For six months or so I’ve been saying that I wanted to teach myself how to redesign this site. What I was really saying, of course, was “I probably never will do this, but I sure would like to.”
But then I met web goddess Casey J. Curtis at the Emerald City ComicCon. Don’t all the best stories begin with anecdotes like that?
Talking with her got me off my dime, finally, about the redesign. The timing was perfect: Today is the second anniversary of Surviving and Thriving. To thank you all for sticking with me, I’ve planned an anniversary-sized giveaway.
This time around, as with the first, the big-ticket item is a $100 Amazon gift card, courtesy of the Mr. Rebates cash-back site. (If you’re not yet a member, I hope you’ll consider joining through that link, or through the widget on my site.)
But wait! There’s more!
Also up for grabs in the anniversary giveaway are:
A $50 e-gift certificate to Charlotte Russe.
A $25 Amazon gift card, thanks to Karen Hoxmeier of My Bargain Buddy.
A $25 CVS gift card.
Two books contributed by Liz Weston of MSN Money: “The 10 Commandments of Money: Survive and Thrive in the New Economy” and the recently updated “Your Credit Score: How to Improve the 3-Digit Number That Shapes Your Financial Future” (personalized to you or to the spendthrift of your choosing).
MP Dunleavey of the Daily Worth site is pitching in a latte-sized DW logo cup; I’m adding a $10 Starbucks e-gift card.
The Wise Bread team has donated three copies of “10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget,” a frugalist’s bible.
“The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches” by Jeff Yeager.
J. Money from Budgets Are Sexy is providing one of his “I’m Bringing Budgets Back” T-shirts (follow that link and tell me those ain’t sexy).
Stephanie Nelson of CouponMom.com will personalize a copy of her best-selling book, “The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half.”
Also from Stephanie Nelson are two “Coupon Mom Organizing Binder” sets: Each has a three-ring binder with 30 six-pocket pages for coupons, 15 index page dividers, “price book” pages, a copy of “The CouponMom’s Strategic Shopping Strategies” booklet, pockets to hold store reward cards, and a bag for other items you might need — pens, calculator, Valium (just kidding about that last).
Dr. Dean Burke is prescribing his book, “The Millionaire Nurse,” which is not for nurses only – the book’s subtitle is “A proven financial first-aid kit for building wealth and freedom.
A pair of Brad’s Deals T-shirts and a Retail Me Not T-shirt (can you tell I’ve been to conferences in the past year?).
“Earn What You’re Really Worth,” by Brian Tracy.
That’s a whole lotta prizes
Usually the giveaways are weekly, but sometimes I’ll make an exception. This is one of those times. You’ve got two weeks to enter, up to five different ways:
- Leave a comment below
- Subscribe via e-mail or RSS
- Sign up to follow Surviving and Thriving on Twitter or Facebook
If you do any (or all!) of these things, please leave separate, additional comments to get credit for each entry.
The deadline is 9 p.m. PDT Tuesday, May 15. If I don’t hear back from the winners by Thursday morning, May 17, I’ll have the random number generator choose other names.
Your new site is purty! Thanks for the giveaways.
Brigitte,
I am a big Snoopy fan! Love your icon!!
This would make a great Mother’s Day present!!
I also subscribe by e-mail!
Wow! What a great giveaway! I would be happy to get any one of those things! Congrats on your new site! I enjoy reading all your saving tips!
Love the giveaway, i’m following now on facebook
Wow; that’s a lot of nice giveaways! I just found your site for the first time and will be marking it as a “favorite” for sure!
Great redo to the site!
Congrats on the anniversary and the new design! This is a great website.
I follow Surviving and Thriving on Facebook.
Congratulationss I am subscribed in all possible ways
Very attractive! I love the font in the heading!
Being an old bat, I’d like to see the body type larger. Same is true for the template I’m using on Adjunctorium. Serif typefaces seem to look quite small on a web page.
WOW!!!! Congratulations, Donna, and your new site looks RICH!!!
Liking the new look!
Such a nice giveaway! Have a great day
vickie
I subscribe via email
I’m in. Just about any of the ‘gifts’ would either help me or go a LONG way on Christmas spending.
I follow you on twitter-grandmasreading
Happy 2nd anniversary! I think I’ve been with you from the beginning then.
I subscribe via reader.
I like you on Facebook.
I got nervous yesterday when all I got was an error message when I tried to get here, but now that I see why it was down it was worth the wait. I LOVE the new site!
I subscribed via RSS and read you GRS
Enjoyed the trip – keep surviving.
I subscribe via RSS
comment!
Happy anniversary!
I like you on facebook
The new site looks great! Congratulations on the anniversary!
Love the new website!
Congrats on the new design and your second anniversary!
Love the new look, Donna!!
Happy Anniversary! Here’s to many more!!!
I am also following you on Twitter!
Love your site Donna and thanks for all of the helpful things you bring to the party!
I follow on Facebook…
I subscribe via email too 🙂
Thanks for the great giveaway!!! I love your site!!!
So exciting! Congrats on 2 years and here’s to many more!
TAhe new site is looking very spiffy, Donna. Congratulations on the anniversary and on reminding each of us about the importance of doing what we really want with our time and talents. Now I want to win a prize!
Love the site – thank you!
I’m taking a trip to the UK to see my sister! Any of these would be awesome!
And I “like” Surviving and Thriving on facebook. Congrats on the two year anniversary!
I also follow you on Twitter @MoonsgirlAllie.
Congratulations on your second anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!
Happy anniversary! Looking forward to what this year brings.
I follow on facebook.
That’s a lot of prizes. I hope I win one of the gift cards or books.
And I subscribe through rss. Great giveaway!
I subscribe via RSS.
Yay! Happy anniversary!
*blows noisemaker and tosses self-cleaning confetti*
Holy moly! Awesome prizes! And I like the new look.
Congrats on your new site look (very nice, crisp) and your anniversary.
As a person on her way to financial solvency, these books would be a great impetus to continue on my quest.
I also subscribe via RSS.
I love your blog! Keep up the good work 🙂
I already follow you on Facebook 🙂
Would love to win any of these! Happy Anniversary, here’s to many more!!
I would love most of those prizes (except for the Wisebread book, which I already own)! Happy anniversary!
I am also subscribed to you via RSS.
And I’ve “liked” you on Facebook (under Fourth Date).
Great prizes, esp. the gift cards:-) I follow you on Twitter.
I like the new website design – very clean and easy to read. Which is good, since there’s so much helpful information here!
I follow the blog on my GoogleReader. Thank heavens for RSS readers. I’d miss a lot of good information otherwise.
Your new site looks fabulous! Thanks for such a great giveaway!
I enjoy your funny and insightful posts!
Pick me! I subscribe via email
And Facebook
And twitter!
Happy Second Anniversary!!!
Yay! New Site! Congrats on that, and on two years!
And what a prize list, oh my!
I am also a RSS subscriber.
I also follow you on Facebook.
Happy anniversary, great site!
I subscribe via reader.
It looks great!
happy anniversary, and thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I follow you via RSS
I am also a subscriber.
I’m glad your site is back up!
And, a FB follower (lurker!)
I follow you on twitter.
I liked you on FB!
Whoo- hoo… 🙂
I subscribe via Facebook too.
Lots of great prizes! Exciting!
subscribe via RSS
follow on facebook
Excited about the new design, and the give aways! Happy 2-year blog birthday! 🙂
& I am subscribed in an rss reader.
Thanks!
following on twitter
Receiving emails
🙂
Oh yea, Liked on face book as well :~) Love the mew look! :~)
You and your site are impressive!
I subscribe via e-mail just to feel the love!
I’m watchin’ ya on Facebook too!
Glad the new site is up, it looks great 🙂
Congratulations! I’m glad you are keeping the site alive.
Thanks for having a big give away and congrats on your new design
And I like you on Facebook.
New layout looks great!
Also, I subscribe via RSS.
Wow, great prizes. Thanks for keeping the blog going. In addition to your wit and anecdotes, it’s the ease of reading professional level writing that keeps me coming back. Congrats on the anniversary.
I subscribe via email.
Happy Anniversary! Great job on the new site!
Great Giveaways! Congrats on the anniversary and new design.
Congrats on Two Years! Nice new design!
And I follow you on Facebook, and read your columns on GRS and MSN.
And I subscribe via email. And I’m not sure what RSS means. haha.
Nice round of prizes. RSS subscriber.
Awesome giveaway! I’m a fellow Swapmama, thanks for the chance with the giveaway! 🙂
Happy Anniversary! The site looks really spiffy :)! Would love to win a prize. I follow you here and….
E-mail and….
Facebook and…
Frugal Cool and…
last but not least GRS :)! Good luck to all!
Please enter me in the draw!
And I follow on Facebook!
Congrats on your blogoversary! 🙂
Also a Facebook fan
Good for you for checking one more thing off your lists of things to learn and do. It must be time for lunch — I thought the book by Brian Tracy was “EAT what you’re really worth”.
Still subscribe to both you and your daughter’s “I Pick Up Pennies,” on email.
Congratulations on the new site!
Isn’t it nice to do something you’ve been wanting to do for ages?
(I am subscribed to you my dear)
Especially when you were kind of intimidated by the idea initially?
(I Like You and on Facebook too)
I sort of feel like a glutton entering your giveaways but I can’t help it– no one does them like Donna!!
(I follow you on Twitter)
The new website looks great! Thanks for all the giveaways!
happy anniversary
I subscribe to your twitter
I also subscribe via RSS!
The site looks great.
Happy Anniversary and many more! Thanks for the great info that you provide!
great prizes! just was laid off so hopefully my frugal ways will help me through being jobless till something else comes along
hope you’re walking in tall cotton this 2nd anniversary; love the new design!
Happy Anniversary! I’d love to be entered.
The new site is very pretty. I like you on facebook too.
Congratulations Donna!! I love the new look, very attrractive!
I follow you on Twitter!
I follow you on facebook!
Love the new look and the giveaways are AWESOME!!!
The website looks terrific! Congratulations.
I’m following on Twitter
I love the new design and layout! Congrats on your two year anniversary :).
Wow, what a lot of goodies you are giving away. I sure could use the help about now. Son, daughter-in-law, daughter and 3 grand-kids moving in this weekend. We all have to live very frugally to make this work! I hope I get to win something in your contest. Thanks.
Love the new look and happy anniversary!
I would love any of the prizes however I think Stephanie Nelson is the greatest so I would love her prize package if I am the winner and there is a choice.
I subscribe via email.
Love the new look and happy anniversary!
I would love any of the prizes however I think Stephanie Nelson is the greatest so I would love her prize package if I am the winner and there is a choice.
I subscribe via Facebook also.
I love the new website! And how generous of you to share so many giveaways!
I follow on Facebook!
Pretty fancy!
Facebook too!
Looks fantastic! Congrats on the 2 year anniversary! (And I like you on Facebook.) 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
I follow via RSS.
I follow on twitter @amandawk
Happy Anniversary!
I like the new design. Very minimalist.
Please sign me up for your fantastic give-away. 🙂
Nice site. Thanks for the giveaways!
I also follow on RSS Feed. 🙂
The site looks great! Happy Anniversary!
I also subscribe via RSS…
and follow on Facebook!
What a variety of prizes. Pick me! Pick me!
Ok, here’s my comment. Love the new blog redesign!
Congratulations, Donna! I love the new look. Keep up the great advice and the stories. I subscribe via email.
I also follow you on Facebook.
me too
Two years — wow. Doesn’t seem like it!
I’m subscribed via e-mail.
And I’ve just started following you (‘liked’ too) on Facebook, as well.
Love the new look!
Happy Anniversary!
I like the site redesign, and that’s a fantastic give away!
Im subscribed via email enter me pls. I havent won b4 but i would love to win!
I follow you on twitter
I get you by email, and I’m glad of it.
I’ve never won anything online before. You have a wonderful list of prizes so maybe this will be my lucky entry.
I’m new to the website, but love it already
Happy anniversary 🙂
Happy Blogiversary!
And of course I subscribe – I enjoy your blogs very much!
Wow! What a give a way! Way to go on the new look for the site!
Great website! What a great prize!
I also subscribe yo your email.
Congrats! I would love to win.
Happy Happy Annivesary!
New design looks great. Great giveaways too!
I’m a subscriber, would love any of those prizes.
Hi Donna
I really enjoy your blog; lots of good information and, at times, a reality check :-D. The new site looks great.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I subscribe via email.
I follow you on Facebook.
Great site. Happy anniversary. I wish I had found your site sooner. I just found it a couple of months ago.
Congrats! I have been enjoying your writings since the onset. You rock, girl!
I subscribe via email.
Happy Anniversary. You’re looking very fresh. Did you have work done? 😉
Happy, Happy Anniversary! The site looks great!
I love your blog and give aways!
Giveaways are so fun! 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win something!
I also subscribe to emails…
And I follow on Facebook 🙂
Love the new look! I follow by email!
And on facebook!
Thanks for all the helpful info….I subscribe via email.
I liked you on Facebook as well.
I want to win!!!
I am subscribed via email!
I follow via twitter!
I like on Facebook!
I subscribe via reader. Also, I like the redesign.
Thanks for the giveaway.
I love the new site
I subsribe via email
I also subsribe via rss feed
I follow on facebook
I also follow on twitter – shopqt
Nice give-away! Thank you!
The site looks Awesome!!
Site is looking very nice! Happy Anniversary!
I also receive your emails.
And I subscribe via RSS on my iGoogle page.
I subscribe via email
I also “like” you on Facebook! Thanks for your awesome giveaways!
Pick me, pick me please!
HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY !!! lOVE THE NEW LOOK !
Happy Anniversary!! The new site looks great! Sign me up for the giveaways please!!
Leaving my comment in hopes of giveaway goodness!
I also subscribe via email.
Love the new design.
Congrats on the two years!
Congrats on 2 years! Hope I win. 🙂
Great new site look… and giveaway!
Christmas comes in May? Wow. Love the site redesign!
I follow you on Facebook.
I follow you on Twitter, too. 🙂
I subscribe to via email. That’s where I read you first.
Is the RSS feed the same as what you get on the emails? I’ve always wondered about that.
I really like the new web design. Thanks for giving away some awesome prizes!
Like teh redesign! Looks nice and fresh for spring.
Love the new look. You have given me the courage to redesign mine!
I just subscribed via emai.
Liked you on facebook too – so appreciate all your sensible tips!
Yeah, party!!
Wow, Donna, these are nice prizes, you’re so thoughtful and generous! I subscribe by email!
Congrats on your anniversary and for the opportunity to win such great prizes!
Congratulations on your anniversary. I’ve enjoyed reading your postings, comments, articles, musings since I first read your “Surviving on $12,000 a year”. It was just about the time that I began a serious push to get debt-free. I love to read what you write. Somehow you always get me to smile and think. Thank you. Best of luck in year 2.
Love the new look!
Your site looks great. Was by on the weekend and wondered what was going on.
email subscriber
thanks for the chance to win
facebook fan
Looks like we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto
Ohhh I love the new site look!!! And what a huge giveaway!!!!
I get your emails!
Wow! what an awesome giveaway!
I, also, subscribe to your email.
I follow you on twitter
I follow on facebook
Happy Anniversary! I subscribe via email
Your site is just GREAT!!!
Subscribe via e-mail eyreka1 at gmail dot com
follow on Twitter as eyreka1
Congrats on 2 years!
email subscriber
twitter follower (moeyshay)
facebook liker (Moey Shay)
I like the new look! Thanks for the giveaway.
I am an email subscriber
I follow you on twitter @drmomoftwo
Site looks great. Happy anniversary! These are great prizes, one of these would be great!
Great job on the site. Thanks for all the great info…
Happy Anniversary, Donna!
Love the new look! Whenever I see the tag line “Life is short. But it’s also wide.” I think “so am I!”
I follow via RSS.
I follow you on facebook! Love the new page!!!
Donna, I like what you did with the place!
Congratulations on your anniversary!
I have been subscribing via email for some time now!
I’m a facebook follower.
Happy anniversary!
Subscribe through e-mail.
Like you on Facebook
Sign me up!
RSS subscriber
I’m an email subscriber. captainliss(at)gmail(dot)com
The new site looks great!
I subscribe on Facebook.
I subscribe by email:) Love your new site. Good job.
I also follow you on Twitter. Donna now you need a Pinterest;)
Love your writing, and I’d love to win!
Happy anniversary!
All of these prizes are great. Thx for the opportunity.
And I subscribe via email.
Thanks so much for a chance to win:)
I get the RSS feed.
So glad I found you on Get Rich Slowly, this has become my new fav!
I like the new look! Did not know our blogs have the same anniversary! Congratulations on two years!
Email and Facebook
Happy Anniversary!!! The new site looks great and thanks for the giveways.
This looks great!
I follow you on facebook
Congratulations and thanks for the giveaway!
I subscribe via RSS.
I would love any of these prizes!! Congrats on two years!
I like you on Facebook. 🙂
AND I subscribe via reader!
WOW! I hope I wint!
I hope I win!
I’m an email subscriber
Lots of great giveaways. What a great way to celebrate your anniversary. The new site looks great. Glad you decided to keep it all going.
Happy Anniversary – new site looks great!
The new site looks great. Happy anniversary!
I don’t like all the white in your new site, but I sure do enjoy the content, Have a great day!
The new design is just fabulous Donna!
Love the new design.
I subscribe to your emails.
Happy Anniversary! Love your writing:)
Happy Anniversary! I’m a FB fan:)
The redesign is lovely. Your posts always get me thinking.
Woot! Love the new look, very classy, but not annoying. Hope I win something!
Congrats!!! Come on random generator!
Love ya on Twitter!
Love ya on Facebook too!!
That’s a lot of prizes! The new site looks great.
I follow you on Facebook.
I subscribe by RSS.
Great look! Awesome prize! Happy Anniversary!
I subscribe via e-mail.
I like you on facebook!
Would love one of those Amazon giftcards!
Have also now liked you on Facebook!
Love the new redesign!!!! And what a great give-away!!
congrats on a wonderful 2 years! love the new site! (i follow on facebook)
follow on twitter too…
and i’m an email subscriber as well. 🙂
This is a great giveaway.
Happy Anniversary Donna! !
I follow you on Facebook.
I read through RSS feed, too. Do your articles on getrichslowly.org count, too? You really liven up the crew of contributors at that site 🙂
This is an awesome giveaway! Congratulations on your two year anniversary!
I follow you on Twitter.
I subscribe to your RSS feed in Google Reader
Awesome giveaway! please enter me!
Love your new site!
I follow you on facebook!
Site looks beautiful… very clean and nice.
Subscribed via email
RSS, check!
Comment, check!
Twitter, check!
Thank you! Love Amazon.com gift card
Email subscriber
RSS subscriber
FB liker
Jessie C.
Thanks for the giveaway! I’m an email subscriber
I’m following you on Twitter also.
Whoo! Yeah for your 2nd anniversary! Congratulations!
SO GLAD I FOUND THIS GIVEAWAY! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE CHANCE!!!
ADDED YOUR RSS FEEDS TO MY GOOGLE READER!
http://www.google.com/reader/view/feed/http://feeds.feedburner.com/donnafreedman?source=ignitionfork
FOLLOWING @SurvivngThrivng ON TWITTER VIA @kytah00
great giveaway! thanks for the chance!
subscribed through email – stefanie.gladden@gmail.com
subscribed to rss feed!
Sign up to follow Surviving and Thriving on Twitter – @steffers516
Sign up to follow Surviving and Thriving on Facebook – Stefanie Gladden
I liked your facebook site! Looking forward to new posts.
love this! happy anniversary! you’re still one of my favorite personal finance writers. hope to work with you again soon.
Subscribed to your email list.
And leaving my comment. Thanks!
Thank you for the giveaway!!!
I follow you on Facebook.
I subscribe via email.
Great giveaways,thanks for the chance of winning.
Subscribed to your newsletter by e-mail.
Liked on FB.
Following on twitter.
i’d love to win it all!! thanks!
i follow by rss
i like you on facebook
Awesome contest! Way to go on the new blog look too Donna!
I subscribe by RSS.
I follow on twitter.
Just signed up to receive your updates via email
Following your twitter account (you need a profile pic :))
“Liked Surviving and Thriving on FB
What a bunch of great prizes!!! Congrats on the redesign and the anniversary!
Sweet new blog!!!
Happy Anniversary – the new site design looks great!
I subscribe via RSS
Love the new site Donna. Nice layout… and with colors too… haha
Keep up the good work.
I’m a facebook fan.
I subscribe to your rss feed.
I receive your emails too.
Great site! Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
holliister at gmail dot com
I subscribe via email.
holliister at gmail dot com
I like you on FB (colleen boudreau)
holliister at gmail dot com
Yay, I love the new look – happy anniversary!
I’m an RSS Subscriber.
And of course I follow you on Twitter @RevancheGS
I’ve learned so much, and saved so much money, thanks to you! Happy anniversary (the second of many!).
And I’m an RSS subscriber.
I look forward to reading your posts.
Happy Anniversary!
I follow on fb too!
Happy anniversary and thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the chance to win all these great goodies!
I would be so honored to win these prizes!
I like the new look-your ever faithful South Jersey reader.
I subscribe via Rss feed.
I follow you on Twitter
Great prizes! Thank you so much for the giveaway!
Twitter follower @pinksade
FB fan – Pinky Sade
I always seem to be fashionably late for the party – LOL! 😉
I subscribed via RSS (Google Reader).
I’m following Surviving and Thriving on Facebook (Deanna Devendorf McClellan).
Love your site. Always full of not so common sense advice we should all follow.
Love the new look!
Congrats
I would love to win!!
congrats and great new look! love the giveaway 🙂
Congrats, Donna on your second year of wonderful frugal ideas to keep me inspired! I subscribe via email.
Thanks for the giveaway! Hope I win!
I’m a fan on facebook
I’m a follower on my google reader.
Congrats on the 2nd anniversary of Surviving and Thriving, Donna! I’d love to win a give-away.
I subscribe to your RSS feed. Congrats on the 2nd anniversary!
Congrats on the anniversary. Love the contest.
We also subscribe via RSS 😀
Happy Anniversary. Love the new look.
I subscribed via email
I liked you on Facebook
Great giveaway. I love amazon.
I follow you on twitter!
I also subscribe to your RSS!
I subscribed by e-mail!
I signed up to follow by facebook!
I hope I win! 😉
I’m crossing my fingers hopin’ I’ll win!
I just subscribed via RSS
Lots of great prizes here! Something for everyone!
Happy 2nd Anniversary! Keep the good stuff coming, love the look of your new site!
Congraulattions on your 2nd Anniversary! Keep the good stuff coming, love the new re-designed website!
What a fabulous giveaway! Congrats on your anniversary, Donna!
I also subscribe via email!
Happy anniversary!
Subscribed to email.
Thanks for the giveaways!
I subscribed via email!
Yes – pick me!
This is my comment to enter.
Me and zillion others want in on this contest. But, hey, isn’t it about time I won?
Just discovered your blog recently and I have been enjoying it a lot! Great giveaway – thanks!!
Comment! Keep the great posts coming, also I got here through GRS!
I love the new design of your site Donna! I am a huge fan of yours and I hope I win a prize this time. Thanks for always being so generous.
Thank you so much for your site, your info and your giveaways! Great Job!
Thanks for the opportunity and happy blogaversary!
Nice re-do!
Nice giveaway!
Happy Birthday or anniversary or whatever it is for blogs!
Congrats on two years!
I subscribed to RSS.
Congratulations! I would love to win one of these great prizes! Thanks!
Love the new site!
Great giveaway!
I subscribe via RSS.
I liked you on Facebook.