Coupon Purse {by Mavis} Giveaway!

 This giveaway is closed.  See who won here.

Saving money is on a lot of people's minds these days.  We save to set money aside to pay down debt, in case of a loss of a job, for an unexpected expense, for our children's educations, and hopefully, we save money in order to share with others.

I have this friend.  Her blog name is Mavis and boy, is she a dear.  Mavis and I got to know each other via our blogs, countless emails and just recently (whoohoo!) an actual phone conversation:-).  She's the one who introduced me to swagbucks and I can't thank her enough for that.  Let me tell you a little more about her.

Just three short years ago her family-of-four's monthly grocery bill was over $800 a month.  The following year, she reigned it in to around $600 and the next year to $400.  This year (2011), Mavis has set a challenge for her and her family.  Her goal (and what she blogs about) is to spend only $100 a month for all their groceries, toiletries, take out, restaurant expenses, etc.  Yes, I said $100.

How is she doing this?  First off, Mavis has a garden and some chickens, so she grows some food for her family and her chickens grow their eggs.  She has also recently discovered the art of clipping coupons.  If you didn't know clipping coupons is an art, you need to get to know Mavis.  Mavis is one of those people who goes shopping and, at the checkout, the store pays her for what's in her cart.  It's true.  The sheer quantity of the food, toiletries, etc. she brings home within her budget is amazing.   Her weekly shopping update on her blog shows her purchases in pictures.  Her family doesn't eat everything they bring home.   Instead she pays much of it forward, donating to various causes.

She will tell you that coupon-ing is a process and is best approached with baby steps.  If you would like to learn her art, please visit her blog, 100 Dollars A Month, today to find out what Mavis can teach you that will lead to money saved.  She is going through the coupon basics on her blog this week.  So, if you're ready to save money at the grocery store, be sure and check out her blog throughout the week.

And!  The very exciting news is that Mavis has started making coupon purses!  She's opened an Etsy shop, Mavisisarockstar, and, to celebrate, is giving away one of her lovely purses here!  Each coupon purse includes- 1 handmade fabric binder cover, 1 2-inch binder, 1 notebook, 10 baseball card sleeves, 10 page protectors, 5 plastic page dividers and a few weeks of the latest coupon inserts-basically everything you need to get started!

The Giveaway:  To enter to win a coupon purse {by Mavis} of your choice of pattern (with some goodies already stuffed inside for you), please go visit Mavis' Etsy shop here.  Then, come back and tell me in the comments section below which pattern you'd like to win.  I'll choose a winner randomly on Friday!

Please one entry per household.  If you comment anonymously, please leave your first name or initial so I can identify you if you win.  If you have trouble leaving a comment, please email your entry to thyhand123@gmail.com and I will post your entry for you.

Also!!  If you order one of her coupon purses from her Etsy shop and enter "10mavisbucks" in the comments section of the order before Valentine's Day, Mavis will give you 20% off your order!!

Thank you, Mavis!