. Now that the price of gas has dropped, I still take the bus. Instead of paying $25 to fill up two times a week, I pay $25 to fill up once a week. My gas bill is cut in half, and I get a little time to myself on the bus to read a good book.

    Lisa´s last blog post..December already?!

  7. Nichole

    I make homemade things and food. I use cold water to wash clothes.
    Thank you! This would help so much

  8. Lawanda

    I subscribe, soooo…

    You can also make more food from scratch. One very easy thing you can make from scratch, and it doesn’t take too much time, is pancakes. People buy them frozen, but they are SO EASY. Get a good recipe and they are super cheap too. Things like that can really save ya some dough ;)

  9. Nichole

    I make homemade things and food. I use cold water to wash clothes.
    Thank you! This would help so much

  10. Lawanda

    I subscribe, soooo…

    You can also make more food from scratch. One very easy thing you can make from scratch, and it doesn’t take too much time, is pancakes. People buy them frozen, but they are SO EASY. Get a good recipe and they are super cheap too. Things like that can really save ya some dough ;)

  11. Emily

    We used to buy turkey from the deli to make turksy sandwiches at home. I figured out the other day that if I bought a turkey breast and cooked it and sliced it, we would save at least a dollar a day.

    Emily´s last blog post..My Princess

  12. Emily

    We used to buy turkey from the deli to make turksy sandwiches at home. I figured out the other day that if I bought a turkey breast and cooked it and sliced it, we would save at least a dollar a day.

    Emily´s last blog post..My Princess

  13. Lisa

    I’ve subscribed! I am including my three tips here, which should save well over $1 a day, all things considered.

    1) Avoid late payment penalties, especially on credit cards. The cost is much more than just a one time late fee. Your interest rates w/all of your credit cards may increase dramatically while your credit score takes a dive. Lower credit scores will also guarantee you higher interest rates on future loans or lines of creditd. If you are late with a payment, it is well worth your time to call and ask that the late fee be removed. Many creditors have a “once a year” late payment forgiveness policy.

    2) Use and maximize your flexible spending accounts. I was very surprised to learn that I could claim mileage to/from medical related appointments as an FSA expense. Also, instead of saving up all of my claims for one big reimbursement at the end of the year, I submit my claims individually. As soon as I am reimbursed, I put the money in a high yield savings account.

    3) Realize the necessity of an emergency fund. Appliances and cars will not run forever. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Having an emergency fund allows you the freedom of not falling back on a credit card or a personal loan, both of which would obligate you to an interest bearing loan. My emergency fund is in a high yield savings account, which has a much better percentage rate than a regular bank savings account, but still just as liquid.

    Lisa´s last blog post..Dillons Coupons!

  14. Kim

    Make 2 week menus and do just 1 big grocery shopping trip during the 2 weeks. Don’t forget to inventory your freezer and pantry when doing the menus!

  15. Lisa

    I’ve subscribed! I am including my three tips here, which should save well over $1 a day, all things considered.

    1) Avoid late payment penalties, especially on credit cards. The cost is much more than just a one time late fee. Your interest rates w/all of your credit cards may increase dramatically while your credit score takes a dive. Lower credit scores will also guarantee you higher interest rates on future loans or lines of creditd. If you are late with a payment, it is well worth your time to call and ask that the late fee be removed. Many creditors have a “once a year” late payment forgiveness policy.

    2) Use and maximize your flexible spending accounts. I was very surprised to learn that I could claim mileage to/from medical related appointments as an FSA expense. Also, instead of saving up all of my claims for one big reimbursement at the end of the year, I submit my claims individually. As soon as I am reimbursed, I put the money in a high yield savings account.

    3) Realize the necessity of an emergency fund. Appliances and cars will not run forever. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Having an emergency fund allows you the freedom of not falling back on a credit card or a personal loan, both of which would obligate you to an interest bearing loan. My emergency fund is in a high yield savings account, which has a much better percentage rate than a regular bank savings account, but still just as liquid.

    Lisa´s last blog post..Dillons Coupons!

  16. Kim

    Make 2 week menus and do just 1 big grocery shopping trip during the 2 weeks. Don’t forget to inventory your freezer and pantry when doing the menus!

  17. Susan S.

    Tip: When I am hit with a craving to buy a book or a movie, I always check my library first. In most instances you can even do this checking online. As long as I avoid any late fees, it saves me $$$. (And our library often has fine-free Fridays. My bookshelves are loving the extra space too.

    Susan S.´s last blog post..Hitting the Yellow Brick Road

  18. Emily

    My second tip is to make smoothies. I used to buy smoothies for my kids when I had coupons for them. Then I figured out I could freeze our bananas when they were starting to go bad, buy frozen strawberries and plain yogurt and make our own smoothies. The kids like them better and there is enough for my husband and I to have one.

    Emily´s last blog post..My Princess

  19. Susan S.

    Tip: When I am hit with a craving to buy a book or a movie, I always check my library first. In most instances you can even do this checking online. As long as I avoid any late fees, it saves me $$$. (And our library often has fine-free Fridays. My bookshelves are loving the extra space too.

    Susan S.´s last blog post..Hitting the Yellow Brick Road

  20. Emily

    My second tip is to make smoothies. I used to buy smoothies for my kids when I had coupons for them. Then I figured out I could freeze our bananas when they were starting to go bad, buy frozen strawberries and plain yogurt and make our own smoothies. The kids like them better and there is enough for my husband and I to have one.

    Emily´s last blog post..My Princess

  21. Kim

    I subscribed!

    Don’t eat out unless it is part of the grocery budget! It will save you bunches, as well as be healthier for you!

  22. Kim

    I subscribed!

    Don’t eat out unless it is part of the grocery budget! It will save you bunches, as well as be healthier for you!

  25. Mandy

    Quit drinking sodas. Not only is it bad for your weight and health it’s also bad on your budget! If you need something sweet to drink, make your own sweet tea…it’s much more cost effective.

  26. Mandy

    Quit drinking sodas. Not only is it bad for your weight and health it’s also bad on your budget! If you need something sweet to drink, make your own sweet tea…it’s much more cost effective.

  30. Mama Koala

    My tip? Drink water–when going out to eat, and when at home. Drinking water when out to eat can save up to 2.00 per person. We save a lot of money by not buying soda, chips, etc.