We went out for dinner for our anniversary, but my DH , who has been sick the past three days, didn't want anything but a bowl of soup.
So, I figured that saved us at least $5 in our bill, so I will add that to my challenge money.
prev. total $5363.00
today 5.00
new total $5368.00

Went grocery shopping and saved over $2 with my advantage card, so i will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5361.00
today 2.00
new total $5363.00

Well my husband came home from work, sick again. At first we thought he had some kind of stomach virus, but now I think he may have kidney stones.
He has had them before and we spent over $1000 each time at the emergency room. Anyway, not a good way to spend your anniversay. We saved money by not eating out last night, and it looks like that is what is going to happen tonight too. I will add the $20 I saved to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $5341.00
today 20.00
new total $5361.00

There has been a big snake sunning himself on my front porch today. I took Holly out to see him, but I held her so she would not get hurt. I actually like snakes and would never hurt one.
Well, I did my walking and stairs yesterday plus I stayed home and used no gas, so i can add $3 to my challenge money.
prev. total $5338.00
today 3.00
new total $5341.00

I ate at home last night, plus I did my walking challenge. I figure it cost us at least $20 to eat out, so i am going to add that to my challenge money when i convince myself to stay home and eat.
prev. total $5317.00
today 21.00
new total $5338.00

I got a letter asking me to renew my subscription to the tv guide. I don't like the new format, it is like a magazine. I just want to know the daytime movies and when the Braves play. None of that is in there anymore.
So, i told them that, and that I did not want to renew. I got a check in the mail today for $12, they cancelled my subscription.
Great, I will add that to my challenge.
Prev. total $5305.00
today 12.00
new total $5317.00

My husband likes george dickel. He helped a friend out last week for a short time, and this guy gave him a big bottle of George Dickel as a thank you.
So I did not have to buy any on my liquor run today. I figured I saved about $25 ,so I am adding that, plus the $1 a mile I pay my self to walk. I got in 3 miles yesterday, so I will add $28 to my challenge money.
prev. total $5277.00
today 28.00
new total $5305.00

It is a gloomy stay home day. I made a dollar by meeting my walking challenge and another dollar by staying home today and using no gas. So I have $2 to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $5275.00
today 2.00
new total $5277.00

I did my walking challenge yesterday. I shopped today at Ingles and found several bargains, including milk for 50 cents. I used my Advantage card and saved $5.00
Also, we did not go out to eat last night, we went to a party that served dinner. To me, that is saving at least $20 by not eating out.
So I am putting $26 in my challenge account today!!
prev. total $5249
today 26.
new total $5275.00

Well, I did my walking challenge and my stair challenge, so I have $2 to add to my challenge money. I know it is not much, but every little bit helps.
I had to go to town today to make a bank deposit, I wait til after 2 so I can get the interest from the money market account.
On the $15,000 that I withdrew, that gave me 3 more days interest, which is $4.68. Every little bit helps. (this money is to pay for the spec house we are building, you all do know what a spec house is?)
prev. total $5247.00
today 2.00
new total $5249.00

Well, I walked on my treadmill for 30 minutes, did my 20 flights of stairs and stayed home, using no gas, for a total of $3 to add to my challenge.
prev. total $5244.00
today 3.00
new total $5247.00

I got coupons in the mail today for free chick fil a stuff, a sandwich, biscuit and kids meal. Problem is, the coupon is for the chick fil a about an hour and a half from here. Not so free when you pay for gas.
I forgot about my coupon for free dog food. I need to check out the pet stores to see if they carry this food.
I did my walking yesterday, so I have another $1 to add to my challenge.
prev. total $5243.00
today 1.00
new total $5244.00

I have been doing book work the past few days. Catching up on all the bills for the two houses we are building. Wow have prices gone up. My husband is wiring the two houses right now, and the cost has doubled since the price of gas has gone up. It really is affecting the price of everything.
Dinner out last night was nice. My husband has been craving apple pie, so we went and bought a frozen pie. We got a whole pie for the price of a couple of pieces of pie.
Of course, it is not on my diet, but I let myself have a small piece because I did reach my $5000 challenge.
I don't plan to stop there, I want to turn my challenge into a $10,000 challenge for the year!!

I always try to keep products for my husband in stock. I buy 2 conditioners for him and he is supposed to tell me when he uses 1 up, so I can buy another one to be on hand.
It never works out, he tells me when he has none left, which was last night.
So today, I had to make a trip to town to get him some conditioner. I did get the kind of diet lemonade he likes on sale, so I did save a dollar.
I will put that in my challenge money.
prev. total $5242.00
today 1.00
new total $5243.00

Got a check from uncle sam for my income tax return. I am adding this to my challenge money because I never get a refund. This puts me over the $5000 challenge, so I will push on for $10,000/ Yeah!!!
prev.total $4884.00
today 358.00
new total $5242.00

I did it!!

Today is payday, I always love doing my budget, especailly if there is something left over. My dh worked 7 days this week, so it was a good paycheck.
I am giving him a little extra for his allowance, gas is just so high he can't make it on $60 a week. I had to get a few things at the grocery store that I forgot on Saturday and I used coupons and saved $3, which I will add to my challenge money.
prev. total $4881.00
today 3.00
new total $4884.00

I promised my self that every time I walked at least 30 minutes on my treadmill, I would put $1 in my challenge fund. I did that twice the past two days, so I have $2 to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $4879.00
today 2.00
new total $4881.00

Our primary grocery store is Ingles. Not much competion in this town. We have a bi lo, but it is usually more expensive.
I did my grocery shopping yesterday at Ingles. I always use my advantage card,which sometimes gives you discounts on certain products.
For the second week in a row, they had pork chops on sale, so that is our dinner for tonight. I saved about $3 using my advantage card, so I will add that to my challenge money.
previous total $4876.00
today 3.00
new total $4879.00

It is a beautiful spring day here. I saved a dollar in gas by staying home yesterday. I really needed a few things from the store, so i went into town today. I had a coupon for $2 off of the hair color that I needed, so I saved $2 there. Picked up a few things at the grocery store,but nothing that was on sale. The store was crowded but no one at the self check out, so I got out quickly. I wonder why no one wants to use those things??
prev. total $4873.00
today 3.00
new total $4876.00

Got my car dirty, driving in the rain today. My DH spent 2 hours cleaning it on Sunday, but I needed to go to the store.
I stocked up on the store brand of oyster crackers. They are 99 cents compared to $2.85 for the brand name and we like them better.
I got ground beef on sale and used a coupon for dog food, so I saved $3 to add to my challenge money.
previous total $4870.00
today 3.00
new total $4873.00

I paid the end of the month bills this morning. I budget $40 a week ($160) a month for our electric bill, based on the fact that is the highest I have gotten. Now it might go up this summer because they have raised rates and running the a/c is my biggest expense.
Today I paid the bill and it was $86, so the remaining $74 can go to my challenge money.
prev total $4796.00
today 74.00
new total $4870.00

Today is our payday. I love cashing the check and coming home and putting the money in our budget envelopes.
I am always happy when there is enough for all the envelopes, because my husband's hours can vary sometimes. When I am a little short, I can skip the christmas envelope and also the van payment envelope.
The van got paid off last christmas, but I keep putting the money in the van payment envelope. I deposit it once a month to my "pay off my vette" fund. It works for me.
I have $3 to add to my challenge money, $2 for doing my walking, and one for not going to town one day, saving gas.

Prev. total $4793.00
total 3.00
new total $4796.00

Well, I am sitting here with an ice bag on my sore knee. My knees have hurt me for quite a while and today, it felt like it was swollen.
I go my 30 minutes of walking and 20 flights of stairs in yesterday, so that adds to my $20 challenge.
But it looks like I will have to take it a little easier today. Oh well, I have stayed home all day and not spent any money. We are eating out tonight. A couple we don't particularly care for says they may join us! They do that a lot, they never ask, they just show up. Sorry, it just irks me! I would rather stay home.
prev total $4791.00
today 2.00
new total $4793.00

I received a coupon for a free bag of dog food in the mail today. Now, I have to find a pet store that sells it.
Went grocery shopping today and saved $3 with my advantage card, so I will add that to my challenge money.
Still no heat and air running, that is really nice!
Prev. total $4788.00
today 3.00
new total $4791.00

We are going to eat at home tonight. Of course my dh wants to cook on the grill so I had to run to the grocery store to get charcoal and meat, so I spent $10 today. I will still be saving at least $10 by staying home, plus he will get his lunch out of this.
I did my stair and walking challenge yesterday, so I am adding $2 to my challenge money.
prev. total $4786.00
today 2.00
new total $4788.00

I also got my free swiffer sample and a coupon for $1.50 off the dog food my little dog is eating now.
Now I need to go and walk!

I am in the middle of a thunderstorm right now. Older dog, Lucy is scared and locked in the garage. Little dog, Holly is lying on top of the couch and barks if it thunders too loudly. She is not scared a bit.
I did my stair challenge yesterday and walked on my treadmill for 60 minutes, so I have $4 to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $4783.00
today 3.00
new total $4786.00

opps, I typed $4 when I meant $3, sorry!!

We just had a nice dinner at a couples's house (we built their house), there were 2 other couples, for a total of eight. She fixed a nice ham dinner, We had bloody mary's out on the deck overlooking the mountain view.
She had a big basket full of easter eggs as a centerpiece on the table.
After dinner, we all got to choose 3 eggs and there was a prize in one of them. I just had a feeling that purple was going to be the winning egg, so I took the only two purple eggs.
I won!! And there was a $10 bill inside my plastic purple egg. So, I got a free meal and $10 to add to my challenge.
prev. total $4773.00
today 10.00
new total $4783.00

I am proud of myself. I have not been real good about being frugal until I found this site.
Oh, I was frugal when I was poor, but now I am, because I want to be.
My husband was making tuna salad and ran out of miracle whip, so he got out a new jar. (I always try to have 2 of everything)
Then I put miracle whip on my grocery list to get last week. It was $3.32 so I decided not to buy it. I wrote the price down, determined to check it every week.
After all, one jar will probably last for months, we don't eat many sandwiches.
I just got back from shopping and that same brand was on sale for $1.99 today.
I saved $1.33 and I am so proud! (Maybe I should go back and get another??)

Anyway, I saved $6 in grocery money which I will add to my challenge.
prev. total $4767.00
today 6.00
new total $4773.00

Well, I got a check in the mail today from Edward Jones. I have an account with them for stocks I own and somehow I have accumulated $165 from dividends or something.
I called and asked for the money. I am sure it is earning little interest, so I need to put it with my challenge money to earn over 4% interest! I also saved over $2 buying my favorite sugar free candy on sale, so i will add that too.

Prev. total $4600.00
today 167.00
new total $4767.00

Wow, I am excited!!

We stayed home and I fixed supper last night. I made a roast and potatoes in the crock pot. That cost me about $10, but I saved $10 to put in my challenge money. Wow, two nights, not eating out this week. Plus, I got two more lunches for my dh and one for me.
My bank is having customer appreciation day today and I am going to see if I can get a free lunch. They ususally serve hamburgers if you are willing to wait in line for a while.
I also met my walking and stair climbing challenge yesterday,so I have $12 more to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $4588.00
today 12.00
new total $4600.00 Yeah!!