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.

Time is almost out to win $175 budgeting software!

Today is your last chance to win a budgeting software package worth $175!!! One lucky winner will get a copy of You Need A Budget software, an hour of one-on-one coaching, the YNAB book, and their audio book!

So far only 55 readers have entered. Make this a Christmas present to yourself by entering no later than today, Dec. 19 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

YNAB 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 so it’s easy to install and use. You can budget using the envelope system or download the companion iPhone and Android app. The best part is no forced upgrades or annual fees. Plus, YNAB offers totally free, education webinars almost every day.

To win the YouNeedABudget prize pack on BargainBabe.com:

• Join our freebie and deal email
• Like Bargain Babe on Facebook
• Share this post on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter @BargainBabe
• Like YouNeedABudget.com on Facebook
• Tweet “Win @ynab budgeting software on @BargainBabe http://bit.ly/uPLuTj”
• Follow @ynab on Twitter

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 through this link.

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.

Win a $175 budgeting software package!

One lucky reader will win a copy of You Need A Budget software, an hour of one-on-one coaching, the YNAB book, and their audio book! This prize package is worth $175!

So far only 17 readers – gasp – have entered. This contest is for the taking! Enter by Monday, Dec. 19 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

YNAB 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 so it’s easy to install and use. You can budget using the envelope system or download the companion iPhone and Android app.

The best part is no forced upgrades or annual fees. Plus, YNAB offers totally free, education webinars almost every day.

To win the YouNeedABudget prize pack on BargainBabe.com:

• Join our freebie and deal email
• Like Bargain Babe on Facebook
• Share this post on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter @BargainBabe
• Like YouNeedABudget.com on Facebook
• Tweet “Win @ynab budgeting software on @BargainBabe http://bit.ly/uPLuTj”
• Follow @ynab on Twitter

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 through this link.

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.

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.

One-day swag giveaway!!!

I just returned from the inaugural Financial Blogger Conference in Chicago this past weekend with a bag of swag that I’m giving away today on BargainBabe.com! The prize includes:

• White FNBO Direct T-shirt, size L
• Book of New Yorker cartoons all relating to money, from CreditCards.com (suuuuuper funny)
• Two orange reusable bags from ING Direct
• Personal Finance Calculator for Dummies, with buttons to calculate savings for college, retirement, and more
• Mousepad from Kapital
• Green slap wrist toy from Go Banking Rates
• A copy of “The Millionaire Fastlane,” by MJ DeMarco
• Metal beer opener from CreditCards.com

The conference was a blast of networking, eye-opening talks, and I’m so glad I attended. (Even though I came home with a cold). Got lots to do on my to-do list.

To win my conference swag, join our daily or weekly deals email and comment with why you want to win. One winner will be selected randomly and announced tomorrow, Oct. 6, 2011.

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

I asked you to share what wealth meant to you for a chance to win “The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in its Place” by New York Times best selling author and CSI: NY actor Hill Harper and the vast majority of readers agreed that wealth is not about living an opulent life. It’s about the richness you find in your faith, family and friends.

With this in mind, Harper wrote his non-traditional finance book that teaches readers how to take control of their money. After reading all your comments, I declared reader

REllis the winner because like Harper she believes in having your money work for you. REllis wrote:

Wealth is living debt free! When you are debt free you tell your money what to do and you are more likely to fulfill your purpose in life. When you are fulfilling your purpose in life you are passionate about what you do which inspires others and makes this world a better place. Wealth is being complete – emotionally, spiritually, physically and financially.

REllis, I hope this book helps you achieve a debt-free life that leads you to fulfill your purpose in life. This book will give you tips on building an emergency fund, getting out of credit card debt, and getting health insurance. Please email me your mailing address within 48 hours so I can send you the book.

If I don’t hear from you, the book will go to one of the runner-ups. The first runner-up is Teresa, who believes in paying it forward. She said she uses her extra money as a “family benevolence fund” to help others with groceries and gas money. The second runner-up is Kris who said being wealthy is understanding the importance of faith and family.

The 264-page book is not a quick fix, but Harper will help you understand the difference between smart and dumb money. Smart money being cash that grows and works for you while you sleep. He will provide you with a financial plan that includes investing by giving back. He also includes his survival story and through that he shows you how to treat any money problems you may have.

If you can’t wait to get your hands on the book and read more about Harper’s journey and money advice, you can purchase a new copy on Amazon for $14.35 (orig. $26).

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

New York Times best selling author and CSI: NY actor Hill Harper shares personal anecdotes in his latest book on the real meaning of being wealthy. “The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in its Place,” is not a traditional financial literacy book, but it will help you control your finances.

Harper guides his readers to reevaluate their take on money. Coming from a family full of doctors and having been diagnosed with cancer, Harper writes about money as if it were someone’s health in need of treatment plan:

Our society is addicted to debt, and, exacerbating that problem, we live in a culture that associates material objects — “bling” — with success. Those two factors have led us to overvalue money. So much so that in many ways we “chase paper” just as intently as

substance addicts chase their next fix. Our relationship with money borders upon addiction, and so many of the problems we see today, individually and collectively, are the result of this craving. We make irrational and often destructive choices because we have given money and its pursuit too much value.

The 264-page book is divided into four wealth cure stages that consist of a diagnosis of your monetary health, treatment for whatever may be hurting your wealth, compliance to stick to your plan, and maintaining your health and wealth to thrive. When his father died, Harper sought comfort in an expensive vintage car, a passion his father shared. Harper takes the reader on a journey of reflection filled with advice from family, friends, and the Bible.

This book is not for those looking for a quick fix. It’s for those who desire to take the right steps to true wealth with the help of money. Inside, you’ll find charts to start a financial plan, tips on investing on life insurance, having a will and an emergency fund, as well as steps to get out of credit card debt.

Let us know how you define wealth by Thursday Sept. 22, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST for a chance to win my review copy. Winners will be announced Friday.  If you can’t wait to get your hands on the book and read more about Harper’s journey and money advice, you can purchase a new copy on Amazon for $14.35 (orig. $26).

AMagill/Flickr

I spend a minimum of 30 minutes a week on my finances. Mine are more complex than a single person or two working adults with no children, so you may spend less. What do I do during this time?

1. Pay all my bills. I pay on time and so I save on late fees and keep my great credit score. If I can’t pay the bill yet because I am missing the funds, I write on the envelope the amount that is due and the due date. I make sure the bill won’t be late if I

   put it off til next week.

2. Read the fine print on my credit card (if I haven’t already). The bill and the inserts explain the rules of the game. Ignorance of the agreements will not keep you from being charged and liable. Also, there are sometimes events and rebates that are announced this way. I have gotten free low flow water shower heads from the water company because it was announced on the insert in my bill.
3. Update my check register to reflect all debits and credits. I don’t just say “check number 4321.” I make a note so that I know what I spent that money on. This comes in handy at the end of the year when I do my taxes. It also serves as a record that I paid for something. Now that there are a lot of electronic transfers, this could be the only record I have.
4. Balance my checkbook. I’ve have many people tell me that just go with the balance the bank says they have. Egad! Let’s just give the bank ALL of the power over your fiances. The truth is that the bank hardly ever makes a mistake. But the figure that the bank says is available doesn’t include all the outstanding checks that haven’t been cashed or deposits that haven’t cleared. I also find that when I balance my checkbook I get a better idea of what I have spent my money on.
5. Make sure my credit and debit card charges are legit. If I have a question about a charge, I call immediately to contest it. I keep a record of all the charges that I make on my credit cards. I allocate money to pay that bill when it arrives. When the bill comes, I check the charges against my list. Then I check off the ones that I have paid.
6. Be aware of how many checks I have left. Order new ones in a timely fashion to avoid rush charges, which are very expensive.
7. Order stamps online or by mail. This is super convenient if you never get to the post office. You can also buy them from the ATM machine, but you will pay more that way.
8. Read my utility bills carefully. Is my current usage in line with last years usage? This is a good way to see if you have a leak or if something is wrong with your meter. I file all my similar utility bills together so that it is easy to refer to them in this fashion.
9. Check my phone bill. If you have a family plan, this is a good time to see if the kids have ordered something without your knowledge or if they are using way more text messaging or phone time than you have allotted for them. Perhaps it is time to change your plan. Last month I discovered that the phone company added a service to my plan without asking me. I called and got them to take it off. If I hadn’t read the bill, I wouldn’t have known.
10. Once I have paid my bills, balanced my checkbook, and filed my papers, I take time to contemplate the future. What is coming up? A wedding? A vacation? A party? Have I set money aside to cover this expense? Take a look at your budget and see if it needs some tweaking. This is a great time to make changes since your current financial scene are clear to you.

How much time do you spend on your finances each week or month?

Book winner announced below!

I wish I had 10 copies of “First Comes Love, Then Comes Money: A Couple’s Guide to Financial Communication” to give out! Reading your comments, I’m reminded just how hard it is to talk about money and find a system that works for both people in a relationship. I’m also grateful that my husband is open and willing to talk about money. We don’t agree on everything, but being able to talk about money without anyone taking it personally is a gift.

And the winner and runners up are…

First runner up is Dale, who wants to change more than a decade of non-communication:

I am approaching my 58th birthday and hope not to have to work forever. My husband is 6 years younger and self-employed. Through my employer, I am the sole provider of retirement savings. For the 15 years that we have been married, we have never discussed money. He has his and I have mine and somehow the bills all get paid. As I get closer to retirement age, I want to do things differently. But I don’t even know how to make financial plans alone, let alone discuss it with my husband. I need help!

Win this book by commenting!

Don’t forget to comment on my original contest post for a chance to win my review copy of  “First Comes Love, Then Comes Money: A Couple’s Guide to Financial Communication.” So far 12 people have entered by commenting, so you chances of winning are good!

I read more of the book last night and it is a quick read! Tonight I’m going to take the Financial Personality quiz, though I suspect I’m primarily a Security Seeker and secondarily a Saver. There are five financial personalities that exist, according to the authors.

To win my review copy, comment below on why you need this book. Comment by Aug. 16 at 11:59 p.m. to win! If you can’t wait, buy a copy from Amazon for $6 (orig. $15).

Comment to win this book!

Discovering secret credit cards, unpaid bills, and debt is a blow many couples cannot survive. In fact, money is the number one cause of breakups, says the married authors of “First Comes Love, Then Comes Money: A Couple’s Guide to Financial Communication.” Comment below to win my review copy.

Unlike most personal finance books, this one is not going to teach you to balance your budget or live debt free:

Why? Because without healthy financial communication, without a commitment to putting an end to financial infidelity, none of that stuff works. After more than thirty-five years of combined experience as financial advisers, we’ve learned that if you don’t know how to talk about money with your partner, if you don’t know how to keep financial infidelity from destroying your relationship, budgets and plans and payments won’t mean squat.

The first part of the book deals with discovering each partner’s financial personality, and how they can create conflict. The book divides everyone into five personalities: the saver, spender, risk taker, security seeker, or flyer. I’m definitely a saver or security seeker. Clashing financial personalities can cause major damage, even divorce.

The second section is about uncovering financial infidelity using what the Palmer’s call the Financial Relationship Index. Both partners take a quiz, earn a score of 0-100, then read what that score means. A lower score is best! The third and final part shares three basic financial communication tools to move forward, including a monthly “Money Huddle.”

All this in 189 pages spread over eight chapters and three appendices. The only trick is to be most effective, you’ve got to read it with your other half.

To win my review copy, comment below on why you need this book. Comment by Aug. 16 at 11:59 p.m. to win! If you can’t wait, buy a copy from Amazon for $6 (orig. $15).

We all make good and bad financial decisions. Overall, I am pretty happy with mine. They have allowed me to live the kind of life that is important to me. I get to be an at-home mom and have been there to raise my kids. The trade off? Used cars and no fancy address.

Looking back at my choices, my worst financial decisions have been:

1. Not buying a house 30 years ago. I knew that I would be moving a lot, so I didn’t want to buy a house. But in fact, I always stayed longer in each place than I meant to and with the rising housing market all those years, I would have made a lot of money on each turn over and I’d own my house now.
2. Not putting money into

   a weekly investment account. There just never seemed to be any left over, but even if I had just put “something” aside each week it would have grown.

3. Not learning more about how to effectively grow money. I wish I had learned this very early on.
4. Not marrying a millionaire. Well, that would have been a good financial decision, but I love my non-millionaire hubby.
5. Not asking my dad more questions about finance and his experience and learning in the subject before he passed. My dad knew a lot about business and money, but he never got around to teaching it to me and I never tried hard enough to get the information. Sad.

The best financial decisions I made are:

1. Paying off my credit cards in full each month. I might not know how to grow money, but I’ve accomplished something perhaps as difficult. Not growing debt.
2. Balancing my checking account statement each month. This one process forces me to look at my finances with a fine tooth comb at least once a month. Doing so gives me great control of my finances and I highly recommend it to everyone. I don’t care if you think that “the bank knows what they are doing.” That is not the point. The point is – do you know what YOU are doing!
3. Keeping good track of our expenses and setting-aside money for various expenses that always come up. Doing No. 2 above allows me to do this step. Having money set aside means that I don’t have to worry about how I will pay the bill when an unexpected expense arises.
4. Only buying cars we can pay for in full. New cars are expensive, long story short. I have never had a car payment and I never want one.
5. To always live within the means of my husband’s paycheck. Even when I was still working and before we had kids. This meant that we did not have financial obligations that would make it impossible for me to stay home and raise our kids.

What are your best and worst financial decisions?

So far there are only 30 entries so the odds are good! Winner announced Monday.

Tom Purves / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Your smart phone is about to get smarter as mobile payment apps replace swiping plastic, by enabling you to tap your phone and exchange your credit card information via a radio frequency field. But just how safe is this?

I first learned about mobile payment apps in a college personal finance class. My professor warned us to be careful about using these apps until laws catch up with technology. Let me explain.

Once upon a time

the government enacted laws to protect consumers using credit cards. For example, did you know that by law you are not liable for any fraudulent transactions if you report your credit card missing before the card is charged? Or that you are only liable for $50 if the card is used before you report it? Before these laws were on the books, each credit card company had their own rules and some followed regulations imposed by the industry itself.

Which is where we are now with mobile payment technology. There is no standard for how mobile payment app companies should handle fraudulent transactions. Each offers their own policy on protection for fraudulent or disputed charges. Notice that the existing credit card law has no reference to mobile payments even though you’ll still be using a credit card via your cell to pay.

Another reason to stay away from mobile payments is that, like credit cards, it desensitizes us from our cash. Mobile overspending will be just as easy as when using plastic because the whole transaction is disconnected from our money – or lack thereof.

A third problem arises when your mobile phone gets lost, stolen, or hacked into. While many of the companies pushing mobile payment apps are reassuring customers they use the latest technology to encrypt their information, take precaution by knowing beforehand what you are liable for in case your phone gets into the wrong hands. If you think you’ve been the victim of identity theft, act fast to avoid major damage to your accounts.

What other safety issues are you worried about? Or are you looking forward to putting your credit cards away and using your phone to pay instead? If you’ve used a mobile payment app, what has been your experience?

MaryLane / Flickr

I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.

Tired of receiving tons of emails from daily coupon sites? It would be nice if there were a daily coupon aggregating site. There is. (Daily Dibs)

Save money on food by cooking ahead these 10 things on your day off from work. (Wisebread)

Do you fib about your finances? Find out how financial infidelity is taking a toll on marriages and how you can spot telltale signs of the financially unfaithful. (CNN Money)

If you like Groupon and Living Social, check out The Dealmap. (The Dealmap)

Unemployment has Americans spending more time sleeping, watching TV, and brewing beer. What are you spending your time on? (Time Moneyland)

Bonus: Rudy Park, the comic strip, occasionally features Rudy’s tightwad boss. Reader Diane said this strip from June 17 reminded her of a male Bargain Babe!