The Merck check I was expecting came in today. It was for $96 which I will add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $4675.00
today 96.00
new total $4771.00

A few years ago, I decided to sell some stocks so we could use the cash to build spec homes.
When I sold the two stocks, home depot and Merck, they must have just declared a dividend. When I got my checks, it seemed that I still owned a small fractional share of each stock.
I have kept these shares, thinking I might reinvest in the drip programs, but have decided against that.

So, I sent off the forms to sell these small shares. Yesterday in the mail, I got a check from home depot for $102.00 I aso got a $3 check from Pinecone and and $50 rewards check from my Chase mastercard. I get at least $50 from Chase every month. They pay 3% back on home improvement and dh spends a lot at home depot every month. (he is a builder)

So, that is $155 I can add to the challenge today.

Prev. total $4520.00
today 155.00
new total $4675.00

I got my first job when I was 12.

My father died the week before my 10th birthday. My mother, who was born in 1907, had never worked in her life. Back then, women stayed home and took care of the house and the children.
She never really went to high school. She went to a rural one room school house in North Carolina which ended when she was about 15.

It took her almost 2 years to find a job after my father died. We had to live on savings for that time.
Finally she found a job at a ladie's clothing store called "Virginia Dare"

That summer, she got me a job at the store. At first, I worked mostly as the "stock girl". Unpacking all the boxes of clothes, hanging and arranging all the clothes on the racks and counters.

Soon, they found out that I was very good at math, so in addition to being the stock girl, I became the bookkeeper too. We had an old adding machine that had to be cranked by hand and every day, I would balance the books and make the deposit and take it to the bank.

We worked from 8 am til 6 pm and for that I received the princely sum of $3. 9 cents was taken out for social security tax.

From then on, I paid for all my clothes, shoes, school supplies and lunches, movies and anything else I needed. I learned out to save and budget at a very early age. I was the first girl in my high school to have her own car cause I saved to buy it.

I am glad I started early!

The bear came back last night. We take in our two hanging feeders every night now, so he/she did not get those. However, we do have an old pole feeder and the bear tore it apart.
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up, so $3 will be added to the challenge money.

Prev. total $4517.00
today 3.00
new total $4520.00

Today I had a no spend day. Yesterday, I spent about $25 to pick up some groceries.
Today, was also a no use gas day, $2 to the challenge. The braves won their last two games, so another $2 to the challenge for a total of $4.

Prev. total $4513.00
today 4.00
new total $4517.00

I spent $64 at the grocery store today. Yesterday, I spent nothing. I saved $5 using my Ingles advantage card today and yesterday> I had a no use gas day. To, I am adding $7 to my challenge mney.

Prev. total 4506.00
today 7.00
new total $4513.00

I budget $160 a month for the electric bill. When it is under budget, I put the surplus into my $20 challenge. This month has been pretty warm, so neither the heat or a/c has run and the bill is under budget by $70.

Prev. total $4436.00
today 70.00
new total $4506.00

The braves won last night. The game was out west and did not start until 10 pm., so we did not watch it. The braves have won the last three games in a row, so I have $3 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $4433.00
today 3.00
new total $4436.00

I took my dog to the vets this morning to get her teeth cleaned. They had to put her to sleep, so they kept here almost all day.
What a lonely day today was; being home all alone. I don't know how anyone can live without a pet. They bring so much happiness in our lives.
Well, she is home now; pretty sleepy and tired. I haven't even checked out her pearly whites yet.
Tody, I only spent $5 at the grocery store. Of course, I spent $150 on the dog, but she is certainly worth it.

I did my grocery shopping today and spent $55. I bought beer for dh, which he is supposed to buy with his weekly allowance. Gas prices are really hurting him cause he has to drive so far.
I used my Ingles advantage card and saved $8 which I am adding to the challenge.

Prev. total $4425.00
today 8.00
new total $4433.00

I saw the first hummingbird to come to our feeder today. We have had the feeder out for two weeks now.Dh really likes feeding all the critters in our yard.
Total spending today, zero!
I had a no use gas day today. The braves won last night and this afternoon, so I am adding $4 to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $4421.00
today 4.00
new total $4425.00

We got up yesterday morning and the bear is back. Both of our feeders were missing. We found them both but all the seed is gone. Dh has been buying expensive seed lately. It is called sunflower meats, with no shell. A bag is $28 dollars and it is NOT a big bag. The birds love it; apparently so does the bear. We will have to take in the feeders every night.
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the braves won, so I have $3 to add to the challenge. My spending today consisted of $16 at the grocery store. Nothing was spent yesterday cause I stayed home.

Prev. total $4418.00
today 3.00
new total $4421.00

I filled up the car today; $52 for gasoline. I can remember when it was 17 cents a gallon! That is the only spending that I did all day.
Braves won last night and stock market went up, so $2 more to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $4416.00
today 2.00
new total $4418.00

I did my grocery shopping yesterday and only spent $52. The bad thing is, I only saved $2 using my Ingles card. I did not find many things on sale, however the $2 will be added to the $20 challenge along with 1nother dollar cause the Braves finally won a game last night.!!!


Prev. total $4413.00
today 3.00
new total $4416.00

I only spent $7 today and that was at the grocery store. I picked up a few things to have with our ham for supper. We got invited out for easter supper and I had already bought the ham, so we are having it tonight. I will do my main grocery shopping tomorrow.

I am happy to say that I did not spend a penny today. We went to a friend's house for Easter early supper, so even the food was free.
We did go out to dinner last night for the first time in a while. We spent $24 for dinner and left a $6 tip, so a total of $30 spent.

Yesterday, I sawa a very cute bunny on the sidewalk in front of my front door. I saw it twice! Dh comes home and is upset cause something ate all the marigolds that he planed last weekend! It must have been that cute bunny!

I went and spend $8 athe the drug store today and almost $10 at ingles. I bought a lot of easter candy that was already half price. I use it for my bridge group that plays every monday afternoon.

I had a good day yesterday; I didn't spend a dime. However, I went out today to CVS and Ingles. I paid $3.50 at CVS for conditioner (on sale) and then I stocked up on sprite again at Ingles, 4/$11.

I find that sprite tends to go on sale around the holidays, so I really stock up on it so I don't ever have to pay $5 for a 12 pack.

So, today I spend $25.04 at Ingles, but using my Ingles card, I saved $10 which I will add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $4403.00
today 10.00
new total $4413.00

Yesterday, I spent $10.15 at the grocery store but just purchasing the 2 items, I saved $3. Today money spend was zero! And because I had a no use gas day today, I can add $2. So $5 will be added to the challenge.

Prev. total $4398.00
today 5.00
new total $4403.00

I got some great bargains at the grocery store yesterday. They had 12 packs of sprite on sale, 4/$11. Usually they are $5.00 a pack. Ham was on sale for less than half price too. I got one for easter dinner and then we were invited out for easter dinner. That's ok, I will just cook it on Monday!

All in all, I saved $35 on my grocery shopping and that will be added to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $4363.00
today 35.00
new total $4398.00

So far, my plan to save $30 every day is working out great. March had 31 days in it, so I saved a total of $930 in March. I deposit the money once or twice a month in my ING electric orange account. However, I do not add it to my $20 challenge.

I opened up a 5 year CD at Melrose credit union, a year ago. I was hoping it was not a mistake to tie up a lot of money for that long.
Apparently, so far, I made the right decision.
I am getting 2.9% interest when everyone else is paying no more than 1%. I just earned over $1800 in interest for the past quarter. (3 months)

i am not just getting fatter, I just found out I am pregnant!!






















APRIL's FOOL !!!!
(i KNOW NO ONE BELIEVED THAT)

I got interest credited on my ING account today. It was $112 which I will add to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $4251.00
today 112.00
new total $4363.00