Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

We did our grocery shopping last night. I managed to save $11 using my advantage card which I will add to the $20 challenge. I use one of those riding carts for the first time, because I have been having knee pain for years.
It was kind of fun, and I only ran into one person. (barely)

$20 challenge-old balance $7305.00
today 11.00
new balance $7316.00

We listed our house in late April. The first couple that looked at it made a low ball offer, which we refused. They have come back several times and made a new offer every time. They really want the house.

Finally, we excepted. I wish we knew how to sell the house ourselves and skip the commission. The real estate agents made far more money on the house than my husband did, even after working on it full time for a year. Don't get mad at me RE agents!! Our gal did not even have to advertise it once! My husband is known for his quality work, so he does everything himself.

Anyway, we have the closing at the end of this month. This is a spec house, hubby is a builder.

Happy Friday the 13th. This is supposed to be a lucky day for me. (I was married on Friday the 13th.) So far, nothing has happened, but I have just stayed home all day!!

Twenty dollar challenge:

Year to date $7293.00

I had my check up at the heart doctor's this week. So far, everything is ok. The only tow complaints that I have; my knees and shoulders hurt a lot, probably arthritis, and I just can't sleep at night.
The doctor did not want to give me anything to help out my problems, so I am probably going to ask my regular doctor. Medicare picks up part of this tab, so I don't know what my bill will be yet.

Hubby went to the eye doctor yesterday, Eye exams, eye tests and a new pair of glasses cost us $833. I am glad Ihave a medical account for such expenses.
(P.S. I wear my old dollar store glasses (cost $5) and still passed the eye exam (for driver's license) without them.)

The braves did NOT win last night, but they did win the two games before that. I am adding $10.00 ($5 per game) to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $7267.00
today 10.00
new total $7277.00

I was paid the interest on my capital one accounts yesterday. The total is $42 which I will add to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $7225.00
today 42.00
new total $7267.00

I bank at C and S bank. I earned $58 in interest for the month of May , which brings my $20 challenge money to $7225.00.

Prev. total $7167.00
today 58.00
new total $7225.00

I have not been posting much, but I am still here. I am still faithfully doing the $20 challenge and and up to $7167.00 thru the month of May. I am looking forward to June.

Challenge total $7167.00

I have not posted for a while. My computer told me it was time for a new computer and just about quit working. Now, it is working again. I am keeping up with my $20 challenge on paper and am now up to $7061.00 for the year.
I got my financial likfe simplified somewhat last month, (closed 4 stocks and 3 mutual funds) and still managed to increase my net worth.

$20 challenge:

Total $7061.00

You whould have seen the games between the braves and the phillies!!!

The Braved had a 2-1 lead until the 8th inning, then they hit 3 home runs. (no one on base) They lead 5-1.

The phillies came back in the 8th with several hits and a home run of their own. They lead the game 6-5 going into the 9th.

In the 9th inning, a brave (uggla) hit a grand slam home run, and the score was 9-6. The braves won. Another $5 to the challenge money.

Prev. total $6349.00
today 5.00
new total $6354.00

I saved $27 using my advantage card today. Most of the savings $(16) was because I bought a ham on sale to have for dinner on Sunday. I will add that money to the challenge money.

Prev. total $6322.00
today 27.00
new total $6349.00

Tax day is tomorrow. I got my taxes done and in the mail. Today, I am mailing the estimated tax payment. It feels so good to have that over with. My braves won again yesterday, so another $5 to the challenge.

Prev. total $6317.00
today 5.00
new total $6322.00

The braves won again last night, so I am adding another $5 to the $20 challenge. Things are looking pretty good again today for them.

Prev. total $6312.00
today 5.00
new total $6317.00

Braves won last night; just barely. They pulled it out in the 10th inning, so i am adding $5 to the challenge plus $2 for a no use gas day. Boy, gas is really getting expensive here. It is $3.55 a gallon.

Prev. total $6305.00
today 7.00
new total $6312.00

I got a check in the mail today from Edward Jones. It will be added to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $5997.00
today 308.00
new total $6305.00

I decided the end of March, to close some accounts to pay off the last piece of land we owned.
I chose to close two old mutual fund accounts that had not progressed very much.
I also chose to close up 4 stocks.

Well, the mutual funds closed rapidly, but the 4 stocks have taken forever. I chose Johnson & Johnson, Intel, Wendy's and Tim Horton Inc.

Then I found out that I could not close Tim Horton without a broker, so I transferred that stock to my Edward Jones account instead.

I chose another mutual fund to close. It was my only load fund at Fidelity and I have had it since Peter Lynch was there. (Anyone remember him?)

Tim Horton's has transferred and I am glad of that. I have decided not to cash it in at this time.

I finally got my first check yesterday from the stock sale of Johnson and Johnson. It is on the way to the bank to make up for the money I spent paying off the land.

The land I paid off was very nice. It is a lake view lot, with lake access and a boat dock. We plan to build a spec house there someday.

I took my husband grocery shopping with me last night. That was a mistake. We spent $103, the most I have ever spent in my life. We did save $12 using our Ingles advantage card, the braves won ($5) and the stock market went up ($1) so I have $18 to add to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $5979.00
today 18.00
new total $5997.00

Six thousand, here I come!

I did it. Yesterday, I paid off my last piece of property. We bought 7 pieces of land over the past 3 years at various auctions and now it is all free and clear. That will save me over $200 a month in interest on the last two pieces.

I got up yesterday morning to NO heat! Since I am on medication for my heart, I am cold all the time.
My husband had checked the propane tank about a month ago, and it showed 30%.
He checked it again yesterday, again 30%. Then he banged on it. The needle went to 0%.
I got 300 gallons delivered. (We have a 1000 gal. tank) That 300 gallons was almost $900. I sure hope the price goes down this summer. We paid $2.76 a gallon. At least I am warm now.

I always put away $2 every time the Braves win, in the $20 challenge. This year, I think I will up it to $5 each time. So I am adding $5 for the win last night.

Prev. total $5974.00
today 5.00
new total $5979.00

About 2 years ago, my husband and I bought up several lots at different auctions. A total of 7 lots all together, that we plan on building spec homes on. Yesterday, I paid off one of the spec lots. I only have one left that I still owe on. Once I pay that one off, I will be completely debt free, including my home. (which I paid off years ago) No more paying out interest!!

The braves won last night and I saved $4 at Ingles today for a grand total of $6 to add to the challenge money. I still have not received the proceeds from the Intel and Johnson and Johnson stock I sold last week.

Prev. total $5968.00
today 6.00
new total $5874.00

I meaned that I am trying to cash in on two mutual funds and 4 different stock holdings. Things have been smooth except for the stock, Tim Hortons. Yesterday, I finally got to talk to a real person who told me that I cannot cash out of Tim Hortons unless I use a broker. I have no broker. This is a small town.
I am trying to see if Edward Jones can transfer my shares into my account here locally, so I can sell.
I am not very happy with Tim Hortons right now.

Baseball season has started. The Braves did not win the first game, but they won last night. I add $2 to my challenge every time they win; also $1 if the stock market goes up. Well, they won, market went up and I saved $7 using my Ingles advantage card, so that is $10 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total 5958.00
today 10.00
new total 5968.00

I add the interest that my money earns each month (or quarter) to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $5924.00
today 34.00
new total $5958.00

I received credit for my Melrose credit Union interest today. I have 2- 5year c.d.'s paying 2.9% and 2.8%. So far, that has been a smart decision.

Prev. total $4003.00
today 1921.00
new total $5924.00

Last week, I decided to redeem 2 small mutual funds and 4 different stock holdings. So far, I have received the proceeds from the mutual funds. Since I have been in the hospital, I have decided to simplify my financial life because my husband is not "into" investing. If something were to happen to me, I want to leave things as simple as possible for him. I can't do it all at once, but this is a start.

I am going to take these funds and pay off some land that I have a mortgage on.
I have not kept very good track of the stock market or my non driving days, so I am adding $20 to my $20 challenge fund.

Prev. total $3983.00
today 20.00
new total $4003.00

We got a check from Vanguard today. It was due to a tax error in our favor. It will be added to the challenge money.

Prev. total $3866.00
today 117.00
new total $3983.00

I got another small check in the mail today for $5. It was a dividend for a small mutual fund that I just closed. So far I have redeemed 4 stocks and 2 mutual funds, but I have only received a check from one of them.

Prev. total $3861.00
today 5.00
new total $3866.00