Win a family 4-pack to OVO!

I’m excited to announce a lucky Bargain Babe reader will win a Family 4-pack to OVO from Cirque du Soleil under the Big Top at the Santa Monica Pier on March 7. Find out how you can win the tickets, below. I’ll also let you know how you can score discounted tickets to OVO!

OVO, meaning egg in Portuguese, is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.  When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It is love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual. OVO is great for the whole family!

Can’t wait to go to OVO in Santa Monica? Bargain Babe readers receive 30% off* their tickets by clicking here.

*30% available on price level 2-3-4 for select performances through March 25. Restrictions may apply. Subject to change. Applicable to select price levels and performances. Convenience fees and delivery fee will apply. Prices shown online during the purchasing process already reflect the above offer where applicable. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

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This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

Recent studies suggest that a scarcity of women can actually cause men’s finances to suffer. The study involved showing men newspaper articles about the ratio of women to men in an area and then asking them to respond regarding how much they would borrow on credit cards and save each month. Surprisingly, the study revealed a correlation, as men in a town with fewer women reported a tendency to borrow or spend more and put less into savings accounts. Real-life statistics also seem to confirm these findings.

Are Women to Blame?

One possible explanation for the results is that men spend more to attract females when the number of females around decreases. After all, when there are fewer women, there’s more competition for the available ones and one way in which men compete in this day and age (when it’s no longer considered cool to have duels or bare-knuckle brawls) is to show off their wealth.

This philosophy is, in theory, supported by evidence from studies indicating that women expect men to spend more on them for dinners and engagement rings in towns where women outnumber men.

Another Explanation

One option is that perhaps without the calming influence of a wife around to nix the big screen TV, recliner and beer purchases, men might be more likely to indulge their bachelor sides. Sure, it’s a stereotypical explanation, but saying men spend more just to impress women is too, so why not twist the explanation a bit in favor of the female?

Regardless of the reasons men overspend more in towns without women, simply accepting this as a fact is a dangerous thing. Instead, everyone, both men and women, should take responsibility for their finances and make the right choices based on what is best for them and their future. This means saving an appropriate amount, spending an appropriate amount, establishing a budget and making spending and saving choices in light of the big picture.

Written by Louise on behalf of MoneySupermarket, the UK price comparison site.

This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

Christmastime consumers are easy targets for retailers when it comes to the January sales. It’s a time of feeling generous, festive, indulgent, vulnerable and hungover: a combination that hardly makes for wise and rational decision making. This is the time that savings accounts surrender to sales, aka the post-Christmas binge.

This is the time of year that the stereotypical shopaholic behaviors of darting from one rail to another, playing scarf-tug-of-war with unsuspecting fellow shoppers and drowning in a sea of shopping bags comes to life in every corner of the high street.

Otherwise sensible shoppers seem to lose all self control when it comes to January sales. “So what if it’s three sizes too big, the color of vomit and is decorated with muddy footprints? It’s 70% cheaper than usual!” come the frenzied cries from the changing rooms. The consensus of January shopping is every woman for themselves. It is the one time of year where shoppers are ruthless and splurges are momentarily justified by the big, shiny ‘sale’ signs.

There is a lot of research behind consumer behaviors and what influences our spending habits. It is said that the vast proportion of our decision making is subconscious. However, this doesn’t have to be the case.

The best approach to maintaining a sales-savvy state of mind is to buy staple, timeless items that you would buy anyway, and not just be attracted to the cheapest clothes you can find and convince yourself you’ll one day wear them.

You may be saving a massive percentage of the recommended retail prices, but you’re still spending. Keep one rule with you as you squirm through the crowds of eager women with mountains of material draped over their shoulders – only buy it if you need it.

January shopping, at first, may seem to keep the usual spending guilt at bay, after all, you’re spending to save. But as your newly purchased collection starts to deplete halfway through January, you’ll realize the guilt hasn’t been evaded. Sales offer you the chance to purchase what you’ve lusted after all year at a lower price. Just don’t cave under pressure and spend a month’s wages on misshapen jumpers and odd shoes.

This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

After creating a free account on GoSlice.com, Slice keeps track of your online purchases by gathering all of your electronic receipts in one place, no matter where you made the purchase from. Rest assured, CEO Scott Brady informed us that the entire process is secure, and Slice won’t release your information or delete emails. At the moment, Slice is available to Yahoo! and Google mail users, and Brady says they’re looking to expand to support other email providers.

Slice’s site will look familiar to Mint users and we found it just as easy to use. Slice keeps track of how much you’re spending an provides you with other information that can save you time and money. Aside from the organizational and money saving perks, Slice also automatically tracks packages that are en route to your house so you don’t need to dig through your inbox for tracking numbers. Your packages are all displayed on an overlay of a U.S. map, which we found incredibly helpful.

Brady says Slice supports 95% of purchases and the rest can be forwarded to include them in your account.

If you’re on the go, Slice recently released an iPhone app that provides push notifications for your packages along with Slice’s core organizational features. It’s all that the site provides right at your finger tips and it’s just as easy to use.

Android users — don’t fret! Brady informed us an Android version is on the way.

This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

Are you the winner?

I’m really excited for the winner of this giveaway! The winner is taking home a copy of You Need A Budget’s budgeting software, an hour of one-on-one coaching, the YNAB book, and audio book. This prize pack is sure to help you tame your finances – now that’s a great way to start the new year! Find out if you’re the lucky winner below.

YNAB teaches you how to get out of debt, save money, and stop living paycheck to paycheck. It can easily be downloaded to your computer – it runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux! Unlike other financial software, there are no forced upgrades or annual fees.

The winner is…

LaurenY who is ready to commit herself to reaching financial independence.

The runner-up is…

Jacque E who said it will help get her family of six get back on track.

The winner has 24 hours to claim the YNAB finance software by responding to my email. If the winner doesn’t respond, the prize will go to the runner up.

Want to buy the You Need A Budget software? You Need A Budget is offering a 20% discount to Bargain Babe readers who buy the software through this link by the end of today.

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA. This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

Make a gift through Kidworth this Christmas.

As a kid, I loved discovering a mound of presents choking the tree on Christmas  morning. But I can’t help but wonder, now that I’m familiar with the website Kidworth, if some of those gifts could have been given as investments.

Did you know that the average child, according to Kidworth founder Rudy DeFelice, comes across $25,000-$30,000 in gifts by the time they are 18? And yet, how many 18-year-olds do you know that have more than a few bucks to their name?

So if you’re still looking for a Christmas or Hanukkah gift for a special child in your life, check out Kidworth.

Kidworth is about channeling gifts, allowance, earnings into an account (that parents create for their child) that encourages them to set up save goals, spend goals, and share goals. So it’s got two purposes. Kidworth helps kids save money (instead of receiving a bunch of plastic toys on every occasion) and it teaches them what to do with money. Earlier I wrote about Kidworth in the context of using the site to help my soon-to-be-born daughter save and manage money.

You can start an account no matter how young your kid is, and the older they get, the more you can involve them.

There are all sorts of privacy controls so your kid’s personal information never gets out there. On a practical level, parents can use Kidworth to send out birthday invitations and holiday cards, a big opportunity to share their kid’s goals. Wink, wink. For Christmas, little Bobby would really love a contribution to his 529 college savings account. When you kid is old enough, they can chime in and ask for ice cream (or whatever their heart desires).

If you would like to temper the onslaught of gifts this holiday season, sign up for Kidworth and put the generosity of your friends and family to good use!

This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

You Need A Budget will teach you how to get out of debt, save money, and stop living paycheck to paycheck. The personal finance software runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It is so easy to install and use! You can budget your money as if you where using the envelope system which is great because this actually helps you stay on budget. For those on the go, you can also download the companion iPhone and Android app. The best part about the desktop budgeting system is that there is no forced upgrades or annual fees. YNAB also offers free, education webinars on an almost daily basis.

• Liking Bargain Babe on Facebook
• Sharing this post on Facebook
• Following us on Twitter @BargainBabe
• Liking YouNeedABudget.com on Facebook
• Tweeting “Win @ynab budgeting software on @BargainBabe http://bit.ly/uPLuTj”
• Following @ynab on Twitter

Don’t forget to tell us why you need to win the budgeting software and one-on-one coaching. Make sure to leave a comment for each entry so we know how many times you’ve entered! Can’t wait to get your hands on the You Need A Budget software? For a limited time, You Need A Budget is offering a 20% discount to Bargain Babe readers who buy the software.

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA. This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

We partnered with DebitSavvy.org to bring you this giveaway. DebitSavvy.org is a consumer-focused site designed to provide fast and accurate information about debit cards.

The winner is…

Betty Baez who plans on buying her kids new bedding, and her hubby a drill he needs one for work.

The runner-ups are…

Brandy Emberton who would buy things for her new place.

Angela Bowen who would buy lot of post Christmas bargains.

The winner has 24 hours to claim the $150 Discover debit card by responding to my email. If the winner doesn’t respond, the prize will go to the first runner up, and so on.

Want another chance to win? DebitSavvy.org will be giving away more than $2,000 in Discover prepaid debit cards in their Twitter Giveaway Trivia Contest through January 9, 2012. Make sure to follow them on Twitter @DebitSavvy.

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA. This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

If you need a little more spending cash for the holidays, have we got a giveaway for you! DebitSavvy.org is partnering with us to giveaway a $150 Discover prepaid debit card to one lucky winner. Find out how to be win below.

DebitSavvy.org is a consumer-focused site designed to provide fast and accurate information about debit cards. Want another chance to win a Discover prepaid debit card? DebitSavvy.org will be giving away more than $2,000 in Discover prepaid debit cards in their Twitter Giveaway Trivia Contest through January 9, 2012.

To win the $150 Discover prepaid debit card on BargainBabe.com, make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and join our freebie and deal email by Monday, December 12 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Get additional entries by:

• Sharing this post on Facebook
• Tweeting “Win a $150 Discover prepaid debit card from @DebitSavvy via @BargainBabe http://bit.ly/vQEJ2m”
• Following @DebitSavvy on Twitter

Don’t forget to tell us how you plan to use the money and make sure to leave a comment for each entry so we know how many times you’ve entered!

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA. This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the UPrinting.com lighting giveaway! Two lucky winners are getting custom business card. Check below to see if you’ve won. UPrinting.com is a leading socially responsible online printing, marketing and technology firm that has established itself as a major player in the industry with its distinct vision and clear approach to helping small businesses grow.

The winners are…

Jeanie o

N. Davis

The runners up are…

Carrie Gaston

Angie

The winners have 48 hours to claim their prize or the cards will go to the first runner up, and so on.

*The die cut business cards will have the standard print turnaround time of 6 days plus the standard shipping time which depends on where you are located.

This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page. This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.

UPrinting.com, a leading socially responsible online printing, marketing and technology firm, has established itself as a major player in the industry with its distinct vision and clear approach to helping small businesses grow. It has a wide range of products from business cards, brochures, canvas prints, greeting cards, vinyl banners and a whole lot more.

Win 250 pcs of custom business cards and choose among the die cut shape and sizes available

• 2 x 3.5″ Rounded Corners
• 2×2″ Rounded Corners
• 1.75×3.5″ Rounded Corners
• 2×3.5″ Leaf
• 2×3.5 Rounded one corner
• 2×3.5″ Half Circle Side
• 2×3.5″ Oval
• 2.5″ Circle

As well as the cardstock options!

• 14pt Cardstock Gloss
• 14pt Matte
• 14pt High Gloss (UV)
• 13pt Cardstock Uncoated

To win, join the BargainBabe.com freebie and deal email by December 1, 2011 by 11:59 p.m. EST. Two winners will be chosen randomly. Get additional entries by:

• Liking UPrinting on Facebook (one entry)
  

• Giving UPrinting business cards a Plus 1 on Google.
  
  

  
  

• Tweeting “I want to win @Uprinting business cards on @BargainBabe http://bit.ly/tJgpE3” (one entry)
• Leave a comment telling us what you’ll use the card for.

Make sure to leave a comment for each entry!

Restriction: Limited to *US residents 18 years old and above only. You must not have won the exact same product from UPrinting in the past six months to be eligible to win.

This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page. This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.

Earn $10 for joining Kidworth!

With a baby on the way, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to raise my kid so that she is savvy with money. How do I show her to save money, to live frugally, and to make savvy spending decisions? When should we first give her an allowance? How do I instill in her the pride I take in donating money to help others?

Enter Kidworth, a new website founded by a father who was tired of going to kids’ birthday parties and witnessing hundreds of dollars wasted on “plastic junk.”

So this father, Rudy DeFelice, did some research and discovered the average kid comes across $25,000-$30,000 in gifts by the time they are 18. Holy *$(%*#! How many 18-year-olds do you know that have more than a few bucks to their name?

“The way we treat kids reinfornces mindless consumption,” Rudy told me. He wanted a way to counter balance that consumerist message. He wanted a way to train kids to deal with money that would give kids a better chance.

Kidworth is not about creating more money, but about using resources – gifts, allowance, earnings – in a better way. Parents create an account for their kid, from babies to teenagers, and set up save goals, spend goals, and share goals. Depending on how old the kid is, they can get involved, too.

On a practical level, parents can use Kidworth to send out birthday invitations and holiday cards, using the opportunity to share their kid’s goals. It’s a not-so-subtle way to ask for specific gifts and donations, instead of the aforementioned plastic junk.

When you visit a kid’s page, family and friends can see what kind of progress the kid and what the kid is doing with their allowance, gifts, and earnings. Only first names are used, and no identifying information is shared or asked for. Pages do not show up in search engine results, but parents can share their kids’ pages with whomever they wish.

Kidworth is totally free to use, though sending an egift card costs $2.50 and sending a physical card costs $5. Both fees go to covering credit card processing fees.

If you’re dreading an onslaught of unwanted gifts this holiday season, sign up for Kidworth! The next 100 people to sign up via Kidworth’s Facebook page will earn a $10 credit when they create a goal in their Kidworth account.

Great values in the Sears holiday catalogue!

Day two of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide is devoted to the spectacular values you can find in the Sears Holiday Catalogue and we’re heating things up by giving away a $100 Sears gift card!!! Entry details below.

Yesterday we kicked off the guide with electronics gifts. Over the next two weeks, we will suggest gifts for kids, teens, men, and women. There will also be a day devoted to unique and quirky gifts, and we’ll finish the gift guide on Dec. 9 with a roundup of the best overall gifts.

If your budget is tight, don’t forget to enter our final five Win Giveaways for a chance to win $619 in Christmas and holiday presents, ENDING TODAY NOV. 29!

Now onto those Sears gifts. I posted a bunch of coupon codes below to help you to save more!

1. Mini perfume bottles are just $10 and you get to choose from four scents, including Halle Berry Reveal, Escape Men, Eternity for Women, and Homme by David Beckham. Each comes as a .5 ounce spray. There is also four perfume gift sets that are good deals, ranging from $22-$35. They include fun extras like lotion and shower gel.

2. I can’t get enough of the penguin Christmas theme Sears has going on. The chubbier they get, the cuter they are! There is a penguin cookie jar, mug, and iced tea or lemonade dispenser. For $10 each, and the mug is $4.

3. Craftsman Cantilever tool organizer, $25. Every man has tools. But how many are organized? This awesome device has removeable boxes and a clear lid, so you can see where everything is and get quick access. The price is awfully nice, too!

4. Skele-toes running shoes by Fila, $55-$60, give you the feel of the road as you walk, hike, or run. They come in sleek black and gray, or vibrant fushia, emerald blue, and lime. Kids and adult sizes.

5. Sparkly rings in birthstone and sapphire colors bring a smile to your sweetheart’s face. And at $70 each (orig. $175), they are super affordable. I’m partial to the aquamarine because my grandmother had an aquamarine ring and it was gorgeous. Look for special jewelry coupons in the print version of the Sears Wish Book.

More Sears coupons:

• RealJoy gets you free shipping on $99 or more through Dec. 19. If you’re in a rush, chose in store pickup to get your item the same day!
• SEARS2011 saves you $5 off $50 (unclear when it expires)
• SEARS5OFF50 to save $5 off $50 through Nov. 30, 2011
• CRAFTSMAN get 15% off Craftsman workwear (does that mean clothes?) through Nov. 30
• STOYS20 gets you $20 off $200 in toys through Dec. 31, 2011
• STOYS5 saves you $5 off $50 or more on toys through Nov. 30
• STOYS10 saves you $10 off $100 or more on toys through Nov. 30
• ELEC05 saves you an extra 5% off consumer electronics through Dec. 31
• All Kenmore appliances are 15% off and Bosch dishwashers are 10% off until Dec. 3 (no code needed)

To enter to win the $100 Sears gift card, visit the Sears Wish Book and tell us what you wish for from the Wish Book. Comment by Dec. 5 to be eligible to win!

Electronics gifts – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 1
Value gifts at Sears – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 2
Toys for kids – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 3
Mens’ shavers – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 4
Gifts for teens – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 5
Unique and quirky gifts – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 6

This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

And the winner is… Sharon Scott

First runner up is… Betty Baez

Second runner up is… Jamie Brigham

Third runner up is… colleen

The winner has 48 hours to claim her prize or the prize pack goes to the first runner up, and so on.

If you didn’t win, no worries, we have more WinGiveaways coming!