Andrea Dekker

Weekend Giveaway: Money Saving Mom’s Budget Book

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure here.

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed.

Even as a very small child, some of my favorite play-time activities were playing store {I was the cashier} and writing numbers in my “bank book” {see picture below}.

When I was six, my parents helped me open my first savings account and then make small deposits on a regular basis. You can probably imagine how excited I was to balance a REAL bank register after each deposit!

I opened a checking account when I was 18, and was extremely hesitant to spend even one penny more than I absolutely had to!  I used coupons to buy groceries all through college, and worked as many hours as I could to quickly pay off my student loans.

Now that I’m “all grown up” I’m still frugal, I still use coupons, I still don’t spend money if I don’t have to, and I still balance my bank register after every transaction {yes, I do online banking too!}

Basically, I’ve been frugal for as long as I can remember — thanks in large parts to my parents who have always encouraged me and my sisters to save, save, save!

Because of my love for frugal living, I am simply ecstatic about today’s giveaway — The Money Saving Mom’s Budget. It’s a brand new book written by one of my blogging friends, Crystal Paine of MoneySavingMom.com.

Crystal’s book is not only packed FULL of hundreds of tips and tricks to save more, spend less, and pay off debt; it also contains a wealth of information on how to simplify and organize your entire life… which I’m all in favor of 🙂

Plus the entire book is written from a “normal” person’s perspective on finances; so you won’t have to weed through financial jargon or constantly wonder if you’re understanding it correctly.

As I was reading her book, I kept thinking “I could have written this” because I honestly agree with pretty much everything she says. You can read more about her book here, but then come back and enter to win one of 5 copies!

The Giveaway:

Today, five lucky readers will win a copy of Crystal’s new book, The Money Saving Mom’s Budget! 

How to Enter:

1. Leave a comment. How are you trying to save more and spend less this year?

2. Like Simple Organized Living and/or Money Saving Mom 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:

(5) copies of The Money Saving Mom’s Budget as described above.

This giveaway ends at 10:00 pm on Tuesday, 1/17/2012 and is open to all U.S. and Canadian 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!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Niki Zucca says

    We started rebuilding our finances after our son was born in September 2010. I put together a monthly budget, determining what bills would come out of each check. I made one for every month for a year at a time. After a few months we were paying our bills early and not late. We saved so much money by not having to pay late fees. I also started couponing in Dec 2010 and continue to do so today. In 2012- I will continue finding ways to save my family money so that we will have a good sized emergency fund. Couponing, downsizing, and focusing on what matters most are definitely on the gameplan!

  4. Kelly Abts says

    We are doing a grocery budget this year, eating out less and less shopping!

  5. Leah says

    Sticking to my couponing and doing my best to coupon at multiple stores, since I see the greatest benefit when I do. Also working on our “baby steps” to get a few months living expenses in savings. Trying to use cash more so I’m not tempted to spend even $10 more!!

  6. Carolyn says

    I’m trying to be more conscious of what I buy. Do I really need this? And if I do, would something less expensive work in its place? Or is it better to buy something more expensive but of better quality that will last longer? That, and stay out of the fast food drive thrus! I wasn’t aware of how much I was doing that until I purposely started tracking it. My hips probably won’t miss a couple of McDonald’s caramel frappes! haha Thanks for the giveaway!

  7. Leticia Church says

    I am going to cancel a premium cable channel and stop spending money on those “deals”. I find my self spending money because I think I’m getting such a good deal. I al ready like Money Saving Mom, and now like Simple organize life on fb.

  9. Kathleen says

    After years of living in debt and frustration, I had a major wake up call this year. Now, we are totally revamping our lifestyle and our budget. Every purchase is scrutinized–do I really need that latte from Starbucks? Those premium cable channels–gone. Coupons–in. Meal planning–in. It’s overwhelming, but I’m trying to make better choices for my family now so that we can live in peace later.

  10. Eva says

    Using coupons, not eating out much. Cutting out non-essentials as much as possible.

  11. Diane Patterson says

    this year we are starting off by cutting down to bare bones cable and usine a roku to watch the show’s we like. I am making a list to go to the grocery store and finding coupons before I go and going by the sales paper to get the items I need. We are also teaching the kids wants vs needs and they too are getting involved by knowing the difference and helping us because if we really don’t have the money I say is that a want or do you actually need that? I feel like my husband and I really working together to gain control of our finances, I am constantly combing the internet for deals on items we might need or items that are free that we wouldn’t normally be able to get. I also look for free items that my friends are giving away or people in our area, I recently scored an almost new trampoline from a friend for free for my kids (I have always wanted one just wouldn’t spend the money). We are working really hard as we want to buy a house with a great down payment so we are really needing to buckle down! Thanks for having such a great site!
    Diane

  12. Julie S. says

    Ive made my 2012 challenge to not buy any clothing items for myself for this entire year. It’s going to be tough!

  15. Patsy Morse says

    I love following you on my fb and am interested in learning more!

  17. Leslie says

    We went back to cash only this year. We got lazy mid year last year and it showed! Cash keeps us honest ;o)

  19. Danielle says

    We are saving money by not using the credit card, sticking with the food budget, and being more purposeful in our purchasing.

  23. Melissa says

    I am trying to do more saving and less spending by couponing and cutting down on the non essentials.

  24. LaDonna says

    I already liked Money Saving Mom on Facebook and I just liked Simple Organized Living! 🙂

  25. nicki says

    we are shopping sales and coupons and trying to get my car paid off (last debt besides mortgage!)

    I like both pages on facebook.

  27. Carrie says

    I am doing my best with what I have but having this book will make it so much easier!

  29. teresa says

    I am budgeting now and everytime my husband gets paid I pay all the bills that are due during that two weeks so I know whats left over. Then I do my shopping by having a budget for food and pet stuff. We dont have anymore credit cards so its only what income we bring in. I could use other pointers on how to save even more money. I dont have the extra money to buy this book if I did I probably would.

  30. Hannah McKay says

    I have started making a two-week menu plan so that I only go to the grocery store every two weeks. I spend less because I don’t go to the store as often!

  31. Laura says

    I am trying to use more coupons, stick to my lists, and avoid impulse buys!

  32. LaDonna says

    My husband and I have made a budget. We’re eating at home as much as possible. We’re putting aside a percentage of every paycheck into a savings. And, as always, I plan to continue couponing!

  33. Tina says

    I am doing more freezer cooking so we won’t be tempted to go out when I don’t feel like cooking. We also make our own cleaners and cut out cable.

  34. Laura says

    I’m doing extra work online to save money. I want to start a savings account for each of my boys.

  35. Lauren K. says

    I like both SOL and MSM on FB and Twitter. Love the inspiration you ladies provide!

  39. Shelley says

    My husband and I are spending less by using a cash allowance each week, instead of our debit cards. We are much more likely to stick to our budget that way – when the money’s gone, its gone!

  40. kathy says

    I’m working on shopping sales and couponing. My car is almost paid off and then I’ll apply the car payment to pay off our other debts.

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