I don't think he has taken an entire weekend off in the 25 years we have lived here, except on vacations!
Of course, he is NOT laying around, watching tv.
Yesterday, he cut grass (2 acres) weed eated, and spread mulch. Today he is trimming bushes. He has washed and waxed all 3 corvettes, even the old one.
I can hear him vaccumming out in the garage right now. Of course, he fixed dinner last night and will do so again tonight. I wish I had his energy.
He took me grocery shopping yesterday and I saved $6 using my advantage card. The braves won 2 games in a row, so that is $2 more, for a total of $8 to add to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $12,083.00
today 8.00
new total $12,091.00

I got a pinecone check in the mail yesterday. The checks are only for $3 now, but the surveys are much shorter and you get them more often too. I have not even deposited the check I got about a week or so ago.
The stock market went up on Friday and the braves won yesterday, so that is a total of $5 to add to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $12,074.00
today 5.00
new total $12,079.00

The bear that got into the bird feeders last month, came back again this weekend. It knocked down both feeders and emptied them out. (I had just filled them) I guess we need to start taking them in, every night! We live in a very nice subdivison, but there are woods across the creek. Apparently, the bear lives in that woods. It makes me a little nervous to know there is a bear that close. (I have small dogs)
Well, sunday, the braves won ($1), the stock market went up yesterday ($1) and I had a no use gas day on Sunday ($2).

I did splurge and buy a large red bull at Hallmark today. The bull is named El Toro and he moves and sings a love song. He even came with batteries. I got a good deal on him, he was $20 but marked down to $1. Heck, the batteries were worth that. I am giving that to my husband as a gag gift and then he will probably be given to the puppy to play with.
Prev. total $12,064.00
today 4.00
new total $12,068.00

i was bored yesterday and turned on QVC. (the shopping program) I found myself writing down the numbers on several garments that looked really cute on the model.
I use to order a lot of things from QVC but I have broken that habit. I saw some really cute blouses yesterday, but they were all long sleeves. I had to remind myself that I NEVER wear long sleeves, I am always too hot. I don't spend any time outside in the winter, so I have plenty of blouses that I seldom ever wear.
SoI had a NSD and used no gas also.($2) The braves won ($1) and the stock market went up. ($1) That is $4 to add to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $12,060.00
today 4.00
new total 12,064.00

I did my grocery shopping today. Last week, I looked for the mini oreos and the store was out of them. Today, I looked again, still out!! So, I went to Bi Lo to buy some, but there were none to be found!
Mini oreos are one of the favorite snacks for my bridge playing Monday group. They are a one bite cookie and your fingers stay clean!
Is somebody out there stacking up on these tiny cookies?? What will we do on Monday!
We also like the new candy, kissables, but they are very difficult to find also.
Oh well, we will manage somehow.

I got my usual monthly check yesterday for $583. The braves won 2 games ($2), I had a no use gas day yesterday ($2) and the stock market went up yesterday ($1). So a total of $588 will be added to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $11,472.00
today 588.00
new total $12,060.00

DH is smoking his first turkey. First, he went to work today until 2 pm and now he has the turkey in the grill, smoking it. We got the turkey for free, but I seldom ever cook turkey. It is just too much for the two of us. He has decided that he is going to have lunches for work for the next two weeks or until he is sick of turkey.
So, He is now out cutting grass and checking on his turkey.
Obviously, we have had a bear in our yard, cause dh just informed me that there is a BIG huge poop out by the garden and it is full of berries!
As for the $20 challenge, I got a check from NFO my survey for $10 and I had a no use gas day yesterday, so $12 for the challenge!
Prev. total $11,454.00
today 12.00
new total $11,466.00

I thought once spring got here, the deer would really slow down. But they still come to the feeder several times a day. We see a lot of them around 8:30 every night, but I also see a few of them in the daytime. My dh buys the feed (corn) out of his allowance.
Yesterday, I had a no use gas day ($2), the market went up slightly ($1) and the braves beat the mets. ($1) That is $4 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $11,450.00
today 4.00
new total $11,454.00

My dh has really been working around the house. He has had some time off this year since he finished his last two houses. He has pressure washed the house and has been working in the yard.
He has planted lots of rose bushes and other blooming plants; our yard looks wonderful.
Well, the braves won last night and the stock market went up 3 days in a row, so I will add $4 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $11,446.00
today 4.00
new total $11,450.00

We went to a party Saturday night. It was a "christmas in July" party and they had an upside down christmas tree. I had seen them in catalogs, but never in person. They are really kind of neat and certainly room saving.
This Christmas party was to benefit our local animal shelter, which is a no kill shelter. We all brought presents for the animals. I brought dog food and wrote out a check.
It really was lots of fun and a nice thing to do for the shelter.
I finally took my change to the bank this morning, so I have $43 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $11,403.00
today 43.00
new total $11,446.00

I have been falling behind in my postings. Have a new puppy takes a lot of time out of my day. I have not kept up with the braves or the stock market. I do know that the braves won 4 times in a row last week, so I will add $4 to my challenge money. I also got a rebate check from a building place for $288, so that will be added also.
I did spend about $25 on some refreshments for a 4th of July party I went to on Saturday, but other that that, I am pretty much in budget. My puppy has an ear infection I have been treating for a month and I sure hope she gets a clean bill of health on Thursday. I have really spent a lot of vet bills this year!
Prev. total $11,106.00
today 292.00
new total $11,398.00

I am stocking up on diet sprite. It is the only thing we drink w/ mixed drinks because it has no calories or caffeine. A 12 pack here usually goes for close to $4.50 each, but this week it is on sale for 4 for $10. That just saved me $8 which I will add to the challenge money. I also got a free watermelon from Ingles.
Prev. total $11,098.00
today 8.00
new total $11,106.00

I got my chase reward check for $50 yesterday. I have gotten at least one check each month since I got their mastercard, for a total of $1000. I also saved $6 on steak that I bought at Bi Lo yesterday, so a total of $56 to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $11,042.00
today 56.00
new total $11,098.00

I sat down to pay my EOM bills this morning. My electric bill was only $100 and I budget $160 per month for it. I also had extra money left in my water/garbage envelope and blue cross envelope. all in all, I have an extra
$280 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $10,762.00
today 280.00
new total $11,042.00

My usual monthly check came in yesterday and of course, was immediately added to the $20 challenge.
I have been kept very busy house breaking the new puppy. She is getting the idea, cause she licks her lips when she goes. she knows she is going to get a treat when we go inside.
But she is still have plenty of accidents. Good thing she is so cute!
She has had an ear infection, so that was costly. Hopefully it will be cleared up when we go back to the vets this monday.
Prev. total $10,179.00
today 583.00
new total $10,762.00

I am having another good day, just like yesterday. My puppy (knock on wood) has not had one accident so far today. I take her out every hour.
I did my grocery shopping this morning and saved $6 using my advantage card.
Then I received a check for $15 in the mail from the Tim Horton company, so I have $21 to add to my challenge money.
There is a big car show here tomorrow at the park, but I am not going. It is supposed to hit 100 tomorrow, so I will stay home in the A/C!
Prev. total $10,158.00
today 21.00
new total $10,179.00

I am trying to house break the puppy and it is really time consuming! I give her a treat when she goes outside, but she is still having so many accidents!
Anyone have any suggestions?

I have had two no use gasoline days this week. Gas here (premium) is now up to $2.80 a gallon, so it adds up. I will add $4 ($2 a day) to my challenge money.
Prev. total $10,142.00
today 4.00
new total $10,146.00

We received a letter in the mail yesterday from the couple whose new house, my husband just finished building.

They were thrilled with the house and said that my dh was the best builder in the world and it was the best house they had ever had built! The letter went on and on and they even praised my bookkeeping.

We were totally shocked to find a check for $1500 they were giving dh as a bonus!
I am certainly adding that to my $20 challenge!!

Prev. total $8642.00
today 1500.00
new total $10142.00

I opened 3 checking accounts last summer, one for business, one for personal and one for local savings. They all promised a rate of 3.1% til the end of June 2009. Well, that is fast approaching, and I wonder what the rate will drop to? Heck, it is even hard to find 2.5% on a good c.d.
I am sitting on a lot of cash waiting til the housing market picks up, so I don't know what I will do.
I did get a good deal on ragu spagetti sauce this morning. Bi Lo had it for 99 cents a year, so I bought 4 and saved a least $4. Plus the braves came from behind to win yesterday, so I have $5 more to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $8526.00
today 5.00
new total $8531.00

I haven't forgotten about the $20 challenge, I have just been busy with the new puppy, Molly. She is so sweet, but has sharp puppy teeth!
I have not kept up with the braves this week, but I know the stock market went up yesterday and I saved $5 using coupons and my Ingles card today. I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $8520.00
today 6.00
new total $8526.00

We got a new baby girl puppy on sunday. She is a malti-poo. Her mother was a poodle and her father was a maltese. She is so cute, but not house broken at all. As a matter of fact, she has never been outside, on the grass and never worn a lease. So far, she seems to be getting along with my little poodle, Holly.
I did get a rewards check from my Chase mastercard yesterday for $50; the braves won on sunday and the stock market went up yesterday. That is $52 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $8468.00
today 52.00
new total $8520.00

I check my bank accounts every day and today I discovered a deposit of $250. It was my stimulus check from the government. It will go straight to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $8218.00
today 250.00
new total $8468.00

My regular check came in, today. It comes into my bank on the 4th Wednesday of the month. I am taking my check ($583), the interest paid by my business checking account ($70) and my AARP insurance money ($50) to add to my $20 challenge, for a total of $703.00
Prev. total $7515.00
today 703.00
new total $8218.00

That is how much I earned in interest in my savings account this month. The reason it is so much is that I had a CD come due on May 1st. They were only going to pay 2.2% interest so I put the money in my savings.
I opened 3 new checking accounts last July because my local bank was offering 3.1% interest on checking accounts, good until June 30th 2009.
I opened a personal checking , a business checking and a checking account that I use for my liquid savings account.

Just one more month and that nice rate will run out. I can't seem to find any bank that is paying more than 2.6% on C.D's any more. Sure hope the rates start to rise again. Remember the good old days when you could get 5% interest on your money?
I saved $4 at the grocery store today using coupons and the braves won last night, so $5 more to the challenge.
Prev. total $7510.00
today 5.00
new total $7515.00

I got another check in the mail yesterday. It was from Pinecone for $3. I have been expecting a check from rite aid for a rebate. The last rebate I mailed in must have been lost in the mail. I did this rebate online a month ago and still have not received the check. When I check the status, it says I did not fill in my receipt. When I fill in the receipt, it says "you have already submitted this" I don't know if this is a scam or not, but I can't seem to ever get a check from them.
Oh well, the braves won yesterday so with that and the Pinecone check, I will add $4 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $7506.00
today 4.00
new total $7510.00

I hope all of you have a great weekend. I was brought up that memorial day was May 30th and I still celebrate on that day. My hd has been doing lots of landscaping around the yard and it looks great. I now have some beautiful double knock out roses. Of course, he has been spending money but the yard looks very nice.
The braves lost last night, but they won the previous two days and the stock market went up, so $3 to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $7503.00
today 3.00
new total $7506.00

I kind of wondered why my $20 challege was not going as well as it has the past two years. I forgot that when I paid off a piece of property called "The Ridge" I started putting that money into a car fund. I am still doing that but have forgotten to add it to my challenge money. This morning, I added $480 to my car fund and another $80 for being underbudget on my electric bill. that is $560 more to the challenge. I guess I should go back and figure out how much Ridge money I have saved so far this year and bring my challenge up to date.
Prev. total $6943.00
today 560.00
new total $7503.00

May has been an expensive month so far. My dh changed eye doctors and he went in for a complete exam. The exam and new glasses came to $840.
Then my cook top started acting up. Two of the burners suddenly had a mind of their own and would boil things on low. We had to spend almost $900 to get a new one. Luckily my dh could install it himself.
Today, dh is home and doing landscaping. I don't even want to know how much he has spent today on his trips to home depot and Ace.
Well, the good news is that I got an unexpected check for $19 from state farm and the braves won 4 0f their last 5 games. That is $23 more for the challenge.
Prev. total $6920.00
today 23.00
new total $6943.00

I have had 2 no spend, no use gas days in a row. so, i will add $4 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $6916.00
today 4.00
new total $6920.00

I really did! Also, my dh bought me another orchid for mother's day. He bought me one for valentine's day and I have not killed it yet, so he got me another one. I don't know anything about orchids but this one is awfully wet, so I took it out of the outside pot and hope it will dry out. Dh says he has had it for a week (at the house he is building) and has not watered it at all.
I did my grocery shopping this morning and saved $7 using coupons and the Ingles advantage card. The braves won yesterday, so a total of $8 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $6908.00
today 8.00
new total $6916.00

I paid my mid month bills today. I budget $20 a week for water and garbage. Usually my bill for water is $18 a month and I pay for garbage $75 for every quarter ( 3 months). I have over $100 left in the envelope, so I am adding the $100 to my challenge account.
Plus, I got a $10 check in the mail from nfomysurvey, so $110 is a good addition today!

Prev. total $6798.00
today 110.00
new total $6908.00