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Archive for April, 2011

No pay for a month!

April 29th, 2011 at 08:57 pm

My dh took on two remodeling jobs at the beginning of April, while he was waiting on the drywall guys to work on the spec house.
One job was a complete redo of a master bath, tearing everything out and starting over.
The other job was to turn a porch into a room.
He worked at both jobs (they are on the same street) for this entire month and has never been offered one penny for his services
Not only that, but we had to pay out of our pocket, for all their materials. One job cost over $9000 and of that over $7000 was for materials.
He finally got them both finished up last weekend and armed with all the bills, he presented them both with their final bills.

He did come home with checks, but one of them was predated for next month! I can see why most handymen (not my dh)charge so much.

The braves won on Wednesday and the stock market went up yesterday, so $2 for the challenge.

Prev. total $7626.00
today 2.00
new total $7628.00

I got my credit score today!

April 27th, 2011 at 08:24 pm

I got my credit score today. It is the first time I have gotten it in about 4 years. It was 809. That is pretty good. It was 817 the last time I got it, so it went down slightly.
Yesterday was a no use gas day, the braves won and the stock market went up. That is $4 more to add to the challenge. (Plus I found a quarter)

Prev. total $7622.00
today 4.00
new total $7626.00

I missed yesterday!

April 26th, 2011 at 05:45 pm

So, I forgot to say, April 25th, just 8 more months til Christmas!!

I got my usual monthly check deposited in my checking account this morning. I will add it to my $20 challenge as usual.

Prev. total $7136.00
today 486.00
new total $7622.00

I like this weather!!

April 24th, 2011 at 09:28 pm

It is not too hot and not too cold. Neither the heat or air conditioning is running. That saves money!

We are having a quiet Easter. I have no family and dh has only an elderly father and a brother in Florida, so we are usually alone on holidays. No big fancy dinner for us tonight, just steaks out on the grill.

I had two no use gas days on Friday and Saturday and the braves won yesterday, so $5 to be added to the challenge.

Prev. total $7131.00
today 5.00
new total $7136.00

Nice rebate check in the mail.

April 21st, 2011 at 09:30 pm

I got an unexpected rebate check in the mail today. We get them a few times a year from the building supply place that dh deals with. The problem is, business is so slow, they keep very little in stock.So most of the time we have to buy from Home Depot.

We use a chase cash reward card to buy from Home depot cause they pay you 3 % back on home improvement items. I just checked my rewards account and I had over 10,000 points. I ordered one $50 check and tomorrow I will order another $50 check. (They don't offer 1-$100 check for some reason.) I will add those to my challenge when they get here.

Today's check was the biggest we have had in a long time.

Prev. total $6697.00
today 434.00
new total $7131.00

It's been a better day today!

April 20th, 2011 at 10:21 pm

Yesterday was not so good! I lost my water, telephone and internet for most of the day. Today, I am back in business. I am still getting bad cable reception and I reported it. I am not much of a tv person anyway.
I had a quiet, no spend day. I never even left the house. Last night the Braves finally won, the stock market went up, so I can add $2 to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $6695.00
today 2.00
new total $6697.00

Stop and smell the roses!

April 19th, 2011 at 11:35 pm

It has been a bad day. My dh woke me to tell me that the water main located in our front yard had broken and water was spewing all over our yard and driveway. (This has happened about 10 times before and once our asphalt driveway fell in!)
When I went to call the water company, the phone was acting up and I had to call 4 times and scream over the noise before the repair guy heard me.

Dh called on his cell phone and reported the phone out of order. So, of course the computer did not work either. I was without water, without a phone, no computer and even the tv is so snowy you can barely see the picture.

As I looked out the front door, I noticed that my first rose is coming in bloom, so I had to cheer up!

It has taken all day, but I finally have water, phone and a computer. The pictures on the tv's are still bad, but I have a beautiful rose to look at.

Heat is still running!

April 18th, 2011 at 05:28 pm

dh worked outside in the yard in his shirtsleeves yesterday and it was warm. I was surprised to find the heat running in the house when I got up this morning. I only keep it set on 64. But is was pretty cool last night. I have turned it up now cause my bridge ladies are coming over in a few minutes and they keep their houses much warmer than I. I took my change to bank this morning, so I am adding that $36 to my challenge money.

Prev. total 6659.00
today 36.00
new total $6695.00

Braves won twice yesterday!

April 17th, 2011 at 09:32 pm

Plus the stock market went up on Friday, so I can add $3 more to my $20 challenge. I also earned $146 dollars in interest on my local money market currently paying 9/10 of 1 percent. I will add that to my challenge money also.
Dh is busy beautifying the yard. He came home with several plants plus is planting a vegetable garden. It is not too big, cause I do not eat vegetables.

Prev. total $6510
today 149
new total $6659

Went to a land sale this morning.

April 16th, 2011 at 10:42 pm

If you have never been to one, you must remember to move fast and get the earliest appointment. This is a fairly new subdivision with some lots on the river and a small lake. All lots have river and lake access at two nice pavillions.
Within 10 minutes of entering the subdivision, we bought an acre with a nice view.
WE are going out to dinner tonight to celebrate, so it won't be a very frugal weekend for us!

Does anyone have the air on yet???

April 13th, 2011 at 09:50 pm

It warmed up to the point that I was wearing shorts this week. It has been nice because the heat has not run all week. I was debating about putting the a/c on, but I have not done that yet.
Yesterday, the weather changed and it is cool again. It is nice when neither the heat or air is running.

I took out all the extra money in my envelopes this morning, including my corvette envelope. (dh still does not know it is paid off) All in all I have $1000 to add to my $20 challenge. I deposited the money this morning and now I am transferring it to my ING account that is paying 1.14%

Prev. total $5510.00
today 1000.00
new total $6510.00

Gas is $4.06 today.

April 12th, 2011 at 08:59 pm

Since I only have half a tank, I will have to fill up in the next few days. I have to use premium, so i will spend $4.06 a gallon.
I went to H and R block to pick up my taxes. I paid $429 to get them done. I think that is pretty expensive!
Well, the stock market has not been doing too well and neither has the Braves. I will add the $6 I saved using my advantage card at Ingles, to my $20 challenge.

Prev. totat $5504.00
today 6.00
new total $5510.00

First hummingbird!

April 10th, 2011 at 10:38 pm

I saw my first hummingbird of the season today. The dogwood trees outside my bedroom window are all in bloom and it is a beautiful day. I am even wearing shorts for the first time in months. It is so nice that the heat does not have to run either. This has been an expensive heating winter!! I have 2 one dollar bills to contribute to my challenge.
Prev. total $5504
today 2

new total $5506

My favorite kind of mail!!

April 9th, 2011 at 08:45 pm

I love it when I get checks in the mail. They always get added to my $20 challenge. This is a very infrequent check. We get a rebate from a building supply place once in a while. We don't buy much from anymore. (because they don't have much in stock) So, I will add it to the challenge.

Prev. total $5321.00
today 183.00
new total $5504.00

Expensive day yesterday!

April 8th, 2011 at 09:13 pm

I spent $134 at the vet yesterday. My older dog has not been eating. The vet gave me some medicine, but so far, she is still not eating today. She only weighs 5 pounds, so she cannot afford to skip many meals. Maybe she will eat when dh comes home from work today. She is acting like she feels better.

I love checks in the mail.

April 6th, 2011 at 09:51 pm

I got another check in the mail today. I reinvest most of my dividends, but a few dividends accumulate in my Edward Jones account. So, once in a while, I request a check. Today, I got a check for $121 which I will put in my $20 challenge account.

Prev. total $5200.00
today 121.00
new total $5321.00

Bad storm last night!

April 5th, 2011 at 09:33 pm

WE had a big storm last night; thunder, lightening, rain and hail. Our power we out, so we went on to bed. I guess it saved us some money, cause the heat could not run. The tv was out til this afternoon. (Not that I am a big tv fan anyway)
I got my statements from Vanguard. Both of our IRA's are fully funded for 2010. I don't remember exactly when IRA's were first allowed, but I wish I had contributed more. When we first moved here, we had to live on our savings for the first few years, so we had no extra money. And of course, back then, you could only contribute $2000 a year.

I did my grocery shopping this afternoon. Since starting on this $20 challenge a few years ago, I always take the money that the receipt shows I have saved and add it to the challenge. It is easy and it adds up!

Prev. total $5192.00
today 8.00
new total $5200.00

2 wins in a row!

April 4th, 2011 at 11:44 pm

The braves won yesterday and today. The stock market went up today and I used a $2 off coupon at the grocery store. So, I have $5 to add to the challenge money.

Prev. total $5187.00
today 5.00
new total 5192.00

You want a what???????????

April 3rd, 2011 at 08:20 pm

Dh went to his first car show of the season yesterday. He came home telling me all about a new car he had seen. He really wants one.
It is called a McLaren, made by Mercedes. He was guessing it would cost $100,000-$150,000.

I googled it this morning, so I could see what it looks like. It is neat looking, with doors that open upwards like butterfly wings.
Mercedes only made 500 of them a year for 7 years, for a total of 3500 cars.
The price tag, $450,000!!!!

I quess I could trade my house for one and live in the car. I don't think a McLaren is in my husband's future, poor guy!

Car show today!

April 2nd, 2011 at 07:14 pm

The first car show of the year is being held today, down on the town square. As you might know, my dh really likes cars. He has a 1933 bright red ford victoria which he will enter in the show.
He took today off from work. However, since the show does not start until 4 pm., he is working out in the yard. He had a $300 pile of mulch delivered yesterday and is putting it around all the trees and bushes.
I am watching him work! That's what I do best!
The braves won their first game and the stock market went up yesterday, so I am adding $2 to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $5185.00
today 2.00
new total $5187.00

Good bye, saving advice!!

April 1st, 2011 at 06:18 pm

Well, I joined this site on Jan. 13, 2006, so that means I have been posting on this blog for over 5 years. I have finally decided that it is time for me to leave SA, but I will really miss all of you. You have become like family to me. I really love this place.




good bye!
Ima















(april fools!!) ha ha
you're not getting rid of me that easily!!

Melrose Credit Union

April 1st, 2011 at 06:11 pm

I don't check this account very often. At the beginning on last month, I opened a 5 year C.D. with them. It is paying 2.8% interest which is the best that I could find anywhere.
The interest is paid quarterly.

I didn't know if that was 3 months after I opened the account or just the calendar quarter. I checked it today and apparently it is the calendar quarter. So, I earned $508 in interest for the month. That is nice.

ING interest

April 1st, 2011 at 02:48 pm

Last year I made 3 loans to a couple that we built a house for, several years ago. I was adding the interest we were making (at 4%) to my $20 challenge. Well, in February, they paid me off. I put the money in a new ING account and I plan to add the interest every month. A big difference between 4% and the 1% I am getting now! Interest was paid last night, so I have $140 to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $5045.00
today 140.00
new total $5185.00