The bear came back last night. We take in our two hanging feeders every night now, so he/she did not get those. However, we do have an old pole feeder and the bear tore it apart.
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up, so $3 will be added to the challenge money.

Prev. total $4517.00
today 3.00
new total $4520.00

Today I had a no spend day. Yesterday, I spent about $25 to pick up some groceries.
Today, was also a no use gas day, $2 to the challenge. The braves won their last two games, so another $2 to the challenge for a total of $4.

Prev. total $4513.00
today 4.00
new total $4517.00

I spent $64 at the grocery store today. Yesterday, I spent nothing. I saved $5 using my Ingles advantage card today and yesterday> I had a no use gas day. To, I am adding $7 to my challenge mney.

Prev. total 4506.00
today 7.00
new total $4513.00

I budget $160 a month for the electric bill. When it is under budget, I put the surplus into my $20 challenge. This month has been pretty warm, so neither the heat or a/c has run and the bill is under budget by $70.

Prev. total $4436.00
today 70.00
new total $4506.00

The braves won last night. The game was out west and did not start until 10 pm., so we did not watch it. The braves have won the last three games in a row, so I have $3 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $4433.00
today 3.00
new total $4436.00

I did my grocery shopping today and spent $55. I bought beer for dh, which he is supposed to buy with his weekly allowance. Gas prices are really hurting him cause he has to drive so far.
I used my Ingles advantage card and saved $8 which I am adding to the challenge.

Prev. total $4425.00
today 8.00
new total $4433.00

I saw the first hummingbird to come to our feeder today. We have had the feeder out for two weeks now.Dh really likes feeding all the critters in our yard.
Total spending today, zero!
I had a no use gas day today. The braves won last night and this afternoon, so I am adding $4 to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $4421.00
today 4.00
new total $4425.00

We got up yesterday morning and the bear is back. Both of our feeders were missing. We found them both but all the seed is gone. Dh has been buying expensive seed lately. It is called sunflower meats, with no shell. A bag is $28 dollars and it is NOT a big bag. The birds love it; apparently so does the bear. We will have to take in the feeders every night.
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the braves won, so I have $3 to add to the challenge. My spending today consisted of $16 at the grocery store. Nothing was spent yesterday cause I stayed home.

Prev. total $4418.00
today 3.00
new total $4421.00

I filled up the car today; $52 for gasoline. I can remember when it was 17 cents a gallon! That is the only spending that I did all day.
Braves won last night and stock market went up, so $2 more to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $4416.00
today 2.00
new total $4418.00

I did my grocery shopping yesterday and only spent $52. The bad thing is, I only saved $2 using my Ingles card. I did not find many things on sale, however the $2 will be added to the $20 challenge along with 1nother dollar cause the Braves finally won a game last night.!!!


Prev. total $4413.00
today 3.00
new total $4416.00

I had a good day yesterday; I didn't spend a dime. However, I went out today to CVS and Ingles. I paid $3.50 at CVS for conditioner (on sale) and then I stocked up on sprite again at Ingles, 4/$11.

I find that sprite tends to go on sale around the holidays, so I really stock up on it so I don't ever have to pay $5 for a 12 pack.

So, today I spend $25.04 at Ingles, but using my Ingles card, I saved $10 which I will add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $4403.00
today 10.00
new total $4413.00

Yesterday, I spent $10.15 at the grocery store but just purchasing the 2 items, I saved $3. Today money spend was zero! And because I had a no use gas day today, I can add $2. So $5 will be added to the challenge.

Prev. total $4398.00
today 5.00
new total $4403.00

I got some great bargains at the grocery store yesterday. They had 12 packs of sprite on sale, 4/$11. Usually they are $5.00 a pack. Ham was on sale for less than half price too. I got one for easter dinner and then we were invited out for easter dinner. That's ok, I will just cook it on Monday!

All in all, I saved $35 on my grocery shopping and that will be added to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $4363.00
today 35.00
new total $4398.00

I got interest credited on my ING account today. It was $112 which I will add to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $4251.00
today 112.00
new total $4363.00

I got another chase rewards check today for $50. Sometimes, I get two of them a month. They pay you back 3% of everything you spend at a Home Improvement store and since dh is a builder, he spends a lot. Of course, we pay it off every month, so we have never paid a dime in interest. I will add that to the challenge money.

Prev. total $4201.00
today 50.00
new total $4251.00

We watched the old movie, "Cape Fear" with Gregory Peck last night. It was made in 1962. Did you know that Polly Bergen was still alive? She is.
I got my usual government check today; the 4th Wednesday of the month. As always, it will be added to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3697.00
today 504.00
new total $4201.00

I got two small checks in the mail today. One was from pinecone for $3 and the other was from Tim Horton co. for $31. Hey, small sums add up.

Prev. total $3663.00
today 34.00
new total $3697.00

I was under budget on my electric bill this month. I had thought it might be higher than usual. My little Holly was so sick, and I had towels down all around in her pen. I had to do a load of towels and dry them, every day, so I thought the electric bill would be higher. Of course, I would do 10 loads a day and not care a bit, if I could have her back.
I budget $160 a month, but my bill came in at under $110, so I have $50 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $3613.00
today 50.00
new total $3663.00

Spring is officially here. It is nice and warm and all the bradford pear trees are blooming and look so pretty.
I received notice that the special dog food that the vet had ordered for Holly was being shipped next week, so I cancelled that. I still have 22 cans of the food left, so I will donate that at the vet's office. I am also appealing my property taxes on one of the new pieces of land that I bought a few months ago. They tax office has it appraised at $100,000 and I paid $28,000 for it. It is only 1 acre.
I am also trying to get my husband's building license renewed, but I am having a hard time. I don't know how to do it on line and when ever I call the phone number to order the paperwork, it messes up every time. I give them the license number, but they get the letters wrong every time. I give them RBI, but the phone tells me I am punching in ZZZ.
I did do my grocery shopping today, but only managed to save $4 to add to my $20 challenge, but hey, $4 is better than nothing.

Prev. total $3609.00
today 4.00
new total $3613.00

I got a wendy's dividend check in the mail today and I am going to add it to my $20 challenge. I played bridge all afternoon and I ended the day with a grand slam! Good day!

Prev. total $3598.00
today 11.00
new total $3609.00

I am sure that you know that my dh is a builder and has been in this area for 28 years. He built a spec house last year and the first couple that looked at it, bought it.
He is on a new spec house now. The first couple that came to look at it last week, came back on Thursday. No, they did not buy the house, but instead asked dh to build them a house just around the corner. They bought the lot yesterday.
Things are so slow here, but he stays busy because he does such quality work and he does it all himself.

I had a good day at Ingles buying sprite on sale, so I saved $7 for the challenge!!

Prev. total $3591.00
today 7.00
new total $3598.00

I did my grocery shopping yesterday and saved $6 using my Ingles advantage card. The stock market went up also, that's another dollar i can add to my account. Hubby and I rode over to Murphy, N.C. last night with Molly. It just seems so lonesome at home.

Prev. total $3584.00
today 7.00
new total $3591.00

For my husband and I. We can't seem to get over the passing of our little Holly. My hubby said, he will never get over it.
He held her on his lap, every night after supper, for almost 12 years. (she would have been 12 on May 14th)
She was so tiny and so cute. And smart. I bet you didn't know that the poodle was the 2nd smartest of all the breeds. She was definately the boss of the family! And the queeen of the couch.
Little poodles like to lay at the very top of the couch and she had no trouble jumping up there even tho she was less than 10 inches tall.
We never once left her. If she couldn't go on vacation with us, we just didn't go. She was always with us. Our baby.
Even the puppy (who is almost 3) misses her. She doesn't cry at night, thank goodness, but she just acts so sad and quiet. That's Molly!

I have not been keeping up with the $20 challenge at all this week. I know I have had some no use gas days and I think the stock market went up. I am just going to add $10 to the challenge.

Prev.total $3574.00
today 10.00
new total $3584.00

I received another pinecone check today, plus I had a no use gas day. That is another $5 to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $3569
today 5
new total $3574

Yesterday, I reported that our deer feeder was stolen. At first, I thought that a bear might have dragged it off. We have seen bears out there eating the corn and tearing up the bird feeders.
But the ground was wet and there are no bear prints. Apparently, someone really NEEDED that deer feeder. The first one got stolen last fall.
Dh is going to build another one and anchor it into the ground.

I saved $7 using my Ingles advantage card, so I am adding that to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3562.00
today 7.00
new total $3569.00

A few years ago, dh built two deer feeding troughs. He buys corn and feeds many deer every night.
Last fall, one of the feeders disappeared. We have never seen it again.
Last night, the remaining feeder disappeared. We are sure no person is taking them; it must be a bear. We have a large yard with over 500 feet on the creek and we can not find it anywhere.
Poor deer, I don't know where they will eat tonight??

I ran to Bi Lo this morning and picked up several items on sale, total savings, $5, which I will add to the challenge!

Prev. total $3557.00
today 5.00
new total $3562.00

I have NEVER seen a tornado, nor do I want to. Last night, a tornado touched down at the small town north of here, about 20 miles north.
We went to bed with flashlights by our sides. Both dogs wore their leashes in their beds. They are our number #1 priority to save.
The little town did not make it on the tv news; so hopefully the damge was not too bad and no one was hurt.
I had a no use gas day today, so $2 to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3,555.00
today 2.00
new total $3,557.00

I started a "Save $30 a day" challenge for myself at the beginning of the year. January went well. I saved $30 a day for 31 days; a total of $930.00
We just finished the month of February and I managed to put away $870.00, That is $30 a day for 29 days. I am stashing this in my ING account!
I hope March turns out as well.

I got my February ING interest credited to my account today. It is $113.57. I will add that to my challenge money today.

Prev. total $3442.00
today 113.00
new total $3555.00

My calender says that today is Leap day. And it is leap year. My birthday was the day before Thanksgiving and I was looking forward to it being on Thanksgiving day this year. But because of leap year, my birthday will now be the day after Thanksgiving! Guess I will have to wait another few years.
I got a dollar bill in the mail today and yesterday the stock market went up, so I am adding $2 to the challenge.

Prev. total $3440.00
today 2.00
new total $3442.00