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Archive for July, 2010

When you stay home, you save money!

July 30th, 2010 at 05:22 pm

I cashed the paycheck on tuesday and this morning I still had every dollar of my weekly allowance. That is what happens when you stay home. I never left the house on Wednesday and Thursday, so I had two, no use gas, no spend days.
I went thru my envelopes while paying end of the month bills and found $70 in extra cash. I had two no use gas days ($4) and $3 in extra one's, for a total of $77 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $11,547.00
today 77.00
new total $11,624.00

My usual check!

July 29th, 2010 at 07:52 pm

I got my usual social security check yesterday. As always, I am adding that to the challenge money. I have never once spent a pennny of it.
Previous total $11,061.00
today 486.00
new total $11,547.00

Love getting checks in the mail!!

July 27th, 2010 at 06:28 pm

I got a $50 check from my Chase rewards master card yesterday. My dh charges a lot at home depot and Chase gives us 3% back for home improvement purchases, so I get a $50 check almost every month to add to the challenge.
As a mentioned in a earlier blog, I am now only getting 1% interest on my savings account. When I opened the account, it was paying 5.25%, then it dropped to 3.25%, then to 2% and now it is down to 1%.
I have $60,000 sitting in that account, so I am now earning $50 a month in interest. Heck, I can get that much just charging a few thousand at Home depot and paying it off each month!

Prev. total $11,011.00
today 50.00
new total $11.061.00

GRRRRR... rates are down again.

July 24th, 2010 at 09:07 pm

I just checked on my bank accounts. I have three checking accounts that pay interest. I use one for business, one for personal checking and the 3rd one, I use as my savings account.
The business and personal, which have less than $50,000 in them, rates were lowered to 1/2 of one percent.
My savings account which has more than $50,000 in it, was lowered to 1% interest.
Those accounts were paying 3.25% when I opened them.
It is funny, but a friend sent me an old newspaper clipping today. It is from the Atlanta Journal and has banks offering an over 10% interest rate back in 1979. Heck, I remember when you could get a 16% C.D.

Back then, I did not have much money. Now that I have some money, I am get 1% and under!! grrrrr...

Oh well, I have 5 one dollar bills in my wallet to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $11,006.00
today 5.00
new total $11,011.00

dh is feeling better!

July 23rd, 2010 at 10:34 pm

I was really worried about my dh. He has been waking up in the middle of the night, with a sharp chest pain and then throwing up a lot.
I finally got him to the doctor on Wednesday. Before they run expensive tests, his doctor decided to switch his heartburn medicine. He has been taking prilosec for about 10 years.
He is on prevacid now and is taking a double dose every morning. He also had to give up some of the food he likes, especially the millions of tomatoes that he has grown. (We are handing them out to all our friends and neighbors)
What he hates the most is that he is not supposed to have a beer when he gets home from work.

The funny thing is, our county just had a vote on beer and wine; and for the first time in the 26 years I have lived here, it passed and will now be allowed to be sold in this area. It passed the same day he was told not to drink any more beer.
I feel sure that once his stomach is back where it should be; he will be allowed beer again. He only drinks one or two.

This could have been an expensive problem, but so far we have only spent $50 for the doctor visit and $45 for the blood work.

The braves won yesterday, the stock market went up and I got a check from Pinecone, so $5 more to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $11,001.00
today 5.00
new total $11,006.00

Hit 11K in the challenge!

July 21st, 2010 at 07:38 pm

I did my grocery shopping yesterday and I saved $6 using my advantage card at Ingles. That means my challenge money will hit 11K today.
My dh has been sick the past few days, so sick he was thinking about going to the emergency room. He got into the doctor's office this morning and they are giving him medication before doing any tests. I sure hope this medicine helps.
We do have medical insurance on him, but we have never once used it. It has a $10,000 deductible, so we always just pay the bill in full.

Prev. total $10,995.00
today 6.00
new total $11,001.00

Most expensive electric bill.

July 18th, 2010 at 09:48 pm

I got my electric bill yesterday and it was the most expensive electric bill that I have received in the 26 years that I have lived here.
I have always budgeted $160 a month and it has always fallen under the budget. (I have a big house)
This month, the bill was $177!!
Now, I know it is hot and I am running the a/c a lot, but this was a shock.
However, the electric company did announce in the paper that they were raising rates this month, so I think that accounts for the high bill.
Time to reset my budget.

I have 7 one dollar bills in my wallet to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $10,988.00
today 7.00
new total $10,995.00

Checks in the mail.

July 15th, 2010 at 09:20 pm

I never did get the Rite Aid rebate check that I was expecting, but I did get two rebate checks from Behr paints. They were having a rebate special on Memorial day weekend; the same weekend my husband was painting. We got two checks, one for $20 and one for $40.
I saved $7 at Ingles yesterday using my Advantage card. I got a great deal on Ruffles potato chip and on toilet paper in a 12 pack.
I have never bought toilet paper in a 12 pack before, but I can see where you can save a lot of money by buying a large pack when it is on sale.
This will all be added to my challenge money!

Prev. total $10,921.00
today 67.00
new total $10,988.00

No rebate check!

July 14th, 2010 at 09:00 pm

I never buy anything just because I can get a rebate; I only buy a product if I really need it. My husband has to take prilosec everyday. I am so glad it is no longer prescription which was $130 a month. It is now over the counter and runs about $26 for 42 pills.

Rite aid often offers a $4 rebate when you buy prilosec. The problem is getting your check. It was promised in 2-3 weeks; it has been 5 weeks and I think I will never see the check. I think the problem is that they issue these little cardboard checks and they are not in an envelope. Anyone can see they are a check and they seem to get "lost" in the mail.

This is the 2nd check that I have not gotten from rite aid! I guess I need to write to them.
I am also waiting on two rebate checks from a paint company.

Chicken Soup for the animal lover's soul.

July 13th, 2010 at 08:33 pm

I have been doing some research on dog food.

When I got my poodle, Holly, she was a very picky eater. I called her breeder and complained that she would not eat. He told me to give her something like, vienna sausages, but in the baby section instead. I hope you know what I am talking about. Finger foods for babies!

Well, that got her hooked on people food and she has not wanted dog food since. She has a very sensitive tummy and gets sick easily. We had to quit giving her people food completely.
She will eat the wet, pouch type of dog food IF she is in the "mood".

When I got the puppy, Molly, I was so happy to see that she will eat any kind of dry food.

I only give her a little of the wet, pouch food once a day. That is because I mix her eye medicine in it. (white dogs sometimes get tear stains under their eyes and I have found something that actually prevents it)

So, since she seems so healthy and eats well, I decided to put her on adult dry food; the best dog food that I could find.

After doing some research, I found a food that is called "Chicken soup for the animal lover's soul"
It's main ingredients are chicken, turkey, duck and vegetables, not chicken by products. It is considered one of the best.

I actually found it for sale at my Ace Hardware store. The smallest bag was 18 pounds for $24, but I think it will last her quite a while. I had a $5 off coupon from Ace, so that helped.
I will add the $5 plus my $3 pinecone check to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $10,913.00
today 8.00
new total $10,921.00

Looking at lots!

July 12th, 2010 at 08:14 pm

Yesterday, we spent most of the day driving around and looking for residental lots for sale. I can't believe it, but for the 1st time in 26 years, my dh does not have a house lined up to build.
He is NOT the kind that can sit around, so he wants to build a spec house.
I am kind of against it, because nothing is selling here. People only want bargains and I would hate to use our money to build a house, to just give away.
The stock market did go up on Friday; the braves did win on Saturday and I saved $3 using my Ingles advantage card today, for a total of $5 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $10,908.00
today 5.00
new total $10,913.00

Christmas in July!!

July 9th, 2010 at 09:12 pm

We are invited to a party tomorrow night. It is a Christmas in July party for the humane society. Our shelter is a no kill shelter which I really am proud of. I try to donate money as often as I can. (I plan to put them in my will)
The whole house is decorated for christmas and all the gifts are for the animals and are put under the tree. Since I know that the shelter always needs money, I always write a check and pin it to the tree. What a great idea this party is. This is the 3rd year in a row that this couple has given this party.

Well, the stock market went up two days in a row; the braves won 2 games in a row, so $4 to add to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $10,904.00
today 4.00
new total $10,908.00

Stocked up on steak!

July 7th, 2010 at 11:13 pm

When Bi Lo runs a special on steaks, it is usually a good one. Yesterday, I was able to buy 5 steaks, NY strip and rib eye for 2.99 each. I spent $15, but I saved $9 which I will add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $10,895.00
today 9.00
new total $10,904.00

Happy Birthday America!

July 4th, 2010 at 07:26 pm

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy 4th of July. I hope you all have fun today. We are invited toa 4th of July cook out tonight, complete with fireworks! I will be wearing my 4th of July shirt and hat tonight.
While looking thru an old purse today, I found a dollar bill, plus the braves won last night, so $2 to add to the challenge today.
Prev. total $10,893.00
today 2.00
new total $10,895.00

Loan payment came due!

July 3rd, 2010 at 05:00 pm

Last month I made two personal loans to a couple we have know for about 9 years. I took the money out of savings earning 1.5% interest and loaned it to them at 4% interest, which is still better than they could get at the bank.
I have decided that I am going to add the interest only each month to my $20 challenge.
The two checks came in the mail yesterday and I earned $179 in interest. Also, the braves won, so a total of $180 will be added.
Prev. total $10,713.00
today 180.00
new total $10,893.00

I voted early!

July 2nd, 2010 at 09:34 pm

You can vote early at the courthouse. It is so nice because you can be in and out in about 5 minutes. On Sunday, friends are having a big cook out with lots of fire works. I am supposed to bring chip and dip and potato salad.
I stopped and got the chips on sale yesterday, so I saved $3 for the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $10,710.00
today 3.00
new total $10,713.00

Happy July 1st!!

July 1st, 2010 at 10:36 pm

A good start to a new month, except for the stock market. I did get two checks in the mail today. One was from Pinecone for $3; the other was for $50 from my Chase rewards credit card. Of course, they go straight to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $10,657.00
today 53.00
new total $10,710.00