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. Trisha Thaden says

    I am also trying to be frugal in many ways. Make most meals from scratch, meal plan, budget intentionally. Thrift stores, second hand stores, couponing….and I still feel like there is room to improve.

  3. Sheryl says

    I am trying to save more and spend less by writing and sticking to a budget. We have always saved a decent amount by automatic deduction (the most effective way to save, I think). But since having triplets (in addition to two additional kids) a year and a half ago, I haven’t worked and we’ve been eating through our savings. We’ve never had a budget before, so it’s a big change for us both. I think this book would be really helpful.

  4. sharon says

    we are definitely trying to save more this year (since we haven’t saved any last year any will be an improvement)!! i am using what we have first, only buying what we truly need, using coupons, going through things we already have to try to upcycle if possible, anything i can think of. i would love to read this book! always looking for better ideas!

  6. Libby says

    Already a fan of Money Saving Mom & Simple Organized Living facebook pages!

  9. Libby says

    In order to spend less, we’re trying to avoid impulse buying (hubby is good at this, me not so much but getting better!). We also use coupons, especially with BOGO deals – sometimes this means we hit several different stores for different items. So we’re also getting better at mapping routes & errands all together in order to spend less on gas too (as well as TIME). I’m learning something my husband already knew – LESS IS MORE! So as I’m “re-training” my thinking & actions, I’m also teaching our children to do the same. Our save more & spend less has led us to spend more TIME helping others. In doing this we have also begun to purge from our home & become more organized. We’ve been able to help so many others with “things” that were just sitting around waiting to be used. Those items are being used NOW by others who truly needed them! So for us “save more, spend less” led to “less is more” which led to “spend more time” developing relationships & helping others. It’s already a GREAT year!

  10. Amber says

    We are trying to eliminate impluse buying, and I’m creating a budget for each category and going to try Dave’s envelope system again. We are hoping to be debt free (except the house) before Baby #2 comes in September!!

  12. Debbie D says

    Finding ways to decrease the grocery bill without sacrificing taste or eating healthy. Freezer cooking.

  13. Aleah Gentry says

    Of course I’m still using my coupons! We are saving to buy a new house! I love getting freebies!!!

  15. Holly says

    I am trying to save more and spend less by having quick, easy meals ready for us to eat on those nights when we have sports and school activities to rush off to. I also am trying to do less impulse spending since a quick trip to Target for one or two items always seems to turn out to be a $50 trip or more. Would love to win a copy of this book.

  21. Tina says

    I’m trying to stay on top of my couponing… I have let it slip a bit the last year and I need to get back into the saving mode so I can spend less!! I also need to get more organized that’s why I’m loving your site!
    1 – Liked you on FB
    2 – Already liked MSM on FB

  22. Blanca Guzman says

    I like money saving mom & simple organized living. I have just started a budget & sticking to it. I want to stop living paycheck to paycheck.

  23. Joan says

    We have always been a frugal “one income” family. We have raised 6 children and had many slip -ups, financially. We’ve had job loss, family emergencies, health problems. Yet, we’ve never gone hungry or been without a home. For that, we thank God and the desire he has given us to live simply. This year we are concentrating more on retirement. My husband just turned 55 and we do have some funds set aside, but we are thinking of preparing our home to be sold. It’s way too large for us now. It’s going to take time and some money to get it into selling shape, but we will probably do it all ourselves. It may take a few years, but we can wait. I’m always desiring to learn more about saving money, and passing on that knowledge to young moms. Thank you for the opportunity to win this book that I’ve been hearing so much about.

  25. Shelly says

    One way we are hoping to spend less this year is by renegotiating contracts we have (electric, etc) to try and get better rates 🙂

  26. andrea b says

    I am being more frugal this by planning meals, freezer cooking and make-over meals. We are also saving money and being green by using 1 car during the work day!

  28. Jenifer says

    We are getting rid of uverse tv to save money this year. I am also using as many coupons as I can on products we already use.

  29. Cheryl says

    I always try to save money by using coupons and having a list. I also stock up on things when they are on sale. I try my best to never pay”full price” for anything! I would love to win this book!

  32. Ericka says

    We’re trying to eat out less and buy what we need from thrift/secondhand stores.

  33. Dawn says

    1. Letting my husband pick up the things I need on his way home from work.
    2. Making more healthy home cooked meals.
    3. Making bread sticks, bread and other doughs at home instead of using the pre-made items.
    4. Use our wood stove to heat our home.
    5. Let my fingers do the walking and call stores to see if they have the item(s) I need.
    6. Reading The Money Saving Mom’s Budget.

  34. Monique Kimrey says

    I really love Money Saving Mom’s website/blog/facebook page. I have learned plenty since joining her. With this contest, I have now been introduced to you Simply Organizing Living. I have like your page on Facebook and as soon as I leave this post, I will looking through your page/website eagerly searching for help to make my life easier. I hope I can win a copy of MSM’s book! Have a great day y’all!

  36. Melinda Curtis says

    My husband and I have been paying down the principle balance of our mortgage for almost 3 years now and almost have our house paid off. We have saved thousands upon thousands the last 3 year of interest.
    I will share like your site on facebook!

  38. Tricia says

    I would love to win a copy of this book. Working hard this year to increase our percentage of savings. We can usually save about 20 – 25% off our puchases. Would love to increase to 40% this year.

  40. Sara Wicks says

    Use a coupon on anything I buy, if a coupon isnt available at that time then decide how bad that item is needed and wait for a coupon to come out 🙂

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