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Archive for January, 2016

$1.45 per gallon for gas

January 25th, 2016 at 08:43 pm

I just got back from grocery shopping and filling up my car with gas. Using my Ingles advantage card, I was able to save 20 cents per gallon, making my gas purchase $1.45 per gallon. I have not seen gas that low since the 1970's. (I am so old, that I can remember gas was 18 cents a gallon when I first got my license.)
I used my advantage card to buy my groceries and saved $15, for a total of $18. I will add that to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $2704.00
today 18.00
new total $2722.00

Chase rewards check

January 24th, 2016 at 06:32 pm

I have been trying for three days to redeem my rewards for the month on my Chase card. Fianlly, I gave up trying on my computer and just placed a phone call to redeem. I don't know if it is because my computer is so old, but I keep getting the page that said "internet explorer cannot display this page." I get that when I try to look up my account in Navy Federal. I know I need a new computer, but when I tried out the ones at the library, I could not use those either. I am afraid to get s new computer, because i have no one to help me learn to use it.
Anyway, the chase rewards check will be mailed to my checking account, so I will add that to my $20 challenge:
Prev. total $2654.00
today 42.00
new total $2696.00

Daisy Pig

January 22nd, 2016 at 07:43 pm

A few months ago, I bought myself a large green piggy bank covered with daisies. I had been putting all my change in a jar, but I thought Miss Daisy was a much cuter alternative. I just pulled the plug and I turned in $60 worth of coins to my bank. This will be added to the $20 challenge;
Prev. total $2578.00
today 60.00
new total $2638.00

We are awaiting the big winter storm that is supposed to be hitting our area and about 70 million other people. We have a wind advisory, a flood advisory and a snow advisory. The snow is suppose to start about 6 pm. So far, we are doing ok!

First real snow of the year

January 20th, 2016 at 07:03 pm

Today, we are getting our first real snow of the season. I know it has snowed before, you can see the snow on the mountains in the distance. We live in the mountains and the highest peak in Georgia is Brasstown Bald, here in Blairsville, just a few miles away. As a matter of fact, the cabin we are building (and have already sold) has a wonderful view of Brasstown Bald and the mountains.
The snow came down quickly starting about noon and has already covered the ground. I called dh and he came home from work. He does not want to get stuck over at the cabins.
Because we live in N. Ga., we don't have much of a snow removal system. Snow is pretty, but I am glad it does not usually last too long.
I talked to Navy Federal Credit Union yesterday. They got the check I sent them and they opened my Certificate of deposit over the phone.
Unfortunately, the great special that they had on c.d.'s ended on Sunday. It was 2.5% for 30 months.

I have a big c.d. coming due on Feb. 28th and I had planned to put it all in this Navy Fed. C.U. special cause they thought it would last until April.
Now, I will have to find some place else to put it.

Navy Federal still has a 20 month c.d. for 2% but the maximum amount is $20,000. This c.d. I just opened was perfect, cause it had no maximum, but, sadly, I won't be able to take advantage of it cause it has closed.
I hope something else good will open up about the time I need it.
(p.s., I did get to open up a c.d. special for the 2.5 rate, but only one.)

Citibank check

January 19th, 2016 at 10:57 pm

I got a check today from my citi credit card. They pay 1% on all purchases and 1% when you pay on the card, for a total of 2% back. I will add that $123 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $2429.00
todays ck. 123.00
new total $2552.00

Molly and her chicken!

January 16th, 2016 at 07:14 pm

My little dog, Molly, was diagnosed with diabetes on Dec. 29th.
Molly is a malta-poo. Her mother was a pure black poodle and her father was a pure white maltese. Molly takes after her father and looks Maltese.
We first started out giving Molly one shot of insulin a day. She has to go back to have her blood checked every few days.
The 2nd week, Molly started getting 2 shots of insulin per day.
I read in an online column about diabetes and dogs, that one couple gave their dog a treat every time they have to give her a shot.
I asked my vet if Molly could have a treat at "shot-time". She replied, yes, give her a piece of chicken.
So, we have cooked up white meat chicken for Molly.

When Daddy gets home, it is time for the shot. Molly paws at her bowl until I feed her, her regular dog food. (Call of the Wild) Then, she runs to the counter top where we keep the needles and jumps up and down. She knows it is "shot" time and, most
importantly, "Chicken treat" time. She can hardly wait, she is so excited.
She gets her shot, then gets her treat! She seems to love it! (so does the little one, Abbey, who also gets a piece of chicken just for being cute.)

It makes me feel so much better to see that Molly is happy over getting her treat that she looks forward to the shot that precedes it! I wish I was that brave! (I hate shots, even if I get a treat.)

Good mutual funds for children?

January 14th, 2016 at 10:19 pm

Do any of you have any good advice for a good mutual fund to open for a child? Years ago, I used American Century Gifttrust for my granddaughters, but it is no longer offered. I have a great granddaughter now.

Gosh, it is my blog anniversary!

January 13th, 2016 at 09:25 pm

I was reading Sarah's blog and noticed that she was coming up on her 10th anniversary.
I decided to check my start date and found that I started on Jan. 13th, 2006. So, it is my 10th blog anniversary too.
I have really enjoyed this site and all the nice people that I have met. As a matter of fact, it is my favorite site.
Update on my $20 challenge:

new total $2389.00
That is thanks to a great start because of the interest I earned on my Melrose credit union c.d.'s of $2065.00 on Jan. 1st.

Trying to open a new c.d.

January 12th, 2016 at 09:12 pm

Well, I am attempting to open up a new c.d. at Navy Federal Credit Union.
Since my old computer won't let me get into the website, I have been trying, the old fashioned way.
I called Navy Federal and opened a very small savings account. (required) That gave me an access number.

Today, I sent a letter and a check to open a c.d. They have a special c.d. offering right now; a 30 month c.d. that pays 2.5% interest.
I have a big c.d. coming due from Melrose credit union next month. The most they are paying right now is 2.4 and you have to tie your money up for 60 months. (5 years) This seems like a much better deal.

Fingers crossed that I can open one up the old fashioned way. I will let you know. If it works, I will send my Melrose credit union money there next month if they have the same 2.5% deal for 30 months.

Prompt payments

January 12th, 2016 at 12:14 am

I am so glad that my mortgage holder is so prompt in paying her mortgage each month. The amount is due on the 25th of each month, she dropped the check off today, Jan. 11th. Of course, it goes straight to savings.

citi card reward

January 9th, 2016 at 08:13 pm

Today, I order my citi credit card reward. It came to $ 123.50 and i should get a check for that in less than 2 weeks. This of course, will be added to my $20 challenge.

disappointing library trip

January 9th, 2016 at 04:37 pm

I went to the library yesterday so see if I could use one of their computers. I had a terrible time, it was nothing like mine. It did have a mouse, but nothing else was familiar. I did get one librarian to help me get "into" it, but I have no idea what she did. I was not even able to move the page I was on, up and down. I was so frustrated that I almost cried.

I mainly use a computer to handle my finances. Since no local banks pay a decent rate, I keep several accounts at online banks and transfer the money (for building the spec house) when I need it. I am trying to open a new account at navy federal credit union, but apparently my computer is so outdated, that I cannot get into view my account. Dh is not help, he has never used a computer. He suggests that I just keep our money locally and forget about trying to earn any interest.

Suggestions for a new computer??

January 7th, 2016 at 09:33 pm

I am finally ready to get a new computer. I got mine in 2006, my first. I had never used a computer in my life. When I worked, there were no computers.My computer has been telling me that I need to update my browser for over a year, that support has ended for windows 8.
I am not sure what that means, but I did try and get into a new account at Navy Federal Credit Union and I could not get access because my computer is so old.

Any computer suggestions? Remember, I need something really easy and something I am already use to like my Dell computer with a mouse. (No laptop for me)
I am a great grandmother and am really not into the new modern things. I don't have a cell phone or any other kind of devise. I need something really simple to use and understand.
(Maybe this is what my grandparents went thru when automobiles first came on the scene. My grandmother, on my mother's side , was born in 1873. On my father's side, they were even older than that.)

Lam dividend

January 6th, 2016 at 06:55 pm

I recieved a dividend from my Lam stock. When I first bought it , it was called Novellus. I only bought 56 shares. I loved playing the stock market about 20 years ago, but now I do not bother with it anymore. I have had better luck with mutual funds.
I will be adding this dividend of $16 to my $20 challenge:

Prev. total $2204.00
today 16.00
new total $2220.00

Molly's vet visit

January 5th, 2016 at 04:34 pm

I took Molly to the vet yesterday to have her diabetes (sugar) checked. She has made no progress at all.
They switched her to a different insulin. This one is novolin n and the cost is about $140 for a small bottle. The needles I bought at Walmart were NOT correct, although a pharmacy worker told me they were.
I had to buy more needles, 60 of them for a month's use.

Poor Molly now hoas to have 2 shots a day. One in the morning and one at night. I pray that these shots will do the trick and her sugar will be under control.

I take her back on Thursday for testing! I will take the diabetes medicine that I already purchased and donate it to someone who needs it. Keep Molly in your prayers!

Diabetes

January 3rd, 2016 at 09:33 pm

I took my sweet dog, Molly to the vets last week. She has been drinking a lot of water and urinating a lot. I thought it might be a bladder infection.

I was so upset when the vet told me she has diabetes. She is only 6 years old. I cried and called my husband, then he cried.
She will have to have a diabetes insulin shot every day for the rest of her life.
We got the insulin and needles and started her on it right away. My husband is giving the shots. If ever a dog was good about getting shots, it is Molly. You could not ask for a sweeter dog.
The insulin in very expensive, $50 for a tiny bottle and you have to use a new needle everyday. However, there is no amount of money that would matter to me, Molly is worth a million dollars!
We go back again tomorrow for her to be retested. I
see no difference in her yet. I read that most dogs have to have 2 shots a day. We have to be careful to feed her at the same time and don't leave any dogfood down for the other baby, Abbey.
Hardest on my husband is that we cannot give her any snacks after our dinner.

Have any of you dealt with a diabetic dog? Of so, any advice you can give me would be appreciated.

Melrose credit union interest

January 2nd, 2016 at 10:05 pm

I am adding my last three months of interest from the Melrose credit Union. This was posted to my account as of Jan. 1, 2016. This will rally give a boast to my $20 challenge.

When I opened this C.D. almost 5 years ago, I was afraid that I was making a mistake to tie up so much money for 5 years. The interest rate was 2.9% and I thought, surely, rates will get better than this over time. Turns out, it was a good idea, since I have not seen any rates higher than 2.9% for a 5 year c.d.
As a matter of fact, it will come due the end of February and I don't know what I will do with it then.
The highest rate I can find now, is 2.4% for 5 years. At my age, I hate to tie money up for that long. I don't know what to do?

$20 challenge:

Prev. total $ 103.00
melrose int. 2065.00
new total $2168.00

Starting the $20 challenge

January 1st, 2016 at 07:38 pm

Every year I do the $20 challenge. It was started on this site about 8 or 9 years ago, I think.
Basically, you start with $20 and you add it it any way you want to.
I always add my Ingles advantage card savings at the grocerystore, the rebates that I get at our local building supply, all my credit card rebates, dividend checks, interest earned, my s/s since I have never spent a penny, garage sales and any other extra money that comes my way. I don't work any longer, so this is my way of contributing to the household income.

I ended the 2015 challenge with $21,315.00. My goal was to hit $20,000 for the year and I did.

I am ready to start the new $20 challenge with the interest that was credited to my four savings accounts today. They pay about 1% interest.

Mysavings direct 2 accounts $83
GE savings bank 13
Barclay bank 7

$20 challenge total $103.00

Happy New Year!

January 1st, 2016 at 05:08 pm

I just want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year. Let this be a great year for saving!