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.

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 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

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 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 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

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Today (or yesterday) is the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. I like the fact that it will be staying light out longer now.
The people who are buying our cabin are coming to see it this week. They are wishing for snow, but so far this year, no snow!
I think they will be please with what they see. DH has finished the stairs, the railings, the trim and is just starting to build the kitchen cabinets. I am hoping that we can have a closing in January.
My $20 challenge is doing well:
Total balance for the year $21,267.00

I received a check from my citi charge card today for $99. I am so lucky that I can charge materials for the house we are building to our personal charge card. Of course, All of my charge cards are paid off in full each month so I never pay a penny of interest.All reward checks are added to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $21,144.00
today 99.00
new total $21,243.00

DH put the christmas tree up this Sunday. We have decided not to put up the outdoor lights this year, since he is so busy working on two houses. I am happy up to have the lights from the tree.

$20 challenge update:

new total $21,096.00

For the month of November, I earned $84 in mysaving direct (2 accounts), $12 in GE bank and $6 in my Barclay account for a total of $103. I will add that to my $20 challenge.

New total $21,064.00

I want to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving. We have no family, so I had planned just to cook for my husband and I. However, friends invited us over for thanksgiving dinner. I am so thankful for such good friends.
The couple that bought our cabin will be up here to see the progress. He will be working there tomorrow and the rest of the week. He did the entire cabin in hardwood flooring that she picked out. I have to admit, I do not like the flooring at all! It looks real old. I hope she likes it , that is the important thing, not what we think about it.

I received a check from my chase credit card to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total 20,343.00
today 43.00
new total 20,386.00

My car turned 20,000 miles yesterday. Not too bad for a car that will be 6 years old in March. It still looks brand new. I must admit tho, I really like the look of the new corvette stingray, which my husband has right now, a 2015. I think I see one in my future someday. I wonder if I am the only great grandma that drives a corvette? I have not met any others. (But then, I don't know anyone who is a great grandmother either.)



$20 challange balance $20,332.00

I got a cit rebate check in the mail today. I only use credit cards that give rewards in the form of cash and I pay the cards off in full each month. I have never paid a penny in interest.
My $20 challenge for 2015 looks like this:

Prev. balance $20,227.00
today 81.00
new total $20,308.00

Happy Halloween. Today, I met my goal for the $20 challenge. I wanted to have $20,000 in my $20 challenge by year end.
With the help of my social security check on Wednesday and the interest from my savings direct ($91) which they paid a day early, I met my yearly goal.
$20 challenge $20,001.00
interest 91.00
new total $20,092.00

Time to go trick or treating!!

That is what I had. I have to admit that I have never had popcorn for lunch. It was pretty good.
My $20 challenge is getting real close to my goal amount of $20,000 for the year:

$20 challenge $19,405.00

I received a cit rewards check for $38 today. That will be added to my $20 challenge.
I have decided to start keeping track of a new "account" just for fun.
I will call this my MAWW account. Money aquired without working!!!
So far this month, I have received:
builder's rebate $717
citi card reward 38

$20 challenge $19,329.00
citi reward ck 38.00
new total $19,367.00

DH ran into the couple who bought our last house. WE are holding the mortgage on the house.
She mentioned to him that she had just put the house payment in the mail that day to us.
It was mailed on October 9th. Today is October 16th and we still have not received it. It only had to travel about 6 miles. I am afraid that it is lost in the mail.

$20 challenge total $19,329.00