Pssst…can you hear me?  Look for a new feature called “Saving on a Shoestring” soon.  I’m super excited about it!  (Lots more great info on ‘free money’ too!)

Pass it on!

All right, y’all.  I have a teeny tiny favor to ask of you all.  Do you remember Katie from our Beautiful Christmas series?  Well, she is one of the top 5 finalists for Mamavation. (Read below to find out more.)

Will you pretty please (with sugar on top!)  read her post below and then click here to go vote for her?  From what I understand it’s a tie now and I would LOVE it if Cha-Ching on a Shoestring readers pushed her over the edge.  You can vote today (Wed.), tomorrow, and Thursday.  It will take you about 2 seconds x 3 = 6 seconds total.  I know that’s asking a lot, but would you do that for little ol’ me?

Guest Post by Katie Hostetter at Frugal Femina

If you follow me on Twitter, you know exactly what the word “mamavation” means, because I have been eating, sleeping, and breathing it since I applied on January 1st. I am fortunate to have some followers left! 🙂 Basically, it’s a 7-week boot camp to help 2 moms get fit in 2010, and it’s supported by Smooth Fitness, Earth Footwear, EA SPORTS Active, Gaiam, Bookie Boo, and MomTV. The team gives you a ton of support with a nutritional plan, a fitness program, and much more! You can watch my application video and read all about my lil’ journey over at Frugal Femina.

I am so blessed to have made it into the top 5 finalists. Now I need you to vote daily so I can make it into the final 2! I already shared my measurements with thousands of people, so you know I am committed! 😉 But seriously, this is all part of my quest to make 2010 one of the most positive years ever. I’m finishing up my last semester of nursing school, reading through the Bible in 90 days, taking care of Xon and Bradley {aka Hubs and Little Munchkin}, and trying to take care of myself, too! I’m not Superwoman, but I do want to focus on good things this year and surround myself with good friends and family.

So I’m hopin’ you’ll cheer me on and head on over to Mamavation and vote. You can vote once a day from each IP address through the 21st. And I won’t mind a bit if you happen to spread the word amongst your friends. 🙂 Maybe I can encourage you all along the way! Mamavation is a great network of support, and you can be involved whether you have 200 pounds to lose or 0. We all need to stay healthy and fit!

Special thanks to Andrea at Mommy Snacks for being my Fit Friend and encouraging me throughout this campaign.

By Sharon from Good, True, and Beautiful

I’m not sure if you’ve heard it on the news, but there is a strange new malady sweeping across the nation…

The B1G1 Virus (or as the media has begun to refer to it, CiViSitis) has now reached epidemic proportions and the Department of Financial Security plans a press conference at noon today to address people’s growing concerns.

There is documented evidence of unusual behavior in all 50 states, with thousands of people reporting episodes of increased heart rate, sleeplessness and hyperactivity.  The outbreak seems to be highly contagious, and is infecting people regardless of age, race, or demographics.  A significant incidence of infection has been noted within the “stay at home mom” community, however, no causal relationship has been determined.

Fortunately, the Center for Disease Control is working around the clock to identify the source of the problem, but until a precise diagnosis can be made, please be on the lookout for the five most common symptoms:

• You and your spouse no longer fight over the toothpaste since you have 12 tubes to choose from.

• Your palms start to sweat when you see someone in the drugstore with a notebook and calculator.

• Your son is constructing his play forts with surplus boxes of Kotex, Crest Pro-Health, Sally Hansen nail polish, and Bayer Diabetes Monitors.

• You dream about rolling your ECB’s, multiple scenarios and finding deals on clearance.

• Your heart starts pounding when you see the sentence “Buy $10, earn $5 ECB;  psa $2.99, use $2.00 3/19 RP, and B1G1 IE or Firefox (ymmv), free after ECB, MM after MIR!”

If you are recognize these symptoms in yourself, please do not panic.  It is important that individuals infected with CiViSitis (B1G1 Virus) realize that the euphoria of saving tons of money will resolve over time.  And while life might never return to normal, you can be confident that you will never have to pay for toothpaste again.