I received a $50 award check in the mail today from my credit card company. That will be added to my challenge money.
Today was a NSD. My dh came home from work early cause we were expecting heavy snow. It has snowed, but melted already, so he could have worked all day. It is suppose to snow all night, so probably no work for him tomorrow.
Prev. total $ 997.00
today 50.00
new total $ 1047.00

I picked up a couple of NY strip steaks at Bi Lo yesterday and saved $5. I also had a no use gas day on Monday, so I have $7 to add to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $492.00
today 7.00
new total $499.00

As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, I am no longer going to spend $5 bills, I am going to save them all and add them to my challenge money.
I already save all of my change and take it to be deposited every few months.
Mary Hunt had a few more tips in her newsletter yesterday.

She suggested that you take money that you save using coupons or store cards, and deposit those sums in your savings account. ( have been doing that in the $20 challenge for 3 years now)

She also suggested that you tax yourself every time you use an ATM and put that money in savings. You decided how much the tax will be. I have never used an ATM in my life, so that won't help me.

When you go out to eat, order water and pay yourself $1 every time you do that. Save that money! (I always order water, never soft drinks, coffee or tea.)

Rack up rebates whenever you can. I do that IF it is something that I really need.

Pick up one thing that you will give up just for this year. It might be manicures, fancy coffee, french fries, hair done, cigarettes, etc.
This the the one I am having a hard time with. I never get my hair or nails done and I don't smoke or drink coffee.

Well, I had a no use gas day yesterday and spent no money, so I have no $5 bills to add, but I do have $2 for the no use gas to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $490.00
today 2.00
new total $492.00

I don't know if any of you get the newsletter, debt proof living, but I do and enjoy it very much. It used to be called "Cheapskate Monthly" and is written by Mary Hunt.
In her latest newsletter, Mary suggests that we make a vow to select a specific denomination of currency, like the $1 or the $5 bill, that you will NOT spend this year, but save instead!
She also suggests that we hoard all coupon or store card savings and pay that in a savings account.
That is just what I have been doing in the $20 challenge. I add all coupon/card savings to the challenge and I have been adding all my $1's.
I have 3 one dollar bills to add today, but I am going to quit spending andy $5 bills. In my wallet, I had three $5 bills, so that will be added to my challenge money today.
Anyone want to join me??

Prev. total $472.00
today 18.00
new total $490.00

If any of you are car buffs, like my dh, the Barrett Jackson car auction is on every night this week and during the day on sunday! So, we have stayed home every night this week to watch it. His dream some day is to attend in person, with a blank check in hand!!
Good news this week about Monkeymama's husband's surgery and Amber's new job. My good news is that the electric bill was $50 under budget even with all the christmas lights on every night. I will add that to my challenge!
Prev. total $422.00
today 50.00
new total $472.00

I stopped at the dollar store to get batteries and deodrant cause they are cheaper there than elsewhere. I was looking around the store and I picked up a new rawhide bone for my puppy, Molly, she has worn her out one out! It was only $1, much cheaper than the last one I bought.
I gave it to her when I got home and she has not quite chewing on it yet. (2 straight hours so far)
I also stopped at Bi Lo and bought New York strip steaks on sale. I saved $10 on the steak, which I will add to my challenge account.

Prev. total $412.00
today 10.00
new total $422.00

I made it for 2 straight weeks without going out to eat. Now, if you didn't know it, I have been eating out 5 days a week for several years.The owner of the restaurant that I go to, calls me a stock holder!!
I have been trying to do better this past year! Last night, was the first night I have gone out to dinner in 2010!

Plus, I had a gift certificate, so I saved $20 on my meal. I am adding that and another dollar (cause the stock market went up yesterday) to my challenge money.
Prev. total $381.00
today 21.00
new total $402.00

My father was in the service for over 30 years. On his early 50's, he retired to Florida. In just a little over a year, he had a heart attack and died. It was a week before my 10th birthday.

My mother had never worked in her life. Women didn't work in the 1920's and 30's. She had let my father handle the finances and did not know that his military pension would stop when he died.

She had to find a job and she went to work at a small ladies dress shop chain, called, "Virginia Dare"

When I was 12, she got me a work permit and I starting working there on weekends, afternoons, holidays and summer vacations.

I was hired to be the "stock girl" but the manager soon learned how good I was with math and I loved to run the register. (You had to know how to count back change back then)

So, she had me doing the books every afternoon at closing. I would take all the sales tickets to the back room and balance the books. The adding machine that I used was NOT electric. It had to be hand cranked! I balanced the books and made up all the deposits.

I got paid a grand sum of $3 per day ( 8am to5:30 pm). I used this money to buy my clothes, school supplies, movies, etc., but I always managed to save a bit. My mother just could not afford to do anything but feed me and give me a home to live it.

I am very glad that I got this experience at a very early age and I never felt sorry for myself that I had to work. I think it took a lot of burden off my mother not having to buy things for me. She taught me one thing. Only buy something IF all your bills are paid first and you really need it. I never saw my mother buy herself anything in all those years!

I found a extra $100 in my car payment envelope, so I am adding that to the challenge.
Prev. total $281.00
today 100.00
new total $381.00

We have been stuck at home since early thursday afternoon. We have snow, but not that much. Georgia is not really equipped to handle snow.However, it has not gotten above 30 degrees, so nothing is melting.
We have stayed home and spent no money. However, since my dh can't get to work, he is not making any money either.
As a matter of fact, he is driving me crazy cause he has nothing to do. I don't see how he could ever retire.
I have been studying up on mutual funds and decided to order up some new prospectus and applications.
The stock market went up yesterday and I have had two no use gas days in a row, so I can add $5 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $273.00
today 5.00
new total $278.00

I noticed today that gasoline (premium which I have to use) is up to almost $3 a gallon. A friend of mine had propane delivered today and it was $2 a gallon. I paid $1.39 a gallon back in September.
I got the doctor bill for my colonoscopy and it was $1900. The last time I had a colonoscopy, the other doctor charged me $400. Prices just keep rising.
It is snowing now, so I have been going thru paperwork and throwing lots of old things away.
I do my budget weekly and put cash in my envelopes. Sometimes an envelope gets over funded because of 13 weeks in a quarter instead of 12.
I had a no use gas day yesterday for a savings of $2 and I have an extra $155 in my envelopes to add to the challenge money.
Prev. total $116.00
today 157.00
new total $273.00

I woke up to snow this morning. It snowed for several hours and is quite cold, but it really did not stick to the ground.
My handy man hubby is home for the weekend. He is putting in new baseboard in the breakfast room. He also decided to add a plug right behind the record player, so we do not have to use an extension cord. (Which we keep unplugged because of the puppy) Now, we can just plug in behind the table where puppy cannot reach) I don't know how anyone can live without a Mr. Fixit!

I have started the new year off right. I have not spent one penny. I had two no use gas days in a row, and I will add $4 to my new challenge money.
Prev. total $100.00
today 4.00
new total $104.00

Well, I am ready to start a new year. I hope 2010 is a great year for all my SA friends.
I am ready to start my $20 challenge today. I have a crisp new $100 bill to get my challenge started.
Prev. total 0
today $100
new total $100

Well, today is New year's eve, so I am making my last contribution to the $20 challenge today. Yesterday, the stock market went up slightly, I saved $2 using my Ingles advantage card and I have some one dollars bills, for a total of $6 to add to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $17,569.00
today 6.00
new total $17,575.00


Yes, I am very happy with my total of $17,575.00 for 2009!!

This is the last week of the decade. In a few days it will be 2010. I hope it has been a good year for you; for many it has been a pretty tough year.
My dh is fortunate enough to still have work, but the work has been difficult. He is starting a brand new house right in the beginning of winter, which means he will be outside all winter long. (Starting the footers for the basement today)
He does have an inside house to work on, but the owner is insisting that he do much of the work himself,so dh is having a lot of time off. It seems the owner wants to use hubby's tools also. Even tho the heat can be turned on, the owner doesn't want to pay for propane, so it is very cold in the house. dh does have a kerosene heater, but the owner is always borrowing it and using it where he is working. All in all, it has been the very worst house he has ever taken on, to build. The owner is going to lay the tile next and has been asking dh how to do it. I hope he doesn't ask to borrow the tile wet saw!!(cost over $1000 new)
I guess we should just be grateful that he is bringing home a paycheck at all.

I stocked up on NT strip steak yesterday at Bi Lo and saved $11 according to the receipt. I will add that to a $3 pinecone check and $1 cause the stock market went up yesterday, for a total of $15 more to the challenge.
Prev. total $17,554.00
today 15.00
new total $17,569.00 I meant NY strip steak, sorry!

Today is the first day of winter. It is also the shortest day of the year which is good news! It means that the days will start getting longer, starting tomorrow.
It is almost time for this year's $20 challenge to come to an end. I saved $6 using my bi lo card yesterday, so I will add that to my challenge.
I had hoped to have saved $20,000 in my challenge this year, but it just didn't happen. However, I am happy that today I hit the $18,000 mark. That is really not too shabby an amount to come up with.
None of this money came out of my husband's paycheck; this is just extra money I have earned and saved during the year.

Prev. total $16,995.00
today 6.00
new total $17,001.00

I got another check, unexpected, in the mail today. This time, I went to www.invescofairfund.com to figure out why I was getting this second check. It turns out that the SEC fined Invesco funds and the money is being returned to the people that held shares in their funds. Dh and I have two of our mutual funds there. It is a nice time of year to get extra money and I will add that to my $20 challenge!
Prev. total $16,830.00
today 154.00
new total $16,984.00

i just went to the mailbox after playing bridge all afternoon. In it was a check for $236 made payable to me! It is from the invesco fair fund.
I do have Invesco funds, but I don't know why I am getting a check. It says it is my "distribution" I think maybe there was a class action suit or something. Anyway, I will take it and Merry Christmas to me!!
Prev. total $16,586.00
today 236.00
new total $16,822.00

We went to another christmas party last night. This time is was on top of the mountain.
The road to the subdivision is so steep that the county won't even maintain it; the homeowners have to. I don't know how anyone can stand to drive on this road daily. I guess the view is worth it.
The weather people were calling for rain mixed with sleet last night.
On our drive up there, it started snowing!
The party was great. There were about 50 people there and I swear the hostess fixed enough food to feed 200.
However, we kept a close watch on the weather to make sure the snow did not stick to the road. I guess if it did, we would have had a giant slumber party!
Thankfully, the snow did not stick and we made it home safely.
It sure does seem awful cold to not even be winter yet (Dec.21st)

I will be adding my $1's to the challenge today.
Prev. total $16,583.00
today 3.00
new total $16,586.00

I think we are getting fewer christmas cards this year. It use to be that everyone you did business with, sent you a christmas card, a big nice one! So far, we have not received one single christmas card from a business. I guess everyone is tightening their belt.

I did my grocery shopping yesterday and managed to save $5 with my Ingles advantage card. I will add that to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $16,569.00
today 5.00
new total $16,574.00

I got two small checks in the mail yesterday. A $6 rebate check from rite aid and a $3 pinecone survey check. I had a no use gas day yesterday ($2), so I have $11 to add to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $16,097.00
today 11.00
new total $16,108.00

My husband is home for this entire week. In the almost 33 years we have been married, he has worked all the time. 7 days a week, weekends, holidays.

This is the first time that work has been slow. He got a lot down around the house the past few months. (BTW, he is a builder, but specs are not selling here)
He has a house, but the owner wants to do a lot of the work to save money. So dh is out of work until all the painting is done.

He is driving me crazy trying to find something to do. A few months ago, he retiled both the front and back porches. (BIG JOB) He laid rock. He has replaced light fixtures! Last week he replaced all the plumbing on the kitchen sink.
Right now he is replacing the baseboard in the pantry. Our house is staying in tip top shape, that's for sure!!

I sure hope he never retires! Anybody need a handy man??

I have 5 one dollar bills to add to my challenge!
Prev. total $16,087.00
today 5.00
new total $16,092.00

Happy December 1st!! It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. I did my grocery shopping at Ingles this morning and the store played christmas carols the whole time. I don't know how the cashiers can stand listening to christmas music for 8 straight hours a day! (I do like christmas music, don't get me wrong)
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up, so $3 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $16,084.00
today 3.00
new total $16,087.00

I got another chase rewards check in the mail yesterday for $50. That makes over $1000 I have received back from my chase mastercard and I have never paid one penny in interest.
My electric bill was also very low, so I have $130 left over in my budget envelope. I will add that $180 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,904.00
today 180.00
new total $16,084.00

My usual 4th Wednesday of the month check came in. From now on it is going to be $486 a month since Uncle Sam is deducting $97 a month now.
I have $7 in one dollar bills for a grand total of $493 to add to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,401.00
today 493.00
new total $15,894.00

I opened a new certificate of deposit yesterday. The best rate I could get was 2.1% interest.
When I was much younger, we use to say we could easily live on the interest if we had a million dollars in the bank.
Back then, I was a bookkeeper for a small savings and loan. (No computers then, we did everything by hand including figuring the interest.)

We were paying 6% interest on savings accounts and 8% on C.D.'s. That means you could have earned $80,000 in interest if you had a million in c.d.'s
That is over $219 a day in interest.

Today, your one million will earn you a little over $20,000 in interest or $57 dollars a day. $57 dollars a day is pretty hard to live on in this day and age.

Oh well, anyway, I think it will be pretty neat to have a c.d. come due on my birthday next year. I just hope rates head up some day.

I colored my hair today ( I have been doing it my self for over 30 years) so I am adding $100 to my challenge for saving all that money for so long.
Prev. total $15,301.00
today 100.00
new total $15,401.00

Well, my husband got all the outside christmas lights up today. He also put in all new pipes for the kitchen sink and organized the pantry. Sadly, the reason he is getting so much done around the house is because he does not have that much work.
He has a house going on, but the owner wants to do as much of the work himself. Unfortunate to say, the owner is not much of a carpenter so dh is not happy with the workmanship. Dh has a good helper, but the owner does not want to use him. ( or pay him)
Hopefully , the next house will proceed a little smoother.
I did my grocery shopping the other day. According to the receipt. i saved $15 using my advantage card, so I will add that amount to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,286.00
today 15.00
new total $15,301.00

The older I get, the more tired I get of being ripped off. When I use to buy something, (anything) and there was something wrong with it, I just put up with the problem. I don't do that anymore.
I bought some oreo cookies last week and when I opened them on sunday, they were all broken up. I took them back to the grocery store and asked for a new package of cookies. No problem even tho I did not have a receipt. I did that a few months ago with some mints I bought. They were all melted. I have taken back sour cream that had gone bad. From now on, receipt or not, I take it back! It is my hard earned money, not Ingles!!
I did have 2 no use gas days ($4)and 3 one dollar bills left over. Plus I got a $3 pinecone check in the mail yesterday. That gives me a total of $10 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,276.00
today 10.00
new total $15,286.00

It is a beautiful sunday day. dh has even taken his hot rod for a ride to Ace Hardware. It is warmer outside of the house than on the inside. I took my puppy to be groomed Friday and she looks like a different dog, they took off so much hair.
I have 5 one dollar bills to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $15,271.00
today 5.00
new total $15,276.00

I took all of my change to the bank this morning. I try not to spend any of my change except for pennies. It adds up. I have $36 to add to my challenge today.

Prev. total $15,235.00
today 36.00
new total $15,271.00

Ok, I did it almost. I kept track like wonderlake suggested! In case you don't know what I am talking about, I had a colonoscopy yesterday.
I started taking the moviprep at 6 pm on Tuesday night and finished it up by 3 am Wednesday morning. So, I spend all of the night and the next morning going to the pottie!
Then, I spent the rest of yesterday afternoon sleeping, but went out for a nice dinner. Boy, it sure was good to get to eat after having nothing but a few popcicles for 37 hours.
I am adding $80 to my $20 challenge in honor of the colonoscopy!!
Prev. total $15,155.00
today 80.00
new total $15,235.00