Five years and counting.

th-2In 2010 I was living in Seattle but traveling a lot. Having recently obtained a college degree in midlife and quit an apartment management job, I was happy finally to be able to go places: Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, London, Phoenix, Anchorage.

Although I made my living writing for MSN Money, I wanted another place to sound off. On April 30, 2010, I started this website as my playground for words.

I couldn’t have imagined the changes that would take place in five years’ time. But really, how many people can accurately predict their futures?

Now I’m no longer living in Seattle, working for MSN Money or traveling very much. Still got the degree and the website, though — and a wonderful relationship.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of my first post, I’m having a really big Friday giveaway.

Not that it’s just me – a whole lot of people have contributed prizes for this fifth anniversary. (Thanks, guys!) Up for grabs are:

$100 Amazon gift card: This one’s sponsored by RetailMeNot, the Internet’s largest online coupon website.

$50 Amazon gift card and a $50 eBay card: These are from the FatWallet comparison shopping website, which offers cash-back in four categories on Amazon shopping and in 17 categories on eBay shopping.

$25 Amazon card: Luke Landes of Consumerism Commentary contributed this one.

Three $10 Wal-Mart cards: Curtis Arnold of CardRatings.com and BestPrepaidDebitCards.com is providing this batch.

Books, books, books

Lots of reading material is also being given away:

 “The 10 Commandments of Money plus Deal With Your Debt: Personal finance author Liz Weston will personalize these to you – or anyone – if you like. (Hint: They’d both make excellent gifts for someone graduating from college.)

How I Make Money Blogging: Crystal Stemberger is donating a copy of her e-book, which tells you everything you need to start a site of your own. She’s also donating a copy of her new book, Managing Your Monthly Nut,” which focuses on improving your financial health

Confessions of a Credit Junkie: The author, Beverly Harzog, is donating this one.

Four from Mary Hunt: The author of more than two dozen books and the Debt Proof Living website is contributing copies of her 7 Money Rules for Life and Cheaper, Better, Faster,” a two-hour DVD of Debt-Proof Living LIVE! and the CD of 7 Money Rules For Life.” (Okay, so those last two aren’t books. Sue me.)

The Eventual Millionaire: Personal finance blogger J. Money, of Rockstar Finance and Budgets Are Sexy is donating a copy of Jaime Tardy’s new book.

And three from me: Frugal Isn’t Cheap,” in which Claire Levison explains the difference between smart use of money and parsimony that wrecks lives; Megan McArdle’s The Up Side of Down,” because it’s liberating to know that “failure” isn’t necessarily the end; and Think and Grow Rich,” a reissue of the 1937 self-help book by Napoleon Hill.

That’s a lot to give away all at once, but a fifth anniversary seemed to call for a grand gesture. Thanks for riding along – now let’s see where the next five years take us.

To enter:

If you do any (or all!) of these things, please leave separate, additional comments to get credit for each entry.

The deadline is 7 p.m. PDT Tuesday, May 13. If I don’t hear back from the winners by 7 p.m. PDT Wednesday, May 14, I’ll pull new names.

Note: Due to the high cost of international shipping, book winners who live outside the United States will be given a choice of gift cards.

Please follow and like us:

417 thoughts on “Five years and counting.”

  1. I already get your emails, follow you daily on facebook and I don’t do tweeter. Great 5 years of reading your helpful information about Life and how to make it better. Thanks for what you do.

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  2. Wow that’s quite the giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win such great prizes and thanks for all your insightful and interesting posts. Love the blog!

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  3. Found you at MSN Money, followed you here, been reading you the whole time, still will be even if I don’t win, lol!

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  4. I enjoy your musings and those of your daughter’s “I Pick up Pennies.” congratulations for sticking around!

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  5. Well, I guess it’s like the year 2000. The new millennium technically started in 2001, but the part was when the odometer turned over. Me, I’m not 54 until December! Anyway, those are some serious giveaways!

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  6. Time does fly! I have been following your blog for several years now. My favorite ones have been the one about being broke and your Aunt Dot, and anytime you write about your family (esp your Mom). You have been a source of inspiration to me on many occasions. I don’t care what anniversary you are in, just keep writing. Happy 5th!

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  7. Happy 5th!! Always look forward to and enjoy your posts. S & T is the blog I recommend to most frequently to my friends and colleagues.

    And I’d love to win a prize, too!!

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  8. Five years and still going strong.

    Those of us who are regular followers already have our prize – I’ve got the bank account to prove it.!

    I promise to check my email everyday for my prize.

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  9. Congratulations on your fifth anniversary! Thanks for the opportunity to win something in your contest.

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  10. Congratulations on 5 years! I wish you many more. What a wonderful accomplishment. Thanks to your sponsors on the giveaways!

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  11. I’m thankful for your blog. It’s always full of practical financial information! Keep it up. I need it! 🙂

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  12. Happy Anniversary!! How great is life when it works out they way you hope or wish or dream or plan. Love reading your blog heres to many more years to come!!

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  13. I follow you on FaceBook. Thank you for providing the opportunity to win these prizes. Best wishes for the next 5 years!

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  14. Happy Anniversary! I know I started following you when you were writing for MSN and I am glad that I did. I look forward to many more years of frugal and funny posts.

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  15. I remember how sad I was when you wrote that you would no longer be writing for MSN. When I found out about your blog, the first thing I did was subscribe – the second was like it on Facebook. But has it really been 5 years? Time goes by so fast. Congrats on your anniversary.

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  16. Happy 5th Anniversary! Here is too many more! Thanks for sharing your hard earned wisdom with all of us!

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  17. Time flies when you are improving your life! I’d love these prizes as I’m a bit behind on gift giving..

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  18. Happy Anniversary. I have immensely enjoyed reading your articles, postings, etc. Thank you for them and for the opportunity to win one of your giveaways.
    Beverley

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  19. congratulations on the anniversary. Also congratulations on your life. I’ve been reading your blog for years. Thank you for your blog and thank you for the opportunity to win.

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  20. Congratulations. Have admired you since you started and always enjoy your observations. Hope that you continue in your chosen profession. I often refer my children to your site for financial info. Thanks again and Happy Anniversary.

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  21. Congrats! I have always enjoyed reading your articles. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
    Erin
    fairyfractal at gmail dot com

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  22. Happy anniversary!! I should read through some of your old posts!!! (Thanks for the contest – I subscribe via email!)

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  23. Happy Anniversary to you and your blog! But my math says it’s only your fourth anniversay if you started on April 30, 2010. Oh well, who’s counting?

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  24. Congrats! I’ve always identified with you having gone to college midlife after a hurtful divorce. Going to school full time, raising an ADHD son alone, working part time and being in a different country from most of my family was a challenge. My motto was Do it scared.

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  25. How awesome Donna! Happy fifth anniversary! I am looking forward to the next 5 years, even 25 years! Keep up the great work and know your work is appreciated! Take care!

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  26. Used to read your column in my hometown paper. Enjoy your blog and common sense advice. Keep up the good work.

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  27. Happy 5th anniversary! MAN…Has it been that long?…Time flies!!! Would love to win any of the great prizes. The funny thing is DD2 has had a poster in her dorm room at college since she began that reads “Keep Calm and Carry On”. I believe this was a “carryover” from the posters distributed during WWII in England. She claims this poster has provided reassurance during troubled times. Thanks for a great 5 years!

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  28. So glad I “found” you on MSN and its boards. (Miss those still, even though I read Pro Boards sometimes). Wishing you a happy and rewarding next half-decade.

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  29. Happy 5th Anniversary! I’ve been reading this blog for quite some time now…I hope to still be reading it in another 5 years! I’d love me some of that giveaway, btw….

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  30. I would love to win any of the prizes. If I received a gift card one, I’d use it to purchase something that is needed (i.e., Walmart would be food). I ended up with a high vet bill as my dog had pancreatitis, so am being extremely frugal currently.

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  31. I am new to your blog and have thought of reading from the beginning. I have a lot of years to catch up. Many congratulations to you on this milestone. I do hope you will continue to write many more years. My daughter is 18 and is reading your instalments to become money savvy. Thank you for helping two generations. All your prizes are wonderful and if I am picked I would be more than delighted. We live in Australia and would be happy to pay for postage if it is a book.
    All the best for the future.

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  32. Thank you for sharing your 5 year celebration with your readers. I enjoy reading your posts. ¡Feliz aniversario!

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  33. Happy Anniversary, that’s fantastic, and I’ve loved every word! I’ve been getting your emails since 2010, so it’s my 4th anniversary! 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to win such great prizes!!

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  34. Happy 5th Anniversary! I have been reading you for years, since MSN Money. I love this site in particular and really enjoy your writing style.

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  35. Hi Donna,

    I’m sure I have read every single post you have made to this website and most of your posts to other websites. Keep up the good writing and happy anniversary!

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  36. I enjoyed your references to Seattle when you lived here. I am from Seattle and know all the landmarks you referred to in your posts. It was fun reading about the neighborhood!

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  37. Your advice is incredibly helpful and reading your posts reminds/supports me in staying on track. I appreciate the energy and effort you put into your writing.

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  38. I have very much enjoyed your posts over the years…thank you for sharing your life with us. Sometimes your words are exactly what I need to hear! Happy anniversary!

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  39. Happy 5th! I have been reading your work for years and am glad to have found your blog after your departure from MSN. Your work rings true on many levels. Best wishes for your future.

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  40. and for good measure here’s a comment directly to the website.
    Congrats on your 5th Anniversary (that’s right your 5th! It’s your blog – you get to decide how long you’ve been at it- anyway whoever feels compelled to challenge that -most certainly has crapped all over the karma that will select the winner,,,,,heehee).

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  41. Congratulations on your 5-year mark. Hope you have many more years. I enjoy reading this blog and your old column.

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  42. twitter and facebook! (I would have thought that spell check would accept facebook as correct by now – those red lines are dumbing us down)

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