This giveaway is closed.
Next up is a Simple Mom favorite – Pear Budget. I’ve raved about this wonderful company in the past; it’s what we use in our family to keep track of our everyday family finances.
Pear Budget was created by Charlie and Sarah Park, Simple Mom readers with three little ones at home. The great thing about this budgeting management site they’ve created is that its elegant interface echoes its simplicity. It really is so easy to use. You simply set up your budget in about 15 minutes, and you’re good to go.
Some of Pear Budget’s best features are:
- It’s completely based on a zero-based budget.
- You can fully customize your tags – there’s none of the pre-entered kind, like on Quicken.
- It’s quick and powerful – because it doesn’t do anything but budgeting, it takes mere seconds to load.
- It beautifully handles both my regular, monthly expenses and my irregular expenses that show up only several times a year.
- It uses the classic envelope system – you fill in a category’s amount, and it depletes the total as its spent.
- They’ve got a blog that regularly answers questions and provides a place to contribute your thoughts (love that!).
Screenshot of the receipt entry section (click to enlarge)
Because the Parks are a work-at-home mom and dad, they get how busy parents are. They know what it’s like to manage a home. And they personally relate to staring in cloudy confusion at budget software that just doesn’t work for them. They know that when you only have 15 minutes of computer time every couple hours, you’re not going to want to spend it trying to understand how to work a tool. You just want to update your budget, see the results clearly, and move on.
Pear Budget is only $3 a month, but this week, they want to give three Simple Mom readers one free 6-month subscription, one free 1-year subscription, and one free lifetime subscription!
To win, here’s how to enter:
Leave a comment at this post, answering the following question: If you found a surprise $10 bill in your pocket, what would you do with it?
The giveaway is open worldwide, and it lasts until this Saturday, May 30.
I hope you win! Check back in a few hours for another giveaway.
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I would put it in the bank, I’m such a tightwad. I would LOVE to have the Pear Budgeting System!!!
I would think, “I am going to donate this money to charity since I never get a chance to donate anything” but then probably end up spending it on some coffee to keep me awake while running errands and not even realize I’ve spent it!
I would probably use it to go berry picking this summer — stocking up on some fresh produce is one of the things I’ve been looking forward to most!
Take the kids out for ice cream!
Put it in my Christmas fund.
Here’s how a surprise $10 find would go down at my house:
Mom: Oh my GOSH! Check it out! I just found a $10 bill that I didn’t know I had!
Kid #1 (13): Mom – that’s totally mine. I left it there.
Me: Where exactly was that son?
Kid #1: Um – wherever you just found it.
Kid #2: That’s mine and Austin stole it and then he left it wherever he left it that you found it!
Kid #3: Let’s ride bikes down to the gas station and spend it on candy bars!
Kid #4: Tends to follow #3 and so therefore would have interpretted #3′s request to be the gospel truth and would be out searching for his bike helmet. He knows I wouldn’t understand what the heck he said anyways.
Kid #5: Would be confused and most likely just screaming at #3 and #4 that it is HER candy bar.
And in reality, if I could find the $10 bill once it had passed through all these hands, I’m a complete pushover and we would definitely ride bikes down to the gas station and stock up on their 4 for $1 candy bars. It would last a good long time and most likely be revisited as ice cream toppings.
xoxoxoxoxo
PS – Absolutely shameless plug for why I totally need Pear Budget… My husband was laid off of his job of 14 years in March and I can’t tell you how gruesome 7 on unemployment is. It’s been a blessing in that I have been forced to revisit all of the things that I have completely wasted money on while we were gainfully employed and resolve to do better in the future. I don’t ever want to make that mistake again.
Probably buy some snack foods. Our grocery budget is really tight and we get buy mostly by cutting out snacks, but I know my husband really likes being able to go to the cupboard and grab some crackers or a granola bar.
MacKenzie´s last blog post…Can I See a Nurse?
I don’t know–I guess treat myself or the kids because that’s always LAST on our monthly budget.
Gina´s last blog post…Safeway this week 5/27
I’d love to think I would do something nice for myself, but in reality, I would tuck it into our grocery budget – the category that I always go over in my spending!
This is really corny, but finding an unexpected $10 would totally make my day! So… I would probably hide it somewhere in my house so I could have another unexpected surprise one day!
Probably leave it in my wallet, because I never seem to have cash in there when I need it!
If I found 10 dollars, I would spend it at Dairy Queen tonight and treat the family to yummy ice cream!
Danielle´s last blog post…Super yummy homemade breakfast skillet.
I would go get my car washed and drive around with the windows open for a few extra minutes, music blaring!
Chai latte and a giant peanut butter cookie !
Save it…or more likely spend it on something at Target…I love that place!
I am thinking that $10 would be the perfect excuse to meet my husband for lunch on Thursday, therefore getting baby and me out of the house, hubby doesn’t have to pack a lunch, I don’t have to make a lunch, and we both get a “break” from our days!
Kelly´s last blog post…I heart faces entry: silhouettes
First, I wonder how it got there. Then, I’d put it in a box we keep on out bookshelf with miscellaneous extra cash. We save up any extra cash we run into and then use it for vacation or movie tickets– things we wouldn’t normally spend money on.
liz (perspicacious.org)´s last blog post…spring in Fairbanks, Alaska
I might use it at a farm that doesn’t take credit cards…. 4 dozen eggs?
Oh! Pear Budget is brilliant! I would prolly spend the $10 on a nice lunch somewhere – I’m trying to spend less on lunch, and so am bringing in leftovers every day. I miss the cafe lunches, so I’d prolly indulge myself!
Elly´s last blog post…Fridge Magnet Poetry
Today I found a $5 bill in my pocket, and I bought a diet coke. So, I imagine I’d do something similar with a $10 bill.
I would I would save it for a rainy day. Which will probably be lunch time tomorrow!
Honestly, it would probably go towards groceries!
I would treat my hubby and me to a fancy frozen coffee at our local coffee joint!!! That is one of those things just NOT in the budget this summer!!
I am boring, if I found a surprise $10 bill I would probably fold it into my regular spending cash, unless there was an ice cream truck passing by or some other delicious spur of the moment opportunity, in which case I would spend it for sure!
We just received extra cash at the store because an item rang up wrong. The kids and I got a frozen mocha and smoothies on the way home to celebrate!
I would stick it in my purse for a later date when I need some cash.
ThereO´s last blog post…Garden Update
Put it my wallet, because I never have cash on hand
I think I would buy a couple extra things at the Saturday Farmer’s market. I have been meaning to get Pear Budget, especially because the Parks are fellow William and Mary grads!
I would use it for garage sale purchases
! I never have cash when I spot one!
I’d treat myself to a couple of Sprinkles Cupcakes. One in Strawberry and the other in Lemon. Yum!
I’ve had my eye on some $12 skorts at WalMart, so I’d probably find two other dollars to put with it and get them! Not exciting, but the first thing I thought of (well, besides eating – it’s getting close to supper time!).
Coffee for me and treats for the kids!
Well, the sleep-deprived mama of a toddler and a 2 month old says coffee, but the frugal mama says save. But one thing I’ve really been trying to invest in (even in said sleep-deprivation) is time with hubby, so $10 pays for an hour of babysitting. I think the last wins.
Well since I never have cash in my wallet that is probably where I would put it! I use my check card all the time to pay for everything.
Spend it quickly…see i do need budgeting help.
whitney´s last blog post…homemade ice cream
I’d put it in my wallet & save it for a couple trips to Starbucks!
Ice cream–a good treat for a hot day!
I think I would buy a latte and coffee cake for me and cookies for the kids.
Probably for groceries…or to buy ice cream for my kids.
I would put in my money stash for the things I want for the house. Most things cost more than $10 but every little thing adds up.
I would probably save it to take the kids (and me) out to lunch one day, so I don’t have to try to think about making lunch on my own.
This is boring, but since we use a cash envelope system, I would take the money and put it in our “kitty” to be parceled out next month. We try hard to keep track of where all our money goes!
Mine would go straight into my money tin. My mom turns 60 next month and for her birthday she wants to take a trip to NY with all 5 of her daughters. We’re saving our money in a tin she gave us for Christmas so any extra cash I find, goes in my NY money tin.
I’d love to say it would go right to savings but I’d probably treat myself to a chai, and another day take the kids to share one!
Hmmmmm…. well since I have an issue with buying stuff (some stuff that I really DO NOT NEED) it would either go into the bank savings account, or in our cash/change jar in the kitchen.
Splurge on a foutain pop, Mt. Dew, and a bag of Munchos. And enjoy every minute of every calorie
.
All our cash these days gets spent at the farmer’s market. So I’d set it aside to save myself a trip by the ATM on the way to the market.
Brooke´s last blog post…Link action to your right
Stick it in the change holder in my car – i’m always looking for cash when I get to the tolls just outside of town – and maybe the next time I go through the toll i’d pay for the people behind me. I always think about doing it, but never do!
I would put in the rainy day fund envelope!
Right now, I would put that $10 towards paying down our credit card debt.
I would use it for a little snowflake in my debt snowball. I can’t wait until it is all gone!
I’d probably treat the kiddos to ice cream. It’s hot this week!
I never have cash – so I’d probably swing through a drive thru with the kids so I wouldn’t have to cook!
I think I would just get a pizza to bring home for dinner!
This is easy! A walk to the DQ with my hubby and son for a cool treat!
Jesica´s last blog post…Memorial Day – Linkage
I’d be torn between using it for a treat at the farmer’s market and giving it to my husband so I know it will be spent wisely because he’s not an impulsive spender like I am.
Steph´s last blog post…Our Five Year Plan
I would like to say I would save it to pay a bill but most likely it would go towards gas or food.
Either fancy coffee drinks for me and my husband or ice cream for the whole family.
Jimi´s last blog post…Menu Planning Mania
I would go out to lunch with my daughter or go to some garage sales.
I would probably just slip it into wallet… neither the hubby nor I are any good at budgeting!
Starbucks..or hit the dollar/clearance aisles at the craft store:)
$10? It would probably involve ice cream in some way, shape, or form.
I could get rid of $10 pretty fast at the bookstore!
Diana (Ladybug Limited)´s last blog post…Recipe for Preserving Children
Take a gal pal out for a coffee date.
Emily´s last blog post…Priorities
I would probably buy something I wouldn’t normally, like a coffee at Starbucks or a candy for my kids.
A Jamba Juice and a magazine.
i would probably hand it over to hubby for lunch. lol. nothing exciting there.
good luck to everyone, this sounds like a great giveaway!
Buy a book!
Katherine´s last blog post…Ten on Tuesday
Probably the irresponsible thing and spend it on a treat for myself – or save it for a treat for the kiddos later.
I would stick it in my purse until a warm Saturday morning. Then I would wake up early, get a coffee at the local gas station and hit a yard sale.
I’d buy some extras at the Farmer’s Market, including flowers:)
Casey´s last blog post…Papr Pendant tutorial
I would put it in my daughters piggy bank so i wouldnt waste it on something i wont remember tomorrow!
Funny! I just found a $10 bill in my pocket! Guess what I did? I put it back. I never have cash and find it comforting to know it’s there just in case. I rarely spend cash, my debit card is another story.
Stacie@HobbitDoor´s last blog post…Happy Birthday, Ralph!
I would go out to lunch with my hubs! We know several great places in our area we can get a good meal for under 10 bucks.
Leslie´s last blog post……is anyone still there?
What I’d want to do with it….scrapbooking supplies. What I probably would do with it…put it in my wallet for a rainy day or those occasions when you have to have cash which I never do!
Spend half, save half. Probably spend on coffee(s) and save for the kids!
Do something with the kids.
Amy´s last blog post…the shanty town I live on top of
At this point in time, if I came across a spare $10, I’d use it to bring my girls to get ice cream. It’s been a tough couple of months around here due to my husband being unable to work for a while after he broke his knee (he’s back now), so it would be fun to just use it for a treat and not a necessity.
I’d put it in my glovebox in the car for those times I’m totally out of money/cash and need to put some gas in the car!
I would probably take the kids to ice cream, since we rarely go out.
Put it towards a water park pass! Our family loves to swim and it’s one of the few things we all like to do together……even though Mommy looks like heck in a bathing suit!
I would probably put it in the cash money part of my wallet which is normally very low on funds!
Pizza! Just enough for a large pie.
A trip to Five Below for my boys…
White Chocolate Mocha and a couple of chocolate milks for the kids from Starbucks. Sad, but true.
molly´s last blog post…So, I’ve Been Baking
I think I’d treat myself to Starbucks!
I would buy a small little something on my “wants” list (outside the normally budgeted stuff).
I’d take the family out for some frozen custard at the little stand down the road!
If you found a surprise $10 bill in your pocket, what would you do with it?
I would buy some chocolate, a big bar of 3 musketeers or milky way or snickers or all three!
I’m very intrigued by this budgeting option. I had just committed to finally figuring out how to make Quicken work for me, but I might not waste the time.
Regarding the $10, money’s tight, so it would go toward necessary items.
Becky´s last blog post…memorial day weekend
Cherry Limeades from Sonic for everyone (in my house)!
it would go straight to my “new lens” fund for my camera!!
Buy a magazine and some tea from starbucks!
Buy a Sonic gift card so I could indulge in my Rt 66 Diet Cherry Limeades a few times without twittering away the rest of the $10 on other things
Melanie´s last blog post…Wordless Wednesday
An extra $10?… I think I would probably buy some more sewing supplies, so I can finally start on my first EVER quilt!
If I found an extra $10, I’d stash it away for my next CVS trip to see how how far I could stretch it or use it to go coupon shopping and see how many groceries I could get!
I would love to try Pear Budget!
Mary Ann´s last blog post…In-Season Recipe Swap: Rhubarb Dumplings
Happy hour at sonic!
I would just leave it there! I would end up using it at a later time.
I’d put it toward the vacation fund! I would like to try Pear budget, but I have been afraid of the time it might take to switch over from Quicken.
I’d deposit it into my account. Boring, but true.
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