Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

We stayed home for dinner last night. supper was just left overs from Sunday night, so we really did not have to cook. I will add the $20 I would have spent dining out, to my challenge money,
prev. total $10,307.00
today 20.00
new total $10,327.00

Are all builders rich? We're not. My husband has been building in this area for 22 years! He has always worked by the hour. He started making $7.50 an hour and now he is up to $25.00 an hour.

He really saves the customer's money cause he does all the work by himself. He can build all the cabinets in the house for under $8000, that is labor and all materials. Get a quote from a cabinet shop, they will charge you about $40,000. (I am talking kitchen and 3 baths)
He does everything else too, hardwood floor, paint, trim, plumb, elec. tile, etc.
I just found out that a house he finished in 2000 is going on the market for 1.3 million. I looked to see how much he made in labor on the house (he was there 18 months) He made $28,000, so see, not all builders are rich!

I put the $36 check I got in the mail, into the bank this morning. I had ordered a mag. subscription on Mar. 11th and never got anything. I called and asked for my money back. The check has no address on it , just a name. I wonder if it is any good? How long does it take for a check to bounce? I guess I will know something in the next 2 weeks!

Well, I am back from the bank. I hate when I have to get up early to get a check into the bank. I worry that all the checks will come in and something will bounce. You see my husband wrote out 4 checks yesterday for close to $5000 but the customer only had $2100 in his account. Why don't people realize that you have to have money to build their houses.?? The locals here cash their checks quickly. I paid a guy $4300 last Friday morning. When I checked my account at 11 am that same day, the money was already out of my account.
I sure don't want to have to pay whatever the fee is for bouncing a check!

I guess I would save money if i did not feed so many critters. We have 3 big bird feeders, plus a hummingbird feeder, so i buy a 50 pound bag of bird feed every month. I also buy a 50 pound bag of corn. The deer like that, along with the squirrels and groundhogs.
I wonder what the birds ate, before there were bird feeders.
Anyway, I consider it money well spent!

Good morning, it is only 8:08 am and I am already up reading these blogs. I enjoy them so much!! I get so many good ideas, and I feel like I am reading about my family! That is nice when you don't have any family!

I often wonder if anyone uses the middle priced gas. I use the premium otherwise my car makes a pinging noise.
I have stuff on the car that lets you know what the average mile per gallon that you get. On my trip to Murphy., N.C., I got 29 miles per gallon. It is a small two lane highway, but there are several red lights along the way, so i thought that was pretty good! See, I drive an economy car!

The magazine place that tried to rip me off is called Premier subscriber services! I ordered from Magsforless about 2 weeks ago. I wonder if that will be a rip off too. At least this one was cheaper, only $6.50! They have already charged my card, so we shall see. I think I have learned a lesson, just pay full price and get over it!
I only read Money but my dh loves Street Rodder!

I subscribed to one of those lower cost places that promises magazines subscriptions for less.
That was March 11th. I have called them 5 times,but I just get a recording. The last time I called I said I was going to the better business bureau and complain. I got a call back and they promised to send my money back.
That was 2 weeks ago, but I got a check today. No address printed on the check! Wonder why?? But I will add that $36 to my challege money and hope the check does not bounce!

prev. total $10,271.00
today 36.00
new total $10,307.00

Most of you don't remember that movie! It is all about running moonshine! Whenever i make my liquor run, i think about that. It is silly that I have to drive to another state to buy liquor, even sillier that I can't buy beer there, I have to drive to a different county to buy that. Oh well!!

today is pay day, my favorite day of the week. I slept in late too, which felt good. I got up after my husband left for work and laid on the couch. I wish I could sleep on it every night, it is so comfortable!!

We are just starting to build for a guy we have known a few years. He has heard me complain about having to beg for money to pay for bills. He said "money will never be a problem with me"
I asked for money last Tuesday. Today, we paid several bills for a concrete pour. My husband asked him again. Still no money. so I am $3000 in the hole right now. I am writing him a letter today!!

That is about how long it has been since my dh took a day off. He is working again today, but will come home early to cut grass. I should do it, but our mower is about worn out and I can't get it in gear. It is time for a new riding mower or move to a house without all this big yard. (2 acres of grass)
I ran to the store and got some potatoes for supper.
I need some vitamins too. The CVS was having buy one, get one 50% off on wet and wild makeup. I like their lipstick (it's cheap) so I bought two items that my dh can give me for christmas. Saved $1 there and got $2 more for walking 60 minutes, so $3 more to my challenge.
prev.total $10,269.00
today 3.00
new total $10,271.00

It rained all day yesterday and cooled down a lot. I wish I could open the windows, but I have no screens. Anyway, the A/C never came on all day. We can turn off all the lights and tv's we want, it is the A/C and hot water that make the big difference. My meter reading looked good today, the first time in a month!!

It is cool, about 70 and raining today. It was so cold in the grocery store that I had to wear a jacket. Lucky I had one left in the car. I love it but I know the hot muggy days will be back. At least my A/C is having a day off.
I did not buy a whole lot but used some coupons and saved $4. I will add that to my challenge money.
prev. total $10,264.00
today 4.00
new toal $10,268.00

I am getting nervous about this house we are building. I never dreamed we would have so much money in it.
You see, land has gone sky high the past few years around here. We seemed to have picked out a very expensive planned house to build.
Georgia is now having inspections and everyone is required to have general liability insurance and workman's comp, so prices for things have gone sky high. Last year we paid a roofer $650 to work for a few days putting shingles on, now it cost $2400!
Yesterday, I transferred $40,000 from my savings to my checking to pay the bills.
To date, I have $162,000 in this house and I don't even have the drywall done inside yet. That is not counting the $65,000 that I paid for the lot.
That is $227,000 that I have so far, just sitting.
My husband is so busy with the other 2 houses, he does not have much time for this one.
I hope our next house does not cost this much. I liked building cute cabins better. It is so hard to find a reasonable lot around here. Everyone wants a mountain view!!
I need to quit worrying and be grateful that I have so much!! Thanks for letting me get this worry off my chest a little bit!

Nothing about money, but I just went downstairs and my puppy (6 years old) is in the living room, she runs to the french doors, and there 15 feet away , is standing a mother deer with her spotted baby. So beautiful. How anyone can kill an animal is beyond me.

It has been a long, hot, dry summer. Our weeping willow tree is not looking too good, so we decided to water it last night. Problem is, we also forgot to turn off the sprinkler and it ran all night. That won't help my water bill. But if it saves the tree, it will be worth it.
I did my walking, stairs and saved $3 using coupons yesterday, so another $5 to add to my challenge.
prev. total $10,259.00
today 5.00
new total $10,264.00

It seems like when we stay home to save money, it cost us almost as much as going out. i guess that is because we like to cook steak on the grill and by the time we buy two steaks and charcoal, we have spent about $20.
That is about what we spend going out to eat at night.
Yesterday, I bought hamburger on sale for $2. We got free corn on the cobb and green beans given to us. I had some cottage cheese left over from the lasagna also. So our dinner last night cost us about $2, plus I have a hamburger left for my lunch today.

We stayed home last night and watched the turtle crawl around on the porch for a while.Then i put him/her down by the creek, so I hope he is doing ok today. anyway, we cooked out on the grill last night and saved the money we would have spent going out. That is another $20 for the challenge.
prev. total $10,239.00
today 20.00
new total $10,259.00

When I first moved to this area, I use to see lots of turtles crossing the road. The locals seem to get a kick out of running over them and killing them. (they like to throw puppies and kittens in the dumpsters too)
Now, I hardly ever see a turtle cross the road. Today, I did, so I turned around and came back.
I just dared any of those fast drivers to run over my turtle while I waited for them to pass me. I got the turtle, put in in my vette and brought it home. Holly has never seen one, so she is barking at poor Myrtle.
After I while, i will carry her down to the creek and hope she stays in my yard and stays safe!

I paid my insurance yesterday and I have $30 left over in my envelope. It looks lonely there, so I am adding to my challenge money.
prev. total $10,209.00
today 30.00
new total $10,239.00

Stayed home last night and ate left overs. We sat outside even tho it was cooler inside. Our puppy loves going outside on the porch, so we did it for her. This is the longest heat wave I have ever seen. We get a few days in the 90's but not three weeks straight like now. We even watered the weeping willow tree for an hour cause it is not looking too good.
I walked for 60 minutes yesterday plus did not go out for dinner, so I have $22 to add to my challenge money.

prev. total $10,187.00
today 22.00
new total $10,209.00

After I get to know our servers, I often mention the fact that they should start saving young and open roth ira's. I talked to a young woman last week and last night she told me she was going to the bank today to see about opening a roth IRA! I finally got someone interested!! The first one!!

I have a fireplace in my bedroom, with built in cabinets. I have my financial papers in those cabinets, also my saving tins, one with a picture of someone sitting in a lazy boy (retirement fund) one of my red vette (pay off car) and one of the view of Brasstown Bald, the highest peak in Georgia! (pay off the acre and a half that overlooks that view. I noticed a small white "tub" like a diaper wipe tub thing in my cabinet. I looked inside and low and behold it has $50. It is my money (my husband never has any) but I forgot what I was saving it for. Anyway, I will put it towards my challenge money.
Prev total $10,137.00
today 50.00
new total $10,187.00

I was expecting to eat leftovers last night for supper and putting that $20 i saved in my challenge money. Instead, dh came home and wanted to go out. Fine with me, the leftovers will hold over for tonight, I guess.
So, the only money I can put into the challenge is the money I saved using a coupon and getting the 10% tuesday discount at rite aid, a big $2. Oh well, $2 is $2!
prev. total $10,135.00
today 2.00
new total $10,137.00

We use to have a garden, but everyone around here has a garden, so you get lots of freebies. My worker had not worked since June 30th. He promised to come back to work last week. He did, he worked 5 hrs. on Thurday.
Yesterday he finally showed back up. He brought a peace offering, tomatoes,potatoes,corn on the cob and some home made salsa.
We went out to eat last night cause dh came home early and wanted to go out.
We will have leftovers tonight and try come of the free corn. I love free food!!

I usually do my liquor run on Mondays or tuesdays. I have to drive to North Carolina to buy liquor. I am skipping that drive this week, so I will be saving at least $6 worth of gas, so I will add that to my challenge money.

Prev. total $10,129.00
today 6.00
new total $10,135.00

We had dinner at home last night and I made lasagna. I usually put away $20 for my challenge money when I eat at home, but this time I will take out the cost of the fixings. I had nothing, even my ragu was out of date, so i spent about $10 buying the ingredients.
The most expensive thing was a large container of cottage cheese. ($3.09) I only needed a little, but they had no small containers.
So DH took cottage cheese for lunch today.
I will add $10 to my challenge money. also, My DH worked until 7:30 instead of 6, so that is 1 1/2 hrs. of more pay for him.
prev. total $10,119.00
today 10.00
new total $10,129.00

Monday's are my get paid days and do the budget days. I get an allowance every week, some of which I keep in my wallet and some I keep in my good old bank bag. That way if I ever lost my wallet, I would not lose a lot of money.
It had to be the spend no money challenge from last week cause I have some of my allowance money left over. The nights I did not go out to eat, I added that money to my challenge money, that was 3 nights.
But I still have some money left over, so I am adding that to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $10,069.00
today 50.00
new total $10,119.00