I spent most of the day playing mahjong yesterday. Well, that kept me from spending money. I had four no spend days this past week, plus the stock market went up on Friday, so that is $5 more to the challenge.
prev. total $2066.00
today 5.00
new total $2071.00

We went shopping yesterday and stopped and looked at all the how to books at Lowes! By the time we got back to town it was too late to eat at our usual place. (Our town closes up at 8pm.) So, we ate at Wendys and that saved us $12 in food, so I am adding that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2054.00
today 12.00
new total $2066.00

I went grocery shopping this morning. I like going on sunday mornings when the stores are so quiet. My dh and I eat an egg for breakfast every morning, so I need to buy a dozen every week. I saw a dozen fancy brown eggs for sale for $4.50. I could not believe my eyes.
No, they did not come home with me.

Yesterday, I had a no spend, no gas use day plus I walked over a mile. I saved $2 today by using my advantage card. That is $5 more to add to the challenge.
prev. total $2049.00
today 5.00
new total $2054.00

We have had a problem lately. The neighbor's young, male german shepherd is in love with my 5 pound, female poodle, Holly.
He is here all the time.
We have very low to the floor windows and he follows us from room to room. When I put Holly in the pantry, I went back to find the 150 pound shepherd standing with his front paws on the window ledge staring in at Holly. He was trying to figure out how to get inside. You may have already figured that Holly is in heat!
On the money front, I had a no spend day, no use gas day and I walked over a mile. That is $3 more to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2046.00
today 3.00
new total $2049.00

WE had dinner at home last night. It had been snowing a little during the day and we just weren't sure of the weather. So I am going to add the $20 we would have spent to the challenge money. We are going out tonight with a group of about 9.
Prev. total $2026.00
today 20.00
new total $2046.00

They are calling for snow tonight, so we will be dining in. I ran to the store for a few things for dinner and with my store card and a doubled coupon, I saved $3. Then I stopped and bought the kind of candy all the bridge players love. Kissables, and they were on sale for $1.50 off price, so I got two bags. That is $6 in savings for the challenge to day.
Prev. total $2020.00
today 6.00
new total $2026.00

We played bridge today, so it was another no spend day for me!! I see that the stock market was up today, so that is two dollars more to add to my challenge.
Prev.total $2020.00
today 2.00
new total $2022.00

Well, I had another no spend and no use of gas day yesterday. These are getting easier! I will add $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2018.00
today 2.00
new total $2020.00

I went grocery shopping yesterday. I always use to shop on sunday cause things are slow, especially in the morning. However, lately, I have been going on Friday, when it is so busy.
I had a couple of coupons plus i used my advantage card. I only spent about $40 ($7 on elations) and I saved $6 with my coupons and my card. So, I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2012.00
today 6.00
new total $2018.00

We cancelled the small policy we had on dh a few months ago. So now, I just take the monthly premium and add it to the challenge money.
Prev. total $1972.00
today 40.00
new total $2012.00

Yeah, over $2000 so far!!

The stock market went up slightly today, the first time this week. I had a no spend day yesterday, so i will add $2 to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $1970.00
today 2.00
new total $1972.00

I really did!! I have some large tins and I have always used them to save for different goals. Then I put a picture on them to remind me of these goals.
For example, for the past few years, my goal has been to pay off a piece of property that we bought in a small subdivision. It has fantastic views of the mountain. The subdivision was called "The ridge at Owltown"

I took a picture of the view from the property and put it on one of my tins and called it "The Ridge" money. I tried to put something in that tin everyday, even if it was only $1. I thought I had all the money out of the tin, I paid off the ridge almost a year ago.
Today, I was looking around in the cabinet and looked in the tin. 3 $20 bills were in there, so yeah, now they go into the challenge money.
Prev. total $1910.00
today 60.00
new total $1970.00

I use the Ridge money for my car payment, but there is more in the envelope than I need to pay on the new car. I add the balance to my challenge money every few weeks or so.
Prev. total $1910.00
today 280.00
new total $2190.00

Well, I had a no spend, no use gas day yesterday. I also walked a mile. So, I am adding $3 to the challenge money.

Prev. total $1907.00
today 3.00
new total $1910.00

I really expected last month's electric bill to be higher. We had a christmas party, so we had a big tree. Then my dh really put up a lot of christmas lights outside and we burned them every night up and including New Year's eve.
I was surprised when the bill came to less than $100. Since I budget $160, that gives me $60 left to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1847.00
today 60.00
new total $1907.00

Hmm, 1907. That was the year my mother was born!! A very long time ago.

The stock market went up two days in a row! Of course, no way did it make up for how much it went down the month of january. I figure that my mutual funds are down by about $30,000 for the month. However, I can add $2 to my challenge money for the two UP days.
Prev. total $1845.00
today 2.00
new total $1847.00

I took in all my change this morning. I try and take it in once a month. So, I now have $42 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1803.00
today 42.00
new total $1845.00

I ordered 2 checks from my Chase Reward Master Card last week. That makes a total of 3 $50 checks that I received from Chase during the month of January. So I now have 2 more $50 checks to add to the challenge.
My dh uses that master card at Home Depot and Lowes to buy plumbing and electrical supplies for the house that he is building. Keep on charging, I love those Reward checks!!!!!!!
Prev. total $1703.00
today 100.00
new total $1803.00

We had dinner at home last night. I enjoy going out to eat every night as most of you know. However, lately, things have been so slow at the restaurant and during the week, they have been closing early.
If we have to eat that early, we might as well stay home and eat, so that is what we did last night.
So, I saved $20 by not eating out and I am going to add that to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $1683.00
today 20.00
new total $1703.00

I opened a c.d. last Thursday at a new bank. They have been advertising their c.d. rate of 4.8 % for about 2 weeks. In yesterday's paper (we have a once a week paper) there ad was about their hours, not their good rates. Looks like I lucked up and got into a good rate, just under the wire!

Does anyone remember when if you saved by the 10th of the month, you got your interest figured to the first of the month. I used to work in a small savings and loan and that is how we paid interest on our savings account!!

Well yesterday, I stayed home, spent no money, used no gas, the stock market went up and I walked a mile, so that is $4 more to add to my challenge money!

Prev. total $1679.00
today 4.00
new total $1683.00

I stopped at the grocery store yesterday and picked up 3 things, but with my store card, I saved over $3 which I will add to my challenge money.
After that, i spent the day playing bridge, which is a lot of fun for very little money ( a few snacks)
Prev. total $1676.00
today 3.00
new total $1679.00

Well, I just got back from Bi Lo's. I saved $3 on two steaks and another $1 from buying "elations" I will add $4 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1672.00
today 4.00
new total $1676.00

The stock market did go down yesterday, but the two days before that, it went up. So that is $2 more to add to the challenge. Then I had a no spend day yesterday and a no use gas day, so that is $2 more. Since all I have is a $5 bill, I will round that up to $5 and add it to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1667.00
today 5.00
new total $1672.00

I got a nice check in the mail today for $551. It is going directly into my challenge money.
Prev. total $1116.00
today 551.00
new total $1667.00

The snow word was in the forecast yesterday morning, so I did my grocery shopping early. We NEVER have any meat in the freezer cause my husband does not like frozen meat, but I decided we need to have something in case of emergency. I got a really good deal on a roast and some cubed steak yesterday.
All in all, I saved $10 using my advantage card and I am ready for snow.
BTW, the snow has now been called off.
Challenge money:
Prev. total $1106.00
today 10.00
new total $1116.00

Well, I went to my Chase mastercard rewards program and redeemed the rest of my points that I had acrued.
I should be getting two $50 check in a week or too.
For free!!
I will add them to the challenge when I get them.

They really added up yesterday. I did more than 20 flights of stairs plus I used no gas and had a no spend day again yesterday. So that is $3 more to add to the challenge.
My bridge game got cancelled today because one of the regulars fell and broke her leg.
I still have to go to the town to make copies and to get a few things that I am completely out of. I try and keep 2 of everything we use a lot, but somehow I slipped up.
Prev. total $1103.00
today 3.00
new total $1106.00

Well, I had a no spend, no use gas day yesterday, so there is $2 for the challenge. I also got a $10 check from nfomy survey to add.
Prev. total $1091.00
today 12.00
new total $1103.00

I usually grocery shop on the weekends, but they are calling for snow again on Saturday, so I figured I would go today instead.
I had a coupon for some free pudding which was worth $2.78, but I am not going to count that in my challenge money because I would not have bought the pudding if I didn't get it for free.
I used a coupon and my advantage card for a savings of $4, so I will add that.
Prev. total $1087.00
today 4.00
new total $1091.00

Last night, I cooked!! They had called for snow, so I was ready. I made comfort foods, meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
We spend about $20 when we go out for dinner cause we brown bag our drinks. So, I am adding that $20 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1067.00
today 20.00
new total $1087.00