Today is the last day of June. Boy, time goes by fast when you are having fun!! The braves won last night, I walked a mile and did 20 flights of stairs. That is $3 more to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $13,456.00
today 3.00
new total $13,459.00

Ace hardware is feeding a lot of people today. It is grand reopening day at Ace. I thought it was just local, but I think it is all over. I met my dh there for lunch. We had hot dogs, chips and bottled water. I also had a $5 coupon to use to get some humming bird stuff.
Well, the braves did not play yesterday and the dow finished down, so no money for the challenge there.
I did however, walk over a mile, do 20 flights of stairs and have a no spend day. I also saved $2 using my advantage card at the grocery store, so $5 will be added to my challenge today.
Prev. total $13,451.00
today 5.00
new total $13,456.00

The braves won again. The stock market went up again yesterday. I didn't walk quite a full mile, but I did do 20 flights of stairs yesterday.

I added to my money market savings account yesterday. I know that I have way too much money in there. I guess I will have to open two other accounts, one in my name only and one in my husband's name only. I guess that is a good problem to have, but I hate having so many accounts.

Ok, $3 to add to the challenge:

Prev. total $13,448.00
today 3.00
new total $13,451.00

The braves and the stock market have let me down lately. I am putting a dollar in my challenge money every time the braves win and every time the stock market goes up. Well, finally the braves won 2 games in a row, so that is $2. Then I walked a mile and did 20 flights of stairs so that is another $2.
I went to the grocery store to get sausage and it was $1 off, plus I had a $2 coupon off on toilet paper. Then I stopped at CVS and saved $1 on diet sprite. That is a total of $8 I have to add to my challenge money.

I made up my savings deposit for the month. I had 6 or 7 small checks (one big one) and my challenge money. Plus, what I had saved out of my dh's paycheck for the emergency fund. Also, I put the money for christmas and state tax in the bank too. I just keep a notebook keeping track of how much is in each catagory. Oh, And I also have money for my car fund. When we paid off the van a few years ago, I kept making payments to myself.

So, all in all, I had over $4400 to add to my savings this month. Pretty good, if I do say so myself!
prev. total $13,440.00
today 8.00
new total $13,448.00

Today is the day to take all my challenge money to the bank so it can start earning interest. I got a check for $538 today plus my ridge money of $165. So that is $703 to add to my challenge money.
On the other hand, we had to take dh's van in to get repaired this morning. This will cost $1000, but I have saved that up this month, so no money will have to come out of savings.
It seemed funny to see him go off to work in his 1933 ford victoria!
Prev. total $12,737.00
today 703.00
new total $13,440.00

There is one drawback to being a custom house builder. That is, we often wind up paying other people's bills.
I love the fact that I can now check on my checking account online. I checked today and my business account is getting awfully low.
One customer left to go to Washington and his account is in arrears. The other is a new customer. I emailed asking for a check, but have not gotten it yet.
So, I am heading out in a few minutes to withdraw $10,000 from our money market account to put in business checking. I wonder how many hundred's of times I have done this.
Now, before you lecture me, I always tell a new customer this. "It is not my intention to build your house with MY money!"

Stuff happens!

I hurried to the bank early this morning so i could cash my dh's paycheck and come home and do my budget. I have my bridge ladies coming over at 1 pm. I also took my change to the bank to be counted. It came to $35 plus I have my ridge money to add to the challenge today, for a grand total of $200.
Prev. total $12,537.00
today 200.00
new total $12,737.00

I did my grocery shopping today and only spent $19,75. I did go to a different store to buy N.Y. strip steak on sale. I had already bought steak on sale for dinner tonight. I decided to get a few more steaks and freeze them for next weekend, while still on sale. So, I saved over $4 on steaks. I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $12,533.00
today 4.00
new total $12,537.00

I had a good mail day yesterday and I got two checks in the mail. One was from a grading guy. He did a little bit of damage to a spec house we were building. We told him not to worry about it, but he sent us a check for $100. Then we got a check from state farm for $139.
I bought steak on sale at bi lo for Sunday's dinner and saved $4. So all, in all, i have $243 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $12,290.00
today 243.00
new total $12,533.00

It has been an expensive month so far. My dh got into a fender bender and needs to take his van in for $1000 repair job. It is hard being a builder when your back up car is a vette or hot rod. You can't carry much in those cars.

Then my little Holly got sick and I took her in for almost $400 worth of tests last saturday. I am proud that I have not yet taken anything out of savings yet. I do have a medical envelope that I put money in each week and that is used for trips to the doctor, including the vet, cause Holly is certainly a member of the family. I am happy to report all she has is a sensitive tummy.
Today, my money market got credited with $1316 in interest, so that will make up for the almost $1400 I have to spend this month.
Well I did 20 flights of stairs and walked a mile yesterday, so I can add $2 to my challenge.
Prev. total $12,288.00
today 2.00
new total $12,290.00

I got my electric bill today and it was still pretty good, it was for $100. This is the last low bill we will get for a while cause I do not like being too hot and the a/c will be running!!
However, this bill is still $60 less than I budgeted, so the $60 will go into my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $12,228.00
today 60.00
new total $12,288.00

I saved $4 using a bogo on ice cream. The braves won and the stock market went up, so I have $6 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $12,222.00
today 6.00
new total $12,228.00

I am on a local forum. Once in a while, I will mention that I saved money using a coupon. The other day, a guy, said big deal, you saved $4. What do you want to save money for, to leave to your kids?? I said, no, but I don't want to be a bag lady either.
Why should I care if he thinks that way? But I do. I just don't understand some people. I am critized for saving money.
This guy is 40 and lives in a mobile home. I live in a house worth 1/2 million and it is paid for.
I am not critzing anyone for living in a mobile home. I might downsize and live in one someday. My dh lived in a mobile home when we met. That is fine!!
But I do not feel like I should be made fun of because I save my husband's hard earned money.

I forgot to add the ridge money to my challenge last week, so here it is!

Prev. total $12,057.00
today 165.00
new total $12,222.00

I saved $4 using my Ingles advantage card and a coupon today. Plus the braves won the last two days, so that gives me $6 more.
I am thinking of splurging on Kentucky fried chicken for dinner. I havent had it for a while. A bucket will give dh two lunches for the week. I do have a coupon for $1 off.

dh went to work at 7 this morning and got the hardwood floors all sanded. Now he is cutting our 2 acres of grass. Our next house will have no lawn, I hope.
prev. total $12,051.00
today 6.00
new total $12,057.00

Happy father's day to all the fathers and grandfathers out there. I hope you all have a special day. Remember how lucky you are if you still have a dad. My father died right before my 10th birthday. I never knew any of my grandfathers either.

My dh has gone onto work and I need to go grocery shopping today.
On the money front, I did receive a check from Pinecone for $5 and I have $40 to add to the challenge from the term insurance that I cancelled.
prev. total $12,006.00
today 45.00
new total $12,051.00

Dh took a rare day off today to attend a local car show. I had to take my Holly to the vet, so i got there late. There were lots of cars there, probably 200 in the show, which is a lot for a small town.
It was a $10 donation to enter your car. It all goes to raise money for relay for life and our little town raises a lot of money. We have been in the top 3 towns of our size several times.
I came home early ( we took two cars) but dh stayed for the judging. I am so glad he did. He won one of the 20 trophies for the top 20 cars! That just made his day!!
So, it was a spendy day, but it was a good day. We found out that Holly is ok and my dh won a trophy!!

My little poodle Holly has been sick on and off this past week. She has always had a sensitive tummy and has a bout like this every few months. Dh insisted that I take her to the vets and get her checked. I did that a few years ago and they did every test possible and could find nothing wrong.
So off we went again this morning. Again, they did all the tests, even took x rays. The verdict was: she has nothing wrong with her, just a sensitive tummy. She has to go on a certain brand of canned dog food.
No one ever believes me, but Holly will not eat that food. She will stand there, starving and cry, but she will not eat it.
So this cost me $371 to find out that she has a sensitive tummy!!
I am giving her some medicine and she is not supposed to have food or water until tommorow. She just stands and whines at the empty bowl. Pretty soon, I am going to cry too. Poor puppy!!

Well the braves have let me down all week, but the dow was up 3 days straight, including today, so I can add $3 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $12,003.00
today 3.00
new total $12,006.00