I thought that the braves lost Wednesday night, but they came from behind in the 9th with 2 men out, to win the game. The stock market finished up yesterday, so that is $2 more for the challenge.
Prev. total $$20,275.00
today 2.00
new total $20,277.00

They are always nice to get, a check in the mail. This one is from NFOmysurvey and is for $10. Of course, it is added to the challenge money.
Prev. total $20,265.00
today 10.00
new total $20,275.00

The stock market was up yesterday, the Braves won and I walked a mile. That is $3 more for the challenge.
Prev. total $20,262.00
today 3.00
new total $20,265.00

I did my grocery shopping really early this week. Tomorrow I have to take my dog to the groomers and Thursday I am starting two new classes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The morning class is bridge and the afternoon class is about finances.
I stopped at rite aid after shopping to get some sugar free candy and found it was on sale. My conditioner, that I desperately needed, was buy one , get one half price. So I saved $6 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $20,256.00
today 6.00
new total $20,262.00

This was a nice, long weekend. We got to make money having a garage sale, got invited to a dinner party on Saturday night and got invited for another dinner out on sunday night. Last night, we sat outside by the creek and enjoyed cocktails with our little dog. Then my dh grilled steaks on the grill. It was a really perfect weekend.
Since we did not go out to eat all weekend, I am going to add $20 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $$20,236.00
today 20.00
new total $20,256.00

The braves have certainly let me down lately, they haven't won a game in a while. The stock market is closed and I have been to busy to walk this weekend. I guess all I have to add to my challenge money is the Ridge money today.
My husband will have a short paycheck this week since he took for all day Saturday for the garage sale and a half day yesterday for a car show he attended.
When that happens, I just don't fund my Ridge account or my Car account. This is money I am saving towards my next new car.
Prev. total $20,071.00
today 165.00
new total $20,236.00

I figure that I saved $20 not eating dinner out last night ( went to a cook out) plus i saved $3 off on steak this morning at bi lo. I will add $23 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $20,048.00
today 23.00
new total $20,071.00

I had my first ever garage sale in this house. DH had lots of old tools he wanted to get rid of, so he priced them cheap or said, what will you give me? We had a ton of free stuff to just give away also.
The sale started at 10, so we got most lookers at about 9 am., but I had priced yesterday, so we were about ready for them.
We made $405 which will go towards my challenge money. Drum roll please!!!

Prev. total $19,643.00
today 405.00
new total $20,048.00

I did it, I hit $20,000!!!!!!!!!!

I received a check from Tim Horton yesterday for $11. I will add that to my challenge.
Prev. total $19,632.00
today 11.00
new total $19,643.00

I am chasing $20,000!!

I had a no spend day yesterday. I stayed home waiting for the repairman all day, so i also used no gasoline. I walked a mile and have another $2.00 to add to my challenge money.
The bad part is the repairs to the dishwasher and the ice machine are going to run about $500. I will get them fixed this once but next time I will just get a new dishwasher. I am not sure if I will ever get another stand alone ice machine. This one has been a real pain, but I am addicted to ice. also, dh takes a cooler full of ice to the job every day.
Prev. total $19,630.00
today 2.00
new total $19,632.00

Today, I am waiting for the appliance repair man. As talented as my husband is, he knows nothing about appliances except how to install them.
We think the dishwasher got struck by lighting, that is when it went out. While he is here, we are going to have him look at my free standing ice maker. It quit making ice about a month ago. These are expensive machines, about $900 and it just keeps breaking down. If it cost too much, I am just not going to bother getting it fixed. so, it should be an expensive day today.
I played bridge yesterday so I did not walk. The stock market finished down, however the braves won, so I have a whole $1 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $19,629.00
today 1.00
new total $19,630.00

Today is my dh's payday and the day I do my budget. Since my dh often works on Saturday and Sunday, it is just easiest to pay him thru Sunday and cash his check on Monday morning. No, he never sees it and has no idea of how much he makes. I give him an allowance. This allowance has gone up lately because of gas. He drives a heavy, full of tools, van and he does not get very good milage.
Plus, he makes several trips back and forth to town to buy materials.

So, the envelopes are all filled for the week and I am happy. I walked a mile yesterday and also had a no use gasoline day so I will add $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $19,627.00
today 2.00
new total $19,629.00

Gosh, I just washed dishes by hand. This is the first time in about 11 years. I think that lighting hit the dishwasher the other day. It knocked the circuit breaker off. I turned it on, but there is no water getting to the dishwasher.
I wonder which is cheaper, washing dishes by hand or in a dishwasher?
I don't know if I will get it repaired or just get a new one. This one is about 5 years old.
I used coupons and saved $11 on groceries yesterday, plus I walked a mile, so I have $12 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $19,615.00
today 12.00
new total $19,627.00

My husband did a small job for a friend a few weeks ago. We have learned that unless the job is under 30 minutes, we really need to charge people. Otherwise, he would be on call all the time cause he is so talented. He was there for 2 1/2 hours plus furnished some supplies, so the bill was for $81.
I never count things like that in my budget cause I never know when the check will come in.
Well, I got the check in the mail today, the braves won last night, the stock market closed up yesterday and I walked a mile. That is $84 dollars more for my challenge money.
Prev. total $19,531.00
today 84.00
new total $19,615.00

That is what we are getting right now. However, the electrical storm has also cause the power to go on and off at least 6 times. I was running the dish washer the first time and now, it will not allow be to reset it. I hope lightening did not strike it, but I have a feeling it did. I open and close the door, but nothing will work.
I did make it to the store before the storm where I stocked up on steaks for sale. I saved $11 on steak and some bogo fritoes. I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $19,520.00
today 11.00
New total $19,531.00

Well, the stock market did go up yesterday but that was about it. I was completely out of diet sprite, so i went to the store and got some on sale and saved $2 on that. I also found a quarter in the newspaper rack thing. That makes $1.25 I have found at the newspaper stand in a week. I will add $3 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $19,517.00
today 3.00
new total $19,520.00

That is unusual for me. I guess it is the heat. It is just so hot here. I hate to think of those poor guys putting up roof trusses out in this heat, but that is what they are doing!
We are going to have a garage sale. My first one is over 12 years. dh got a lot of stuff cleared out of his garage this weekend and we need to get rid of it. Right now ,it is piled on his car hauler and covered. I just put the ad in the paper, so I have to go thru with it. I just wish I could have picked a cooler time.
I got my check for $538 today, so I will add that to my challenge.
prev. total $18,979.00
today 538.00
new total $19,517.00

I made it under budget which surprised me. We have had a heat wave for the last three weeks. Of course, the meter was read about aug. 14th, so next month's bill might be higher; but this bill is for under $118. I budget $160, so that gives me $40 to add to my challenge. Plus the stock market went up yesterday and the braves won twice the past two days. That is a total of $43 to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $18,936.00
today 43.00
new total $18,979.00

My husband draws all his own house plans. He has been doing it almost all his life.Usually he draws plans for our spec houses. No pay there. But occasionaly he will draw the plans for a custom house.
The past few months he has been working on a big plan, 4550 sq. ft. He does the whole thing, floor plan, roof and floor truss plans, elevations, electrical, etc. Usually about 8 sheets, hand drawn. (he does not know how to use a computer)
He just got paid for the plan today and I plan to add that money to my $20 challenge.
prev. total $16,669.00
today 2,267.00
new total $18,936.00

BTW, he charges 50 cents a square foot, preety cheap by today's standards.

My dh is busy cleaning out the other garage. We have two 2-car garages, but one side is filled with mostly his stuff!! Old tools, things he just needs to get rid of. There is an exercise machine out there that I really like, but it throws grease all over the carpet so it stays in the garage.
I hope he can make a few dollars on this junk and get rid of it.
The braves lost again, but I did walk a mile plus I have the ridge money to add to my chalalenge money.
prev. total $16,503.00
today 166.00
new total $16,669.00

I don't feel right if I don't at least add a little bit of money to the challenge everyday. The braves let me down again, but the dow was up over 200 points, so I will add $2 for that.
prev. total $16,501.00
today 2.00
new total $16,503.00

I took 2 short surveys this morning. I check my points and I have 990 points. One more short survey and I can cash out again. This is with NFO mysurvey.
I did do my grocery shopping this morning and also stopped to buy hair coloring. Using coupons, I managed to save $5 which I will add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $16,496.00
today 5.00
new total $16,501.00

I had a no spend day yesterday. I needed to pick up a few things at the grocery store, but my husband was with me and needed to get to a job site quickly, so he just dropped me off at home. Today, I am meeting with some of my local forum friends for lunch. I am looking forward to it; I don't go out for lunch very often.
Well, the braves did win, I won't even mention the stock market, and I walked 20 flights of stairs yesterday, so $2 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $16,494.00
today 2.00
new total $16,496.00

We had dinner at home last night, a rare thing for us. Now, I remember why, I get too bored sitting here all night. So, we took a ride to look at the beautiful mountain view on some property that we own. Wasted a bit of gas, but the ride was nice and Holly loved it.
We had pork chops last night which cost me about $5, so I figured we saved about $15 dollars last night, plus the braves won. That is $16 i can add to the challenge money.
prev. total $16,478.00
today 16.00
new total $16,494.00

Yes, I splurged. I have not bought a pair of shoes in 3 or 4 years. I am going to Gatlinburg in Sept. and to my class reunion in florida in October. So, I ordered a new pair of shoes from J.C. Penny. They were $10 off and under $40. I also realized I only have about one decent pair of shorts.
There is no place to buy shorts in August around here. They are getting rid of the summer stuff. So I ordered a new pair from QVC, denium and company for those who order from QVC. I would really like a black pair, but they were sold out. Then I splurged and got my dh a few new short sleeved shirts from Penny's. All in all I spent close to about $100, but we really needed these things.
Well, the braves didn't play, the dow went down, I did not walk or do stairs yesterday (I played bridge), so no money for the challenge there.
However, I am not making a liquor run to Murphy, N.C., so that is about $6 in gas that I am saving.
I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $16,472.00
today 6.00
new total $16,478.00

Since I have joined this forum, I have looked for loose change on the ground, but have not had much luck. One thing I also do and my husband doesn't like, it to look at newspaper stands. I look at the newspaper headline, but I also look in the coin return to see if there is any money there. He hates that.
Today, I stopped and looked at the local paper stand and there were 2 quarters in the coin return.
When I came out of Ingles, I looked at the Atlanta paper and found two more quarters there. Wow, I gained a buck just for looking.
I walked a mile yesterday, saved a dollar on bacon on sale, plus my dollar today. I also have $50 in the money I have saved since I cancelled life insurance. So $53 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $16,419.00
today 53.00
new total $16,472.00

I went to Mary Hunt's website this morning. She says if we had started saving $1 a day from the day we were born, put it in good mutual fund earning 12% and never touched it, we would have over 7 million dollars when we turn 65.
That being something that we did NOT do in our lifetime, she suggests we start now and save $2 a day. If you are young enough you can still become a millionaire. Who is game for it? Want to save that extra $2 a day?
I walked a mile yesterday, plus the braves won and I have the Ridge money to add to my challenge today.
Prev. total $16,252.00
today 167.00
new total $16,419.00

A friend called and stoppped by to bring back a vcr tape I had loaned her.
She wanted to go out to lunch. I convinced her to eat lunch at home and put that $5 she would have spent in her ING account.
I ran to the post office to put the paperwork in the mail for selling my home depot stock.
Then I did my weekly grocery shopping; using my store card and a coupon, I saved $4. I walked a mile and did 20 flights of stairs yesterday, so that is a total of $6 to add to my challenge money. (the stock market and the braves let me down yesterday)
Prev. total $16,246.00
today 6.00
new total $16,252.00

Opps, I did not add any money to the challenge yesterday. The stock market was up on Wednesday (down terribly yesterday) and I walked a mile. Yesterday the braves won by one run and I walked another mile.
I am also re reading all my copies of cheapskate monthly, now called debt proof living.
I will add $4 to the challenge money.
Prev. total $16,242.00
today 4.00
new total $16,246.00

I don't sit and watch tv all day, but I do keep it on for the noise. So, every once in a while I will glance at it and the dow will be way up, then way down.
Last time I looked this afternoon, the dow was about 30, when it closed a short time later it was up to 153!!

Oh well, the stock market was up yesterday, the braves won their game and I walked 2 miles. That gives me $4 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $16,238.00
today 4.00
New total $16,242.00