Well today is the last day of my favorite month. I finally had to turn the a/c on for the first time, it is warming up. I guess it is time to start reading the power meter every day. That helps me to keep costs down in the summer.
I had a great time at the blue Jean ball last night. They had an auction, but I did not buy anything.
Yesterday, I had a no use gas day, so I am adding $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $11,628.00
today 2.00
new total $11,630.00

This is the real memorial day! I had a spendy evening yesterday, had friends over for pizza. Tonight I am going to a blue jean ball for the SAFE house (for battered women) It is $80 a couple but it IS for a very good cause. Lately, I have been hit up for so many donations it seems. I have written two checks to the cancer society and one for Parkinson's disease.
On the saving side, the stock market went up and the Braves finally won, so I can add $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $11,626.00
today 2.00
new total $11,628.00

We got an Ace rewards card in the mail today for $35. I can't add it to the challenge, but we can use it when we stock up on birdseed. That has gone up to $27 a 50 pound bag.
The stock market went up yesterday and I won 2 games of mah jong, so $3 is added to my challenge money.
Prev. total $11,623.00
today 3.00
new total $11,626.00

Well, yesterday morning, I was $1500 richer. Somehow, the bank had given me a deposit for $1500 that I did not put in my checking account.
This morning, it is gone!! I am sure they discovered their mistake. I was going to talk to them about it when I make a deposit today.
The stock market went up yesterday and I won 2 games of mah jong, so I will add $3 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $11,620.00
today 3.00
new total $11,623.00

I check my accounts on line almost everyday. Today i noticed my checking account had gone up by $1500?? I did write out a check for $1500 last Friday, so I wonder if there was a mistake made? I think I got credited for the check and it should have been a debit.
I am sure the bank will discover the error. Yes, of course, it they do not, I will tell them. I like free money, but this is an obvious mistake!!

I forgot to add the $4 I earned in mahjong on Sunday. That goes straight to the challenge money. Anything I can do to save money, I will do it and playing games seems like a fun way.
Prev. total $11,616.00
today 4.00
new total $11,620.00

I subscribe to Debt proof Living. It used to be called Cheapskate monthly.
This month's addition mentions that dog owners spend around $2000 per years on pet related purchases.
It also says that a typical american family of four with a moderate food budget spends an average of $904 a month on groceries!
Now, I know I eat out a lot, but i spend about $40 a week for the two of us. We spend about $100 a week eating out. That really seems like a lot of money, $904 a month. What do you think??

I went grocery shopping this morning. I like goingon Sunday mornings cause the store is usually pretty empty, but today there were lots of shoppers. Stocking up for this weekend's cook outs, I guess.
I got a good deal on hamburger that had been marked down, saved $4. I also got a 2 liter of diet 7 up for a quarter cause I had a dollar off coupon. I had a coupon for a free container of dog food. Using my coupons and store card, I saved over $5, not counting what I saved on the hamburger. So, I will add that $5 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $11,611.00
today 5.00
new total $11,616.00

I purposely stayed home all day yesterday, so saved $2 in gasoline; the braves won and I won 2 games of mahjong. Therefore, I have $5 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $11,6o6.00
today 5.00
new total $11,611.00

Last night, we had dinner at home. It was not planned. The restaurant that we usually eat at, had lots of employees graduating last night. Even the two owners who work there, had a graduating senior. I wonder who cooked?
So I am taking the $20 I saved and putting it in the challenge. I also saved $4 using a coupon yesterday for a grand total of $24 to add.
Prev. total $11,582.00
today 24.00
today $11,606.00

Today, in my little town, they are having a memorial day parade.
I am sorry, but Memorial day is May 30th, not May 24th!!
My father was in both WWI amd WWII. I wish I knew more about what he did in the war, but he died when I was a little girl and I never got to ask him. I do know that he was over in Germany and France during WWII. I also know that he was a member of some kind of secret service and my mother often did not know where he was.
I think we should honor all our troops, both alive and passed on, but please remember that next Friday is Memorial day.

I really do love my master card. It is a Chase reward card and we get 3% back on purchases at home improvement stores.
I started using this card around December after we used up our GM points towards a new car.
Yesterday I ordered my 6th $50 check from Chase. That will be $300 that I have received this year.
I have not paid one dime in interest, but instead have made $300 cash!! You can't beat that.
The braves won yesterday; the stock market went up and I saved $2 buying steak on sale. That is $4 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $11,578.00
today 4.00
new total $11,582.00

But not a big one, like yesterday. I had forgotten about this one. I had to buy a new phone a few months ago because my upstairs phone quit working. Not only did I get it on sale for $5, I filled out a rebate form and got a check for $3 back. The braves won last night, so I have $4 to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $11,574.00
today 4.00
new total $11,578.00

I have explained this several times. I went into the local builderway store when I started this challenge and asked for a rebate on purchases and they agreed. A few times a year, I get a check in the mail which I add to my challenge. The check just came and it was for $1586.00. Whopee!! that will sure help my challenge goal of at least $20,000 for the year.
Prev. total $ 9988.00
today 1586.00
new total $11574.00

Braves played a double header yesterday (with the mets) and won both games. I won 2 games of mah jong, so that is $4 more to add to my challenge money. The open house yesterday went well and I sure got my exercise showing everyone around the house. (stairs)
Prev. total $9984.00
today 4.00
new total $9988.00

They are having an open house at the house my husband is building. They have not even finished painting yet, but the clubhouse was having an open house, so the house will too. I am heading out there to show people around the house. This open house is for realtors only and there are supposed to be $2000 in door prizes!! Wonder if I can enter?
The stock market went up yesterday and I won 4 mahjong games, so I have $5 more to add to the challenge
Prev. total $9979.00
today 5.00
new total $9984.00

I don't buy clothes very often, but I am getting pretty close to needing a new pair of jeans. I was looking for an old sweater to put on this morning cause I was chilly. (And Holly was laying on my other old sweater.)
I came across a brand new pair of jeans, with the tag still on them in a drawer I very seldom use. That is so nice! I ordered them in Feb. of 2007 from QVC. (denium and company)
Now, I don't have to clothes shop the rest of the year!!!
Yesterday I won 4 games of mahjong and the braves won too; $5 more to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $9974.00
today 5.00
new total $9979.00

Anyone know anything about foreclosures. They are published in the paper every week that they houses will be sold on a certain date on the courthouse steps.
However, I have seen the same foreclosured houses in the paper for months and months.
Is that because the houses just don't sell? Will the bank not take less than what is owed on the mortgage??
Just curious.

I like to shop on sunday mornings when it is quiet. I always use a list too. A lot of the things I needed today were on sale which was nice. Using my advantage card and a coupon, I saved $10. The bacon I bought was $5, but it said buy one, get one free.
Ingles has a policy that if you only buy one, you get it for 1/2 price.
The scanner read the bacon at full price. I asked the cashier and she removed it and gave it to me for free. So, I got $15 off of my groceries this morning. I also saved $2 by staying home yesterday an using no gas. A total of $17 for the challenge money.
Prev. total $9957.00
today 17.00
new total $9974.00

I had a no spend day yesterday. More importantly, I did not go out and use any gas, so I will pay myself $2. The braves won last night and I won two games of mahjong. That is a total of $5 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $9952.00
today 5.00
New total $9957.00

They have raised the KPH rate at the electric company to 10.3 cents. However, I just got my bill for the month and it was less than $80. That means I have $80 left over in my envelope to add to the challenge. This is nice. I have not turned on my air or heat for the past 3 weeks.
Prev. total $9872.00
today 80.00
new total $9952.00

Well, we filled up my car last night after dinner. We paid $4.04 a gallon for gas. I can remember when I paid 17 cents a gallon for gas. It is hard to believe!!
The stock market went up yesterday and I won 3 games of mahjong, so I have $4 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $9868.00
today 4.00
new total $9872.00

I have been paying myself ( $20 challenge fund) $1 every time I stay home all day and don't use any gas.
It is 9 miles from here to town, round trip. That is about 1/2 gallon of gas used. So, when I stay home, I pay myself $1. Well, gas just went to $4.02 a gallon here, so I need to start paying myself $2 every day I stay home. Today, I HAD to go to town, but maybe I can stay home tomorrow.

Earlier this month, I opened a c.d. to get the 4% rate offered. That left my money market fund pretty low and I will have to pay a $15 fee for being below the minimum. So, today, I am pulling funds from other sources to bring this money market up to minimum. It only pays 1.98% but I have to keep some cash nearby.
Yesterday, the braves won, the stock market went up and I won 3 games of Mahjong, so I have $5 more to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $9863.00
today 5.00
new total $9868.00

We went out to eat for our anniversary last night and splurged a bit. We usually spend less than $20 for dinner out, but I had chicken marsala and dh had shrimp!
When we were finished, a couple that we knew sitting close by, sent over cheese cake and ice cream for us to share.
Then the owner would not give us a bill at all, so our meal was completely free. Plus, our waitress and the owner came over to hug me.
You can believe that the waitress, a single mom, got a real big tip!
For that, I will add $20 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $9843.00
today 20.00
new total $9863.00

The braves won yesterday, the stock market went up and I won one game of mahjong. That is $3 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $9840.00
today 3.00
new total $9843.00

Today is my anniversary, we got married on Friday the 13th!! It has been 31 wonderful years! I have been so lucky to have such a wonderful, talented husband. I think I am going to keep this one!!!

That is the price for premium at the corner store. I just can't believe it!! I played bridge all afternoon so I spent no money except for groceries this morning.

Happy mother's day from me, also. I got my first payment slip on the new van yesterday. It is very low interest, so we financed the whole thing. I had too much money set aside in the van envelope, so I can put the rest on the challenge.
Pre. total $9785.00
today 55.00
new total $9840.00

Tomorrow is mother's day but dh and i do not celebrate because both of our mother's have passed away.
I was thinking about my mother this morning. My father died before I turned 10, so she was a widow at age 47.
She had never worked (women didn't work much back then), so she had to take a job making about $20 a week to support the three of us.
Until I married at age 20, I never saw my mother buy herself anything. She made sure she paid the bills first, bought food and that was that!
I guess that is why i find it pretty easy to be frugal, I learned by example.

Have a happy mother's day tomorrow.