WE had our house closing today. Everything went smoothly and the money is back in the bank earning a big 9/10 of 1 percent interest. The realtor took us all out to lunch to celebrate, so that was nice.
I also got a $50 rewards check from my Chase master card, so I will add that to the challenge money.

Prev. total $13,401.00
today 50.00
new total $13,451.00

A mama deer came to our deer feeders last night, with her triplet, spotted babies. We had twin baby deer last year, but never triplets. They are so cute.
My regular 4th Wednesday of the month check came in, so $486 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,915,00
today 486.00
new total $13,401.00

The bear came again, this time about 2 in the afternoon. I wasn't too happy about that. It searched the deer feeders, then headed to the bird feeders. I quickly put up my puppies, then opened the back door and yelled go away. He/she left and I took the feeders down and put them in the garage.
The poor birds sure have to fight for their food around here.
We watched the braves game last night until we got too sleepy. The game lasted almost 7 hours and was not over until the 19th inning. That was certainly worth more than $1 to my challenge money, so I am adding $6 today. (Braves won. but it was challenged)

Prev. total $12,909.00
today 6.00
new total $12,915.00

We started a new spec house last week, so we had to order a port o let. Sure enough, when my dh got to work yesterday morning, it was tipped over. We think kids must go out to that subdivision to park at night. We are the first house to build on that particular street, sunset view. ( pretty name)
I saved $4 using my Ingles advantage card yesterday, so I will add that to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,905.00
today 4.00
new total $12,909.00

WE attended another land sale this morning. For some reason, about 3-4 years ago, everyone decided that this area was the place to live and dozens of new subdivisions were developed.
The developers put very high prices on all of the lots and the land just did not sell. So, now the bank is foreclosing and taking all the land back.
This is our 5th time to attend and we have bought land at 4 of these sales.
I think we got a pretty good deal on all 4 lots, buying them at less than half of their original price.

I really did not think we would buy any more land, but this was too good a deal to pass up. We got an acre on a creek AND with a view! That is almost impossible to find around here. This is where we will build our next spec house after we finish and sell the one we just started this week.

I had two no use gas days in a row, the braves won twice and the stock market went up. That is $7 more to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,898.00
today 7.00
new total $12,905.00

WE started on the new spec house today. It is always very exciting to start on a new house. The other spec house will close next Friday and I will get the money to put back in my account. (Yay)
The new owners hired a private inspector to go over the house yesterday. Absolutely nothing was found wrong. (we knew that)
The private inspector was also a licensed builder from North Carolina.
I am adding the money from my corvette envelope to the $20 challenge today! Hubby still does not know that the car is paid off. (shhhhhh)

Prev. total $12,098.00
today 800.00
new total $12,898.00

I took my poodle Holly into the vets again yesterday. This makes about 5 times she has gone this month. They do blood work every time and this time she had a very good check up!
It is expensive, but of course she is worth it. I hope we can stay away from the vet for a while.
DH needs new glasses badly.
Braves won Monday night and the stock market went up yesterday, so $2 to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,096.00
today 2.00
new total $12,098.00

I took my change into the bank today to convert to bills. I have $35 for the $20 challenge. Then I went grocery shopping and saved $6 using my advantage card.
Right next to my car, I found 2 pennies. One of our S.A.'s on here keeps track of all of the change she finds and she finds a lot. I am lucky if I can find 50 cents a year.

Prev. total $12,055.00
today 41.00
new total $12,096.00

I went out to visit the spec house today. Dh had the trees all trimmed up and the view is breathtaking. We have 180 degree view of the highest mountains in Georgia.
Brasstown Bald is the name of the highest mountain in Georgia and this house has a wonderful view of it. Dh was busy doing landscaping today. Everything is almost done except the kitchen. Dh builds all the cabinets in place. We are waiting for the granite counter top to be installed tomorrow and when the cabinet doors are finished, dh will install them.
WE have a closing the last Friday of the month.

When I got home, the braves were already playing their Sunday ball game. Unfortunately, they were behind 6-2. They managed to tie it up in the bottom of the 8th and then in the 9th, with 2 outs, a single brought home the winning run. I will be adding $2 to the challenge money for that!

Prev. total $12,053.00
today 2.00
new total $12,055.00

I have stayed home the past two days and have used no gasoline. The stock market went up slightly yesterday, so I have $5 to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,047.00
today 5.00
new total $12,053.00

I got a Lowe's coupon in the mail yesterday for $10 off. We were going to Lowe's last night anyway to return some light fixtures. We loved the fixtures, but when you pull off the "made in china" stickers, the paint came off too.
While there, we purchased some light fixtures that we really loved, for the next house. Every one that comes into this spec house comments on these light fixtures. We used our $10 off coupon, so I am adding that sum to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,037.00
today 10.00
new total $12,047.00

My a/c is running night and day, both units! I am sure my electric bill will be way over budget this month. I guess it is time to adjust the budget.
I had a no use gas day yesterday, saved $2 at Ingles today and it looks like the stock market will end higher, so that is $5 more to add to the challenge!

Also, my dh pulled the permit for the new house today. We pulled the last permit on Oct. 13th for the spec house; listed it on Friday the 13th in May and sold it to the first looker.
Today is the 13th, so I hope it all happens again. Lucky 13!

Prev. total $12,032.00
today 5.00
new total $12,037.00

WE watched tv last night. They are showing clips of the new Dallas show that is going to be on next summer. Yes, they are bringing the Ewings back! That show was my dh's absolute favorite when it was on. We never missed even one episode!
In honor of J.R., I am donating $5 to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,027.00
today 5.00
new total $12,032.00

I managed to squeeze in my grocery shopping before the gals caame over to play bridge today. By using my Ingles card, I was able to save $10, so I am adding this amount of money to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,017.00
today 10.00
new total $12,027.00

I applied for both a sears and a Lowes credit card. The reason I did; they both offer 5% off if you charge on their cards.
I bought all my appliances for the spec house at Sears this week and last week, I spent over $1000 on sinks, faucets, light fixtures, etc. at Lowes!
The interest rate is terrible! 25% on both cards. I always pay my credit cards off in full each month, but I sure would not reccommend these cards to anyone carrying a balance!!

I was going to add $5 to my $20 challenge for each time the braves (second place) beat the Phillies (1st place) this week. Sadly the Braves only won one game, so only $5 for the challenge.

Prev. total $12,012.00
today 5.00
new total $12,017.00

Tonight, we are going to a "christmas in July" party. It is given ever July, by two young men who really love dogs. (animals)
They decorate their house all up for christmas and all of the invited guests bring presents to put under the tree.
All of the presents go to the Humane society and they send out a suggested list of what the Humane shelter needs. Our shelter is a "no kill" shelter, so the animals stay until they are adopted, which I like.
I always pin a christmas card to the tree with a check inside. The shelter can always use money!

I am adding all my ones (5) to my $20 challenge today.

Prev. total $12,007.00
today 5.00
new total $12,012.00

Last night the braves won their baseball game and did so again today for a clean sweep of the rockies. The stock market went up both days too, so $4 will be added to the challenge money.

Prev. total $12,003.00
today 4.00
new total $12,007.00

WE gave the buyers of our spec house an "allowance" to spend on appliances and the granite countertop. I am happy to say they were slightly under budget on the appliances and a good bit under budget on the countertop!
I met them last week for the first time. They have been looking for a home in this area for 2 years and have looked at, (she says) over 7000 homes! Wow!

I ssaved $8 using my Ingles advantage card yesterday and the braves have won their last 2 games. $10 more for the challenge.

prev. total $11,993.00
today 10.00
new total $12,003.00

I have been so busy this holiday weekend, I forgot to add the ING interest to my $20 challenge.
prev. total $11,850.00
ing interest 143.00
new total $11,993.00

We are staying home tonight to watch the braves game and are going to cook steaks on the grill.
Tomorrow night, my friend (and bridge buddy) are having us over for hamburgers.
On Monday night, my friends from Florida are having a rib cook out and we are going to that. Sounds like a very nice weekend.
The Braves won last night and the stock market went up, so $2 more to add to the challenge.

Pre. total $11,848.00
today 2.00
new total $11,850.00

I got my 2nd chase rewards check in the mail yesterday. That makes two $50 checks I have received from them this week. Sadly, I had to take my dog back to the vets again this week. I just can't seem to get her well.

Prev. total $11,798.00
today 50.00
new total $11,848.00

WE went to our 3rd (and last) real estate closing, yesterday. With the economy so down now, banks are turning to land auction companies to get ride of foreclosed lots in subdivisions.
Since my dh is a builder, we are always looking for lots to build on.
There are some real bargains out there now, or really the land was priced way too high, so it looks like bargains.
The first lot (2 acres) we bought was in a nice subdivision. It is a gated community with a pool, tennis courts and a clubhouse. The lot has a great mountain view also. It was originally listed for $119,000 and we got it for $42,000.
Lot number 2 was in a nice subdivision that we had already built in. I never considered the top lots with the great view because they were too expensive.
The lot we bought was nice, had a good view and I paid $66,000. We sold the house to the first serious lookers before the house was finished.
The top lots with the GREAT view were going for $120,000 and up. We got one for $45,000.
The lot we closed on yesterday was in a gated subdivision also. These lots had river and lake access and ours had a good mountain view. The lot was going for $180,000 and we got it for $28,000.
The only problem with the lot is that it is about 30 miles away in North Carolina. Dh is a licensed contractor in North Carolina as well as Georgia.
But that is a long drive every day.

We are making plans to start a spec house on lot number 2 this summer.

I picked up more "on sale" diet sprite and saved another $5 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $11,793.00
new total 5.00
new total $11,798.00

I did my grocery shopping this morning. I stocked up on diet sprite which seems to go on sale around the holidays! With my store advantage card and coupons, I was able to save $23 on my groceries.
The braves won last night, the stock market went up yesterday and we had a no use gas day, so a total of $27 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $11,766.00
today 27.00
new total $11,793.00

I got a chase rewards check in the mail today for $50. Actually, I ordered 2 of them, so I should get another one in a day or two. I will add this to the challenge money.

Prev. total $11,716.00
today 50.00
new total $11,766.00

I finally had a no use gas day yesterday. It is about the first time in a week. Gasoline has gone down here, premium is finally below $4 a gallon. I save about $2 every time I stay home, plus the braves won, so $3 is added to the challenge.

Prev. total $11,713.00
today 3.00
new total $11,716.00

At what age is a puppy grown up? My malta poo (father was maltese, mother was black poodle) is now 2 years, 3 months and 10 days. Apuppy is considered an adult dog at one year, but there is no way Molly is grown up. Today she chewed up her puppy pillow, pulling out all the bright blue stuffing and chewing it.
She now has a bright blue chin. She is so cute, you can't get mad at her.
I got a rebate check in the mail yesterday from diageo.These checks are small but they add up.

Prev. total $11,703.00
today 10.00
new total $11,713.00

dh won a gift card to wal mart when he was at the car show a few weeks ago. Today, I stopped there to pick up a few groceries and spent $15. I gave them the gift card and my bill was only for $5. So, I am adding the $10 saved to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $11,693.00
today 10.00
new total $11,703.00

I got a check from Tim Horton's yesterday. I have several stocks, but I am enrolled in their Drips (dividend reinvestment programs) in all but Tim Horton's and Wendy's.
I originally started off with just Wendys and then they bought Tim Horton's. Somehow that got me out of their drip plan and I get checks from them each quarter. The checks are not that much, so I just keep putting them in my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $11,668.00
today 25.00
new total $11,693.00

We had a two hour visit at the vets this morning. My little Holly has an infection and needed more medicine. They had to do blood work and give her fluids also. Hopefully, she will start feeling better soon.
I almost forgot all about my regular monthly check that was deposited automatically to my checking account. That money is always added to the challenge.

Prev. total $11,182.00
today 486.00
new total $11,668.00

I am taking my dog back to the vet for the 3rd time in 2 weeks. Poor baby, she isn't eating and is throwing up everything. She has had a tummy problem all of her life and nothing seems to help. She has also been having a problem with her knee going out of the joint! She hates going to the vets and I hate to stress her out, but she has to go tomorrow. They are just going to fit me in, so I expect to be there for several hours.
The good new; the braves won last night and today and the stock market went up yesterday; so $3 will be added to the challenge.

Prev. total $11,179.00
today 3.00
new total $11,182.00