Support the reader economy: A giveaway series.

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For some time now, my giveaway scheme has been “support the local economy.” As in, giving away stuff made in Alaska or produced by Alaskans.

While one or two books, pieces of jewelry, soaps or chocolates won’t exactly enrich the local company, it helps publicize what we do up here. Someone who wins (or doesn’t win) might say, “I want more of that” or “I want to buy that as a gift for someone.” (And it’s been confirmed that this has happened.)

Lately, I’ve been very concerned about the effect inflation is having on people living on tight margins. It doesn’t take much to send the whole house of cards tumbling. I learned this from painful personal experience.

Inflation also injures those who were middle-class stable until prices went sky-high. They’ll probably be all right, but will have to retool their budgets and make some tough decisions (especially as regards what they can no longer afford to do for their children).

Thus I’ve decided to do a “support the reader economy” giveaway series. This week it’ll be a $15 Walmart gift card, because that’s what I have on hand; if Walmart isn’t their brand, I would be willing to switch out a different kind of card. In subsequent weeks, the card will be whatever the winner wants.

I’m not foolish enough to think these modest prizes will fix someone’s money woes all better. Instead, I’m thinking of it more as a small boost or a special treat.

Then again, even a “small” boost might have a big impact.

For example, maybe you’re living very close to the bone, somehow managing to stay out of credit card debt. Then one day you leave your gloves on the bus. It’s flippin’ cold out – probably not enough to give you actual frostbite, but certainly enough to hurt you every single day as you wait for that bus. (Can’t keep both hands in your pockets because you’re holding a lunch bag or the hand of a small child.) A $15 Walmart card could warm you right back up.

Perhaps you’ve vowed to put X dollars per month* toward your freshman’s college tuition. Because you budget carefully, you can just about manage. However, there’s never any “extra” money at the end of the month. Not ever. Your sister has been so supportive, volunteering to drive the two of you to that upstate college – and refusing to take any gas money. (Not that you have much to offer.) Being able to give her a Starbucks card and a thank-you note would make you feel great.

A few other ways to use a $15 gift card:

Groceries. Use it to keep building a well-stocked pantry – at today’s prices, since they seem to go up every hour.

Pet supplies. Watch for sales on something that your critters use a lot of, and stock up.

Drugstore stuff. Cold meds, bandages, analgesics or whatever you need. Bonus frugal points if you work those drugstore points deals.

Gasoline. Although $15 doesn’t buy much gas these days, it could give you one of those “day before payday” fill-ups (i.e., enough to get you to work on Friday).

Treats. You’ve been so good for so long. So live it up! Download some new favorite pieces of music with an iTunes card. Go see the latest blockbuster with a card to your favorite movie theater chain. Ask for a Cheesecake Factory gift card and get a slice of your favorite confection to go.

Giveaway tactics

Keep in mind that once you have an “extra” $15 in your hands, you could divert the cash equivalent toward a longer-term goal. In other words, use that $15 Safeway card on your weekly shopping, then transfer $15 to paying off debt, building an emergency fund or whatever your goal happens to be.

You could also give the card to someone you appreciate (teacher, babysitter, BFF) or someone you know who’s going through tough times. A little bit of spending money – and yes, I’m well aware that $15 is now considered “little” – can sometimes make a big difference in a lousy day, or a lousy year.

Again, this week’s winner this week will get a Walmart card – unless that’s not what they want. Some people don’t want to shop there; others don’t live near one. If you’re chosen as the winner and would prefer a different retailer, then I’ll put the Walmart card back up for grabs next time. 

You can’t win if you don’t play. Here’s how to do that:

To throw your virtual hat into the virtual ring, do one or more of the following:

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry (e.g., “Subscribed via e-mail” or “Follow you on Twitter”).

The deadline to enter is 6 p.m. PST Wednesday, March 9. If I don’t hear back from the winner by 6 p.m. PST Thursday, March 10, I’ll have the random number generator choose a new name.

*Not everyone knows this, but often you can pay for college by the month.

 

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94 thoughts on “Support the reader economy: A giveaway series.”

  5. I shop @ Wal-Mart weekly so have built-in access. Thank you, Donna for this easy-to-use giveaway. I follow via email.

    Reply

  20. Thanks much, Donna, for yet another giveaway prize, how generous of you. I live within a mile of Walmart, no it’s way convenient to shop there, which I do. Would be grateful and appreciative to win. I follow ya via email. Oh, BTW, happy March…..& forthcoming Spring! Blessings! 🙂

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  24. I’ve been following your blog for years! I also subscribe to your emails. A $15 Walmart gift card would be awesome! I would use it to buy some bags of dried beans and brown rice.

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  31. Email subscriber. I would donate the card to SCOOP, inc. It’s a cat sanctuary where I volunteer in Cincinnati, OH.

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  32. I follow via email. Our neice moved to our area recently and any little bit will help her get on her feet.

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  37. I I follow you with email and also on Facebook. This is a nice giveaway, I would probably give the gift card to my younger daughter help her buy diapers for my 7 month old granddaughter!

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  59. An email follower here, expressing appreciation in advance for the gift card prize chance. Blessings, grace & peace for the journey!

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  60. I have followed you since the day I read your article about Living on the really tight budget while going to college. I especially like your mindset that while you might be broke you are not poor because you don’t feel deprived. That is kind of my own mindset. I would love a $15 WM GC! I’ve recently received a medical diagnosis that means changing my food habits and I’m restocking my pantry with appropriate foods. A little extra to make that happen would be more than welcome! Thank you so much for all you do!

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  66. Would be thrilled to be the winner of the $15 card, & many thanks for the opportunity, Donna. BTW, I’m an email follower.

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  67. Hoping to win the nice gift card! The giveaway prizes are so appreciated. I always enjoy the money-saving articles, & I’m an email subscriber. 🙂

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  72. I love your giveaways (and the reasons behind them.) I thank you very much for the heart necklace I won last month – it arrived just in time to be a Valentine’s gift for my visiting daughter. I’m not really entering this contest, just wanted to tell you I admire the things you do. Happy March!!
    +

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  73. You are a generous, giving person, and your giveaways always make me smile, whether I enter them or not. I subscribe via e-mail.

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  77. Greetings from a satisfied email subscriber. 😉 Thanks for the gift card that’s up for grabs, & I would be so thankful to win!

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  79. A gift card to win…I’m in, I’m in! < See what I did there? 🙂 Many thanks, Donna for offering a gift card prize, & have a blessed week. I subscribe via email.

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  80. Always looking for ways to save money — that’s why I love reading your books, articles and blogs. Same is true of your darling daughter Abby’s stuff. Frugal power!

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  83. I’m in! Anything that helps us stay on solid footing also allows us to keep being generous to others. I’ve gotten back into couponing/rebate apps and I’ve been able to donate so many wonderful and useful items that I’ve scored for free or super cheap (as well as add to my own family’s stockpile).

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  84. Hey there, I subscribe by email (can’t remember where I found you but it was recently – and then I have spent a LOT of lovely time reading your older posts and everyone’s great comments).
    Thanks for all you do and how honestly you share, you make it real and honest -your sharing of times when you SPEND rather than only when you scrimp is so helpful to those of us who sometimes forget the value of a bounty mindset.
    If I were to win I would give the card to my son and his partner, who are moving in a week to their first ‘purchased’ home, with my help. It is only a few miles from Walmart! With the move, ad legal fees, and and and… EVERYTHING is tight, as you can imagine.
    This is going to be a year of scrimping for me, as I have drained my savings (well, those that I was willing to drain) to help them; I want that ready-to-hand cushion built up again!.

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  85. Getting nearer to the gift card drawing….exciting! Would be grateful to win the gift card, and in addition, Donna, I’m grateful for all your money/frugal wisdom you’ve shared. I follow on email. Thanks & God bless.

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  90. Count me an enthusiastic reader/follower on your email newsletter, who would be grateful to win the lovely gift card prize. Everyone stay warm….grace & peace for the journey! 🙂

    Reply

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