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!
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
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 read Bargain Babe not because of the sales and the freebies. I read Bargain Babe because it’s teaching an ideology about being frugal and saving money the *right* way. The freebies are a perk, but the philosophy that I learn from reading these blog entries is priceless.
I really enjoy reading bargain babe. I go to the site every morning to see what has been posted. Everyone loves a good deal especially me. I am a 20 year old full time college student (not living at home) so every dollar i can save really helps out alot! I love any kind of financial advice and i like to try it out to see if it works for me. I tried your idea for not using credit cards for a month which i am trying out this month. I have realized that sometimes i really buy stupid stuff that i really don’t need and having just cash on me really helps me to think about what i am purchasing. I put my credit cards in a lock box and put the key in a glass of water and froze it so i would really have to wait to unfreeze the key to get to my card. Now i think i save about 50 dollars a week by not having the credit cards!It’s something i never even thought of, but its a great idea! I also buy my own groceries and now i use a list and a calculator when i go and it really helps me to budget my money and stick to the list. The money i save by using bargain babe i have put into a liquid CD and im hoping to save money for a plane ticket to go see my mom as a surprise (she lives in KY, im in TX). Because of Barbain Babe, you have helped me to be able to do that, and i really miss her. Thanks so much Bargain Babe i will always read the blogs and take you advice, it really helps!
Bargain Babe is one of my favorite sites for insightful advice and money saving deals. From cooking with less money, to driving green – I’ve learned to quickly integrate the ideas on your site in a way that I can see immediate savings and results in my daily life. Seeing the breadth of ideas that you touch upon every month has made me realize I can literally “squeeze” savings and efficiency from most of my spending habits – you’re helping to build an army of savvy consumers!
One thing I’ve also taken advantage of recently is thinking about others, and how certain community needs might be met by all of the good information you post here. For example – after asking my grandparents about their prescription pill pricing, we went over to CostCo and they are now saving 50%+ on their meds! It gets better – I was invited last month to speak at a low income center, to a group of 110 people about financial budgeting in the current economic climate, and I was able to give them 10 money saving tips that were VERY well received – 7 of which came from your website! Thanks again for the hard work, and keep on blogging!
I love reading Bargain Babe because I find very awesome deals and I love your blog posts. I just read your post about the cheap hotel in NYC. I’ve been in a very similar situation and can relate.
THANK YOU Bargain Babe keeps me informed by E-mails !!!
I read Bargain Babe each day because you have taught me to think about what I need not just what I want. We are bother teachers and we are family people and we want to do for and with our children and your column teaches me each day to save and be frugal with my money, so that our family can spend time doing things together without spending every penny.
Thank you
I love reading Bargain Babe because she has the best online things to buy. I have gotten several great deals off of the newsletter that saved me time and money.
I am in Canada, so many of the deals and coupons you post are of no use to me, but I continue to read because of the other information you provide. I love your 15 minute budget and it has really helped me get my spending under control. I read because of the personal examples you provide and the “experiments” you take on like the month of cash only or the month of not spending anything. I love doing the challenges with you and seeing your results at the end of the month. I also really like that this is not a total frugal living blog, but that you focus more on bargains and good deals.
I read quite a few blogs similar to yours, but the reason I find myself always focusing on your blog is that you make finding deals and being frugal VERY entertaining. What ofher blogger would go dumpster diving and vlog about it! Keep up the fantastic work!!
Bargain Babe has become an everyday friend to me. Julia’s insightful and thoughtful blogs project her generous and caring personality. For many, Julia is not just a talented writer who saves us all (ever-so-much needed) money in so many areas, but a friend and role model. This is not just a “use coupons and save money” blog. This is a “care for yourself, care for others, and save the world” kind of blog. I share Bargain Babe’s great tips with all of my older friends who cannot access the web, and also with my daughters who are often too busy to sit down, smell the roses and enjoy a good read at Bargain Babe. Great work, Julia! We all love you!
I am a bargain shopper by nature and have found some of my favorite bargain websites and ideas on this website. The coupons that you point out are always welcome, but even more so I am always happy to find a new site like groupon or swag bucks to help me save a few more bucks. I also love Bargain Babe LA blog too for ideas of what to do for cheap in LA. Thanks for the blog!
I read Bargain Babe because I am always in search of freebies, great discounts, and money saving advice. We live simply and try to find sites that make it easier to do so.
To get through what life throws at me!!
I love reading Bargain Babe for the sense of community with other frugal souls. I like reading about new money-saving ideas each day and sharing my great finds with others who will actually care 🙂
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.”
I get re-energized to be frugal each time I read the blog.
I love reading because Bargain Babe is Totally Frugalicious!!
I read Bargain Babe so I don’t have to search for all the great deals. It’s simple, quick, and it saves me $$$ on things I actually spend money on!
Thanks Bargain Babe, keep saving me $$$!
Reading your blogs is the internet incarnation of talking to a trusted neighbor over the back fence. Thanks for your friendliness, your humor and the savings!
I read Bargain Babe because YOU do the work, I save the money!!
There are a variety of different money savings articles. Sure, the giveaways are great but I thought the no credit card spending was an interesting insight if you spend less money using cash. Keep up the variety of articles!
I’m always on the lookout for a great deal!
Why do I read BargainBabe?? Where do I start? I think that the posts that I love the best (although I think all the posts that you do have value) are the ones that touch your own life personally. By sharing the good, the bad and the ugly (as shown in your NY hotel post), you let people see inside of your life and, in turn, help them with things in their own life.
You show us ways to save, ways to approach things realistically, and you leave it open so that others can comment or share their own experiences with similar things. I know I have personally learned new things and have shared good things with you.
I am sure that there are other sites like yours out there, but this is my favorite.
I look forward to BargainBabe everyday in my Google Reader and email box. I love the informative articles (they are easy to read and understand) and enjoy the deals&giveaways (c’mon who doesn’t?), but most importantly, I love how you have a section just for LA peeps!! Thank you so much.
I read BargainBabe.com because I was jealous of all the deals and savings people were getting when at one time I could barely afford toliet paper. 🙂
I read bargain babe because it makes me and my wallet happy. =)
Hey, we all need a little help when it comes to saving money! I don’t always have time to search the websites out there so I like to keep up with your posts. Every little bit helps.
I read Barginbabe for the good deals of course, from store deals to deals on vacations etc. This site is different them some of the other ones I frequent too which focuses more on store deals, as opposed to this site which posts deals beyond store ads and sales. Recently, I read a post from here on ‘Summer airfare and travel deals’ and saw Travelzoo.com listed as a top site to search for travel deals. I’ve never used the site before and gave it try and they did have really great offers on all-inclusive vacations. Overall, I am a Barginbabe reader for the deals that exist beyond drugstores & groceries.
I read Barbain Babe because it offers unique deals and great financial advice that is essential for everyone.
Your column is carried in my newspaper (yes, some people still get an actual newspaper!) and I always enjoyed reading the column. When I saw that you had a website I signed on and have been hooked ever since. Thanks for the tips and interesting stories.
No one single person knows all there is to know about finding and getting the best deals. No matter how much you think you know and put into use about living frugally, someone else out there will always know more. Before the birth of the Bargain Babe and BBLA, I used to live by set of self-imposed covenants between me and my wallet. To practice self-control and strict discipline against buying clever want items disguised as needed items. That, coupled with using common sense, enabled me to dig my way out of revolving credit card debt and buy my first property before age 30 without a spouse or help from any members of family. I used to follow Julia’s bargains page every Wednesday when she used to write for the Daily News. Then, I signed up for Bargain Babe once I found out she was venturing out on her own. I was pleased to learn that many of the tips to living frugally were things that I had been doing for years already, so that validated and bolstered my savings philosophy. I love getting the perks and freebies of being a BB subscriber. I certainly gain from all the local deals that appeal to me whether it be a hefty discount, a BOGO or an outright freebie. But through Bargain Babe, it also gave me a chance to share some of my own finds and get credit for being the first one to post it. I can share my thoughts and opinions along with many other followers of the site even if some practices and subjects stir up controversies. No one is perfect. No one knows it all. I keep an open mind and will adopt new tips and strategies when I come across them. I think that’s the true richness of a bargain blogging site. Keep up the good work, Julia. You’ve created an ever-growing army of bargain black belts out there, because frugal is the new “cool.”
Because the word ‘babe’ is part of the domain, I naturally thought this site was more mature-oriented. When I came to the realization that this site was really about saving money, I was equally as excited to visit the site daily for the money-saving tips I’ve made a habit of reading everyday.
I can’t pass up a freebie, of course. Yet, I really love those Grocery Saving tips. Especially that list you had with the food items with the average price that would make it a good deal. (Can’t remember it’s official name at the moment.) You’d think I’d know that stuff by now, but it sure helps having something to refer to when you have a toddler chucking toys on the ground to distract you. Yay, Bargain Babe!
I’m relatively new to the whole world of social media (blogs, Twitter, FB). I’m not quite sure how I found you–but, what I know is, I’ve benefited from subscribing to your news. Opportunities to save money (or, in this case, win money) are a wonderful motivation. Thanks for all the insight and information.
I love the Freebies!!!
I read BB for the coupons and notifications of restaurant deals. Also for the cheap-entertainment-in-the-LA-area deals!
Having been a loyal reader of Julia’s since her days with the Daily News, it was just a natural thing for me to follow her wherever her initiative and career took her. Her ideas and writing just get better and better, and she’s attracted a group of readers who add their own slants to the mix, making for even more varied tips and thoughts. It’s also a great medium for hearing from people all over the country, and the personal interplay on occasion just makes it even more personally enjoyable. I’m so glad to see more and more people enjoying and lauding someone I’ve been behind for a long time. Thanks, Julia, for being you.
P.S. How’s Hubby doing???
BargainBabe is the website I turn to help me spend my money more thoughtfully. I thought I had always done this, but it turns out that I need the advice and ideas more than I thought. Thanks for all you do. Keep up the good work.
I am a recent subscriber to your e-mails, and I love them as I could not possibly keep track of all the offers you gather. I am always eager to read them, in case I find a useful tip I can use.
I read your blog to remind me to live inexpensivly. It is so easy to spend money when it’s in your pocket without thinking about it and your blog is a daily reminder that you don’t need to spend a bunch of money to live in this city. I also find it a great read
I love reading Bargain Babe to find cheap ways to have fun around town. Recently, I’ve been bookmarking anything you have to say about cutting costs for weddings…you know, for future reference…
I’m certainly glad I did, since I got engaged on Saturday!!! Woo hoo! Keep the good tips coming!
I read for the retail coupons, Grocery saving tips, Giveaways, Freebies, Personal stories about spending money, Budgeting tips & Restaurant deals. Everything else just adds to the other content 🙂 Great blog!!!
As a single, divorced mom of three kids and a full-time college student, I am always looking for ways to cut costs and still enjoy life. I read “Bargain Babe” to help me find ways to save money and discover bargains I am otherwise unaware of. The site is also a great source for freebies for my family, and FREE is our favorite word! And if I can win a contest while learning ways to save, that is an added bonus for me!
I have been following you for a few years now and love that you give a quick overview and I can decide if I want to read more. This is a tremendous time saver and is one of the key reasons why I have kept your subscription and gotten rid of others. Lately I have been using your suggestions for coupons but I also enjoy your guest bloggers. And, I find it fun and often informative to look over readers comments on topics I’m interested in. Thanks so much!
I love your site, because you give great advice, we get other’ comments, and I can pass along this information to my friends and family, and co-workers. We’re all one big happy BargainBabe family!!!
Bargain Babe RULES!!
No, seriously, this is the BEST blog for saving money. Bargain Babe is brave and adventurous!! I have learned so much and even venture out of my own comfort zone due to Bargain Babe. I consider Bargain Babe a life coach.
I loved Bargain Babe before you were “Bargain Babe”. I followed you from the Daily News. I’ve always appreciated the great deals you share and have enjoyed passing them on. I’ve shared them with MANY friends who have also appreciated them! I raised my kids as a single mom and have always strived to save money and websites like yours really help. I figure that even if I win the lotto, I will still live a simple life and still subscribe to your site. Bargains are simply a smart way of life! 🙂
Thanks for all the amazing feedback! It is really helpful to know what makes you read BargainBabe.com and improve the site going forward.
There are a few more hours in the commenting contest to win a $50 Sears e-gift card, so if you haven’t commented on this post you have until 6 a.m. PST Wednesday, May 26 (tomorrow) to do so.
I read your site because it has different ideas than just “Here’s good coupons to clip” articles. I already read many blogs/websites on deals going on at different stores to see where I can save money, but you have different perspectives, and also offer more ideas. You’re more than a “Match up this coupon with this sale” site and I appreciate that. I think I’m the biggest fan of that link you posted of the woman who went dumpster diving. It really made me think, and I like that your site does that. Thank you for all the work you put into this site.
There are many reasons I read Bargain Babe. I love the freebies and the deals. When I quit my job to care for my baby, now preschooler, I use(d) your Daily News column and now Bargain Babe all the time to still enjoy fun things, but not spend a lot. When you are a stay at home Mom, you have to watch what you spend and your column provides ideas for free entertainment or food/drinks and deals that non-working parents need to take advantage of. I pass them along to the Mom’s group at my church and friends.
I love the addition of the grocery bargains too. It’s helped out a lot since Ralph’s changed their double coupon policy.
Keep those bargains coming–I love them!
I enjoy hearing the latest trends and deals out there. i also appreciate your thoughtful consideration of different points of views. You also help paint a picture that being frugal can be in fashion and not just for fuddy duddies. keep up the good work
To learn about bargain while being thoroughly entertained with stories, and to gain courage to ask for deals! Your blog has helped me realize that if you ask for a bargain, you are likely to get something, and it has helped me bargain down hotel rates, vet fees, and so much more. Thanks for always being a fun part of the day.
I read it for the specific tips and the freebies, but mostly I read it for the overall inspiration! Even though my head says “keep ploughing ahead, stick to the budget”, sometimes my heart wants to make me just throw my hands up and scream or cry. So thanks for the inspiration.
Wow most of these comments pretty much encompass why I read BargainBabe but here goes.
I first discovered the gem of a column in my local newspaper and was completely entranced. My initiation article dealt with tipping bartenders for water–or not.
Ever since then I’ve been hooked.
As we, as a nation recover from excess, BargainBabe serves up can-do scenarios that aren’t preachy or unrealistic.
Plus, she tries out her experiments, like her plastic-free month, and is willing to admit personal responsibility should she falter.
Now that’s something we could all aspire to.
Keep making Cents BargainBabe.
Look forward, as always to your Friday column.
I read Bargain Babe for so many reasons. I am a SAHM to three children. We recently bought our first house and have tried to do everything and anything we can to save money and be more environmentally friendly. I love the site because it gives me great ideas for being even more frugal. I love the coupons and deals, and if it is something we really need, I can get an even better deal on it. I also just love the idea that there are like-minded people out there who want to live a good life but not at the expense of sacrificing their economic future by drowning in debt from unnecessary purchases. Thank you Bargain Babe for being such a great little addition to my daily routine!
I read Bargain Babe to get the best deals out there. you are so informative and helpful. I love getting your daily emails because it helps me now what to shop for before I hop in the car.
I feel I am “beating the system” when I get a good bargain…and I am always in a money saving mood.
I read BargainBabe for the tips and advice on ways to save money! I love to read article after article with new ideas on how I can stretch our budget! The coupons are great and the information shared about where to find great freebies from restaurants and retailers is a real asset.
So much info. in one location is a fabulous time saver!
Thanks!
To save money and, occasionally, get a good laugh.
To make this quick and easy your articles are the best info freeway ever. Especially for those of us that are raising familys on one income. Coupons, info how to’s and the best yet …. The ability to share items as weel to help other people reading..
I look forward everyday to reading your web page and getting awesome ideas and so down to earth mixed with comedy.. You make my day !!!!
I love saving my family money and using it on other things that we need. Thanks!
I read Bargain Babe b/c your advice is quite beneficial to saving money, but it’s also written as if it’s from a good friend. I followed you from The Daily News here in LA and have found your written “voice” to be inclusive and informative, difficult attributes that I think cannot be taught. You have a writing gift that insures you blogging gold!
Dear Readers,
Please type your email address carefully. If you use .coom instead of .com it won’t get delivered! This is especially true if you check the “notify me of followup comments via e-mail” option.
ps. Mary Quell I fixed your email address from @hotmail.coom to @hotmail.com . You should get comment update emails now.
Thanks,
hubby
I read BargainBabe,com because I love a good deal. I’m a bit of a “good deal junkie”- I love it when I can get things I need and want at prices that don’t bust my budget.
In the “old” days it was for information on the local specials and deals. While that is still true, I now find myself checking into many of the other topics discussed and learning a thing or two along the way. Thanks!
I read it because I’m unemployed. And even when I wasn’t unemployed, I was a bargain hunter & coupon clipper, so now I’m even more so. When I do finally get a new job I will still continue because saving money is very healthy!
I read your blog becauser our family can use some deals and I love your articles.
Also, you’re a babe!
I read this blog to find out about deals, though your tips have come in handy more than once. I definitely like the “comment to win” contests better than the sign-up for the mailing list contests; I’m already on the list, but never am confident that I’m entered. Thanks…keep up the great work!
I look forward to your email everyday because I find you infornative, funny and quirkly. I mostly appreciate the copuons and insight. I try to shop at your sponsors stores to keep your column running. You make getting deals easy and for someone who works hard and doesn’t have the time to investigate deals – you make my life easier.
Wow! What a fabulous response to your latest incentive question to win a gift card! I’m glad I don’t have to choose from all the wonderful and varied responses. It’s such fun to read them all.
And I’m delighted to know that bargain hubby is alive and well, and acting as your “techie” checker! (tee hee)
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 Oh Joannie! Thank you for this wonderful poem. I am positively tickled by your creativity and fine words. You’re a doll!
I read Bargain Babe for the fabulous coupons you manage to find and also to check in on your adventures (your NYC buggy room was priceless!) I loved your column in the Daily News and am thrilled to have managed to continue your success. Bravo!
I read Bargain Babe for the fabulous coupons you manage to find and also to check in on your adventures (your NYC buggy room was priceless!) I loved your column in the Daily News and am thrilled you have managed to continue your success. Bravo!
I read Bargain Babe because it is helping me budget my money a little better. I still have some work to do, but this is a great help. I love the freebies and major discounts shown in the newsletter!
The blog you write is very fun to read. I find your information useful but I enjoy reading about your experiences and dilemmas. I enjoyed reading about your bicycle seat repair (duct tape), thrift store dress contest, your dad’s bike riding, & NYC adventure. I have discovered that I’m frugal not cheap (good to know) through your blog. I wish you much success and many years of happy blogging. 🙂
I read for the same reason I read almost anything: If I learn one new thing, I’ve improved my life. I might save money; I might save time; I might have an “ah-hah! moment.”
Your great bargain highlights help me stretch a dollar during these hard economic times and after awhile, it gets to be a game to see how much can I save this week! Thanks for all the help in finding great deals.
I read BargainBabe.com to keep up with current sales, but also to see what tips and tricks my fellow savers could teach me.
I read Bargain Babe everyday to see what free offers are going on and to keep informed on the best ways to save at the grocery store and restaurants,etc.
I read and look forward to BargainBabe every day! My nickname is Super Saver..It is so fun to be frugal..not cheap!…a lot of times it is a fun way to connect with friends…like free coffee…we all meet and connect! It is great fun! Thank you for all you do…it is great!
Who loves Bargain Babe? I do! It has quantity, but most importantly, quality. Bargain Babe offers great coupons and tells me all about savings I can use daily. I’ve always needed financial help, and love how Bargain Babe has taught me fantastic ways to save money, no matter where I am shopping. That is extremely important to me, especially when you have a large family like I do. It helps a lot that Bargain Babe’s website is organized. What good does all the great coupons and advice do, if you can’t even find them because all the information is scrunched together in a difficult to read format? It doesn’t help at all. Another reason why Bargain Babe is uniquely helpful is how everything isn’t just old news… It’s new! Bargain Babe also cuts to the chase, which is good when I’m going to be on-the-go all day, but want to check Bargain Babe first. I can check what I need to check, and be on-the-go within a minute or two. Bargain Babe, overall, is a fantastic blog that I can depend on for the best information and savings.
I started reading bargain babe for the financial advise. I continued reading for many other reason. I love all the info on freebies. Frugal living is a must.
I’ve always been into bargains and have enjoyed getting good deals and cutting coupons. However now that I am a busy working mom, I don’t have time to search the deals out. Bargain Babe helps me get my fix of bargains, without all the legwork. Also, since I am an educator facing furlough days, the bargain hunting is necessary to meet all of my savings goals. But, I must confess, reading Bargain Babe is like being with a like-minded girlfriend who “gets” that being frugal doesn’t mean cheap!
The contests and sweepstakes. Who knows when I will see me name as a winner.
I love bargain babe for the variety of articles!
I just enjoy reading about all the neat stuff.
Two simple words. FREE STUFF. It’s helped me so much get by with all the free promotions bargain babe tells me about. Thank you so much! 🙂
I love the budgeting and personal finance articles. Tips on how to save money are always needed and much appreciated!
love reading Bargain Babe because its just one word! Good! Many send you bogus links to even more spam! Yours is down to the point & valuable info! Thanks!
I read Bargain Babe for the GREAT information that you provide. Not only bargains, but usefull everyday information. Thank you so much.
I started by reading your weekly column in the Ledger and enjoyed your timely tips and budgeting advice so much that I started reading your blog. It has opened up the world of personal finance blogs to me. You always give plenty of great practical ideas as well as examining philosophies about money and finance. It is great to know that there are other people out there who are working on educating themselves about personal finance. I find that your blog deals with a variety of points on the learning spectrum. You have given me plenty of food for thought on my personal finance journey–thanks!
I read Bargain Babe to simply save money.
Thanks for all your wonderful feedback! I’ve reviewing the comments and picking a winner now…
THE REASON Y I ENJOY THE BABE SO MUCH IS FOR HER NAME 1st OF ALL AND THE MANY THINGS SHE OFFERS TO US. SHE DOES ALL THE RESEARCH AND WE JUST HAVE TO CLICK ON AND DO THE REST. BUT I GOT SAY I HAVEN’T ANY COMPLAINS TOWARDS HER FOR LINKING US TO ANY SPAMS OR VIRUSES. THANK U VERY MUCH. I’LL KEEP SEEING U.