I budget $160 a month for my electric bill and I was under by $60 this past bill. I know that my bill will start going up in June when I turn on the air conditioning. I will be adding this money to my challenge.

Prev. total $7870.00
today 60.00
new total $7930.00

two dhecks are even better. I got two checks from my Chase rewards card today, each for $50. The braves won yesterday, I got a dollar bill in the mail and I had a no use gas day yesterday, for a grand total of $104.00 to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $7766.00
today 104.00
new total $7870.00

Last year, I made a personal loan to a friend and really enjoyed 4% interest for a few months. I got completely paid back in January. I was counting that interest in my $20 challenge. So, now I am counting the interest in my ING account and local money market account. Today is the 1st of the month, so I earned $138 that ING credited to my account.

Prev. total $7628.00
today 138.00
new total $7766.00

My dh took on two remodeling jobs at the beginning of April, while he was waiting on the drywall guys to work on the spec house.
One job was a complete redo of a master bath, tearing everything out and starting over.
The other job was to turn a porch into a room.
He worked at both jobs (they are on the same street) for this entire month and has never been offered one penny for his services
Not only that, but we had to pay out of our pocket, for all their materials. One job cost over $9000 and of that over $7000 was for materials.
He finally got them both finished up last weekend and armed with all the bills, he presented them both with their final bills.

He did come home with checks, but one of them was predated for next month! I can see why most handymen (not my dh)charge so much.

The braves won on Wednesday and the stock market went up yesterday, so $2 for the challenge.

Prev. total $7626.00
today 2.00
new total $7628.00

I got my credit score today. It is the first time I have gotten it in about 4 years. It was 809. That is pretty good. It was 817 the last time I got it, so it went down slightly.
Yesterday was a no use gas day, the braves won and the stock market went up. That is $4 more to add to the challenge. (Plus I found a quarter)

Prev. total $7622.00
today 4.00
new total $7626.00

So, I forgot to say, April 25th, just 8 more months til Christmas!!

I got my usual monthly check deposited in my checking account this morning. I will add it to my $20 challenge as usual.

Prev. total $7136.00
today 486.00
new total $7622.00

It is not too hot and not too cold. Neither the heat or air conditioning is running. That saves money!

We are having a quiet Easter. I have no family and dh has only an elderly father and a brother in Florida, so we are usually alone on holidays. No big fancy dinner for us tonight, just steaks out on the grill.

I had two no use gas days on Friday and Saturday and the braves won yesterday, so $5 to be added to the challenge.

Prev. total $7131.00
today 5.00
new total $7136.00

I got an unexpected rebate check in the mail today. We get them a few times a year from the building supply place that dh deals with. The problem is, business is so slow, they keep very little in stock.So most of the time we have to buy from Home Depot.

We use a chase cash reward card to buy from Home depot cause they pay you 3 % back on home improvement items. I just checked my rewards account and I had over 10,000 points. I ordered one $50 check and tomorrow I will order another $50 check. (They don't offer 1-$100 check for some reason.) I will add those to my challenge when they get here.

Today's check was the biggest we have had in a long time.

Prev. total $6697.00
today 434.00
new total $7131.00

Yesterday was not so good! I lost my water, telephone and internet for most of the day. Today, I am back in business. I am still getting bad cable reception and I reported it. I am not much of a tv person anyway.
I had a quiet, no spend day. I never even left the house. Last night the Braves finally won, the stock market went up, so I can add $2 to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $6695.00
today 2.00
new total $6697.00

dh worked outside in the yard in his shirtsleeves yesterday and it was warm. I was surprised to find the heat running in the house when I got up this morning. I only keep it set on 64. But is was pretty cool last night. I have turned it up now cause my bridge ladies are coming over in a few minutes and they keep their houses much warmer than I. I took my change to bank this morning, so I am adding that $36 to my challenge money.

Prev. total 6659.00
today 36.00
new total $6695.00

Plus the stock market went up on Friday, so I can add $3 more to my $20 challenge. I also earned $146 dollars in interest on my local money market currently paying 9/10 of 1 percent. I will add that to my challenge money also.
Dh is busy beautifying the yard. He came home with several plants plus is planting a vegetable garden. It is not too big, cause I do not eat vegetables.

Prev. total $6510
today 149
new total $6659

It warmed up to the point that I was wearing shorts this week. It has been nice because the heat has not run all week. I was debating about putting the a/c on, but I have not done that yet.
Yesterday, the weather changed and it is cool again. It is nice when neither the heat or air is running.

I took out all the extra money in my envelopes this morning, including my corvette envelope. (dh still does not know it is paid off) All in all I have $1000 to add to my $20 challenge. I deposited the money this morning and now I am transferring it to my ING account that is paying 1.14%

Prev. total $5510.00
today 1000.00
new total $6510.00

Since I only have half a tank, I will have to fill up in the next few days. I have to use premium, so i will spend $4.06 a gallon.
I went to H and R block to pick up my taxes. I paid $429 to get them done. I think that is pretty expensive!
Well, the stock market has not been doing too well and neither has the Braves. I will add the $6 I saved using my advantage card at Ingles, to my $20 challenge.

Prev. totat $5504.00
today 6.00
new total $5510.00

I saw my first hummingbird of the season today. The dogwood trees outside my bedroom window are all in bloom and it is a beautiful day. I am even wearing shorts for the first time in months. It is so nice that the heat does not have to run either. This has been an expensive heating winter!! I have 2 one dollar bills to contribute to my challenge.
Prev. total $5504
today 2

new total $5506

I love it when I get checks in the mail. They always get added to my $20 challenge. This is a very infrequent check. We get a rebate from a building supply place once in a while. We don't buy much from anymore. (because they don't have much in stock) So, I will add it to the challenge.

Prev. total $5321.00
today 183.00
new total $5504.00

I got another check in the mail today. I reinvest most of my dividends, but a few dividends accumulate in my Edward Jones account. So, once in a while, I request a check. Today, I got a check for $121 which I will put in my $20 challenge account.

Prev. total $5200.00
today 121.00
new total $5321.00

WE had a big storm last night; thunder, lightening, rain and hail. Our power we out, so we went on to bed. I guess it saved us some money, cause the heat could not run. The tv was out til this afternoon. (Not that I am a big tv fan anyway)
I got my statements from Vanguard. Both of our IRA's are fully funded for 2010. I don't remember exactly when IRA's were first allowed, but I wish I had contributed more. When we first moved here, we had to live on our savings for the first few years, so we had no extra money. And of course, back then, you could only contribute $2000 a year.

I did my grocery shopping this afternoon. Since starting on this $20 challenge a few years ago, I always take the money that the receipt shows I have saved and add it to the challenge. It is easy and it adds up!

Prev. total $5192.00
today 8.00
new total $5200.00

The braves won yesterday and today. The stock market went up today and I used a $2 off coupon at the grocery store. So, I have $5 to add to the challenge money.

Prev. total $5187.00
today 5.00
new total 5192.00

The first car show of the year is being held today, down on the town square. As you might know, my dh really likes cars. He has a 1933 bright red ford victoria which he will enter in the show.
He took today off from work. However, since the show does not start until 4 pm., he is working out in the yard. He had a $300 pile of mulch delivered yesterday and is putting it around all the trees and bushes.
I am watching him work! That's what I do best!
The braves won their first game and the stock market went up yesterday, so I am adding $2 to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $5185.00
today 2.00
new total $5187.00

Last year I made 3 loans to a couple that we built a house for, several years ago. I was adding the interest we were making (at 4%) to my $20 challenge. Well, in February, they paid me off. I put the money in a new ING account and I plan to add the interest every month. A big difference between 4% and the 1% I am getting now! Interest was paid last night, so I have $140 to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $5045.00
today 140.00
new total $5185.00

I went out to a delicious dinner last night at my favorite restaurant. It was very busy and I saw lots of people I knew, plus 2 I play bridge with.
Almost everyone had brought in an antique to have appraised for free.
WE ate dinner first, so we did not have to spend too much time in line for the appraiser.
Dh was a little disappointed about his WWII Japanese sword. His father brought it back from the war. She appraised it at $1500 and he thought it would be worth more.

I got better news. My General William Sherman autograph was considered to be real and could fetch from $5000 to $10,000. I googled him when I got home and the signatures were the same as the letters listed for sale. Some of them were selling for $25,000. I bought this at an antique store about 30 years ago for about $100.

I had 2 no use gas days (Monday and today) plus the stock market went up today, so I will add $5 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $5040.00
today 5.00
new total $5045.00

We are going out to dinner tonight. A local restaurant is having something different. They are having an antique appraiser there, who will appraise your antigues for free. (Of course, you must buy dinner, but part of the proceeds go to our new library)
I am taking my General Sherman signature (the mean guy who burned Atlanta during the civil war) and my husband is taking his WWII japanese sword that his father brought back from Japan. I wonder if they will be worth anything?

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

Prev. total $5033.00
today 7.00
new total $5040.00

I went out to get my mail today and found 3 checks in the mail. One was from pinecone for a $3 survey I did, one was from Tim Horton, a $25 dividend and the last one was from my Chase rewards card for $50. That is a total of $78 in checks and is all being added to my $20 challenge fund.

Prev. total $4955.00
today 78.99
new total $5033.00

I was looking for Molly's leash this morning, so I could take her out to potty. I started thinking how different my two dogs are,
Holly, almost 11, is a 5 pound poodle who rules the house.
Molly, just turned 2, is an 11 pound part poodle, part maltese. (She looks all maltese)

I never have to put Holly on a leash (unless we are going somewhere) I just stand out on the back deck while she does her business and then comes back in.

Molly, who fancies herself as the great white squirrel hunter, has to be kept on a leash all the time she is outside. She wants to chase and catch every squirrel she sees. She watches them inside thru the window and makes a lot of noise when they come too close to the house.

If I let her outside without a leash I would probably never see her again; she would be off chasing squirrels. Heaven help her if she caught one!
But she is a sweetheart!

I am adding $3 to the challenge; $1 cause the stock market went up Friday and $2 cause it is a no use gas day.

Prev. total $4952.00
today 3.00
nnew total $4955.00

I got the hospital bill for the one day my dh spent in the hospital. It was for $7000. Boy, the drugs they give you really do add up. One blood pressure pill was $66 and I can buy a bottle of 30 for $10.
No insurance, so we have to pay the whole bill, plus all the doctors.

I used my Ingles advantage card today and saved $4 which I will add to the challenge.

Prev. total $4948.00
today 4.00
new total $4952.00

I went and took my first pinochle lesson today. I have been playing bridge for a few years and thought I would like to try pinochle.
It was fun and a lot easier than bridge. I even came in, in first place.
I received a $3 pinecone check and saved $4 using my bi lo card, so that is $7 more to the challenge.

Prev. total $4941.00
today 7.00
new total $4948.00

This is the first month I have not had a payment due on my corvette. I took the money out of the bank last month and paid it off. So, I am still putting the weekly amount away in the corvette envelope. I plan to add that monthly to the $20 challenge.
I have $810 to add to the challenge today. My payment was only about $600 something, but I sometimes have a week of extra money in my envelopes. It feels great having that money to save instead of paying it out on a car!

Prev. total $4131.00
today 810.00
new total $4941.00

My usual monthly check came in today. As a matter of fact, it came a day early. It is supposed to be here on the fourth wednesday of the month. I never cash the check, I just add it to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3645.00
today 486.00
new total $4131.00

I am underbudget on my electric bill this month. I budget $160 and the bill was $105. Of course, this will go up as soon as I turn the a/c on. However, I think it cost me more to heat the house than to cool it. I have paid $2500 for propane (for heat) this year. I will add the $55 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $3590
today 55
new total $3645

We have always had a lot of wildlife in our backyard. All, but the deer have disappeared since winter started. Last night, I saw our two ducks had returned. This morning, the ground hog came out. (Last year we had a mama ground hog and 3 babies) So, I hope more will be around later.
I guess they know that today will be the last day of winter and spring is starting tomorrow!
I had a no use gas day yesterday, so $2 to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3588.00
today 2.00
new total $3490.00