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. Jennifer

    One way I save money is knowing the “special” days at fast food or sit-down restaurants and only going out on those days. For example, Tuesday in my town Burger King has cheeseburgers for $0.69 and my mom gave me a coupon book for 10 free “value sized fries”. I end up spending less than a dollar (I get water from the water cooler at work or bring a drink from home) and I get a break from leftovers, frozen meals, or sandwiches once a week and a change in scenery.

  2. Jennifer

    One way I save money is knowing the “special” days at fast food or sit-down restaurants and only going out on those days. For example, Tuesday in my town Burger King has cheeseburgers for $0.69 and my mom gave me a coupon book for 10 free “value sized fries”. I end up spending less than a dollar (I get water from the water cooler at work or bring a drink from home) and I get a break from leftovers, frozen meals, or sandwiches once a week and a change in scenery.

  5. Jennifer H.

    My third money-saving tip is to identify one non-essential service that you could do without, and try it for one month. Consider canceling your cable subscription, caller ID, gym membership, or movie rental or magazine subscription. Then find an alternative: rent from the library, go to the park, use your answering machine. Try it for just one month. If you find you can’t live without this service, you can always sign up again. But you may realize that you didn’t really need it after all. Plus, you’ll definitely be saving $1 a day!

  7. Jennifer H.

    My third money-saving tip is to identify one non-essential service that you could do without, and try it for one month. Consider canceling your cable subscription, caller ID, gym membership, or movie rental or magazine subscription. Then find an alternative: rent from the library, go to the park, use your answering machine. Try it for just one month. If you find you can’t live without this service, you can always sign up again. But you may realize that you didn’t really need it after all. Plus, you’ll definitely be saving $1 a day!

  11. Melissa Barber

    Don’t buy small calorie counting packs. Buy larger quantities (or bulk) and count out servings yourself and place in plastic bags or better yet, in a small reusuable container. This way you arn’t charged for the packaging cost of the small packs and you create less trash!

  12. Melissa Barber

    Don’t buy small calorie counting packs. Buy larger quantities (or bulk) and count out servings yourself and place in plastic bags or better yet, in a small reusuable container. This way you arn’t charged for the packaging cost of the small packs and you create less trash!

  13. Marla

    Stop paying for cable!! So many shows are available to watch online now. I get local and national news via my t.v. antenna or NPR.

  14. Marla

    Stop paying for cable!! So many shows are available to watch online now. I get local and national news via my t.v. antenna or NPR.

  17. Tiffany

    I subscribed.

    Don’t do drive-thru: most of the ingredients that are in what I am eating, costs the same through the supermarket. Plus: I get more than 1 serving out of the deal. It might cost more up front to cook food, but in the end, it comes out to your advantage to cook your own food.

    Tiffany´s last blog post..My Best Money-Saving Holiday Tip

  18. Tiffany

    I subscribed.

    Don’t do drive-thru: most of the ingredients that are in what I am eating, costs the same through the supermarket. Plus: I get more than 1 serving out of the deal. It might cost more up front to cook food, but in the end, it comes out to your advantage to cook your own food.

    Tiffany´s last blog post..My Best Money-Saving Holiday Tip

  21. Tammi

    Use plastic window kits and energy saving drapery panels to keep the inside temperature inside and the outside temperature outside. If your gas bill is $300 a month it will save you $100 (or more) a month.

    Tammi´s last blog post..LOL: Legacy Of Love

  22. Tammi

    Use plastic window kits and energy saving drapery panels to keep the inside temperature inside and the outside temperature outside. If your gas bill is $300 a month it will save you $100 (or more) a month.

    Tammi´s last blog post..LOL: Legacy Of Love

  23. Tammi

    I subscribed through google.

    I save by not using ‘throw aways’ when I can use a reusable. Reusable shopping bags rather than store bags, dishes rather than paper plates, towels and washcloths instead of paper towels. Cloth napkins instead of paper napkins, etc.

    Also, because it’s too good not to share, I use about half the recommended laundry detergent and wash most loads (except socks and underwear) in cold water now. Less soap makes things softer and cleaner.

  24. Tammi

    I subscribed through google.

    I save by not using ‘throw aways’ when I can use a reusable. Reusable shopping bags rather than store bags, dishes rather than paper plates, towels and washcloths instead of paper towels. Cloth napkins instead of paper napkins, etc.

    Also, because it’s too good not to share, I use about half the recommended laundry detergent and wash most loads (except socks and underwear) in cold water now. Less soap makes things softer and cleaner.

  25. Glenda

    Tip #1:
    Never EVER buy garbage bags. Use the plastic bags from the grocery store to line indoor home garbage cans. Use larger shopping bags or dry cleaning bags for larger items. Use the paper bags for recycling paper waste and material from your shredder. Why pay for something you’re going to throw away anyway?

    (I’m a subscriber)

  26. Glenda

    Tip #1:
    Never EVER buy garbage bags. Use the plastic bags from the grocery store to line indoor home garbage cans. Use larger shopping bags or dry cleaning bags for larger items. Use the paper bags for recycling paper waste and material from your shredder. Why pay for something you’re going to throw away anyway?

    (I’m a subscriber)

  27. Glenda

    Tip #2:
    Like the convenience of a liquid soap near your bath or kitchen sink? Purchase a foam soap container from the “fancy bath and body-type store. (I’ve gotten them on sale @ 3/$5…a one-time investment.) Then NEVER purchase another again: When you’re ready for a refill, simply add 1/3 liquid soap (from a dollar-type store) and 3/4 water. Shake to mix. This gives the right consistency and your soap will go 3 times as far!

    You can add a little food coloring and fragrance if you want to change it up, but it isn’t necessary. I like to use different colors to match the seasons or my room decor.

    (I’m a subscriber)

  28. Glenda

    Tip #2:
    Like the convenience of a liquid soap near your bath or kitchen sink? Purchase a foam soap container from the “fancy bath and body-type store. (I’ve gotten them on sale @ 3/$5…a one-time investment.) Then NEVER purchase another again: When you’re ready for a refill, simply add 1/3 liquid soap (from a dollar-type store) and 3/4 water. Shake to mix. This gives the right consistency and your soap will go 3 times as far!

    You can add a little food coloring and fragrance if you want to change it up, but it isn’t necessary. I like to use different colors to match the seasons or my room decor.

    (I’m a subscriber)

  29. Glenda

    Tip #3:
    Don’t ever buy bread crumbs, make them!
    Save the end pieces and odd pieces from every loaf of bread, even if they are getting a little dry. Let them accumulate in an empty bread bag in your freezer until you have a “critical mass.” (I generally do this when I have 1-2 bags full.) Lay all the pieces out onto cookie sheets and bake at low heat (200 degrees) for 40 minutes or so, turning once. Next, pop them into a food processor to turn them into crumbs. You can add seasoning if you like. (I generally don’t because this makes them easier to change up when I want to make a specific recipe.) I store them in a plastic container in my freezer so they are always ready for recipes!

    NOTE: This is a good way to get whole wheat bread crumbs… healthier!

    (I’m a subscriber)

  30. Glenda

    Tip #3:
    Don’t ever buy bread crumbs, make them!
    Save the end pieces and odd pieces from every loaf of bread, even if they are getting a little dry. Let them accumulate in an empty bread bag in your freezer until you have a “critical mass.” (I generally do this when I have 1-2 bags full.) Lay all the pieces out onto cookie sheets and bake at low heat (200 degrees) for 40 minutes or so, turning once. Next, pop them into a food processor to turn them into crumbs. You can add seasoning if you like. (I generally don’t because this makes them easier to change up when I want to make a specific recipe.) I store them in a plastic container in my freezer so they are always ready for recipes!

    NOTE: This is a good way to get whole wheat bread crumbs… healthier!

    (I’m a subscriber)