I, for one, do not like these shorter days. This is when I started my habit of eating out everynight. I can not stand the thought of sitting around watching tv at 6 pm. Ican't wait til april when the time will change back.
I did save a dollar at the grocery store today and walked for 2 miles, so I have $3 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $18,046.00
today 3.00
new total $18,049.00

I wonder how many people my age, are going to go trick or treating tonight?
Our little town started a new tradition of trick or treating on the downtown square last year.
We went out to dinner and I enjoyed seeing all the kids, big and little, walking around, collecting candy.
I have convinced my husband to dress up with me tonight and walk around the square! And to eat out at the restaurant with our costumes on!!
If you knew my dh, you would know he is real conservative and I am the nutty one. I guess he has decided "if you can't beat em, join em"
Sounds like fun tonight!!!

I don't have lunch out often, but it is a lot of fun! I met with 6 other ladies and we laughed and had a good time. I don't like pizza, so I got cheese breadsticks. Boy are they good and I have leftovers for tomorrow. I spent a little under $5 but it was worth it.
The lady in front of me dropped a quarter and she knew it.
She never even bothered to pick it up. After she left, I picked it up!
I can't believe people don't pick up coins on the ground??

We had dinner and free drinks at the big Halloween party last night. Since I did not spend any money, I thought I should add $20 to my challenge money. We usually eat out on Sat. nights.
Prev. total $18,026.00
today 20.00
new total $18,046.00

We went to a great Halloween party last night. The costumes were fantastic. I really thought my husband should have won first prize, he was the funniest!
My favorite part was getting to dance; they even played my favorite song to dance to, "Wipe Out"!!

By the way, besides having a free evening of food and drink, I won first prize and got a gift certificate to a restaurant.

I thought i would get a roast for sunday, we have not had one in a while. But I find that because steak is on sale, I can get two steaks cheaper than I can buy a roast. Well, I prefer steak over roast, so that is what I bought.
I got N.Y. strip.
I have never bought or eaten sirloin steak cause I thought it might be tough. Does anyone every cook them in a crockpot to get them tender?

Tonight is the big night for halloween parties. I am looking forward to the one I am invited to.
Yesterday I got my dh some prilosec for $3 off regular price. Today, I bought some N.Y. strip steak on sale, saving another $3. so I will add that $6 to my challenge money.
prev. total $18,020.00
today 6.00
new total $18,026.00

When does the time change? It is usually the last sunday (2 am) in October, but it was not in the newspaper and I have not seen anything on tv. I thought I would ask the smartest people, you guys!!

I just read Tina's blog today and I totally agree with what she said. I have always been treated like I was "poor" I used to have bank tellers come into the restaurant and they would hardly speak to me, cause I was the "poor" waitress and they were dressed to the nines!
(Most of them could not afford to leave a tip, they spent all their money on clothes)
I bet my bank account was a lot bigger than any of theirs. Not that I cared, but I don't think you should treat people anyway, but kindly!

I am getting excited about the Halloween party tomorrow. I hope all of this rain does not put a damper on the party.
I need to go and buy a camera to take pictures. We usually buy the one time use camera cause it lasts us about a year. DH likes to take pictures of the houses he builds, to mail to his father.
I am still waiting on a contract for the house we are building. I will feel a lot better when I get that, plus some more deposit.
Keeping my fingers crossed!

I have $8 to add to my challenge money. I got some great deals at Bi Lo today. I got steak on sale, bought BOGO frozen dinners plus got 4 boxes of my favorite cookies, BOGO!
Prev. total $18,012.00
today 8.00
new total $18,020.00

I got my bank statement in the mail today. I got $484.29 in interest just this month in my money market account. Woo ho, free money!!!!!!!

I had a great lunch out today. I am on a local forum and we get together for lunch once in a while. It is always nice to meet someone new.
We had a lot of fun and I wore my Halloween hat that lights up!! I know most people won't do something silly like that, but, I am not most people!
I bought lunch for a very nice lady that came over to my house and hooked up my printer!

I just stayed home today, played on the computer and walked on my treadmill. I have $2 to add to my challenge money for walking and not using any gas today. so here is my total:
prev. total $18,010.00
today 2.00
new total $18,012.00

It is two months from today, christmas eve!!! Wow time is just flying by. Are you ready for the holidays? I am not!

We had a great dinner out last night, the restaurant was mobbed! That seems funny for a Monday night.
We took lots of pictures of the new house and the fall colors this weekend, so we dropped the film off last night at CVS. I need to buy a new throw away camera to take pictures of the Halloween party.
Yesterday was a no spend day except for dinner out.

DH is home and I had to turn on the heat. It is hard to take a shower when it is this cold in the house. It has been a cold, blustery day, but I did not spend a dime today!

We are talking to two couples who want to buy our spec house. They flew in Friday and left today. I told them I wanted a contract, so they went to the bank this morning. Just as I thought, they needed to go to a lawyer, so the bank got them in before they left. No contract yet, but we are supposed to get one this week.
So, we all shook hands and considered the house sold!
I sure hope so, there are so many new houses sitting now, cause no one can sell their houses in Florida!

We went to a big outdoor party yesterday. 800 people and all you can eat. Even had a hillbilly band playing. It was a perfect fall day, about 70 and all the colors are just beautiful on the trees. I pigged out on desserts and even snuck a brownie to bring home!

Steak for supper and I got it on sale. Big old Porterhouse steaks!! I also bought 2 frozen apple pies on sale also. All in all, I saved $10 using my store cards.
This will be added to my challenge money.
Prev. total $18,000.00
today 10.00
new total $18,010.00

I have always budgeted $40 a week for my electric bill. That is the highest bill I have had in the past 10 years. Even tho the cost of power has gone up, I have never gone over $160. It was $150 something in August!
I got the bill yesterday and it was $68. Yeah! that is $90 left over to put in my challenge money.
Prev. total $17,910.00
today 90.00
new total $18,000.00

today is the day of the blairsville Bash. This is a huge bar b que that is given by a couple of friends of ours. It is always given the middle of October so the visitors can enjoy the beautiful mountain fall colors.
The theme is always the "Pig" Days and days of cook and food prep go into this "bash"
There are over 800 people invited to this big event and plenty of places for everyone to sit and eat! Having 800 chairs is quite an event in itself!
My favorite, is the dessert room. One entire room is dedicated to nothing but desserts.
Since I am not a bar b que lover, this is the room I hit first. Heck, I would rather fill up on chocolate!
This is also the day of the annual old car show, so this is our most enjoyable day of the month!
Yipee!! Free lunch!!

The potential house buyers flew in from florida. They are supposed to be going to the bank today to find out what is going on. It is 2 couples, mother and daughter and they both have houses to sell in florida, so that is the problem!
I am waiting til my husband calls, to go over and talk to them.
If this deal goes thru, they need to pick out their appliances, counter tops, cabinets and carpet.
Keep your fingers crossed for me. It sure would be nice to have this money back in the bank!

We stayed home last night, mostly to avoid the pest that comes and sits with us every thursday night at the restaurant. (He takes a class on Thursday nights and always comes to spend the evening with us instead of his wife)
I had a coupon for KFC. It was for a bucket of chicken for $8.99 plus tax. I noticed a bucket has gone up to $10.59, but somehow after she did the coupon, I only paid $7.05 and that included the tax. Dinner for 2, plus 2 lunches for $7.05, wow!
I figured that saved me at least $10 that I can add to my challenge money.
prev. total $17,900.00
today 10.00
new total $17,910.00

The fall colors are just about at their peak around here. I rode over to the spec house, just to look at all the pretty colors on the mountains in front of the house. The stained glass window I picked out is in the powder room and really looks good.
The people hoping to buy the house are flying in tonight.

Such a pretty day and it was a no spend day to boot! We are even going to have supper at home tonight, so we don't have to put up with the guy that pesters us every thursday night on a regular basis!

I am back from my bridge class. We are covering a lot of material in just a little bit of time. I am really enjoying this and hoping to find a place to play after the class ends.
I did buy ice cream yesterday at half price, plus I walked 2 miles, so that is $4 more to add to my challenge money!
Prev. total $17,896.00
today 4.00
new total $17,900.00

I am wearing shorts again. I have a feeling it will be the last day for a while. I just watched the weather and the high for the next 7 days is going to be 63! My husband keeps saying winter is here. I have to remind him that winter time is really more than two months away. He always has to work outside in the winter, so it is not his favorite time of year.
Yesterday we got our annual swarm of lady bugs. They will be with us (inside the house) until it warms up again. that calls for lots of extra vaccuming.

My pet peeve is to stand in a restaurant while there are plenty of open, clean tables to be seated at.
That happened last night. we asked for a booth, nothing was available. Then both a table and a booth opened up.
The hostess cleaned the table, while we stood there.
someone else cleaned the booth and the hostess set it back up.
And we stood there.
The hostess went to talk to the waitress.And we stood there.
We stood there for a total of 15 minutes, then we walked out. we eat there almost every night.
We went to the restaurant next door. (same owner) We saw her and complained. Pretty soon another couple, also regulars showed up. They had the same problem.
I wonder who our hostess will be tonight?

It has warmed up today, so I think this will be a no heat running, day. I thought I could get by yesterday, but my dh complained that it was colder inside than outside and he was right.
I just ran the heat while he took a shower and dressed, then I turned it back down. Just trying to save on propane, but he teases me about how cold the house is, all the time.
I wear socks, sweat pants and two sweaters when it is cold in the house. Ok, maybe not a pretty sight, but a frugal one!

A few more dollars to add to my challenge money. I went to the grocery store and picked up all of the things I went without all week. I use coupons and my advantage card and I saved $5.
Prev. total $17,891.00
today 5.00
new total $17,896.00