Even when I don't have a car loan, I pay into a car account. I started this back in the 80's when I bought a bronco. When I got it paid off, I just kept making that car payment every month.After several years of this, I had enough money to get a new car and I never miss the money.
So, I have been doing this for over 20 years!!

I took my new car to the dealership today, because it would not lock when I pushed the button.
The service guy explained to me, that the car would only lock when I walked 100 feet away and then it would unlock by itself when I got close to it. It can sense me coming!!
How weird is this??????????

My dh hates to do small piddly jobs for past customers but he sometimes does. I always take any checks he gets from these jobs and save them.
He did a plumbing job for a guy plus hung some screen doors. I just received a check for $138 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $24,283.00
today 138.00
new total $24,421.00

I just got back from the food bank or food pantry as they call it. There was an article in the paper that said the shelves are empty.
so, I went thru my pantry and cleaned it out. Then, everytime, I would go shopping, I would pick up rice, beans, mac and cheese, etc.
I had a big bag full to take in today and I think I will start doing that every week!

Bad credit is the most immediate threat to the economy, according to a survey of 248 member of the National Assoc. of Business Economics.
32 percent said loan defaults and excessive debt were their greatest concern.
Only 20 percent cited defense and terriorism as their greatest economic cern, and bad credit problems were also more worrisome than gas prices, inflation and government spending.
(from MSNBC.com)

I just got back from grocery shopping. I did not buy the regular type roast I usually buy, instead I bought a roast on sale. I am cooking it in my crock pot, so I hope it will be tender!
I managed to save $9 with the roast on sale, coupons and my advantage card, so I am adding that to my challenge.
However, I did pick up some groceries for the local food pantry. There was an article about it in this weeks paper and it said the food pantry was very low on food.
I picked up soup, mac and cheese, baked beans, spagetti,stove top stuffing, canned vegetables, etc.
I think I will start making this a regular thing I do.
Prev. total $24,274.00
today 9.00
new total $24,283.00

It was chilly when I got up this morning. A cool 28 degrees with frost on the ground. Even tho it is only fall, it feels like winter is here. My husband is working on railings on one house. The other house is just having the concrete floor poured tomorrow, so looks like he will be outside on that house for the entire winter.
It seems to always work out that way, I am sorry to say.

I hope everyone remembers to change their clocks back an hour today. I have all of ours changed except the one in the new car. I haven't tried that yet. I read the directions but still have not figured it out. I wish it was simple like in the red corvette.
Maybe I will just let dh worry about it.

I opened a money market checking with Vanguard. I noticed that they are still paying 4.9% so I am happy about that. Yesterday, the stock market went up, I climbed 20 flights of stairs and I saved $3 using my advantage card. That is $5 more to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $24,269.00
today 5.00
new total $24,274.00

October was an expensive month. We lost a week's pay going to Florida. Plus we had all that car trouble to the tune of about $2100.
Then we bought a new car and put down a big down payment. Plus I had to come up with $450 for the insurance on the new car.
Let's hope that November is a little better money wise.

Also, I noticed that when I checked out my banking accounts online, the interest rate has gone down again.

We went to a party last night and it was so much fun. They had live music and they were so good. Without a drum, they managed to play my favorite song to dance to, WIPE OUT!!
I think I totally outdanced everyone there and I was the oldest dancer on the floor!!

I just calculated my networth for the month of October. ( I did include yesterday's bad stock market slide)
to my surprise, the new worth went up slightly, even tho we bought a new car and I put down a big down payment.
So, that is a nice surprise!

I try to find ways to save money for the $20 challenge almost every day.
Of course, I save my change in a jar and take it to the bank monthly.
I take on line surveys and receive small checks a few times a month.
I paid myself $1 for every mile I walk and everytime I take 20 flghts of stairs during the day.
I sell things that I really don't need.
I pay myself $1 every time the stock market goes up.
I pay myself $1 everytime I stay home and don't use any gas.
I pay myself the cost of the meal, when I don't eat out.
Any unexpected checks in the mail ( like state farm, rebates, etc.) go directly to the fund.
I paid off a piece of property and that bank payment now goes into the $20 challenge.
It really is pretty easy to get a lot of savings done when doing the $20 challenge. I am so glad I started doing this almost 2 years ago.

I got my bill down to $90 this month, so that leaves me $70 extra to put towards the $20 challenge. I still read my meter once a day and I honestly think that makes me more aware of the electricity that I am using.
Prev. total $24,199.00
today 70.00
new total $24.269.00

I just figured out my interest for the month and it was $2204.56. Not as good as late month, but rates went down in several accounts and I made a big withdrawal. Now, If I could just live on $2000 a month, that would be really good!!

I got a headstone for my last dog, Lucy. It arrived in the mail today. We have all 3 of our dogs buried out beside the creek, all with their own little headstone. Do any of you do this?

About twenty years ago, I starting making new year's resolutions or goals. I always write them down and i date them if and when I meet the goal.
One of my goals this year was to earn $20,000 in interest on my savings. During this past week, I have made my goal. I have earned $20,591 in interest sice the first of the year.
I have also met my goal of $20,000 for the challenge (I didn't count the interest that I just talked about) And also my goal of paying off the property that I call "The Ridge at Owltown" (cause that is the name of the subdivision)

I am thrilled with the $20,000 in interest but realize I could not have done that if we were still building spec houses. Then our money would be sitting in a house and not in the bank.
Let's hope the housing market will start looking up next year.

I have been kind of quiet about the challenge this past week. I will explain why later. However, I got a check for $538 last wednesday and i want to add that to my challenge.
Prev. total $23,661.00
today 538.00
new total $24,199.00

We had a great time on the square last night. Saw lots of people we knew, but no one knew us.
In the restaurant we were recognize more easily. First, we park the corvette out front, so everyone knows we are there. Second, we always sit next to each other on the same side of the booth and most couples dont]'t. We have done this for over 30 years.
So, everyone saw us first when they came in and came over and said, it that you guys??
It was fun to dress up and look weird!