Today I got a pleasant e-mail from a reader named Britt, who was chosen to win last month’s Swagbucks-sponsored contest. Here’s her communiqué:
“Hi, I wanted to say that I was the winner of the $50 gift card from this drawing, and I wanted to say, THANK YOU so much. I really enjoy your blog, and your past posts on MSN Money and have learned so much. I’m also really grateful that I learned about Swagbucks through your blog.
“Honestly, winning that $50 gift card came at the perfect time, and you have no idea how much it cheered me up. I am one of those people who NEVER win anything. The day before, I was having such a horrible workday, just one of those nasty days where everything seems to go wrong, and stress was incredibly high. The next morning (which happened to be 11/12/13, a “lucky” day, LOL), Swagbucks contacted me via and told me the good news.
“So again, thank you for your part in spreading some good cheer. It’s very much appreciated!
“Also, just want to say to any other readers out there- if you haven’t yet joined Swagbucks, it is so worth it. Not just for the possibility of winning drawings or prizes, either. There are just SO many ways on Swagbucks to earn points and save money. Have a great day!”
I love it when things happen at just the right time.
And yep, that sounds like an awfully cheerlead-y note, but I swear that I did not write it. View the e-mail yourself in the comments here.
And since I agree with her that the program is “so worth it,” here’s my referral link if you’d like to give it a try. I get bonus Swagbucks if you decide to join up, but remember: a blogger who is able to cash in for Amazon gift cards is a blogger who is (a) happy because it’s darned hard to make consistent money on a website and (b) likely to share some of the wealth during those Friday giveaways. Just sayin’.
Like a coupon that never expires
My latest new piece is up at Money Talks News. “Want to save money every time you shop? Pay with a discounted gift card” sings the praises of one of my favorite frugal hacks. I keep these on hand year-round to pay for needs (haircuts, drugstore items) and wants (treats for my great-nephews, taking people out to eat, midnight movies).
I suggest you do the same, to pay for everything from flowers to pet supplies to new shoes. But they’re also a nice boost to holiday shopping.
Follow the links in the article to a gift-card aggregator site and then cruise for cards to places where you shop regularly. Be sure to note whether a gift can be bought through a cash-back shopping site like Mr. Rebates, Extrabux, Fat Wallet or Ebates.
You have until 7 p.m. PST today to sign up for the Black Friday Survival Kit, which includes (among many other things) a $25 Amazon gift card. Can’t win if you don’t enter.
The Bargain Babe website is giving away $75 worth of “Veggie Tales” videos and CDs. Is anyone on your holiday list a big fan of Bob the Tomato or Larry the Cucumber? My DF has a Larry the Cucumber tie that he wears to work regularly, which likely puzzles his co-workers.
And finally: What’s your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?* That’s this week’s “Ask the Readers” feature at Wise Bread. They’re giving away three $20 Amazon cards via random selection. You can enter up to three different ways, all of them easy. I know this one is real because I won it once.
*Mine is pumpkin pie. Especially when it’s eaten for breakfast the next morning.
Thanks for linking to my Veggie Tales contest, Donna! I’m also a huge fan of Swagbucks, though I’m not earning as many swag bucks as I used to. 🙁 Are you going to redeem yours for gift cards for Christmas presents?
I redeemed several types of rewards to pay for Christmas. The last gifts will be books via Amazon GCs, courtesy of Swagbucks.
I expect you have less time to win lately, yes???
Pumpkin pie for breakfast is scrumptious. You did mean the whole pie? Right?
What a sweet comment by the winner Britt and for it to come when things were less than perfect…just icing on the cake. As for the pumpking pie for breakfast….you meant a very large slice warmed in the microwave with a large dip of vanilla ice cream topped by whip cream…right?
Nope, I meant a big cold slice all by itself…I save the leftover whipped cream for hot chocolate and the occasional sundae. 😛
This is of no importance really but I am confused about the whole MSN money thing. I’m going to the same website and you still have occasional posts there. I thought that gig ended for you.
Did they just change the name to Money Talks and now you write for them still? Was it some other job that you lost?
Thanks for your interest. Microsoft fired all its writers on Sept. 11 (could they have chosen a better date, do you think?):
http://donnafreedman.com/2013/09/12/termination-dust/
Money Talks News is a separate site entirely. In fact, it’s a partner of MSN Money so my new posts sometimes show up on Smart Spending. Yep, it’s odd.
Hard to reach such positivity today, the day I discovered my stash of gift cards is mysteriously missing from my purse. Teaches me to hoard gift cards. Hundreds gone. Just like that. I had my pity party, acted like a maniacal fool, cried till my eyes swelled up. It’s gone. I have to accept that. I feel so foolish for acting so crazy, but something tells me your frugal readers (and you!) will feel my pain, on some level. I’ve not quite accepted it, but I stopped crying and flipping out. And things are in perspective. No one got hurt. My loved ones are ok. I will survive. Thanks for allowing me to vent.
meant to say “hard to READ,” not “hard to reach.” sheesh, not even my typing is going my way.
Oh, no. I’m so sorry!
Everyone else, take note: Be careful how/where you store your cards. Lock them up!
Well, consider my faith in humanity RESTORED! I called five stores I visited after remembering where I used my last gift card. One asked for my name and number, in case it was turned in. I figured she was just placating – I was in tears, after all. Imagine my SHOCK and utter SURPRISE when I got a call from Kohls at 8:49 this morning. Someone found my little gift card stash and turned it. (The ONE store that asked for my contact info actually needed it. Say what?!?!)
I calmed down and made it to the store to confirm that what was found was my prized possession (and not someone else’s, just in case).
I’ve since thanked my lucky stars a million times and vowed to live a better life – more careful
(always zip the purse!!) and hopefully just a better person all around. I like to think I would have turned such a goldmine in, myself. Now I know I will, after having experienced the craziness that accompanied the panic from this little experience.
Oh, and I’ve also vowed to quit saving the scrip (as you like to call it) for a rainy day – as well as vowing to stop carrying it around with me all the time. No one needs to carry around $671.84 in gift cards at any given time. Those Macy’s gift cards that we got for our wedding (6 years ago) really need to be spent on something for the house.
Thanks for the empathy, Donna!
Wow! Thanks for the amazing update — and for the reminder that we shouldn’t carry them all with us. When I got mugged a few years back I was carrying gift cards. Sigh.
And be sure to enter this week’s giveaway for a shot at another card.
Again, thanks for letting us know. Everyone loves a happy ending.
One more thing: If you’re not using the cards try selling them, then using the money you earn to buy something you want/need. Go to GiftCardGranny.com and click on “sell gift cards,” then look for the secondary market reseller offering the best deal.