Opps, I forgot. The braves won last night and I did 20 flights of stairs today. That is another $2 for my challenge.
prev. total $7809.00
today 2.00
new total $7811.00

today is turning into a no spend, no gas day. I even let my dh take my car to the dentist so I won't be tempted to go downtown. Guess I can add a few dollars to my challenge money.
prev. total $7807.00
today 2.00
new total $7809.00

The braves won last night and I walked a mile, so I can add $2 to my challenge. I just bought my favorite sugar free candy on sale and saved $3. Then I found a dime by the coin sorting machine. I will add the $5 to my challenge and the dime to my change jar.
Prev. total $7802.00
today 5.00
new total $7807.00

I just checked on my credit card balance. I see where the statement was just mailed out and I have enough money to redeem, cause they pay me 1% back for using the card. Dh charges all his building supplies at home depot and we pay the card off each month.
So I just earned $100 to add to the challenge when it arrives. Good deal!

Today was my first trip to Wal mart in about a year! I try not to go because I always spend money.
I have a new dog groomer and he lives about half way to wal mart. Rather than go back home today, I went to buy liquor and then to Wal mart.
I actually think I did pretty well. I only spent $40. I got some things for the kitchen that I needed; a new frying pan, some rammkins, dish towels and I bought my dog a little chair for outside. She likes to sit out with us on the back deck.
I did have a no spend day yesterday and I walked one mile. I can add $2 to my challenge money.
prev. total $7800.00
today 2.00
new total $7802.00

I have an extra $50 in my insurance envelope, so have decided to put this extra money in the challenge money.
Prev. total $7750.00
today 50.00
new total $7800.00

We cooked steaks on the grill last night, right in the middle of the April blizzard. Dinner was very good.
I walked 2 miles on my treadmill yesterday and the Braves won their game, so I have $3 to add to my challenge
prev. total $7747.00
today 3.00
new total $7750.00

Someone on my other forum e mailed me asking if there was anything I wanted from Publix in Florida (we don't have publix here). I told her about these great cookies that I had bought last summer when I was there.
So, she brought me some and would not let me pay her back.
I just got a 2nd visit from a Florida forum member and guess what?? Yes, I got more free cookies!
They are so good, but I do not need the calories!! The cookies are "le petit ecolier", the little schoolboy and they are milk chocolate, in case you are wondering.
I also saved almost $10 grocery shopping yesterday using my advantage card at Ingles, to add to my challenge $$>
Prev. total $7737.00
today 10.00
new total $7747.00

When did hot dogs start costing $4 a pack? I don't buy them very often and I sure never thought they were that expensive. Hot dogs used to be a cheap meal!! I like Oscar Meyer beef hot dogs. I looked at the price today and it was $3.99.
I did get them on sale for $2.50. I guess I will only buy them when they are on sale.
I do have the "ridge" money to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $7572.00
today 165.00
new total $7737.00

Today is a quiet and peaceful day. It is even peaceful on the other forum for a change, a nice change of pace.
I did walk 20 flights of stairs yesterday plus a mile on my treadmill. I had a no spend day and saved money by not using any gas. So I have a total of $3 to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $7569.00
today 3.00
new total $7572.00

My dh worked late last night. His "worker" has not shown up to work all week and he has a ton of painting to do in the house he is building. So he worked over 12 hours and did not get home until almost 9 pm.
we just had sandwiches for dinner and he had the leftover blueberry crunch one of my friends had bought for lunch. Then we watched the braves game, but we jinxed them and they did not win.
However, I will add the $20 we would have spent for dinner out and add it to my challenge money.
Prev. total $7549.00
today 20.00
new total $7569.00

Well, it is not much, but I have $2 more to add to my challenge money. The braves won last night's game and I walked a mile. The only thing I bought today was some little smokie sausages. I can't believe that they went from $2.99 to $3.88! That is a big raise in price.
Prev. total $7547.00
today 2.00
new total $7549.00

I had a $4 off coupon for prilosec plus the braves won the game last night, so that is another $1 towards the challenge.
Prev. total $7542.00
today 5.00
new total $7547.00

That is the name of the carpet cleaner that I use to remove stains when my little Holly (poodle) spits up on the carpet. I ordered a big jug yesterday and hope she can be good for a week.

also, Kelly asked about the $20 challenge. You start with $20 and add to it anyway that you can. Some sell on e bay, have garage sales, etc.
I save all my change. I pay myself to walk a mile or climb 20 flights of stairs. I take the savings from coupons and my store cards and add it to my challenge.
Any extra checks that come in, go to the challenge money. I take surveys.
When I underspend in a catagory ( I budget $160 for elec.) I take the rest of the money and add it to my challenge money. I paid off a piece of property in Jan. (called the ridge) so I still make that payment, but to my challenge fund.
You make up your own rules and the key is just to find ways to save and enjoy it!

Well, I picked up my taxes and I will be getting money back from uncle sam this year. That is because the spec house that my husband worked on the entire year, did not close until Jan. 2007, so the tax on that profit will be paid next year. When I get the check, I am going to add that to my challenge money since it was certainly unplanned.

I just got my mail. I got a dividend from state farm on my corvette. I don't understand it, but I will take it! I also saved $2 using my advantage card today, so I have a total of $44 to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $7498.00
today 44.00
new total $7542.00

I received another check in the mail yesterday from nfomysurvey. so I will add that plus the $1 for 20 flights of stairs that I walked, to my challenge money.
Prev. total $7487.00
today 11.00
new total $7498.00

I got my husband to use a 10% off coupon when he went to Home Depot yesterday. so, he saved $11 when he bought all his gardening stuff for the lawn. That, plus the braves won, adds $12 more to my challenge money.
prev. total $7475.00
today 12.00
new total $7487.00

So I get to add $1 to my challenge and another $1 for walking 20 flights of stairs, but $165 for "The Ridge" money.
Prev. total $7308.00
today 167.00
new total $7475.00

I think I will keep up with the braves games this year. They are playing right now. I have decided that I will pay $1 to my challenge fund for every game they win. Right now, they won the first three and lost last night to their arch rivals, New York mets!! I have $3 to add.
prev. total $7305.00
today 3.00
new total $7308.00

Gosh, I just got back from the grocery stores and they were mobbed. I guess everyone is planning a big meal for Easter. As I mentioned before, we do not have any family, so we spend holidays alone. If it warms up, we might just go look for land tomorrow. I did save $3 using my advantage card plus I can add $1 for walking 20 flights of stairs.
Prev. total $7301.00
today 4.00
new total $7305.00

It was a good mail day. I got a check for $95 back from home depot. We had returned an item about 4 months ago and I had not charged on the card since. I only use the home depot card when they send me a 10% off coupon. The rest of the time I use the card that pays me 1% back in cash. so, it is added to the challenge money.
prev. total $7206.00
today 95.00
new total $7301.00

well, I did go into town today. I wanted to take advantage of some bogo items. I am having the bridge group over on Monday, so I needed some chex mix. It was buy one get one free, so my husband can have his own bag.
Then I stopped at the other grocery store. I am switching mouthwash to a much cheaper brand that they just started carrying.
They had my favorite ice cream, buy one, get one free also. So I am now going to have a snack and add the savings to my challenge money.
Prev. total $7199
today 7
new total $7206.00

Brrr, it has turned much colder. It is supposed to freeze tonight and the next few nights. I hope it does not kill all the pretty blooming trees.
I never did go out yesterday even tho I planned to. It got late, so I stayed home. I did walk a mile and do 20 flights of stairs, plus I used no gas yesterday, so I will pay myself $3 towards the challenge.
Prev. total $7196.00
today 3.00
new total $7199.00

Well, the yard looks good and we saved money. We stayed home from eating out last night, do dh could cut grass. It is really growing fast.
so the yard looks good and we saved money by eating at home. I am going to take the $20 I saved and put it in my challenge money.
prev. total $7176.00
today 20.00
new total $7196.00

Everything is blooming and it is so pretty here. Spring has come to the mountains. It is my favorite season. I took a ride over to North Carolina and enjoyed the scenery.
I bought my dh two bottles of liquor today, so that I don't have to make the trip again next week. That will save me a few dollars in gas money.
I filled up last night for the first time in 2 weeks. It was $2.75 a gallon for premium.
I have walked 3 miles the past few days plus I just saved $1 using my advantage card at Ingles today, so I have $4 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $7172.00
today 4.00
new total $7176.00

to add to my challenge money. We were planning on taking the day and looking at land to buy, but it has rained all day. So after inspecting a house that is all but falling down for a friend this morning (new house, cost $425,000) we really had nothing to do. Dh could not even work in the yard, so off to work he went this afternoon. I am cooking dinner in the crockpot as he is working late.
I did my grocery shopping and saved $5 by using my store card.
Prev. total $7167.00
today 5.00
new total $7172.00

I got a check from Pinecone for a survey that I did. They do pay out very quickly, but my favorite is still nfomysurvey. I have earned $50 with them since December. They take about 2 weeks to pay, but that check always come thru.
Prev. total $7167.00
today 5.00
new total $7172.00

Ok, one quarter of 2007 is now behind us. I try and focus on my $20 challenge every day. I got all the coins that I saved for over a month and took them to the bank yesterday, so I have $40 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $7127.00
today 40.00
new total $7167.00

I am going to make a bank run today. Might as well let my challenge money earn a little interest over the weekend. I have $165 of "Ridge" money to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $6962.00
today 165.00
new total $7127.00