I usually grocery shop on Saturday or Sunday, but I stocked up today because they are predicting snow coming in tonight and tomorrow. Since we eat out almost every night, I never have much on hand. My husband does not like frozen meat, so our freezer is almost always empty.
I stayed home yesterday and spent no money until we went out to eat last night. Then a guy from Miami hung over our table and talked to us the whole time we ate. We call him, Mr. Miami and he bugs us every time he comes to town. I don't know why people bother us so much when we go out to eat. I guess we are just too friendly!!
I am stocking up on sprite cause it has been on sale the past 2 weeks. We have about 12-12 packs stocked up. Good thing we have a big pantry.
Today, I saved almost $12 on my advantage card which I have added to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2863.00
today 12.00
New total $2875.00

Woke up to snow on the ground this morning. A lot of people don't know that there are mountains in Georgia. I didn't till I came here to look at property and fell in love. Our county has the highest peak in Georgia.
My husband went to work for the first time in almost two weeks. He is still waiting on the grading guys, but they made a little progress yesterday, so things are finally moving.
I haven't done a thing today except walk on my treadmill.
I see the money challege has been moved to this site, so I will no longer post in both.
I did send a bill for some house plans that dh drew. He has worked with these people for over 3 years trying to come up with something they want. I did ask for and receive a deposit. I don't really know if they will pay it or not, I am sure they will think it is too much. They should see what an architect would charge.
My husband does not really want to build the house, so I don't think he is worried about the money, but it would be nice.
I have stayed home all day and have not thought of any thing to add to my challenge money, so my balance stands at $2863.00

Ou local restaurant owners almost called us, they were so worried cause we hadn't been there to eat since Friday night. It was good to see everyone again. I have bought valentine's candy for all the girls, so I will start leaving that with the tip tomorrow night.
My husband is still home, waiting for a grading guy on three different jobs. He is drawing house plans to have something to do.
Took a ride today and picked up a check to continue on with a remodel job. The grader was there, so the small job has gotten started again. It is a pretty day today and I am excited about going out again for dinner tonight.
My husband put in a hand rail for a neighbor yesterday and got a check for $75 today. I am adding that to my challenge money, so my new total is $2863.00.
My dh thought I charged them too much money, what do you think? He had to pick up materials, make the hand rail and install it.

My husband installed a hand rail (he made it too) for a neighbor and just came home with a check for $75. My husband never takes these little odd jobs, but I have been incouraging him since I started this challenge.

Prev. total $2788.00
Today 75.00
New total $2863.00

I have been stocking up on toilet paper and sprite the past few weeks. I have coupons for $2 off a 4 roll pack and the sprite is 4-12 can packs for $10. Every time I go to the store I pick some up.
we got snow so we stayed home last night and had dinner in. today my dh had to take the car in for something under warrenty. I could hardly wait for him to get home so I could get outside and go somewhere. Made it to both grocery stores in this town, plus the post office and drug store.
I did good on my challege money today. I saved at least $20 from not eating out last night, I saved $25 at the liquor store in N.C. by not buying my husband's usual whiskey. (His father bought him a bottle last week) and I saved $4 on the toilet paper and sprite, making my new challege total $2788.00!! Not half bad, if I say so myself!

I did well on the challenge today. We stayed home last night instead of eating out (it was snowing) so i saved $20 there. I sent my husband to the liquor store and we did not buy his "usual" bottle. Saved $25 there (his father gave him one) Saved $4 at the grocery store using coupons. I physically take this money and put it into a cash box until I have enough to put in the savings account.

prev. total $2734.00
today 49.00
new total $2788.00

It is still snowing so I went to the grocery store, stocked up on sprite on sale, found pork chops on sale and had a $2 coupon. I saved a total of $12 today at the grocery store.

Prev. total $2722.00
today 12.00
newe total $2734.00

I finally had my first no spend day since I joined this forum. I stayed home all day. We got dressed for dinner and started out. About halfway there, it started snowing really hard and laying on the road. We got worried that we might not back it home if we went to eat so we turned around and came home. I don't keep much on hand in the case of an emergency meal, so we had to settle for sausage and eggs.

Instead of turning on the tv, my dh actually sat and read a magazine until about 8 pm. Then he fixed dinner, and by that time the snow had stopped. we would have been ok after all.
Today, we are just piddling around. We are supposed to go over to a couple's house that want my husband to build them a new house. They want us for supper and I am kind of dreading that, because the man once told us that his wife did not cook.

I am a funny eater and can't eat something I just don't like.
Plus they want us at 4 pm. and I am sorry. Yes, my age indicates that I am old, but I don't act or feel old.
I don't eat at 4pm. I eat about 8 or 9 or ten at night.
Can you tell I am not looking forward to this?

These people just turn up at our favorite restaurant once or twice a week to sit with us and I feel that is rude. They never tell us they are coming. He just showed up this past Thurs. night and sat with us all thru our meal.
Oh well, I saved money not eating out last night, so I will add $21 to my challenge money for a new total of $2722.00.

I read the $20 challenge thread all the time and not many are posting to it, I wonder why?

Well I am having a free meal tonight, maybe I should add a few $$ to my challenge money for that? Any thoughts?

I stayed home from town yesterday and when I do that I add $1 to my challenge cause I figure it cost me about $1 or more in gas to go to town and back. Then last night, we did not go out to dinner cause it was snowing so hard. I figure that saved me at least $20, so I will add $21 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $2701.00
addition 21.00
new total $2722.00

Took the vette in today because we had some oil leakage. It is not serious and it covered under warrenty, but I have to take it back next Tuesday morning cause they had to order the parts.
Since we went to Fla., it seems like I am out of everything, so i had to go grocery shopping.
I had looked at boneless chicken yesterday cause I wanted to try that in my crockpot. A package of boneless breasts was about $8 so I did not get it. I have never been a real careful price shopper in the past 10 years because we go out so much and buy so little meat. My husband won't eat meat that has been frozen, so there is not much in our freezer.
Today that same chicken was $3.20 on sale. All together, I saved about $7 in coupons and I added that to my challenge for a new total of #2701.00.
I even found a birthday card at home (for free) to send to my granddaugher for her birthday next week. I always send a check. The kids like money and really don't care if you spent $2.00 for a card. (But I buy my cards at the dollar store for 50 cents)
Have a wonderful weekend!!

Well I did some careful grocery shopping today and saved $7 with my advantage cards.

Prev. total $2694.00
Today 7.00
New total $2701.00

While looking for a gold coin I had yesterday, I came across a bag with Susan B. Anthony dollars in it that I have saved since 1979. since they are only worth a dollar, I took them to the bank today for paper dollars to add to my challenge money.
I stopped by an insurance place to discuss getting general liability insurance for my husband's building business. I discovered that it will cost at the low end, about $5000, a year plus a whole lot of paperwork. I think that is a big rip off!! He has to have it to get licensed to build in Ga. We have built in N.C. and they don't require it.

Prev. total $2671.00
today's 23.00
New total $2694.00

Turned in my susan b. anthony dollars and got $23 to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $2671
today 23
new total $2694

Found a $10 gold coin from 1879. I need to sell it but no coin dealers here.

Did not find anyways of saving money on our trip, except for eating out cheaply which was no fun.
I did arrive home and received an unplanned check for $110.00.
That makes my challenge total $2661.00. Pretty good for one month. I don't expect that for February. The big check I got was a once a year event! It has been a good month!!

Well I am back!! I sent a bill out for a small repair (floor) job that my husband did ages ago. I had forgetten it, but a check was sitting in my mail when I got home. It was for $110 so I will save it and add to my challenge money.

prev. bal. $2551.00
Today 110.00
New tot. $2661.00

Just got back from Ingles, they had a great deal on sprite. I only spent about $16 but with my advantage card and a coupon, I saved $9.76. so I am addding $10 to my challenge money.

Previous $2661.00
Add 10.00
new tot. $2671.00

Did some grocery shopping before we leave for fla. tomorrow. With my advantage card, I saved $4.04.

Prev. total $2546.96
today 4.04
New total $2551.00

Wow! I had a talk with the building supply place my husband does business with, about 2 weeks ago. I asked if we could get a rebate check once a year for all of his purchases.
They agreed to talk it over and let me know.
Today I got a call to pick up my check, it was for $1760.13.

So My challenge total now stands at $2546.96. I have impressed myself!!

I think I will keep my $20 to $5000 challenge on this blog, also. I started with $20 on Jan. 1st and as of yesterday, Jan 24th, my total is $786.23.

I am saving all my changes. Anytime I get grocery store savings using my advantage card, I take that cash and put it with my savings. I use the budget envelope method and if I over budget, I take that money out and add to my challenge money.

I have sold a few things and plan to have a garage sale when it gets warmer.
If my husband takes on an extra "fix it job" I count that because he does not do that often and it is just extra money.

I have debated if I should count interest that I receive on my checking and savings account? Your feedback would be welcome!

Well it has been a good day. About 2 weeks ago, i went and talked to the office manager where my husband buys all his building supplies and has for over 20 years. I mentioned that now we have a home depot, that sends us 10% off coupons 5 or 6 times a year and we stock up on stuff we use in the homes he builds.

I mentioned that he is staying pretty loyal to this building material company and still buying most of his materials there. I asked shouldn't we get a rebate for spending so much money there every year.

She said she would take it up with the owners!!

Today she called and said she had a check for me! It was for $1760.13 for last year's purchases!! Again, I am doing the dance of JOY!!

Prev. total $786,83
Today $1760.13
new total $2546.96

Another $2.00 coupon. Plus I paid my end of the month bills and had overbudged $20 in on catagory, so I will add $22 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $764.83
Today 22.00
New total $786.83

Well I used my $2 off coupon again today, so I will add that to my total. I am also adding to my hoard of toilet paper.

Prev. $762.83
today 2.00
new tot$764.83

Well I have not added any money to my challange today, but I did go and check out my husbands van. He said he didn't think he had much change cause he does not go to fast food places anymore, but I found $10.60 in change that I can add to my change jar.

Total: still at $760.33

I guess I have used the envelope method for so long (40 years) that I never think about using the money I put away. I have never been a coupon person,cause we don't get a newspaper, so I rarely have coupons, but I am watching out for them now. I did have a store coupon for $2 off of toilet paper (regular price $2.88) so I went and got that today. The nice thing is, when you self check out, nothing takes your coupon, so I can use it again til it expires. I also took back a recessed light bulb that did not work and got a new one. Hey those durn things cost $3.33 each and my husband has been throwing away the ones that don't work (brand new)!

Prev. Total $760.83
Today 2.00
New total $762.83

i saved $4.42 at the grocery store and 20 cents by making copies at the library instead of Ingles. I really comparison shopped today at Ingles. I added the $4.61 to my challenge money.

Prev. bal. $755.71
today 4.62
New tot $760.33

Had to buy prilosec last night for dh. With my advantage card, I got $2 off, plus I had a coupon for $2 off, so I saved $4. I stay home all day yesterday so that saved $1 in gas money for a total of $5 added to my challenge money.

Prev. bal $750.71
Today 5.00
new tot. $755.71

I didn't know what to do today, but my electric bill came. I had alloted $260 in my electric bill account, but my bill was only $100, so I am putting the other $160 in my challenge account.

Pre. bal $590.71
Today 160.00
new tot. $750.71

I saved $12 today by not buying something that I buy every week on my trip to the liquor store, plus my husband found a quarter on the floor of the restaurant.

Prev. bal. $578.46
Today 12.25
New bal. $590.71

Today was payday and I have put all the money away in the envelopes. Even after saving my 10%, I have $60 left, so I am adding that to my challange money.

Pre. bal. $518.46
Today 60.00
new bal. $578.46

Just got back from grocery shopping. Porterhouse steaks were on sale and with my store card, I saved $5.22.
Prev. $513.24
Today 5.22
Bal. $518.46