I’m off next week so no new blog posts and no daily/weekly emails. I’m taking a staycation and will be going kayaking, hiking, swimming, and wine tasting!
Just ’cause I’ll be gone doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the reader giveaway to win two $100 Restaurant.com gift cards, though. The contest ends Monday, Aug. 30, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST. I’ll sneak back from vacation to announce the winner on Tuesday, Aug. 31.
The Share This icon lets you email a post to friends or share on social media.
Readers said during a contest two weeks ago that they want to be able to share posts with friends more easily. You can share posts very easily using the ShareThis icon that appears at the end of every post. I pasted one above. Recognize it?
Scroll over the ShareThis icon at the bottom of the post you want to share for a choice of how and where to share. Sharing options include email, Facebook, Twitter, Google Buzz, AIM, Blogger, MySpace, Digg, StumbleUpon, or Live. Click on Email if you want to email the post to a friend, or Facebook if you want to share a post there. You’re on your way!
Got a question about how the site works? I’m game!
I met almost 92 bloggers at BlogHer this past weekend. Here are six sites that stand out. I hope to add more notable sites as I sort through the business cards I picked up at the conference. I also picked up a lot of goodies, so don’t forget to enter the contest to win $249 worth of BlogHer swag.
OnceAMonthMom.com - Blogger Tricia put together a month’s worth of meals and menus, which you can download, print out, or listen to on a podcast. Her philosophy is that any meal can be prepared ahead of time and frozen. One big cooking day leads to a month of meals.
MothersAgainstDebt.com – Blogger Amy is a one-woman government tax watchdog who aims to bring national debt down to the household level. Don’t be scared by her libertarian politics, this woman knows how to crunch numbers.
SoYouThinkYoureCrafty.com - This blog is not about saving money, but making beautiful crafts. The projects featured on this blog are by no means amateurish. The site has great photos and is very easy on the eyes!
LoveThatMax – Blogger Ellen writes about her special needs son, Max, her daughter, Sabrina, and her Clueless Husband. I find her writing to be honest, funny, and very engaging. One recent post describes when she realized that Max, who is seven and has cerebral palsy, has never asked a question. Ever.
DaddyDeeds.com – Blogger Ben writes about family life, BBQ’ing, and living in Arizona. Here is a recent post about the bad words his kids picked up at school.
WheatlessAndMeatless.com – If you are trying to eat healthy, lose weight or have strict dietary requirements, this blog is for you. Bernice updates her site about once a week, so it’s not an overwhelming amount to read. She has amazing pictures of her culinary creations and detailed recipes. Many of them solve a problem I often encounter in the kitchen, which is how to make vegetables appetizing.
Beraldo Leal/Flickr
I’m headed to New York City this weekend for the BlogHer conference, my first! There are going to be 2,400 people there, mostly bloggers. Word on the street is that this conference is one giant party. I’m already overwhelmed.
At the conference I’m going to introduce bloggers to one of my favorite sources of freebies, My Savings Media, which is footing my tab. Score! I’m also going to see friends and get my fill of subway rides. Ohhh, the people watching. What are you doing this weekend?
LXH/Flickr
I’m scheduled to be on Martha Stewart Living radio tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. EST. That’s an early 5:30 a.m. for you west coasters!
You can hear the show on Sirius satellite radio channel 112. I’ll be sharing tips to manage back to college expenses on the Morning Living show with host Kim. If you miss the segment, I’ll write up my tips in a blog post for Wednesday.
~Julia
If you’re in Los Angeles, check out NBC tonight at 5:30. I’m featured in the “worth the drive” segment. The station challenged me to put together an entire outfit in LA’s renown Fashion District with just $40.
There will also be a link to the segment from NBC.com but I do not have it yet. If you find it, please post it in a comment!
Me and a scruffy stuffed bear at a restaurant in Breckenridge, CO.
I recently returned from an intense two-day Savvy Blogging Summit in Breckenridge, CO where I met dozens of other bloggers and learned how to be a better blogger. My to do list has 56 items on it so I’ll just share a few changes I want to make.
- tell more stories, including reader successes and failures (email me yours!)
- make technical changes to improve site speed and usability
- share more of my own financial challenges, changes, and decisions (hence my post on nontraditional banks)
- create new tabs for popular topics like groceries and freebies
- expand my presence on Facebook and on Twitter (see poll below)
What changes would you like to see on BargainBabe.com?
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sunsurfr/Flickr
Hope everyone has a fabulous long weekend. I’m taking Monday off for a 3-day mini vacation with a girlfriend. Can’t wait! See you all Tuesday.
~Julia
aka Bargain Babe
Better Homes & Gardens, July 2010
My Mother called me last night to tell me I have nice legs.
“Your Aunt Sarah and I were talking and we both agreed you should wear skirts more often.”
Thanks, Mom. They were discussing my two-page photo spread and interview in the July issue of Better Homes & Gardens, which is on newsstands.
My Mom also told me that my two 5-year-old nephews refused to accept that the beautiful gal on page 125 and 126 is me.
“Luc and Nico denied that was you,” she emailed me. “They said the pictures were not the same person because the outfits were different and that it wasn’t you because your hair isn’t that curly! What they will learn…”
Better Homes & Gardens, July 2010
My slightly older nephew, who is eight, realized the pictures were of me but wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“It’s just weird,” he told my Mom. “That’s not her hair. Her hair is black.”
HA!
Okay, I’m done tooting my own horn. Back to work on the Frugal Festival this Saturday.
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If you saw my two-page photo spread in the July issue of Better Homes & Garden, welcome! BargainBabe.com’s mission is to help you save money on everyday expenses like groceries, gasoline, and gifts. Because the little stuff adds up – and is almost impossible to avoid!
Some recent posts you might be interested in:
What happens when cheap food backfires
How to make money by holding a garage sale
If you are in LA, check out the Frugal Festival Summer Swap June 19 in North Hollywood. At this one-day swap of clothing, media, and housewares we’ll have a free raffle with prizes like an 8GB iPod, a DJ spinning tunes, and free reusable bags stuffed with goodies like a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate for each swapper!
Like what you see? Sign up for my daily or weekly email to get more savvy-spending tips. Thanks for checking out BargainBabe.com!
~Julia
aka Bargain Babe
I’m partnering with a new start up called Daily D to offer BargainBabe.com readers a hot deal to purchase once a week. This is a totally new facet of BargainBabe.com! Outside of my winter holiday gift guide, I have deliberately not recommended specific products for purchase, instead offering advice, strategies, and philosophies to save.
So why am I selling stuff now?
Two reasons. The deals are a great value, often more than 50% off retail. And I earn a small cut of the proceeds to help pay my bills. Support BargainBabe.com by checking out each week’s Daily D! This week’s Daily D is for $90 worth of kid’s cooking classes for $37.
I’m committed to transparency and my Ethics policy has not changed. Paid content is always identified. Daily D does not pay me to share these deals, nor do I write the blurbs about each deal. I earn money when you click through and make a DailyD purchase.
Questions? Thoughts? Please comment.
You may recall I hired two bloggers, Mike and Bobbi, for BargainBabe.com a few months back. I’ve just hired a third writer, Yazmin Cruz, so you will see her byline regularly on the site, starting with her post on free things to do this summer.
I hope you enjoy Yazmin’s ideas and tips on saving money!
~Julia
aka Bargain Babe
PS. If a post has no byline it was written by me!
stevendepolo/Flickr
I have big plans to sleep in, garden, and BBQ this holiday weekend. Maybe do a little yoga or take a hike. Hope you enjoy the long holiday weekend, too. I’ll see you Tuesday!
~Julia
aka Bargain Babe
yatoobin/Flickr
I asked you why you read BargainBabe.com and received feedback that left me stunned and touched. I hardly know what to say other than thank you for making me feel special. I am glad what I do helps others save money.
Exactly 95 readers commented on my post requesting site feedback for a chance to win a $50 Sears e-gift card, which was generously donated by Sears in honor of their Memorial Day sale this weekend. I read every comment and tallied the reasons you provided (some readers gave more than one reason). You said you read the blog for:
Frugal philosophy, tips, and ideas – 32 readers
Deals – 21 readers
Freebies – 13 readers
Coupons – 12 readers
Inspiration, motivation and encouragement – 10 readers
Entertainment – 8 readers
Personal stories – 6 readers
Giveaways – 6 readers
Budgeting advice – 6 readers
Frugal community – 3 readers
Grocery savings – 3 readers
Restaurant savings – 3 readers
Comments – 2 readers
Experiments – 2 readers
New website reviews – 2 readers
Los Angeles deals – 1 reader
Credit card control – 1 reader
Reader Paolina said my 15-minute budget helped her buy a car!
I love reading Bargain Babe because you have helped me financially. I did your budget and saved hundreds of dollars a month! Because of your Blog I was able to purchase my first car on my own with no co-signer and a large down payment. All of your articles help, from either saving a few bucks on a great deal or how to save for a big investment. Plus your entertaining and fun!! Who doesn’t love that? Thanks Bargain Babe keep doing what you’re doing!
I never knew I had a friend in reader Tahrer until reading her comment:
I have friends and relatives that call me up constantly while their shopping, whether it be for groceries, clothes or home decor. They call and ask me if what their getting is a good deal for the amount their paying. Sometimes they even tell me that the only time they feel like their saving is when I go shopping with them. I’m more than glad to provide such reassurance to my friends and family. However, they always end up asking me how I do it all and my response is always the same, “I have a friend too, her name is Bargain Babe.”
Reader Joannie stole my heart and won the $50 Sears e-gift card with her rhyming poem.
Why do I read Julia aka Bargain Babe.com?
Because that’s where great ideas come from.
Like learning to budget and saving a buck
When your finances seem to be running amok.
The Babe helps us to find great items for free,
Or a gift card from Sears for you or me.
It’s the first and best blog I go to each day
There’s always some inspiration to take away.
Babe’s money-savers are her claim to fame,
She puts Suze Orman’s advice to shame.
So thank you, Julia, you entertain and delight
As you write byte by byte on your frugal site!
Joannie has 24 hours to respond to my notification email or the prize goes to first runner up Tahrer or second runner up Paolina.
Horia Varlan/Flickr
UPDATE: This contest has ended. Thank you to everyone who commented for a chance to win.
UPDATE: Today is the last day to comment and win!
PREVIOUSLY: I am giving away a $50 Sears gift card to the person who best answers this question: why do you read BargainBabe.com?
Is it for the retail coupons? Reader comments? Personal finance book reviews? Grocery saving tips? Giveaways? Freebies? Personal stories about spending money? Budgeting tips? Restaurant deals? Polls? Something else?
Comment on this post with an informative answer by Wednesday, May 26 at 6 a.m. PST to be considered for the prize, which was generously donated by Sears. For every $50 you spend at Sears’ big memorial day sale this weekend, you’ll get $10 off your next purchase of $25 or more on apparel, footwear or bed bath and window fashions. For each $100 you spend, you will get $20 off your next purchase of $50 or more in fine jewelry, housewares, luggage and mattresses. The sale is May 28-June 1. Redeem your bonus June 2-8.
Your input is truly appreciated and makes BargainBabe.com better!
