Good morning beautiful people!
We’re going hard still with our one-a-day decluttering challenge, and it’s time now to physically remove these items from our house before none of it counts! ;)
Half of them will be going to our local thrift store here, but wanted to see if some of them you guys would like as they’re pretty on target with what we talk about here… So if you’re interested in any of them (and they won’t clutter up YOUR life!), let me know via email or in the comments below and we’ll randomly select a winner for each after the weekend’s over.
Hope your 1/day giveaways are going well too if you’ve joined me! Even if you only lasted a few days, it’s still a few less things in your house! But try to keep on going! :)
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Giveaway #1: “Predictably Irrational” by Dan Ariely
Picked up this book on a beach vacation a couple of years ago, and it was super interesting… Might have seen me mention it in our post on extreme couponing earlier this year too.
Here’s a snippet off Amazon:
“When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we’re making smart, rational choices. But are we? … Dan Ariely refutes the common assumption that we behave in fundamentally rational ways. From drinking coffee to losing weight, from buying a car to choosing a romantic partner, we consistently overpay, underestimate, and procrastinate. Yet these misguided behaviors are neither random nor senseless. They’re systematic and predictable—making us predictably irrational.”
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Giveaway #2: “Freakonomics” by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Another fascinating (and popular) book! I already have a copy, but apparently forgot to give this out in last month’s book giveaways. Here’s what Amazon has to say about this bad boy:
“In Freakonomics, they explore the hidden side of . . . well, everything. The inner workings of a crack gang. The truth about real-estate agents. The myths of campaign finance. The telltale marks of a cheating schoolteacher. The secrets of the Ku Klux Klan. What unites all these stories is a belief that the modern world, despite a great deal of complexity and downright deceit, is not impenetrable, is not unknowable, and—if the right questions are asked—is even more intriguing than we think. All it takes is a new way of looking”
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Giveaway #3: “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin
Only got through the beginning pages of this one (I’m already a pretty happy guy! :)), but people seem to rave about it so maybe it’s worth checking out? She runs a pretty popular blog too: gretchenrubin.com/blog
From Amazon:
“Award-winning author Gretchen Rubin is back with a bang, with The Happiness Project. The author of the bestselling 40 Ways to Look at Winston Churchill has produced a work that is “a cross between the Dalai Lama’s The Art of Happiness and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love.“… In the vein of Julie and Julia, The Happiness Project describes one person’s year-long attempt to discover what leads to true contentment. Drawing at once on cutting-edge science, classical philosophy, and real-world applicability, Rubin has written an engaging, eminently relatable chronicle of transformation.”
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Giveaway #4: Package of Old School Money Books!
I left these out of last month’s book giveaways ‘cuz wasn’t sure if anyone would actually want them or not (some of them are decades old!), but today I’m second guessing myself so we’re gonna find out one way or the other ;) I’ve also thrown in some more modern ones to help better the odds, haha…
Here’s a list of all the books you’ll get in this package (if you win it, make sure to pass on the ones you don’t want to others or just donate them to your local thrift!):
#1. Personal Finance For Ministers by Darold H. Morgan (1985)
#2. Your Money Counts: The Biblical Guide to Earning, Spending, Saving, Investing, Giving and Getting Out of Debt by Howard Dayton (1996) — “A Biblical based book about finances!”
#3. Get What’s Yours – Revised & Updated: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security by Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Philip Moeller, Paul Solman (2015 advanced copy – not updated w/ new laws!) — “Get What’s Yours explains Social Security benefits through basic strategies and stirring stories. It covers the most frequent benefit scenarios faced by married retired couples; by divorced retirees; by widows and widowers. It explains what to do if you’re a retired parent of dependent children; disabled; an eligible beneficiary who continues to work. It addresses the tax consequences of your choices, as well as the financial implications for other investments. It does all this and more.”
#4. Three Cups by Mark St. Germain, illustrated by April Willy (2007) — “All parents want to teach their children good money habits from an early age. Many start by giving them an allowance. But it’s equally important to teach children a positive, generous attitude as they learn to use money responsibly. Filled with warm, memorable illustrations by award-winning painter, April Willy, Three Cups is the story of one family’s unique and effective method of teaching personal financial management-and how one boy reaped first the small, then the immeasurably great rewards of the lessons he learned.”
#5. How to Make Your Money Last: The Indispensable Retirement Guide by Jane Bryant Quinn (2017 Advance copy) — “Turn your retirement savings into a steady paycheck that will last for life with Jane Bryant Quinn’s “‘how to’ book that covers every phase of retirement finance. Bottom line, anyone on the retirement track or in retirement should own this book” (Huffington Post).”
#6. The New Money Dynamics by Venita Vancaspel (1978!) — “A comprehensive guide to building a sizeable fortune through currently available financial-planning techniques includes advice on moving financial assets, investing, tax advantages, limited partnerships, and other topics.”
#7. 100 Questions You Should Ask About Your Personal Finances: And The Answers You Need to Help You Save, Invest, and Grow Your Money by Ilyce R. Glink (1999) — “With 100 Questions You Should Ask About Your Personal Finances, managing your financial life couldn’t be easier. Step by step, bestselling author Ilyce Glink takes you through the sometimes bumpy terrain of investments, mortgages, insurance policies, retirement plans . . . and suddenly it all makes sense. It’s like having a trusted friend and adviser by your side in every financial decision you make.”
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Giveaway #5: Package of Daily Planners/Trackers!
This group came to me when I was in talks with Chronicle Books to write my own book (they sent me these to get an idea of their publications), but now that I’ve tabled the idea and sorted through these, it’s time to release them into the world to actually be *used* :) Similar to the above package, you’ll have to take the ones you like and then pass on the others as they vary pretty wildly as you’ll see! Haha…
Here’s what’s included:
#1. Epic Fails and Epic Wins: A Journal — “With hilarious prompts and checkboxes, plus interesting facts about the phenomenon of failing (and winning), this guided journal is the perfect place to memorialize life’s most fantastic fails and monumental wins.”
#2. Car Talk Road Trip Journal and Maintenance Log — “Take America’s funniest car mechanics on the road with this handy glovebox-friendly journal and maintenance log. Click and Clack from NPR’s Car Talk mix their usual wisecracks with road trip tips, stories, and genuinely useful automotive advice. Includes: Roadside Survival Tips, Troubleshooting Tips for Lights and Gauges, Tips for Budding Do-It-Yourself Mechanics, Guide to Flat Tires, How to Jump-Start a Car, Neat Stuff to Have in Your Trunk, Mileage Log, Repair and Service Log, Checklists, and More!”
#3. Green: A Marijuana Journal — “Designed for a new generation of pot connoisseurs, the Green journal allows the momentarily forgetful to keep track of marijuana strains sampled and enjoyed. This handy journal features a primer on pot basics, fill-in diary pages, and “top ten” lists to inspire new experiences.”
#4. Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business — “As the hipster classic Craft, Inc. did for crafters, this book will teach all types of creatives illustrators, photographers, graphic designers, animators, and more how to build a successful business doing what they love. Freelancing pros Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho explain everything from creating a standout portfolio to navigating the legal issues of starting a business. Accessible, spunky, and packed with practical advice, Creative, Inc. is an essential for anyone ready to strike out on their own.”
#5. Runner’s Journal: A Year of Running — “Competitive and recreational runners will love this durable journal for tracking their runs and regimen. From goal-setting and route-planning to gear-hunting, race-scouting, and more, runners can view at-a-glance progress reports and track a year’s worth of daily activity in a calendar style journal. User-friendly fill-in infographics and charts round out this attractive package—the ultimate tool for an increasingly popular mode of exercise.”
#6. Make It Happen!: A Workbook & Productivity Tracker for Getting Stuff Done — “This notebook is a time management tool, a to-do list, and a productivity tracker all wrapped up in a bright, graphic package. Those looking to take charge of their most valuable resource—their time—will find a unique way to monitor progress, jot down to-do lists, and consider how to be more efficient. Tracking pages give users insight into how they are spending their time, while thought-provoking prompts will help them discover ways to work smarter tomorrow.”
#7. The Home Brewer’s Lab Book: My Life in Beer — “Every new batch of home-brewed beer is an adventure in trial and error, and this guided journal is an invitation to experiment. Two pages are devoted to each brew, with checkboxes, fill-in-the-blanks, and free space to detail every factor that plays into the final brew, from temperature and ingredients to information about specific gravity, storing, aging, and tasting notes. For novice to expert home brewers, this lab book creates a space to capture weekly brewing lessons and successes.”
#8. Roadmap: The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do with Your Life — “This New York Times Bestseller welcome antidote to the conventional career guide answers the old question—”So, what are you going to do with your life?”—in a groundbreaking way. From the team behind the campus and online resource and the inspirational TV series in its eleventh season, ROADMAP helps emerging careerists think deeply about how they can enter the workforce and thrive, using Roadtrip Nation’s interest-based approach. Full-color charts and graphs offer a unique visually engaging reading experience and prompts for reflection are interspersed, making the reading process interactive and the discoveries personally impactful.”
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Giveaway #6: Zip Disk Reader
Have a ton of old zip disks laying around and no idea how to access them at all? Because you’re old like me and no one uses them anymore?? Not to fear! Take this (working) zip drive reader and YOU TOO can see your decades-old files! Guaranteed to entertain you for hours! ;)
*Disks in picture not included… (which were pretty juicy, sorry)
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Giveaway #7: Floppy Disk Reader
Even older than zip drive users, and have a ton of *floppy disks* laying around? I’ve got you covered there too! Take this (working) floppy disk reader that only requires a USB port, and enjoy going down memory lane there as well! But a word of caution: they only held 1.44 MB each, so the fun-per-disk ratio is a lot less ;)
*Disks in picture not included here either… (though I did keep one of them for posterity)
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Giveaway #8: Dime Saver Book Circa 1950s
Lastly, our dime saver book circa the 1950’s that we blogged about earlier in the year: Save Your Dimes, Enjoy Better Times! I picked it up simply to share it here, so if you or someone you know can cherish it forever, please do take it off my hands! Perhaps you want to challenge yourself to filling up all 30 holes and become $3.00 richer? ;) All the cool kids are doing it!!
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And that about wraps it up…
If you want any of these -AND- you’ll use them!, drop me a note below with *which one* you want by Monday morning, and I’ll add your name into the randomized drawing.
1 entry per person, and U.S. addresses only please (shipping is hefty internationally, sorry).
I’ll update this same page on Monday afternoon with the winners! Good luck!! And keep on decluttering, especially if you end up bringing home any of these! ;)
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*** GIVEAWAY NOW OVER! ***
Here are the winners – enjoy, guys :)
- Predictably Irrational — jennydecki
- Freakonomics — Eric V.
- The Happiness Project — Shar
- Package of Old School Money Books — Rita H.
- Package of Daily Planners/Trackers: — Autumn Lewis
- Zip Disk Reader — Chris P.
- Floppy Disk Reader — Sheryl C.
- Dime Saver Book — Heather C.
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Yes!!! Would LOVEEEEEEEEE package #4!!! Thaaaank youuuuu!!
I really enjoy reading your emails! Really gets me focused. I would really like to he entered for the Package of Daily Planners/Trackers!
Thank you,
Seth Sageser
Glad you’re enjoying them! You’re entered! :)
Thanks for doing this. I am interested in the books! I read everything I get my hands on! If I only get to pick one though, I’d like to pick the happiness project. Have a great weekend.
Great read! Please enter me for package 6 as I have 15 or so zip backup disks with kid pics that I would love to see again!
Be well…
Ohhhh yeah – you def. need to get your hands on that bad boy then! If you don’t end up winning this, see if you can rent one from the library maybe or somewhere? They might sell for cheap now on Ebay too I bet and could be worth it :)
I would love to have the daily planners! Planners help me stay focused.
I would love a copy of Predictably Irrational! Thanks for all you do. Love starting my day with your wit and thoughts.
hey thanks!! appreciate that! :)
Giveaway #4 would be awesome! Thanks so much for all that you do.
Awesome! Thank you! Give away #8 please the dime saver book. Must we wait until Monday? :-)
Yup – i don’t work on weekends anymore ;)
I would like #3.
Sweet giveaways. I’d love Giveaway Package #5 – planners. I can certainly use the productivity workbook and have perfect recipients for all the rest.
Cool! Now entered!
#2, Freakonomics, please!
I would like to enter Giveaway #3!
I want to read that ‘Predictably Irrational’ book!
I would really enjoy #3 The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Great blog. Thanks
Sign me up for predictably irrational please! Sounds very interesting!
I would love giveaway #2, my son is always reading about the inner workings of things, I know he, and I, would really enjoy this book!
Thanks for always getting my money wheels turning early in the morning, keep up the great work, I appreciate you!!
Thank you so much!!! I appreciate YOU!
Love your articles!
Please throw my name in the hat for Giveaway #3.
#1 Predictably Irrational – I’ve been meaning to read it but haven’t yet. (I guess I was procrastinating? LOL) Also, I’ve been on the lookout for books I can add to the “family book club” I’m starting next week and this would be a good one to throw in the rotation to give the kids some extra learnin’.
Cool idea!! They’d actually enjoy the book too as it’s not as boring as typical “adult” ones ;)
#2 Freakonomics!!!!!!!!!!
Morning!
I have been reading your posts for about a year and I love all the interesting and fun information you throw out along with your money info. I provide free financial education classes as part of my job at a non profit. I am alwsys building up my library. I tell my clients I will read the books and summarize all the good stuff for them.
I would love the copy of Freakonomics. I think the tidbits would be great facts to toss into my classes.
Thanks!
Melinda
Love it!!!
Giveaway #1: “Predictably Irrational” by Dan Ariely
#8 for me please! I actually have a lot of the books you’re giving away (makes me think I should do my own purge) I love the Dime Book.
Maybe you could do a “book party” with all your friends and throw them all in the middle and then people can pick up new ones to read for themselves and all books left on the floor get donated afterwards! Triple win!
#2 – Always love reading about thought processes that differ from my own.
#8 Looks like a fun read would love to read it. If #4 also i could us the help
#3 Happiness Project…I would like to read this book for myself after reading so much about it and following Gretchen Rubin’s blog.
I would really really like Car Talk, thanks!
Would love #2 for my son, he loves learning about the inner workings of things and organizations.
Thank you for sharing all of your awesomeness with us, I look forward to your early morning emails.
Thank you so much!! :)
I’d like to enter Giveaway #3!! Been wanting to read this for a while. For some reason I think a hard copy would finally get my invested!
Totally! Only way I read books myself :)
(and if you don’t win – pick it up from the library!!)
Oh! Me – I would love the Floppy Disc reader – I have a ton of those, and wanted to go through them one last time but my work computer got upgraded & I lost my disc drive. :( Oh no!!! I’m sitting on old pictures of my two boys, I’m sure – they’re 12 and 15 now, those discs probably have cute baby pictures I’ll never see again.
Love your blog, thank you for educating me on personal finance! I also love your book recommendations – I get as many as possible from my library (I’m a librarian).
Yeah Librarians!! :) So far you’re one of only 3 who want that disk reader too so the odds are looking good, haha…
I am so stuck on which package. Its between #2,#3 & #1. I believe in that order. Must be so systematic of me to make this harder than it needs to be but I guess with these great reads I can understand my inner workings and find happiness.
#2 freakonomics is my final answer
Haha okay.. and fortunately you can find any of them at the library too!!
I’ve been looking everywhere for a used floppy disk reader! I have a bunch of old documents on floppy disks and no way to transfer them to a cloud without buying a new one (which I only have one use for, and then would have to donate or toss, ugh).
Well you’re now in the running for it! :)
I would love The Happiness Project! That’s one I haven’t read yet. Thanks!
Pick me… pick me… I have an american mailing address so you don’t have to ship to Israel.
Dan Ariely’s book please (puppy eyes)
Puppy eyes don’t work on random number generators ;)
I am interested in the first one. That book has been on my want to read list for awhile.
Thanks,
Rich
Hey J! Thanks for doing this. Put me in for no. 2, Freakonomics. I’ve heard/read a lot about this book. It’s high time I read it. :p
Interested in #8!
Would be an awesome start to get our newborn into saving!
I would love to win Giveaway #8 ~ Dime Saver Book Circa 1950’s. I would cherish it forever. I do not know what it is about dimes but I just simply love saving them. I remember those little cards. My parents had some. It brings back so much memories. I use to play with them as a kid. I would be glad to take this little beauty off of your hands.
Oh cool!! Well you’re entered now! Though it’s a popular one so far…
Hi, can you please enter me into #3? I myself have been trying to figure out what makes me happy in the past year, what is important and cutting out what is not little by little. Difficult journey! Curious to read her book!
It was a hard choice but I’d like to be entered to win #4 please!
Well this is exciting! I am so thankful for your emails and blogs that have helped me tremendously in learning how to save and budget!
I would love to be entered for package number 5.
Thank you !
I’m so glad to hear :)
Hi – I would love to enter for package #4. As runner up choices (if you get tons of entries for #4) – I’d also be happy to read #1, or try #3 (no relation to Gretchen – but I’ve heard good things).
Thank you so much for passing these things on!
This is great! I’d love #3 as I’ve been meaning to read it but every time I get it through the library time is up before I get into it. Thanks!
Awesome giveaways!
Unfortunately I maybe disqualified from any of this…
I am currently reading “Your Money Or Your Life” by Vicki Robin, and in it she discusses clutter and the multiple different kinds of clutter people have. Now I just feel like everything I own is clutter now hahaha
Haha pretty much, yup :) Almost every single thing we buy turns to it one day, womp womp…
I’d love the roadmap book! I still need to figure out what I’m going to do when I grow up
I would like the Make It Happen journal, please. (I’m also interested in the Roadmap journal.)
Thank you!
Good morning, I would like Giveaway #5: Package of Daily Planners/Trackers. There are books for a few of my framily (friends and family) members to stay accountable to their personal goals and surprisingly enough, 2 of best friends have ventured recently into the cannabis industry and my brother in law is a beer aficionado. These would be fabulous gifts! Crossing my fingers.
Hah! You’d have almost everyone’s Xmas gifts checked off the list ;)
I’ve never heard of #3, but it sounds interesting. Mark it!
I would like to be entered for the #1 package Predictably Irrational book….thanks!
I’d love #5. I’ve made my son read all kinds of personal finance stuff, but I recently realized the planning stuff isn’t sticking so well…
J, I could totally use package #5 as part of my
Get-yo-s#!t-together project! Obsessed with planners!!!
Hey, J Money. Would love to be entered into Package #4. Thanks!
Scull
I’m torn between # 4, The Happiness Project, and # 8, the Dime Saver. Hmmm…ok, hopefully I can get the Happiness Project at the library …. So my final choice is giveaway # 8!
Thank you for doing this!
Good reasoning :)
#1; thanks for writing a terrific blog
Please enter my name in the drawing for Giveaway #4: Package of Old School Money Books!
Thanks…
Super interested in Giveaway #4: Package of Old School Money Books!
Love the blog! :)
I would really appreciate package number 4! Old school money books are the best because some long forgotten simple tips can still be extremely relevant today.
Plus the “sizeable fortune” The New Money Dynamics talks about can’t be half bad! haha
Thank you for all you do :)
That’s what sold me on it when I found it at the thrift store ;)
Right now the goal is debt free but I’ll get there!
I would love the Save Your Dimes, Enjoy Better Times!.
Thanks
It’s hard to choose between the first three but I think I’d have to go for #1 Predictably Irrational – sounds fascinating!
giveaway #3. thank you!!
I would love the package of old school money books. And if you want, if you have an extra copy, I would also love a copy of suze orman’s young, fabulous and broke. I hear it’s a good book.
I’d be interested in #3. Great blog!
I would love to enter Giveaway #3 The Happiness Project!
Would love #2 Freakonomics :)
If I have to choose only one, then #4! :-) If I can choose more than one, then #3, then #2, then #1 :-) Awesome giveaway! :-D :-D :-D
I would love giveaway #5. I am a planner beast. I can promise I will use those babies well. Also, in a strange coincidence, I just finished rereading The Happiness Project this week. I can vouch for it being a great book with a wealth of ideas for anyone wanting to bring a little more happiness into their life.
Hah! Cool!
This is so nice! I am interested in Giveaway #5: Package of Daily Planners/Trackers. Thanks for the opportunity!
Dude #4 or #8 would be AWESOME!!! You da man!!
Giveaway #5 would be awesome.
Ugh! I remember zip and floppy disks. Thanks for making me feel 100 years old. I am also trying to declutter my life and making lots of trips to Salvation Army and selling some my kid’s old toys on Facebook mom site (nothing wrong with making a little money off your decluttering, am I right?)
Haha yes – good! Do it! :)
Thank you for this dope opportunity!
Would love a chance at #5!
Tuesday & Thursday commutes just are not as good without a new BudgetsAreSexy article. But that means Fridays are all the sweeter, especially when knowledge is literally being dropped (via “post.”) I’d like to enter #2 please! Been meaning to read Freakonomics for years!
I used to blog every single day before having all my kids :) never missed a day for 5 years straight!
I want to save 30 cents & then I will be rich!
#4 because I want to see what what books #1-2 are about (though all the books look interesting). I don’t know why but I really want to see what personal finance for ministers is all about. #1 has been on my list of books to read so that would be my second choice.
Some really nice reads but I’m still working through the coin books you graciously sent me. Just wanted to let you know that your giveaways go to good use. Floppy disk? Thought that is what’s giving me this chronic back ache!
Oh good – glad you’re reading/enjoying them! Hope they help!
Hi J money, I’m interested in The Happiness Project. Thanks for offering this to your readers!
I’ve been wanting to read #1
Put me down for Giveaway #5 por favor! I’m working on turning my calligraphy hobby int a business, so Creative Inc. is a must!!
#6 ZIP Disk would be awesome!
Giveaway #4!! I donated my copy of “Your Money Counts” and wish I’d kept it!
Hah! Well hopefully whoever ended up getting it fully appreciates it! :)
Please enter me for the Dime Savers book. I have some of these still from my childhood (yep, they’re still filled lol) AND Hagerstown, MD is 10 minutes from meeeee!
Very cool! You’re now entered for it :)
I would love the happiness project
I’m interested if the giveaway is still open, love your site!
Would love the travel #5.
We’re in Ireland right now exploring the country and looking forward to more travel next year! Cheers~
Hi there,
I just came across your blog via an article on MSN.com. Look forward to reading the articles on your site and figuring out a sexy budget! Anyway please put me down for giveaway #1. Thank you-Eoanna
*** GIVEAWAY NOW OVER! ***
Here are the winners – enjoy, guys :)
Predictably Irrational — jennydecki
Freakonomics — Eric V.
The Happiness Project — Shar
Package of Old School Money Books — Rita H.
Package of Daily Planners/Trackers: — Autumn Lewis
Zip Disk Reader — Chris P.
Floppy Disk Reader — Sheryl C.
Dime Saver Book — Heather C.