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!