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!