I got another check in the mail today. This time it was a dividend check from Tim Hortons. I ususally reinvest all dividends, but I was never asked on this stock. It was a spend off from Wendy's. I will add it to my challenge money.
Prev. total $$20,562.00
today 14.00
new total $20,576.00

I am like BA, I am watching Fannie and Freddie fall to below a $1 in cost. At one time, I had thought about buying stock in one of them; glad I didn't.
I get sticker shock every time I go to the grocery store. I went today. I bought 2 baking potatoes today and they cost $2.16. A tiny jar of mayo was $3.18. Prices are just rediculous.
According to my advantage card I saved over $3, so I will add that to my challenge.
prev. total $20,559.00
today 3.00
new total $20,562.00

We went on our first vacation of the year, 3 days in Gatlinburg, Tenn. My husband loves old cars and every year they have a show in Pigeon Forge called "Shades of the Past"
We stayed at a nice hotel right down town, had several excellent meals and really enjoyed ourselves.

However, all that changed when we got home. There was a message on the answering machine that said someone had found my husband's youngest brother dead in his house. He had not been sick. He was only 47. Needless to say, we are in shock. They will do an autopsy to determine the cause of his death.

Hug your family!

We are going to Gatlinburg today. There is a car show in Pigeon Forge that my dh has not missed in 25 years.
Gatlinburg is the reason we moved to the mountains. I had lived in Fla. since a child and so had dh. When we married we went on cruises on vacation.
One year, friends asked us to go with them to Gatlinburg. I fell in love with the mountains and shortly after, we found an acre in the mountains on the toccoa river and bought it. The cost of the acre was $13,000. (Now they go for $250,000) We moved to the north Georgia mountains and have loved it this past 25 years.
I have changed a lot in 25 years. Now I can go to Gatlinburg and not buy anything! Just love the good food that you can get there!!
See you soon!!

We got up early this morning. dh set the alarm cause he had to be at the dentist in another town at 8 am, so we got up before 7a m.
We have been putting out corn for the critters in the yard. We have seen a mother deer and her spotted baby several times in the evening.
This morning, she was out there eating and she had two spotted babies with her. Twins!! They are so cute.
I did manage to stay home and use no gas at all yesterday. I have about given up on the braves, they are not doing well at all. but they did win one of their last 5 games. So, I will add $3 to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $20,556.00
today 3.00
new total $20,559.00

I got my new credit card in the mail today. Last Monday the fraud dept. at chase called me to see if I purchased $252 worth of make up. Of course, I had not, so they told me to cut up my card. It has seemed funny not to have a credit card for the past 8 days. Not that I have needed it, I am just use to having my credit card with me.
I am glad the fraud dept. was on the ball!!
I try and remember to check my statement every day, but it takes about two days for something to post to my account.

I paid off my citi charge card yesterday. Over a year ago, I got an offer to write a check for anything I wanted, for no fee and no interest for 13 months. I figured I could put it in the bank and earn interest on it, so that is what I did.
I did not know what my credit limit was, so I only wrote the check for $5000. I figured that I made about $200 in interest on that free money.
I wish I would get more offers like that.

I stayed home all day sunday and Monday and used NO gas, so I will pay the $4 I saved into my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $20,552.00
today 4.00
new total $20,556.00

I did my net worth today. It has increased a little since last month. I have not been putting as much into savings as usual.
Now, that I have a personal checking that pays as much interest as my savings account, I have open several sub accounts in the account and are keep track of the money on paper.
One account I opened was a "house account" I need to have some things fixed up around the house. First, I paid to have the house cleaned for 2 days.
Next my dh wants to take a few days off to pressure wash the house and retile the back porch. We also need a couple of items of new furniture, so I have been putting most of my "other" savings into this "house account" (I keep the $20 challenge money separate. This is my usual weekly saving out of the paycheck)

I got another check in the mail today. It was from my Chase mastercard. It is a reward check for charging on my mastercard. so far, this is my 11th $50 check that I have received this year for a total of $550. Got to love this free money and I pay off that master card every month, so I pay no interest. This will be added to the challenge money.
Prev. total $20,502.00
today 50.00
new total $20,552.00

That surprises me. I thought that the only person that worked on labor day was my husband. Well, so far, the market is not doing very well. I guess oil prices are a big worry. I got my electric bill on Sat. and it was $40 under budget. So, I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $20,462.00
today 40.00
new total $20,502.00

I got my end of the month check in direct deposit this week. It was for $551. I have never spent a penny of this check. I am saving it for my "old age". Heck, you are only as old as you feel!! And I feel young!!
Prev. total $19,911.00
today 551.00
new total $20,462.00


Yeah! One of my goals this year was to save $20,000.00 in my $20 challenge and as of today, I have done it!!

And that is what the day means to us, it is a Labor day. Dh has gone on to work as he has every labor day for the past 30 years. That is how long it had been since he has had a paid day off!
Hope you are enjoying your day, if you are off work today!!