I dropped term insurance on my dh a few months ago. Instead, I take that money and add it to my challenge once a month.
So, today, i will add that money.
Prev. total $13,679.00
today 40.00
new total $13,719.00

In honor of Friday the 13th, I am adding $13 to my challenge money. (That will also cover the mile I walked, the flights of stairs and the fact that the stock market went up big time yesterday)
Prev. total $13,666.00
today 13.00
new total $13,679.00

Make this your lucky day!!

Is anyone watching the Dow?? Right now it is hitting an all time high!!

My dh has finished up the two houses that he has been building.
His next project is a house that needs lots of fixing. It is a brand new house but it is really a mess. He got the outside fixed up and today he is starting on the inside.
Most of the rock had fallen off the fireplace, so I think that is where he is going to start, re rocking the fireplace with new rock.
It is a shame that a buider can do this type of work and get away with it. I hate the fact that he is working somewhere, right now, for someone, in my little town.

I had a no spend day yesterday, also used no gasoline. The stock market went up also and I walked a mile on my treadmill. So I have $3 to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $13,663.00
today 3.00
new total $13,666.00

I have not added anything to my challenge money for a few days. The braves are not playing this week. The stock market went up Monday and I did walk a mile, so I have $2 to add to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $13,661.00
today 2.00
new total $13,663.00

I am still reading my elec. meter and writing down the readings every day. So far, things have gone up a little (kwh's) but not too bad yet.

My husband broke ground on a new house yesterday. We met these people eating out a month ago.
Our waitress was waiting on them and told us these people are looking for a builder.
I went over to talk to them to tell them who NOT to get. Then they came and sat with us to talk. The next day they came over to look at dh's house he was working on and asked him if he would build their house.
We already have a very big (4600 sq. ft.) house lined up and really did not want another house at the time, but they are in no hurry.
We said, we could get it dryed in and Gary could finish it next year, which was fine with them.
Plus, they are letting us pick stuff out and do the house the way we want. That makes things so much easier.
With building so slow right now, we are fortunate to have so much work to do, plus our money can sit in the bank and earn interest until we start on our next spec house.
So see, sometimes eating out can make you money!!!!!

When I first started investing, I did so in mutual funds. I did a lot of reading and did my own investing. After several years of that, I decided to invest in stocks. The Edward Jones company had recently moved in our little town, so I used them for investing. (I know that is way too expensive but it was the only way I knew how at the time. No computer use either)
Most of my stocks have not done that well. I started just in time to hit the big crash in 2000-2001.
However, I still have them thru Edward Jones, but I also have joined some DRIP plans.
I got my statement from Edward Jones yesterday and noticed that I have over $140 sitting in their money market fund. I sent them a note asking for a check. I am sure their money market pays less than 1% and I can get 5% in my money market, so when that check comes, I will add it to my challenge money!

My little poodle is a very expensive dog to feed. She does not like dog food at all. I have tried every kind of dog food there is. The only thing she will eat is Beneful wet dog food.
I just stopped at the store and bought 2 containers. It was almost $4 for them. ($3.96)
My little Lucy used to eat anything and everything, but not my little Holly.
Oh well, she is worth a million to me, so I will keep buying beneful!!

My dh always believes in making plenty of food when we have company over. So, for sunday night, he cooked 16 hamburger and 6 brats for 8 people.
We had 9 hamburgers and 5 brats left over, not to mention tons of fried potatoes and baked beans.
Guess what we are having for lunch every day this week?
We were supposed to stay home for supper last night and work on a cost sheet, but we took it with us and went to the restaurant instead.

Our little party-cook out, went well last night. We sat out over the creek for about an hour. The two kids went wading in the creek and they went so far upstream we got worried. finally, they came back.
When you live in Florida, you don't see creeks very often.
As usual, my husband cooked way too much food. He cooked hot dogs and brats for 8 people and we have enough to eat for the rest of the week, easily.
We had a little scare when my puppy jumped off a chair, landed wrong and limped for a while. However, she seems fine now. I thought we might have to make an emergency trip to the vets.
Guess I will have a burger for lunch before my bridge gals get here.

The work around the house is all done and we are ready for our company. I saved a dollar at the grocery store today plus I walked a mile yesterday. Two more for the challenge. every little bit helps.
prev. total $13,659.00
today 2.00
new total $13,661.00

My husband has been a busy bee today. He is always like that when we have company over for dinner. We went and bought the rest of the groceries this morning. Then we came home and made a homemade chocolate cake from scratch.
Next he cleaned and vaccumed the house. He cleaned the kitchen. He bleached the carpet (it is all white)He did the weedeating (cut grass yesterday in the rain)
He has hosed off the back deck and is now working on the deck over the creek. He has washed the back windows on the deck.
He will fix all of the food and then cook it all too.
I sure was a lucky gal when I met this guy. He makes me tired just watching him!

It was a good day yesterday. The stock market ended on the upside. The braves won their game last night.
I walked a mile on my treadmill and then did 20 flights of stairs. All of that totals up to $4 more to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $13,655.00
today 4.00
new total $13,659.00

That is today's date, 7-7-07. I saw on the news that today is the most popular day to get married!! I remember one couple that got married on 7-7-77. I wonder if they are still together.
We got married in May, Friday the 13th of 1977. Seven has always been a lucky number for me, as has 13.
There are lots of 13's in my life. My post office box is 13. When I moved her, my zip code ended with 13. My account numbers at Ace and the movie rental store start with 13. My corvette came in on the 13th and the temp tag started with 13. My husband social security number ends with 13. My credit card has a 13 in it. My phone number starts with 13. Lucky 13!!

We are having a cook out on Sunday for some friends from Florida. There will be 8 of us. I was going to let my husband go grocery shopping with me Sunday, but he has so much to do. He has to cut grass, clean house, draw on house plans and work on a cost sheet.
So, I went and got most of the food today. I saved a few things for my husband to pick up since I know nothing about produce.
It seems like everything I picked up today was on sale. I got a good deal on hamburger, chips, soft drinks, etc.
All in all, with my advantage card, I saved $16. So, I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $13,639.00
Today 16.00
new total $13,655.00

WE are having a heated discussion on the other forum that I am on, about gated communities.
Most of the local members think that anyone who lives in a gated community is a rich snob.
What do you think? We have stone walls at the entrance to our subdivision but no gate. I have a very nice house worth over a half million, but I certainly don't think I am a rich snob.

Oh well, it is time to add to my challenge money. The braves won and I walked a mile, that add $2, plus I have my Ridge money of $165.00
Prev. total $13,472.00
today 167.00
ne total $13,639.00

My husband called and asked if I wanted to meet him for lunch; he didn't take anything with him today. I told him to come home and I would make him a grilled cheese instead. He was only 4 miles away. That saved us about $5 at least and a trip to town.
The braves won yesterday, I walked a mile on my treadmill and I had a no spend day, so there is $3 more for my challenge money.
Prev. total $13,469
today 3
new total $13,472.00

I had a no spend day yesterday. I spent no money and used no gas all day. Last night we went over to a new friend"s house ( I met her on line) for a very nice cook out. When it got dark, they put on a very nice display of fireworks. I was very impressed. They are going back to florida on tuesday, so we are having them over for another cookout on Sunday night.

I hit my goal yesterday. I had closed a small savings on Saturday and yesterday I closed a small savings which was paying very little. I saved $400 out of my husband's paycheck and with the two checks, I made a deposit in my money market account, hitting my goal of a half million! I am now watching the "millionaire inside" on CNBC right now. I kind of have mixed feelings because the four speakers all have different tactics to use to become a millionaire.
I think I will say, I have used David Bach's approach the most, pay yourself first.

We received a flyer in the mail yesterday inviting us to a free dinner. Ironically, it is at our favorite local restaurant, and we eat there every night.
It is for next Monday or Tuesday night. We have to listen to about an hour of presentation on something to save energy.

I asked my husband about it last night, but he doesn't really want to go. What would you do?? We are going to be there at the restaurant anyway!

Happy Birthday America!! The stock market was up for the past two days in a row, so I have $2 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $13.467.00
today 2.00
new total $13,469.00

Today I opened up a new money market account at my local bank. I have been worrying because I have too much money in that bank, far more than what is allowed for FDIC insurance.

You are allowed to have $100,000 per depositor, per insured bank.
That means a joint account with 2 names is insured for up to $200,000.

Today i opened another money market, paying 5.25% in my name only. It is a P.O.D. account, know as a payable on death. My husband is my beneficary and because this is considered an informal trust, it is also fdic insured for up to $100,000 for that account.

That is a relief off my mind. (Not that I expect the bank to fail)

Thanks to Disneysteve, I went to my bank to get a money order. (to pay for something I got on ebay) I never knew they were free at the bank. You can get 3 of them per month, for free. I don't use them often, but I always "buy" them at the post office.
So, thanks, Steve! I saved some money.

The pencil leads that I bid on e bay, well I won them. I think it is cute to say, I won, because I am really paying for them. I promise, I won't look at e bay very often. I can see that you can get some good bargains, but only if it is something that you really need.
Now I have to buy a money order for $12 to pay for the pencil leads. In case you wonder why we need them, my husband draws all his own house plans by hand and we do not have an office supply store anywhere.

A very nice lady that I met online has invited us out for dinner at her place for 4th of July. She lives in florida, but has a vacation home in this area. they want to retire here some day.
Her brother and sister in law are here too, along with her husband and 13 year old daughter.
They buy about $500 worth of fireworks each year and have a big party. we went over last year, so this is turning into a tradition!
Of course, my husband is working all day tomorrow, but he will come home early so we can attend this party. Can't wait!!

I need to save/come up with $1829 to hit the half million mark in local savings. I never in a half million years ever thought I would say that.
I use to be scared of building spec houses, but ours have always sold quickly. I made it a point of always saving the profit on every house, never spending a dime. Plus still making a car payment and a land payment, but making it to myself (savings account).

Plus this sight has given my a lot of encouragement in my savings plans, especially the $20 challenge.
I closed a small account for $1300 on saturday, so I really only have $529 to come up with. Piece of cake!!!

I have put in my first bid on e bay. I never joined e bay because I did not want to be tempted to buy anything.
However, yesterday, my husband mentioned he needs pencil lead for his drafting projects. We don't have an office supply place anywhere near.
The last time he got pencil lead, he was building for an engineer who lived in Atlanta. He bought it for us and we paid him.
So I googled the pencil lead and found some for sale on e bay.
I bid $10 and so far I am the only bid. I will know by 5 pm today if i win. This auction has 6 boxes, but only two have the size lead we need, and one is not a full box. I will let them keep the other 4 boxes, which go for about $10 a box.
Hope I win it!(Of course, I am not really winning, I am paying for it)

Well, the braves won the game sat. night (but lost on sunday), I walked a mile on my treadmill and also had a no spend day yesterday. So that is $3 I can add to my challenge money.
We had planned to go out for lunch yesterday but by the time my dh worked on floor plans and cut grass, it was 3:30, so we kind of skipped lunch. When I weighted myself this morning, I had gained a pound. Grrrr!!!

Prev. total $13,464.00
today 3.00
new total $13,467.00