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Archive for March, 2011

Thanks, General Sherman!!

March 30th, 2011 at 09:07 pm

I went out to a delicious dinner last night at my favorite restaurant. It was very busy and I saw lots of people I knew, plus 2 I play bridge with.
Almost everyone had brought in an antique to have appraised for free.
WE ate dinner first, so we did not have to spend too much time in line for the appraiser.
Dh was a little disappointed about his WWII Japanese sword. His father brought it back from the war. She appraised it at $1500 and he thought it would be worth more.

I got better news. My General William Sherman autograph was considered to be real and could fetch from $5000 to $10,000. I googled him when I got home and the signatures were the same as the letters listed for sale. Some of them were selling for $25,000. I bought this at an antique store about 30 years ago for about $100.

I had 2 no use gas days (Monday and today) plus the stock market went up today, so I will add $5 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $5040.00
today 5.00
new total $5045.00

Dinner out tonight!

March 29th, 2011 at 09:52 pm

We are going out to dinner tonight. A local restaurant is having something different. They are having an antique appraiser there, who will appraise your antigues for free. (Of course, you must buy dinner, but part of the proceeds go to our new library)
I am taking my General Sherman signature (the mean guy who burned Atlanta during the civil war) and my husband is taking his WWII japanese sword that his father brought back from Japan. I wonder if they will be worth anything?

I saved $7 using my Ingles advantage card today, so I am adding that to the challenge.

Prev. total $5033.00
today 7.00
new total $5040.00

A good day for checks in the mail.

March 28th, 2011 at 10:35 pm

I went out to get my mail today and found 3 checks in the mail. One was from pinecone for a $3 survey I did, one was from Tim Horton, a $25 dividend and the last one was from my Chase rewards card for $50. That is a total of $78 in checks and is all being added to my $20 challenge fund.

Prev. total $4955.00
today 78.99
new total $5033.00

Molly, the Mighty Hunter!

March 27th, 2011 at 08:05 pm

I was looking for Molly's leash this morning, so I could take her out to potty. I started thinking how different my two dogs are,
Holly, almost 11, is a 5 pound poodle who rules the house.
Molly, just turned 2, is an 11 pound part poodle, part maltese. (She looks all maltese)

I never have to put Holly on a leash (unless we are going somewhere) I just stand out on the back deck while she does her business and then comes back in.

Molly, who fancies herself as the great white squirrel hunter, has to be kept on a leash all the time she is outside. She wants to chase and catch every squirrel she sees. She watches them inside thru the window and makes a lot of noise when they come too close to the house.

If I let her outside without a leash I would probably never see her again; she would be off chasing squirrels. Heaven help her if she caught one!
But she is a sweetheart!

I am adding $3 to the challenge; $1 cause the stock market went up Friday and $2 cause it is a no use gas day.

Prev. total $4952.00
today 3.00
nnew total $4955.00

$58 dollars for gas!

March 26th, 2011 at 09:18 pm

That is the most I have ever spent in my life. I paid $3.85 per gallon and had to buy almost 15 gallons.
Wow, I can remember when gas was under 20 cents a gallon. The stations use to have gas wars all the time. For that 20cents they also pumped your gas, washed your windshield, and checked your water and oil.
My poor husband has a 35 gallon work van. I guess I need to raise his allowance.

Hospital bill

March 25th, 2011 at 10:18 pm

I got the hospital bill for the one day my dh spent in the hospital. It was for $7000. Boy, the drugs they give you really do add up. One blood pressure pill was $66 and I can buy a bottle of 30 for $10.
No insurance, so we have to pay the whole bill, plus all the doctors.

I used my Ingles advantage card today and saved $4 which I will add to the challenge.

Prev. total $4948.00
today 4.00
new total $4952.00

Pinochle

March 24th, 2011 at 07:51 pm

I went and took my first pinochle lesson today. I have been playing bridge for a few years and thought I would like to try pinochle.
It was fun and a lot easier than bridge. I even came in, in first place.
I received a $3 pinecone check and saved $4 using my bi lo card, so that is $7 more to the challenge.

Prev. total $4941.00
today 7.00
new total $4948.00

Free $50

March 23rd, 2011 at 02:34 pm

I got a card in the mail from ING, that is I open up an IRA, they will give me $50 for free. I did that, so by the end of the month, they will credit my account with $50.
I don't know if any of you want to try that, but if you are an ING member already, go to
www.retiremyway.com/50 and claim your free $50.

The first of the corvette money!

March 22nd, 2011 at 06:40 pm

This is the first month I have not had a payment due on my corvette. I took the money out of the bank last month and paid it off. So, I am still putting the weekly amount away in the corvette envelope. I plan to add that monthly to the $20 challenge.
I have $810 to add to the challenge today. My payment was only about $600 something, but I sometimes have a week of extra money in my envelopes. It feels great having that money to save instead of paying it out on a car!

Prev. total $4131.00
today 810.00
new total $4941.00

My usual check.

March 22nd, 2011 at 05:52 pm

My usual monthly check came in today. As a matter of fact, it came a day early. It is supposed to be here on the fourth wednesday of the month. I never cash the check, I just add it to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3645.00
today 486.00
new total $4131.00

Under budget on electric bill

March 21st, 2011 at 02:34 pm

I am underbudget on my electric bill this month. I budget $160 and the bill was $105. Of course, this will go up as soon as I turn the a/c on. However, I think it cost me more to heat the house than to cool it. I have paid $2500 for propane (for heat) this year. I will add the $55 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $3590
today 55
new total $3645

The critters are back!!

March 19th, 2011 at 08:09 pm

We have always had a lot of wildlife in our backyard. All, but the deer have disappeared since winter started. Last night, I saw our two ducks had returned. This morning, the ground hog came out. (Last year we had a mama ground hog and 3 babies) So, I hope more will be around later.
I guess they know that today will be the last day of winter and spring is starting tomorrow!
I had a no use gas day yesterday, so $2 to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3588.00
today 2.00
new total $3490.00

The Bradford pear trees are blooming.

March 18th, 2011 at 07:44 pm

They look so pretty and are a sure sign of spring. We have two of them in our front yard. I hope this warm weather continues. It is warmer outside and inside the house cause I have no screens and can't open the windows. (It is a long story. we do have screens, but dh does not like them, so they are in the attic)
I just received an $11 check from my stock in Wendy's and I had a no use gas day, so I will add $13 to my challenge.

Prev. total $3575.00
today 13.00
new total $3588.00

Happy birthday, Big Red!

March 17th, 2011 at 08:53 pm

Not everybody celebrates their car's birthday, but I do!! I think anything that gives me an excuse to eat cake, should be celebrated!!!
Today my car is one year old. I got it on St. Patrick's day which is kind of neat, since I am Irish!
The car gas 3967 miles on it, so it should be around for a while.

I opened a money market account last month, so I could keep some cash in a local bank to use for the spec house. The highest interest rate I could get was 9/10th of 1 percent. today, it paid me $159 in interest, so I am adding that to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3416.00
today 159.00
new total $3575.00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

March 17th, 2011 at 02:49 pm

Don't forget to wear something green! Even if you are not Irish. I am Irish. My grandparents were both born in Ireland. I don't know what year they came to this country. My father was born here, in Mass, in 1899.

They took down the ugly tree!

March 16th, 2011 at 09:47 pm

We live at the bottom of the hill in our subdivision. There is a huge ugly pine tree in my neighbor's yard and it always blocked the view of our house as you came down the street. I have always wanted that tree gone!
It died a few years back, but it was still standing. Today, someone(??) hired a tree company and they took the tree down. It took them many, many hours, but it is gone, gone, gone!!

I saved $3 on steak today, so I will add that to my challenge.

Prev. total $3413.00
today 3.00
new total $3416.00

"Beware the Ides of March"

March 15th, 2011 at 08:31 pm

Not me! I think the 15th of March is a great day. Today, my little Molly was born 2 years ago. She is my malta-poo puppy and probably the sweetest dog I have ever owned. (I have had at least one dog since I was 3 years old) I will have to fix her something special for her birthday dinner tonight.

I also found a dime today, lucky me. I stocked up on diet sprite also since it is a real good sale. My dh and I don't drink soft drinks, except with mixed drinks after dinner. According to my grocery receipt, I saved $14 today, so that will be added to my challenge.
I will have to check out bi lo tomorrow when steaks go on sale.

Prev. total $3399.00
today 14.00
new total $3413.00

Grass cutting!

March 13th, 2011 at 08:48 pm

My dh only worked until 4 pm this afternoon. So, he took off early and is now out cutting the grass!! Are you kidding me?? We just had snow Thursday!

After that he is planning on washing the 2 corvettes and cleaning up the house for my bridge group tomorrow.

I just went to CVS to pick up some pictures that I left to be developed. I took several pictures of my little dogs. They like laying on pillows in the sunshine in the kitchen. I am planning on sending one of the pictures to the lady that I bought my puppy, Molly, from. She seems to like to know how her puppies are doing and I sent her a picture when Molly was little. Molly is full grown now. And, oh so cute too!

While at CVS, I got conditioner on sale and saved $4. I will add that to my challenge money.

Prev. total $3395.00
today 4.00
new total $3399.00

Spring ahead

March 12th, 2011 at 05:21 pm

Don't forget to "spring ahead" tonight and set your clocks forward an hour. I love daylight savings time and it staying lighter longer at night! Spring is only 8 days away, even if it did snow Thursday night here.

A long wait at Bi Lo.............

March 10th, 2011 at 06:52 pm

I ran into town to get a few things I needed at Bi Lo.
Just as I got into a line, the computer went down and all of the registers quit working.
Working a register was my very first job.

I went to work at age 12 (with a work permit) and was hired as a stock girl at a retail store. It was soon obvious that I was good with money, so I ran the register and did the books. Back then, all registers were manuel and you had to know how to count the change back, cause the register sure did not tell you anything.

I can't believe that there is not some kind of a back up system in these big chain stores.

I stood there for over 30 minutes and nothing happened. I offered the manager $20 for my $17 worth of groceries and she took it. Not very frugal, but I needed the stuff and did not want to make another trip back to town later.

I had a no use gas day yesterday, so $2 more to the challenge.

Prev. total $3393.00
today 2.00
new total $3395.00

The weather is terrible!

March 9th, 2011 at 02:43 pm

Our weather has been terrible this month. First of all, it has been so windy. It is like a hurricane every day. Plus it it cold and wet. I am so ready for spring. I know it is only 11 days away, but it sure does not feel like spring. I see buds on the trees, but I am still wearing my heavy coat.
It is raining right now and the creek is very very full.
I did my grocery shopping yesterday and managed to save $4 using my advantage card. The stock market went up, so I am adding $5 to my $20 challenge fund.

Prev. total $3388.00
today 5.00
new total $3393.00

No use gas

March 7th, 2011 at 10:56 pm

A few years ago, when gasoline was so high, I determined that I spend about $2 on gas every time I made the 10 mile trip to town. So every time I stay home and do NOT use gas, I add that $2 to my $20 challenge.
I had 2 no use gas days this weekend, so I am adding the $4 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $3384.00
today 4.00
new total $3388.00

Where is B/A??

March 6th, 2011 at 05:03 pm

We have not heard from Broken Arrow in a long time. I miss him!!

B of A check

March 4th, 2011 at 09:31 pm

I got a letter and a check from bank of america this afternoon. The check was for $10 and is a refund for paying off my car early. It says the car is paid in full and I will receive the title soon.

I got my car new on March 17th, 2010, so it took me less that a year to pay it in full. It helped that I paid a lot extra each month.
The car looks brand new; I only have 3,865 miles on it. I haven't even had to have the oil changed yet. It should last me for quite a while.
(shhhh, don't tell you know who)

I will add the $10 to my challenge and when the next payment comes due, I will add that to my challenge money also.

Prev. total $3374.00
today 10.00
new total $4484.00

I love this extra daylight!

March 4th, 2011 at 07:35 pm

I love this extra hour or so of daylight we are getting now. It use to be dark by 5:30 pm., now it is still light at 5:30. Plus daylight savings time is not that far away.
Gas has really gone up here. It is now $3.80 for premium. I am trying to drive as little as possible. I had a no use gas yesterday, the stock market went up, so I am adding $3 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $3371.00
today 3.00
new total $3374.00

You paid cash????????

March 3rd, 2011 at 05:31 pm

WE have used the same guy to install our heat/airconditioning systems for over 20 years. We even used him in our first house.
Yesterday, he came over to start the installation at our spec house.
Dh was telling him about his expensive trip to the emergency room ($7500) and his gall bladder surgery. When dh told him that his hospital bill was over $12,000, the guy asked how dh was going to pay it.
Dh said, I already paid the bill in cash. (we paid in full and received a 15% discount)
The guy could not believe that anyone could have that much cash in a savings account.

This is a middle age guy with two grown children and his own business. I guess he has never had any money put aside in his entire lifetime. I wonder what he is going to do if he ever has to retire?

The funny thing is, he eats out almost every meal. Every breakfast and every lunch, he goes out to eat. He could save a lot of money by bringing his lunch to work like my dh does.

Melrose credit union

March 2nd, 2011 at 09:08 pm

On saturday, I mailed a large check to Melrose credit Union in Briarwood, N.Y. I wanted to open a certificate of deposit. They are currently paying 2.9% for 5years.
Yesterday, I emailed them to see if they got my check and opened an account for me. I got an e mail back saying that my account was open and they gave me the account number.
Even with my very little computer knowledge, I was able to come up with an ID and password and to view my account.
So far, I am very happy with my Melrose credit union experience.

ING interest

March 2nd, 2011 at 04:01 pm

I made 3 personal loans to a couple last year and I have been adding that interest to my $20 challenge. Well, last month he inherited a lot of money, so they paid me off. No more nice loan paying 4% interest.

So, I put that money into ING electric checking paying 1.25% interest. As is my luck, within days, the rate went down to 1.14%. However, it is still better than what I can get locally, even for a c.d.

I am still going to report the interest to my $20 challenge, however, it will be a lot less than it use to be.

Prev. total $3310.00
ING 61.00
new total $3371.00

March came in like a lamb!

March 1st, 2011 at 08:59 pm

I wonder if it will go out like a lion? That is just an old saying. It is a beautiful day today, while yesterday was stormy and windy.
Yesterday was a good day money wise. I received a one dollar bill in the mail for a survey and a check for $50 from Chase rewards. Both will go into my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $3310.00
today 51.00
new total $3361.00