Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

Our chipmunk came back yesterday and ate his little pile of food. Anyone know why we named him Alvin?

I have spent a very pleasant hour watching a chipmunk on my back porch. We have noticed him(her) for days trying to get birdseed from under the feeder, but the much larger squirrels always chase him off. Today, I poured several cups of sunflower seeds right by my back door. He must have come up 15 times to fill his cheeks and run off to hide his treasure. He is so cute. I will start doing that on a regular basis.

I have a lot of one's in my wallet, so I am addint them to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $13962.00
today 20.00
new total $13982.00

Where is she? I miss her.

Thank you so much to all the men and women who have kept our country safe!
My father was a veteran of foreign wars.
He was born in 1899, so he lied about his age and joined the army during WWI.
After the was was over, he got out of the army for a few years, but then he rejoined. He was in Germany and France during WWII. All in all, he served over 30years before he retired. I am proud of him.

I got a check from state farm this week for $65. I will add it to the challenge money.

prev. total $13,897.00
today 65.00
new total $13,962.00

I got a check from chase today for $42.00. I will add it to the challenge.

prev. total $13,855.00
today 42.00
new total $13,897.00

I got credited for the interest in my local bank for the month of October. I am only earning 1% but it is better than nothing.

Prev. total $13,665.00
today 190.00
new total $13,850.00

I got my final interest check on a personal loan I made. This is also added to the challenge.

Prev. total $13,350.00
today 315.00
new total $13,665.00

I got a rebate from the building suppy place.

Prev. total $12,974.00
today 376.00
new total $13,350.00

I have really gotten behind on the $20 challenge and I have no excuse for it. I am going to try and catch up today. First, I got my social security check to add on.

Prev. total $12,465.00
today 509.00
new total $12974.00

The person who owed me quite a bit of money came by and paid me off completely.
Now, if there was just some good place to put the money.I found an old note pad where I had marked down the rates. All were over 4% and one was over 5%. Boy, those were the good old days. Now we are lucky to get 1%.

I did my grocery shopping yesterday. I always use my Ingles advantage card and put the savings toward the $20 challenge. My savings was $7 plus I got a $3 pinecone check in the mail.

Prev. total $12,455.00
today 10.00
new total $12,465.00

That is the name of a real old song. However, My husband is back from Florida and I am so happy not to be alone every night! He spent way too much money on taking his family out to lunch. Can you say free loaders! His bother and wife went out to lunch with his father and girlfriend both days. The total was $125 for lunch two days. They never offer to pay for anything. I think they take advantage.

About 3 years ago, we began buying land.Land that had been selling for over $120,000 was now going for $45,000. My husband is a licensed builder, so we are always looking for mountain view properties for spec houses.

I had no debt. My house has been paid for since I was 32 and I have paid off all 5 of the cars. I pay my credit car in full every month.

However, over the last 3 years, we have found some good deals on land, so I financed them at 3% interest. We wound up with 7 pieces of land all mountain view or creekfront.

Today I paid off one piece of property. Now, I just have 2 pieces to make payments on. I will use this payment to add to the other payment, so I can pay off the most expensive piece of property next. This is a real nice acre of property with a lake view and a boat dock!!

My husband has gone to Florida to see his dad. He is 92 today. I use to go with him, but now with 2 dogs, I don't. However, I sure am missing him and so do both of the "girls" I have stayed home and had 3 no use gas days in a row, so that it $6 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,449.00
today 6.00
new total $12,455.00

Well, I have been a little lax about saving money lately. The Braves are finished until next April and I have not been paying attention as to whether the stock market goes up or down. I did have 3 no use gas days this week, so I will add $6 to the challenge money.

Prev. total $12,443.00
today 6.00
new total $12,449.00

I am making a personal loan to friends who are building a second vacation home. They pay me back the interest only every month. This week I got a check for $346.00 which I will add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,097.00
today 346.00
new total $12,443.00

I got credited for the interest due on my large c.d. at Melrose Credit Union. I was unsure if I wanted to tie up that much money for 5 years, but so far it has been a good decision.
I opened the c.d. 2 1/2 years ago for a 2.9% rate. So far, I have not found anything else paying that much. Hard to believe that back in the 70's, we were paying 8% on c.d's. (i worked at a S & L) I am adding that to the $20 challenge too.

Prev. total $10,527.00
today 1564.00
new total $12,091.00

I am adding the interest earned at the Melrose credit union to my $20 challenge. This is interest earned on the small c.d. that I took out 2 years ago. The interest is paid quarterly.

Prec. total $10,155.00
today 372.00
new total $10,527.00

I finally saved up over $10,000 in the $20 challenge! However, it has been an expensive month. We had to buy a new riding snapper mower (which my husband hates) and get new brakes on the old vette. Also, his builder's risk insurance is due this week.

I got paid $172 in interest from my local bank yesterday. I will add that plus other interest to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $9983.00
today 172.00
new total $10,155.00

I got my check again. I never cash it, I add it to the $20 challenge. Getting close to the $10,000 mark!

Prev. total $9474.00
today 509.00
new total $9983.00

I got my rebate from the building supply company and am adding it to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $9237.00
today 237.00
new total $9474.00

I love getting this free money from Chase. My dh charges building supplies at Home Depot and they send me a check each month which I add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $9183.00
today 54.00
new total $9237.00

I took my dog to the groomers this morning. She looks very cute now, but the groomer told me that she had some fleas. I have never had a flea problem. I bought some stuff to put on her and the other dog, Molly. It was $18 a tube and I had to buy two tubes. So, it has been an expensivve day so far!

The Atlanta Braves won the eastern division in major league baseball yesterday. This year, there was only one day that they were not in first place.
I am proud of them.

I get two dividend checks every quarter. The one from Tim Horton came last week and MY wendy's check came today. I do believe in the drip program, but for some reason I am not enrolled in the Wendy's drip. I think cause they have changed several times over the years. Anyway, I will add it to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $9156.00
today 27.00
new total $9183.00

We had to cancel our bridge game today. One of the players had a sick dog, and animals always come befor bridge.
I have $5 sitting here on my desk for the $20 challenge; $3 is for braves wins and $2 is for a no use gas day.

Prev. total $9151.00
today 5.00
new total $9156.00

Happy friday the 13th. I was married on Friday the 13th, so this is always one of my favorite dates.