Update: This giveaway has ended.
Where We’ve Been
I’ve been feeling pretty sentimental this week.
Seven years ago, I tiptoed out into the world of blogging, unsure if a single person would care to read what I have to say (except for my Mom, of course). But, after the bitter discouragement of unemployment led me to discover a passion for couponing, freebie finding and creatively stretching our dollars, I realized that I couldn’t NOT share my learnings with the world. I also wondered if maybe, just maybe, I could help supplement our income with this thing called blogging.
So, with the help of a friend over the course of a couple months, I pieced together my vision for my very own money-saving blog. My husband and I brainstormed ideas for the blogs’ name. I typed away on our personal computer in our little garage apartment for hours upon hours using our dial-up connection (my apologies to anyone who tried to call me during those months!). I researched the ins and outs of blogging and tried to imagine new ways that I could help my readers stretch their dollars.
And I hoped.
I hoped that this little bud of a desire could blossom into the dream that was growing in my heart.
Then, seven years ago (on April 19th), Cha-Ching on a Shoestring was born.
What a journey it has been!
Within a couple months, my little blog began to receive media attention, first from news outlets in our home of upstate New York and then later in our new home in Pennsylvania and eventually even nationally. Since we were in the midst of the recession, our story resonated deeply with many who were experiencing unemployment and tightened budgets. Before long, thousands of others joined my Mom and became readers and money-saving ninjas.
And the journey continues! Over the course of the past 7 years, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to bring along others to help with the blog like the amazing Nicole, my dear friends Heidi and Elizabeth and the delightful Dollar Store Diva (aka MOM). We’ve added tips about organizing, living simply, cooking and giving on a budget. I’ve shared my passion for simplifying Christmas in my very first eBook. And while the focus of the blog has changed some from those early days, we are still all about saving money around here!
What’s New
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been busy envisioning a new design for this site with the help of the talented and delightful Sharon. Since the site is about so much more than just couponing now, we wanted it to reflect all the ways we’ve discovered to live LARGE on a limited budget over the past years and will continue to do so as we journey together.
I am so thrilled with the new look that I want to celebrate!
So I decided to give away gift certificates to two of the stores that are Cha-Ching readers’ favorite ways to save: Amazon and Target.
$25 Amazon Gift Card and $25 Target Gift Card Giveaway!
One lucky Cha-Ching on a Shoestring reader will win BOTH a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a $25 Target Gift Card.
Here’s how to enter:
You have up to three possible methods of entry:
- Leave a comment on this post letting me know how Cha-Ching on a Shoestring has helped you live LARGE on a limited budget.
- Click here to subscribe to Cha-Ching on a Shoestring by e-mail and leave a comment below letting me know you subscribed. If you are already a subscriber, simply let me know in a comment.
- Click here to share this post on Facebook. Simply click ‘Share’ to post it on your Facebook wall. Leave a comment on this post letting me know that you did.
Note: Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to leave your comments. (Or CLICK HERE to do so.) By leaving a separate comment for each entry you will have a greater chance of winning! E-mail responses will not be considered as an entry in the giveaway.
This giveaway ends at 10:00 a.m. EST on Sunday, April 17, 2016. I will randomly select the winning comment. Winner will be notified by email and listed on this site.
Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by ME because I am a big fan of you guys!
Hi! Thanks for the great tips. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars from your links and especially CVS hints. I’m an email subscriber and can’t wait to read each one.
Congrats on year 7 !
thanks for all the good tips you give us
Have been subscribed for years. I do not miss a post!
Hi, Kaley. First of all, I want to congratulate you for Cha-Ching-On-The-Shoestring’s 7th birthday, and also say that I admire the work you are doing to help others like myself learn to make the most of what we have. You are a great inspiration to many of us who have to make a living on a very limited income, and your journey is proof that we can find success regardless of the circumstances. I am a long-term e-mail suscriber and have been following your posts daily for deals, freebies, and coupons as well as any advice and tips shared. Your money-saving blog has helped me live large by giving me insight and strategies to enable me to use my resources more wisely. Your posts also make it so easy for me to find deals and free things that I may need and can save a lot of money on. As such I do my best to check for your daily emails so as not to miss out on any good deals. I am so grateful for all you do to help people like myself find ways to make life a little more easier and manageable, especially during very difficult financial times. Thank you!
I shared this post on facebook https://www.facebook.com/taralieb/posts/1017888684932648?pnref=story
I’ve subscribed to your emails for quite a while now and I love when I can find savings on something I’m going to buy anyway 🙂
I am an email subscriber.
I have been following Cha Ching on a Shoe string for a few years and I love all the great deals you post. You always share good deals when I need to buy presents for Christmas and birthdays. You have even helped me get great deals on groceries. Thank you so much for all your hard work!
You’re blog has allowed me to save some money especially since I am a new stay at home mom! Thank you
I shared this post on Facebook!! Great giveaway!! Thanks!
I am already an email subscriber!!
Cha-Cha Ching in a Shoeatring has helped me save big in many ways!! The biggest one is by getting all the good toy deals year round so I can have my Christmas shopping done in September!!
Great Amazon deals simplify shopping so I can spend more time playing with the kids!
Shared on Facebook! 🙂
I have followed your blog a few years now and always find great money saving deals for my family and love your Christmas series, as we are on a very tight budget and blogs like yours help us to feel like we’re still living without spending more than we are able to at the time. Thank you so much for your posts and inspiration and for sharing with us!
Have been a subscriber for quite a wile now. Posted and shared on face book. I can always count on this site to be unbiased, full of useful and timely information, and always worth reading.
I am already an email subscriber and I have shared on FB. Thank you so much for keeping us informed of all of the good ways to save money and to stretch our dollars. I have followed you for a couple of years now and find all of your advice very helpful. Thank yo so much for all of the work you put into helping all of us save money!
I am a happy subscriber who looks forward to reading your informative and fun newsletters! Thanks for all you do.
I shared on Facebook because I love stretching our budget – you are the best!
I subscribe to your site and love the savings I am seeing! Thanks.