I have spent most of this weekend watching the 35th anniversary of "All in the Family" reruns. We went out last night and spent $23 on our dinner. Today, to celebrate our winning the law suit, dh wanted to cook steaks out on the grill.
I went to Bi lo and found porterhouse steaks on sale for $5.99 a pound. Also found some betty Crocker potatoes, buy one get one free.Got a few more things and spent $16.55, but I saved $5.22 using my store card, so I added that to my $20 challange money.
Since diet sprite is a big expense for us, I am looking for something cheaper.
DH did the dance of Joy in the doorway of the bedroom, before he left for work this morning!! It has been a good weekend.
BTY, when I watch tv, I walk on my treadmill, so I am not totally wasting my time, I am getting exercise too.

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

Remeber the little guy on that tv show, Belke, was his name I think. When he was happy, he would do the dance of joy!! Well that is what I am doing now.
I just got the verdict from the magistrate judge on the small claims court decision and we won!!
Since we did not use an attorney, this has not cost us one penny!! It was nerve wracking, but just proves that what goes around comes around!!
This guy sued his last builder too, so he is just one of those types! We are not used to people like that, here in the boon docks.

Ok, saved $7000 today!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we went out to dinner last night and spent about $20. As I have mentioned, we eat out every night but Sunday and that is because the restaurant we liked is closed on Sunday.
My husband works 7 days a week usually and I consider this our date, every night. We sit next to each other and just talk!! We have cocktails and it is very relaxing.
Because we live in a dry county, we are allowed to brown bag in our drinks, so that keeps the cost of the meal down. I know this is one area I need to work on, eating at home.
We use to just go out on weekends, but I am so bored with tv, I just can't stand sitting there watching it.

Early this morning, we got our first snow!! I was suposed to go to a luncheon but it got called off because of the weather. I went grocery shopiping and spent $56, but I saved $6.42 using my Ingles advantage card, plus about $5 for my lunch and tip. So I added $11.42 to my challange money today. I also added over $1.50 to my change jar. We are supposed to go tonight, but I bought meat just in case we don't. So far, the snow is not sticking to the road, so we will probably go anyway!

I got my mutual fund statements in the mail this week, and all of them increased, which is good.

I just did my grocery shopping and with my advantage card, I saved $6.42. I also was supposed to meet with a group for lunch, but because it snowed, it got cancelled. I would have spent at least $5 ($3 for a burger and $2 for a tip), so I am adding that to my total, for a grand total of $11.42. I am putting that in with my challange money.
Prev. $501.82
Today 11.42
Bal. $513.24

I realize that the journal should be about saving and spending money, so I am going to start recording what I spend each day. I looked and managed to find a new little notebook that I can put in my purse to carry and record what I spend. I have been reading the journal entries and it seems like no one records regular bills, just the day by day stuff that you spend on, plus emergencies.
My down fall, I guess, it that we eat dinner out every night but Sundays. (cause the restaurant we like is closed) We like out in the boonies and there is nothing else to do, but I hate watching tv.
So every night is sort of like a "date night" to us.
We go out, sit next to each other and talk for several hours. We have been sitting next to each other for close to 30 years. We won't sit at a table for two unless we can sit next to each other.
So last night, we went to try and new restaurant, did not like it, and went to our old place. (new one was too noisy, we got to talk to each other, not shout at each other)
Spent about $20. Today is a stay home day, but we will go out to eat tonight !

It seems fitting to start this journal on Friday the 13th. I got married on Friday the 13th and it has always been my lucky day.
We had to go to small claims court for the first time in our lives this week.My husband had just started a job and was having a grading guy put in a driveway when the owners decided to stop the job.
That was fine with us because we had a bad feeling about these people. We were right. They decided to sue us and the grading guy for $7000 each and we don't really know why.
They hired a different guy and he put in a different driveway over the septic area and it cost him $7000.
I guess he wants us to pay for his drive.
I was prepared to handle the whole thing and had great notes and lots of paperwork to show the judge.
But the judge would not let me say a word, and my husband was a nervous wreck and had little to say.
We will know the verdict next week. I sure would hate to pay out $7000 for a job in which my husband made about $500.
I think we will stick to building spec houses!!

I stayed home from town today , thereby saving $1 in gas money. I got my ING statment and I got $9.22 in interest for the quarter, for a total of $10,22 today.
Prev. $491.60
Today 10.22
Bal. $501.82

Well, I did not come up with anyway to add to my challenge money today, but I did remember that the old slot machine out in the garage has a box of nickels in the back of it. So I brought them in and dumped them in my change jar. There must have been a few dollars worth in the box.

I talked my husband into taking a fixer upper job for an old customer and I got the check today. It was for $194.00 so I have cashed it and am adding that to my stash. I have already put the other money in my interest paying account so it will earn interest, but I am keeping track of my challenge money on paper.
Prev. bal. $$297.60
Today 194.00
Total $491.60

Ok, I just cashed my husband's paycheck, did my budget envelopes and have $100 extra left over besides my regular savings. I am going to add that to my challange money.
Prev. bal. $197.60
Today 100.00
New bal. 297.60

Well I have not added a thing the past two days. I had better get busy.

Today I went to the grocery store and used my advantage card. I saved $2.16/
Prec. bal. $195.44
Todays 2.16
Total $197.60

I stayed home yesterday, so saved a dollar in gas money. today, i took my change to the change machine at my bank and got $98.00, so that is $99 to add to my total.
Prev. bal. $96.44
Today's 99.00
Total $195.44

Not bad for 6 days!

Ok, I just sat and paid all the 10th of the month bills. I had $40 left over in my telephone and car payment accts., so i will add that to my total.
Prev. bal. $56.44
Todays 40.00
Total 96.44

This is fun!

Well, I did not add any more money today, but while searching for things to sell, I found an old bag of wheat pennies. I don't think they are worth more than a penny each, but I will take them to the bank to be counted.

I have been thinking about having a garage sale this spring. But I decided to get rid of a few items by advertising them locally, on a site called blairsville.com. I put them on this afternoon and within 5 minutes I sold them for $30. When I met the girl at the store to deliver them, I saved another dollar buying some sprite on sale. Total of $31 for the day. Previous total $25.44
Today 31.00

new total $56.44

Ok, I figure out that if I don't drive to town each day, (which I like to do cause I am bored), I save about $1 in gas money. Town is about a ten mile round trip and I get about 20 miles per gallon, so I use about 1/2 gallon to go to town and back. I pay over $2 a gallon, so I am saving $1. Not much, but I did not go to town today, so I am adding that dollar.
Prev. total $24.44 plus $1= $25.44

Ok, I have started with my $20. I went grocery shopping today and saved $4.44 by using my Ingles Advantage card, so I have put that in a container and now have $24.44. This might be fun. I am not going to count buying things on sale when I don't really need them, but a $7 roast for just a little over $3 is a pretty good buy.