Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

Yes, I am still here, but I have not been posting much lately. I was in the hospital 3 times in April. I have gangrene in my left foot and it is very painful to walk. I had surgery to try and improve the circulation in my left leg, but so far, not much luck.
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. (And if you have any advice on gangrene, please let me know. Iwas completely surprised.

Today, let our thoughts be with Laura on her wedding day. I hope this is one of the most wonderful days of her life. Best wishes to them both.

Yes, it is back to the doctor for both Molly and me.
Molly's bllod sugar still has not regulated, so I am
taking her to the vets this afternoon for another blood test. She gets 2 shots a day now, 8 units of insulin each time. She "loves" the shots because we reward her with a piece of chicken each time. It makes us feel much better that the shots don't seem to bother her at all.
My infected foot is still no better. I have not been able to wear a pair of shoes in almost 2 months. I feel funny going out to the grocery store in fuzzy slippers, but that is all I can stand to wear.
I made an appt. to go back to see the doctor tomorrow. I am having a hard time sleeping at night because of the pain.

I opened a mutual fund this week for my great grandaughter. This will be one of her birthday presents when she turns 3 the end of June. I chose vanguard star fund. Their minimum is $1000 to open a fund.
In the "good old days", you could open a mutual fund in many companies for any amount. I started my mutual fund savings with just $50 in the American Century fund, Heritage. I still have the fund.
I can remember going home every night and putting away 10% of my tips into a little wooden box to add to that fund every month. Tips were always low here, so usually my 10% was only $2. But, I faithfully sent the money that I saved, into that mutual fund every month.
I opened mutual funds for both of my granddaughters when they were born. Now they each have over $10,000 to help with a down payment when they buy a house.

I hope little Ava will enjoy her mutul fund money when she gets older and remember her old great grandma julie.

I got the March mortgage check today. It is due on the 25th, but she usually pays it early.
I use to have rental properties (38 years ago.)
Between being a landlord and being a mortgage holder, being the holder is a lot more fun! (and profitable)

i just did the work to get my monthly rebate from my citi rewards card. It will be for $115 but I won't actually add it to the $20 challenge until I get the check.
My husband can't understand why I get excited about getting money back on my credit cards, but I love it!
I always pay the balance in full, so I never pay any interest, ever! When I do use the card, like for groceries or prescriptions, I immediately put the cash money in an envelope so I always have the cash to pay the bill when it comes due, so I feel like I am being very responsible.

I went to the doctor on Thursday afternoon. My left foot has been hurting me for over 2 months now. It is finally gotten so bad that I can not wear a shoe or even a mocassin on it. I am having to wear BIG slippers that flop all over.
He said that my foot had an infection and that is could be a sign that I have diabetes. So, they did blood tests.
I got the results this afternoon. My blood sugar is 118, but they do not think I have diabetes. While my foot still hurts like heck (they gave me pills, but no results yet), I am so happy that it was not diabetes. (I am keeping my lucky dime in my pocket all the time.) Thanks for your thoughts!

My check for the certificate of deposit that matured, finally arrived today. I was getting worried about it. I also received interest of $1060.00 which will be added to the $20 challenge.
The c.d. was for 2.9% interest. I took the c.d. out 5 years ago, hoping I was not making a mistake by typing the money up that long. As it turned out, I have not found a higher interest rate in 5 years.
I need to put it back in a c.d., but would like to go for a shorter term, due to my age. I have been looking around, but the only good rate that I found at Navy Federal credit union has closed. I will just keep looking.

Prev. total $3409.00
today 1060.00
new total $4469.00

i went to the dollar store a few minutes ago to buy a notebook. When I got out of the car, I found a dime in the parking lot. I am carrying it around in my pocket and hoping it is a lucky dime.
My c.d. at Melrose credit union matured on Feb. 28th. They say that they mailed a check that day, but I have yet to receive it. If it doesn't come today, something is wrong. Hoping that dime is lucky for me!
Also, I went to the doctor yesterday. There might be something seriously wrong. I will find out Monday. Hope the dime is doubly lucky for me!

I did my grocery shopping yesterday. Using my advantage card (Ingles), I saved $14 which I will add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3386.00
today 14.00
new total $3400.00

I received the following interest in February:

My savings direct $ 7.75
My savings direct-Wright 21.41
Barclay 10.78
GE Bank 72.20

A total of $112.00 added to the $20 challenge:

Prev. total $3274.00
today 112.00
new total $3286.00

A Few months ago, (October), I established what I call, the MAWW account. This is where I track "money accumulated without working" or MAWW.
This is what my MAWW account looks like for January:

Builderway rebate $ 17.00
Citi card rebate 123.00
mortgage interest 897.00
Chase card rebate 39.00
stock dividends 65.00
s/s check 529.00
MSD interest 47.00
GE bank interest 13.00
Barclay bank int. 8.00
navy c.u. int. 54.00

Jan. total $1795.00

Of course, I save this every month and add it to a new savings account that I opened in July. That is called my Wright account.
Since July, my "Wright" account has grown from zero to $27,524.00.

That is what I paid per gallon of gas this morning. Gas is selling at Ingles for $1.45 per gallon, but with my advantage card, I got 20 cents a gallon off, for a total price of $1.25 per gallon.
Do you know what most people do with the money that they are now saving on gas. (According to a news show I watched, they are using the money to eat out more. What a shame.) They should add it to their savings.

Last year, a new dollare General store was built just right down the road from me.
I don't know if you like dollar stores or not, but I am finding this one so handy.
First of all, I hate paying $5 for a birthday card and they have them for 50 cents or $1. Most people just throw their cards away after a few days and it seems like a waste of money.
For valentine's day, my husband bought me an expensive chocolate bar costing $4. (Sort of like a hershey's candy bar.) I find that the dollar general own brand of chocolate bar is just as good. (and all proceeds go to charity)
I am sometimes amazed at how much cheaper I can often find things at the dollar store.
I just got back from buying a birthday card for a little girl. I noticed that Miracle Whip was $3.50. I had planned to pick some up this week and noticed that it is $6 at the grocery store.
When I really need something, I often try the dollar store!

I am super surprised, we had our closing today. The couple buying the home could not come to the closing, so they handled it all by overnight UPS. She called yesterday to say they had received the paperwork and the attorney called this morning to see if we wanted to close today. Of course, I said yes!
We went to the attorney's office, signed a few papers and picked up our check! On to the next house! (p.s. this is a spec house and now we will start another one. My husband does most of the work by himself)

I had never gone on a blind date. I had recently moved out of my house and was going thru a divorce, when a friend from another town, called me. Her son had a best friend, who had a single, older brother.
She wanted to set me up on a blind date.
So I went. I met him at her house. He took me out that night. We went dancing. When we got back, we spent all night, sitting on the floor in her living room, just talking.
He had to be at work at 6 a.m. the next morning, so he never got to go home and get any sleep. I invited him to go to a party the following night. (It was a Jr. Woman's club party and I was president of the club.)
He declined and I felt very sad.
The next afternoon, after getting some sleep (and taking my phone off the hook) my girlfriend called.
My blind date had been trying to get hold of me all day and wanted to take me to the party. (As it turns out, he had another date and had to break it first.)

He showed up at my house, all dressed up and we went to the party and had a great time! We spent every evening together after that. Some of you may not believe in love at first sight, but I know it can happen. It happened to me. 39 years ago today.

We have been together ever since then, Feb. 18th, 1977.

I reeived a check from my citi charge card yesterday (rewards check) for $140. Of course, I have already paid off the total amount in full. Most of the charges were materials for the house we are building. I will add that to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3041.00
today 140.00
new total $3181.00

I woke up this morning to find a hallmark card, a valentine cake, a bag of hershey kisses and a chocolate bar waiting for me on the kitchen table.
I tell my husband every year, not to get me anything.What do you do about a husband like that?
I get especially annoyed about the cost of the card. It was $6 and I feel like it is a waste of money.

What did I give him? Old cheapskate me, I gave him last year's card. (again)

I visited 3 local banks today to find out the interest rates on savings products, money markets and c.d.'s. Even tho I want to keep some money here locally, none of the banks come close to the rates that you can get using an online bank.
I got a good deal at Navy Federal credit union, but that deal went away in Jan. I guess I will just keep looking for specials online. (Navy had a 2.5 c.d. for 30 months.) If you see anything good, let me know!

I have a barclay credit card. I got it because they offered me $200 if I spent a certain amount the first three months. I received the $200. Since then, I have racked up $50 in barclay card rewards. I redeemed that this week and a check was sent to my checking account. I don't think I will use the card any more. I have a citi card that pays back 2% and a chase card that pays 3% on home improvements (read home depot) up to $2000 in purchases each month. My husband goes to home depot every day.
I also have a quicksilver credit card. That pays 1 1/2 % back on purchases.

I will ad the $50 check to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $2935.00
today 50.00
new total $2985.00

We are snowed in, so hubby is cleaning house. I just redeemed my citi charge card rewards for the month. I will be getting a check for $140, which I will add to my challenge when it comes in.
Love those rewards!

I went to renew the auto tags today. That has to be done before my husband's birthday on the 24th. It was $360 for 5 auto tags and one utility trailer.
While there, I realized that the early voting place was open at the courthouse.
Darn, I wish I had been prepared. There was no one in line and I could have quickly voted. But, I have not yet decided who to vote for. I don't vote for the party; I vote for the man. (or woman)
They are calling for snow tonight, so I did my duty, went to the grocery store and bought bread and milk!
I also paid my builderway bill so that I could get the nice discount they pay me, as long as I pay by the 10th. This is an arrangement that they started with their top builders about 25 years ago. I think we are the only ones left. But, I love a discount!!

I managed to open up one c.d. at Navy Federal credit union in Jan. I had planned to open several more when my c.d. matured the end of this month. I wanted to take advantage of their 30 month 2.5% c.d. rate.
Sadly, they withdrew the offer on Jan. 17th, right after I opened my c.d.
I got a dividend check today for the 15 days my money was in the new c.d. Apparently, they mail out the dividends every month, instead of every quarter like I am use to.
I received a check for $54.02 which I will add to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $2862.00
today 54.00
new total $2916.00

Molly continues to go into the vet once a week to get a blood test. Her blood sugar is better, but still not down to normal, she gets 7 units of insulin, twice a day.
I got more needles from the vet. They would work for Molly's shots, but were a much bigger needle.
I did some research online and found the needles that we had been using, a smaller size (gauge 31. I found out that the bigger the gauge the smaller the needle)
The vet had sold us gage 29 needles.
I ordered the new needles and returned the others to the vet for a credit.
Her insulin is only good for 6 weeks after it is opened. The six weeks will be up on Feb. 15th. I looked online and found her insulin (novolin N) for $78 versus $140 at the pharmacy.
I was a little leery of ordering at first, but they assured me that it would come packed in dry ice.

I ordered Wed. afternoon and by 2 pm Thursday, it was delivered, cold, in dry ice. I did not even have to pay for overnight shipping.

Molly is worth a million dollars to me and I would spend it on her gladly. But if I can find a bargain on needles (They were $15 for a box of 100) and insulin, then I will go for the bargain as long as the quality and the brand names are the same.

Please think good thoughts for Molly, the sweetest Malta-poo ever born!

Yesterday, I totaled my MAWW account for the month of January. MAWW stands for "Money Acquired Without Working" This is the money that I, personally, bring in during the month:
Builderway rebate $ 17
citi card rebate 123
mortgage interest 897
chase card rebate 42
stock dividends 65
s/s check 529
MSD interest 47
GE interest 13
Barclay interest 8
Navy fed. interest 54

total $1795

Since the nation's eye is on the presidental contest right now, I would like to ask a question?
Who was President when you were born?


Since I am so old, it is obvious, my answer is:

George Washington!

I am also adding my GE bank interest ($13) and the interest I earned from Barclay bank (8) to my $20 challenge:

Prev. total $2805.00
Interest 21.00
new total $2826.00

I received my interest from my various savings accounts yesterday. It wasn't very much, because I have put a lot of money into the house we just finished building. It will be nice to close on the house so I can put the money back in savings for a while. We are just waiting for the power company to come out and give us permanent power so we can have a final inspection. Then I can set up a closing date. As usual, this interest gets added to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $2758.00
interest 47.00
new total $2805.00

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

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