I did business with Edward Jones a few years back and bought some stock thru them. I have stayed away from the stock market the past 5 years and just let things ride.
I got some mail from them yesterday, a summary of my account. I notice there is about $165 just sitting in a small saving account, earning about 1/2 percent interest. I guess those are accumulated dividends or something.
Anyway, I called and asked and they are mailing me a check. I can add that to my challenge money and put it in a savings account paying over 4% when it comes in. I won't add it to my total until I get it, but it will ge a nice addition!

I singed up for all these survey places that pay and so far all I get is about 100 messages in my bulk mail everyday.
I do get paid surveys from 1 company, but they only pay about 3 cents each and you don't get paid til you earn $40, which is 1000 surveys!
But to my surprise i did do a survey last week for survey savvy and today I got the $2 check in the mail. That will go into my challenge money.
prev. total $4586.00
today 2.00
new total $4588.00

I told my husband Monday night that we were not going out to eat on Tuesday. So, we stayed home. We were kind of bored. I walked on my treadmill and he sat outside with the dog.
As I have explained before, our eating out is a lot about having something to do in the evenings, without watching tv.
I had just sat with him in the eye doctor's office fot 2 hours, so i was not sitting any longer.
I walked on my treadmill and played on the computer.
Finally at 7, I went and sat outside with my dh and our puppy, Holly.
We cooked eggs, sausage, potatoes and rolls about 8:30.
I am taking the $20 I saved plus $1 from walking for 30 minutes and adding it to my challenge money.
prev. total $4565.00
today 21.00
new total $4586.00

Ingles has been advertising 4 12 packs of coke products for $10.00, a savings of about $6 for four. Problem is, we both drink diet sprite and there is not a can or bottle of diet sprite in that store. They insist the coke company has run out of diet sprite. See any where you live? Anyway, I bought some diet lemonade and save almost $2 which I will add to my challenge money.
prev. total $4563.00
today 2.00
new total $4565.00

I made a list of what i was spending, but I did not keep it up, or total it up each week. I know I spend way too much money eating out and I think if I kept track of everything for a month or two, I would see how much money I am wasting. I won't write down the bills that I pay by check, but everything I do with cash, needs to be recorded.
I am going to start again tomorrow.
I saved almost $4 with my advantage card at the grocery store yesterday and earned $1 walking yesterday, so i will add $5 to my challenge.

Prev. total $4558.00
Today 5.00
New total $4563.00

Well I did not go to town yesterday, so saved $1 in gas, walked 20 flights of stairs, that another $1, plus walked 60 minutes on my treadmill for another $2. That is a total of $4 I can add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $4554.00
today 4.00
new total $4558.00

I hate filing, but I am getting a start on it today. I have 6 months plus of paperwork to file. This morning, I did put every thing into it's own pile, so that will make things easier.
Yesterday I saved $1.67 when I bought some benefial dog food with a free coupon.
Other than that I only spent $1.25 on a jar of relish (we were out) and picked up a $20 precription.
I did not get all my stairs in yesterday, but I did get 30 minutes in, walking, so I will add that $1 to the $1 I saved in dog food to my challenge.
prev. total $4552.00
today 2.00
new total $4554.00

It is time to get out the easter candy. I like to give little gifts to my waitresses during holidays. At christmas, I gave them each a card with $20 in it (plus their regular tip)
For valentines day, I left them heartshaped candy, with the tip.
Now I have bought some choc. fudge filled bunnies to start leaving with their tip. I wonder what to do for the next holiday?
I did not get my exercise in yesterday cause we had to go to North Carolina, but I did do it the day before, so I have two dollars to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $4550.00
today 2,00
New total $4552.00

My husband called from the job, he needed a pitchfolk to spread some mulch being delivered at the house he is building. He hated to drive home and back (30) miles and lose time from work, so he called me to see if I would bring him the pitchfolk. But first I had to see if it would fit in my vette. It did. The newer ones have lots more room than my old 78 vette.
Stopped by the store to get a free container of dog food, but my coupon did not work right, so I paid for it instead. However the cashier told me what to do next time, so I will use it up tomorow. Bought some lemonade and sprite on sale, so I saved $2 with my advantage card, plus $2 dollars doing my walking and my stairs yesterday, for a total of $4 to add to my challenge $$.

Prev. total $4546.00
today 4.00
New total $4550.00

Well the first quarter of the year has gone by. How is everyone doing with their $20 challenge. I am pleased with mine.

Woke up this morning to the sound of rain and hail. Blue sky this afternoon, so thought it would be safe to go to town, I was wrong. I had just gotten to the bank (Monday is pay day for us) when it started to hail. Big Hail.
I don't know how much damage hail can do to a plastic car but I went and parked at the best western motel, under the canopy until it stopped. It is bad enough that my husband spent a hour washing it yesterday.
I did get in my walking and stair climbing yesterday, so am adding $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $4544.00
today 2.00
new total $4546.00

Home from the grocery store. Went to bi lo to get steaks for dinner on the grill and they were on sale, we saved $5. I also noticed that my brand of hair color was on sale, so I will go back next week and get it earlier than I need it. I tend not to do that, and I should.
Went to Ingles and bought the rest of the groceries. Even with DH with me, I only spent $38. (he looks at everything) I got $4 off using my advantage card, So I have $9 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $4535.00
today 9.00
new total $4544.00

Yesterday was a beautiful day, nice and warm. Today is nice too, my husband left for work this morning wearing shorts. Today is very windy or I would be out taking a walk. I walked for 30 minutes on my treadmill and walked 20 flights of stairs yesterday, so I can add $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $4533.00
today 2.00
New total $4535.00

I took a pretty ride in the country today to take our taxes over to H and R block in a town about 25 miles away. There is a back road without too much traffic. It is still pretty, but I think how much this area has changed since they put in a four lane highway. I moved here 22 years ago and there was not even a McDonald's then. I kind of miss the good old days.
I walked for over thirty minutes yesterday, so I can add $1 to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $4532.00
today 1,00
new total $4533.00

Since I have been on this forum, I have become much more aware of the prices of things. My husband asked me to buy some shaving gel, he was all out.
I had no idea what the price was, so I went to the drug store nearest the library, figuring that it would be cheapest at a drug store. It was $2.99 so I got it. (the man has to shave)
When i went to Ingles, it was $2.49 there. I was mad that I had paid 50 cents to much, but I didn't want to drive all over town.
I am surprised that the grocery store is usually just as cheap as the drug store.
Well, I did get a good deal on some vitamins I needed. When I scanned them using my advantage card, i got $3 almost off of it, so I will add that to my challenge.
Then i went and took my doggie to visit my husband at his job site. His worker showed up for the first time since Monday. People here don't like to work more than about 20 hours a week, so they don't!
Prev. total $4529.00
today 3.00
new total $4532.00

I met with a lady that I met over the computer today for lunch. She was very easy to get along with and we had plenty to talk about. She lives in Fla. but they want to retire here someday and have a vacation home here right now. We spent a nice two hours just talking.
Then I went to visit the house my husband is building. Not a square room in the house, but it will really be neat looking, I think!
Isn't it funny what you think someone will look like when you first met them?
She thought I would be this little old gray haired lady!!
I did manage to walk for 30 minutes on my treadmill and do 23 flights of stair. Plus I saved over a $1 on some cookie mix (that I shouldn't buy, but like too) My new friend even paid for my lunch, but I am not going to add that to my challenge since I left the tip. So I have $3 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $4526.00
today 3.00
new total $4529.00

Boy, it is good to be able to view this site again. It has been off for a while for me. I paid all my end of the month bills yesterday and had $55 left over in my electric bill budget. Plus I have to put in $2 in challenge money for walking more than 30 minutes on my treadmill and do my stair climbing. I can add $57 to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $4469.00
today 57.00
new total $4526.00

WE love to cook on the grill, it doesn't matter how cold it is, we grill outside.
So I did my grocery shopping this morning and picked up something for the grill.
Dinner was ok last night, when you have 8 people at a long table, it is hard to talk. There was another large party of 8 next to us, so it was noisy, too noisy.
I don't know if it was because all the people we were with are so rich, or because I was a waitress, but rich people often seem rude at a restaurant. They had to ask about everything. Told the waitress if the fries were cold, she would have to take them right back. Like she cooked the fries!! Right??
Anyway that annoyed me, probably her too!
I always tip super well, so we get really good service.
We even tip the cook once in a while.
Anyway, at the grocery store, I got hamburger for $1 off, plus saved $3 with my advantage card.
I walked 20 flights of stairs and walked 45 minutes on my treadmill for another $2 in challenge money, so I will be adding $6 today.
Prev. total $4463.00
today 6.00
new total $4469.00

Well it is snowing in georgia, but not sticking to the ground. We are going out to eat tonight and 6 friends have decided to join us. I like them all, but as I mention in another post, they are all wealthy, high maintence women. You would never see them buying their and their husband's clothing at Wal mart's. So, i kind of feel out of place around them.
I managed to walk 25 flights of stairs plus do 37 minutes in my treadmill, so I will add $3 to my challenge money.
prev. total $4460.00
today 3.00
new total $4463.00

ps. just nine more months til christmas!

I have to go to the bank to make a big withdrawal, $20,000. The money goes out so fast when you are building a spec house. The cost on concrete here is terrible.
Well I walked 25 flights of stairs and walked 30 minutes on my treadmill, so I can add $3 to my challenge money today.

Prev. total $4457.00
today 3.00
new total $4460.00

We brought home a gecko. Oh, not a real one, but a wooden gecko. We are friends with the people who own the restaurant that we eat at every night.
They are getting ready to open another restaurant right next door, Dos Geckos is the name.
Someone gave the owner a pair of wooden geckos, but one was broken. My husband brought it home and is fixing it.
Stayed home yesterday, so I save $1 in gas money, plus earned another $2 for walking 21 flights of stairs and walking on my treadmill for 30 minutes. I will add that $3 to my challenge money. I also got my first survey to fill out today and I am supposed to be paid $2 for that, but I won't count it til I add it.
Prev. total $4454.00
today 3.00
new total $4457.00

When I move to this area, 22 years ago, there were no liquor store because there were lots of moonshiners.
I don't know if we still have a lot of moonshiners, but we still have no liquor store. I have to drive to a different state, so that is what I did yesterday.
I also worked on my stair climbing challenge and my treadmill challenge, so i can add $3 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $4451.00
today 3.00
new total $4454.00

I walked up and down stairs 28 times yesterday, for a total of 896 steps. I decided to add $1 to my challenge money every time I climbed the stairs 20 times, $2 if I climbed 25 flights or more. Here is my $2

prev. total $4449,00
today 2.00
n
ew total $4451.00

I just got back from town. I needed some make up. I don't like spending money on it, I think it is a rip off to pay so much money, like $8 for some eye liner. But I was almost out of everything.
I also wanted some purple eyeshadow. I bought some wet and wild products cause they are so much cheaper. The eyeshadow says, sealed for my protection. I have worked on getting the darn thing open for an hour and still haven't. The U.S. army couldn't get that darn thing open.
So I bougght 2 bags of candy, eyeliner, eye shadow, foundation, glittery lip stick and infusion hair conditioner. I spent $20, but we had a good pay check this week, so I feel better about that. DH worked all weekend.
I wonder how he will like my glittery lipstick??
I had a $2.50 coupon from cvs and for some reason they took $1.50 off cause I bought 3 wet and wild products. So I will add $4 to my challenge money. Now if I could just find someone to smootch with my glittery lips!!
prev. total $4445.00
today 4.00
new total $4449.00

ps, I have done 18 flights of stairs so far today, Ray!!

Thrifty Ray and I have decided to get more exercise by climbing our stair cases 20 times a day if possible. There are 16 stairs up and 16 down for a total of 32 stairs per trip. That is a total of 640 stairs a day! If I make it, I am going to add $1 a day to my challenge money! (Plus maybe lose a pound or two) Join us if you want!!

Just got home from the grocery store. They have several items that I use on sale, so I stocked up.
I had a coupon for $5 off if I spent $50 so I made sure that I did. I did not buy anything I did not need, but I just stocked up on some of the sale items, like my favorite crackers are usually $3 a bag and today they were $2 a bag.
With my coupon and advantage card, I saved $10.97 today, so I am adding $11 to my challenge money.
prev. total $4434.00
today 11.00
new total $4445.00

ps, i bought several bags of chocolate covered pretzels which I surely don't need but taste soooooooo good!!

Well, I stayed home today and used no gas. So at least i saved a dollar in gas which I will add to my challenge money. Gas has gone up here to almost $2.70 a gallon for premium. I don't use that much, but my husband makes so many trips to town and back (for business) that he uses a lot of gas.
I got my electric bill and it went up this month. We have the ice machine hooked up in the garage now and it runs full time. I wonder if that made the differenct?
Previous total $$4433.00
today 1.00
new total $4434.00

I made a trip to the store for a few items. With my advantage card and a few coupons I saved over $5 and spent less than $3. Took my Holly in the car with me, she loves going in the car.
Prev. total $4428.00
Today 5.00
New total $4433.00

Went to two grocery stores, looking for things on sale. Managed to pick up toilet paper for 68 cents (the good kind) Bought 4 cans of potatoes for $1 usually, 99 cents each, bought some cookies on sale and am trying a genetic brand of mouthwash (which I will not give up) for $1. All in all I saved $6 which I will add to my challenge.
Prev. total $4422.00
Today 6.00
New total $4428.00

I wanted to go to town today, but I didn't. It is pretty and sunny out, but oh so windy! I just stayed home and walked on my treadmill.
So it is a no spend day, which is a good thing. Since I am saving money in gas today, I can add that total to my challenge money. I have my challenge deposit all ready to go into my savings account tomorrow. Adding that dollar to my challenge money brings me to $4422.00 for the year.