I had a no spend day yesterday and should have another one today. I am going over to a friend's house to play bridge, and that costs me nothing! These no spend days are getting easier. for sure!!

I earned that much in interest in one of my money markets for the month, yesterday. Not all accounts pay interest on the 1st of the month. I have some that come due on the 8th, the 10th and the 22nd. I keep track of my interest monthly. Got to love free money!! $131.83!!

I hope you all remembered to "spring ahead" last night and set your clocks. I did not. The atomic one is confused and still running an hour late.
Also, my husband's cell phone did not change time either. They told him at Radio shack that it would change all by itself, it didn't. I will enjoy the extra hour of daylight for sure!!

I was asked what the JU key on the computer means, at the local restaurant? It is my usual order that I place almost every night. (It stands for Julie's usual)
My usual order is a plain hamburger (no bun), a side of spagetti, with the sauce on the side. (cause I only use one spoonful) The cost is $6.99 and I take about half of it home with me. (for Holly) All the waiters and waitresses there know "Julie's usual"

We eat at a local restaurant a lot, so much so that the owner calls us her "stockholders"
Last year, they switched over to using computers for their food orders. Because I eat there so much and usually get the same thing, they had the computer programmed with a special button that reads JU! That stands for Julie's usual!! Now, aren't I special!!

I was thinking of all the things I have bought in my life time, my dogs have been my best purchase! I paid $300 for Holly and I would not, honestly, take $3 million dollars for her.
My dogs have brought so much joy in my life. I am all for getting a puppy or grown dog at the animal shelter, but I love little poodles and they are not given away very often!
Yes, she is my buddy and my protector!(not that anyone is scared of her, she only weighs 5 pounds)

It has been snowing all morning. Our power went off for a while and it was pretty cold here in the house. I splurged and turned it up to 65 when the power came back off.
I checked my propane gauge yesterday and we should have enough to get us thru the heating season, but I will be happy when the temp. is about 70 all the time.

That is about how much money I have handled for our home building customers the past 24 years.
We don't give contract prices, my dh just builds by the hour. We can give them a pretty good estimate, but we can't control how much they spend when it comes to picking out fixtures, countertops, etc., etc.
I keep each account in a notebook, pay all the bills and give the customer a copy of the notebook, and all the paid bills.
That way, each customer knows where there money is being spent down to the penny!
Now, I just wish there was someway I could have earned interest on that 25 million!!

They are calling for it to snow tomorrow. The leaves on my weeping willow tree are coming out. I don't want any more snow!!! I think everyone is ready for spring!! And that extra hour of daylight too!

These no spend days are getting much easier lately. I have had several this week and also, I have had 3 stay home and use no gas days.
I use to run to the grocery store almost every day, just for something to do. Now, I stay home and am staying out of the stores.
I am going to add $6 to my challenge for my 3 no spend, no gasoline days.
( I am spending $3.45 for a gallon of gas now)
Prev. total $5326.00
today 6.00
new total $5332.00

I just read in an aarp publication, that the only place that seniors spend more money than folks younger than 50, was playing the lottery. I thought that was interesting. I just never even think about playing it and rarely go to a store where lottery tickets are sold.
Today, I am adding the money that I put aside to pay for aarp life insurance. I cancelled it a while back and just add the money to my challenge.
prev. total $5286
today 40
new total $5326.00

Steak is one of my favorite foods, but I rarely order it at a restaurant. No one can cook steak any better than my dh. I can almost always buy steak on sale at the local bi lot. We can usually have a nice steak dinner for two for about $7 instead of spending $35. (or more)
Last night I picked up 2 N.Y. steaks on sale for $6, saving $5 which I will add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5281.00
today 5.00
new total $5286.00

I am so glad I learned how to check my bank totals every day on the computer. Lat month, the bank deducted $10 service fee because my account went below the minimum. I added to the account, showed them my paperwork that had a lower minimu and got my $10 back. Well, it happened again. I was able to straighten it out over the phone and am now on a free checking with no minimum!

We stayed home and I cooked dinner last night. Cube steak on sale with rice and peas. I am adding the $20 I saved to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5261.00
today 20.00
new total $5281.00

I had too much money in my phone/cell phone/DSL envelope, so I am adding $80 to my challenge money today. My goal is to save at least $20,000 for the challenge this year.
prev. total $5181.00
today 80.00
new total $5261.00

Payday for me is every Monday when I cash my dh's paycheck and head home to put the cash in all the different envelopes. I noticed that the envelopes seemed pretty full, so I decided to "rework " the envelopes today.
Since there are sometimes 5 paydays in a month, I usually have more than needed in each envelope.
That is good, I like to have a week or two extra.
But, It has really built up in some of the envelopes. That money needs to be sitting with my challenge money, earning cash in the bank.
So, I am reworking the envelopes today and I have $400 from the car payment envelope to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $4781.00
today 400.00
new total $5181.00

I have received another $50 check from my Chase reward Mastercard. That makes $200 I have received from them so far. DH charges on the card at Home depot for his building materials and we always pay the bill in full each month.
The $200 received has been just this year, so I am looking forward to many more $50 checks.
I will add this to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $4731.00
today 50.00
new total $4781.00

A big check came in the mail today. It was for $1922. I have explained this before, but we get a "rebate" check from a building supply place 2 or 3 times a year. We simply promised to be loyal to them and buy all of our building material there in exchange for a 5% rebate. After all, Home Depot often gives us coupons for 10% off.
That will go directly into my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $2809.00
today 1922
new total $4731.00

y net worth did not go down in Feb. as I originally thought. All my mutual funds and stocks went down, but I managed to add enough cash to my savings to make up for it. My net worth went up slightly. I hope the market gets better!

I have a friend who gets a delivery from the UPS guy everyday. She shops on line constantly. She lives in a small house but the house is overflowing with "stuff" She is in the process of building a bigger house, so she can fill it with more stuff.
The sad part to me is that she is 60 and she and her husband had to let a loan to build this house. By the age of 60, you should really be mortgage free, especially if you make good money like her husband.
I thought you got wiser when you get older, but I guess that is not always true!

I am working on my net worth this weekend. I try and do that the first day of each month. Every single one of my mutual funds and stocks have gone down, all of them!
How have you done this past month?

That what it said on the news today. They counted down the 10 things most lied about by women.
Guess what was number one??
How much money they spend!!
Do you lie about money and how much you spend??

I went and did my grocery shopping early this morning. It was so nice and quiet and I got finished in a breeze. My dh uses prilosec every day and he was out, so I picked some up. It was $5 off at Ingles, plus I had a $4 off coupon, That is $9 I saved on prilosec.
I also picked up a couple of packs of meat that was on sale. All in all, I saved $15 to add to the challenge money.
Prev. total $2794.00
today 15.00
new total $2809.00

The electric bill came today. It was only $80. The power company announced that they are raising rates next month, but I have been well under budget each month. I have $120 left in my budget envelope, so I am adding that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2674.00
today 120.00
new total $2794.00

We attended a meeting of an antique car club on Thursday night. It was a dinner meeting, but we chose not to eat there. (we don't like the place) So, we ate dinner at home late, after the meeting. That gives me $20 to add to the challenge, plus I have $5 more for no spend days and the market having an up day. All told, $25 more for the challenge.
prev. total $2649.00
today 25.00
new total $2679.00

Well, I have been lax this week about my $20 challenge. (I have been hooked on playing mahjong on this computer) I did receive a check for $551 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2098.00
today 551.00
new total $2649.00

I am so glad it is March. Oh, I know we still are in a winter month, but things start to change this month.
First, daylight savings time begins on March 9th and the days will be longer. (more sunlight.
Then, spring begins on March 20th, less than 3 weeks away. Yeah for March!!