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Archive for July, 2007

I can't go a day without blogging!!

July 31st, 2007 at 11:12 pm

I haven't said a word today and I miss that!! It has just been a nice quiet day. I did pick up 3 things at the store for lunches for my dh, but nothing was on sale. It has really gotten hot here, so the a/c has pretty much been running all day.
I finally finished reading Money magazine. My subscription is about to run out, but I am sure I will subscribe again; I love that magazine!
I am just waiting on my darling hubby to come home and take me out on a date!!

rolled over the Certificate of deposit

July 30th, 2007 at 08:29 pm

I guess I don't go to that bank enough for the people to know me. The first time I went there was with my husband in his carpenter work clothes.
I asked if we could open an account and get the high rate they had been advertising in the paper.
The lady behind the desk told me no, because you had to put in $50,000 to open the account. I told her I would put in $100,000.
She opened the account.
I went today to see what the new rate would be on C.D's. Sadly, it has gone down from 5.75% to 5.35%.
I renewed it; this time they wanted my driver's license to see if it was really me. Hmmmm......

Ok, back to the challenge. I bought n.y. strip steak on sale yesterday (enough for two meals) and saved $8, I just bought prilosec at Ingles where is was $5 off, plus I had a $4 off coupon, so I saved $9. The braves won their game, I walked a mile, plus another one for today, so I have a total of $20 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $15,994.00
today 20.00
new total $16,014.00

My CD is due tomorrow.

July 29th, 2007 at 06:47 pm

MY first certificate of deposit is coming due tomorrow. It was for 6 months, earning 5.75%. I made $2,796 in interest for the past 6 months.
I have to go into the bank tomorrow to roll it over. I am sure that I will if I can get at least 5.25% or more.
I am thinking about taking the interest out as that puts me over the fdic limit. Well, actually, it doesn't. I forgot that if you have two names on the account, you have double the insurance.
I got a check from ace hardware on a rebate that I sent in. I usually do not mess with rebates, but this was for a tool that my husband needed. The check was for $10 and I walked a mile, so I have $11 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,983.00
today 11.00
new total $15,994.00

I'm mad at my credit card company

July 28th, 2007 at 05:42 pm

My main credit card is a GM mastercard. I use it because it gives me 1% cash back or 3% towards a GM card.
My dh uses it the most, charging all his materials from home depot. He generally spends about $4000 a month.
The cut off date on my credit card is the 14th of the month. But I never receive it until the 24th of the month, 10 days later!!
It is due on the 4th of the month.

This month, I did not get it on the 24th. I emailed customer service. Oh, I can pay it on line, but I am nervous about that. Besides, if I do it, I have to sign up to do it every month.
I don't want big sums to come out of my checking account without me knowing.
I could pay by mail, but that is a $15 charge. Why should I pay anything?

Why don't they get me the bill on time? They insist that they mail it out 3 days later, on the 17th.

I finally got the darn bill yesterday at 4 pm. July 17th, 10 days after they say they mailed it. They can claim slow mail, but I have always gotten it late for the past year.

I think they are trying to make sure that they get a lot of late fee charges.
Anyway, you can be sure that I wrote out the check and drove to the post office to mail it yesterday before 5 pm.

As soon as we get our next rebate check or apply the amount to a new car, I am thru with them.

I also have a state farm visa. It came in a week ago and I have until the 10th of next month to pay it. This giving you 7 days to get your check in, is a bunch of balony!!

Nice electric bill

July 27th, 2007 at 09:12 pm

I got my electric bill today and I am pleased. I have a very large house and I am home all day.
I budgeted $160 for my bill each month. During the winter, because I heat with propane, my bill is around $100. It is summer time when my bill is the highest, up to $160.
Since this is the first full month of summer, I expected the bill to go up, but it was only $110. So I have $50 more to add to my challenge.
In the bad news, (besides the stock market down again)my dh is taking his van in for a new transmission on Monday.
They don't take credit cards, so we will pay cash.
this will be the first time I have had to pull cash out of my money market this year and that will hurt. It will cost close to $2000!!
But it is nice to know that is it no problem to cover it.
Prev. total $15,933.00
today 50.00
new total $15,983.00

Don't watch the stock market today!!

July 26th, 2007 at 06:41 pm

It is too depressing. The dow is down almost 300 points right now.
On the bright side, the market was up yesterday, I walked a mile and did my 20 flights of stairs. I can add $3 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,930.00
today 3.00
new total $15,933.00

I saved $3

July 25th, 2007 at 08:52 pm

I am very happy with my long distance provider, Lightyear. My bill is almost always under $5 a month.
A few months ago, Lightyear said they would have to start charging a $3 fee each month called a paper invoice fee.
I sent them the info to have the bill charged to my credit card each month instead.
Now it is charging to my credit card, but I am still getting a statement (which says don't pay) and the $3 fee.

I called Lightyear and a very nice woman explained to me that I had to request and e mail bill. Then that paper fee is going to disapear.

As a matter of fact, she is even going to give me a $3 credit on my next bill.

So I am taking that $3 plus $1 cause the braves won last night, to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,926.00
today 4.00
new total $15,930.00

Making up my deposit!!

July 25th, 2007 at 02:50 pm

I am making up my deposit to take to savings today, so I decided to go ahead and include this week's ridge payment and also the check that I get the 4th Wednesday of the month and add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,223.00
today 703.00
new total $15,926.00

Rainy day in Georgia!!

July 24th, 2007 at 10:10 pm

I woke up to a wonderful rainy day in Georgia. Our lakes and creeks are low because we have had so little rain this year.
However, Tuesday is usually my liquor run day and I didn't go last week at all.
So I was glad to see the sun finally came out this afternoon and I was able to go after all.
I stopped by Ingles and got a roast that was $2 off.
The braves won yesterday and the stock market went up, so that is $4 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,219.00
today 4.00
new total $15,223.00

Bridge day

July 23rd, 2007 at 04:41 pm

Today is my bridge day and the gals are all coming over here.
I ran to the bank first thing this morning so that I could cash dh's paycheck and put the money in the envelopes. I like to do my budget on Mondays.
My dh took his van in to be looked at. He has been having transmission problems. They tell him it will take $1800 for a rebuilt transmission.
I hate car problems. I would rather buy a new car than get something fixed over and over again. We have only ever had one used vehicle. It was a work van.
We had it for a year and fixed it over and over again.
I wish he would just buy a new one!

Oh well, I did my walking and stairs yesterday, so I have $2 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,217.00
today 2.00
new total $15,219.00

Good day

July 22nd, 2007 at 06:35 pm

It was a good day yesterday. I walked for over a mile, the braves won by a big margin (one guy went 6 for 6), I had a no spend and no gas used day. I will add $4 to my challenge money. Later, we are treating ourselves to a frugal lunch out at waffle house.
prev. total $15,213.00
today 4.00
new total $15,217.00

Money magazine

July 22nd, 2007 at 04:50 pm

I see that many of you read money magazine and scfr mentions the chart on page 109. I did not quite understand how to figure that chart out. Maybe one of you smart people can tell me how much we should be saving according to that chart.
My husband is near 55, makes close to ( but less) than 80K and we have about 800K in savings. How much should we be saving per year?

The Ridge money

July 22nd, 2007 at 04:45 pm

As usual, once a week, I add the Ridge money to my $20 challenge. It is for property that I financed for 12 years and paid for in 2.
Prev. total $15,048.00
today 165.00
new total $15,213.00

Key benchmarks

July 21st, 2007 at 08:34 pm

Money magazine has a page about key benchmarks to check your progress. It is on page 113.
According to the magazine an upper middle class earner, in my age group, earning $70,000 a year has $112,792 in retirement saving.
That is not a good thing. I am certainly glad I have more than that put away.
BTW, there is a pull out in the magazine for ING.. It is the $25 invitation. (free money) I have offered it on my local forum. I bet I get NO takers!

Survey check

July 20th, 2007 at 10:31 pm

I love nfomysurvey. This is about the 9th check I have gotten from them this year. If any of you new people are interested, send me your first name and your e mail address and I will be happy to send you an invitation.
I also bought steak on sale today and used a coupon, so that was another $5 plus the $10 check to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $15,033.00
today 15.00
new total $15,048.00

Dow hit 14,000

July 20th, 2007 at 04:06 pm

Well, it finally happened, the dow closed at 14,000 yesterday.
In september, I figured out how to list all my mutual funds at Vanguard, so I can just look there every day to see what my funds are worth.
When I started on Sept. 21, my mutual funds were worth 254K; as of yesterday they are worth 310K.
I am pretty happy with that increase because I have not added one penny to my mutual funds in ages. I have been trying to build up cash these past 5 years so we can build spec houses for cash.
Well, the stock market went up, the braves won, I did my 20 flights of stairs and I had a "no gas use" day, so I have $4 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,029.00
today 4.00
new total $15,033.00

A check in the mail

July 19th, 2007 at 03:10 pm

My husband is constantly called to do handyman work on all the houses he has built over the past 23 years. He really does not have the time (he works 7 days a week)but sometimes he does it.
Last week he was called to wire a house and install outside fans on all the porches. Also, to install a dead bolt.
The people were from florida, so i had to send them a bill.
When I send a bill, I do not count it in his regular paycheck, which I write out every Sunday night and cash on Monday.
So, a check came in the mail yesterday for payment and I am going to add this to my $20 challenge. It was for $170. (it included some materials)
The braves and the stock market let me down yesterday, but I did walk a mile and did 20 flights of stairs. So I have $172 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $14,857.00
today 172.00
new total $15,029.00

Few more dollars

July 18th, 2007 at 09:09 pm

Well I have a few more dollars to add to my challenge money. The stock market went up yesterday, I walked over a mile, did my 20 flights of stairs and I saved $1 on some candy I bought for dh. That is $4 more to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $14,853.00
today 4.00
new total $14,857.00

I have handled a lot of money.

July 18th, 2007 at 03:26 pm

I realize that I have handled a lot of money in my lifetime. Not my money, but money belong to others. We have built about 75 homes over the past 23 years, most of them custom homes belonging to others.
I always ask for draws and pay all of the bills myself. That is a lot of paper checks, I have written in the past 23 years.
I estimate that I have handled about 15 million dollars and have accounted for every penny of it. Good thing I love bookkeeping cause I sure am not getting paid for it.

I did it!!

July 17th, 2007 at 10:41 pm

I got an offer for one of those balance transfer things. The deal is no interest til Oct. 2008 and there is no fee.
I wrote myself out a check for $5000 and put it in my savings account that pays 5.25% interest.
I hope I am not making a mistake. I know some of you guys have done this and made money. My dh is not too sure of this, so we will see. If it workes, I will make close to $298 in interest.
If not, I will pay it off right away. I will keep you posted.

Oh, I missed it!

July 17th, 2007 at 03:21 pm

What did the dow do yesterday. I had to go out to Home depot and I missed it. Did it go up or down? Right now it is flirting with 14,000!

A day late!!

July 17th, 2007 at 01:39 pm

I forgot to add my money to the challenge yesterday. Actually, I did not forget. I got busy helping my husband. He has taken over a new house to fix! The builder was let go and there are so many things undone. The hardwood flooring is mostly done, but they ran out. We can't find the same flooring, so he is going to take the flooring out of the closet to finish the main room and put different flooring in the closet. Then we picked out tile for all the bathrooms and the laundry room. We were at home depot forever it seems. They never seem to have anyone to help you find the stuff. I am sorry, I use to love the store and even have stock in it, but they are not very customer friendly.
Anyway, the braves won on sunday, I walked over a mile and did my 20 flights of stairs. So that is $3 more to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $14,850.00
today 3.00
new total $14,853.00

No bridge today

July 16th, 2007 at 07:28 pm

One of the girls could not make it, so we had to call off bridge today. I really miss it. It is good for the old brain, I think.
I got an offer from a credit card company to write a check for anything. No interest for over a year and no fee to do this. The problem is, I cannot find the card and they only gave me the last four digets of the card.
I am still thinking about doing this, but I don't know my credit limit. Any advice on how I can find out. It is a citi card.

Went out for sunday lunch

July 15th, 2007 at 10:03 pm

My dh and I went out for a late sunday lunch. we were both very frugal. He even ordered water to drink. I always do. We went to waffle house and spent less than $6. He spent the morning drawing on different house plans. Now he is out in the yard working. He is always such a busy guy.

I might make it to $20,000

July 15th, 2007 at 04:29 pm

I am getting close to the $15,000 mark and my goal is to have $20,000 ( or more) in my saving challenge for the end of the year.
I saved $2 using my advantage card, the braves won and I did 20 flights of stairs. Didn't quite get in a mile on the treadmill.
Prev. total $14,846.00
today 4.00
new total $14,850.00

Making up a deposit

July 14th, 2007 at 08:51 pm

I was going to wait to make a deposit in my money market savings, but since I got those two checks yesterday, I thought i would go ahead and make up a deposit to put in first thing Monday morning.
My biggest problem was I have plenty of checks, but I have used up all my deposit slip.
I mentioned that at the bank and they ordered some for me and they came already; so now I can make deposit as often as I want. Might as well have that money sitting in the money market earning 5.25% then in my cash box at home. So, I will add this week's Ridge money to the challenge too.
Prev. total $14,681.00
today 165.00
new total $14,846.00

DH brought home a check last night.

July 14th, 2007 at 08:06 pm

My dh brought home a check last night. It was to pay us back for bills we had paid for a customer.
I checked my business checking account last night and we have quite a bit of our money in it. We have quite a few outstanding checks from over 5 years ago. Obviously, they are not going to clear and are lost.
Plus the account earns interst and I let that accrue. When we take something back to home depot for return, that money does not come out of checking, even tho I have already deducted it.
So I decided not to put this check in the business checking but to add it to my challenge money to earn more interest.
prev. total $13,909.00
today 772.00
new total $14,681.00

A good day yesterday

July 14th, 2007 at 03:00 pm

Friday the 13th was a good day!! The stock market went up, the Braves won, I walked over a mile, did my 20 flights of stairs and had a no use gas day! So I am adding $5 (one dollar for each thing) to my challenge money.
Prev. total $13,904.00
today 5.00
new total $13,909.00

Good luck on Friday the 13th!!

July 13th, 2007 at 10:14 pm

I got a check from Edward Jones in the mail today. I guess it is dividends on some of the stock that I have there. It goes straight to my challenge money.
Prev. total $13,719.00
today 185.00
new total $13,904.00

Term insurance

July 13th, 2007 at 08:05 pm

I dropped term insurance on my dh a few months ago. Instead, I take that money and add it to my challenge once a month.
So, today, i will add that money.
Prev. total $13,679.00
today 40.00
new total $13,719.00


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