MomsWhoSave is overdue for another giveaway! This is a good one too.

How would you like to win an eight-strand amethyst bracelet? It's done in sterling silver with a lobster-claw clasp and is approximately eight inches long, but is adjustable for a much smaller wrist depending where you connect the clasp (see the photo). There are also small silver beads throughout each strand of the bracelet. This is gorgeous and has a retail value of $49.99. (Click the photo to zoom in on the bracelet. It shows up more clearly when you zoom in too.)

Now, how can you enter to win this bracelet? You can get up to five entries!

1. This one is required and gets you one entry into the giveaway: Go to the MomsWhoSave.com main deals website, and find your favorite offer. Come back here to the blog, and leave a comment below telling me what is.

For additional entries...

2. Twitter users can tweet this giveaway using this wording "RT @MomsWhoSave is giving away an amethyst bracelet at http://www.MomsWhoSave.com/blog.html" and then let me know you tweeted in a separate comment below. Please leave the link to your tweet.

3. Have a website or blog? Add the MomsWhoSave.com button to your sidebar. (it's over to your right) Let me know in a separate comment, so I can go check it out.

4. Write about this giveaway in your own blog linking back to this post. Leave a comment below with the link to your post.

5. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog, and leave me a comment to let me know.

The giveaway will end on Wednesday, April 8th at 10 p.m. Eastern time, and I'll notify the winner by email, so please make sure I have a way to reach you. I'll draw the winner at random using random.org.

For great deals every day, make sure you visit MomsWhoSave.com and check my twitter updates.

Giveaway deadline extended--ending Thursday until 10 p.m.!

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I don't think there's anyone reading this who hasn't heard of ebay, and almost all of you probably know about craigslist too. What those two sites have in common is that people are buying and selling goods and services.

I want to tell you about a few sites where you can get the goods and services you need through bartering or swapping what you have without exchanging any money.

Two people I follow on twitter, @missmanage and @common_cents, (for those of you on twitter) get credit for giving me the names of three out of four of these sites that can help you barter for goods and services. (I realized I actually belonged to one of them already!)

They're all a little different, and I encourage you to do your homework before getting involved in any transaction, just as you would on ebay or craigslist, but these can be a great resource when money is tight.

If you don't think you have services to offer, browse the sites and see what other people have listed. There are offers for, and people looking for, resume writers, dog walkers, laborers, caterers, web designers, landscapers, artists, housesitters--almost anything you can think of.

Check out these sites:

www.u-exchange.com
www.favorpals.com
www.swaptree.com
www.friendlyfavor.com

Already belong to any of these? How has your experience been? Leave a comment and let me know.

For great deals every day, make sure you visit MomsWhoSave.com and check my twitter updates.

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I have “tweeted” about this site on twitter, but wanted to tell you more than 140 characters will allow. Postcrossing.com is one of my favorite websites, and I think there are lots of you who would love it too!

The idea is a little like having a penpal, but you have lots of them, and they’re from all over the world. Another difference is that you don't exchange long letters, you exchange postcards.

You start by registering on the site—and did I mention it’s free? Then you request the name and address of another Postcrossing member. Since everyone fills out a short biography, you get to see a little bit of information about who you’re mailing your postcard to. I try to send something I think they would like or something the person has mentioned they have an interest in.

Postcrossing’s site then tracks your postcard and lets you know when it’s been received (the receiver logs in to let them know). When you log in, you’ll even see on a world map how far your card has travelled, and how long it took to reach its destination.

Once you start sending postcards, you’ll start receiving them too since other Postcrossers will get your name. I’ve received cards from Finland, Germany, China, and Italy so far.

Some members scan all of their cards and have them online for everyone to see. I haven’t done that, but I have gotten some interesting cards and learned a little about the cities of the people who’ve written to me.

I think this would be a great project for homeschoolers, for a teacher to do with a class, or for anyone with an interest in other cultures.

There’s also a discussion forum for members on the site.

And, if you’re wondering, the members all read and write English, so it’s very easy for us in the U.S. to participate.

I can’t recommend Postcrossing highly enough. Try it, and let me know what you think.

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Wee Web is a new (and free) service that lets you share your family photos, videos, and even cute little kid stories with only the people you choose.

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I first learned about this from a consumer radio show, but I thought it was important enough to investigate further. I think everyone's heard about credit card interest rates jumping because of a late payment on a different card or bill--or credit limits being lowered without warning. This is a scary new situation to look out for.

If you have a credit card, you have probably already agreed to binding arbitration with your credit card company without even knowing it. Somewhere in a bill stuffer or in the tiny fine print of your credit card agreement, there is a clause that takes away your day in court should you have a dispute with your bank or get behind in your monthly payments.

Here's why this is a problem--the arbitrators work for the credit card company and rule in their favor as often as 99.8% of the time. That's the figure in California (one state where this information is public). The credit card company can even tack on large attorney's fees and charge you, and they almost always win.

What's even worse is that often these cases are then turned over to the courts, and the arbitration award becomes a judgement. A judgement can mean wage garnishment, a lien on your house, and ruined credit.

I hope you'll check out this recent article from Business Week.

If this makes you angry, please take a moment to call or mail the Minnesota Attorney Generals office where the largest arbitration company is headquartered (the National Arbitration Forum). It's my understanding the State of Minnesota is investigating them and their procedures. The attorney general's office is taking complaints, so if you have been victim of "arbitration" or would like to email a complaint about the process, please contact:

LORI SWANSON
Attorney General
State Capital, Suite 102
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. Blvd
St Paul, Minnesota 55155
Voice: (651) 296-3353 Toll-free: (800) 657-3787

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How many of you are trying to spend less money and could use more time in your day? I bet just about everyone who's reading this!

What if I could offer you your own personal meal planner who would provide recipes and a corresponding grocery list sorted by category to make shopping easier? I'll even throw in a couple of freebies.

And, you could have all of this to use for a full month for one penny with no obligation and no strings attached? Well, you can!

This offer is from a work-at-home mom who wants you to try her meal plans and see if they are right for you.

Click to check out her site, and try a full month of her service for one penny with no further obligation ever. If you find it IS saving you time and money on your grocery bills (and keeping you away from fast food), you can continue with her service.

The average family saves $60 a week by cooking at home.

Start planning your meals and stop:

• overspending on eating out
• ordering unhealthy pizzas or making trips to the drive-thru because you don't have anything planned for dinner
• running to the grocery store three times a week or more.

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Hurry--for 48 hours only, the Oprah show's website is offering a free download of a great holiday CD. You can even download the CD cover if you want to burn a copy, print out a nice label, and put it in a case. Of course, these songs can be kept on your computer or loaded onto your MP3 player too.

Here's the link and a list of songs. Artists include Aretha Franklin, Faith Hill, Harry Connick Jr., and Il Divo.

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081118_tows_holiday/2

Holiday Hits 2008

Faith Hill, "Joy to the World" from the album Joy to the World www.amazon.com © 2008 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Tony Bennett, "I'll be Home for Christmas" from the album A Swingin' Christmaswww.tonybennett.net © 2008 Sony Music Entertainment

Il Divo, "O Holy Night" from the album The Christmas Collection www.Ildivo.com © 2005 Simco Limited exclusively licensed to Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) Limited

Josh Groban, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" from the album Noel www.joshgroban.com © 2007 Reprise Records

Brian McKnight, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" from the album I'll Be Home for Christmas www.bmcknight.com © 2008 Razor & Tie Direct, LLC

Amy Grant, "O Come All Ye Faithful" from the album The Christms Collection www.amygrant.com © 2008 Amy Grant Productions

Harry Connick Jr., "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" from the album What a Night! A Christmas Album www.hconnickjr.com © 2008 Sony Music Entertainment

Aretha Franklin, "Silent Night" from the album This Christmas www.borders.com © 2008 DMI Records

I found this freebie at http://twitter.com/MoneySavingGuid Click there for more good ideas.

You can follow MomsWhoSave on twitter too for extra deal updates in addition to those on the website. Our twitter link is: http://twitter.com/MomsWhoSave You don't have to join to see all the offers posted there.

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Thanks to those of you who entered the pearl necklace giveaway. A winner's been chosen, and she's been notified.

Now, for those of you who are a little more practical, here's something you're going to love! I was recently sent the SmartShopper. What's a SmartShopper, you're asking?

It's a little electronic gadget that sticks to your fridge, and whenever you think of an errand you need to run or something you need at the store, you tell the SmartShopper. It saves the information for you until you're ready to head out, then it prints your grocery list--even sorting it by category (produce, freezer section, etc.). You can mark the items you have a coupon for too. Your errands are at the top of list. Now that is really "smart!"

If you're a coupon user, you'll like being able to mark your coupon items so easily, and for large shopping trips, it's nice to be able to add items to your list at any time, but then have the SmartShopper group them together by section for you later. It makes for a much more efficient shopping trip once you're in the grocery store.

The SmartShopper prints using thermal paper that doesn't need ink and runs on regular AA batteries.

The price is $79.99, and shipping is free through the end of December. As a bonus, MomsWhoSave visitors can take $5 off with discount code SA89469. To order visit http://getsmartshopper.com/ Order by December 18th for Christmas delivery if using free ground shipping.

If you'd like to see the SmartShopper in action, check it out here:



I have one to give away, so if you need to get organized, and would like to win a SmartShopper, here's what you need to do:

1. Leave a comment letting me know why you want to win a SmartShopper.
For additional entries...
2. Twitter users can tweet this giveaway using this wording "RT @MomsWhoSave is giving away a SmartShopper at http://momswhosave.blogspot.com" and then let me know you tweeted in a separate comment below.
3. Have a website or blog? Add the MomsWhoSave.com button to your sidebar. (it's over to your right) Let me know in a separate comment, so I can go check it out.

This giveaway ends Friday night, December 19th at 10 p.m. EST and one winner will be chosen at random from all entries received. (Sorry, this one's open to U.S. residents only.)

Good luck!

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