I had a no spend day yesterday. I stayed home and used no gas. I played mah jong and won 4 games (finally!), so I will add $5 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $25,364.00
today 5.00
new total $25,369.00

I am pretty happy with most of the goals that I set for myself this year, especially my $20 challenge goal. I wanted to save at least $20,000 and I did and then some. I also earned the amount of interest I set my goal for and paid off my car.
I plan to try and save at least $20,000 for next year's 2009 $20 challenge, but it may be hard. Work is slowing down, my husband has had no floor plans to draw and things like his health insurance, garbage pick up and electricity has all just gone up. The power bill (per KWH) just increased about 25%
Anyway, yesterday I saved $3 at the grocery store, the stock market went up and I won 1 game of mah jong, so I will add $5 to the challenge.
Prev. total $25,359.00
today 5.00
new total $25,364.00

We had a wonderful quiet christmas here. The weather was perfect, sunny and about 60. we ate all day, including most of the cookies that I made. My "check" came in on christmas eve, so I transfered that plus the $59 in interest that I made in the business checking account over to my savings, for the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $24,749.00
today 610.00
new total $25,359.00


Ho Ho Ho!!!!!!!!

Everyone that knows me, knows I am an Elvis fan. I have an Elvis bedroom with all my collectibles in there and I keep an Elvis throw in the back of my red corvette, so everyone knows it's mine.

Dh brought home gifts last night from the people he is building a house for. My gift was a leather liquor carrier, with a bottle of Elvis champagne inside and a chiller. The champagne is bottled in California by "Graceland distillers"

The name of the champagne is "All shook Up"!! I am thrilled.

I won 3 games of mah jong on Monday, so I need to add $3 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $24,746.00
today 3.00
new total $24,749.00

It seems like bad timing, but property taxes are due today. I got mine paid; I always wait til the last minute. we are lucky that taxes here are lower than most states.
On Friday, I "lost" my link to the mah jong game I like to play. Well, I didn't lose it, but it acted up and would not correct.
I found an new one that was similar but much harder and I did not win one game all day.
However, I shocked myself by winning 3 games yesterday. I also had a no use gas day yesterday, so that is $5 that I am adding to my challenge money.
Prev. total $24,741.00
today 5.00
new total $24,746.00

Today is the first day of winter although it has been a very cold month so far. It is also the shortest day of the year. That is good, cause now the days will start getting longer.
I did my grocery shopping this morning. I bought several things I did not need (yet) because they were on sale. According to my receipt, I saved $10 using my advantage card. I will add that to the challenge.
Prev. total $24,731.00
today 10.00
new total $24,741.00

Well, actually, I just gift bagged them, so it didn't take much time at all. I don't even write on the tags. They are all for dh and I put his on one side of the tree and mine on the other side.
We have really cut down over the years cause we just don't need anything. I did have a throw blanket made for his yellow vette. It has a picture of our house with the yellow vette parked in front. We keep these throws in the back part of the vettes to keep the carpet very clean. My throw is of elvis, but I got him something personal.
Yesterday, I had a no use gas day and won 3 games of mah jong, so I have $5 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $24,726.00
today 5.00
new total $24,731.00

Three years ago, I ordered an assortment of gift bags and tissue paper from QVC for about $25. It was some of the smartest money I have ever spent. There is just my husband and I and we reuse those gift bags every year. It sure does save a lot of time. I use to hate wrapping presents. Now, we just open the gift bag!!
They had pies on sale yesterday, so I bought one for christmas dinner and saved $2.
Challenge money
Prev. total $$24,724.00
today 2.00
new total $24,726.00

I just got my mail and I got two small checks in the mail. One was for $10 from NFO my survey and the other was from Wendy's Arby's group for $8. That is $18 more for the challenge.
Oh and I bought a package of pork chops that was marked down $2, so that makes $20 I can add today.
Prev. total $$24,704.00
today 20.00
new total $24,724.00

I had to buy prilosec for dh on Saturday. He takes it every day. I buy the biggest package, which is $29.99. we use to have to pay $120 a month for just 30 pills, now it is $29.99 for 42 pills.
Ingles had the pills on sale for $2 off and right under the pills were coupons for $3 off, so I saved $5.
Then, we were planning on going out to eat dinner Saturday night, but at the last minute decided to stay home and watched the movie, "Fargo", so that saved us at least $20. So I will add that $25 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $24,679.00
today 25.00
new total $24,704.00

They are calling for snow tonight, so I went to the grocery store to stock up on a few things.Using my Ingles advantage card, I saved $6 on groceries. I am also paying myself $1 for the stock market going up yesterday, $2 for not using gas yesterday and $1 for walking a mile. That gives me a grand total of $10 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $24,669.00
today 10.00
new total $24,679.00

I just read an article about the personal management badge, which boy scouts between 12-17 have to earn. It teaches them about simple, compound interest, mutual funds and certificates of deposit. They also learn why good credit is so important. Good for the boy scout leaders to teach these boys about money.
Well, I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up on Monday, so I will add $3 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $24,666.00
today 3.00
new total $24,669.00

Well, I am having a no spend day today and we are grilling steaks tonight, so no eating out this evening. I did get a Tim Hortons dividend check in the mail yesterday, so I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $24,654.00
today 12.00
new total $24,666.00

Today, I took in all the change that was in the change jar. It was getting full due to my husband's contribution last week. I got $47 to add to the $20 challenge, plus I have $60 left over from my car fund envelope. That is $107 that I can add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $24,547.00
today 107.00
new total $24,654.00

My dh came home after 2 hours at work. The snow was getting worse and he did not want to spend the night there, so he got home by noon. This afternoon, he cleaned out his van and he gave me all his change. I did pretty well. He had $13.85 in change. He had over 60 pennies too. I use pennies and never save them. I add them to the change jar and will take them into the bank one day.

I also got the money out of my "eating out" envelope when I paid my charge card. I have $32 more in there than I needed, so that gets added to the challenge today.
Prev. total $24,515.00
today 32.00
new total $24,547.00

When we woke up this morning, it was snowing. It looks like it will snow all day. Dh managed to make it to work; hope he can make it home ok.
i am adding my usual end of the month check to my challenge. I also withdraw the interest from my business checking now that I am earning interest on it. That is a total of $610 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $23,905.00
today 610.00
new total $24,515.00

OMG, my driver's license expired last week on my birthday. I never even thought about it til Tuesday night. I thought we received notice in the mail to renew it. My dh did and he renewed for 10 years. So, I went down there today with my fingers crossed.
Turns out, you have to be 59 or younger to renew by mail. No penalty, but I had to take an eye exam. I was worried cause I have never had an eye exam. I wear reading glasses to read, but they are the kind you buy at the dollar store.

I took the test with my glasses on and could not see one number. Then, I took them off and I could read every number.
So, I am a licensed driver again!! I have had a license for 50 years with no accidents and no tickets.

When I gor home, I had received a $50 check from my Chase reward's master card. That makes $650 for the year and I will add it to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $23,855.00
today 50.00
new total $23,905.00

I was awakened before 6 a.m. by several cars full of hunters.
Back in 1957, the owner of this subdivision (well he was til he sold all the lots) had a father that purchased 300 acres on this side of the creek and 200 acres on the other side. He paid $25 an acre. He left it all to his one son, who has built a house in this subdivision. He sold the rest of the lots and most of them have houses, on one side of the creek, but he kept the 200 acres on the other side of the creek for his private hunting. A few years ago, this man put in a private bridge to his 200 acres. He keeps a chain across it so that no one can access it.
He and his son are big on hunting. Apparently, he invited a bunch of his friends to go hunting this morning cause several cars drove down here before 6 am.
The headlights woke me up.

Thank goodness, dh is NOT a hunter. Instead, he is a worker and that is what he is doing right now. Yup, he got up and went to work today. We will have our turkey for dinner tonight.

The stock market went up three days in a row, so I will add to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $23,852.00
today 3.00
new total $23,855.00

I got a check from Sears today. A few months ago, we bought a new refrigerator from Sears and I think this is a rebate of the delivery charge. Anyway, I had forgotten about it, so it was a nice surprise and I will add it to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $23,777.00
today 75.00
new total $23,852.00

A few months ago, I was looking for a birthday card for a friend. I was in Rite Aid, and I saw cards that played songs when you opened them. One of them played "wipe out", my favorite song to dance to. I told my husband that I had found the perfect card for me.

Bless his heart, he has been trying to buy me that card for a month now and the store is always sold out! He gave me a very nice card this morning and 3 rose bushes, but nothing that played "Wipe Out". However, it is the thought that counts!

I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market finally went up on Friday, so $3 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $22,958.00
today 3.00
new total $22,961.00

Now, I will go and dance to "wipe out"!!

That is what I paid for a turkey today. I think that is a pretty good price. If I spend another $45 or more next week, I can get a free turkey. I don't cook turkey very often, as much as we like it. There is just two of us and it seems to last forever.
According to my advantage card, I saved $5 on groceries today, so I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $22,953.00
today 5.00
new total $22,958.00

Finally, the stock market went up yesterday for the first time in a while. I had a no use gas day and I walked a mile. all in all, that gives me $4 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $22,949.00
today 4.00
new total $22,953.00

There were two beautiful dogs at my house when I got up this morning. I hoped they were not dropped off. They are both white, no collar, and looked like huskeys. One of them has blue eyes. It is getting so cold out now. I sure hope they can find their way back home because our shelter is full and will not take any more animals til some are adopted. We have a no kill shelter.
I played mah jong yesterday and won 3 times so I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $22,946.00
today 3.00
new total $22,949.00

We eat out most Friday and Saturday nights unless we are invited to a party. Last night the weather was yucky, rainy, about to sleet and dh asked if we could stay home and eat. Luckily, I had gone grocery shopping yesterday, so I had food in the house. Even tho the weather was nasty, dh cooked burgers on the grill. He makes the best burger! He should open up a burger stand!!
Anyway, I know we saved at least $20 on the meal, so I will add it to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $22,926.00
today 20.00
new total $22,946.00

I have been trying all day to go grocery shopping but this weather is so strange. It will be bright and sunny one minute, then raining the next minute. So, I keep getting ready and then I have to wait cause it is raining again.
Tonight they are calling for snow? In the middle of Novmember?? In Georgia??
Anyway, I finally got my shopping done and according to my receipt, I saved $7 using my advantage card today, so i will add that to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $22,919.00
today 7.00
new total $22,926.00

Yesterday I recieved a letter from Sears. I just bought a new GE refrigerator to replace my old one cause the ice maker was leaking.
The letter thanked me for my purchase and went on to say that they took a poll about appliances. Apparently, people are more concerned about price than they are workmanship in appliances.

So, the owner went on to say, appliances are not made as well as they use to be.(My refrig cost the same as it did 12 years ago.)
He strongly urged that we buy a protection plan so that the refrigerator could be worked on and repaired for free instead of being replaced when it messes up.
I think it is funny that they are admitting that things are not made as well as they use to be.
Well, the market went up yesterday and I had a no use gas day, so I will add $3 to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $22,916.00
today 3.00
new total $22,919.00

That is the amount of interest I earned on my personal checking account. I have had a personal checking account for about 40 years and never earned any interest, so this is nice. I am keeping track of it and am going to use this as my "mad money" For example, I will use it to update my subscription to Money magazine and to Debt proof living. (use to be cheapskate monthly, a newsletter that I enjoy.)
I had 2 no use gas days this week, so I will add this to my challenge money.
prev. total $22,912.00
today 4.00
new total $22,916.00

I have prided myself in having my savings account go up every month since we had our last closing a year ago last January.
This month it is different.
WE had to pull out $6500 from our savings to pay some customers bills, as I explained in my last post.
We had to spend $1000 to replace the refrigerator.
My dh decided to redo the old corvette and so far he has spent $1000 on parts for it.
Now I have an expensive hand painted pedestal sink and faucet coming in, to the tune of $1300. I have no use for the sink now, but it was ordered months ago, so we will have to pay for it.
All I can do, is just keep plugging away, saving money any other way I can.

Well, the stock market did go up yesterday and I won 2 games of mah jong, so that is $3 more to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $22,906.00
today 3.00
new total $22,909.00

Monday is a holiday and Tuesday is Veteran's Day. Today I made a donation and received a poppy to carry with me.
I am going to two parties this weekend, one Saturday night and one on Sunday night. So, I thought I would get my grocery shopping done today. I used my Ingles Advantage card and saved $3 which will be added to the challenge money.
Prev. total $22,903.00
today 3.00
new total $22,906.00

A nice check arrived in the mail yesterday for $150. My husband did a winterize job for a house that a local bank is foreclosing on. They can't turn the power on until they get the house back and they are afraid that the pipes will freeze. There are so many foreclosures in our paper right now. Sadly, I know many of the people and a lot of them are builders like us. Times are really getting hard right now and I don't see things getting any better for a long time. Well, I will add the money to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $22,753.00
today 150.00
new total $22,903.00