My husband is a builder and does all the work himself so he is never dressed well at work. His clothing is pretty ripped up, paint splattered, etc.
Monday, we had the closing, as I mentioned in my previous post. I was playing bridge in the afternoon when the check came in, so I called my husband to come home and take the check to the bank to be deposited.
When he came home, he told me that he was the worst dressed man at the bank that day. Yes, I told him, you probably were, BUT, you were the worst dressed man with 1/4 million dollar check in your pocket. That is the way I look at it!

We finally had the house closing on Monday morning. It was poseponed from last Friday because of ice on the roads. It is the first closing that I ever went to, that I did not receive a check at the time of the closing. Ifound that very odd. We did not get the closing money until about 2:30 in the afternoon and my real estate agent brought it to me!
It is so nice to have money in the bank again for the spec house we are building now! (I had to borrow from my mutual funds and I don't like to do that) I plan to put the money back!

I have started the 52 week yahtzee challenge. I will update this every Monday or Tuesday, since that is the day(s) I pay my husband for work. I play bridge on Mondays so I don't always get to the bank.
On week one of the yahtzee challenge, I have $22 to add to that challenge!

I did my grocery shopping today. Using my Ingles advantage card, I was able to save $11 which I will add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $720.00
today 11.00
new total $731.00

I got a chase reward check in the mail yesterday for $65. Someone asked how much people on this forum have gotten in rewards and rebates this past year. I really don't know, but I am sure it was close to $1000. I think I will try and keep track of it this year. I am also going to try Jeffrey's new version of the yahtzee 52 week challenge.

Prev. total $655.00
new total 65.00
new total $720.00

I had a no use gas day yesterday, thanks to being "iced in" Also, the stock market went up, so I have $3 to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $655.00
today 3.00
new total $658.00

The roads are icy, so we did not go to the closing on the house today. It has been reset for Monday. Dh tried to go to work but did not make it, so he is drawing a house plan for the next spec house, here at home. He has always designed his own house plans.

We are having our house closing tomorrow and the weather man is calling for a wintery mix! The closing is in a town about 25 miles away and with corvettes, you don't get 4 wheel drive. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we get no snow and can have the closing on time.
Yesterday was a no use gas day, the stock market went up, so I am adding $3 to the challenge.

Prev. total $652.00
today 3.00
new total $655.00

I got my social security check today with my big raise of $5 a month. It was for $509, which I will add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $143.00
today 509.00
new total $652.00

I received another pinecone check in the mail yesterday. I also saved $6 using my Ingles advantage card, for a total of $9 to add to the challenge.

Prv. total $134.00
today 9.00
new total $143.00

Ok, who were the only two presidents to ever be inaugurated 4 times?

I got a check from pinecone for $3 and also had a no use gas day.

prev. total $129.00
today 5.00
new total $134.00

For 14 out of the past 18 days, we have had rain up here in N. Georgia. The creek looks like a raging river. My yard has standing water everywhere.
They were calling for snow last night (I live in the town right next to N. ga. gal) but thank goodness, that did NOT happen. We are finally seeing some much appreciated sun today.
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up, so that is $3 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $126.00
today 3.00
new total $129.00

I had to go and buy myself a new winter coat yesterday. It was my fault. I laid my old coat (at least 10 years old) on the floor and my puppy chewed on the zipper.
A winter coat that does NOT zip up, is not much of a coat, so I headed out to get a new one. I found a very nice, warm coat at Wal Mart for $20, so I am back in business. I will keep this one off of the floor. I did my grocery shopping yesterday but was disappointed that I only saved $3 using my advantage card. I am adding it to the challenge.

Prev. total $123,00
today 3.00
new total $126.00

After more than a week, I have a new heat unit. It is soooooo nice to have heat again. They came and put it in yesterday. They are coming back on Friday to put in the new air conditioning unit. Now, if it would just quit raining. The creek is at the top of the bank!

I guess we are all addicted. I missed SA yesterday too! Glad everything is back to normal.

It was 7 years ago today that I started this blog. I am so happy to be part of the SA familly!

Even with all the christmas lights, I came in under budget on the electric bill. I will add the savings to the $20 challenge!

Prev. total $ 63.00
today 60.00
new total $123.00

I have already taken a nap this morning! Thank goodness it is not too cold as I am still without heat. I made my first batch of turkey soup last night and it turned out ok. I am having some for lunch today.
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up, so $3 more to the challenge.

Prev. total $60.00
today 3.00
new total $63.00

Yes, it is the 10th day of January and I sm (mostly) without heat! It quit running about a week ago. When I play with the switches and/or circuit breaker, it will come on for a while, so I have not frozen yet!
Sadly, I will need a whole new unit and that will come in next Tuesday. Send me warm thoughts!

You know that I am a BIG elvis fan! Today is his birthday!! We are going out to eat to celebrate!

Dh has spent the better part of the day taking down on the christmas decorations, especially outside. He has had a boad cold for over a week and today is the first time he has had the energy. I am glad that he takes care of all of that.

I had 2 no use gas days this past two days, so I can add $4 to the challenge.

Prev. total $56.00
today 4.00
new total $60.00

I opened up two certificates of deposit at Melrose Credit Union in New York about 2 years ago. I was kind of leery because they were only paying 2.9% interest. Now, that 2.9% interest looks pretty good compared to 1% or less. This past quarter, I made $1895 in interest. It is the only good interest bearing accounts that I have.
I should be closing on the house sale the end of this month, but I will have to keep that money liquid for the next spec house. Thank goodness the mutual funds are earning a decent rate.
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up for $3 to be added to the challenge.

Prev. total $53.00
today 3.00
new total $56.00

I wish I could tell you that I learned to invest at an early age. The truth is; I did NOT!

My father died before my 10th birthday and my mother knew nothing about investing. She just knew to pay your bills first and she never had a credit card.

When I moved to the mountains in the early 80's , I went to the library to get books on investing and found nothing in our tiny library. Finally, I started reading Money magazine.

I learned that mutual funds were the way to go and I sent off for over 100 prospectuses. The one I chose (mutual fund) was called 20th Century fund, Heritage. They had no minimums which was great for me.

I opened my first mutual fund for $50. I was a waitress at the time and every night, I would put my tips in a wooden box, always putting 10% of them towards my new mutual fund. I made $2.01 an hour and my tips were about $20 a night. ($12 on the day shift)

The most I have ever made in my life time was about $8200 a year, yet I have a pretty good stash in my mutual funds. I have always advised young people to open a mutual fund. I did not start until age 44, but I have done pretty well. Having a paid for house at age 32 helped me out a lot too.

I still have my Heritage fund. It is now called American Century Heritage fund.

I received my first check of the year in the mail today. We get a rewrd check from y chase business card almost every month. It use to be a $50 check, but now they give you any amount over $20 that you hae earned. This month I earned $31. I get 3% of anything my husband spends at home depot. Since he is a builder, this is where he spends money.

Prev. total $22.00
today 31.00
new total $53.00

Today is just day two of the $20 challenge for 2013. I had a no use gas day yesterday, so there is another $2 to add to the challenge! I feel motivated!

Prev. total $20.00
today 2.00
new total $22.00

Happy new year to everyone! It is 2013! I am ready to start my $20 challenge for the year! Of course, I am starting with $20!!!!

Prev. total $000.00
today 20.00
new total $020.00