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Archive for January, 2009

Thanks crazyliblady

January 31st, 2009 at 03:44 pm

A big thank you to crazyliblady for the prilosec ( and other) coupons you sent me. I got them yesterday and will put them to good use.

$20 challenge

January 30th, 2009 at 05:13 pm

I haven't posted for a while, but I am still on the $20 challenge.
Uncle sam gave me a raise this month, so my check went from $551 to $583 this week.
I had an extra $100 in my electricity envelope to add to the challenge.
I go another chase credit card reward check for $50.
The stock market went up 3 times this week = $3.
I had a $5 savings in groceries this week using my Ingles advantage card and I had one no use gas day =$2.
That total's $743.

Prev. total $1399.00
today 743.00
new total $2141.00

Got a deal on prilosec.

January 23rd, 2009 at 08:19 pm

My husband has to take prilosec daily or he gets heartburn. We use to have to pay $120 a month for 30 pills. Now that it is over the counter, we pay $30 for 42 pills. Today, they had it on sale for $25 and I had a $3 off coupon. So, I saved $8 today to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1386.00
today 8.00
new total $1394.00

jumbo c.d. coming due

January 23rd, 2009 at 02:59 pm

I have a jumbo CD coming due tomorrow. I was getting 4.8% interest, so I was going to call around on Monday to see what the other local banks are paying.
This morning, the bank called me. It seems that they are now paying 3.75% for a one year c.d. and 4% for a 2 year c.d. I was very impressed that they called me.
I will still call around town to get rates from the other banks. However, I doubt if any other bank will beat the 4% rate, so I will probably go for that.

Interest earned

January 22nd, 2009 at 03:38 pm

As I have mentioned before, last summer, I opened 3 new accounts at my local bank. They are all actually checking accounts, but they pay 3.19 % interest. I use one for my business account ( for the bills dh occurs while building houses), one for my personal bills and one used as a savings account.
Today I got paid $368.49 in interest in my savings account. Two days ago, i was credited with $49.64 in my business checking account. I am going to transfer that $49 over into my savings to add toward my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $1337.00
today 49.00
new total $1386.00

I hope I haven't hurt the economy!!

January 21st, 2009 at 08:09 pm

Between the Barrett Jackson car auction (6 nights) and the snow we have been having, I have eaten at home for 9 out of 10 nights. I hope my favorite restaurant doesn't close. We eat out almost every night except Sunday nights. (nothing open here) I feel like I should have saved a lot of money, but I have also been doing a lot of grocery shopping. We had planned on going out last night for dinner, but at 5:30, it snowed again and I do not like driving in snow. So, we ate in.
We did hit the grocery store yesterday and I got bacon on sale and saved $3 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1334.00
today 5.00
new total $1337.00

Victory!

January 20th, 2009 at 10:15 pm

Today was a small victory! My dh stands all day and his feet bother him. He has to have very good tennis shoes to work in, and he wears them out quickly. He needs a new pair about every 6 month.
We use to take off a day to drive to the mall (2 hours one way) and he would try on shoes most of the day. What a chore!

About 8 years ago, I said NO MORE Malls!!
So, he has been getting his new shoes at the local store that carries almost everything, but he has a hard time finding anything he likes.

Today, he found 2 pairs of shoes!! Not one, but two! They were $100 each, but marked down to $40 each. He started to just get the one pair, but I said, oh no, we will just go thru this again in 6 months, get both pair.
So we got a year's worth of shoe shopping done in about 10 minutes today. I am kind of glad he could not go to work today. ( icy road in N. Carolina)
I won 3 games of mah jong yesterday, so that is $3 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1331.00
total 3.00
new total $1334.00

Interesting inauguration tidbit!

January 20th, 2009 at 02:46 pm

Today is inauguration day. The president who gave the longest inauguration speech was William Henry Harrison. He refused to wear a hat or a coat and he gave a two hour speech.
He caught pneumonia and died one month later.
Better wear your hats and coats today if you are outside!!

NSD

January 19th, 2009 at 06:51 pm

Today will be a no spend day for sure. It started snowing lightly this morning and they are calling for a winter storm advisory starting at 4 pm. So, we called off the bridge game at my house and I will be sitting home today and tonight. They are calling for snow again tomorrow. DH went into work this morning, but I have asked him to come home early cause he has a long way to drive. (He is building in another state)
I was kind of looking forward to going out to eat tonight, but that is not going to happen. We don't like to drive in the snow.
Yesterday, I won 2 games of mah jong, so I will add $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1329.00
today 2.00
new total $1331.00

Finally, the sun is peaking thru!

January 18th, 2009 at 09:02 pm

After several gloomy days, the sun is peaking thru today. we did have snow yesterday and they are calling for more for Monday and Tuesday.
I decided to go to the grocery store and get some thing for tomorrow's dinner just in case we get stuck in the house.
I love living in this area, in the mountains and on a creek, but winter is not my favorite. The days are too short and often gloomy looking.
I had a no use gas day yesterday (and NSD) and won 3 games of mah jong, so that is $5 to add to the challenge.
prev. total $1324.00
today 5.00
new total $1329.00

Six out of seven!!

January 18th, 2009 at 02:47 pm

This week has been unusual. We have stayed home six out of seven nights. We usually eat out almost every night. The car auction has been on, so we stayed home to watch that. I thought we would probably go out last night, but then it started snowing. So, we stayed home and ate pancakes. The funny thing is, we have really not saved that much money by staying home. One night we had KFC and another night we made home made pizza. We usually spend about $17 for a meal out for two (we take our own drinks) and these two meals cost almost as much. Plus the fact that we have to use the oven, clean up the kitchen and run the dishwasher.
Tonight, we are having steaks and baked potatoes. I think I will be ready to go out more next week. Of course, they are calling for snow Monday and tuesday, so I may change my mind.

Birthday lunch!!

January 17th, 2009 at 05:38 pm

A friend of mine took me out to lunch yesterday. She called it my birthday lunch even tho my birthday was in November. So, I got a very nice, free lunch and have the leftovers for today. It is still terribly cold, so I think I will spend the day staying home and spending no money.
The stock market did go up a bit yesterday and I won one game of mah jong, so $2 more to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $1322.00
today 2.00
new total $1324.00

Baby, it's cold outside!!

January 16th, 2009 at 03:13 pm

When i got up this morning, it was 5 degrees outside. I live in Georgia!! I didn't even want to take the dog out to potty, but I did!!
Yesterday, I only won 1 game of mah jong, but the stock market did go up (slightly) and I had a no use gas day. so, I have $4 to add to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $1318.00
today 4.00
new total $1322.00

Barrett Jackson!!

January 15th, 2009 at 04:12 pm

Does anyone else watch the Barrett Jackson car auction? My dh loves it!! It is on from last Tuesday night until sunday afternoon. I am saving money cause we are not going out to eat the last few nights.
I did play mah jong yesterday and won 5 games, so that is $5 for the challenge.
prev. total $1313.00
today 5.00
new total $1318.00

Just ordered my free coupon

January 14th, 2009 at 08:22 pm

for a free bottle of suave shampoo. DH uses it all the time anyway! I had a no use gas yesterday plus won 3 games of mah jong, so I have $5 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1308.00
today 5.00
new total $1313.00


lucky 13's!!

$28 interest!!

January 14th, 2009 at 03:28 pm

Last summer, my bank offered checking accounts for 3.19% interest with a $1000 minimum. So, I changed all my accounts over to these 3.19% checkings. I opened one for business checking, one for personal checking and one for savings checking.
I have never kept much in my personal checking but instead left it in the envelopes. I put away $175 a week to pay my property tax, home insurance, insurance on the 6 vehicles and tags for the 7 things we need tags for. (6 cars and a carhauler)
Now, i am putting that cash away in my personal checking every week and keeping track of it on paper.
So I have sub accounts, one for taxes and insurance, one for filling the propane tank once a year, one for christmas, one for a new car fund and one for house expenses and vacations.

This week, I earned $28 in interest in my personal checking account. I have decided to write a check for that amount and donate it to our local humane society.
Our local humane society is a no kill shelter. They do not put an animal to sleep unless it is severely ill. I like that. So, my interest will go to a very good cause!!

My blog anniversary!!

January 13th, 2009 at 05:17 pm

Today is my blog anniversary. I have been on this site for 3 years today and have enjoyed it a lot! I think I will add $10 to my $20 challenge to celebrate! That will get me over $1300 and 13 is my lucky number. Funny, I never thought about it, but I started this blog on the 13th too!
Prev. total $1298.00
today 10.00
new total $1308.00

Played bridge today

January 13th, 2009 at 12:08 am

For the first time in about 6 weeks, we played bridge, so it was a NSD for me. It was a lot of fun even tho I never got over 12 points in one hand. You need 13 or 14 to open.
I did win 3 games of mah jong yesterday and 2 games tonight, so that is $5 I can add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1293.00
today 5.00
new total $1298.00

I guess I will close my Umbrella account

January 11th, 2009 at 05:21 pm

Umbrella bank pays their pot of gold accounts interest on the 10th, so I went online to look mine up. The interest went down for the month even tho it had 31 days in it.
I checked and the rate has dropped from 3.4 to 2.75% I can get 3.19% from my local bank in my checking account, so I guess I will be closing my Umbrella account tomorrow and adding it to my checking account.
I just got back from grocery shopping and I saved $4 using my advantage card. I will add that to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $1289.00
today 4.00
new total $1293.00

Lost check arrives

January 10th, 2009 at 03:40 pm

I got my check from Pinecone yesterday. It was mailed on Dec. 15th and never showed up, so they issued me a new one. It was nice of them to go to so much trouble for a $3 check.
I had 2 no use gas days in a row, so that is $4 more to add to the check and to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $1282.00
today 7.00
new total $1289.00

Sending it back!!

January 9th, 2009 at 03:57 pm

My dh is a builder and always seems to be building a house without heat in the dead of winter. He has a propane heater that costs him $10-15 a day to buy the propane to run it.
I saw a full page ad two months in a row for the Eden pure portable heater. Then I got direct mail from them, plus saw the commercials on the tv.
They promise to heat a 1000 square foot house for just pennies a day. The cost for the large furnace was $400. I thought, wow, that would pay for itself in just 40 days.
Well, we got it this week. DH tried it out for 2 days.
It does NOT work. I could have bought a $20 heater at McDonald's and it would have worked better.

So, we are sending it back. I wonder how much it will cost to ship it, it was pretty heavy. The company says they will pay me to return it, but we will see. I am glad I charged it so if the company gives me any problem, I can dispute the charge.
My advice, don't believe the ads or commercials!!

When I paid off my husband's work van, I continued making payments into a "new auto" envelope. I have been saving it, but forget to add it to my $20 challenge for a while. I put it into savings yesterday, so i have $510 to add to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $ 772.00
today 510.00
new total $1282.00

Happy birthday Elvis!!

January 8th, 2009 at 03:39 pm

Today is elvis' birthday. I just watched his aloha video the other night from 1973. Boy, he could sing! The stock market went up on tuesday and I had two no use gas days in a row, so I am going to add $5 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $772.00
today 5.00
new total $777.00



elvis has left the building............

Money can't always buy happiness.

January 7th, 2009 at 04:38 pm

I read yesterday that the world's 94th richest man, committed suicide. He threw himself in front of a train. apparently he had business dealings and had lost millions of dollars. I believe this was over in Germany. How sad.

MY husband's blue cross premium went up as of the first of the year. They take it directly out of our checking account, which I don't like. I am writing to the company and asking them to bill me instead. when I checked that envelope, I see that I hav overfunded it by $300, so I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $$472.00
today 300.00
new toatl $772.00

It's really raining!!

January 6th, 2009 at 04:44 pm

And it is so good to see. The state of Georgia has been in a drought for a year. Finally, the creek behind the house is filling up. Today will just be a good day to stay home and fold laundry. So it will be a no spend, no use gas day for me today. I have $50 from my aarp envelope to add to my $20 challenge today.
Prev. total $422.00
today 50.00
new total $472.00

Catching up!

January 5th, 2009 at 08:33 pm

Well, the last two stock market days have been up ($2) and I also had two no drive days in a row. ($4) so, I am adding $6 to my $20 challenge today.
Prev. total $416.00
today 6.00
new total $422.00

pinecone

January 4th, 2009 at 09:09 pm

I did a pinecone survey about 2 1/2 weeks ago but never received my check. Just for the heck of it, I e mailed pinecone and told them about it. ( I figured it got lost in all that christmas mail) I got an email back today saying that they will reissue me a new check. I just wanted to let you all know that in case it happens to you.

redoing the envelopes!

January 4th, 2009 at 06:40 pm

I have decided to check out my envelopes today. I have been doing my budget using the envelope system for over 40 years and it always works for me. Mostly because I never borrow from any of the envelopes. Of course, sometimes extra cash builds up in these envelopes. I am going to add this to my challenge money.
Right now, I have an extra $80 in my water and garbage envelope.

Prev. total $336.00
today 80.00
new total $416.00

Chase reward check!

January 4th, 2009 at 05:28 pm

I received a $50 check from my chase mastercard yesterday. That makes a total of $700 that I received from Chase in 2008. Of course, it gets added to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $286.00
today 50.0
new total $336.00

Grocery shopping.

January 3rd, 2009 at 06:44 pm

I went grocery shopping first thing this morning. It was nice and quiet there early in the morning. I bought a couple of things on sale and saved over $5 using my advantage card. So, I will add that to my $20 challenge.
I have been waiting for a pinecone check for over 2 weeks now. Since they are always so prompt, I am afraid that it must have gotten lost in the mail.
Prev. total $281.00
today 5.00
new total $286.00

I watched suze Orman last night.

January 3rd, 2009 at 03:54 pm

Suze is usually not on Friday nights, but she was last night. She was giving advice to a lady in serious debt.
The husband brought home $9000 a month ( nice pay) but they owed $232,000 in credit card debt. They also paid $6000 a month house payment on their million dollar home.
Suze advised her to sell the house and use the house payment to pay off the credit card debt. Of course, she told Suze that that was NOT going to happen and "something" will come up to solve the problem.
She was so in denial and Suze was so frustrated about it.
What can this woman be thinking of??


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