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Archive for November, 2009

Chase rewards check

November 29th, 2009 at 11:07 pm

I got another chase rewards check in the mail yesterday for $50. That makes over $1000 I have received back from my chase mastercard and I have never paid one penny in interest.
My electric bill was also very low, so I have $130 left over in my budget envelope. I will add that $180 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,904.00
today 180.00
new total $16,084.00

Free turkey

November 27th, 2009 at 09:47 pm

I got a free turkey at Ingles today. I also bought an apple pie on sale for dessert tonight. We had our dinner alone last night and I had forgotten about dessert. Tonight will be left overs. My poor husband took leftovers for lunch, so he will probably be ready to go out to eat soon.

I had a no use gas day yesterday and have 8 one's for the challenge for a total of $10 to add.
Prev. total $15,894.00
today 10.00
new total $15,904.00

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26th, 2009 at 05:11 pm

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I feel like you all are my family. I don't actually have any family alive. My father died before i was 10 and I lost all my grandparents before age 12. My mother died when I was 33 and I have lost all my aunts, uncles, cousins and my half sister. However, I have my wonderful husband and my saving advice friends! Plus my two sweet dogs, Holly and Molly!!

Please pass the cranberry sauce!!

addition to the $20 challenge

November 25th, 2009 at 10:25 pm

My usual 4th Wednesday of the month check came in. From now on it is going to be $486 a month since Uncle Sam is deducting $97 a month now.
I have $7 in one dollar bills for a grand total of $493 to add to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,401.00
today 493.00
new total $15,894.00

Interest on One Million dollars!!

November 24th, 2009 at 06:18 pm

I opened a new certificate of deposit yesterday. The best rate I could get was 2.1% interest.
When I was much younger, we use to say we could easily live on the interest if we had a million dollars in the bank.
Back then, I was a bookkeeper for a small savings and loan. (No computers then, we did everything by hand including figuring the interest.)

We were paying 6% interest on savings accounts and 8% on C.D.'s. That means you could have earned $80,000 in interest if you had a million in c.d.'s
That is over $219 a day in interest.

Today, your one million will earn you a little over $20,000 in interest or $57 dollars a day. $57 dollars a day is pretty hard to live on in this day and age.

Oh well, anyway, I think it will be pretty neat to have a c.d. come due on my birthday next year. I just hope rates head up some day.

I colored my hair today ( I have been doing it my self for over 30 years) so I am adding $100 to my challenge for saving all that money for so long.
Prev. total $15,301.00
today 100.00
new total $15,401.00

I wish I was 18 again!

November 23rd, 2009 at 03:30 pm

I am having a birthday again and remembering an old song that George Burns recorded in 1979.
I wish I was 18 again,
and going when I've never been,
but old folks and old oaks,
standing tall, just pretend,
I wish i was 18 again.

It sure would be nice to start over again, knowing what I know now. However, I have been pretty lucky in my life and have enjoyed it.

I was born on Thanksgiving day. My mother griped that she had fixed a big dinner and did not get to eat any of it!
lol!!

My dear husband gave me a neat birthday card this morning. It plays my favorite song to dance too, "Wipe Out"
(most of you have probably never even heard this song)

46 years ago today!

November 22nd, 2009 at 10:21 pm

President Kennedy was assassinated. I was working as a cashier in a restaurant across from Stetson University. One of the cooks called the restaurant to tell everyone and I answered the phone. What a scary time that was.

Christmas lights are up!

November 22nd, 2009 at 10:00 pm

Well, my husband got all the outside christmas lights up today. He also put in all new pipes for the kitchen sink and organized the pantry. Sadly, the reason he is getting so much done around the house is because he does not have that much work.
He has a house going on, but the owner wants to do as much of the work himself. Unfortunate to say, the owner is not much of a carpenter so dh is not happy with the workmanship. Dh has a good helper, but the owner does not want to use him. ( or pay him)
Hopefully , the next house will proceed a little smoother.
I did my grocery shopping the other day. According to the receipt. i saved $15 using my advantage card, so I will add that amount to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,286.00
today 15.00
new total $15,301.00

Christmas wrapping

November 19th, 2009 at 10:35 pm

Since I put up my christmas tree so early, (it came in in October and I wanted to see if I liked it enough to keep it) I decided to put some presents in front of it today.
About three years ago, I made a great purchase at QVC. For about $25 I bought a selection of beautiful christmas gift bags with tissue paper.
Since it is just dh and I (I sent the granddaughters checks), we re use the bags over and over each year.
So, in just a matter of a few minutes, I got about 10 gifts assembled and under the tree. (We don't give expensive gifts, just things like shirts, socks, good stuff to pig out on, etc.)

Ho Ho HO!!

Took it back!

November 17th, 2009 at 01:23 pm

The older I get, the more tired I get of being ripped off. When I use to buy something, (anything) and there was something wrong with it, I just put up with the problem. I don't do that anymore.
I bought some oreo cookies last week and when I opened them on sunday, they were all broken up. I took them back to the grocery store and asked for a new package of cookies. No problem even tho I did not have a receipt. I did that a few months ago with some mints I bought. They were all melted. I have taken back sour cream that had gone bad. From now on, receipt or not, I take it back! It is my hard earned money, not Ingles!!
I did have 2 no use gas days ($4)and 3 one dollar bills left over. Plus I got a $3 pinecone check in the mail yesterday. That gives me a total of $10 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,276.00
today 10.00
new total $15,286.00

beautiful sunday

November 15th, 2009 at 08:34 pm

It is a beautiful sunday day. dh has even taken his hot rod for a ride to Ace Hardware. It is warmer outside of the house than on the inside. I took my puppy to be groomed Friday and she looks like a different dog, they took off so much hair.
I have 5 one dollar bills to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $15,271.00
today 5.00
new total $15,276.00

Turned in my change today

November 14th, 2009 at 07:08 pm

I took all of my change to the bank this morning. I try not to spend any of my change except for pennies. It adds up. I have $36 to add to my challenge today.

Prev. total $15,235.00
today 36.00
new total $15,271.00

Happy friday the 13th!

November 13th, 2009 at 10:01 pm

In case no one has noticed, today is Friday the 13th. The only Friday the 13th of the entire year. I got married on Friday the 13th, so it has always been a lucky day for me.
I had to take my puppy in today to get groomed. She had gotten terrible matted. ( a maltese) They really had to shave her down to get out all those mats, but she looks real cute. (and a lot skinnier)

$1 a flush!!

November 13th, 2009 at 05:42 pm

Ok, I did it almost. I kept track like wonderlake suggested! In case you don't know what I am talking about, I had a colonoscopy yesterday.
I started taking the moviprep at 6 pm on Tuesday night and finished it up by 3 am Wednesday morning. So, I spend all of the night and the next morning going to the pottie!
Then, I spent the rest of yesterday afternoon sleeping, but went out for a nice dinner. Boy, it sure was good to get to eat after having nothing but a few popcicles for 37 hours.
I am adding $80 to my $20 challenge in honor of the colonoscopy!!
Prev. total $15,155.00
today 80.00
new total $15,235.00

Eating banana popcicles!

November 11th, 2009 at 08:41 pm

That is all I am eating today. I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow.
I am thinking about Fern and how much she disliked the moviprep she had to drink. I start drinking the same thing at 6 pm, then I have to get up at 4 am and drink another quart.
You don't realize how hungry you will get. I have not had anything but two popcicles since before midnight last night and will not get to eat until about 11 am tomorrow! My tummy is certainly protesting.
At least the rain has stopped. The cream is so full, it almost came out of it's banks.
I have not added to the challenge in a few days, but I have 7 $1 bills to add today.
Prev. total $15,148.00
today 7.00
new total $15,155.00

A beautiful fall day!

November 8th, 2009 at 09:49 pm

What a beautiful day it was today. Almost 80 degrees and still some fall leaves to look at. We rode around for a while and spent no money except under $5 at the grocery store for tonight's supper.
I had two no use gas days on Thursday and Friday and the stock market went up, so that is $5 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $15,143.00
today 5.00
new total $15,148.00

Foreclosures are really bad here.

November 7th, 2009 at 09:16 pm

How are foreclosures in your area? They are really bad here in this small town. We only have a weekly paper, but it is full of foreclosures every week. Sadly, I recognize a lot of the names. The biggest real estate brokerage house in town is even being foreclosed on. It once had over 50 employees. This has been going on for over a year, I don't see any signs of anything getting any better. I just wonder how your area is doing?

Adding my ones to the challenge!

November 5th, 2009 at 05:24 pm

It is Thursday morning and I have 5 one dollar bills left in my wallet. So, into the $20 challenge they go!
Prev. total $15,138.00
today 5.00
new total $15,143.00

Don't forget!!

November 4th, 2009 at 02:51 pm

It is time to start collecting for your local food pantry or food bank. Actually, anytime is a good time with so many people being out of work.
If you still have a job and can afford it, please pick up a few items to donate. Here is some of the things they want:
canned potatoes
canned peas
bagged rice
canned chicken and tuna
chunky soups
peanut butter and jelly
powdered milk
mac and cheese

Please help out if you can. I buy 3 or 4 items every week and will take them in before thanksgiving.

Darn, interest rate went down!

November 3rd, 2009 at 09:30 pm

I check my bank accounts almost every day and noticed that the bank had lowered the interest rate they pay. When I first opened these checking accounts, the bank was paying 3.19 for an entire year.
We have to keep a lot of cash in the bank for building spec houses. We never take out a loan to build a house, so I was pretty happy with that rate.
When the end of the year was up, the bank lowered the rate to 2% in July. Last month, they lowered the rate to 1.75% and today I noticed it was down to 1.49%.
I can remember the good old days when banks paid 6% and 8% and people could actually live on their interest if they were careful.

Finally added some to savings!

November 3rd, 2009 at 05:20 pm

Except for the $20 challenge, I have not done very well in adding to my savings account this year. It seems like so many things have happened. My vet bill was over $1000; my dh had two eye exams plus new glasses for a cost of over $1000, we got 2 new bedroom chairs and a breakfast table and chairs; ($2500) liability work insurance was $1500, new tires were over $600; it just seems like there has been something every month. My husband has been cutting trees and we need someone to haul them off, but I asked him to put that off for a month or so, so that I can finally put a little something in our savings account.
Gas is almost $3 a gallon here for premium. I had 2 no use gas days this weekend and the stock market went up yesterday, so I can add $5 to my challenge account.
Prev. total $15,133.00
today 5.00
new total $15,138.00

How much does a burial plot cost?

November 2nd, 2009 at 04:12 pm

Lux got me to thinking about that? I have 2 plots that my mother purchased when I was a little girl and my father passed away.
Thanks to Lux, I was able to find a website with a phone number to call, but I was wondering if any of you know the average cost today?

Networth up slightly

November 1st, 2009 at 09:59 pm

Once a year I have to complete my husband's building license renewal for the state of North Carolina. Even tho we live in Georgia, N.C. is only 10 miles away and he has built houses there also.
N.C. requires you to turn in a financial statement to prove your net worth.
When I first joined this site, I discovered networthiq, so I pretty much do my net worth every month. That made doing the renewal pretty easy.
Our networth did go up slightly, but we are not saving nearly as much as we did in previous years. I have to blame this on the economy. My dh is just not working as many hours as he use to. He only has one house going now, as opposed to two or three.
However, I am just grateful that he has work at all and even small amounts of savings are better than none at all.