UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed.
I’m really excited about today’s giveaway — partially because it’s a great book that totally fits with my quest for simple, organized living… but also because I know BOTH of the authors!
I’ve worked closely with Mandi from Life… Your Way and Tara from Deal Seeking Mom for the past 2 years and can attest that they are both amazing moms, wives, business women, bloggers… and just really fun ladies!
So, of course, I knew their first book, All in Good Time: When to Save, Stock Up, and Scheduled Everything for Your Home — would be a fantastic read. Between Mandi’s organizational and time management skills and Tara’s uncanny ability to find every deal, there is something for everyone inside the cover of their book.
Since we are planning to renovate our kitchen this summer, the text on the front cover “Remodel Your Kitchen” immediately caught my attention. After a quick glance through the table of contents, I flipped to page 19 (where the remodeling advice starts) and was pleasantly surprised to find they had included MY tips and tricks for remodeling on a budget!!
I almost forgot that they had asked me for a few tips way back when they were in the writing process… so cool!
I also love that this book is such a quick read — like a “how-to” manual for simple living! Last week (on our Spring Break Staycation) I shared that I started reading this book — and I actually finished it that afternoon. It’s the type of book that you can just hop around to different chapters based on what information you are looking for, and there’s always something new you can pick up.
So if you’ve ever wondered when the best time to “save, stock up, and schedule” anything in your home/life, I’d highly recommend reading this book. It’s available at major bookstores and, of course, at Amazon.com… but you might want to wait to see if you win my giveaway first!
The Giveaway:
Today, two lucky readers will win a copy of Mandi and Tara’s book, “All In Good Time“.
How to Enter:
1. {required} Leave a comment on this post. What is your best tip to save, stock up, and/or schedule?
2. {optional} Like Simple Organized Living on Facebook, and then leave a separate comment letting me know you did {or that you do already}.
If you are reading this in your email or feed reader, please visit the actual blog post to enter. Email entries, Facebook comments, and Twitter messages will NOT be counted.
Prizes:
(2) Copies of All In Good Time as described above.
This giveaway ends at 10:00 pm on Monday, 4/16/2012 and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. I will use And the Winner Is to select the winning comments at random. Winners will be notified by email and noted at the top of this post. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize or I will choose a new winner. Please see my full disclosure policy and contact me with any questions you have. Good luck!
melissa call says
I try stock up when I have a good coupon and a sale. I used to be coupon crazy, now settling into my “couponness”…
Trish says
One of my best tips to save money is when I use a freezer zip lock bag to store meat in the freezer and then I use the contents, instead of throwing it away or washing the bag, I place the bag back into the freezer until my next shopping trip to Costco. I buy in bulk and then store the meat in the already labeled bag.
My favorite tip for stocking up in not what is in the freezer but what is on the outside and that is an inventory list.
I save the ends of onions and celery and then freeze them. After a turkey dinner, I take the turkey bones and the frozen onions and celery and place it in the crockpot – fill it with water and cook it all night. The next morning I strain and disgard the contents. It makes the best turkey broth which I use for my homemade turkey potpies.
Beth says
I am already a SOL follower on FB.
Beth says
I make a menu each week based on my freezer, pantry and sales that week. Usually i assign a menu item to a night of the week according to time required vs. activities for that day. Huge savings of time and money.
Diana says
My favorite way to save money is not to spend it in the first place! I try to be very careful about buying something to see if I really need it.
Peggy Ann says
I always grocery shop with a fist full of coupons – buying items when they are on sale and with a coupon to get the item at the lowest price.
I also save my “survey” money all year to use at Christmas time. It is like found money when you really need it.
Sonja says
I shop at second hand stores before Walmart when purchasing everything from yard rakes to shoe horns to glass dishes. For movie entertainment we always hit the matinee instead of the evening show and I only purchase clothing on sale, RARELY do I pay full price, ever for my husband or myself.
Melissa says
I love to schedule. I often break out my computer and type up a monthly schedule of where we need to be including events, who is getting our toddler ready in the morning and who is exercising on what days. It sounds a little “stuffy” but it really helps me to see everything that I am faced with for the month and how I can accomplish it.
Susan says
In order to save big, stock up BIG. I have learned not to be ashamed of having a year’s worth of cereal or diapers that we will definitely be using. When the cost is dirt cheap, go for it!
Susanne says
One of my favorite tips is to freeze bits of vegetable leftovers in a large container. When I am ready I add a little broth and some potatoes and I have a great pot of vegetable soup…for FREE!
Mel says
To plan my shopping trips I thru the ads each week and pick out the deals on things I need to stock up on. I keep all my coupons filed in a big binder full of baseball card holders. They’re the perfect size for most coupons. I try to shop only for the things on my list. It’s easy to get lost in the good deal frenzy. For housework / chores I’ve been following a daily chore list developed by Motivated Moms. I’m not sure what the method to the madness is, but with 4 kids and a husband that travels for work I somehow manage to stay ahead of the mess.
Teresa says
My best guideline for saving money is to not go shopping.anywhere.period. Easier said then done, but us my single most powerful tool for saving money.
Liz F. says
Stick to a list when you grocery shop, and only purchase things you need or know you will use. There’s no use in having a kitchen or pantry full of items you don’t use! I also find staying organized in your home saves a ton. That way you don’t buy double because you can’t find what you need.
Dawn dk says
I shop 2 nd hand stores. Can find great clothes and house hold items at free tin of cost.
Teri Bennett says
I only buy certain items with coupons and only go to the store when I need to. I tend to shop at 9pm or later because they always have what I want, and if they don’t there are usually folks restocking the shelves, so I quickly get what I need without having to make a second trip. Saves me a ton of time!
Teri Bennett says
I like you on Facebook!
Raquel says
Since my husband and I have been trying to save money, be better prepared and make the best use out our time, my best suggestion would be to link you calendars. Both my husband and I entered our info in our calendars (we use google calendars) and now it is so easy to schedule a doctors appointment, or anything really. I am really loving it!
Michelle says
I already liked you on FB.
Michelle says
I think the best way to save money on groceries is to meal plan. The problem I have is a family that is extremely picky and trying new things is not easy nor is eating the same old things.
Michelle says
It doesn’t make sense to pay for a Costco membership for our family of two (and tiny apartment), but a few times a year I make a Costco trip with a friend who has a membership and stock up on a few things that we can save money on and have space to store.
Donna G says
When I can do it, I find that it saves time, money and aggravation for me to plan our meals and shop once for two weeks at a time (except for fresh produce). I am sooo looking forward to doing that again, once work settles down a bit.
ashley s. says
I have to read your blog every day! I want this book! Have a great weekend.
Sandy says
Keep a running grocery list as use things that need to be replenished and add recipe ingredients as think of something you want to prepare. I don’t usually write down my menu but kind of have an idea in my head of how the week will go.
Ren says
Liked you on FB
Ren says
I write -everything- down. Super important dates pop-up on my Epic Win app (gamification of chores!) and are also duplicated on monthly calendars.
Cindy says
One way I save is money is taken out automatically every payday. I don’t worry about what I have to put a side for savings because its already done. One thing I started doing for stocking up on fresh weely fruit is I cut it up right away and leave it on the bottom shelve of my fridge. It is ready for my family to eat and it doesn’t get thrown away hidden in the fridge draws. Organizing my family schedule I put on the fridge of what we all have planned for the week so everyone can see and everyone knows whats going on.
Laurie says
I like SOL on Facebook.
Laurie says
The best time to stock up is when an item you use regularly is on sale.
Tasha says
Liked on facebook.
Tasha says
My tip for saving is to use couponmom and/or thegrocerygame websites to get rock bottom prices by matching coupons to sales at your favorite stores. Stock up enough for 3 months for the items that you buy at these rock bottom prices. They will most likely be on sale again at the end of the 12 week cycle.
Tasha
Jazz says
Donate donate donate Stay out of store stay out of store stay out of store
Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle!
Leigh says
I like you on FB
Leigh says
Always buy more when you open your last back up.
AnneG says
I follow you on Facebook.
Vickie says
Just reading your blog has encouraged me to pare down on ‘stuff’, clean what I already have more timely, and rethink what I want and/or need!
AnneG says
Most of the time I feel like I’m flying by the seat of my pants and wish I was more organized and deliberate in planning. I do plan a menu each week, make a grocery list and stick to it and I know that saves. Also, if I’m in a clothing store and really want that cute pair of shoes, for example, I dig deep and walk away. Most of the time 🙂
Marsha says
I started reading your blog about two weeks ago. Love it! I have now liked you on FB.
Rebecca says
like you on FB!
Micelle O. says
I find the best way for us to save money on groceries is to plan a monthly menu based on what is in the freezer and pantry. It’s amazing how little I spend at the grocery store since I started doing this!
Rebecca says
I am actually cutting way back on “stocking up” because it takes up a LOT of space! I am still buying ahead, but I just don’t go as nuts with it, so I also have a reasonable supply of things, but I don’t go SO LONG between buying them that I forget all about it! At one point I probably had 150 rolls of toilet paper — a nice secure feeling! — but I had it tucked away in so many places that I didn’t realize we were close to running out! NOT a secure feeling! .