ESI Money

Three Simple Steps to Wealth

  • About
  • Earn
  • Save
  • Invest
  • Retirement
  • Millionaires
  • Archives
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

Gift Card Giveaway

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement for more info.

November 10, 2017 By ESI 64 Comments

It’s the giving time of year!!!

ESI Money readers are simply THE BEST and I want to say THANK YOU for a great year!!

What better way to do that than by giving something away? 😉

Today I am giving away five gift cards worth a combined $110 as follows:

  • Three $25 Amazon gift cards
  • One $25 Starbucks gift card
  • One $10 iTunes gift card

Here are the details of the giveaway:

  • I’ll be giving away the cards to five different winners (one per winner).
  • Winners will get a specific card (drawn by me). In other words, winners will be assigned the card they win, they won’t be able to choose it.
  • To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment on my Save Overview post with your best tip for saving money (no length or topic required other than that).
  • Be sure to include your email address when you leave the comment so I will know how to reach you if you win (the email address will not be visible to anyone other than me).
  • The winners will be drawn at random from the commenters.
  • The drawing of winners will be held on Friday, November 17, 2017.
  • Once I hear from all winners I’ll mail out the cards (you’ll want to get them soon, right?)
  • As with most giveaways, there are rules. Here they are.

Good luck!!!!

Update: I was not very clear in my initial post where you should leave your comment, so some people are leaving them here and some are leaving them as noted above. I’ll include both for the giveaway drawing up to this point, but from here on out, please leave your comment on my Save Overview post. Thanks and GOOD LUCK!!!!

Filed Under: Giveaways

Don’t Miss a Post

ESI Money is about helping you grow your net worth. The path to get there involves three simple steps starting with the letters E-S-I. You can read more about the site, the author, and keys to becoming wealthy here.

You can sign up to receive ESI Money articles via email or by RSS. For email updates, simply enter your email address in the box below. For RSS updates, visit this link.








Get a free copy of "Three Steps to Financial Independence."

Comments

  1. Dan Clark says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:19 am

    Pay yourself first

    Reply
  2. Cynthia Kight says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:21 am

    Eat at home! Better for your health and your wallet.

    Reply
  3. Mark Spaur says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:24 am

    I hope I am the first commenter!! My tip for saving money is to prepare all your meals at home and only eat out on infrequent special occasions.

    Reply
  4. John Nastase says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:35 am

    When paying your life insurance policy premiums pay the yearly premium in one lump sum instead of having them taken from your checking account monthly you can save an average of 30 -40 dollars per year

    Reply
  5. BAD Lingg says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:35 am

    My tip… Put savings on auto pilot.

    Reply
  6. Bernie Doss says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:51 am

    Work within a budget that you constantly review and update. Save with a goal in mind and adjust upwards as situations dictate.

    Reply
  7. Lisa G says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:55 am

    The best way to save money is to read your blog and live the principles!

    Also for online shopping I like to buy discounted e gift cards art card cash out something similar to get an additional discounts

    Reply
  8. Linda says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:55 am

    My best tip is just to stay out of stores–don’t shop for entertainment!

    Reply
  9. Cliona Simmons says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:59 am

    Bring your lunch to work, carry a refillable water bottle and tea/coffee thermos.

    Reply
  10. Karen Poteete says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:01 am

    Buy one gift card a month starting January and buy Christmas time I don’t have to spend any money.

    Reply
  11. PhD on FIRE says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:04 am

    Don’t borrow money other than to buy a house. Even for a house, pay 20% down. Pay credit card bills fully, every month.

    Reply
  12. M22 says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:12 am

    Fully fund your 401(k) and take advantage of any employer matching contributions.

    Reply
  13. Molly C. says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:15 am

    Create automatic payments to increase your investment savings so you never see the money in your checking account.

    Reply
  14. Michael Palombi says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:17 am

    If your workplace has a dependent care option, sign up for it! My company allows me to pull $4,000 a year PRE-TAX, and at the end of the year they match my contribution 25% ($1,000), for free! At the end of the year (or during the year), I send a simple receipt in to my company from the day care . My company deposits the check to my account in a few days.

    So a few things happen.
    1. You lower your taxable income by $4,000.

    2. You are given FREE MONEY, 25% of your contribution.

    3. You now have a nice chunk of change you receive at the end of the year that you put down on the principle of your house (or car or whatever) to pay it off earlier an become debt free!

    YAY!

    Reply
  15. scott halet says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:18 am

    When shopping use double coupons as well as using the store’s circular. Then take the money saved and add that to your investment account.

    Reply
  16. Matt says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:23 am

    Have a finanancil or life goal that is bigger than your daily wants/needs.

    Reply
  17. Coopersmith says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:25 am

    Invest in a stand alone chest type deep freezer. You can buy meats in bulk and freeze, make meals ahead and buy things on sale. We did this when we first got married and have saved hundreds to thousands of dollars on everything from bagels to 1/3 of a butchered cow at $2.78 a pound.

    Grill chicken breast on the BBQ and enjoy grilled chicken for lunches, Pop out of the freezer and defrost.

    Make a big pot of spaghetti and freeze into meals. Enjoy during the week.

    We all know home made is healthier than prepossessed food meals and a deep freezer makes this so much better.

    Reply
  18. Caleb says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:27 am

    Live on a budget—this requires you to put you money to use and tell it where to go vs wondering where it went!! Be intentional!

    Reply
  19. Jim Wang says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:31 am

    I almost always buy things online nowadays, usually through Amazon. Not only is it going to be cheaper 90% of the time, I save on time and gas going to the store.

    Reply
  20. Henrietta Weaver says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:35 am

    Make saving automatic by having money taken right out your paycheck or checking account and put into a savings account.

    Reply
  21. Eric says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:36 am

    Automatically deduct a portion of your paycheck for deposit into a savings or brokerage account. You’ll never miss the money because you’ll never see it in your check.

    Reply
  22. Sara says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:40 am

    Shop at bulk store like costco and split up meats for storage in deep freezer, so we always have food on hand and less tempted to eat out.

    Reply
  23. Tussy says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:41 am

    Buy your car out-right – no debt.

    Take your time to maintain all your gadgets well including car, house, computer etc. in long run, small maintenance will serve you well.

    Anything extra at home – sell it, share it, swap it, rent it out or just give it away to people who use it more. giving away? yes it save space and your time maintaining it.

    Need some home-ware, baby stuff? Try pick-up weeks, gumtree, facebook market – it’s amazing how many free things you can get online and they all still have a good life in it.
    p/s I furnish my house $300 with all pre-loved items:)

    Stay close to work or find work close to stay – just if you can. It saves me so much time and travelling $$:)

    The once off stuff you need – ask around and borrow them. when you borrow them more often, then its justify to own one.

    We hate wasting food, so cooking bulk means packing leftover for tomorrows lunch.

    ALWAYS compare and ask question on all the bank fees and insurance and energy company especially those that come in quarterly or annually. you be surprise there might be a better deal out there that save you enough. Internet is a bitch. lol.

    Not everyone sees what they save. I like to manually transfer the money I save (say a deal or I got this in stead of that or put a value on the things I got free) into my saving account, feels so accomplished. I do for the big stuff sometimes:)

    And when you have a goal of how much you want to save and what are the savings used for…saving becomes easier and happier:)

    Reply
  24. Laura says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:44 am

    Start early, save as much as you can, live below your means, and dollar cost average.

    Reply
  25. Angela Whatley says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:47 am

    When ever you get a raise save increase your savings. This way you avoid lifestyle inflation.

    Reply
  26. Megan says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:48 am

    Get your spouse on the same page. Once mine started to see how much we spend without thinking, he stopped wanting the latest gadget and now has spreadsheets to track how much we’ve saved each month.

    Reply
  27. Mrs. Adventure Rich says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:51 am

    Automate your money. Make the savings automatic so that you don’t have to remember to make a transfer and you are not tempted to spend that money elsewhere!

    Reply
  28. Michael Badalov says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:58 am

    Track your net worth over time. It can be simply done in excel or using one of the online wealth/budget trackers (Mint, YNAB, Personal Capitol).

    Reply
  29. FLVal says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:58 am

    Learn to cook. Cook at home most of the time. It will save you thousands per year, you will be healthier, and have a fun hobby.

    Reply
  30. Brian says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:02 am

    Bring lunch to work and make coffee at home. At sometimes $10 a day for lunch and $5 a day for coffee just on work days alone that’s around $300 a month or $3600 a year. Think of how much food you could buy and how much better health wise what you bring would be for you.

    Reply
  31. Bill H says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:03 am

    Be your own financial advisor. Educate yourself about asset allocation, diversification and fund costs early in life and keep learning as your portfolio grows and you move towards retirement.

    Reply
  32. Robert says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:14 am

    Invest the time to teach your children to live below their means, save and spend wisely. In the end it will save you money.

    Reply
  33. Earlyout01 says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:14 am

    Focus on growing your income as much as possible and keeping your lifestyle static and save the difference. This will pay off exponentially over time.

    Reply
  34. Patsy says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:15 am

    Always wait before you purchase a non-essential item. The wait time will allow you to reconsider the purchase- find a better deal, decide on a different item, or do without altogether. (The exception to this is finding something at a super bargain price that’s unlikely to last- then buy and return if you change your mind.)

    Reply
  35. Tom says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:18 am

    Carefully consider all of your purchases. I like shopping online, so I will put an item in my cart and leave it there for several days. Often I end up not buying it.

    Learn how the things you own work and then you can maintain them better. For example, if you understand your vehicle then you can talk to the repair technician and know if what they’re suggesting is reasonable.
    There are too many people that are totally clueless about how their “stuff” works.

    Reply
  36. JD says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:18 am

    Teach yourself to be content with what you have more than what you think you want.

    Reply
  37. Kong says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:19 am

    When you feel like you really have to buy something that isn’t a necessity, just wait. Wait a couple days – many times the impulse will go away. If it does, you’ll know that it really was just an impulsive decision in the moment.

    Reply
  38. Robin says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:24 am

    Save going out to eat for special occasions and fully fund retirement accounts early in life.

    Reply
  39. Arnie says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:37 am

    Track your spending. No really, track every penny you spend everyday. They have apps that make it super easy and eventually it becomes habit.
    When you see where your money goes, you are more deliberate about your choices. And that likely means you’ll spend less and save more.

    Reply
  40. Jill says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:48 am

    Use a tool for budgeting.

    Reply
  41. Kelly says

    November 10, 2017 at 6:08 am

    I have two tips for saving more money:
    1. Set up a separate account and deposit money into it every pay check. Then, never use that money. Having the money go in there right away and then having it in an account you don’t often look at will allow you to grow your savings and not spend it.
    2. Grow your wealth. It is easy to think that if you spend less you will save more. However, if you spend less, that is not increasing the actual amount that you are making. Find little ways to make money outside of your main source of income and save 100% of that money.

    Hope this helps someone!

    Reply
  42. I’m cheap, Mr Julius! says

    November 10, 2017 at 6:18 am

    Tell your money what to do! Since using Dave Ramsey’s EveryDollar app we have been able to save about 50% of our income and still have some fun money for ourselves each month. Plus, committing to doing our best to not exceed our budget has made us happier and on the same page with a shared vision. The power we have as a couple makes us more effective than going it alone. We’re on FIRE!

    Reply
  43. Sloan Ranger says

    November 10, 2017 at 6:34 am

    Spend time with your family. It’s the greatest investment and pays the highest dividends.

    Reply
  44. Dong says

    November 10, 2017 at 6:36 am

    use ebates.com to shop!

    Reply
  45. Greg says

    November 10, 2017 at 6:42 am

    Delay making purchases. See if you still want that item after you wait. This helps cut down on impulse purchases.

    Reply
  46. Dan DeAntonellis says

    November 10, 2017 at 7:05 am

    Pay in cash and do not use credit cards.

    Reply
  47. Willie T says

    November 10, 2017 at 7:38 am

    Make saving automatic. I have a transfer from main account leave every Friday to save up for big expenses like taxes and insurance. Add to retirement accounts in small increments and live on the rest. Spouse and I have regular talks and reviews to stay on the same page since things change.

    Wish I had saved more early even if it was just small amounts.

    Reply
  48. Anna says

    November 10, 2017 at 8:08 am

    Buy what you need, not you want, even when that thing is cheap.

    Reply
  49. Tracy says

    November 10, 2017 at 8:54 am

    Set up automatic savings

    Reply
  50. Jim says

    November 10, 2017 at 9:16 am

    Avoid paying interest. Collect as much interest as possible.

    Reply
  51. Helen says

    November 10, 2017 at 1:31 pm

    My best tip for saving money is to remove the temptation to spend it unnecessarily. Avoid looking at ads, sales, window-shopping at the mall, etc. For me, it’s so easy to get caught up in the hype and excitement of feeling like I saved 50% (or whatever,) but the reality is that if I hadn’t been browsing in the first place, I would never miss the item and would have saved 100%.

    Reply
  52. Peter says

    November 10, 2017 at 2:14 pm

    Use your credit cards wisely. Pay them off each month in full. Maximize your purchases using them unless there the transaction results in additional fees. Investigate the cash back and rewards programs and pick the ones that best suit your needs.

    Reply
  53. John Yeong says

    November 10, 2017 at 4:07 pm

    Cut housing expense from 40% to 0% via multifamily, roommates, or living in a cheaper place.

    Reply
  54. CC says

    November 10, 2017 at 6:02 pm

    Buy a dependable vehicle and drive it as long as possible.

    Reply
  55. Jason says

    November 10, 2017 at 7:08 pm

    Have a budget each month. Pull out cash from the bank and put it in envelopes. Once the money in the envelope is gone (i.e. entertainment), you have to wait till the next month. The envelope system SIGNIFICANTLY keeps us from overspending, and thereby allows us to put more money aside.

    Reply
  56. Mike H says

    November 10, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    To all the commenters- re-read the instructions- you are commenting on the wrong post.

    Reply
  57. Chris says

    November 11, 2017 at 11:51 am

    I’m sure others have said this, but I’ll add another endorsement for it…

    Bring your lunch to work everyday and only go out for lunch occasionally. Not only will you be healthier for it, you will save a ton of money.

    Reply
  58. Debarshi Das says

    November 11, 2017 at 12:36 pm

    Have a discussion with your banker, and make sure all the money is tucked away, and protect it from any issues. I hope I win. Thank you. 🙂

    Reply
  59. TR says

    November 11, 2017 at 2:31 pm

    Look at savings as “spending in reverse.” When you buy anything, large or small, double the cost and ask is this worth it? Because if you are really saving/investing, paying taxes and tithe, you are really spending about half of your salary. Is that $5 drink and snack really worth $10 everyday…probably not.

    Reply
  60. Steven p says

    November 11, 2017 at 11:57 pm

    Live below your means

    Reply
  61. ESI says

    November 17, 2017 at 6:09 am

    This giveaway has ended.

    Winners were selected from the Save Overview post as noted above.

    The winners are as follows:

    $25 Amazon gift card #1 — George
    $25 Amazon gift card #2 — Lisa Mease
    $25 Amazon gift card #3 — Jessica H
    $25 Starbucks gift card — Lawrence Church
    $10 iTunes gift card — Bernie Doss

    There may be more than one of these names who commented, so you’ll know you’re the right one if you get an email from me. Be looking for it.

    Congrats to the winners and stay tuned for more giveaways!

    Reply
  62. Adam says

    November 17, 2017 at 7:54 am

    I use coupons every week at the grocery store. I take all the money I saved from coupons and I put it in a coffee can. I use that money to take the family out to dinner on special occasions, family vacations, and even bought a snowblower.

    Reply
  63. Andrew G says

    November 17, 2017 at 7:57 am

    Didn’t win this time. But congrats to all the winners.

    Reply
  64. al g says

    November 18, 2017 at 2:45 pm

    The giveaway is over … but its hard to resist adding to these great ideas … don’t pay full price unless absolutely necessary

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search This Site

Social Media

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Recent Posts

  • The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made
  • Millionaire Interview 348, Part 2
  • Millionaire Interview 348
  • Facts About The Villages, Florida
  • 10 Impactful Ways to Grow Your Career Earnings in 2023
  • Millionaire Interview 347
  • Retirement Interview 39
  • Millionaire Interview 346
  • Happy New Year and Best Posts of 2022

Recent Comments

  • Rick on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • D on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • ESI on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • betsy sussman on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • SMB116 on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • ESI on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • Dean on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • Erik on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • ESI on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2
  • ESI on The Best Post-Retirement Decisions I Have Made, Part 2

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · ESI Money · About · Disclaimer · Earning Notice · Privacy Statement · Contact