We went to a great fourth of July party last night. It consisted of all the people that we have met over a local forum. None of us knew each other a few years ago!!
We had hamburgers and hot dogs and each of us brought a covered dish. The host provided us with a lot of really nice fireworks.
Yesterday, I played mah jong and won 6 games. That is $6 I will add to my challange money.
Prev. total $16,743.00
today 6.00
new total $16,749.00

I am loving the new business checking account that I opened last week. Actually, it is the same account I have had for 12 years, but they changed the terms. I must keep a minimum of $1000 in the account, but for that, I get paid 3.1% interest. I was use to getting .005%, just 1/2 a percent or if my balance got low, I got zero percent.
Just in the past 8 or 9 days the account has been open, I have earned about $47 in interest.
I think I will withdraw the interest every month of two and add it to my challenge money!!

I want to wish everyone a very happy, 4th of July!! It is so great to live in america!!

You can get a rite aid card for 10% off on all Tuesdays if you are over 60. I used mine yesterday for a few small things and saved $2, which was 20%. Turns out, they give you 20% off the first tuesday of the month. I also picked up their rebate paper to send in. I will add the $2 plus the $2 I saved by not driving yesterday.
Prev. total $16,739.00
today 4.00
new total $16,743.00

I total my June interest on all my savings and checking accounts and it comes to $1987.00 That is the first time my interest has been below $2000 for the month, in over a year. My savings has not gone down, but the interest rates have.
Last week, I switched two acounts earning 1.98% to an account paying 3%. Hopefully, that will help.

i ordered 2 chase reward checks last week and they just came in today. Two checks and they were for $50 each. They are the rewards I get for using my Chase master card. So far this year, I have received $450 in reward checks. I always add the money to my challenge money, so today I will add $100.
Prev. total $16,639.00
today 100.00
New total $16,739.00

I did do the math yesterday to figure out my net worth for the month. I just don't know if I want to post it to net worth iq this month. My stocks and mutual funds have gone down about $30,000 in one month. I did increase my savings pretty well, but maybe I will just skip posting this month.

I cleaned out all my envelopes yesterday and had about $350 to add to my challenge money. that is the beauty of the envelope system. Every quarter we have 13 paydays and the envelope system only budgets for 12 months, so there is always money left over.

Prev. total $16,289.00
today 350.00
new total $16,639.00

I paid that bill today. It was $55 under the budget in my electricity envelope, so that $55 will get add to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $16,234.00
today 55.00
new total $16,289.00

I am adding my monthly check to the $20 challenge cause I have never spent a penny of it.
Prev. total $15,683.00
today 551.00
new total $16,234.00

I was playing bridge with 3 ladies yesterday and I mentioned that I save at a bank that is now paying 3.1% interest on any checking account that maintains a $1000 balance.
One of the ladies has just turned 62 and now gets a social security check every month. I don't know how much, but since she was an interior decorator, I assume she gets a pretty good check. (I get $551 a month)
She was bragging that her husband still gives her an allowance (he is an airlines pilot) plus she gets this new check to spend and she spends it all.

So, when I was talking, she asks me why I was saving my money and not spending it all. I did not want to be rude, so i just said, I will leave the money to friends and the animal shelter, but I really thought this.
She is having a new home built and the house is being completely financed by the bank.
My real answer was, because I never wanted to have a mortgage when I was 62!!

My dh, being a builder, has built for so many people who are older and have full mortgages on their new homes. I haven't paid a mortgage payment in years and years.

I realize that saving money is my hobby. I enjoy it and think it is a lot more fun than spending money for "stuff"

I love the first of each month. I do my net worth on that day, and it really motivates me to save more. Especially when the stock market is going down, like it has been doing this past month. I think my net worth will go down for the month, but that is ok!! I have been doing well with my cash savings!!