They look so pretty and are a sure sign of spring. We have two of them in our front yard. I hope this warm weather continues. It is warmer outside and inside the house cause I have no screens and can't open the windows. (It is a long story. we do have screens, but dh does not like them, so they are in the attic)
I just received an $11 check from my stock in Wendy's and I had a no use gas day, so I will add $13 to my challenge.

Prev. total $3575.00
today 13.00
new total $3588.00

Not everybody celebrates their car's birthday, but I do!! I think anything that gives me an excuse to eat cake, should be celebrated!!!
Today my car is one year old. I got it on St. Patrick's day which is kind of neat, since I am Irish!
The car gas 3967 miles on it, so it should be around for a while.

I opened a money market account last month, so I could keep some cash in a local bank to use for the spec house. The highest interest rate I could get was 9/10th of 1 percent. today, it paid me $159 in interest, so I am adding that to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3416.00
today 159.00
new total $3575.00

We live at the bottom of the hill in our subdivision. There is a huge ugly pine tree in my neighbor's yard and it always blocked the view of our house as you came down the street. I have always wanted that tree gone!
It died a few years back, but it was still standing. Today, someone(??) hired a tree company and they took the tree down. It took them many, many hours, but it is gone, gone, gone!!

I saved $3 on steak today, so I will add that to my challenge.

Prev. total $3413.00
today 3.00
new total $3416.00

Not me! I think the 15th of March is a great day. Today, my little Molly was born 2 years ago. She is my malta-poo puppy and probably the sweetest dog I have ever owned. (I have had at least one dog since I was 3 years old) I will have to fix her something special for her birthday dinner tonight.

I also found a dime today, lucky me. I stocked up on diet sprite also since it is a real good sale. My dh and I don't drink soft drinks, except with mixed drinks after dinner. According to my grocery receipt, I saved $14 today, so that will be added to my challenge.
I will have to check out bi lo tomorrow when steaks go on sale.

Prev. total $3399.00
today 14.00
new total $3413.00

My dh only worked until 4 pm this afternoon. So, he took off early and is now out cutting the grass!! Are you kidding me?? We just had snow Thursday!

After that he is planning on washing the 2 corvettes and cleaning up the house for my bridge group tomorrow.

I just went to CVS to pick up some pictures that I left to be developed. I took several pictures of my little dogs. They like laying on pillows in the sunshine in the kitchen. I am planning on sending one of the pictures to the lady that I bought my puppy, Molly, from. She seems to like to know how her puppies are doing and I sent her a picture when Molly was little. Molly is full grown now. And, oh so cute too!

While at CVS, I got conditioner on sale and saved $4. I will add that to my challenge money.

Prev. total $3395.00
today 4.00
new total $3399.00

I ran into town to get a few things I needed at Bi Lo.
Just as I got into a line, the computer went down and all of the registers quit working.
Working a register was my very first job.

I went to work at age 12 (with a work permit) and was hired as a stock girl at a retail store. It was soon obvious that I was good with money, so I ran the register and did the books. Back then, all registers were manuel and you had to know how to count the change back, cause the register sure did not tell you anything.

I can't believe that there is not some kind of a back up system in these big chain stores.

I stood there for over 30 minutes and nothing happened. I offered the manager $20 for my $17 worth of groceries and she took it. Not very frugal, but I needed the stuff and did not want to make another trip back to town later.

I had a no use gas day yesterday, so $2 more to the challenge.

Prev. total $3393.00
today 2.00
new total $3395.00

Our weather has been terrible this month. First of all, it has been so windy. It is like a hurricane every day. Plus it it cold and wet. I am so ready for spring. I know it is only 11 days away, but it sure does not feel like spring. I see buds on the trees, but I am still wearing my heavy coat.
It is raining right now and the creek is very very full.
I did my grocery shopping yesterday and managed to save $4 using my advantage card. The stock market went up, so I am adding $5 to my $20 challenge fund.

Prev. total $3388.00
today 5.00
new total $3393.00

A few years ago, when gasoline was so high, I determined that I spend about $2 on gas every time I made the 10 mile trip to town. So every time I stay home and do NOT use gas, I add that $2 to my $20 challenge.
I had 2 no use gas days this weekend, so I am adding the $4 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $3384.00
today 4.00
new total $3388.00

I got a letter and a check from bank of america this afternoon. The check was for $10 and is a refund for paying off my car early. It says the car is paid in full and I will receive the title soon.

I got my car new on March 17th, 2010, so it took me less that a year to pay it in full. It helped that I paid a lot extra each month.
The car looks brand new; I only have 3,865 miles on it. I haven't even had to have the oil changed yet. It should last me for quite a while.
(shhhh, don't tell you know who)

I will add the $10 to my challenge and when the next payment comes due, I will add that to my challenge money also.

Prev. total $3374.00
today 10.00
new total $4484.00

I love this extra hour or so of daylight we are getting now. It use to be dark by 5:30 pm., now it is still light at 5:30. Plus daylight savings time is not that far away.
Gas has really gone up here. It is now $3.80 for premium. I am trying to drive as little as possible. I had a no use gas yesterday, the stock market went up, so I am adding $3 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $3371.00
today 3.00
new total $3374.00

I made 3 personal loans to a couple last year and I have been adding that interest to my $20 challenge. Well, last month he inherited a lot of money, so they paid me off. No more nice loan paying 4% interest.

So, I put that money into ING electric checking paying 1.25% interest. As is my luck, within days, the rate went down to 1.14%. However, it is still better than what I can get locally, even for a c.d.

I am still going to report the interest to my $20 challenge, however, it will be a lot less than it use to be.

Prev. total $3310.00
ING 61.00
new total $3371.00

I wonder if it will go out like a lion? That is just an old saying. It is a beautiful day today, while yesterday was stormy and windy.
Yesterday was a good day money wise. I received a one dollar bill in the mail for a survey and a check for $50 from Chase rewards. Both will go into my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3310.00
today 51.00
new total $3361.00

Could this be a sign that spring is just around the corner? I hope so. The temperature was set on 64 but it was actually 66 in the house when I went to bed. The temp was still 66 when I got up this morning. I am ready for some warmer weather.

I had two no use gas days this weekend, so can add $4 to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3306.00
today 4.00
new total $3310.00

Well, in the last 3 months, I have cashed in all 5 of my c.d.'s. I can't find any place that is paying a decent interest rate, so I have decided to send part of that money to the Melrose credit union in New York state. They are offering a c.d. paying 2.9%. I have never invested in a c.d. for more than one year before, but I have a feeling that rates are not going to go up for a while.
I mailed a check off to them this morning and I will report back and let you know what happens.

I have 5 ones to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $3301.00
today 5.00
new total $3306.00

ps. the cd is for 5 years, so that is kind of scary!

If you asked me what my favorite color was, I could not tell you. It dawned on me today, that I have driven a red car since 1987. That was a red bronco. When I gave it away in 1997, Ibought a red sports rally camero. In 2004, I bought a red corvette. When it got "sick" last year, I traded it in on another red corvette. I guess red, is my color.
I had a not use gas day yesterday, ($2) and saved $2 using my Ingles advantage card today.

Prev. total $3297.00
today 4.00
new total $3301.00

I just went to fill up my car. I paid $3.70 a gallon for premium today. It is hard to believe! Maybe this will encourage me to have more "no use gas days"
I also paid my electric bill. It was $50 under budget so I can add that to my challenge money. I had to stock and get car tags yesterday cause it is hubby's birthday today. It was $700 for the tags, ouch!!

Prev. total $3247.00
today 50.00
new total $3297.00

I am paying off my car today. We have an agreement that he can never buy another car until the last car is paid off. So, I don't want him to know that I am paying it off.
The car is only 11 months old and has 3700 miles. We don't need a new car. His car is 3 years old and has 11,000 miles.
I had 3 c.d.'s coming due today at the bank, so I cashed them in. No one is paying anything in interest. I have a money market paying 9/10 of 1 per cent, so I put the money there.

I have decided to take my car payment money and add it to my $20 challenge each month. This month the corvette envelope has $815 in in, so I am adding that to the challenge money. I also got my regular check of $486 today, so that will be added too.

Prev. total $1946.00
today 1301.00
new total $3247.00

My husband is like a new man since he has this procedure in the hospital last Friday! He can eat anything he wants and he has no pain! I wish we had done this months ago!!
I saved $5 using my Ingles card today and I had a no use gas day yesterday ($2) so a total of $7.00 to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $1939.00
today 7.00
new total $1946.00

This was my very first hospital experience. Believe it or not, at my age, I have never been in a hospital. (except for being born) Although, dh had been in a hospital once when he had his appendix out, but he was a teenager. So, this was his first experience in a hospital in a very long time.

The people are so caring and nice. Even the food was decent. The only complaint we had was that the nurses kept coming in to do tests and take blood all night. I came home to be with the dogs, but dh got no sleep that night.

The doctor told him yesterday that he had to take the day off and rest, so he did. (Me too) But he has gone back to work today.

I have 4 $1 bills to add to the challenge.

prev. total $1935.00
today 4.00
new total $1939.00

As I have mentioned several times, I made 3 loans to a couple last year and they have been excellent about making timely payments as I knew they would.
I have been happily adding the interest earned to my $20 challenge each month.
Sadly, last week they paid me off, but I still have one weeks interest to add to the challenge.
I opened my an electric orange checking account at ING with the money and will continue to add that interest.
I also redeemed a c.d. that matured and opened a money market checking account at my local bank. I will also add that interest to my challenge amount.So, for the month I have earned (and been paid) $160 in interest.

Prev. total $1775.00
today 160.00
new total $1935.00

We had an appt. at the hospital for an MRI this morning. Dh has been having terrible pains in his chest following his gallbladder surgery.He had been having them every few days, but since Friday, they have happened after every meal. And the pain lasts for hours. So, on Saturday, he quit eating. He has had no food since then and has lost 13 pounds.
Poor thing. When we got home today, he ate for the first time and went on to work. I hope he can soon get some relief.

The MRI was $1500. They said if we paid up front we would save 15% or $225. We have no insurance, so we paid $1275 today.

Yesterday, I had a no use gas day, so I have $2 to add to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $1773.00
today 2.00
new total $1775.00

I spent quite a bit of time on the ING website yesterday. I was trying to open an electic orange checking account which is now paying 1.25% That is higher than I can get for any local c.d. around here.I had a hard time getting my husband added to the acount and even had to call customer service.
They wanted my husband to call them, but heck, he has never used a computer in his life.
Finally, I got something to work. The money is supposed to be transferred out of my local business checking tomorrow, Feb.14th. I hope it works.

I have 3 c.d.'s coming due in 10 days. I am thinking about putting them in the Melrose credit union. Has anyone had any dealings with them?

I have $8 in one dollar bills to add to my challenge.

Prev. total $1765,00
today 8.00
new total $1773.00

Last year I made 3 loans to some friends of ours. I was tickled to make 4% on the loans and they were happy not to have to pay closing costs at the bank.
The last loan was the biggest, they were buying a park model home and land, that they called "the cabin"

I only received 2 payments on the cabin and they called last night asking me to figure out the payoff for all 3 loans. (his mother is not expected to live, so he cashed in her c.d.'s) (only child)

Now I am back to wondering what to do with the money to earn some interest. I talked to ING today and they offered me 1.25% in their electric orange checking account. I guess I will try even tho I am a little leery of online banking and not good with a computer at all.

I saved $3 buying steak on sale, so it goes to my challenge money.

Prev. total $1762.00
today 3.00
new total $1765.00

I keep about $10,000 in my personal checking account. I accumulate that money to pay property taxes, car insurances (5), tags (5)income tax and medical expenses.
Today, I earned 74 cents in interest for the month. I hope the bank can spare the change!! I keep all of my cash at this one bank ( near the fdic insured maximum), so I am a very good customer.

I filled my car up today with premium and spent $48. That was for 14 gallons. I am glad I don't drive very much.

I have 6 one dollar bills to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $1756.00
today 6.00
new total $1762.00

My husband had his gall bladder removed in august. He felt good the first few months. Then the gallstone systems returned. He is having the terrible chest pain again and then throwing up. I finally got him an appointment to go and see a doctor that specializes in the problem. He is going to have to have an ERCP. That stands for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopanraphy. (a tube down the throat)
We are not looking forward to it, but the pain is awful and it happens every few days.

I dropped my insurance coverage on him. We had paid for many many years with no claim. It has a $10,000 deductible per year, so it paid almost nothing for his gall bladder surgery. We are just lucky to have the cash to pay for this procedure.

I saved $10 today while stocking up on diet sprite and had a no use gas ($2) day yesterday.

Prev. total $1744.00
new total 12.00
new total $1756.00

We had snow Thursday night that turned into rain and it rained all day yesterday. So, today the creek is very full. I love living on a creek.
When I lived in Florida, I had never even seen a creek. I saw one for the first time when I went to Gatlinburg, Tn.
When we decided to move to the mountains, I wanted to be on "water" We first built a house on the Toccoa river near Blue Ridge. I loved that river. It was fun to watch people tube and canoe by the house. There were no restrictions back then, so we were almost on top of the river.
Now, I live on a very nice big creek and I enjoy the noisy water flowing by. It is especially noisy when it is so full, like it is now. My husband built a deck over the creek and I am looking forward to spring time and listening to the creek.

I got a pinecone check for $3 and am adding $4 in ones to my challenge.

Prev. total $1737.00
today 7.00
new total $1744.00

Every day I try to add a little something to my $20 challenge fund. Today the stock market went up and I have a few extra $1 bills. Every little bit helps.
Prev. total $1733.00
today 4.00
new total $1737.00

I made 3 personal loans to friends last year and I receive the payments between the 2nd and the 5th of every month. I am saving every check and of course, adding the interest that I earn to my $20 challenge. It is the only place that I can earn 4% on my money.
I have 3 c.d.'s coming due this month and the highest I can find around here is a measly 9/10th of 1%. I sure hope things change soon!

Prev. total $1254.00
today 479.00
new total $1733.00

I got a check for $50 From my chase rewards card today. Plus, the stock market went up yesterday ($1). I did my net worth today and even tho my husband has had no paycheck for over 3 months, our net worth went up. (Stock market)

$20 challenge

Prev. total $1203.00
today 51.00
new total $1254.00

i paid my electric bill today. The bill is much higher in the winter time than it use to be. A few months ago, they raised all the rates.
The bill was still under what I budget for it, so I always add those few extra dollars to the $20 challenge. Today,I have $45 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $1154.00
today 45.00
new total $1199.00