I had a no spend day yesterday, also used no gasoline. The stock market went up also and I walked a mile on my treadmill. So I have $3 to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $13,663.00
today 3.00
new total $13,666.00

I have not added anything to my challenge money for a few days. The braves are not playing this week. The stock market went up Monday and I did walk a mile, so I have $2 to add to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $13,661.00
today 2.00
new total $13,663.00

I am still reading my elec. meter and writing down the readings every day. So far, things have gone up a little (kwh's) but not too bad yet.

The work around the house is all done and we are ready for our company. I saved a dollar at the grocery store today plus I walked a mile yesterday. Two more for the challenge. every little bit helps.
prev. total $13,659.00
today 2.00
new total $13,661.00

It was a good day yesterday. The stock market ended on the upside. The braves won their game last night.
I walked a mile on my treadmill and then did 20 flights of stairs. All of that totals up to $4 more to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $13,655.00
today 4.00
new total $13,659.00

We are having a cook out on Sunday for some friends from Florida. There will be 8 of us. I was going to let my husband go grocery shopping with me Sunday, but he has so much to do. He has to cut grass, clean house, draw on house plans and work on a cost sheet.
So, I went and got most of the food today. I saved a few things for my husband to pick up since I know nothing about produce.
It seems like everything I picked up today was on sale. I got a good deal on hamburger, chips, soft drinks, etc.
All in all, with my advantage card, I saved $16. So, I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $13,639.00
Today 16.00
new total $13,655.00

WE are having a heated discussion on the other forum that I am on, about gated communities.
Most of the local members think that anyone who lives in a gated community is a rich snob.
What do you think? We have stone walls at the entrance to our subdivision but no gate. I have a very nice house worth over a half million, but I certainly don't think I am a rich snob.

Oh well, it is time to add to my challenge money. The braves won and I walked a mile, that add $2, plus I have my Ridge money of $165.00
Prev. total $13,472.00
today 167.00
ne total $13,639.00

My husband called and asked if I wanted to meet him for lunch; he didn't take anything with him today. I told him to come home and I would make him a grilled cheese instead. He was only 4 miles away. That saved us about $5 at least and a trip to town.
The braves won yesterday, I walked a mile on my treadmill and I had a no spend day, so there is $3 more for my challenge money.
Prev. total $13,469
today 3
new total $13,472.00

Happy Birthday America!! The stock market was up for the past two days in a row, so I have $2 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $13.467.00
today 2.00
new total $13,469.00

I need to save/come up with $1829 to hit the half million mark in local savings. I never in a half million years ever thought I would say that.
I use to be scared of building spec houses, but ours have always sold quickly. I made it a point of always saving the profit on every house, never spending a dime. Plus still making a car payment and a land payment, but making it to myself (savings account).

Plus this sight has given my a lot of encouragement in my savings plans, especially the $20 challenge.
I closed a small account for $1300 on saturday, so I really only have $529 to come up with. Piece of cake!!!

Well, the braves won the game sat. night (but lost on sunday), I walked a mile on my treadmill and also had a no spend day yesterday. So that is $3 I can add to my challenge money.
We had planned to go out for lunch yesterday but by the time my dh worked on floor plans and cut grass, it was 3:30, so we kind of skipped lunch. When I weighted myself this morning, I had gained a pound. Grrrr!!!

Prev. total $13,464.00
today 3.00
new total $13,467.00

Bi Lo is so good to put steak on sale almost every weekend. That is usually what we eat on Sunday nights. This week, rib eye steak was on sale. I got two and saved $5 to go into my challenge money.
Prev. total $$13,459.00
today 5.00
new total $13,464.00

Today is the last day of June. Boy, time goes by fast when you are having fun!! The braves won last night, I walked a mile and did 20 flights of stairs. That is $3 more to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $13,456.00
today 3.00
new total $13,459.00

Ace hardware is feeding a lot of people today. It is grand reopening day at Ace. I thought it was just local, but I think it is all over. I met my dh there for lunch. We had hot dogs, chips and bottled water. I also had a $5 coupon to use to get some humming bird stuff.
Well, the braves did not play yesterday and the dow finished down, so no money for the challenge there.
I did however, walk over a mile, do 20 flights of stairs and have a no spend day. I also saved $2 using my advantage card at the grocery store, so $5 will be added to my challenge today.
Prev. total $13,451.00
today 5.00
new total $13,456.00

The braves won again. The stock market went up again yesterday. I didn't walk quite a full mile, but I did do 20 flights of stairs yesterday.

I added to my money market savings account yesterday. I know that I have way too much money in there. I guess I will have to open two other accounts, one in my name only and one in my husband's name only. I guess that is a good problem to have, but I hate having so many accounts.

Ok, $3 to add to the challenge:

Prev. total $13,448.00
today 3.00
new total $13,451.00

The braves and the stock market have let me down lately. I am putting a dollar in my challenge money every time the braves win and every time the stock market goes up. Well, finally the braves won 2 games in a row, so that is $2. Then I walked a mile and did 20 flights of stairs so that is another $2.
I went to the grocery store to get sausage and it was $1 off, plus I had a $2 coupon off on toilet paper. Then I stopped at CVS and saved $1 on diet sprite. That is a total of $8 I have to add to my challenge money.

I made up my savings deposit for the month. I had 6 or 7 small checks (one big one) and my challenge money. Plus, what I had saved out of my dh's paycheck for the emergency fund. Also, I put the money for christmas and state tax in the bank too. I just keep a notebook keeping track of how much is in each catagory. Oh, And I also have money for my car fund. When we paid off the van a few years ago, I kept making payments to myself.

So, all in all, I had over $4400 to add to my savings this month. Pretty good, if I do say so myself!
prev. total $13,440.00
today 8.00
new total $13,448.00

Today is the day to take all my challenge money to the bank so it can start earning interest. I got a check for $538 today plus my ridge money of $165. So that is $703 to add to my challenge money.
On the other hand, we had to take dh's van in to get repaired this morning. This will cost $1000, but I have saved that up this month, so no money will have to come out of savings.
It seemed funny to see him go off to work in his 1933 ford victoria!
Prev. total $12,737.00
today 703.00
new total $13,440.00

I hurried to the bank early this morning so i could cash my dh's paycheck and come home and do my budget. I have my bridge ladies coming over at 1 pm. I also took my change to the bank to be counted. It came to $35 plus I have my ridge money to add to the challenge today, for a grand total of $200.
Prev. total $12,537.00
today 200.00
new total $12,737.00

I did my grocery shopping today and only spent $19,75. I did go to a different store to buy N.Y. strip steak on sale. I had already bought steak on sale for dinner tonight. I decided to get a few more steaks and freeze them for next weekend, while still on sale. So, I saved over $4 on steaks. I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $12,533.00
today 4.00
new total $12,537.00

I had a good mail day yesterday and I got two checks in the mail. One was from a grading guy. He did a little bit of damage to a spec house we were building. We told him not to worry about it, but he sent us a check for $100. Then we got a check from state farm for $139.
I bought steak on sale at bi lo for Sunday's dinner and saved $4. So all, in all, i have $243 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $12,290.00
today 243.00
new total $12,533.00

It has been an expensive month so far. My dh got into a fender bender and needs to take his van in for $1000 repair job. It is hard being a builder when your back up car is a vette or hot rod. You can't carry much in those cars.

Then my little Holly got sick and I took her in for almost $400 worth of tests last saturday. I am proud that I have not yet taken anything out of savings yet. I do have a medical envelope that I put money in each week and that is used for trips to the doctor, including the vet, cause Holly is certainly a member of the family. I am happy to report all she has is a sensitive tummy.
Today, my money market got credited with $1316 in interest, so that will make up for the almost $1400 I have to spend this month.
Well I did 20 flights of stairs and walked a mile yesterday, so I can add $2 to my challenge.
Prev. total $12,288.00
today 2.00
new total $12,290.00

I got my electric bill today and it was still pretty good, it was for $100. This is the last low bill we will get for a while cause I do not like being too hot and the a/c will be running!!
However, this bill is still $60 less than I budgeted, so the $60 will go into my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $12,228.00
today 60.00
new total $12,288.00

I saved $4 using a bogo on ice cream. The braves won and the stock market went up, so I have $6 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $12,222.00
today 6.00
new total $12,228.00

I forgot to add the ridge money to my challenge last week, so here it is!

Prev. total $12,057.00
today 165.00
new total $12,222.00

I saved $4 using my Ingles advantage card and a coupon today. Plus the braves won the last two days, so that gives me $6 more.
I am thinking of splurging on Kentucky fried chicken for dinner. I havent had it for a while. A bucket will give dh two lunches for the week. I do have a coupon for $1 off.

dh went to work at 7 this morning and got the hardwood floors all sanded. Now he is cutting our 2 acres of grass. Our next house will have no lawn, I hope.
prev. total $12,051.00
today 6.00
new total $12,057.00

Happy father's day to all the fathers and grandfathers out there. I hope you all have a special day. Remember how lucky you are if you still have a dad. My father died right before my 10th birthday. I never knew any of my grandfathers either.

My dh has gone onto work and I need to go grocery shopping today.
On the money front, I did receive a check from Pinecone for $5 and I have $40 to add to the challenge from the term insurance that I cancelled.
prev. total $12,006.00
today 45.00
new total $12,051.00

Well the braves have let me down all week, but the dow was up 3 days straight, including today, so I can add $3 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $12,003.00
today 3.00
new total $12,006.00

I have not added any money in a couple of days, so I need to get back to thinking about the $20 challenge.

Apparently I made it into something called "the 100 most inspirational turnaround stories" concerning this challenge.

Yesterday, I used a $4 off coupon for Prilosec ( a need, not a want) plus I walked a mile and did 20 flights of stairs.
Prev. total $11,997.00
today 6.00
new total $12,003.00

I have a little bit to add to my challenge money. The stock market was up on Monday (less than a point) and I saved over $1 when i bought ice cream on sale yesterday.
I did spend a little money yesterday. We cleaned out the garage and threw away all the rugs that Lucy slept on. so, I did buy myself a small rug to put in front of the dryer in the garage. (so I can put the basket there) I am probably one of the few people that prefers to have their washer/dryer out in the garage. I have seen too many houses get flooded when a hose bursts in the washer.
Prev. total $11,995.00
today 2.00
new total $11,997.00

Well the braves finally won 2 games straight, after losing 7 of the past 8. I walked a mile yesterday and also did 20 flights of stairs. That gives me $4 more to add to my challenge money. I am playing bridge today, so free entertainment.
Prev. total $11,991.00
today 4.00
new total $11,995.00

I need to add in my ridge money today because tomorrow is pay day and I will have to do my budget tomorrow.
Prev. total $11,826.00
today 165.00
new total $11,991.00