Layout:
Home > Archive: November, 2008

Archive for November, 2008

My license expired!!

November 29th, 2008 at 08:35 pm

OMG, my driver's license expired last week on my birthday. I never even thought about it til Tuesday night. I thought we received notice in the mail to renew it. My dh did and he renewed for 10 years. So, I went down there today with my fingers crossed.
Turns out, you have to be 59 or younger to renew by mail. No penalty, but I had to take an eye exam. I was worried cause I have never had an eye exam. I wear reading glasses to read, but they are the kind you buy at the dollar store.

I took the test with my glasses on and could not see one number. Then, I took them off and I could read every number.
So, I am a licensed driver again!! I have had a license for 50 years with no accidents and no tickets.

When I gor home, I had received a $50 check from my Chase reward's master card. That makes $650 for the year and I will add it to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $23,855.00
today 50.00
new total $23,905.00

OMG

November 28th, 2008 at 05:03 pm

I just heard the news. Somewhere in New York, a 34 year old worker was trampled to death as he opened the doors at a Wal Mart store. Isn't that terrible. To think, that shopping means so much to so many, does not make sense to me.What a way to start the Christmas season. So sad.

Hunters get up so early!

November 27th, 2008 at 04:46 pm

I was awakened before 6 a.m. by several cars full of hunters.
Back in 1957, the owner of this subdivision (well he was til he sold all the lots) had a father that purchased 300 acres on this side of the creek and 200 acres on the other side. He paid $25 an acre. He left it all to his one son, who has built a house in this subdivision. He sold the rest of the lots and most of them have houses, on one side of the creek, but he kept the 200 acres on the other side of the creek for his private hunting. A few years ago, this man put in a private bridge to his 200 acres. He keeps a chain across it so that no one can access it.
He and his son are big on hunting. Apparently, he invited a bunch of his friends to go hunting this morning cause several cars drove down here before 6 am.
The headlights woke me up.

Thank goodness, dh is NOT a hunter. Instead, he is a worker and that is what he is doing right now. Yup, he got up and went to work today. We will have our turkey for dinner tonight.

The stock market went up three days in a row, so I will add to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $23,852.00
today 3.00
new total $23,855.00

Another check

November 26th, 2008 at 04:23 pm

I got a check from Sears today. A few months ago, we bought a new refrigerator from Sears and I think this is a rebate of the delivery charge. Anyway, I had forgotten about it, so it was a nice surprise and I will add it to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $23,777.00
today 75.00
new total $23,852.00

Wipe Out!

November 24th, 2008 at 04:52 pm

If you read my blog yesterday, you will remember that my husband tried in vain to buy me the birthday card, that when opened, plays "wipe out" It is my favorite song to dance to as everyone who knows me, knows.
This morning, on my way to the bank, the radio started playing "wipe out" When was the last time you heard that playing on the radio?
I turned my radio up full blast, but durn, I could not get out of my car on the highway and dance!!!!
Thank you to the unknown radio person who played "wipe out" for me.

The perfect card!!

November 23rd, 2008 at 06:15 pm

A few months ago, I was looking for a birthday card for a friend. I was in Rite Aid, and I saw cards that played songs when you opened them. One of them played "wipe out", my favorite song to dance to. I told my husband that I had found the perfect card for me.

Bless his heart, he has been trying to buy me that card for a month now and the store is always sold out! He gave me a very nice card this morning and 3 rose bushes, but nothing that played "Wipe Out". However, it is the thought that counts!

I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market finally went up on Friday, so $3 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $22,958.00
today 3.00
new total $22,961.00

Now, I will go and dance to "wipe out"!!

45 years ago today

November 22nd, 2008 at 04:09 pm

President Kennedy was killed. Most of you were not born, but if you were, you remember where you were when you heard the news. I was in college, but working full time as a cashier/bookkeeper at a restaurant across from the college. One of the cooks called the restaurant to tell us the terrible news. It was Nov. 22, 1963, the day before my birthday.

68 cents a pound

November 21st, 2008 at 08:43 pm

That is what I paid for a turkey today. I think that is a pretty good price. If I spend another $45 or more next week, I can get a free turkey. I don't cook turkey very often, as much as we like it. There is just two of us and it seems to last forever.
According to my advantage card, I saved $5 on groceries today, so I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $22,953.00
today 5.00
new total $22,958.00

Filled up for $13

November 20th, 2008 at 07:24 pm

I have not gotten gas in about 2 weeks. I am so happy to watch the prices fall. I was able to fill up, about 6 gallons of gas for a little over $13. (My car holds 18 gallons)It is under $2 a gallon here, but since I use premium, I paid $2.19 a gallon. I know this is really easing things for some people. I think I can lower my husband's allowance!! (He probably won't like that)

Stock market went up yesterday!

November 19th, 2008 at 04:40 pm

Finally, the stock market went up yesterday for the first time in a while. I had a no use gas day and I walked a mile. all in all, that gives me $4 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $22,949.00
today 4.00
new total $22,953.00

Do you like spam?

November 18th, 2008 at 08:23 pm

I heard on the radio that spam is really selling now a days. The factory is working overtime to make the stuff and more and more spam is being sold.
Do you like spam? My husband does. He frys it in a pan and eats it with eggs for breakfast.
I wonder if spam has become more popular because of the economy?

Two beautiful dogs

November 17th, 2008 at 05:07 pm

There were two beautiful dogs at my house when I got up this morning. I hoped they were not dropped off. They are both white, no collar, and looked like huskeys. One of them has blue eyes. It is getting so cold out now. I sure hope they can find their way back home because our shelter is full and will not take any more animals til some are adopted. We have a no kill shelter.
I played mah jong yesterday and won 3 times so I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $22,946.00
today 3.00
new total $22,949.00

Dinner home last night.

November 16th, 2008 at 07:33 pm

We eat out most Friday and Saturday nights unless we are invited to a party. Last night the weather was yucky, rainy, about to sleet and dh asked if we could stay home and eat. Luckily, I had gone grocery shopping yesterday, so I had food in the house. Even tho the weather was nasty, dh cooked burgers on the grill. He makes the best burger! He should open up a burger stand!!
Anyway, I know we saved at least $20 on the meal, so I will add it to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $22,926.00
today 20.00
new total $22,946.00

This strange weather!

November 15th, 2008 at 09:32 pm

I have been trying all day to go grocery shopping but this weather is so strange. It will be bright and sunny one minute, then raining the next minute. So, I keep getting ready and then I have to wait cause it is raining again.
Tonight they are calling for snow? In the middle of Novmember?? In Georgia??
Anyway, I finally got my shopping done and according to my receipt, I saved $7 using my advantage card today, so i will add that to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $22,919.00
today 7.00
new total $22,926.00

Debt cures

November 15th, 2008 at 03:48 pm

That is the name of a book I saw being promoted when I turned on the tv this morning. It was on an infomercial on CNN. The author was selling it for $29.95. He says, it is not your fault if you are in debt. Buy my book and I will show you how you can reduce your debt immediately.
He was telling people that he could cut their debt in half with just a few phone calls. Pay off their mortgage in half the time.
Sorry, but anyone buying that book is only going to reduce one thing, the money in their wallet.

Interesting letter from Sears.

November 14th, 2008 at 07:21 pm

Yesterday I recieved a letter from Sears. I just bought a new GE refrigerator to replace my old one cause the ice maker was leaking.
The letter thanked me for my purchase and went on to say that they took a poll about appliances. Apparently, people are more concerned about price than they are workmanship in appliances.

So, the owner went on to say, appliances are not made as well as they use to be.(My refrig cost the same as it did 12 years ago.)
He strongly urged that we buy a protection plan so that the refrigerator could be worked on and repaired for free instead of being replaced when it messes up.
I think it is funny that they are admitting that things are not made as well as they use to be.
Well, the market went up yesterday and I had a no use gas day, so I will add $3 to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $22,916.00
today 3.00
new total $22,919.00

$29.29

November 13th, 2008 at 09:12 pm

That is the amount of interest I earned on my personal checking account. I have had a personal checking account for about 40 years and never earned any interest, so this is nice. I am keeping track of it and am going to use this as my "mad money" For example, I will use it to update my subscription to Money magazine and to Debt proof living. (use to be cheapskate monthly, a newsletter that I enjoy.)
I had 2 no use gas days this week, so I will add this to my challenge money.
prev. total $22,912.00
today 4.00
new total $22,916.00

Now, I have been poor!

November 12th, 2008 at 07:16 pm

I had someone on another forum say they thought it was terrible for me to go to a "poor man's dinner" party. They said it sounded like a bunch of rich people getting together to make fun of poor people.
I think what the hosts of the party were thinking was that the economy has taken such a hit; everyone has lost money in stocks, mutual funds, roths, ira's, etc.
So we are all poorer these days, but we are NOT making fun of poor people.
Heck, I don't know anyone who has been poorer than me.

My father died before I turned 10 and his retirement check for serving 32 years in the army, ended. In stead my mother started getting a check from the VA (veteran's admin.) in the amount of $25 a month.
Imagine 3 people (myself, my mother and my older sister)living on $25 a month? That was for food, phone, electricity, heat, gasoline, insurance etc.

That is exactly what we did for over 2 years til my mother found a job. We barely had enough to eat. There was never any snack food or soda to drink.
At age 12, I got a job and worked full time during the summer and holidays and on weekends when I went to school.
My mother was never able to buy me anything. I bought my own clothes, shoes, school supplies , etc. ( I earned $3 for a 9 hour day)

I actually am glad that I had a rough childhood cause it taught me to be frugal at a young age and I just kept on being frugal. We have never earned the big bucks, but we have always been big savers. No, I will never make fun of someone being poor.

Happy veteran's day!

November 11th, 2008 at 05:30 pm

I wish my father could have lived til I was older and could have asked him about his army experience. (I was not quite 10 when he died)
I know he was in both WWI and WWII. I think he had to lie about his age to join the army for WWI. That is ok, there were very few birth certificates back then.
I know he was in Germany and France during WWII. I am pretty sure he did something pretty secretive cause my mother was never allowed to know where he was or what he was doing.
All in all, he was in the service for over 30 years and retired a captain.

A spendy month

November 8th, 2008 at 08:10 pm

I have prided myself in having my savings account go up every month since we had our last closing a year ago last January.
This month it is different.
WE had to pull out $6500 from our savings to pay some customers bills, as I explained in my last post.
We had to spend $1000 to replace the refrigerator.
My dh decided to redo the old corvette and so far he has spent $1000 on parts for it.
Now I have an expensive hand painted pedestal sink and faucet coming in, to the tune of $1300. I have no use for the sink now, but it was ordered months ago, so we will have to pay for it.
All I can do, is just keep plugging away, saving money any other way I can.

Well, the stock market did go up yesterday and I won 2 games of mah jong, so that is $3 more to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $22,906.00
today 3.00
new total $22,909.00

Veteran's day

November 7th, 2008 at 05:46 pm

Monday is a holiday and Tuesday is Veteran's Day. Today I made a donation and received a poppy to carry with me.
I am going to two parties this weekend, one Saturday night and one on Sunday night. So, I thought I would get my grocery shopping done today. I used my Ingles Advantage card and saved $3 which will be added to the challenge money.
Prev. total $22,903.00
today 3.00
new total $22,906.00

Nice check

November 6th, 2008 at 04:24 pm

A nice check arrived in the mail yesterday for $150. My husband did a winterize job for a house that a local bank is foreclosing on. They can't turn the power on until they get the house back and they are afraid that the pipes will freeze. There are so many foreclosures in our paper right now. Sadly, I know many of the people and a lot of them are builders like us. Times are really getting hard right now and I don't see things getting any better for a long time. Well, I will add the money to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $22,753.00
today 150.00
new total $22,903.00

So glad it's over!

November 5th, 2008 at 02:06 pm

I am so glad this election is over. I hated the fact that about 6 million dollars a day was wasted on advertising for this election. We should have used the money to pay off some of the national debt. Well, I saved $3 at the grocery store yesterday buying ground beef on sale, so I will add that to my challenge money.
prev. total $22,750.00
today 3.00
new total $22,753.00

Under $14 for a month of driving!!

November 4th, 2008 at 07:35 pm

This summer, I started keeping track of how much money I was spending on gasoline. I keep a small notebook in the car, so I write down the date I get gas, how many gallons I get, how much I pay and the odometer reading.
I stopped to fill up the tank today. the last time I got gas was Oct. 4th, a month ago. I got 5.3 gallons and paid $13.93 for the fill up. I paid $2.59 a gallon cause I always get premium.
So whoo hooo, $14 bucks is not bad for a month's worth of driving!! All those stay home days really help out!!

Feeling a little nervous about the election.

November 4th, 2008 at 02:22 pm

I am feeling a little nervous about this election. I have voted for president many many times, but this is the first time that I am worried.
I played bridge yesterday and all the women that I played bridge with said the same thing. They did not like either candidate. Not enough experience. So, two of them said they probably would not even vote.
I don't feel that way at all. We all must vote and must chose the better of the two candidates, I voted two weeks ago. Now, I can just hope that this country will be ok for the next four years. God Bless America!

another little bit for the challenge!!

November 3rd, 2008 at 10:45 pm

I did my grocery shopping yesterday. Acording to my advantage card, I saved $5 which I will add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $22,745.00
today 5.00
new total $22,750.00

Paid my electric bill today.

November 3rd, 2008 at 03:56 pm

I have paid my electric bill today. I budget $160 a month and have for many years. That was the highest bill I have ever received since living here. Even tho the cost of electricity has gone up, I have kept my bill under that amount every month. This month, I saved $50 under my budget, so I will add that to the challenge.
Prev. total $22,695.00
today 50.00
new total $22,745.00

Rebate check

November 2nd, 2008 at 08:11 pm

I got a rebate check in the mail yesterday from the builder's supply place yesterday. That is $204 more I can add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $22,491.00
today 204.00
new total $22,695.00

No one told my dog!!

November 2nd, 2008 at 01:45 pm

No one told my dog about daylight savings time. Sometimes, my little black poodle, Holly sleeps with us. If it is cold, she sleeps under the covers.She is used to dh (her daddy) taking her out at 7:30 every morning. So, at 6:30 this morning, she came out from under the covers and woke her daddy up to take her outside to go potty! She is so cute!! (toy poodle, 6 pounds)
I got a check from Pinecone yesterday for $3. I like the fact that the surveys are much shorter than they use to be and not so boring.
Prev. total $22,488.00
today 3.00
new total $22,491.00

Net worth

November 1st, 2008 at 04:35 pm

Well, I bit the bullet and figured out our net worth this morning. I didn't even bother to write it down last month. so, now I know the bad news. My net worth went down over $100,000 since the stock market tanked. The good news is that I did earn $2208 in interest in October. For once, I am glad I keep so much money in cash.


<< Newer EntriesOlder Entries >>