BillShrink Giving Away $2,500 to Wise Bread Readers

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Editor's Note:  Contest has ended.  Click here to see list of winners.

BillShrink, a free website that gives personalized money-saving recommendations on everyday bills, is giving away $2,500 to Wise Bread readers!

In addition to the contest, BillShrink CEO Peter Pham also shared some great savings tips later in this post.  But first, the contest!

Blog Comment Contest: $2,000

Prize:  1 winner of $2,000.  BillShrink representatives will pick their favorite response.

How to Enter

BillShrink wants to give you $2,000 to start your New Year with a money make over. 

Simply leave a comment below and tell us in 2-3 sentences about what you’d do with $2,000?  The best response takes the grand prize.

Would the responsible you pay down your credit card debt? Put the money in savings? Buy low in the stock market? Or start a college fund for your toddler? Or … would rowdy you blow it on a ticket to Antigua? Or buy 14 bottles of Dom Perignon? Or get a flat screen TV or a new computer? BillShrink CEO Peter Pham also talks about how he would spend $2,000. You might want to check out Peter's response get some inspiration.

Don't forget to enter your email address while leaving a comment.  We can't contact you if you don't leave an email address!

Twitter Contest:  $250

Prize: 1 winner of $250. Randomly selected.

How to Enter

Simply tweet one of these messages: 

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter.  It makes it easier for us to message you when you win.

BillShrink Facebook Contest: $250

Prize: 1 winner of $250. BillShrink will randomly select one of their new fans following them on Facebook.

How to Enter

Visit BillShrink's Facebook fan page and add yourself as a fan.  That's it!

(While you're in Facebook, don't forget to check out Wise Bread's fan page as well.)

Rules For All Three Contests

The Blog Comment, Twitter, and Facebook contests all end at midnight EST 1/08/10.  Winners will be announced on this post on 1/13/10. You can enter all 3 contests, but you can only win once. US residents only, must be 18 or over, void where prohibited (see official contest rules).

Interview With Peter Pham

According to your website, BillShrink has identified more than $1 billion in savings for more than 1 million people this year. Why are so many people overpaying on their bills?

Wireless plan and credit cards are inherently complex.  You have in- and out-network calling, overage fees, variable interest rates, annual fees – it’s really too much for a person to track. Each wireless plan, each credit card, markets their plans with different language, gives you options over different periods of time, and has different offerings, so it’s nearly impossible to make an apples-to-apples comparison.  BillShrink will do all that homework for you using technology that analyzes all of the fine print and tracks the best options on the market so you don’t have to.

Another reason people are overpaying is that options are constantly changing.  Credit cards, banks and wireless companies are competing for your business and continue to make new offers.  That’s why we’ve also built into BillShrink the ability to get alerts when a better deal comes along.  We’ll take into account all things like wireless termination fees, so you can see if you will really save more money in the long run.

 What was the best piece of budgeting advice you got or gave in 2009?

The best piece of advice I gave was to ignore those seeming appealing in-store credit card offers.  Salespeople entice you at the register with an additional 10-30% off your purchase and 0% APR promises.  But that impulse decision could cost you in the long run because after introductory rates, store credit cards are have interest rates that are generally higher than standard credit cards.  Not to mention that they are notoriously strict about late fees, which increase the rate dramatically.  All this and that’s not all, when you apply for a new card, an inquiry is made to the credit bureau, which may slightly lower your credit score.

How do you think people can save money on the necessities like gas and cell phones?  Is there a way to cut back without making sacrifices?

Absolutely!  Most people don’t alter their plan to better fit their usage, but like most, you may have selected a wireless package a year ago that isn’t the right plan for you now.  Most people are so afraid of overage charges so they buy tons of minutes or get the unlimited plans that they may not really need.

BillShrink assesses what you need and on average, we save people $300 on their phone bill, without them having to sacrifice any minutes or plan options.  For gas, many people by habit go to the same gas station.  But, if you can drive the same distance to a station that costs $0.50 less per gallon of gas, that could be a savings of $130 a year.

Do you think frugality will end when the economy starts to pick up?

I think frugality is here to stay, at least I hope so.  While this economically turbulent year forced many to change their spending behaviors, I think people will choose to remain frugal as it feels good to be wise about your dollars.  In particular, if people feel they are getting the same services for less money, the question simply is ‘why would I pay more than I need to?’ So maybe ‘Frugal is the new black!’

What would you do with $2000?

My weakness is food; I’m a culinary snob.  I’d consider blowing it on a trip to NY and have dinner with my wife at Masa, where the pre-fix menu is $500/person.
 
Never mind all the bill shrinking -- what do you think is worth paying top dollar for?

Vacations.  When I get the rare chance to go on holiday with my family, I love a fine hotel with great service, excellent restaurants, and a gorgeous pool.  That comes with a price tag, but the rest and luxury is worth it!

Can the consumers be sure that your recommendations are objective?
 
BillShrink is independent and unbiased.  This means that we present the best options to users and have no preferential display of any wireless, credit card, savings or gas recommendations. Our rankings are calculated by complex algorithms that match your unique spending habits with all the available plans in the marketplace, so in essence, we’re your personal financial matchmaker. We think our best value comes in continuing to alert you when a better deal comes along that could save you even more money.

So far your focus is on cell phones, credit cards, and gas prices.  But couldn't you expand this to a lot more goods and services?  What are your plans for the future?

We intend to keep saving people throughout 2010 and beyond.  We’ll add services like TV and Internet services, as well as a host of other bills so that we’ll save Americans another $1 billion next year.

Update:  Announcing the Winners!

Blog Comment $2,000 Winner

Winner: Joe Wilson

I would use the money to help pay off my wife's battle with breast cancer. I am on a fixed income (disabled) 64 years old. my wife has to work for health ins due to my sickness 20 years ago. she is a 62 year old pharmacy tech and works 40 hrs a week. we are staying even due to our good credit rating (796) but I have a wad of debt. paying off the hospital and certain other tests she has undergone will allow us to continue with her prescribed medical needs this coming year using Canada to buy certain drugs due to pricing . thank you for your consideration joe and kathy Wilson

Jenny from BillShrink explains why this was her favorite:

Whew! Wonderful to see 1053 respondents for the contest.  We read some funny and some very heartbreaking stories about people who really could use the $2000 cash.  We liked the below entry from Joe  & Kathy Wilson.  We appreciated that Kathy keeps a full-time job and that these are hard-working people who have tried to maintain good credit, but have medical expenses that are beyond their means.  Again, this was a hard choice and... well, we had a few runner-ups that we really liked as well. 

Twitter Contest $250 Winner:

Winner: MMC67.  Thank you Michelle Carter for tweeting about our contest!

Facebook Winner:

Anna Labbe who wrote:

Just discovered billshrink! hope to put it to good use for a financially better 2010! Winning that $2000.00 would be great too! How about an article on how to get your spouse on the same "page"with savings and finance!! Thanks!

Thank you everyone for participating in the contest!  We'll be contacting each winner directly via email, Twitter, and Facebook.  If you don't respond within 3 business days we reserve the right to give the prizes to an alternate winner.

Tagged: Giveaways

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Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


Guest's picture
Kelli Crouse

I would FINALLY be able to get serious about paying off this debt by getting ahead for once.

Guest's picture
Steven G.

If I were to win, the first thing I would do is jump up and down because I have never won anything in my life before. With the money, I would split it up in respect to things related to my daugther. I would have $1000 for summer camp, $750.00 for school in the fall and $250.00 as a donation to her school (because they expect that one be given).

Guest's picture

I would put it towards paying down debt. This year, we are focusing on putting our frugality to good use by paying off our credit cards.

Guest's picture
Jake

I currently have several projects that I am working on. The most important, by far, is a wedding, honeymoon, and ring (ring's already bought, just waiting for the opportune time to ask her hand in marriage). I would definitely use the funds to help with those costs. Beyond wedding related expenses I would split the money between:

1. Roth IRA
2. Building up more of an emergency fund
3. Paying off some Christmas shopping expenses

Guest's picture
notbreadalone

Not very creative but I would need to put the money towards paying our bills, student loans, mortgage, you name it. I might squeeze a nice dinner at a favorite restaurant out if it too.

Guest's picture
Ellen

In terms of financial security, the best thing I could do is open a new savings account and start an emergency fund with the money. Yep, that would be the smartest, and that's probably what I would do as I've already gotten my ROTH IRA maxed out for 2009. Yay! (In my dream world, I'd splurge on a new professional series lens for my camera.)

Guest's picture
Guest

I'd use that $2K for a down payment on an embroidery machine. I'm trying to start a 'one-of-a-kind accessories' (purses, jewelry, jackets) business on the net, and an embroidery machine would allow me to dramatically increase the creativity of my pieces.

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Stephanie

since I have a 6 month old. I would put 1000 toward a college fund for her and the rest towards an emergency fund for our family.

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Guest

I would use this money to pay off my credit card that just went up to 28% interest! Thanks!

Guest's picture
Marques Stewart

Whenever I receive extra money, I always try to do 2 things with it: Pay down or off a bill and spend a little on myself. So I would put $1500 towards paying off my student loan (the only major loan I have right now) and put about $150 away in savings. The rest of the money I would use to buy an entertainment product (ipod touch or PSPGo) to deal with the long travel times of New York City.

Guest's picture
George G

$500 would go to complete a frugal Spain trip in February (Valentines) it's a dream almost to be reality trip for my girlfriend that I almost lost in a surgery this year.

$1000 would go to pay off a credit card account that for no fault of mine decided to lower my credit limit and raise the interest.

$500 would begin a fund to purchase a one man outrigger canoe, so I can better train for the Molokai Hoe Canoe Race

Guest's picture
Heather

I will put the money towards the purchase of our minivan. It's a lease now and I don't really want to go back to car without autostart and heated seats. I really don't get all the hate of minivans.

Guest's picture
bjr

This summer my wife and best friend will be in South Korea, but financially I'm unable to go along. My wife will be teaching English to fulfill an internship requirement for her degree. Our mutual best friend will be marrying his Korean girlfriend there at the same time.

An additional $2000 would shore up our financial situation enough that I wouldn't have to miss my friend's wedding or spend three months apart from my wife.

Thanks!

Guest's picture
Guest

My fiancee and I live in New York but her family still lives in her hometown in rural Hokkaido. I would use the prize money to take my parents from the cornfields of southern Pennsylvania to the snow country of northern Japan to meet the inlaws.

Guest's picture
Guest

As a single mother of a high school senior and a high school junior, I can no doubt put $2000.00 to good use. The last 6 months have been crazy for me with financial setbacks with necessary car repairs popping up and alot of money being spent keeping my kids dog of 11 years alive after she almost died. I try to keep the kids focused on their grades in the hope that they will qualify for college scholarships. If I won $2000.00 I would put $1000 for each child into a CD/money market/savings to grow so that when they get to be my age they will have some financial security.

Guest's picture
Ryan

It's a case of very interesting timing for this contest for me - I'm an aspiring musician and songwriter, and some doors are beginning to open in terms of allowing me to record and publish a CD. After shopping around and calling in some favors, I've been able to get the upfront cost down to just around $2500 - and so far, through careful saving, I have about $700 set aside to fund this dream. BillShrink, I would love this opportunity to take a step towards this goal through this contest.

Guest's picture
Vicki

My husband is currently unemployed. We are still waiting for his unemployment to come through. I would use $2,500 to pay our housing, heating and automotive expenses and keep a small amount back for urgent emergencies.

Guest's picture
Heather Tamulonis

If I won $2,000 I would take my husband and kid on a vacation. We recently became debt free! Yay us! So, I think it would be nice to spend the money on a nice weekend vacation. My husband and I work opposite shifts so we don't get a lot of "family time". $2,000 would be a wonderful gift to our family.

Guest's picture
Karen Stone

I'm a natural born balancer, so here's what I'd do with $2000. $500 towards a trip to Hawaii, my home town; $500 to savings, cause I'm getting older every day; and $1000 into a side fund for my grown daughter's medical expenses (she's really sick and it costs a lot).

Guest's picture
Josh K

I recently moved myself, my wife, and our children across the country to take a new job. It's was a good opportunity, but my wife is far away from her family and everyone she knows for the first time, and I know that this makes her sad. So I would spend $2,000 on travel, for her family and friends to come visit us in our new home!

Guest's picture
Jeremy Baisden

My fiance and I have been working hard to pay down lingering credit card debt while paying cash for our wedding and honeymoon. If we were to win the $2000 giveaway, we would use half of the money to supplement the money we're using to pay for wedding expenses, and the other half would go to paying off our next to last credit card. With that paid, we'll be able to finish the last one in just a few months -- before the wedding!

Guest's picture
apbooklover04

My husband and I both graduated from college and got married this year. We've made a goal to have our $40,000 in student loans completely paid off in 5 years. I would use $1500 to put down extra loan payments and the other $500 to go into our emergency fund.

Guest's picture
Mary

I would first replace all the tires on my vehicle which are balled and pretty much useless in all the snow we have gotten. I would then take my daughter to Disney World. We told her we would take her when she turned 6. She is now 11 and we have not been able to afford to go yet.

Guest's picture
Mindy

I would use the money toward paying off my credit card. I'm a recent graduate who came out of school in debt. I'm busy building a new life in a new place, and it's time to get rid of my credit card bill. I've been using the snowball method of paying off my debt, and this would finish it off!

It's time for us to move on, credit card company.

Guest's picture
Andrea K

I would use that money to pay off debt I've been working on for the past few years. Its time to pay off the mistakes of my 20s, get married (Nov 2010!), and buy a home. I'm doing everything in my power to pay off this debt, and move forward in a healthy financial future with my soon to be husband! This would be the best wedding gift ever!

Guest's picture
Steven

I would use it to pay down debt and possibly a mini vacation somewhere warm... like Aruba! :)

Guest's picture
Brock

we bought a short-sale house this year to take advantage of the low interest rates, and while that was a great investment in our future, we haven't been able to maximize our Roth IRA contributions since we used that money for the house down-payment. Would love to get our IRAs nearly fully-funded!

Guest's picture
Lauren McCormick

I want to say something selfless like I would give it to charity or use it to fix up the house/car or even fund my children's college funds better. However, I don't get many breaks in between working, taking care of the kids, dogs and everything else. The only thing I don't take care of is myself. I want an adults only type of experience, with no cares in the world except where my next massage is coming from. Frugal, no. Stress relieving, yes.

Guest's picture
Lauren McCormick

I want to say something selfless like I would give it to charity or use it to fix up the house/car or even fund my children's college funds better. However, I don't get many breaks in between working, taking care of the kids, dogs and everything else. The only thing I don't take care of is myself. I want an adults only type of experience, with no cares in the world except where my next massage is coming from. Frugal, no. Stress relieving, yes.

Guest's picture
Michele

First, I would take a trip with my husband to visit our oldest son and his wife in Maryland. We have not been able to afford a visit for a year. We miss them very much, but between airfare from Oregon to Maryland and boarding our 3 dogs, it's an expensive trip. Then, I'd start an emergency savings fund. We've depleted our savings due to additional medical costs this year, and now that my husband is on the mend, we can start to build it up again. I would also pay down some credit card debt. Thank you for your consideration!

Guest's picture
Sarah

I would use the money to take my best friend to Florida for her birthday. We're both turning 30 this year and feeling down. Not only would the sunshine be a nice break from this dismal Midwest winter, hopefully we would feel younger in comparison to all those senior citizens!

Guest's picture
Coy Moore

Dear Peter Pham,

I would give the money to truly needy households and individuals that are doing their best to work hard at earning and saving, but are not able to provide for their family's basic needs.
Thank you.
CM

Guest's picture
Sarah

I'd definately put $2000 towards the cost of sending my boyfriend to trade school. The poor guy's been stuck in the same dead-end job for almost 10 years, and feels like he's wasted his time. He's going to start an HVAC course in April, I just don't know how we're going to feed ourselves during that time. Some extra money would make it a lot easier.

Guest's picture
Kristen Smith

I have been volunteering at our local Humane Society and know they need a lot of help caring for the animals. I would probably donate about 1/2 of the money to them, and then donate 1/2 to myself to pay down credit card debt from a deluge of car repairs that occured that fall. Happy New Year!

Guest's picture
lorraine

the first thing i would do is have my 18 year old cat and companion put to sleep. she is dying of breast cancer and we can't afford the procedure right now. i would make a donation and do something for Christmas for my family, even tho it's has passed. thank you.

Guest's picture
Randa

I would use the $2,000 to pay my husband's hospital bills from earlier this year. He got pneumonia 2 weeks before his insurance was effective so none of his 4 day hospital stay was covered. Thank you!

Guest's picture
Guest

We have been in credit counseling for 3.5 yrs and this money would be used to pay it down even further, we have ten more months until we are through. We have learned our lesson, gained insight, did without and are now ready to do the right thing with our cash.

Guest's picture
Kelly

Over the last 3 years my husband and I have done a massive bill shrink! We've paid off credit cards, student loans, car loans, and the only one left is a home equity line. I'd put $1,000 against that Home equity loan and get us that much closer to paying it off. Then I'd take the other $1,000 and put it in the 529 account we opened for our niece. We understand how hard it was to go through school and pay off that debt and want to help her not face the same challenges.

Guest's picture
Guest Madeleine

I would buy a one year stock of Purina Stuffed Morsels for my female cat Nicky and her two male kittens (8 months) Max and Noiraud. Of course, I would pay my ancient bills... and be at ease with my conscience at this very point...

I would surely go to a French and repute restaurant with my niece to have a good meal, drink good white and red wines... and smell, and eat and savour each spoonfull of a "crème française à la vanille", really "homemaid"... by a Chef.

Guest's picture
Cal

If I won, I would surprise my wife with a trip to Vegas, where we got engaged about 8 years ago. She has always wanted to go back and relive the magic. :)

Guest's picture
Perry

With re-enrollment for my two children's (1st and 4th grades) Waldorf school coming up in February I certainly could use $2K for the enrollment deposit which is about $1500. Whatever is left would go to paying off some of last years tuition loan. And maybe a night out with the wife for her birthday at the end of January.

Guest's picture
Jeanelle

I understand that BillShrink is giving away $2,000 to a Wise Bread reader.
Thank you so much for the letting us participate in this opportunity to win the money.
If we were to win, we would spend the money on $200 to a rescue mission in our nearby city as a tithe, $1,800 between paying off debt and hiring a professional organizer/life coach to help me sort through and organzie my life and my home during 2010. I am generally an organized person. However, due to several significant family events (the most recent being that I am recovering from major surgery and complications), I let things go for too long. Now I am overwhelmed with stuff, debt, and less energy and ability to tackle it all. I've already started tackling it little bits at a time. Ultimately that is how it will work best. But I would love to have an opportunity to jump start certain areas, my closet, and our dining room/office/sewing area in particular.
Thank you again for this awesome opportunity!

Guest's picture
FatFred

Spend or save, can I do both?
1,500 to make extra payments on mortgage and car loan. Being ahead, even a little bit helps!
The other 1,000 goes into a CD while I decide how to enjoy it. Tickets to travel and see friends? A blowout spa weekend? Gifts for family? Help a friend in need? It never hurts to spend a little time in dreaming wonderful things!

Guest's picture
Anna R

If I was given $2000, I would use it to start a college fund for my baby boy due the end of March. Even if I was never able to add any additional money to his college fund, I would know that he would have at least something to go towards his education.

Guest's picture
Grizdave

No doubt at all here. This would go into my daughter's college fund, to help her get through the first year with no college loans.

Guest's picture
Misty

As the thrifty person in the household, if we were to win, I would claim the $2,000 as mine to do what I want. What I would do is very simple and not as creative as I would like. We would pay down our credit cards that my spendthrift husband has had a little too much fun with (welll..it happens) and use a small portion of it to have a guilt free weekend at one of the nearby tourist attractions. We live in Northern VA but rarely have the money and or time to go see everything that is nearby!

Guest's picture
Heidi Cykana

I would use it to rid ourselves of an "oops" that has prevented my (currently laid-off-due-to-outsourcing-for-the-second-time) husband from being able to finish up his BA. The leftover money would go to books and a laptop to help him get a degree in an outsourcing-resistant field. We hope.

Guest's picture
Betsy Alvey

My husband and I have to small children and I'm a stay-at-home mom. My husband works full-time and goes to school full-time. He'll finish his bachelor's in accounting this spring and I've been saving to take him to Italy (he lived there for 2 years) as a gift. I'd spend half the money toward that and the other half would pay off our car.

Guest's picture
Kristy

We would use the money to cross two big-ticket items off our "desperately need to replace" list: a quality desktop PC (built from parts) and a mid-range sofa. We use our current desktop and sofa for several hours a day, and each of them give us no end of headaches in their own way. It would dramatically improve our quality of life!

Guest's picture
Kath M

With $2000 I'd quickly payoff my mastercard. That would be a great Whoo Hoo!! :~) Then I would stash the rest back to cover surprise incidentals...with older cars...they happen quite often! Thank you.
Blessings,
Kath

Guest's picture
Darci

It is almost certain that my husband will be out of a job by next month. Being a stay at home mom of two toddlers, I would put the money asside for basic essentials like mortgage, food, electric bill....

Guest's picture
Bert

I would use half for a vacation with my wife this summer while our sons are at Boy Scout Camp and the other half to accelerate the pay down on our mortgage. The sooner we can pay off the mortgage the sooner we can take longer and more exciting vacations.

Guest's picture
Jack

Our first grandchild will be born in April 2010. The $2000 would be deposited as the start of his or her college fund.

Guest's picture
Kim

I've been working super hard at my credit card debt this year, and this money could really get me ahead. And maybe there's a nice new outfit for me in there, too!

Guest's picture
Kathy

We need a minivan to accommodate the 2 kids we want to adopt in 2010. We've got 3 kids already, packed into the back of a sedan. We need a 7-seater so we can bring the rest of our family home. We've saved up $2,000 towards the minivan, so winning this would put us where we need to be to get a pre-owned.

Guest's picture
Matt SF

I would take all funds directly to Lending Club to fund loans from borrowers whose credit card interest rates blew up from from 10% to 25%+ during 2009. It's a shady business practice at best, so I'd like to do what I can to help.

Friends may not let friends earn 2% on their savings, but they definitely don't let them pay 25% interest on consumer debt!

Guest's picture
L. Johnson

If I won the $2000, it would give me the financial means and the courage to quit my job and move to a bigger city with more opportunities in my field. This has been a dream I've had for years, but lack of money has caused me to fear just doing it.

Guest's picture
Yolanda

Wow, $2,500 would certainly help us out. My husband (63) lost his job this summer and so there are plenty of bills to pay.

Guest's picture
Jeanne

I'd love $2,000 because then I could start the emergency fund that I know I need. Last summer the power steering pump in my car broke, and I didn't have the money to fix it then, since I didn't have any savings for something like that.

Instead of fixing it, I kept pouring more power steering fluid down it. But that didn't solve the problem, and two months later, the problem escalated until my car was undriveable.

If I'd had the money, I would still have the car. Now I've learned the value of having an emergency fund, and I don't want to make the same mistake again.

Guest's picture
Yolanda

Wow, $2,500 would really help out right now. My husband (63) lost his job this summer. The money would help pay the bills.

Guest's picture
Amy W

I would first add $500 to my emergency fund, Use $500 to pay towards my husbands classes this semester and then use the rest to pay of debt at amazingly high interest rates. Wouldn't that be nice!

Guest's picture
Amy W

I would first add $500 to my emergency fund, Use $500 to pay towards my husbands classes this semester and then use the rest to pay of debt at amazingly high interest rates. Wouldn't that be nice!

Guest's picture
Zoeyjane

I have plans to move to Paris with my daughter within two years, but a loft goal is attached to the move: save $10K for rent, airfare, moving expenses and various registrations/legal fees. $2000 would bring me four months closer to my goal!

Guest's picture
Daryl Hodge

I'd buy the gear to start Cowboy Action Shooting! The interest is present, but not the budget. I am saving for it though.

Guest's picture
Tomiann

I would pay off my last remaining credit card! Then sit for a moment and enjoy the warm fuzzy glow. Then I would apply the credit card money to a savings account to get my used car repaired. It would be so nice to have two cars again (although having one does save money).

Guest's picture
Eileen

If I won the $2000 I would try to parse it out in ways that would give the most return in tangible ways but also in psychological ways that would compound the money and provide momentum for future returns.

$500 to take a bite out of the highest interest debts
$300 to start an emergency fund
$200 to support physical health
$300 to set up and organize my craft studio
$300 to return to school to update skills
$400 to set up Etsy business

Guest's picture
Lorinda Lamb

I would use it to reunite with my 20 yr old son Shawn who I've not seen in over 3 years. I lost my job of 12 years 4 weeks ago so I am devastated thinking how long it could be before being able to see him again! Thank you

Guest's picture
Dee

My husband and I are retired and living on a fixed income that is quickly shrinking due to the recession. We thought we had planned well and, unlike the Government, never spend more money than we have. But costs are rising higher than what is coming in.
I would love to get the million dollar bonuses that some executives are receiving for getting their companies to the bail-out state they are in. But unfortunately, even though I didn't get a say in the matter, I am just one of the tax payers that get to put up that money.
My husband turns 80 next April and I would love to surprise him with a Caribbean vacation.

Guest's picture
Jared

As a budding photography enthusiast, the first thing I would buy are two new lenses for my DSLR (50mm prime and 18-200mm zoom - total cost: $700). After that I would take the rest and put it in a money market account to contribute towards saving for a trip my wife and I have dreamed about for some time: going to Hawaii for our 15th wedding anniversary (coming up in 2 years). Our lives are at a point where we're learning that experiences, not things are what we enjoy the most - and a nice, well-funded trip to Hawaii would be thoroughly enjoyable.

Guest's picture
J.

Our family is in a major debt reduction mode ala Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball method. Dave would say that money should go towards our debt -- that's true but we already have a plan for that. Since this is totally unexpected, I would use it to put in grass in our backyard which is unusable these days. That will make my 6 year old super happy this summer.

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Diane Harrington

While I'm sorely tempted to use the $2,000 as a down payment for the car I want when my Honda Pilot lease expires in August, or to it in a fund for new, energy-efficient windows (with an eye toward the tax break), I would use a good portion of it to buy a new oven. For the past 18 months, whenever we're not cooking something, our oven has started beeping constantly, as annoying as an alarm clock on a Saturday morning. The only way to get it to stop is to turn the circuit breaker off. So when I ask the kids to turn on the oven, they know to go in the garage, squeeze by the car, and flip the right circuit breaker! ( It's more cost-efficient to buy a new one than fix the old one, the repairman says.)

Of course, another smart thing to do would be to knock down a teeny portion of the $30,000 we owe in credit card debt (all on very-low-interest cards, but still...).

So many uses, so little money - but way more than I have right now, so I'm grateful for whatever I can get!

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I would give the tithe ($200) to my church, then put $900 into our contigency fund, $450 towards paying off debt and the remainging $450 will go towards a splurge (possibly a weekend trip without our daughter).

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fairydust

... I'd put it towards the $11,200 cost of surgery on my jaw (not covered by any health insurance plan) so that I can eat again, specifically sandwiches, which I really miss being able to eat :) Oh, and hamburgers.... and corn on the cob. Even a salad now and then!

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That would be amazing, hubby and I are having our second kiddo in February and while I am really hoping to be able to take (unpaid) FMLA, we just aren't sure we can do it. We have spent the last year diligently paying down our mortgage since we need to move to a better area and we realized when the real estate market tanked that we had a lot more to pay down or we would be stuck for quite a while. Everything extra has gone to the mortgage along with extra job money, coupon clipping, etc, but this money would mean I could stay home with my newborn and 2 year old a little bit longer without worry.

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Guest

Living in a one bedroom home with a one year old is getting pretty crowded. I would use the money to renovate our 'garden room' aka cellar in order to make space for a bedroom for my husband and I. We would then be able to live within our means by staying in our favorite walkable neighborhood and our 850 square foot home rather than moving to a bigger home in the suburbs.

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emilysanti

Living in a one bedroom home with a one year old is getting pretty crowded. I would use the money to renovate our 'garden room' aka cellar in order to make space for a bedroom for my husband and I. We would then be able to live within our means by staying in our favorite walkable neighborhood and our 850 square foot home rather than moving to a bigger home in the suburbs.

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Karen

What wouldn't I do with $2000?!

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Morgan

If I won the $2000, I would use it to first pay for my husband to go to the Dentist for the first time in 4 years to fix his missing filling (ouch!), and put any remainder toward the credit cards.

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Tim

I'm in my 20s and saving up to buy a home eventually. I would probably use the $2,500 to top up my TFSA account on January 1st after giving 10% away to my favourite non-profit.

Thanks for the great contest!

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Tim

I'm in my 20s and saving up to buy a home eventually. I would probably use the $2,500 to top up my TFSA account on January 1st after giving 10% away to my favourite non-profit.

Thanks for the great contest!

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Seung

I buy $2,000 worth of salt and play the waiting game...

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judyyy

My first reaction to this question was "I wouldn't spend it, I would save it," but on second thought, I would buy my Mother a walk in bath tub as she has had 3 knee surgeries and can no longer get down in a tub. She also has arthritis and getting down in hot water would help her pain a lot.

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Sandra H. Bennett

I would use your money to have my book printed and to help with distribution costs.

My book shows the way to a creative, rich and satisfying retirement on a shoe-string. I assume the basics – food, shelter, medical costs – are covered, but with little or no money remaining for extras. I offer dozens of suggestions for achieving an inspired and rewarding life, and also offer exercises to develop even more ideas.

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Linden

I have always wanted to be Elton John. Not for the singing talent or the drugs or the sex, but because I read that he has fresh flowers in every room (including his bathrooms), replaced weekly. Two Thousand would allow me to be Elton for a week, having enough flowers dellivered that I could have a bunch in every room, in the middle of winter. A fantasy come true...

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Robin

I just bought a 70 year old house that needs remodeling big time. I would use the $2000 to help put in a new bathroom so that four people, including 2 teenagers, would not have to share 1 tiny bathroom.

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Meg

I'd buy my freedom. I'm $1800 away from finally being out of $20,000 of credit card debt. The leftover $200 would go straight to the bank, because over the last two years I've forgotten how to spend money.

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Gina

I would use the money to pay for a new deck (or at least PART of a new deck!). Our old deck has tar seeping out of the wood and we track it in and have destroyed our floors (which would have to be the NEXT project!).

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Michael

My wife has applied to a few medical technologist programs to enhance her career. We would use the $2,500 to pay for travel expenses for the required on-site interviews. We live in Chicago, and the interviews are in Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Colorado Springs!

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Michael

My mistake, by $2,500 I meant $2,000.

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Guest

I would user it to make two energy-efficient home improvements: a modest convection oven (to replace my original 1959 model, still working but a huge energy guzzler) and a solar-powered attic fan, and give whatever amount is left over to one of the local food pantries. This way, I'd reduce my energy usage, survive another summer in California without air-conditioning (or melting), and give a little bit back to those in the community who are really hurting from the recession. The old oven would go to a lucky (and worthy) freecycle recipient in my area.

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Dawn

I would use $1,000 for a real vacation. I would use the other $1,000 to pay extra towards my 2nd loan on my home, which will help me get that much closer to paying it off within the next 2 years.

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Justine

I'd pay my rent for two months so I was less stressed out while I look for a job. I was laid off the day after Thanksgiving and now the company I worked for is fighting my unemployment claim! With that much money I'd be able to fight back and go to school.

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Guest

...I would use the money to put toward a new furnace, which we desperately need now. It would really help and be very appreciated with our COLD WINTER, here in NW Indiana!

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Robyn

I would put it toward one of my higher interest cc my goal is to get those paid off first

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Keith Lee

Woe is me, the following really happened to me this year:
Fell off a ladder adjusting antenna for HDTV resulting in emergency room visit. Broke a tooth eating chips resulting in a visit to the dentist. Windows in car broken by a vandal resulting in visit to auto glass shop so please help fix me!

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Guest

Thank you for offering this wonderful contest! I would use the money in three ways:

- to pay off some existing debt and clear some financial decks,
- to take a short vacation since I haven't had a real one in a while, and
- to start up a small business of my own.

Starting my own business seems like the way to go today and there's no time like the present, since everything has been up in the air for me for a while now.

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Cindy

I took a huge loss in pay recently, so I would, without a doubt, pay the two months back rent I owe for our house, so I won't lose it. With whatever was left over, I would use to fix the bathroom mirror my son busted when he was shadow boxing himself and lost.

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Amy

Between my husband and I, we only have one grandparent living, his grandfather in Japan. This year, his wife passed in the spring. We treasure our grandparents beyond words. To brighten his grandfather's spirits, I would surprise my him and husband by purchasing two tickets to Japan. We would meet my husband's grandfather in Osaka as the first surprise. Then, the rest of the money would be used for the weekend getaway in Sapporo for a golf getaway for my husband and his grandfather.

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Emily

If I were to win the $2000, I would use part of it to pay off my Christmas Credit Card balance and the rest would go into my 'dream' fund. I'm hoping to use the dream fund to travel to South Korea and teach at an English camp for a few weeks next year while I am on vacation from work.

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Abby C.

If I won $2000, I would tithe, then pay someone to come and clean and organize my house. I need to be more organized in 2010.