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Archive for February, 2008

A tiny amount.

February 27th, 2008 at 10:06 pm

I have two dollars to add to my challenge money today; the stock market went up yesterday and I had a no spend day. I did order a $50 check from Chase master card today. This will be my 4th $50 check so far this year. That is the reward for charging on the card. I will add that to the challenge when the check arrives.
Prev. total $2096.00
today 2.00
new total $2098.00

snowed in

February 27th, 2008 at 03:56 pm

We are snowed in, today. We only have an inch or two, but the roads are slick. Dh is happy as a clam out working on his hot rod. Now, I know why he had gas heat put in this garage when he built it.
We had dinner at home last night and probably will again tonight. I am glad I had some meat in the freezer (dh does not like to eat any meat that has been frozen, but he will tonight)
Looks like a no spend day for sure!

Dinner at home!

February 26th, 2008 at 11:40 pm

The weather is terrible here, so we are staying home for supper tonight. We are going to cook on the grill. However, the wind is blowing so hard here, I hope dh can get the grill lit!
I was reading here about one couple's splurge on going out to dinner and they spent $70. Well, I spend that when we go to Gatlinburg, but around here we can get a sit down dinner for two for about $16. So, I am adding $20 to the challenge for staying home tonight.
Prev. total $2076.00
today 20.00
new total $2096.00

Birthday dinner out!

February 25th, 2008 at 03:11 pm

We had a nice birthday dinner out for my dh last night. Our local restaurant was having a 50's night with burgers and banana splits! The waitresses were dressed like the 50's!! we met a couple of friends there and had a great time. I also went grocery shopping yesterday and saved $5 using my store card and some coupons. I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2071.00
today 5.00
new total $2076.00

Stiff neck

February 24th, 2008 at 03:56 pm

I spent most of the day playing mahjong yesterday. Well, that kept me from spending money. I had four no spend days this past week, plus the stock market went up on Friday, so that is $5 more to the challenge.
prev. total $2066.00
today 5.00
new total $2071.00

Another no spend day

February 23rd, 2008 at 07:16 pm

I am having another no spend day today. The good news is the electric bill is smaller than last months. The bad news is that the propane bill is about the same as in October, but I got 100 gallons less than last time. It is really getting expensive to heat your home now.

I am hooked!

February 22nd, 2008 at 08:15 pm

A friend gave me the site to go to, to play mahjong! I have never seen anything like it before. I have spent the entire morning, playing that game. I guess I am hooked.
Well, it is a cheap way to have fun!

Saved on dinner

February 21st, 2008 at 05:26 pm

We went shopping yesterday and stopped and looked at all the how to books at Lowes! By the time we got back to town it was too late to eat at our usual place. (Our town closes up at 8pm.) So, we ate at Wendys and that saved us $12 in food, so I am adding that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2054.00
today 12.00
new total $2066.00

Asking for advice!

February 20th, 2008 at 04:26 pm

We are building a big fancy house! Most of the spec homes we have built were cute little homes, except for the last one.
We get to pick everything out,which is the fun part. Pick stuff out with someone else's money!!
This house is their spec house, so we are trying to save money. But it is a high end house, so we have to make it nice. (Price is $799,000)
What would you all reccommend that we use on the countertops in the kitchen?
In the bathrooms?
(I like tile, but have been told that tile is OUT)

$10 richer

February 19th, 2008 at 08:19 pm

I am $10 richer today.
Last year I opened up a new checking account just to use when we build spec houses. Well, we have not built one this year, so the account is pretty much just sitting.
I check my accounts everyday and noticed a $10 service charge on that account. On calling the bank, I found that I got charged because I was below minimum balance of $750.
When I opened the account, I was told the minimum was $500.
Yesterday, I found my paperwork and I was right. I took the paperwork to the bank and they put the $10 back in my account. Apparently they changed the minimums, but they did not bother to tell me!
It pays to keep your paperwork!

We can't afford that.

February 18th, 2008 at 02:53 pm

Today is a special day to me and it makes me think about my life so many years ago.
I did not have a happy first marriage and my first husband physically abused me. I guess it made him feel like a "big man". Well, he was. He was 6 feet 7 inches tall and I am 5 feet 2 inches tall.
I remember the very first time he hit me. We both worked; I made $1 an hour and he made about $1.25 an hour.
We had not been married very long. His cousin wanted us to go to the dog track and gamble with him.
I said "we can't afford that"

When we got home, he hit me and told me never to say that again. I don't remember if I ever said that again, but it did not take much for him to hit me again!

When I moved out, we split our assets equally. Within about 2 years, he was broke. He wound up living with his new in laws and never had any money the rest of his life. He never owned a house again, he could not "afford it"!

That was 31 years ago, when I moved out the first week of January, 1977.

Thirty one years ago today, I met my darling husband on a blind date!

$4.50 eggs??

February 17th, 2008 at 07:29 pm

I went grocery shopping this morning. I like going on sunday mornings when the stores are so quiet. My dh and I eat an egg for breakfast every morning, so I need to buy a dozen every week. I saw a dozen fancy brown eggs for sale for $4.50. I could not believe my eyes.
No, they did not come home with me.

Yesterday, I had a no spend, no gas use day plus I walked over a mile. I saved $2 today by using my advantage card. That is $5 more to add to the challenge.
prev. total $2049.00
today 5.00
new total $2054.00

Young dog in love!!

February 16th, 2008 at 08:11 pm

We have had a problem lately. The neighbor's young, male german shepherd is in love with my 5 pound, female poodle, Holly.
He is here all the time.
We have very low to the floor windows and he follows us from room to room. When I put Holly in the pantry, I went back to find the 150 pound shepherd standing with his front paws on the window ledge staring in at Holly. He was trying to figure out how to get inside. You may have already figured that Holly is in heat!
On the money front, I had a no spend day, no use gas day and I walked over a mile. That is $3 more to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2046.00
today 3.00
new total $2049.00

Things are slowing down

February 15th, 2008 at 02:35 pm

Thngs are really slowing down in our little town. Most of the work around here is related to the construction of new homes. Lots of people have found this area and are moving in. That has almost come to a standstill right now.

I am on a local forum. For years, I have been preaching to the other members of the forum how important it is to save some of what they make, every paycheck.
Of course, they did not listen to me, but continued to spend every dime.

Now, they are complaining that they no longer can pay their bills on time. And after 20 plus years of marriage, they have no savings to help them in these slower times.

But still they do not listen. Anyone can save a little bit, even if it is only $5 out of each paycheck. Please, everybody, pay yourself first!!

Dinner at home.

February 14th, 2008 at 09:12 pm

WE had dinner at home last night. It had been snowing a little during the day and we just weren't sure of the weather. So I am going to add the $20 we would have spent to the challenge money. We are going out tonight with a group of about 9.
Prev. total $2026.00
today 20.00
new total $2046.00

Happy Valentine's Day!!

February 14th, 2008 at 01:54 pm

I am off to take a bridge class in 5 minutes and I just wanted to wish you all a happy valentine's day. Dh and I were frugal, we recycled last year's valentine's day cards, but we are going out tonight to dinner with several friends. Have a great day!

$20 challenge

February 13th, 2008 at 08:01 pm

They are calling for snow tonight, so we will be dining in. I ran to the store for a few things for dinner and with my store card and a doubled coupon, I saved $3. Then I stopped and bought the kind of candy all the bridge players love. Kissables, and they were on sale for $1.50 off price, so I got two bags. That is $6 in savings for the challenge to day.
Prev. total $2020.00
today 6.00
new total $2026.00

I am not mad!

February 13th, 2008 at 03:54 pm

Yesterday, I posted about going into my hometown bank that I have been using for about 12 years. I go there 2 or 3 times a week.
For the first time ever, I was asked for my I.D.
When I posted this yesterday, I got several comments. I guess everyone assumed that I got mad when the teller asked for my I.D.
Quite to the contrary, I was just in shock! It is the first time ever that I have been asked for my I.D. as a bank customer.
I think it is a very good idea. The teller did not know me and was fairly new. I think the bank is making it a requirement and that is a good idea.

So, I was just a bit shocked, but not upset a bit!! I will just make sure to take my purse inside with me from now on. ( I almost left it locked in the car)

And who are you??

February 12th, 2008 at 09:49 pm

I seem to do a lot of banking and I bank with several different banks.
I have bragged about my main bank cause for over a year they have paid 5.25% on money market funds.
I have banked with this particular bank for over 12 years and until 2 weeks ago, I had over 300K in there. They dropped their rate to 2.9% so I moved 200K to a c.d. at another bank.
Well, yesterday, I had 3 transactions to make; cash a check, make a deposit to one of the money markets and make a large deposit to my business account.

I approached the teller with my transactions in hand. After I handed them over, he said, "May I see your ID??
Huh?? I was shocked.
Do I look like a thief or something? A check forger? A bank embezzler?

I guess he was just doing his job!

43 years ago today

February 12th, 2008 at 01:59 pm

I got married. Yes, it was on Lincoln's birthday and I eloped. It was not a smart decision. My first husband had one main interest and it was not me. It was sports, mainly football.

We were married for 12 long years. I finally moved out in Jan. of 1977. I met my dh in Feb. of 1977. He proposed to me on April, 2, 1977. My divorce became final on April 5th, 1977. We got married on Friday, may the 13th, 1977.

So, I was single for 5 weeks in the past 43 years.

This time, I got the marriage "thing" right!!

Another no spend day

February 11th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

We played bridge today, so it was another no spend day for me!! I see that the stock market was up today, so that is two dollars more to add to my challenge.
Prev.total $2020.00
today 2.00
new total $2022.00

Another NS day!

February 10th, 2008 at 08:59 pm

Well, I had another no spend and no use of gas day yesterday. These are getting easier! I will add $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2018.00
today 2.00
new total $2020.00

Where has the time gone??

February 10th, 2008 at 02:15 pm

Oh my gosh!! My oldest granddaughter turned 19 today. It just seems like yesterday when she was born!!
I cannot believe that I am this old!
Oh well, they say you are just as old as you feel, so that is ok!! Just put on my favorite dance song, "Wipe out" and watch me dance!!
(hey and being this old sure beats the alternative)

When did Tide start costing so much.

February 9th, 2008 at 10:13 pm

Someone mentioned to me that they had bought Tide on sale, instead of paying $10 a box!! When did it go to $10 a box? I have used Trend for years and years. In one store it costs 99 cents and in the other store, it cost $1.09. It works just fine too!! Oh my gosh, I am shocked!

Grocery shopping

February 9th, 2008 at 02:36 pm

I went grocery shopping yesterday. I always use to shop on sunday cause things are slow, especially in the morning. However, lately, I have been going on Friday, when it is so busy.
I had a couple of coupons plus i used my advantage card. I only spent about $40 ($7 on elations) and I saved $6 with my coupons and my card. So, I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2012.00
today 6.00
new total $2018.00

Insurance money

February 8th, 2008 at 09:22 pm

We cancelled the small policy we had on dh a few months ago. So now, I just take the monthly premium and add it to the challenge money.
Prev. total $1972.00
today 40.00
new total $2012.00

Yeah, over $2000 so far!!

Hearts, anyone??

February 8th, 2008 at 04:45 pm

Has anyone on this forum ever played a game called "Hearts"??
We have a church that offers classes four times a year to people who are 50 and over. I have taken the bridge class several times, but they are not offering it the next semester. Instead they are offering a game called "Hearts"
Has anyone on here played the game? I am assuming that it is a card game? Did you like it??

Finally!!

February 7th, 2008 at 09:51 pm

The stock market went up slightly today, the first time this week. I had a no spend day yesterday, so i will add $2 to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $1970.00
today 2.00
new total $1972.00

Interest bearing checking account

February 7th, 2008 at 01:50 pm

My business checking account pays interest. I sometimes have a lot of money in there. However, the interest rate they pay is 1/2 of one percent. (.005%)
so I can have like $17,000 sitting there and earn about 20 cents in interest a day. Not a very good deal for me, but a great one for the bank!

Heat is running!

February 7th, 2008 at 01:20 pm

Well, after two days of no heat, the heater kicked on this morning for the first time. We have 70's weather for two days. Now it is down to 28 and the heat is back on, but I know I saved a few dollars. Still have not gotten my propane bill, so I don't know how much it is per gallon.


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