I have one of those devices that tests how much electricity you use. So yesterday, I fixed a roast and potatoes in the crock pot.
I wanted to see how much it would cost to run the crock pot all day. I cooked the roast for about 10 hours and it used 1.4 kilowatts, which here, cost about 14 cents. I found that pretty reasonable!

The braves won 2 games in a row; I had a no spend day yesterday, plus I had a no use gas day. I will add $5 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $18,184.00
today 5.00
new total $18,189.00

I opened up a new personal checking account on July 2nd. I never keep a lot of money in my personal checking account because it has never paid any interest.
But, this new account does pay interest, to the tune of 3.1% So, 10 days after I opened the account, the bank paid me $2.02 in interest. Hey, that is $2.02 more than I had!!
I am excited that now my business checking is paying 3.1% interest too. It use to pay me .005% I am going to write myself a check each month and take the interest out and add to my challenge.
Before now, the business account only paid me a few dollars a month. so far, I am up to $72 in interest for the month.
I went to the grocery store yesterday and saved $2 using coupons, so I will add that to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $18,182.00
today 2.00
new total $18,184.00

I had a no use gas day on Thursday and the braves won the night before. I wish I could have more no use gas days, but something always seems to come up. Thank goodness the bank and grocery store are only about 5 miles away.
I called about the cost of propane yesterday.
They have a fill your tank special for $2.55 a gallon or a summer sale for $2.65 a gallon. In August the price will go up to $2.75 a gallon.
I think i will go ahead and fill up my 1000 gallon tank now. that will last me all winter. Gosh, I remember the first year we lived here, we heated the entire winter for about $300!

I will add the $3 I saved on gas and the braves win, to my challenge money.
Prev. total $18,179.00
today 3.00
new total $18,182.00

I got a nice fat check in the mail yesterday. It is from the building supply company that we buy from. I worked out a deal with them a while back, to get a rebate every month. I use to get the checks about 3 times a year but now they are mailed every month. It is a nice way to add to our challenge fund.
Prev. total $17,013.00
today 1,166.00
new total $18,179.00

WE had a pretty good day yesterday. Dh was able to get the tire fixed, so we will not be buying new tire(s).
I filled out a rebate check from Rite aid, so I should be getting about $10 back from them.
I used a coupon for hair coloring and save 5% using my senior card, for a savings of about $2. The braves won Tuesday night, so that is $3 I can add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $17,010.00
today 3.00
new total $17,013.00

lucky 13!!

Wow, when did a whopper go to the price of $3.00?? I guess it is the first time I have had a hamburger at Burger King in years.
We were invited over for a bar b que rib dinner last night. I am a very funny eater. I eat like a two year old. I will not eat fruit, vegetables, salads, seafood, bar b que of any kind, ribs, veal,lamb, pork, etc. etc.
So, when i am invited for dinner, I usually take a hamburger with me so they don't have to fix anything special for me.
However, I was shocked at the price.
Yesterday the stock market went up and I won 6 games of Mah jong, so I can add $7 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $17,003.00
today 10.00
new total $17,010.00

I cleaned out the envelopes again. I had $200 in the van envelope ( old van is paid for, but I still make payments) and $50 in the aarp envelope. I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $16,753.00
today 250.00
new total $17,003.00

Today is bridge day at my house, so i will not be spending any money at all. I did get a good deal on some meat at the grocery store yesterday, so i saved $4 there to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $16,749.00
today 4.00
new total $16,753.00

We went to a great fourth of July party last night. It consisted of all the people that we have met over a local forum. None of us knew each other a few years ago!!
We had hamburgers and hot dogs and each of us brought a covered dish. The host provided us with a lot of really nice fireworks.
Yesterday, I played mah jong and won 6 games. That is $6 I will add to my challange money.
Prev. total $16,743.00
today 6.00
new total $16,749.00

You can get a rite aid card for 10% off on all Tuesdays if you are over 60. I used mine yesterday for a few small things and saved $2, which was 20%. Turns out, they give you 20% off the first tuesday of the month. I also picked up their rebate paper to send in. I will add the $2 plus the $2 I saved by not driving yesterday.
Prev. total $16,739.00
today 4.00
new total $16,743.00

i ordered 2 chase reward checks last week and they just came in today. Two checks and they were for $50 each. They are the rewards I get for using my Chase master card. So far this year, I have received $450 in reward checks. I always add the money to my challenge money, so today I will add $100.
Prev. total $16,639.00
today 100.00
New total $16,739.00

I did do the math yesterday to figure out my net worth for the month. I just don't know if I want to post it to net worth iq this month. My stocks and mutual funds have gone down about $30,000 in one month. I did increase my savings pretty well, but maybe I will just skip posting this month.

I cleaned out all my envelopes yesterday and had about $350 to add to my challenge money. that is the beauty of the envelope system. Every quarter we have 13 paydays and the envelope system only budgets for 12 months, so there is always money left over.

Prev. total $16,289.00
today 350.00
new total $16,639.00

I paid that bill today. It was $55 under the budget in my electricity envelope, so that $55 will get add to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $16,234.00
today 55.00
new total $16,289.00

I am adding my monthly check to the $20 challenge cause I have never spent a penny of it.
Prev. total $15,683.00
today 551.00
new total $16,234.00

I had to take my little holly to the vets today. She has been scratching her ear a lot and it was all tangled up. I had her groomed yesterday and took her to the vet today.
She does have an ear infection, so that was almost $90 for the visit and medicine.
Sometimes it seems to me like doggie visits cost more than people visits. I am just glad that she is feeling better.

The braves won yesterday and I won 4 games of mah jong, so that is $5 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,677.00
today 5.00
new total $15,683.00

We have a store in our town, called, sav a lot. It is a bargain grocery store, but I had never been in the new store. I was very surprised at how nice and clean it is kept.
The meat looks great and is cut right on the premises. The prices on the meat are very good.
The store does not carry a lot of brands that I buy, but I am going to try it out for other things that I need.
The braves won yesterday, the stock market went up slightly and I saved $2 in gas by staying home all day. So that is $4 I will add to my challenge. (I also found 2 pennies on the store floor)
Prev. total $15,673.00
today 4.00
new total $15,677.00

Til Christmas. You didn't want to hear that, did you? I already have my christmas money saved up. Actually, I spent so little money last christmas, that I still have about $1400 in my christmas savings account.

Yesterday, I stayed home all day and used no gasoline. That saved $2, plus I walked a mile and won 5 games of mah jong, so that is $8 more to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $15,665.00
today 8.00
new total $15,673.00

In his blog today, Merch was reminding us that 1/2 of this year is almost over and are we on track for this years goals??
My goals were to pay off my vette, save $20,000 in the $20 challenge and to earn $20,000 in interest.

So far, I HAVE made one goal, I paid off the vette.
I am now 3/4 of the way to saving $20,000 for the $2 challenge.
The only goal I am worried a little about, is making $20,000 in interest. Rates are down for the year (bank rates), but I am over half way there right now.

The stock market and the braves did not cooperate with me yesterday, so I can only add $2 to my challenge money for winning 2 games in mah jong.

Prev. total $15,663.00
today 2.00
new total $15,665.00

I went on line yesterday to order 2 checks from my Chase mastercard rewards card. We charged enough this past month to get 2 $50 checks mailed to us. Of course, most of the charges were for building materials, so the card gets paid off every month.
That is a free $100 I can add to the challenge when it comes in.
In the meantime, the braves won their last two games and I walked over a mile, so that is $3 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,660.00
today 3.00
new total $15,663.00

I filled my gas tank yesterday and only spent $9. However, I only got 2.1 gallons of gasoline. I have decided that if I fill up more often, it will seem less painful.
My dh said he bet the gas station attendant thought that was all I could afford, $9. Now why would I care if the gas station attendant thought I was rich or poor? I guess it does matter to some people. Not to me!!
I won 5 games of mah jong yesterday, so I will add that $5 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,655.00
today 5.00
new total $15,660.00

My bank statement came yesterday and it was for my business account. (lots of checks written) I had not balanced last months, so I sat down with both of them and got them balanced.
It seems that the bank debited our account for the same check twice. Thank goodness it was not for a large sum, only $65.

They found the mistake and I should be credited back on Monday. I can't add that to my challenge, but I can add the $2 I saved in coupons this morning.
Prev. total $15,653.00
today 2.00
new total $15,655.00

I got the electric bill yesterday. It went up to $103. Still not too bad since it has been so hot and I run the a/c a lot.
Yesterday I went to Bi Lo to pick up a few things. I got steak on sale and using my store card, I saved $5. I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,648.00
today 5.00
new total $15,653.00

Ever heard of it? It is a shot you get that can prevent shingles. I just took an online survey about it. I don't go to the doctor very much, but I think I will ask him about it next time. Anyway, I earned 50 cents and learned something at the same time.
I got a dividend check in the mail yesterday from Tim Horton for $15. I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,633.00
today 15.00
new total $15,648.00

I have spent my time the past two days picking out the tile at the tile shop. Gosh there is so much to chose from! I think we got everything all picked out. I did manage to win 4 games of mah jong and the braves won last night, so that is $5 for my challenge.
Prev. total $15,628.00
today 5.00
new total $15,633.00

I have to drive "ole yeller" this week while Big Red gets fixed at the auto body shop.
This car is so weird. It has no keys. It has no door handles. It has a fob that you carry. The door automatically locks itself when you get inside. You push a button to start the car and push a button to get the door to open. The car automatically unlocks itself if you and the fob get within 100 feet.
Well, I stopped at the grocery store to get some crackers and they were BOGO, so I saved $4 to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $15,624.00
today 4.00
New total $15.628.00

To anyone that is lucky enough to have a father or grandfather, give them a kiss for me!! I haven't had a father in 54 years, but I still miss him.
I had a stay home day yesterday, so spent no money and used no gas. That is worth $3 plus $2 more cause the braves won their last 2 games.
Prev. total $15,619.00
today 5.00
new total $15,624.00

I love friday the 13th. On June 13. 1995, I moved to where I now live. That was 13 years ago today!!
I got married on Friday the 13th, 31 years ago. (31=13 turned around)
My p.o box number is 13. My phone number starts with 13!!
I bet you will never guess the last two numbers in dh's social security number??

I had a no spend, no use gas day yesterday and won 2 games of mah jong. That is $5 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $15,614.00
today 5.00
new total $15,619.00

I made a payment on the new car today. The payment on the new vette (yellow) is quite a bit less than on the old vette (red) but I continued putting away the same amount in the car payment envelope. So I have $250 left over to put into my challenge fund.
Prev. total $15,364.00
today 250.00
new total $15,614.00

I had a very frugal day yesterday. I spent no money. I used no gasoline. I did not even go out for supper last night, instead, we had breakfast for dinner. So, I figured i saved at least $20 by staying home and I will add that to my challenge.
Prev. total $15,344.00
today 20.00
new total $15,364.00

I got two more checks in the mail yesterday. Now one check was only for 40 cents.
Years ago, I bought some stock in Food Lion. I held for a while and then sold. Somehow, I must still have one share left cause every once in a while I get a tiny check.
Then, the building supply store that my husband uses for all his purchases, send me a rebate check. They said they are going to do this monthly instead of just a few times a year.
So, these two checks total over $1,015.00. A nice addition to my challenge money.
Prev. total $14,329.00
today 1,015.00
new total $15,344.00