DH came home with 10 loaves of free bread yesterday. The guy he is building for , use to own a restaurant and this was the bread he would serve. I always loved it, so he sent me some. I had some for breakfast and will serve it with our steak dinner tonight. DH had a sandwich with it, for lunch!
We are really enjoying it. Is it ok to freeze it? I don't think we can eat all 10 loaves before it goes bad.

I went grocery shopping this morning. I found several good bargains, especially ice cream for half price. I used my advantage card and saved $7 for the challenge. Plus I have paid myself $2 for walking two miles.
Prev. total $18,311.00
today 9.00
new total $18,320.00

We have lived across the street from the "neighbors from hell" for about 10 years now. It was grandma and teen age grandson. He left the floodlights (outside) on almost every night and they shined in our bedroom windows all night long. He stayed up all night and slept all day. We asked nicely that they be turned off, but they never were.
They moved out 6 months ago and put the house up for sale.
Wonderful, quiet, peaceful and DARK!!

Someone decided to replace the post lights at the end of the drive (about 50 feet from our bedroom window) with HUGE come on at dark, go out in the morning, Post lights!
They are the type of security light you would use at a business in a high crime neighborhood, like Atlanta!
No sleep the first night. I called the realtor. He sent someone to turn it off yesterday, but obviously, she did not. The light came back on at 6 pm.
We got a ladder and tried to cover the lights with black garbage bags.
The lights are so huge, they shone right thru the bags.
What are people thinking of, putting up lights like this??

Someone suggested I get blinds and curtains. I don't like them. Why should I pay thousands of dollars for them?

The lights are out now. Some of you may think this is terrible, but he took a ladder (they are about 10 feet high) and he unscrewed them. We got to sleep. I don't know if I should call the realtor back or not??

Gosh it is 80 degrees outside and looks like a summer day with a lot of leaves on the ground.
I stopped at Bi Lo to only buy eggs and wound up spending almost $18. I did get some things on sale, so i saved over $3 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $18,308.00
today 3.00
new total $18,311.00

Today is the 10th of the month, so i have to go to town to pay all the business bills. I pay them in person to save on stamps.With the price of gas, I probably don't save much, but I have to go right by 2 of the places just to get to work.
I got my husband a new cell phone last week as his was very old and they (the company) was going to discontinue the service next year.
I got the simpliest phone that the store carries, no bells and whistles.
I can not believe the instruction book with the phone. It assumes that you know everything about cell phones, so it does not explain how to do anything that we want to do.
What is explained is things we have no desire to do, like text message?? radio??
I went back to the store and took notes on how to make a call, use the phonebook (never mentioned in booklet) and find a message.
My husband has to carry around notes to use the phone, but so far, it is working well, everyplace but at home.
That is what frustrated us so much the first day, nothing would work.

We have to go outside on the driveway to make calls or listen to messages.
On the good side, the phone was free. But I would not want one if the phone and the service was free for life! I am not a phone person.

I am so happy, I just found out they are pouring the concrete driveway out at the spec house, tomorrow. we have been trying to get our regular guy to just call us back for two weeks.
We are trying another guy we have used before. We called him this morning and he is going to do it in the morning.
That means the $8500 worth of appliances can be delivered next week and won't have to be pushed thru the mud!
I had another no spend day today, but I did use gas to go to my bridge lesson. Yesterday, I walked 1.5 miles plus had a no gas day, so I will add $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $18,306.00
today 2.00
new total $18,308.00

I have really enjoyed the $20 challenge. I think this is the most money I have ever saved in one year. It really makes you wake up and think about how much you can really save if you try to. Actually paying myself every time I use a coupon on my grocery card may not seem like much, but it really adds up.

I don't know if this forum will have the $20 challenge next year, but I sure hope so. If it doesn't, I will probably just do it on my own.

What about you? Has it helped you. Will you continue in 2007?

My husband bought some new gardening tools, a shovel, hoe, rake, pitchfork. He was repairing the spec property he is building a house on.
Some one (lady driver) decided to drive into the brand new lawn that we had just had hydroseeded. She slid about 50 feet down the hill.
He repaired the yard, but left all his tools in his wheelbarrow behind the house. Someone came and took everything but the wheel barrow.
Things are changing as our little town gets bigger and bigger. That is one of the reasons we left fla. 22 years ago. Our house got robbed. We put up a big fence and got 2 dobermans! Guess it is time for another doberman!

In contrast to yesterday, today is bright and sunny. I went to my bridge lesson this morning. It is the last one until Jan. I need to get my nerve up and go to the lodge where anyone can play, even learners, otherwise, I will just forget what I learned.
What a beautiful day!!!

One of my few no spend days. It was gloomy today, no sunshine at all. I stayed home and spent no money, nor did I use any gas at all.
I paid my personal bills today, otherwise I did not do much. Guess I will have a few dollars to add to my challenge tomorrow.

I make a land payment every 28 days. I have always tried to pay as much extra as I can on the principal. I started out owing $64,000 and in less than 2 years, my balance is under $24,000.
A few months ago, I quit paying extra cause I want to make sure that I have enough money to finish the spec house and not let my account fall below $50,000. (min. needed to get 5.25%)
My original payment was $660 a month, but in Jan., the bank reduced the payment to $440 a month because I was so paid in advance.
I have continued paying $660 a month. That is no problem if I pay at the loan dept. at the bank, but when I use the bank at the grocery store, they get the payment all screwed up.
I should have gone to the bank yesterday, but it was cold, windy and rainy, so I made my payment at the grocery store.
I decided not to confuse them, just pay the $420 normal payment.
So I have $240 to add to my challenge money. That is what I am saving the challenge money for, to pay off this property. I also walked a mile for another $1.
Prev. total $18,065.00
today 241.00
new total $18,306.00

I just got back from the drug store. Besides our regular prescriptions, I decided to renew the pills that dh got in Feb. for a sore throat. (they kill the bacteria)
He is just getting over a sore throat and was so grateful for the pills that I found. Lucky I write on the bottle what pills are for.
Gosh, I did not remember that the pills cost $52! But I will just reimburse myself out of the medical envelope.
I picked up a few things at Ingles and saved $3 with my card and a coupon. I walked a mile yesterday, so I have a total of $4 to add to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $18,061.00
today 4.00
new total $18,065.00

$8232.00. I just got out my social security sheet that you receive a few months before your birthday.
That was my highest paid year and it was in 1989!
They year I got married was the first year that I worked full time. I earned $2710 in 1965.
I guess no matter how little you make, you can always save a little of it.
What is really amazing is that I have saved over $18,000 in my $20 challenge just this year.
That is double and more of my highest paying year!! Not bad!!

Vote tomorrow! I had a no spend, no gas used day yesterday. I haven't had one of those in ages. I got in over a mile on my treadmill, so I will take a dollar for walking and a dollar for no gas used,and add it to my challenge.
Prev. total $18,059.00
today 2.00
new total $18,061.00

I hate that sometimes I miss some of the blogs when there is more than one post that day. That is how I missed out on Tina's healthy challenge.
I already pay myself $1 to walk a mile on my treadmill, but I see some of the gals are paying themselves to drink a lot of water, which is so good for you. I am really convinced that I am so healthy for my age because I never drink coffee, tea, soft drinks, just water. (Ok at night I do have cocktails)
So I am going to start measuring my water intake and aim for 2 quarts a day. I think you are supposed to drink 8, 8ounce glasses a day and that is 2 quarts. Am I right??
Anyway, I just got out a 2 quart container and filled it with water. Of course I will drink over ice, so I will probably get more than 2 quarts if I drink it all. I will pay myself $1 for that also.

I for got to get the mail yesterday,so today I just walked out to get it. I got a check from Pinecone for a survey I took about a week ago, plus I earned $1 walking a mile on my treadmill. that is $6 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $18,053.00
today 6.00
new total $18,059.00

I was looking at the soup in my pantry. I don't stock up much anymore, cause we eat out all the time.
I found a can of tomato soup dated 1996. wow, I think it is time to clean out the pantry!

We had a pretty cheap dinner out last night. DH is coming down with a cold. He is pretty brave with a cold, but sore throats get to him badly. I have never seen anyone with such bad sore throats. He thought he would have to go to the emergency room last night.(what they would do, I don't know?)
Luckily, I write notes on all his medications when he is sick.
In Feb., he went to the dr. with a cold and sore throat and got some pills.
He took one last night and felt a little better.
All he ordered for supper was a big bowl of chicken soup.
I got a small bowl with my meal, and it was really good! Plus, I did not eat much of my dinner, so I have lunches for two days.
A big bowl of ice cream made him feel a little better too.
You don't think he stayed home sick, do you?
Oh no, he is off to work this morning. He is sanding hardwood floor all day (Just like yesterday), so that won't help his throat either. Poor guy!

I got a new cell phone at radio shack yesterday. Had a great gal trying to explain everything to me, cause most of what I need to know, is not in the booklet.
Went back to ask more questions today, but I got a tall guy. He was super nice, but I am short and even standing on my toes,I could not see what he was doing.
Turns out, I have no service here at home,that is why I couldn't do anything.
Well, I got a few things from the grocery store, used my advantage card and saved $2 more to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $18,051.00
today 2.00
new total $18,053.00 p.s. the new cell phone is for dh. I said I would never have one and I won't . I hate talking on phones, so I am sure not going to carry one around with me.

I haven't had any money to add to my challenge the past few years. Yesterday I got a free cell phone but had to buy a case. I got 10% off, so I save $2. How can those tiny cases cost $20? anyway:
Prev. total $18,049.00
today 2.00
new total $18,051.00 Opps, I mean money to add the past few days. sorry!

The little puppy that was dropped off last sunday, has found a new home. It had a warm place last night after spending Thursday night out in the freezing cold.
My neighbor and I rigged up a bed and some blankets out in the neighbors bushes Thursday night. (the house is vacant)We could not catch the puppy as she hid in the bushes when we approached.The puppy was smart enought to get in that bed too.
Yesterday, my neighbor caught the puppy and a co worker at the bank took it.
I am so happy that the puppy has a home now.

I don't feel that old, but I sure feel that dumb. I have never had a cell phone, never wanted one. My dh got one about 5 years ago and uses it for work.
But we got notice that the phone is old and is being cancelled and got offered a new phone that does everything.
We did not want that, just a simple cell phone. I just got back from radio shack with a simple $20 phone.
I have looked at the booklet they gave me for the phone and I have absolutely no clue how to do anything on it!
Since I had to program the last one, I know dh will have no clue either.
Well, at least I won't have to hear him gripe about how badly his phone works. This one will probably work great, if we can ever figure it out.

Every month I try and do a new worth of my mutual funds and stocks. I don't do it on cash in the banks, because I am constantly using that money to build a spec house.
I am happy to say that my mutual funds and stocks increased by $7658.00 this past month. I am a buy and hold investor, so I don't panic when my holdings go down, but it is nice to see them go up.

I usually enjoy dinner out with my dh. We sit and talk about the day's events. Last night, a party of 13 came into the restaurant. They had to put tables together, so they sat right next to us. I am not saying the children (8 of them) misbehaved, but 13 people talking all at once, sure makes a noisy group.
We waited unti they ate before we ordered, that way we got to eat in peace. I guess we are spoiled living alone for so many years. Hope it is quieter tonight. Anyway, we had a nice dinner and only spent $16 for both of us.

We had a hard freeze last night, so the neighbor and I rigged up a puppy shelter. She had an old dog bed and we put it into the bushes and hung old blankets in front of it.
I just went over with a breakfast of dog food, vienna sausage and hamburger and puppy ate it all. He/she still won't let me get near it.
I can not believe people just throw their animals out. You know he/she was probably not the only one dumped off. It is really sad.

Has this war caused the price of liquor to go up. The type my dh likes just went up about $4 a bottle this past week> I wish he drank the cheap stuff. I like rum, it all tastes the same to me, so the cheaper the better.

The contract on our spec house finally came into the lawyers office this week. I went down to sign, now I am just waiting for my dh to sign. He seems to keep going in when they are closed for lunch.
However, unless something goes wrong, the house is sold and we should have a closing the end of
December. I can't wait for the check, it will be the largest check I have ever had, but it will go to the bank to start earning interest immediately.

Wow, can't believe I am just getting to my favorite site this late in the day. I got up early to take my bridge lesson, then drove to Murphy to buy liquor.I stopped at the store to get stuff for sandwiches, came home and had a late leftovers lunch. I did find a penny at the store.

someone dropped off a puppy this weekend. It is a big puppy, bigger than my dog. Our humane society is full and won't take the puppy, if I could catch it, which I can't.
I thought it went away, but it only moved over to the vacant house next door and is sleeping under the porch.
It came to my back door today and it has lost so much weight. I had to go over and feed it. It won't come near me, hides in bushes, but I can't let it starve. I really don't know what else to do?

We had a great night last night. Talked my husband into dressing up and walking around the square. There were thousands of people there, the kids all getting candy. It was a lot of fun and then we ate out, still in costume.
I don't know how to take pictures, but if anyone wants to see us, someone on the other forum took a pic and posted it today on the other forum.
We even went trick or treating at the neighbors before we went to town.