Finally, the braves won, so I can add $2 to my challenge. I also had a no use gas day yesterday, so that is $2 more. Gas is up to $2.35 here (premium) ugh!!
Prev. total $6794.00
today 4.00
new total $6798.00

We stopped at the grocery store last night to pick up a few things. Cranberry juice was on sale, cheetoes were buy one get one free and NY strip steaks were $2.99 a piece! I spent $10 and saved $10. I am adding that $10 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $6784.00
today 10.00
new total $6794.00

I really love the month of May. All the tree leaves are coming out now, the dogwoods are in bloom and everything looks so spring! Plus, I have not had to run either the air or the heat so far this month. That certainly saves money!

I did my weekly grocery shopping yesterday and using my Ingles card, I saved $5. I will put that towards my challenge money.
Prev. total $6779.00
today 5.00
new total $6784.00

I did my net worth yesterday. It did go up a little thanks to the stock market. We are lower in cash, but we are using our own money to finish this house, so I had to transfer $10,000 to my business checking. Then bank will pay us back when the house is done.
We made a trip yesterday to North Carolina to pick out carpet for the new house. Then we stopped at Lowe's to pick out knobs for all the cabinet doors and drawers. We had to buy over 150 knobs and that adds up after a while. Houses always cost more than we think they will. Oh, I have $6 to add to my challenge money; the stock market went up 2 days, the braves won 2 games and I won 2 games of mah jong.
Prev. total $6773.00
today 6.00
new total $6779.00

When I was a kid, we use to celebrate the first day of May at school. we usually had a May pole and a carnival at school.
Well, I celebrated today by going to the bank and cashing in my C.D. They were only offering me a rate of 2.3 % for a jumbo c.d. I am still getting 3.1% in my checking account til June 30th, so I stuck the money in there for now. I had hoped someday to live on the interest on certificates of deposit, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen for a while.
The bank was having customer appreciation day today, so they were mobbed. Besides my check, I also got a free hot dog and some free tomato plants. Yesterday, I got a reward check in the mail from my Chase Mastercard company for $50. That will go towards my $20 challenge.
Prev. balance $6723.00
today 50.00
new total $6773.00

I was watching the Honeymooners on tv last night and Ralph was going to ask his boss for a 5 cents an hour raise. I remember get those type of raises, wow, a whole $2 a week raise. By the time you paid taxes, you barely even noticed the raise.
It is amazing how little we worked for way back then. (and how hard we worked)
Well, the stock market went up on Friday, the braves won 2 games this weekend and I saved $2 using coupons yesterday, so $5 will be added to the challenge.
Prev. total $6718.00
today 5.00
new total $6723.00

I forgot that I got my regular check on the last Wednesday of the month and I always add that to my challenge money. It is for $583 and I will also add the interest, $45 that I earning in my business checking for a total of $628. This month I am donating the interest in my personal checking to the local cancer drive.
Prev. balance $6090.00
628.00
new balance $6718.00

Today, I got asked my NFO my survey to take a short survey for 10 points. I took it and then they offered me a longer survey for 740 points. I jumped right on it. (that is a total of $7.50)
I now have enough points to cash out, so I did and I should get a check in the mail soon. I also ordered a $50 check from my chase mastercard rewards programs. Don't you just love getting checks in the mail? I do!!

I haven't added to the $20 challenge in a few days. My electric bill came in $60 under budget and I have $40 left over in my AARP envelope. I saved $4 at the grocery store on Tuesday, for a grand total of $104 to add to the challenge. That brings me over the $6000 mark!

prev. total $5986.00
today 104.00
new total $6090.00

That was my dh, yesterday. He came home from work early (5 pm) to cut the grass. He had no more than just started, then it started pouring. He took off his good hat, put on a coat and continued cutting for over 3 hours. He was so soaked, he had to undress in the garage. He looked so funny!
The braves won yesterday ($1) and I had a no use gas day ($2). I took in all my change to the bank this morning and got $33 for it. So I have a total of $36 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5950.00
today 36.00
new total $5986.00

Most of you know that my husband was building a very large spec home (4800 square feet) for another couple and the home got foreclosed on. The bank took the house back and then hired my husband to finish it. (He was only two months away from finishing it)
He had to sign a contract and was told he could get draws when he submitted bills on how much work was completed.
Well, he submitted his first bill on april 10th after we had over $15,000 of our money in the project.
By now, we have over $20,000 in the house (buying appliances, sinks, toilets, light fixtures, quartz countertops, etc.), so I was getting a little antzy! I have never dealt with a bank before.
Yesterday, I was so happy to see that the bank had deposited almost $15,000 into my checking account for the first draw. I feel so much better now!

I did my grocery shopping today and saved $8 using my advantage card. I will happily add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5942.00
today 8.00
new total $5950.00

I had 2 no spend, no gasoline use days in a row, tuesday and Wednesday. The stock market went up yesterday and I walked a mile. That makes a total of $6 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5936.00
today 6.00
new total $5942.00

The braves won 3 games in a row this weekend, so I need to add $3 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $3933.00
today 3.00
new total $3936.00

We ordered a new table and 4 chairs for our breakfast room about a month ago. My dh went over to pick them up in North Carolina. He has the chairs, but they sent the wrong table!
So, now we will have to wait another month for the right table to be sent.
Oh well! The good news is I got a $3 check from Pinecone and I had a no use gas yesterday worth $2 to the challenge.
Prev. total $5928.00
today 5.00
today $5933.00

Ingles recently sent out a flyer with lots of coupons. I clipped all the ones for things I always use.
They had a spiral sliced ham on sale for $1.58 a pound. plus a coupon for another $1.50 off. So, I bought a $30 ham for about $12. All in all I saved $30 today using coupons so I will add that to my challenge money. (and now, I have easter dinner)
Prev. total $5898.00
today 30.00
new total $5928.00

I stopped at the grocery store after picking up my taxes at H and R block. I only bought three things, but they were all on sale so I saved $5 there. The braves won last night's game, so I have $6 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5892.00
today 6.00
new total $5898.00

We should really save money by not eating out this week. My dh is working both jobs and is working late tonight. I did pick up something for dinner, but it is so late now and he is not home yet. (after 8 pm). I think we will just have sandwiches.
The braves won their first game and I won 2 games of mah jong, so that is $3 to add to the challenge money.
Prev. total $5889.00
today 3.00
new total $5892.00

My husband took on a remodel job that involves removing part of the roof. It is a 3 man job, with 2 men on the roof and one (the strongest and youngest) on the ground handing up the wood.
He hired 3 men to work.
Not one day this past week did all 3 show up on one day.
Dh is trying to work on the big job, the foreclosure house he is trying to finish inside.
He is over there today trying to work, but today only one man showed up.
There is no work around here, but you still can not get the locals to work full time.
He called me last night to see if we could cancel dinner out which we had planned. He wanted to work until 8 pm.
His plan now, is to go to work at the remodel job every day, work til 4 pm, then go to the foreclosure house and work until at least dark every night.
Poor guy, he has always had this problem. I can remember him leaving for work before dawn and working til after midnight! Many nights!
Guess we will be eating at home for a while the next few months.
Since we stayed home, I am taking the $20 we saved and adding it to the challenge money. Plus I will add $1 for the stock market going up and $2 for winning 2 games of mah jong.
Prev. total $5866.00
today 23.00
new total $5889.00

I put an ad in the paper for my GE profile refrigerator. I asked for $200 or best offer. I showed it yesterday and the lady (a local) wrote me out a check for $200.
So, that will be added to my challenge money today!
Prev. total $5666.00
today 200.00
new total $5866.00

I got a check in the mail from the Wendy's Arby's group. I do have over 500 shares of stock, but I have no idea what the check is for. But it is $8 and change I will add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5658
today 8
new total $5666

Well, the past month or so, we have started to eat dinner at home more often. For the last couple of years, we have eaten out almost every night. Mostly, because I got tired of planning meals and cooking. Second, we can usually eat out for less than $20 for both of us. Third, there is no clean up involved.
I guess it is the economy, but we have decided to eat at home more often. It does not have to be a big meal. We often have breakfast for dinner. The other night, I just had a grilled cheese sandwich.
We have noticed that the restaurant is not as busy during the week as it used to be. So many people in our area have lost their jobs, cause this is mainly a construction town.
Yesterday, the stock market went up and I won 2 games of mah jong, so $3 goes to the challenge.
Prev. total $5655.00
today 3.00
new total $5658.00

I am glad to see this month end. It does not feel like spring at all. It has been very rainy all week (we need it) and still so darn cold. It is still in the low 30's in the morning, but we do have a few blooms on the trees.
I am having a cookout tomorrow and I was able to find ground chuck on sale today, so I saved a little over $3 which I will add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5652.00
today 3.00
new total $5655.00

I just got my mail and I got a check from a local building supply place that gives us back a rebate.
We never know when we will get a check (or if now a days) but it is always nice to get one. I love adding it to my $20 challenge money!!
Prev. total $5580.00
today 72.00
new total $5652.00

Yes, I dress in the closet. We have a large walk in closet. As with many of the houses dh designs and builds, all of the dresser drawers are built in the closet.
I wish you could see the closet he is building at the big house!! It is the size of a bedroom and has so much room. Shoe racks, purse racks, long hanging clothes, shorter hanging rods and 24 dresser drawers; it has it all! Even a place to sit down to tie your shoes.
My close is nice, 18 dresser drawers, but not as big as this one!
Any woman would drool!
So far, he has been working on the house for two days and has had lookers both days.
I didn't spend any money yesterday except for buying groceries. I managed to save $5 using my advantage card, so that will be added to the challenge.
Prev. total $5575.00
today 5.00
new total $5580.00

I just got another rewards check from my Chase master card. I normally earn $50 every month. I will add this to my challenge!
Prev. total $5525.00
today 50.00
new total $5575.00

Today is not a very nice weather day. It is rainy and very windy. A good day to stay home, but I just signed up for a bridge class and this afternoon is the first class. Plus, I need to go to the grocery store and the bank. So, out I will go. I won't melt for sure.
I found an extra $50 tucked away in one of my many envelopes, plus the stock market went up yesterday and I had a no use gas day, so $53 to be added to the $20 challenge!
Prev. total $5472.00
today 53.00
new total $5525.00

Today is the day I receive my regular monthly check for $583. That always goes into my challenge. I also earned $50 in interest in my business checking and had $60 left over in the budget from my electric bill. That is a total of $693 that I can add to the $20 challenge today.
Prev. total $4779.00
today 693.00
new total $5472.00

DH worked really hard this weekend. He got the house all pressured washed. Then we washed all of the (over 50) windows inside and out, taking off the grills too. He then replaced the trim work around all the outside lights. It was a hard job cause we have a large two story house, so much of the work was done on a ladder.
But the house looks brand new!
I had a no use gas day yesterday and won 2 games of mah jong, so I am adding $4 to my challenge money.

My husband has not had much work to do lately. His house is finished and he has to wait til the lights and water are turned on at the house he was hired to finish.
So, He has been cleaning this place up. Yesterday he pressure washed the house all day long and cleaned all the windows outside. Today, he has cleaned all the windows on the inside.
He has headed off to Home depot to pick up some trim on some outside lights that have rusted. I get tired just watching that man work!!
I did managed to get some bookwork done and worked on my taxes. I always have to pay, so I am never in a hurry.
Yesterday was a no use gas day ($2) and I won 2 games of mah jong ($2) I have $30 in my aarp envelope, so I have $34 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $4741.00
today 34.00
new total $4775.00