I wish I had written down the first day that the heat did not run at all. I checked the propane tank about 2 weeks ago and noticed I only had about 10% full. I debated about ordering some more propane. I have a big tank, so 10% is still 100 gallons.
I am guessing is has been close to 2 weeks since the heat ran at all. I know that I have not put the a/c on yet.
It got quite warm last week, up to almost 80, but now temps are more normal, down in the 50's.
My house is well insulated, so it is a very comfortable 65 in here.
I can tolerate cool temps., but I hate it when it is hot.
No matter how frugal I am, I cannot stand the house to be too warm.
The hottest room in the house is the room with the computer and the treadmill. Of course that is the room I spend the most time in.
I think I can make it thru April without ordering any more propane! I figure I spent about $800 this winter heating the house. I remember when I could do it for $300, but propane has doubled and we now heat a two car garage with bathroom and bonus room.
I have over $600 built up in my heat (propane) envelope. Maybe I should put that away and earn interest til next October!! Oh well, happy april!!

I am going to make a bank run today. Might as well let my challenge money earn a little interest over the weekend. I have $165 of "Ridge" money to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $6962.00
today 165.00
new total $7127.00

We had a very nice dinner out last night. I met a nice lady on the other forum that I am on. She lived full time in florida, but has a vacation home here. She e mailed me to ask who to get for paving her drive and we began talking back and forth.
Last year, they invited us over for a cookout.
Yesterday, she came to visit, bringing me cookies and wine.
so we all met up for dinner last night, with her husband and 12 year old daughter.
I was so happy to hear her husband ask for separate checks for dinner. I do that a lot, and sometimes it feels awkward.
I am looking forward to when she moves here some day.
Except for dinner out (which was planned) it was a nice, no spend day.

I had a nice day today and did not spend a dime. I planned to go shopping but got a phone call from a new friend I made on the other forum. She is in town from Florida and came to visit me. Boy, I made out like a bandit. She bought me boxes of my favorite cookies and 2 bottles of boones farm, my favorite wine. (I am cheap remember)

We sat out by the creek and talked for hours, it was so nice outside.
I also got a check for $538 and that is being added to my challenge money.
prev. total $6424.00
today 538.00
new total $6962.00

Well, I went shopping today to get a few things that have been on my "to get" list and I wound up getting a new pair of glasses.
I am perfectly happy with cheap reading glasses and I bought some a few months ago at the dollar store. I can see fine, but when I put them in my purse, the glass lens falls out. The lens just sits in the glass.
It is embarassing to have the lens fall out just when you are ready to play bridge.
I guess that is why they cost $5.
So, I splurged today and got new reading glasses with no frames, so the lens can't fall out. All together, I spent $33 at Rite Aid, but I used my tuesday discount card and saved $3. I will put that in my challenge money.
Prev. total $6421.00
today 3.00
new total $6424.00

Well, the old mower gave up on sunday, so my dh headed off to a near by town to pick up a new riding mower. (snapper) He also needed a new weed eater as the old one quit working.
When spring moves in, it does so quickly. Our grass was so high, we couldn't see Holly when we took her out.
Now, the yard is mowed and we are $1806 poorer. I even though about hiring someone to mow the yard, but they would probably want $75 per trip and that is $300 a month.
Hopefully this mower will pay for itself this year and will last for a while.
Now, we still need to do some yard work, it still doesn't look good. My dh does fertilize it and adds seed every year, but the neighbors lawns always looks better and they do nothing.
Oh well, we stayed home last night so dh could cut grass, so I am adding the $20 we would have spent for dinner out, to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $6401.00
today 20.00
new total $6421.00

Today is the very first shorts day! I expect to get some more cold weather but today is going to be 80. I am going to add $10 to my challenge money in honor of first shorts day. I also walked yesterday and have $3 more to add.
On the spending side, my dh is off to purchase a riding lawn mower today. He would rather buy one and cut grass himself than hire someone to cut our two acres/
prev. total $6388.00
today 13.00
new total $6401.00

Did you know that right now is a good time to build a house? Because things have slowed down, building materials are the lowest in years. Any of you thinking of building, this is the time to do it. We are in the process of looking for a lot for a spec house. Materials have come way down in cost, but everyone is sitting on their high priced land. We like to build something affordable, so we need a lot with a decent price. Nothing around here under $70,000 for a small lot.

It is just nine more months until Christmas. Gosh, for years, I started christmas shopping in January. Now, I only shop for my husband. We finally hit that age when we know we just don't need any more "stuff". As a matter of fact, we really need to get rid of some of the "stuff" that we already have.
We collected stuff when we were younger. I have a large collection of hummels. My husband collected bottles and beer cans. What do you do with 700 beer cans at least 25 years old or older? Sell them along with the house. (they are on shelves in the garage) I would love to sell the hummels too, even if I just get what I have in them. Most of them are 30 years old too.
Oh well, you all start looking for good bargains for christmas!! It is a coming!!

I have a few dollars more to add to my challenge money. I went grocery shopping yesterday. I used a $2 off coupon plus I saved about $3 using my Ingles advantage card.
Today is definately a no spend day, plus the weather is perfect so no heat or air running.
I got my credit card statement yesterday. The cut off date was Mar.14th and I received it on Mar. 23rd. The payment is due on the 3rd of april. They sure do not give you much time to make the payment. I drove to the post office this morning to make sure that it gets there on time. I have never paid a late charge and I don't intend to start.
Prev. total $6383.00
today 5.00
new total $6388.00

The bradford pear trees are in full bloom outside my window right now. They are so beautiful. It truly feels like spring now because of the warmer days. we have even taken the hot rod out 4 nights in a row. It generally sits in the garage all winter cause it has no heat.
So every night, for 4 nights, after dinner, we have cruised the town. Guess dh will never grow up.
I saved $3 buying candy on sale to add to the challenge. However, when i went to have a piece, I discovered I had bought the wrong kind; this sugarfree candy had almonds. I don't like nuts in anything.
However, DH has kindly offered to eat it, so I won't take it back.
Prev. total $6380.00
today 3.00
new total $6383.00

Today is a bridge day all day. I have already played this morning and am going back in the afternoon.
I did manage to walk a mile yesterday and do 20 flights of stairs. I can see where all this bridge is going to interfer with exercise. I will add $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $6378.00
today 2.00
new total $6380.00

I had a $4 off coupon at CVS. I really needed stuff like deodrant and cold cream, so off I went.
I got a very good sale on the deodrant and diet sprite was on sale too. I also got some of my favorite sugar free candy.
Besides saving money on deodrant and 3-12 packs of sprite, I feel like I got a lot for my $17 purchase.
Then I went to check our rite aid because CVS did not have the conditioner that I like. Rite aid had it, but I will wait til next tuesday so I can get 10% off (senior citizens day)
Then I found my favorite sugar free candy there 70 cents cheaper, on sale, so i stocked up on that.
I haven't figured up how much I saved today, but I will add the $4 off coupon money to my challenge.
prev. total $6374.00
today 4.00
new total $6378.00

Well, I am getting all my challenge money together and taking it to the bank today. I figured out that my challenge money and other savings could be earning about 50 cents in interest each day rather than sitting in my cash box. so I have another $165 Ridge money to add to my challenge money.
The bad news is, i just watched QVC and ordered 2 solar powered items. I love that stuff!
Prev. total $6209.00
today 165.00
new total $6374.00

Gosh, I got another check in the mail today.. This is getting to be like christmas. It is from the local building place and they are giving me a rebate. Last year, I asked for the rebate, this time they just mailed it without me asking. So, I have $623 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5586.00
today 623.00
new total $6209.00

My electric bill came in the mail yesterday. For some reason, it only covered 25 days instead of the usual 30 days. However, the bill was for less than half of what I budget, so I have $80 to put into my challenge money.
prev. total $5506.00
today 80.00
new total $5586.00

I got a check in the mail today for a plumbing repair job that my husband did about 3 weeks ago. I guess if he ever ran out of building work, He could be Mr. repair man. There is almost nothing he can not fix or build.
I will add this check to my challenge money.
I spent no money today except to fill up my gas tank. We played bridge all afternoon and another lady supplied many of the snacks. It has been a really great day!
Prev. total $5331.00
today 175.00
new total $5506.00

I was watching a news program this morning and they interviewed a guy that just wrote a book. I wasn't paying attention and did not get the name of the book, but it was about ways you could save money on your electric bill each month.
One of the biggies was "always wash your clothes in cold water" He explained that the washing machine uses very little electric. It is the heating of the hot water that uses so much power.

Well, I have always washed in cold and my hot water heater is OFF 23 hours a day. I am saving money!

I play bridge with 3 ladies every week. They all get their hair and nails done every week.
I got my hair done when I was young, those were the "teased hair" days. I have never gotten my nails done, ever. I don't even know how much it cost to get your nails done.
Do people really look at nails anyway? If they do, I am going to be a real disappointment to them.

Time to add in my Ridge money to the $20 challenge. I put aside $165 a week and now the land is paid off, so it can go into the challenge.
Prev. total $5166.00
today 165.00
new total $5331.00

I received a check in the mail yesterday from a customer we are building for. So, I had to go and make a deposit in the bank today. It was so cold and windy. I went to bi lo and even the boy scouts have moved inside to sell tickets.
I walked a mile on my treadmill yesterday and did 20 flights of stairs, so I have $2 more to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $5164.00
today 2.00
new total $5166.00

Well, we got spoiled. Warm weather, no heat running, people in the grocery store wearing shorts. It was in the 70"s. I thought, I won't have to order any more propane for heat!! Yeah!! (I still might not have to)
The buds are coming out on the trees. This morning,it was warm, but the temp. has been dropping and it is down to 42 now. I guess it is not quite spring yet.
I just got back from grocery shopping and I saved $3 using my advantage card. I will add that to my challenge money.
prev. total $5161.00
today 3.00
new total $5164.00

My husband is a builder and things are really slowing down around here. It seems like about 10 years ago or so, half of america decided that they wanted to move to the North Georgia mountains and building was booming.
Suddenly, everyone started building spec houses, everyone. Doctors, lawyers, grading people, everyone.
Everyone we knew was having a spec house built to resell for a profit.

Now, it has stopped, mainly because all of the Florida people wanting to move here, cannot sell their homes in florida.

This week, a guy that does our framing called and asked for a job. The framing crew has nothing to do, no houses to frame.
The guy that does our grading called too. He has no work and wondered if we had something we needed done.

I am not worried. I know we will be ok. We will find a nice lot and we will build a spec house. The trick is, we will build the BEST spec house in the entire area. If any house sells in this area, ours will!!
If it doesn't sell for a while, we will still eat well!!
No worries, be happy!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to my last class for bridge today. The teacher was not there, so we just had a good time playing.
A new course will start next week and this will be for experienced bridge players. I have signed up for it even tho I am not experienced.
I did spend about $4 for some snacks for the bridge game at my house on Monday.
I also got in one mile on my treadmill and did more than 20 flights of stairs yesterday, so that is $2 more for the challenge.
prev. total $5159.00
today 2.00
new total $5161.00

We stayed home last night and enjoyed the evening. My dh put our "free" fire pit together last night and he had brought home scrap wood from the job, so the cost was nothing.
We pulled our chairs up close to the fire, even puppy dog had her chair. She had never seen a fire before.
We had an enjoyable evening sitting out and watching the stars. Eventually, we grilled some steaks and it was a very nice evening!

I think we are going to stay home tonight for a change. I am hoping my dh can put the new fire pit together.
We plan to cook out on the grill so I went and got steaks. They were on sale and breyer's ice cream was a bogo. So I saved $8 to add to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $5151.00
today 8.00
new total $5159.00

I got another check to add to my challenge money in the mail. I have stock in several companies but I always go for the DRIP program.
When Wendy's spun off Tim Horton, they started sending me small dividend checks instead of reinvesting them. Heck it is only $10, so I will add them to my challenge money.
prev. total $5141.00
today 10.00
new total $5151.00

I just got back from getting a brand new fire pit. I have always wanted one, but it is something you do not use a lot. It is nice for cool spring and fall evenings when you want to sit in front of a fire to keep warm.
I wanted something I could put on our back deck which is tiled and this one is perfect.
Best of all, I got it for nothing. I had a rewards card from Ace Hardware for charging paint at my last spec house and the card was for $135!!
So I got the firepit and some always useful "can" lights for nothing.
Now, if I only had some wood. Here is my husband, a builder, a carpenter and his workmen have taken home all the wood. Oh well, I will find some!! I am excited and can hardly wait to use it!

Today is another beautiful spring like day. I am just getting ready to take a ride over to the next state. I generally make a liquor run on Tuesdays.My husband will be coming home early today because he has a dentist appointment, one county over. While he is there, he will stock up on beer.
The area I live is so funny, we have to drive to North Carolina to buy liquor, but you can't buy beer there. So, he has to drive to a different county to buy beer!!

I went to the bank and cashed the paycheck before I went to pay bridge.
As soon as I got home I sat down with my cash and funded all my envelopes.

My husband works by the hour and sometimes his check vary a lot. I set my budget up on a sheet of paper and sometimes there is not enough money to fund all of the envelopes. I put the least important envelopes last, like christmas club, medical account, van payment (which had been paid off for 15 months, but I still save it)land payment (which is also paid off now).
I am always tickled when there is enough paycheck to fund all the accounts and there was today.
It helps that my husband works usually 7 days a week.
You might think that medical should not be placed last, but I know if we have to pay a medical bill, we have the cash in savings. It is just nice to save something in advance.