Layout:
Home > Archive: July, 2011

Archive for July, 2011

Last day of the month!

July 31st, 2011 at 07:41 pm

Boy, this month went fast! The braves won their last two games and I had a no use gas day yesterday, so I am adding $4 to my challenge money! My goal is to save $17,000 in the challenge this year and I am doing pretty well with it.

Prev. total $13,551.00
today 4.00
new total $13,555.00

What is it?

July 30th, 2011 at 08:04 pm

Yesterday, we had a real estate closing on the house that we sold. (our spec house)
The real estate ladies were both there; the one that I listed with and the lady that sold it.
My realtor gave us a gift. I swear I don't know what it is.
It was like a wide vase with the lid standing up all sealed up. Inside was a beanie baby bunny (no tag), a candle and a bottle stopper. There was a card with a one hundred dollar bill too!
When we took out the bunny, candle and bottle stopper and put the lid back, the gift looked like a huge urn that you put ashes in (from cremation)
Anyway, I am very grateful for the $100 bill. The ladies got to split $16,000 in commission. (And didn't even have to advertise as the first couple that looked at it bought it that day)
I am adding the $100 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $13,451.00
today 100.00
new total $13,551.00

Closing is over!

July 29th, 2011 at 07:14 pm

WE had our house closing today. Everything went smoothly and the money is back in the bank earning a big 9/10 of 1 percent interest. The realtor took us all out to lunch to celebrate, so that was nice.
I also got a $50 rewards check from my Chase master card, so I will add that to the challenge money.

Prev. total $13,401.00
today 50.00
new total $13,451.00

Triplets

July 28th, 2011 at 02:00 pm

A mama deer came to our deer feeders last night, with her triplet, spotted babies. We had twin baby deer last year, but never triplets. They are so cute.
My regular 4th Wednesday of the month check came in, so $486 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,915,00
today 486.00
new total $13,401.00

Day time bear!

July 27th, 2011 at 06:33 pm

The bear came again, this time about 2 in the afternoon. I wasn't too happy about that. It searched the deer feeders, then headed to the bird feeders. I quickly put up my puppies, then opened the back door and yelled go away. He/she left and I took the feeders down and put them in the garage.
The poor birds sure have to fight for their food around here.
We watched the braves game last night until we got too sleepy. The game lasted almost 7 hours and was not over until the 19th inning. That was certainly worth more than $1 to my challenge money, so I am adding $6 today. (Braves won. but it was challenged)

Prev. total $12,909.00
today 6.00
new total $12,915.00

Who tipped over the outhouse??

July 26th, 2011 at 01:46 pm

We started a new spec house last week, so we had to order a port o let. Sure enough, when my dh got to work yesterday morning, it was tipped over. We think kids must go out to that subdivision to park at night. We are the first house to build on that particular street, sunset view. ( pretty name)
I saved $4 using my Ingles advantage card yesterday, so I will add that to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,905.00
today 4.00
new total $12,909.00

Land sale!

July 23rd, 2011 at 06:26 pm

WE attended another land sale this morning. For some reason, about 3-4 years ago, everyone decided that this area was the place to live and dozens of new subdivisions were developed.
The developers put very high prices on all of the lots and the land just did not sell. So, now the bank is foreclosing and taking all the land back.
This is our 5th time to attend and we have bought land at 4 of these sales.
I think we got a pretty good deal on all 4 lots, buying them at less than half of their original price.

I really did not think we would buy any more land, but this was too good a deal to pass up. We got an acre on a creek AND with a view! That is almost impossible to find around here. This is where we will build our next spec house after we finish and sell the one we just started this week.

I had two no use gas days in a row, the braves won twice and the stock market went up. That is $7 more to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,898.00
today 7.00
new total $12,905.00

Breaking ground today!

July 21st, 2011 at 07:40 pm

WE started on the new spec house today. It is always very exciting to start on a new house. The other spec house will close next Friday and I will get the money to put back in my account. (Yay)
The new owners hired a private inspector to go over the house yesterday. Absolutely nothing was found wrong. (we knew that)
The private inspector was also a licensed builder from North Carolina.
I am adding the money from my corvette envelope to the $20 challenge today! Hubby still does not know that the car is paid off. (shhhhhh)

Prev. total $12,098.00
today 800.00
new total $12,898.00

Good checkup!

July 20th, 2011 at 09:08 pm

I took my poodle Holly into the vets again yesterday. This makes about 5 times she has gone this month. They do blood work every time and this time she had a very good check up!
It is expensive, but of course she is worth it. I hope we can stay away from the vet for a while.
DH needs new glasses badly.
Braves won Monday night and the stock market went up yesterday, so $2 to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,096.00
today 2.00
new total $12,098.00

change

July 18th, 2011 at 04:01 pm

I took my change into the bank today to convert to bills. I have $35 for the $20 challenge. Then I went grocery shopping and saved $6 using my advantage card.
Right next to my car, I found 2 pennies. One of our S.A.'s on here keeps track of all of the change she finds and she finds a lot. I am lucky if I can find 50 cents a year.

Prev. total $12,055.00
today 41.00
new total $12,096.00

Coming from behind!

July 17th, 2011 at 11:08 pm

I went out to visit the spec house today. Dh had the trees all trimmed up and the view is breathtaking. We have 180 degree view of the highest mountains in Georgia.
Brasstown Bald is the name of the highest mountain in Georgia and this house has a wonderful view of it. Dh was busy doing landscaping today. Everything is almost done except the kitchen. Dh builds all the cabinets in place. We are waiting for the granite counter top to be installed tomorrow and when the cabinet doors are finished, dh will install them.
WE have a closing the last Friday of the month.

When I got home, the braves were already playing their Sunday ball game. Unfortunately, they were behind 6-2. They managed to tie it up in the bottom of the 8th and then in the 9th, with 2 outs, a single brought home the winning run. I will be adding $2 to the challenge money for that!

Prev. total $12,053.00
today 2.00
new total $12,055.00

No use gas days!

July 16th, 2011 at 04:54 pm

I have stayed home the past two days and have used no gasoline. The stock market went up slightly yesterday, so I have $5 to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,047.00
today 5.00
new total $12,053.00

Lowes coupon

July 14th, 2011 at 04:55 pm

I got a Lowe's coupon in the mail yesterday for $10 off. We were going to Lowe's last night anyway to return some light fixtures. We loved the fixtures, but when you pull off the "made in china" stickers, the paint came off too.
While there, we purchased some light fixtures that we really loved, for the next house. Every one that comes into this spec house comments on these light fixtures. We used our $10 off coupon, so I am adding that sum to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,037.00
today 10.00
new total $12,047.00

Boy, it's hot!

July 13th, 2011 at 08:25 pm

My a/c is running night and day, both units! I am sure my electric bill will be way over budget this month. I guess it is time to adjust the budget.
I had a no use gas day yesterday, saved $2 at Ingles today and it looks like the stock market will end higher, so that is $5 more to add to the challenge!

Also, my dh pulled the permit for the new house today. We pulled the last permit on Oct. 13th for the spec house; listed it on Friday the 13th in May and sold it to the first looker.
Today is the 13th, so I hope it all happens again. Lucky 13!

Prev. total $12,032.00
today 5.00
new total $12,037.00

Welcome back, J.R.

July 12th, 2011 at 10:42 pm

WE watched tv last night. They are showing clips of the new Dallas show that is going to be on next summer. Yes, they are bringing the Ewings back! That show was my dh's absolute favorite when it was on. We never missed even one episode!
In honor of J.R., I am donating $5 to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,027.00
today 5.00
new total $12,032.00

grocery savings!

July 11th, 2011 at 11:13 pm

I managed to squeeze in my grocery shopping before the gals caame over to play bridge today. By using my Ingles card, I was able to save $10, so I am adding this amount of money to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,017.00
today 10.00
new total $12,027.00

Sears and Lowes credit cards.

July 11th, 2011 at 04:02 pm

I applied for both a sears and a Lowes credit card. The reason I did; they both offer 5% off if you charge on their cards.
I bought all my appliances for the spec house at Sears this week and last week, I spent over $1000 on sinks, faucets, light fixtures, etc. at Lowes!
The interest rate is terrible! 25% on both cards. I always pay my credit cards off in full each month, but I sure would not reccommend these cards to anyone carrying a balance!!

I was going to add $5 to my $20 challenge for each time the braves (second place) beat the Phillies (1st place) this week. Sadly the Braves only won one game, so only $5 for the challenge.

Prev. total $12,012.00
today 5.00
new total $12,017.00

Christmas in July!

July 9th, 2011 at 07:58 pm

Tonight, we are going to a "christmas in July" party. It is given ever July, by two young men who really love dogs. (animals)
They decorate their house all up for christmas and all of the invited guests bring presents to put under the tree.
All of the presents go to the Humane society and they send out a suggested list of what the Humane shelter needs. Our shelter is a "no kill" shelter, so the animals stay until they are adopted, which I like.
I always pin a christmas card to the tree with a check inside. The shelter can always use money!

I am adding all my ones (5) to my $20 challenge today.

Prev. total $12,007.00
today 5.00
new total $12,012.00

winning days!

July 7th, 2011 at 10:38 pm

Last night the braves won their baseball game and did so again today for a clean sweep of the rockies. The stock market went up both days too, so $4 will be added to the challenge money.

Prev. total $12,003.00
today 4.00
new total $12,007.00

Under budget

July 6th, 2011 at 10:12 pm

WE gave the buyers of our spec house an "allowance" to spend on appliances and the granite countertop. I am happy to say they were slightly under budget on the appliances and a good bit under budget on the countertop!
I met them last week for the first time. They have been looking for a home in this area for 2 years and have looked at, (she says) over 7000 homes! Wow!

I ssaved $8 using my Ingles advantage card yesterday and the braves have won their last 2 games. $10 more for the challenge.

prev. total $11,993.00
today 10.00
new total $12,003.00

Melrose interest

July 6th, 2011 at 10:03 pm

We opened a large certificate of deposit at Melrose credit union in New York, on March 1st. They pay interest every quarter and were paying 2.9% interest on a 5 year c.d. WE got our interest added this week and it was $1449.70 for the quarter. I don't add that interest to my challenge money, but it was nice to see the balance go up.
The rate is 2.8 per cent now, but I may open another c.d. when the spec house sells.

ING interest

July 5th, 2011 at 09:23 pm

I have been so busy this holiday weekend, I forgot to add the ING interest to my $20 challenge.
prev. total $11,850.00
ing interest 143.00
new total $11,993.00

4th of July plans

July 2nd, 2011 at 08:14 pm

We are staying home tonight to watch the braves game and are going to cook steaks on the grill.
Tomorrow night, my friend (and bridge buddy) are having us over for hamburgers.
On Monday night, my friends from Florida are having a rib cook out and we are going to that. Sounds like a very nice weekend.
The Braves won last night and the stock market went up, so $2 more to add to the challenge.

Pre. total $11,848.00
today 2.00
new total $11,850.00

Another chase check!

July 1st, 2011 at 07:23 pm

I got my 2nd chase rewards check in the mail yesterday. That makes two $50 checks I have received from them this week. Sadly, I had to take my dog back to the vets again this week. I just can't seem to get her well.

Prev. total $11,798.00
today 50.00
new total $11,848.00