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!
Katrina
One way we save money is drying clothes on the clothes line all the time. If the weather is bad we installed a clothesline in our house that crosses back and forth on the walls. We have used our dryer only a few times in 6 months. This really works. The clothes are a little stiff but it’s worth it to save the money. Try it out and see how much you save. Good Luck!
Sharla
I blogged about this here: https://simplyscrapstampsing.blogspot.com/2008/12/cowboys-wife-beingfrugal.html
Another tip I have is to use cash when Christmas shopping. It’s so much easier to spend too much when you use that debit or credit card. I have a set amount for each person and can’t go over!
Sharla´s last blog post..12 Days of Christmas
Sharla
I blogged about this here: https://simplyscrapstampsing.blogspot.com/2008/12/cowboys-wife-beingfrugal.html
Another tip I have is to use cash when Christmas shopping. It’s so much easier to spend too much when you use that debit or credit card. I have a set amount for each person and can’t go over!
Sharla´s last blog post..12 Days of Christmas
BusyMom
Oh wow! I would love to win.
My tip is to use coupons every time you shop. I was checking out at the grocery store and the one person behind me mentioned to their significant other that they liked how I shopped – said, she’s gonna save some money there – boy did I, I saved a good chunk on the stuff I regularly buy.
BusyMom´s last blog post..Shopping Deals – Kmart and Giant Eagle
BusyMom
Oh wow! I would love to win.
My tip is to use coupons every time you shop. I was checking out at the grocery store and the one person behind me mentioned to their significant other that they liked how I shopped – said, she’s gonna save some money there – boy did I, I saved a good chunk on the stuff I regularly buy.
BusyMom´s last blog post..Shopping Deals – Kmart and Giant Eagle
Katrina
Here is my blog entry
https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&pop=1&indicate=1
Tip #3 I subscribe to freecycle. I don’t know if it is everywhere but you can check on yahoo groups. Well there are a ton of people posting things they are getting rid of or that they need. I have gotten so many clothes and given away so many things that I was otherwise going to throw away because I had no use for them. This has saved us a lot of money not having to buy things that other people have that they don’t need.
Katrina
Here is my blog entry
https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&pop=1&indicate=1
Tip #3 I subscribe to freecycle. I don’t know if it is everywhere but you can check on yahoo groups. Well there are a ton of people posting things they are getting rid of or that they need. I have gotten so many clothes and given away so many things that I was otherwise going to throw away because I had no use for them. This has saved us a lot of money not having to buy things that other people have that they don’t need.
Lori Z.
Take the kids and go out for a walk. Even if it’s raining, just bundle up. You get out of the house, and the lights and tv get turned off. You save on energy costs and you have entertainment in observing nature or your community.
Lori Z.
Take the kids and go out for a walk. Even if it’s raining, just bundle up. You get out of the house, and the lights and tv get turned off. You save on energy costs and you have entertainment in observing nature or your community.
Peggy
My best tip:
pack lunch and coffee from home. that tip is USED up, though, so I’ll give another.
if you must eat out, or maybe you just really want to, use a coupon! restaurant coupons are so easy to come by and it seems like i never see people using them. every time i use one i save at least one if not two or three dollars!
Peggy
My best tip:
pack lunch and coffee from home. that tip is USED up, though, so I’ll give another.
if you must eat out, or maybe you just really want to, use a coupon! restaurant coupons are so easy to come by and it seems like i never see people using them. every time i use one i save at least one if not two or three dollars!
Laura
We are making our gifts this year for family birthdays, neighbor christmas parties, etc. Saves a bundle, when you usually spend $35-50/month and a homemade gift might cost you $5. For christmas this year (to give at holiday parties/open houses/our neighbors/etc), I’m baking Rocky Road Granola Clusters from safeway.com. I can’t wait to try one (the chef has to make sure her product is gift worthy, right?!).
Laura
We are making our gifts this year for family birthdays, neighbor christmas parties, etc. Saves a bundle, when you usually spend $35-50/month and a homemade gift might cost you $5. For christmas this year (to give at holiday parties/open houses/our neighbors/etc), I’m baking Rocky Road Granola Clusters from safeway.com. I can’t wait to try one (the chef has to make sure her product is gift worthy, right?!).
Laura
I’m also a subscriber, thanks!
Tip #2: My husband installed a dimming switch for the lights in our living room. It was much easier than you’d think, and helps cut back on your energy usage! You really dont need glaring lights on all evening, and it creates some nice mood lighting for dinner, parties, tv watching, etc. Has created another small way to save monthly on our electric bill.
Laura
I’m also a subscriber, thanks!
Tip #2: My husband installed a dimming switch for the lights in our living room. It was much easier than you’d think, and helps cut back on your energy usage! You really dont need glaring lights on all evening, and it creates some nice mood lighting for dinner, parties, tv watching, etc. Has created another small way to save monthly on our electric bill.
Laura
Twittered you: LauraCh
Tip #3: We buy so much food and sometimes only use 1/2, or less, of the box/bottle called for in a recipe. For example, a recipe calls for cider vinegar (you could substitute, but it’s something that you think will effect the taste and you want to buy the requested item). Or maybe the recipe calls for red lentils, and you rarely cook with lentils.
First, buy the generic brand. Grocery stores usually have their own brands, and carry both a high and low end label. I’ve found that they’re almost identical in flavor and use.
But most importantly, you’ll never use all of it in this one recipe! So, be sure to search online/your cookbooks for other recipes using the same product and know that you will have future options to use up the leftover. Don’t leave it sitting in your cupboard for 1-2 years. Print the future recipes and commit to using them over the next month, insert them into your menu planning.
Barbara
Tip #1: When I got to the gas station I don’t buy little snacks and drinks. That really adds up.
Laura
Twittered you: LauraCh
Tip #3: We buy so much food and sometimes only use 1/2, or less, of the box/bottle called for in a recipe. For example, a recipe calls for cider vinegar (you could substitute, but it’s something that you think will effect the taste and you want to buy the requested item). Or maybe the recipe calls for red lentils, and you rarely cook with lentils.
First, buy the generic brand. Grocery stores usually have their own brands, and carry both a high and low end label. I’ve found that they’re almost identical in flavor and use.
But most importantly, you’ll never use all of it in this one recipe! So, be sure to search online/your cookbooks for other recipes using the same product and know that you will have future options to use up the leftover. Don’t leave it sitting in your cupboard for 1-2 years. Print the future recipes and commit to using them over the next month, insert them into your menu planning.
Barbara
Tip #1: When I got to the gas station I don’t buy little snacks and drinks. That really adds up.
Barbara
I’m already a subscriber.
Tip #2: I buy alot of my children’s clothes and toys at consignment shops. They always have great prices and you can give your gently used things for store credit.
Barbara
I’m already a subscriber.
Tip #2: I buy alot of my children’s clothes and toys at consignment shops. They always have great prices and you can give your gently used things for store credit.
PlusSizeMommy
Tip #1 – One night a week, usually the night before garbage night, we get all of the leftovers out of the fridge and have a “smorgasboard” night. Everyone gets to pick whatever they want to eat, and they “create” their plate. The kids like it, cause it is fun, I like it because it is one less meal I have to cook because it just needs heated up, also we aren’t wasting the food. My husband likes it because it helps to clean out the fridge. Sometimes my kids make some funny concocsions, like… taco’s with mashed potatoes, and corn. Hey as long as they eat it, it dont bother me.
This helps save the cost of a meal for a family of 6 for 1 nights dinner. I know if we go out to eat a dinner for us all costs at least $40 and we do this once per week, so It is saving well over a dollar per day. (and we have fun while doing it).
PlusSizeMommy´s last blog post..WE HAVE A WINNER !!!!!! (My First EVER)
PlusSizeMommy
Tip #1 – One night a week, usually the night before garbage night, we get all of the leftovers out of the fridge and have a “smorgasboard” night. Everyone gets to pick whatever they want to eat, and they “create” their plate. The kids like it, cause it is fun, I like it because it is one less meal I have to cook because it just needs heated up, also we aren’t wasting the food. My husband likes it because it helps to clean out the fridge. Sometimes my kids make some funny concocsions, like… taco’s with mashed potatoes, and corn. Hey as long as they eat it, it dont bother me.
This helps save the cost of a meal for a family of 6 for 1 nights dinner. I know if we go out to eat a dinner for us all costs at least $40 and we do this once per week, so It is saving well over a dollar per day. (and we have fun while doing it).
PlusSizeMommy´s last blog post..WE HAVE A WINNER !!!!!! (My First EVER)
amy
My husband and i just gave up soda. We were drinking a 2 liter every day between us. Between those and stopping for fountain drinks we’ve cut way more than $1 a day!
amy
My husband and i just gave up soda. We were drinking a 2 liter every day between us. Between those and stopping for fountain drinks we’ve cut way more than $1 a day!
PlusSizeMommy
Tip # 2 – ( I am already subscribed to your blog via emails)
We do a “food co-op” with our neighbors and family. We save a lot of money by planting our own food. We started planing a vegetable garden every spring and our neighbors were so jealous when we would be able to pick fresh veggies right off of our back deck. We plant tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, green beans, carrots, and zuchini. Well, our neighbors were interested in starting their own garden so we told them how. They decided to plant some pear tree’s. pumpkins, grape tomatoes, and peppers. Well, I had a great idea, we always had more than we could use, so we decided to trade some items with the neighbors, and they share some things we dont plant with us. Now I have an aunt who keeps bee’s and makes honey, so we give her some veggies in exchance for honey, and my sister has grapes and apples. So every year we all exchange fruits and veggies with eachother so we all get a nice variety. Recently my mom did a herb garden and she grows something called scrub grass that is real rough and you can use it like a brillo pad to clean your pots, it makes them shine nicely. Anyways, last summer we even got fresh herbs from her to add to our veggies and other things. It saved a ton of money by doing this and we all got so much we even got together in the fall and canned some, so now we have fruit and veggies and herbs to last a while.
I am sure this saves at least a dollar per day on veggies and fruits and herbs because they can get quite expensive, especialy this past summer.
PlusSizeMommy´s last blog post..WE HAVE A WINNER !!!!!! (My First EVER)
PlusSizeMommy
Tip # 2 – ( I am already subscribed to your blog via emails)
We do a “food co-op” with our neighbors and family. We save a lot of money by planting our own food. We started planing a vegetable garden every spring and our neighbors were so jealous when we would be able to pick fresh veggies right off of our back deck. We plant tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, green beans, carrots, and zuchini. Well, our neighbors were interested in starting their own garden so we told them how. They decided to plant some pear tree’s. pumpkins, grape tomatoes, and peppers. Well, I had a great idea, we always had more than we could use, so we decided to trade some items with the neighbors, and they share some things we dont plant with us. Now I have an aunt who keeps bee’s and makes honey, so we give her some veggies in exchance for honey, and my sister has grapes and apples. So every year we all exchange fruits and veggies with eachother so we all get a nice variety. Recently my mom did a herb garden and she grows something called scrub grass that is real rough and you can use it like a brillo pad to clean your pots, it makes them shine nicely. Anyways, last summer we even got fresh herbs from her to add to our veggies and other things. It saved a ton of money by doing this and we all got so much we even got together in the fall and canned some, so now we have fruit and veggies and herbs to last a while.
I am sure this saves at least a dollar per day on veggies and fruits and herbs because they can get quite expensive, especialy this past summer.
PlusSizeMommy´s last blog post..WE HAVE A WINNER !!!!!! (My First EVER)
Erika A.
My first tip; I am a student, and instead of buying a parking pass, I leave extra early to find parking on the street. Parking passes are about $130 a semester, and with fall, winter and spring semesters, I end up saving more than a $1 a day
Erika A.
My first tip; I am a student, and instead of buying a parking pass, I leave extra early to find parking on the street. Parking passes are about $130 a semester, and with fall, winter and spring semesters, I end up saving more than a $1 a day
Erika A.
I am already a subscriber
Second tip; My husband and I carpool to work everyday. I drop him and the kids off in one area of town (his job and the babysitter are in same area), and my job is just 15 min away from there. With gas prices going down, we end up using $30 of gas a week, and as a bonus, we get to spend quality time talking with one another and the kids.