I am so excited to be participating in the Bloggy Carnival again!
For this giveaway, I am including two things to keep you nice & toasty this winter- a $15 Starbucks gift card & a beautiful Sherpa Fleece Pull-Over from Lands’ End (retailed at $39.50).
Here is a little information about the Sherpa Fleece:
- Their thickest fleece
- Feminine fit
- Cotton/jersey lined for comfort
- Half-zip style looks great and helps regulate body temperature
- TEMPERATURE RATING: 0°/10° Fahrenheit. Over layering pieces, this Sherpa Fleece Half-zip will keep you warm in 0° weather; over a light layer, in 10° weather.
The winner can choose their favorite color & size. Can’t you just picture yourself all warm and happy in this?
And I know you can picture yourself totally drinking this?
To enter, please leave a comment and tell me one thing you are doing right now to survive the economic crisis. I am looking for creative ways that you save money! Please leave a comment by Friday (10/31) at 8 PM EST to be included. Only entries that follow the guidelines will be entered.
After you enter here, be sure to visit all of the hundreds and hundreds of giveaways that are happening right now over at the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival!
Good luck everyone!
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I just wanted to let you all know that we are offering another great giveaway to our readers! Two lucky winners will receive a copy of Build-A-Bear Workshop for the Nintendo Wii. This is a family-friendly game perfect for young children. The game is for children three and older. Put your entry in over at The Mother Loot today! The contest ends October 28th at 8PM EST!
I’ve started to question EVERY purchase I make — do I need it? Do I need it NOW? Can I find it cheaper somewhere else? What am I going to give up if I buy it? This has helped me make much better purchasing decisions!
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We aren’t going out as much, and I’m looking for a part time job to help with the bill.s
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We are using lots of coupons, watching for sales, and for Christmas this year I will be crafting most presents!
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we are doing a lot of coupon clipping and walking where we can avoid driving.
fertawert AT yahoo DOT com
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Hi, Amy — Well – first we kept track for one week of all the money we spent and how – from paying bills to picking up a coffee at Starbuck’s to buying groceries. Then we put a plan in action: no eating out or getting take out unless it’s a special occasion, we bought a freezer so we could buy in bulk for cheap and have space to put it (I call it “garage take out”), no more buying lunches at work for my husband (he’s all about leftovers!), no buying anything unless it is deemed a “need” not a “want”, already told the families that we are scaling back Christmas gifts, etc., and am putting things for the kids like pajamas and slippers and sheets on our wish list, pre-bought oil and keep the temp lower than in the past, and cutting coupons! – OKay – that’s more than one thing, but the ONE big tip is to write down how you spend for a week and then assess what needs to be changed for your family from there! -Beth
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I stopped buying luxuries and switched to non name brands.
mitanari[at]yahoo.com
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We are keeping up our usual money saving lifestyle tricks…
Cooking at home most nights and eating out only when we are doing it intentionally for a fun date night or night out with friends. We often use restaurant.com gift certificates or other coupons.
Utilizing the library or borrowing from friends, rather than buying books!
Taking advantage of the free redbox codes every Monday to rent DVD’s and catch up on movies we’ve been wanting to see.
Grocery shopping with coupons and stocking up during sales! Visiting the small corner grocery for cheap produce. (I can get all the produce I need for a weeks worth of meals for less than $5!)
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We’re doing a lot of praying.
Also we’re only buying what we NEED to buy. Only driving where we NEED to drive.
And we’re trying to make do with what we already have. Much cheaper to make do than buy new
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Our family is sealing all cracks and leaks around windows and doors. Heating costs are our major concern at the moment.
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We do our best to save money by always using coupons and by shopping sales.
ksieker(at)hotmail(dot)com
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Shop at CVS. Don’t go crazy on gifts for Christmas. Keep careful track of spending. Stay calm.
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I am trying to save as much money as I can by using coupons and sales to make the most of our budget. Thanks katie_mmartin at yahoo dot com.
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My hubby has a bunch of prescriptions, and I have one, too, so I’m transferring them all over town to take advantage of gift card offers. then I use the gift cards to buy essentials like tp and cat food, not splurge items. And I’m getting good at clipping coupons and watching for corresponding sales.
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Another day, another crisis – I’m keeping a level head, knowing that it will pass and we won’t even remember it. In the meantime, I practice some hyper-miling techniques while driving to save gas, save maximum possible each month, and keep up with the coupons!
Oh, and I have cut back on guilty pleasures like mom’s night at Starbucks… Hopefully I’ll get a chance to go back soon!
Thanks for hosting
“RNkatia”
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Check out angelfoodministries.org. There is no qualification process and the food is great and inexpensive.
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I have been using craigslist to sell things we no longer need. Also it is a great way to save $ when making a purchase!
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Well, as a college student, you could say every year is an economic crisis. Of the more unique things we do…well, a favorite flannel button down shirt of mine has a row of snaps in front, and from love and wear the snaps decided to detach themselves from the fabric, during a lecture, right where they matter most. So far, stapling the shirt together and using pliers to twist the ends of the staple together seem to be holding the shirt together. I think the fleece jacket would be a good replacement…
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I am only purchasing the things my family need, no unneccessary purchases. And I am hoping my children can learn a valuable lesson from this recession. I have been to indulgent with my children, and now they are learning to go without all of the “new” toys and learning to appreciate what they already have.
Although we are strugling with finances, I consider this a wake up call for all of us.
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We’re trying to stretch our grocery dollar further by using leftovers to make ‘new’ meals. Eg. roast chicken leftovers for fajitas or pizza.
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We have neighboor night once a week. One family hosts and provides the meal and then it goes to the next house next week. Works out great and the kids play outside or downstairs.
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I am couponing and finding the best deals possible. For Christmas, I am giving practical gifts and giving my time.
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How could I possibly win with this many comments?
I’ll try anyway:
Starting November 1, we are saving ALL receipts, down to my Starbucks runs, and my husband’s lunches. I’m going to track our spending and see where we can cut back. We are also going to scale back Christmas spending this year (easier said than done!).
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Trying to save as much as possible. Using these great blogs to find awesome deals and great coupons! I also only shop on sale. I’ve been Christmas shopping and only buying when items are on sale (I got some great clothes and toys from a store that was having a sale and I had recieved a 15% off coupon on top of that.)
Also at Whole Foods they give you 5 cents off your total for every bag you bring in for your groceries.
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My brother & I go to the same university, now we take turns driving to class.
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I am trying to be much more careful with my grocery shopping, and looking for sales, using coupons and such.
We are going to thrift stores more and recycling.
purehrt555(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Wow, almost 800 entries as I type, that’s incredible! Probably no chance of winning, but you never know! I love fleece in the winter and love most everything at Starbucks, so this is a great giveaway
Enter me, please ma’m!
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To survive the economy, I am actually cutting back on Starbucks…haha! That is why I would love to win this prize! I do not go to Starbucks hardly ever now, so I would love a chance to go! Thanks!
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What we are doing to get through this economic crisis is realizing that we are not retiring for another 20 – 30 years and that things will be OK. We are also taking advantage of coupons and looking for deals where we can.
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I know some families (like those in your hometown) have been much harder hit than my own. We aren’t really experiencing a “crisis” just higher prices. We’re just spending less than we earn, and trying to help others who find that really difficult to do since they don’t earn much to start.
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We’re trying to eat out less and I’ve given up drinking cokes and am drinking sweet tea (maybe someday I’ll take the step to just water!).
christmasinmarch {at} gmail {dot} com
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Clipping coupons!!! Thanks for the chance to enter!
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A couple of things to do. Number one is plan all your outings to be completed at one time. Also, we don’t eat out as much anymore.
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The way I am surviving this economic crisis is by praying. I started to look at freebies4mom.com to get free samples that we can use in place of buying some things.
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eating at home more, traveling less, and relying on The Lord more.
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I’m trusting in God that things will get better along with using coupons for EVERYTHING and driving less.
Angela
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We don’t buy anything that we don’t need anymore. I have cut way back on my driving and we’re heating the house at a much lower temperature this year than we normally do plus we program it lower while we sleep.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth
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I am be realistic about our expenses and using Dave Ramseys cash envelope system! If you don’t have cash. . . you don’t need it!
Enjoy your page very much! Thanks for all the helpful advice of others. – Heidi
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I have made a list of everything that we have in our pantry and use that to do the menu (week at a time). If I need something from the store I no longer run out and get it, my hubby picks it up on the way home to save gas. I buy gift cards to the grocery store to make sure that we do not go over the budget. I do not buy books instead I get them from the library. Hubby takes his lunch and a drink to work. I am making chocolate dipped candy canes and pretzel sticks for my husbands coworkers at Christmas. I am searching the internet for things cheaper than stores. We have set a budget for all Christmas gifts this year. I use coupons a lot. With my husband in school and me at home with our two little boys, money has been a little tight, but now much tighter.
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Mostly I’m not buying anything other than what I absolutely need, and not always that!
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First, I am trying to save gas by doing errands on one day of the week rather than here, there and everywhere throughout the week. I am using coupons more and trying to only buy things I really need for our family, rather than wasting money on things we dont need (goodbye ice cream *tear*).
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The one thing I am doing is NOT panicking and continuing to put money away for our kids and for our retirement.
ce613 at hotmail
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We stopped eating out, cut down on driving, started using coupons more.
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I’m walking instead of driving to save on gas.
shoreview3(at)hotmail(dot)com
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We’re stimulating the economy!
Thankfully this isn’t really affecting us so far (since we’re semi-poor to begin with and don’t own a house or have any money in the stock market) but we are trying to simply be more aware of the money we spend. Not eat out whenever we feel like it – which wasn’t often to begin with either!
teacherkrista at gmail dot com
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I’m always fairly thrifty, so not being in a habit of spending lots definitely helps! I’m signing up for more points programs, and trying to be smarter about how I redeem. And I’m more concious about ordering advance tickets when I do go anywhere, to take advantage of savings (AAA has great deals for example, at many attractions!)
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I’m building websites and promoting products so that we are relying on ourselves for money and not on a business that could close any day.
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My sisters and I are doing a lot of shopping at Goodwill.
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We haven’t bought laundry detergent or dishwashing detergent in at least 8 months because we’ve learned how to make our own with bars of soap, borax and washing soda. This is a small thing, but the savings do add up! I don’t think we’ll ever go back to buying detergent, either, even when the recession ends!
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In this economic crisis, I’m consolidating all my shopping into one day every week and a half since I’m 20 miles from the stores. Also, our heat is set low during the day and lower at night. That Lands End fleece would sure come in handy!
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I’m really making more of an effort to cook at home more – this is a big step for me because I hate cooking and I’m not very good at it, but slowly I’m learning, because I just can’t afford ordering out or restaurants nowadays. I made biscuits and gravy for the first time the other night – it definitely wasn’t perfect, but it was okay and I learned from it. Hopefully I’ll improve with time
What a great giveaway! It’s just turned cold here and that fleece looks so comfy and warm!
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Making my own laundry detergent.
Elaine
bells6ATbellsouthDOTnet
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driving a bit less, remember my totes for shopping (my store pays you for using your own bag), using the slow cooker and eating the meal over a few nights, saves money on energy since I am not cooking as much each night and buying the meat in bulk is less also
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I am constantly looking for ways to save money! I scour the internet for coupons, always take my prescriptions where they are offering a gift card in exchange, stock up when things are onsale, make a list before doing any shopping, trying to stay at home and save gasoline, consolidating errands when I do have to get out. Basically everything that everyone else is doing to survive these hard times! Oh, and gotta keep up the positive attitude! Thanks!
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I save money by recycling cans and bottles
And not just mine, but ones I find in the street, dumped out by the garbage can, or donated by friends and family! 
anastasia@mediamafia.org
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We're eating more leftovers & eating out less. That's one of the ways..
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For one thing I have hung out cloths on all but the coldest days, not turned on the heat until I was totally freezing and even then kept it low, scouring the net for coupons, cutting open my lotions to get it all, just little things like that.
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after reading about a Sam’s Club $10 for 10 weeks promotion on another blog hubby and I decided to join and see where we can cut corners to save money so we joined last weekend. I hope buying in bulk will help out with some of the things, though I do quite well with coupons and refund offers myself in regular stores. Time will tell and I should know if there are savings at Sam’s Club and if it will be worth it for us to continue. Also, get an energy audit! It may cost several hundred dollars upfront but if you live in the cold Northeast like I do, it also can be so helpful in finding out where your heat is escaping to-whether it be through the attic, old doors and windows you name it-and then you might even qualify on a nice low interest loan to get those items fixed too!
micaela6955 at msn dot com
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I am cutting coupons and matching them to sale items. We are checking websites for good deals(like yours).
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Oooohhh Starbucks is such a luxury. (*drool*) To cut corners on an everyday staple, I shake a dash of vanilla extract and cinnamon each into the top of my regular coffee grounds before brewing. About half the price of gourmet flavored ground coffee.
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We are using a lot more coupons and have cut back on our take-out.
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I am making menu plans for the week, purchasing food on sale for the week, MAKING myself make stuff from scratch and not going out or going to the grocery every day like I used to. It’s saving BIG time in gas and grocery dollars.
Thank you for the giveaway.
Lalycairn (at) gmail.com
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Trying my best to drive less, and trying to be easier on the gas pedal to save gas.
Thanks for entering me!
Jen
jenbrookern@hotmail.com
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Would love to win this giveaway!! We don’t turn on our heat, but use the woodstove instead. This saves us big bucks in the winter. Also, we’re driving less, which saves money on gas. We’re also growing a lot of our own veggies and have planted some fruit trees in the back yard…
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One of the things I’m doing is getting little freebies (like the Fisher Price DVD’s that were out last month) and putting them back for Christmas.
I’m also cutting down on how many trips I make to go bargain hunting. If I have to drive to three stores to get the best prices, I’m spending an equal amount in gas, so I’m sticking to one or two stores.
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We are having lots of homemade meals, and cooking vegetables, then freezing them. We rarely go out to eat and when we do we drink water, share a meal, use coupons,or just take out an appetizer and bring home so we don’t feel deprived from eating out.
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I am couponing like crazy. Also working on my stockpile. We are making do with what we have, avoiding impulse purchases and finding alternate uses for what we have
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I’m clipping coupons like crazy, not going out to eat as much, cutting back on the little things that add up. sarah_jakel@yahoo.com
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We did something scary….we have an antenna being installed on Monday, and it will be bye-bye satellite. Sniff, sniff, waaaah! I know I’ll adjust, and I am actually looking forward to it. But that’s what we’re doing.
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I am making as few trips as possible in my car to save gas and buying only the things I truly need. No luxuries right now.
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Cutting back on everything, using sites like freecycle to save useful items from the landfill on both ends, looking for needed items at a cheaper price at places like the salvation army, goodwill, or even on craigslist.
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I’m playing the drugstore game and getting lots of freebies!
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I don’t go places every day of the week anymore — I group our errands into 1 or 2 days to save gas. (Saves time, too!)
Thanks!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com
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1. I am increasing my 401k contributions – the stock market’s on sale!
2. I’m clipping coupons and taking advantage of free-after-rebate items at drugstores to stock up on necessities.
3. I’m staying away from shopping – I don’t realize I want it if I don’t see it!
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We use a “cash” system and avoid using our Credit Cards. We get out the cash we need for the pay period and just use that. We have to budget how we spend the cash because when its gone – its gone
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I am eating out less often.
txhottie_86 at yahoo dot com
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It may seem simple, but I'm staying home more. I have noticed hundreds of dollars in savings in gas & useless spending just by staying home more. I'm a SAHM, so it has not all been by choice. We do what we have to to survive, right?
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I’ve already broken out my winter coat here in Wisconsin! BRRRR! The Lands’ End fleece looks toasty!
How am I surviving the economic crisis? My favorite way is to consolidate errand running and to cut out ALL unnecessary driving. If we all can get by with a little less driving, maybe we can keep these “lower” gas prices down. It’s certainly a challenge!
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I’m not doing a lot differently but making little cutbacks here and there. For instance I am using a space heater now instead of having the furnace on. (It’s cold and snowing here already!)
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To survive this economic crisis, I am hanging on, working hard, and looking for all the best deals. I’ve cut back on things I enjoy that cost money but have picked up the time I spend doing things I enjoy that don’t cost money – I make large meals with my children and then take the left overs to work for lunch instead of going out to eat.
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May Canadians enter?
I’m a student, so I’m already frugal and the economic issues lately haven’t changed my lifestyle a lot. I am spending more time shopping so I can find better deals on groceries and find clothes at thrift stores that I’ll wear rather than just going to the work wear store (this is a bit of a sacrifice for me – I don’t really like shopping).
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I started using coupons!! This fleece looks very warm.
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In order to survive the economic crisis, I am really shopping around for everything. I got rid of one of our cell phones. Basically, we are trying to stick to what we NEED instead of what we WANT, until things improve.
rlgrady[at]yahoo[dot]com
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we try to do all errands in one day rather than whenever we want through out the week. we’re doing more things as a family than running out as individuals finding things to do. were also not turning the heat up inside to where we normally would for this time of year- we are bundeling up A LOT more when we’re inside.
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I car pool with my fellow coworkers to work. I have also taken clothes to Once Upon A child to sell
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i’m trying to not panic about my shrinking 401k and remember the things that are really important — being alive and healthy, loving friends, family, and the random stranger that comes my way. practically, i’m using coupons more and driving less.
i hope i win a spice brown lands end fleece!
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We are keeping the central heating off as long as possible, doing Christmas a whole lot more simply, and giving more to remind ourselves of who our Provider really is.
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We shop sales using coupons.
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I “hid” my debit and credit cards in a drawer and have given myself a $20 allowance each week for things like coffee, lunches, and impulse purchases. What’s amazing is that I used to spend about $500 a month on these little everyday purchases and now I still have money left on Sunday – so I buy the paper and clip coupons!
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Hi, I canned and froze all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Most farmers or csa’s are overflowing w/ extras and are willing to give things away, happily! As for jars, garage sales and word of mouth… women who used to can are so willing to give you all their jars they used to use. Plus, I know exactly where these foods came from!
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We are just cutting back on spending and I am trying to use coupons more. =)
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I “shop” from my pantry, and make meals out of what I already have, instead of going out to the store to buy new stuff. It helps to make sure I don’t find a box of Au Gratin Potato mix (or whathaveyou) sitting in the back that’s expired
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One thing I am doing is finding more things for my family to do that are free or cheap! We spend less money on going out, but we still get to spend fun quality time together.
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eating out less, being more conservative when doing household shopping, only buying true neccisities
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I’ve really tried not to drive as much. I used to go out just because I was bored but I’ve cut down a lot. I also use the library more instead of buying books.
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Continuing on what I have always done- shopping at thrift stores & planning our meals a little more carefuller.
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I am learning crock pot cooking so we can have more meals ready when I get home from work… having dinner ready means no temptation to eat out.
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I am using coupons on products that I buy and I create my meals around items that are on sale.
-Terra
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
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We are spending more time at home as a family watching old movies, reading and playing board games. It costs nothing for this and we are having a great time. We also have been watching what we buy at the grocery story and ask ourselves if we really need that bag of chips. lol
I enjoyed browsing around your blog. Thanks for having the giveaway. kammie2u (at) ameritech (dot) net
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We always try to live at or below our means, so the current issues aren’t directly affecting us much, but some ways we live frugally include cooking from scratch, and keeping our wardrobes, home decor, and kids’ toys simple.
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All I have to say is THRIFT STORE. Kids grow so fast anyway, why pay full price? Also, my kids are wearing better name brands now than if we weren’t in this economic crisis.
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