Over the past few months, eleven supremely talented financial bloggers (plus yours truly ) contributed bits and pieces to collaborate on a very special writing project, The A-Z of Saving Money. I had a blast with creating my two chapters, and I feel so honored to participate in this extensive project and working closely with Glen and co. Each contributor really has provided a unique perspective on crucial money-saving tips, tricks and other sundry tidbits conducive to financial independence.

After months of effort the book is finally finished, and I figured I could SQUEE a little here. Ta-da, here it is!

(As an aside quickie: I would personally like to thank Glen for spearheading our project and being the mastermind behind this whole she-bang.)

I have to tell you guys, I was floored when I had a chance to read through all of the compilations, and I believe you guys really will enjoy this one, too.

Here is a list of an exceptional group of co-authors:

1. Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank, our courageous ‘big cheese in charge’
2. Andy @ Work Save Live
3. Mr. CBB @ Canadian Budget Binder
4. John @ Frugal Rules
5. Jake @ I Heart Budgets
6. Kim @ Eyes on the Dollar
7. The Savvy Scott
8. Budget and the Beach
9. Mrs. PoP @ Planting Our Pennies
10. Catherine @ Plunged in Debt
11. Jefferson @ See Debt Run
12. and last but not least, moi.

The book itself is priced at $14.99 and offers 26 chapters for each letter of the alphabet. As Glen offers in the introduction, “the goal of this book is to give you an idea of the various aspects of day to day life that you can adjust to allow you to take control of your finances. As we take you through each letter of the alphabet, I hope that every chapter helps to guide you on your way to a better financial future.”

Furthermore, to generate positive buzz in celebration of our fabulous book release, we are giving away a pretty rad prize package to one lucky reader.

The Giveaway Prize:

• $250 in cash, and thus a special incentive to start immediately saving.
• a free copy of our book!

Hurry and enter below for your chance to win all of that dough!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to all broke-ass participants.

You can purchase the book for $14.99 by clicking here, and if you choose to purchase your own copy, we truly appreciate all of your support.

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Are you struggling to find that perfect gift with distinctive character? Valentine’s Day nearly is here and you don’t want to be caught futzing around with last minute gift ideas, or be left empty-handed.

…gift shopping from the heart.

While shopping for your sweetie, why not consider browsing locally to support small, independently owned shops instead of hitting up big box stores, chains and franchises?

Here are some of the benefits to shopping from locally-owned and operated independent businesses and boutiques:

Locally owned businesses purchase from other local businesses and service providers, which re-circulates your dollars and fosters local job creation. More of your dollars are kept within your own community.

So, why enrich others when you can invest right in your own neighborhood!

Shopping locally also contributes to helping a community to thrive, as independent shop owners are more likely to invest in their community, as well.

And when it comes to shopping, service matters. Whether purchasing from the local grocer, pharmacist, or corner florist, an independent shop can offer that personal touch with excellent and superior customer service. You know who you’re buying from, and feel that you matter.

Locally owned businesses build strong and sustainable town centers, linking neighbors into a beneficial web of social and economical ties, and enriching local causes.

While on the gift hunt, supporting your locally owned businesses guarantees a much broader range of choices for some really cute and unique gifts!

Okay, by now you’ve selected that perfect gift. Well done, you! Now let’s mosey on to the giveaway.

To celebrate this concept of gift selection for loved ones, Broke-Ass Mommy is teaming with a community of other personal finance bloggers to help sponsor the ‘find your loved one the perfect gift at the right price’ giveaway, with a prize of $100 Cash through Paypal or Amazon gift card (winner’s choice).

Here is how you may enter for your chance to win:

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Did you enjoy this giveaway from Broke-Ass Mommy? Be awesome and vote for it by clicking below.

(Clicking on the banner automatically sends me a vote. And, I appreciate your support. You’re the best!)

(This contest has been submitted to “About Sweepstakes“.)

Have you gone buck wild with your finances and now you are broke and dwelling in the poor house with threadbare pockets? Financial responsibility begins with you. Now is the time to stop making excuses and derailing your financial progress. Here is how to steer your paltry finances back on track to begin paving the way to riches and financial prosperity, proactively.

Aim for financial stability. Practice these simple adages that warrant repeating because they are so important, such as: spend less than you earn and save up an emergency fund, etc. Yes, it really is that simple. You will never get to the good stuff of wealth accumulation until these first two steps are conquered and you can place yourself on firmer financial ground to plant fertile seeds of prosperity.

Negotiate debt repayments. Debt is like quicksand gobbling up any type of financial progress unless your debt is providing passive income streams (such as a mortgage on an income property). If your debts are sucking the life out of your wallet, you’re sinking down a slippery deep hole of stagnation. Contact each of your debtors and try to re-negotiate a payment plan that will allow a bit more flexibility and financial wiggle room and, as a sign of good faith, be sure to stay on top of each payment and contact debtors immediately if you know you may be late on a payment. Show a willingness to responsibly work through the situation with your debtors and then focus on aggressively vanquishing each of your debt beasts.

Stop spending strictly for today. By utilizing credit today, you are using your future earnings and future life energy to deprive yourself of tomorrow. Doesn’t make much sense, does it? Instead stay out of the vicious debt trap by saving first for the items and experiences you crave.  If you don’t have the money, don’t buy it!

Step away from a mindless consumerism mentality through more conscious spending. Be aware of each purchase and only buy what you truly love. Try to adopt a more minimalist lifestyle and eradicate all of the useless clutter in your life.

To celebrate this concept of not having enough money and how to avoid financial destitution, Broke-Ass Mommy is teaming with other personal finance blogs to help sponsor the ‘Not Enough Money at the End of the Month’ giveaway, with a prize of $100 Cash through Paypal or Amazon gift card (winner’s choice).

Here is how you may enter for your chance to win:

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Did you enjoy this giveaway from Broke-Ass Mommy? Be awesome and vote for it by clicking below.

(This contest has been submitted to Instant Win.)

I am lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and you can find me scurrying about like a loony as I efficiently attempt to get everything scratched off of our to-do list. Time simply is evaporating and things are a wee berserk around here. Family is arriving from Montana on Friday evening and it will be stirring and thrilling for Lexi to spend time with her cousin. As I scrub and scour our apartment and hasten to accomplish everything else that needs doing before then, I will leave you with some pretty wickedly fabulous giveaways that you really ought to be entering.

Okay, my broke-ass readers, here are some holly jolly winter giveaways for your perusing pleasure:

Ho ho ho!

• Ends in three days! Broke-Ass Mommy is sponsoring a chance for one lucky reader to win $100 Cash with the ‘How to Save Money on Grocery Shopping’ Giveaway!!

• Jeremy over at Modest Money has multiple contests running for December and is giving away a plethora of goodies, so be sure to check them all out for this holiday season. He is sponsoring an Apple iPad3 Giveaway Contest and also is giving away $500 cash and various other blogger services.

Good luck to all of my broke-ass participants!

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Hello everyone, did you have a productive weekend? I am excited to announce our latest giveaway for this broke-ass Monday. With ever-increasing food prices haunting us, the theme of this giveaway will be dealing with the relevant financial issue of how to save money on grocery shopping.

Cool the beans there, Homer.

Here are a few ways that my family attempts to cope with inflationary food prices:

• Always try to buy in season. We enjoy frequenting the farmers market and community co-op to purchase local produce and fruit in season. This saves us a tremendous amount of money since we establish personal relationships with local farmers. Certain farmers recognize us each week and provide us with some awesomely killer deals!

• Invest in quality foods that are nutrient-dense. Purchase organics whenever possible. This may seem like a more expensive option but in fact may be saving butt loads of money on a slew of health problems and medical bills in the long term. Your cells replenish at an alarming rate so give your cells the necessary fuel they need to help renew your organs and body in the healthiest possible manner. (Remember the old adage, you are what you eat?)

• Consider coupons, sales and any other discounts offered. Also consider investing in your community in the process. Our community co-op is three blocks from our apartment and offers attractive discounts to members (those who pay a flat annual fee to own shares, or a slice, of the business). Being a co-op member not only gives me deeper daily discounts on every product when I shop, but I also receive a dividend check based on the overall profits of the co-op at the end of the year. Also I actively can engage in my community and have a say on the co-op’s offered foods/merchandise and be familiar with their sources. Hecka cool!

• Forego big name brands for generic if quality is similar. If the taste, quality and ingredient list are the same, don’t be fooled by big fancy marketing schemes by paying out the caboose for a fancy-schmancy ‘designer’ label. Consider generic options whenever possible.

And, the number one tip for saving money on your bulging grocery shopping bill:

• Plant your own garden! My family always is amazed at the quantity of food a very simple garden can produce. Consider growing some of your own basic staples: tomatoes, peppers, onion, beans, herbs, etc. The rewards from growing your own food by nurturing your garden and watching it flourish are enormous. Cool beans, right?

Sooo to celebrate this concept of saving where it matters to rescue your wilting wallet, Broke-Ass Mommy is teaming with other personal finance blogs to help sponsor the ‘Save Money on Groceries’ giveaway, with a prize of $100 Cash through Paypal or Amazon gift card (winner’s choice).

Here is how you may enter for your chance to win:

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Did you enjoy this giveaway from Broke-Ass Mommy? Be awesome and vote for it by clicking below.

(This contest has been submitted to Sweepstakes.)

Printcopia specializes in canvas prints and offers a wide range of print products perfect for your business or personal use. When they offered me one of their products to review, I was amazed at how simple the ordering process was. The website navigation for Printcopia was a breeze for me. It was extremely easy and super user-friendly, and after a few short moments of using the ‘Design Tool’ to upload my photo, the order for my canvas print was completed.

In addition to having an option to upload chosen images from folders on the computer, the Printcopia website also allows you to upload favorite photos from Instagram or Facebook. Easy-peasy, right?

When my 8×10 canvas print arrived, the colors were deliciously sharp, vibrant and simply gorgeous. Although I wasn’t sure what to expect, Printcopia exceeded my expectations, and I am quite pleased with the quality of the canvas.

Printcopia uses non toxic, eco-friendly inks and all products are made within the U.S.

my canvas family portrait, courtesy of Printcopia

canvas print with the ‘image wrap’ option

Would you like your own lovely canvas print to proudly display?

Broke-Ass Mommy is giving away a 8×10 canvas print with free shipping to one lucky reader (a complete value of $57). This is the perfect holiday gift.

This offer is open to US and Canadian residents only. Giveaway instructions may be found below.

WIN IT! Here is how you may enter to win your own 8×10 canvas print from Printcopia.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have fun, my Broke-Ass participants. Good luck!

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Enter below to win a chance at the grand prize of $50 Cash through Paypal or Amazon gift card (winner’s choice) or five $5 cash prizes !!

Enter below to win $100.00 Cash through Paypal or Amazon gift card (winner’s choice) !!

Hi everyone, it’s time for another Broke-Ass Giveaway! This time around we are focusing on a great theme — being thankful.

Here is what I am thankful for:

I am enduringly grateful for my daughter, who is growing and changing so much. Each golden day with her is a new wonder and it just keeps getting better. My family and friends have rallied around me as a wonderful support network and my heart is so, so full.

I would also like to express gratitude to Broke-Ass Mommy readers and those of you who are here supporting this site. Thank you.

And I’d like to encourage you to take a moment to read through this stirring and poignant post from my friend John over at Frugal Rules, as he has experienced heart-rending circumstances, making him extremely cognizant of the fragility of life: Four Minutes That Changed My Life Forever. Thank you for sharing your touching story with us, John.

Take a moment to show gratitude toward the people in your life—they are here to help you through your own personal journey.

What are YOU thankful for?

To celebrate this concept of gratitude, Broke-Ass Mommy is teaming with other personal finance blogs to help sponsor the ‘Being Thankful’ giveaway, with a prize of $50 $100 Cash through Paypal or Amazon gift card (winner’s choice).

Here is how you may enter for your chance to win:

Enjoy a day of gratitude and good luck to all participants!

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(If you are a blogger and interested in participating in future Snowflaking financial giveaways for your readers, you may learn more here: Snowflake Project.)
This contest has been submitted to Free Sweepstakes

It is essential to make it a priority to establish an emergency fund.

Having an emergency fund shapes wise financial habits and is a huge milestone once achieved. I used to live paycheck to paycheck and every unexpected expense would cripple my bank account balance, sending it hurling into the red. One day I became sick of the constant struggle of trying to survive and made it a priority to break this vicious cycle — now I’ve socked away eight months worth of expenses for when those unforeseen, pesky emergencies crop up.

This was a slow continuous process where I siphoned off a percentage of income every time I received money, in order to place that amount into a specific account marked solely for emergency savings. I faithfully contributed to this account no matter what. (And, well, then basically forgot about it.)

Thanks to diligently socking away between 10-15%, I quickly managed to accumulate a nifty safety cash buffer, which was exhilarating. Let me tell you, having an emergency fund in place brings huge relief and an enormous psychological boost. And once a tidy emergency fund of your own is established, I guarantee you’ll have incredible peace of mind. Then the fun begins!  You can begin investing wisely for the future to watch your hard-earned money grow.

Taking control of your financial future by establishing an emergency fund definitely feels empowering!

Now, onto the good stuff!

To celebrate this concept, Broke-Ass Mommy is teaming with other personal finance blogs to help sponsor ‘The Importance of an Emergency Fund’ giveaway, with a prize of $100 Cash through Paypal or Amazon gift card (winner’s choice).

Here is how you may enter for your chance to win:

(If you are a blogger and interested in participating in future Snowflaking financial giveaways for your readers, you may learn more here: Snowflake Project.)
This contest has been submitted to Sweepstakes Plus