Editor's note: The contest has ended! Congratulations to Adena DeMonte ($500 SaveUp prize), Dianne ($400 Comment Prize), and MCJunkie ($100 Twitter Prize). Please respond to us within 3 business days. For more giveaway goodness, check out SaveUp's new TurboTax giveaway this month!
Most rewards programs try to get you to spend money. Wouldn’t it be great if a program actually rewards you for saving money instead?
That’s the innovative idea behind SaveUp, a free program that rewards consumers with SaveUp credits when they do something good, like adding money to their savings accounts or paying off their debt. The credits can be used to win a ton of cool prizes, like a new Prius, a Hawaii vacation, or a life-changing $2 million jackpot.
At Wise Bread, we’re all about giving you the best financial tips to live large on a small budget. So now, why not get rewarded for all your hard work and have a little fun at the same time?
That’s why Wise Bread and SaveUp have teamed up to help you stay motivated with your 2012 financial goals. SaveUp is giving away $1,000 exclusively to Wise Bread readers and 200 free bonus credits to anyone who join SaveUp via Wise Bread.
We have three different prizes ($500, $400, $100) for three different contests. You can enter all three to increase your chances of winning.
1. Exclusive Wise Bread Prize on SaveUp: $500
SaveUp wants to keep you motivated and reward you for your good financial actions with a special $500 prize — exclusive to Wise Bread readers only. To enter:
As a bonus, anyone who signs up using our link during the contest period will also get 200 free game credits. 200 credits will give you 20 different chances to win a ton of cool prizes.
2. Leave a Comment: $400 Prize
To enter the comment contest, leave a comment below answering this question: What motivates you to save? (Or if you’re not saving, why not?)
Your comment must be at least two sentences long to qualify. You can enter one comment per day.
3. Twitter Entry: $100 Prize
To enter the Twitter contest, simply:
You may tweet once per day.
Contest Details:
SaveUp prizes are mostly lottery-style instant scratcher games. Each prize costs 10 credits to play. So with 200 free credits you can play 20 times! Personally I like to go for the prizes with the highest values. For example, these are my favorite:
SaveUp has some other great prizes that can fulfill awesome fantasies:
Join SaveUp.com via this link and get your free 200 credits today.
Here’s a message from our contest sponsor:
Unlike traditional rewards programs that focus on driving consumer spending, SaveUp rewards users for performing positive financial actions, such as contributing to their savings or retirement accounts; paying down their credit cards, mortgages or other loans; and engaging with SaveUp’s financial education content on the site. Americans who bank at more than 18,000 US financial institutions nationwide can register their financial accounts on SaveUp and immediately begin earning SaveUp credits every time they save money or pay down their debts. The credits users earn can be redeemed for chances to win instant prizes and entries into weekly and monthly drawings.
SaveUp’s prizes range from the exciting (retail gift cards, consumer electronics) to aspirational (luxury vacations, home or wardrobe make-overs) to life-changing (a new car, money for college tuition, debt pay-off, or a $2 million jackpot).
In addition to making SaveUp fun and rewarding, we employ bank-level encryption to make sure our program is safe and secure for our users.
During this tax season, SaveUp wants to reward you for filing your taxes with the opportunity to win great prizes sponsored by TurboTax.
How it works:
1. File your FREE Federal Return with TurboTax
2. Log in to SaveUp and enter your TurboTax order number (Top right side of the page)
3. Automatically get entered into six $1,000 drawings
4. Earn 500 SaveUp credits (In addition to the 200 you earned as a Wise Bread reader)
Use your credits for the opportunity to win great prizes:
$10,000 “Double Your Tax Refund” sponsored by TurboTax
$10,000 “Pay My Taxes” sponsored by TurboTax
Vacations, cars, electronics, and cash up to $2 Million
Ready to win some prizes? Remember you have 3 ways to enter!
Good luck!
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
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.
I save because that is what I was taught. My grandmother grew up during the depression, and I spent a lot of time with her. She always taught me to prepare for emergencies and be thankful for what you have. I still live by those rules...
There are so many things that motivate me to save. The future in general seems so uncertain considering the financial climate with people still being out of work.
my husband and i are newlyweds but we've been talking about having babies. the idea of expanding our family motivates us.
Leaving an Inheritance motivates me to save. I want to leave something for my children.
I'm motivated to save so I can get what I need without a credit card bill. I sleep better at night knowing I don't owe anyone money.
I save for my boys. I want to be able to help them when they get older and I want to treat them on trips..something that I didn't do.
I am motivated to save because of all the struggles I see people going through. These times are truly hard.
I like being debt free. Saving helps me stay that way.
What motivates me to save is both my "boys" (son and husband) are in school. There tution is pretty expensive, so we save for both schools.
What motivates me to save is the fear of not having enough to pay bills and buy things we need. There is nothing worse than worrying about lack of money
What motivates me to save is the fear of not having enough to pay bills and buy things we need. There is nothing worse than worrying about lack of money
We are saving for a house for our soon-to-be expanding family. That is some strong motivation.
I put myself through college by ways of receiving some pocket money from my parents and working part-time. My parents gave me all the mental support I needed and all the financial support they could afford (which wasn't much after all). My 4 years college education therefore took me 5 years to complete, since part-time work committments sometimes were in conflict with my studies (no regrets).
After college and after scoring my first "real" job I spend all the money I earned (and more) since "I deserved it" until the point I realised that I was a) not any richer and b) not happier, but more stressed out.
Today I am working on finding a a balanced life-style that is enriching and empowering, where money is not a stress factor to my life anymore.
Spending some and saving some is providing me with a sense of empowerment and freedom.
The economy motivated me to save. We just do not know what to expect in the near future.
I am motivated to save by thinking about how I don't want to have to subsist on cat food during my golden years. Should I happen to decide that cat food is the tastiest form of sustenance, so be it, but I just don't want to *have* to subsist on it.
What motivates me to save is fear. I'm terrified of not having enough of an emergency fund to get by when things go wrong.
I save because I want to feel a sense of security and because I like to have money to take a nice vacation If I so choose.
I'm motivated to save by the thought of descending into dire poverty and find myself living under a sheet of cardboard on the street. That's always a good motivator, I've found.
My cat needs to be kept in kibble. And my horse needs to be kept in hay.
What motivates me most is the thought of not having to completely start over at $0 after every major purchase I make.
What motivates me to save - is the feeling I get from being prepared for the future!
I want to have money to pay emergency expenses which always arise. I want to have money to live comfortably in retirement. I know that if I'm prepared I won't fear....
I'm motivated to save for 2 reasons:
1) I work hard and deserve to pay myself.
2) I want to relieve my future self from having to work as hard as my current self.
My motivation to save was when i got married last year i promised my wife we pay off all our debts asap and get ourselves ahead in life. I racked up credit card debit for some of he wedding and she has student loans. We have made a dent in our outstanding debt and are on the right track. This goes without sayings For richer or poorer till death due us part and we both took that statement to heart.
The future motivates me to save! I can't predict what will come down the road, but I can make sure I'm financially prepared to handle it.
Right now we're saving to go visit my husband's family in Ecuador. The plane tickets aren't cheap but we try to go every 2 years. It's important to us that our two daughters know this side of their family and heritage too.
What motivates me save is it always good to have a "buffer" just in case things you can't perdict happen ( ex: car repair, medical bill, etc).
My husband and I just celebrated our six month wedding anniversary. We chose to live soley off of his income and put mine towards the extras, which we broke down into four categories: retirement, downpayment on a future home, student loans (less than two years to go :), and a trip to Italy before we have children. By choosing to save as much as possible now, we are quickly on our way to becoming debt free.
My motivation to save is watching my debts go down. It is amazing how liberating it feels to see the "money owed" column in my spreadsheet getting smaller and smaller. Packing my lunch and leftovers every day feels like gourmet meals when I can mark off hundred of dollars of debt.
Not feeling the overwhelming weight of debt motivates me to save. One day when I have a huge savings cushion I will be able to take risks in my job and work for pleasure!
I see how miserable people are who owe a lot of money and can't seem to get out from under their debt. That is what motivates me to save.
I'm motivated to save by the goal of someday owning a home. I can't wait to be able to get my down payment saved up so that I can start making a beautiful DIY-ed abode.
What motivates me to save is this: I'm young in the work world and sometimes I find myself wishing for more flexibility with my time (and if that's how I feel in my early 20s then I can only imagine how I'll feel after another 40 some years.) The only thing that holds me back from that I work a regular 40 or more hour per week job and while I love my work, I also HAVE to work. Financial freedom for me, equals time, flexibility and peace of mind, for me and for my parents who are helping me out with some of my student loans. I want THEM to retire!
It's pretty simple, I'm motivated to save because I've never had substantial savings before (I've saved a few thousand a few different times but knew I was going to spend it within a year). I just read about having "go to hell" money (so you can walk away from a bad job, situation, etc). Any savings is "go to hell" money!
I get motivated to save when I have a month with no xtra expenses and my credit card bill is low. This gives me a lift and it makes me feel that if I start saving a little I can get ahead.
I save all the extra money at the end of the month with the knowledge that my contracted positions could end any time, and then what? I seem to have a hard time finding jobs, so I hold on to the ones I have and save all the extra money at the end of the month. Besides, running out of money means moving back in with my parents. This has already happened once. No thanks.
Let's not get started on taxes...
I save for my family. I never want to know what it is like to go to the fridge or pantry and see that there is nothing to eat.
I am motivated to save by the fact that my kids are getting older and closer and closer to college age (and driving age). We are getting a late start on saving to prepare for these events, but any savings at all will help us prepare for these big events.
Both short-term goals and long-term goals provide motivation for me to save. I set short-term goals like vacation by creating a budget and then saving an amount each month so that I have the money I need to purchase airline tickets or pay for hotel reservations. Long-term goals like my children's education provide all the motivation I need to ensure they will have the funds needed for college costs.
I am motivated to save because I want to remain independent and self-sufficient. I have been slowly putting in a home orchard so that I can cut down on our food bill.
I am motivated to save because we don't need what every else thinks is a "need" I love that we can actually save money because we have little debt. We save but we also enjoy splurging on something nice every once in awhile. I hope the medical bills stay away and that we can continue to be able to save.
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/The_Sunshyn/status/178539372013027328
I am currently not saving, I know how important an emergency fund is but I would rather push ever dollar toward paying off my debt. I am going to start with a small amount though, even just $20 a month towards my savings.
I motivate myself to save by remembering that I control how close or how far away I am from living my dreams: travel, self-employed, and spending time with family.
I am saving money to help pay off debt and alleviate some stress. I am also saving for a trip this fall! In the past I have taken trips whether I had the money or not (hence, the debt!). I want to go on this trip with everything already paid for!
I am motivated to save by the feeling that I get when I set a goal or a target, change my habits even just a little to be able to squirrel extra funds away, and then watch as I get closer and closer to the goal!
I save because I want to have a good life in the future and a sustainable life now. I think if you can't afford to save, you can't afford your lifestyle. We save long-term for retirement and short-term for fun activities.
What motivates me to save is the freedom I will have when I no longer owe on my school loans. I will no longer be a slave!
My family, especially the future of my daughter motivates me to save. In addition, saving money is good for the environment and world in general.
Saving is one way to be a great steward. I dont want to spend hard earned money on interest for something I could save up to buy.
My motivation for saving is to be able to enjoy all of the things I want in life. YOLO, you only live once!
I save because my Grandmother grew up during the depression and she taught me that you never know when you will have nothing. I save to avoid this problem and to take care of my family by myself
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/Byrdy1999/status/178584041770061826
My husband and I want to buy/build a house some day. Our "code" is "Canyon House" whenever we need to remind ourselves why we don't want to buy that little thing we want.
I know that people are living longer and that retirement funds are not keeping up. I'm motivated to save so that I can be comfortable in my retirement.
Money is power - I'm motivated to save because with higher net worth, one acquires more power, more opportunities, more financial freedom. Chances are, I'll never need to use all my savings to save the day or get out of some life-and-death situation, but it's still nice to be prepared.
At the beginning of each new year, I make a list of goals. Each time I complete one, I cross it off the list. It motivates me to save for a goal and see it crossed off makes me feel good. An accomplishment that is finally done.
I am motivated to save because I know that when I
put my head on the pillow at night to go to sleep, I
will sleep so much better knowing that I have a cushion
against financial emergencies because I saved rather
than spent!
What motivates me save is hopefully purchasing a home some day soon. So were putting money away little by little and investing smartly. Fingers crossed maybe we will be there soon :)
For simple peace of mind!
Having to pay for private school for the next six years so that my daughter can be successful
I'm motivated to save so I can splurge later. I stay motivated by making future plans and booking vacations after I reach certain goals. (I don't use the money I save on these vacations of course, but I allow myself to have them each time I hit a certain amount in my savings accounts.) I want to make sure I'm prepared when I have an unexpected big expense because I refuse to borrow.
I'm motivated to save right now to pay off my car loan and to give a gift to my mom to help her fund a trip.
i'm always saving for the next bad thing that will happen
I'm competitive by nature so I save best when I set goals for myself. Car loan-check. Student loan-check. 6 months of expenses emergency funds - hey! that's my current goal!
https://twitter.com/#!/miriama59/status/178767237312815104
I am motivated to save because I have learned that I gain more happiness from things that I've had to wait (and sometimes struggle) for. Spending money on every little thing I want may feel nice for a day or two, but after that it becomes needless clutter that weighs me down.
Having a comfortable retirement.
What motivates me to save is my husbands college tuition and my son's private school. Both are great schools and planning for the future but can be expensive.
I've always been interested in frugality and in it's cousin, voluntary simplicity. I find that both help make one mindful of how one spends time and resources. With the demands of daily life, though, it's often hard not to spend money or resources on conveniences. I guess the thing that motivates me is the thought of a future when I can *choose* to work rather than *have* to work.
I am motivated by the rewards saving gives me. I have a cushion of comfort knowing that I am prepared for emergencies.
Saving has always been important to me. My motivation is being secure by putting something away for the future.
I'm motivated to save by awesome blogs like wisebread! They give me great tips to make it easy to spend less and save more. Plus I love watching my savings account growwww!
What motivates me to save? The fact that I know I have to raise my kids... and to think about their clothing, education, and just about everything else!
I have retired and need to watch my spending.
I want to be able to retire as early as possible. I don't want to live in fear of not having enough money to pay for medical care, housing or food. I don't want to burrden my children. I would like to be able to retire and enjoy good health so I can garden and suppy folks with healthy fresh food.
What motivates me to save is that I would like to buy a house in the next couple of years. Also, I work on only comission, so having a some money set aside is ice durig those months that are slow at work.
Making sure I always have enough money for bills and such motivates me to save. I dislike having to struggle to get by til next payday.
My son motivates me to save. He has Down syndrome, and we pay for most of his therapy out-of-pocket. It's expensive, too. I've found that thinking of impulse buys in the context of "how much speech therapy could this pay for?" is a great way to kill an impulse. ;) Doesn't mean we don't have discretionary spending, we do budget for family vacations, but that therapy is a big line-item for us.
My husband and my two boys motivate me to save. I want them all to be stress free so we can enjoy each other!
I save so that I can make sure I'm financially secure. I also like to save up for things like fun trips!
I have to be very frugal with my money because I'm always broke! I pay bill and buy the necessities and that's it. I have no savings to fall back on and that worries me. I try to find coupons for the stuff I buy every month like laundry detergent and soap. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.
tdlsfm(at)gmail(dot)com
We have a large family so we try to save as much as we can. That's what motivates me !!! We use coupons & store brand products. We turn off lamps. tv's when not in use & also try to save on the gas bill by air drying laundry on the clothes line in the warm weather.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/ItalCutie/status/179019048242257921
I had to learn about money the hard way - my family didn't have much financial savvy and didn't prepare me for managing income and spending. Unfortunately this led to over reliance on credit and poor decision making around student loans. I've managed to get my debt organized, though I'll be paying it off for a long time. And I've learned that saving and future oriented money management is essential for building a secure life.
I developed a health problem that ended my employment. Unemployment was denied. I managed to stay in my own home and deal with my medical bills while waiting for SSDI approval because I lived a comfortable life and spent conservatively before my illness. I never wanted for anything as I saved and I never earned over $29k annually before my illness. I paid cash to travel, take classes and join a gym. All it took was a transfer to my savings of 10% off the top of my check every payday. I didn't even miss it but it was there if I needed it -- and I did.
my husband and i are newlyweds but we've been talking about babies since we got engaged. that motivates us to save.
My family motivates me to save. Someone may need somethign at a later time and if we have money in savings it will be there when they need it.
What motivates me to save, is my families future. I would like us to be comfortable, not rich but comfortable. It would also be nice to have "buffer" savings just incase anything happens.
I am motivated to save because there are a lot of places I want to visit and things I want to do in my life which all require money. Also, I've lived the paycheck to paycheck lifestyle with tons of credit card debt and do not want to go there again, so it's helpful to have savings to help cushion against this.
Right now, my motivation to save is purely for stability. Being married to someone who is not on the same page as you, as far as financial goals are concerned, will absolutely leave you broke, and in-debt. Save what you can, when you can, because it's one step closer to being able to handle whatever downfall comes your way.
We are doing more gardening here. That motivates us to save because we want to put in cold frames and raised beds so that we can eat more healthy and save money in the long run. Eventually we want a greenhouse.
We live in a house that is around 100 years old, and both of our cars are 12 years old. We also had one dog and 10 cats. My husband and I also don't have any health insurance right now. Just by shear numbers, we are a breakdown/illness away from needing a lot of money to make things all better again. I always feel better having at least $500-$1000 tucked away in the bank, just for these few reasons.
I am motivated to save because my family's income fluctuates more than my budget does each month. Knowing that I have an emergency fund that I continue to fund takes so much stress out of my daily life!
My motivation to save is to not have to struggle to pay bills. I don't like having to live paycheck to paycheck.
I'm motivated to save knowing that it could help when we have emergency expenses, instead of creating more debt.
What motivates me to save, is I love a great deal! I can never pass something up that is on clearance. I live for saving money. It is in my blood. My dad taught me how to do it, and I am passing it on to my daughter
I am motivated to save when there is something I really want. It could be a vacation, money for Christmas or something fun like a new TV or game.
Peace of mind motivates me to save. I love the security a nest egg gives me.
What motivates you to save?
My husband lost his job unexpectedly in 2009, and was out of work for close to 2 years. This really woke us up on how important it is to save. In addition we have 2 young boys that we need to think about. In this economy it is very important to have a back up source!
I get motavated to save when I take a look at my savings and it's so little that it's scary. It works like this for me all the time. @mcjunkie