gift cards - Surviving and Thriving

Giveaway: $25 gift card of choice.

September 24, 2020 by Donna Freedman

Given the comments on my recent post about giveaways, gift cards are apparently what people want. I still plan to give away some Alaska-made stuff between now and the holidays, but it seems that gift cards will also be treasured.

And why not? They’re convenient for the winners to use, either to buy necessities/frivolities for the household or to give as presents to those they love. If cash is needed more urgently, a card might be sold: in-person to a friend or coworker, advertised on Craigslist or sent to a secondary gift card reseller.

Bonus: A gift card is also easy for me to mail. However, some might be e-gift cards, if that’s what people want.

So this week, the winner will get to ask for $25 worth of scrip to…wherever. I will try very hard to get the card the winner wants. Think, “Something that Donna can find at the supermarket’s Gift Card Mall, or easily order online.”

If it’s for a very specialized retailer that doesn’t sell e-gift cards, I might have to ask the person to adjust his or her expectations. Overall, I’m confident I can make this work.

Want to get in on this action?

What kind of giveaway do you want?

September 19, 2020 by Donna Freedman

Steph was the best beloved this week by the random number generator, and wins the giveaway of a bag of Three-Peckered Billy Goat Coffee and Alaska Moka Bar.

Now I need some input from you, readers: What kind of giveaway prizes do you want?

Because this has been such a rough year financially for so many, I plan to do more giveaways in time for holiday giving. In keeping with my recent post about shopping where you live, I would like for some of those giveaways to be local: Alaska jewelry, art, books, calendars and, probably, coffee and chocolate because they’re so popular.

However, this stuff gets expensive and cumbersome to mail if I can’t order it sent directly from the folks who produce it. That, in turn, puts the burden on the entrepreneurs.

So I propose to mix it up: some Alaska stuff and I’ll bite the bullet, postage-wise (seriously: have you checked those flat-rate shipping costs lately?) and also some gift cards.

The question is: What kind(s)?

Monday miscellany: Pandemic hangout edition.

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020 by Donna Freedman

Note: Surviving and Thriving is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

The “miscellany” idea is one that I’d like to make a weekly (or at least relatively frequent!) feature on the site. It will be a mix of news, events and whatever crosses my desk.

This week I’ll start with what’s happening today: a free virtual hangout designed for mothers during the pandemic.

“Monday Mom” is a way for mothers to share resources, chat and, yeah, vent to other moms who Get It. It takes place at 5 p.m. PDT/8 p.m. EDT.

Monday Mom is staged by the LOLA Retreat, an annual conference that’s the brainchild of personal finance author Melanie Lockert (“Dear Debt: A Story About Breaking Up With Debt”). Lockert has two other events this week as well:

“Managing Debt During COVID” is just what it sounds like: tips and tactics to help you survive financially during the pandemic, with financial law attorney and money maven Leslie Tayne. She’s the author of “Life and Debt: A Fresh Approach to Achieving Financial Wellness.” The program takes place Tuesday at noon PDT/3 p.m. EDT.

Finally, the “LOLA Retreat Hangout” is a place to connect with other women and talk about personal finance. The topic of money is too often taboo and as a result people miss opportunities and/or make choices (or don’t make choices) that wind up affecting their entire lives.

Giveaway: Two $10 Starbucks gift cards.

June 29, 2020 by Donna Freedman

Hot enough for ya? Some cities are broiling right now and a cold, cold drink could be just the thing.

Up here it’s still a fairly chilly summer, and in parts of Alaska it’s always chilly. A hot, hot drink would be soothing.

Then there are those who believe in drinking hot tea in the summer to cool themselves off. I refrain from comment.

But two lucky will have their first $10 worth of Starbucks beverages covered.

Win a $100 gift card via #MayAtMacys:

May 4, 2020 by Donna Freedman

(Note: As a Savings.com DealPro, I will earn a very small affiliate fee for each person who enters the Macy’s gift card drawing.)

Want to win $100 worth of buying power at Macy’s? Now’s your chance. Savings.com is giving away five $100 gift cards during its #MayAtMacys promotion.

Obviously I can’t win, but maybe you can get a $100 head start on things like:

Graduation gifts
Baby- or wedding-shower presents (even if the parties are virtual)
Buying women’s or children’s underwear and socks to donate to the family shelter
New summer clothes
A bit of advance holiday shopping (never too early to get started)

This is a fairly quick-turnaround giveaway. You have until 11:59 p.m. PDT Thursday, May 7 to throw your name into the hat.

Giveaway: $50 worth of gift cards.

April 22, 2020 by Donna Freedman

I haven’t had a giveaway in quite a while, so I decided to put a $25 gift card up for grabs.

Then I changed my mind.

“Why don’t I give away three $10 cards?” I thought. “That way three people can win.”

And then I changed my mind again. Or, rather, the owner of the I Pick Up Pennies website — aka, my daughter, Abigail Perry — changed it for me.

“I’d be glad to kick in a $20 gift card,” she said. “That way, you can make it an even $50.”

That’s the end of the mind-changing. The first-place winner will get a $20 gift card, and three other winners will each get $10 gift cards.

Even a $10 gift card can be helpful when times are a bit tight, whether you use it to buy rice and beans or to order yourself (or someone else) a little treat to brighten the day.

And if money isn’t an issue right now? Lucky you, and consider passing along the card to someone in need, or in need of a treat.

What kind of gift cards? That’s up to the winners.

Well, to some extent it’s up to the winners. The scrip options are Amazon, Walmart or Target. I can send them electronically or have them mailed. Your call.

Go win these contests.

March 27, 2020March 22, 2020 by Donna Freedman

I enter contests all the time, in real life and on the Internet. Sometimes I even win them.

Most recently it was for a prize I didn’t really need, but figured I could sell. The guy running the contest offered me the $250 cash equivalency. Right before the holidays, too. #christmasmiracle

Once you enter, you’re on their mailing lists for future contests. Lately I’ve been seeing a steady stream of gift cards for Amazon, Target, Walmart and other retailers.

A couple have been for computer and gaming items, from monitors to chairs. Again: Don’t need, but could gift (one of my nephews is a major gamer) or sell for a little extra cash.

Lately a lot of people could use a little extra cash. Thus I’ve decided to group together the contests I currently know about so that you can enter them, too. Even if you don’t shop at those retailers, you could sell the cards on the secondary market.

Here’s what I’ve currently got:

Bonus earnings with the Fetch Rewards App.

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 by Donna Freedman

Recently a reader suggested I check out the Fetch Rewards app now that I’ve finally joined the 21st century by getting a smartphone.

At first I was skeptical, because DF and I simply don’t buy that much stuff.

Now I’m a believer, thanks to the 13,645 points in my account.

That translates to almost $14 worth of scrip at a slew of retailers and companies that provide entertainment, beauty, pet products, clothing, media, travel, spa experiences, office supplies, charitable donations, and even a prepaid Visa or Mastercard.

Full disclosure: Eight thousand of those points came from referrals. Which brings me to the point of this post:

From now through next Tuesday (March 24), the Fetch Rewards app is running a bonus campaign. For every person who decides to join using my referral code* (more on this below), I will get a whopping 4,000 points (instead of the usual 2,000 points).

But you’ll get something as well. Two somethings, in fact:

A 2,000-point welcome bonus when you successfully scan your first receipt, and
A referral code of your own to share – and if any of your family or friends joins, then you’ll get 4,000 points. Through next Tuesday, anyway, at which point it reverts to 2,000 points.

Here’s what you need to know.

12 days of giveaways from Savings.com.

November 22, 2019November 7, 2019 by Donna Freedman

(Note: This post contains affiliate links. I will receive a teeny-tiny finder’s fee for anyone who signs up for the drawings; this revenue helps keep the blog lights on. If that bugs you, feel free to enter the giveaway daily at this non-affiliate link.)

Planning your holiday shopping? Savings.com can help. The coupon/deal site’s “12 days of giveaways” promotion will award one $250 gift card every weekday from now through Friday, Nov. 22.

Which merchants are participating? So glad you asked.

The giveaway started with HP, the company that manufactures laptops, desktops, printers, monitors and accessories to keep us connected. The only printers I’ve ever owned have been from HP, and I’ve had great service from them.

My next printer will also be from HP – but unfortunately I’m not allowed to enter this drawing because I’m a Savings.com DealPro. You, however, can enter – and I hope a member of this community wins.

Here’s the list of future giveaway partners – again, one each weekday until Nov. 22: