Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

WE got invited out to dinner last Monday night! It was at the home of my bridge buddies and was one of the best meals I have ever tasted! Filet mignon, red potatoes and home made chocolate pie!

I really don't like to cook very much. Maybe cause I have been doing it for so many years??

Now, we just got invited out for tomorrow night's dinner. It will probably be an outside meal cause the weather has cooled off so much. We built a large house for this couple 11 years ago. However, last year they bought a tiny cabin (400 sq. ft.) just 5 miles from their house, and they go there a lot.

I love eating dinner somewhere else!

A usual, I have managed to come up with a few more bucks for the $20 challenge. I had to pick up a few items at Bi Lo but I had several coupons, so I saved $4 there. The stock market went up yesterday and I had a no use gas day yesterday, for a total of $7 for the challenge!

Prev. total $7373.00
today 7.00
new total $7380.00

I did my grocery shopping yesterday. I allways use my advantage card and add the savings to my $20 challenge!

Prev. total $7361.00
today 12.00
new total $7373.00

I got a dividend check from Tim Horton today, so I will add that to my challenge money. am playing bridge all afternoon and then we are invited out to eat at friends house tonight. It should be a good day!

Prev. total $7330.00
today 31.00
new total $7361.00

And they did it three games in a row. It was Chipper's last day in New York (playing). I am from the same area as Chipper and had met his mother once.
I will add $3 to my $20 challenge fund.

Prev. total $7274.00
today 56.00
new total $7330.00

(I also added a rebate that I received from a building supply company, $53.00.)

I enjoyed most of the speechs. President Clinton's speech was very good, but according to fox news, not all of the speech was factual.
I think that this vote is very important and I would urge all of you to vote. Even if you don't like either guy; you should vote for one of them. I voted Liberitanian (spelling?) once and I am afaid that I just wasted my vote. We certainly need to turn this country around.

I have been watching both the republican and democrat conventions this past week. I am finding the speeches very interesting.
I think this might be the most important presidental race that I have ever voted in; and I have voted every 4 years.
I certainly find it interesting that our country owes 16 trillion in debt and that 46.6% of americans are on food stamps.

Yesterday, during bridge, I noticed it getting very hot in the house. The a/c had quit working. I was afraid it was something very serious, cause the unit is now 16 years old. My repairman came today and found out that a part had broken. So I have air again. I am so glad that i do not have to replace the entire unit YET!!

The braves won 2 games in a row; I had two no use gas days in a row. so I have $6 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $7268.00
today 6.00
new total $7274.00

I received the interest on my ING account yesterday. I will add that to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $7219.00
today 49.00
new total $7268.00

I forgot to include my social security check in the $20 challenge last month. I hope to do a lot better this month.

Prev. total $6715.00
today 504.00
new total $7219.00

Ever since I got the puppy a month ago, I realize how far I have gotten behind on my $20 challenge. I have not kept track of the stock market or the braves games. I need to do much better. I DO know that the stock market went up yesterday and on my desk is $2 I put there when the braves won 2 games in a row, last week. I will add that to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $6712.00
today 3.00
new total $6715.00

Sprite was on sale this week, so I really stocked up. By using my advantage card, I was able to save $21 at the grocery store. I got a check in the mail for $10 too; making a grand total of $31 to add to the challenge!

Prev. total $6681.00
today 31.00
new total $6712.00

I took both of my dogs to the vets this week. Abbey, the puppy is much improved with her new diet and got her first shot.
Molly, my 3 year old has blood in her stool. Thank goodness it is not serious. It is something that starts with coc and is like a parasite something. It is fairly common in puppies so she must have gotten it from Abbey. I spent about $130 but I should have two healthy little girls in a few days! They are so worth it!

WE had dinner out last night for the first time in the month off August! I know cause I am keeping track of my spending this month. Our meal was $17 and change and I left a $6 tip. (plus change) It is hard to believe that we use to eat out almost every night! It does help that my husband does a lot of the cooking! I really don't like to cook!

I have really gotten behind on the $20 challenge. I try and spend a lot of time with the new puppy. But this morning, I took all my change to the bank and received $42 to add to the challenge. Also, the braves won 4 games in a row; another $4. I saved $3 with my Ingles card this morning, heck let's just make it an even $50 to add to the challenge.

Prev. totl $6631.00
today 50.00
new total $6681.00

Yesterday was elvis day on tv all day (and night) I am a big fan of Elvis' voice, but I did not like his movies. I watched some yesterday just to see Elvis himself. He was so handsome. It is hard to believe that he died 35 years ago yesterday!

I received a pinecone check yeterday. Last month I deposited 6 of those checks. I will add this one to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $6628.00
today 3.00
new total $6631.00

I am getting behind in the $20 challenge. I have not kept up with the braves or the stock market. The new puppy takes up much of my time. I do know that the braves won 9 of their last 12 games, so I am going to donate all my $1 bills to the challenge.

Prev. total $6615.00
today 13.00
new total $6628.00

I got a check for $50 from my Chase rewards card. I make over $600 a year just by using the card and paying it off every month.
Of course, that goes to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $6565.00
today 50.00
new total $6615.00

I earned $63 in interest in my ING account. That is really going down, cause my ING account is going down. We have completely finished the first house; now if we just had some lookers! (and buyers)
We are going to start on the next house tomorrow. This will be a smaller 2 bedroom cabin on a creek.
I will add my interest money to the $20 challenge. I need to get that back on track!

Prev. total $6502.00
today 63.00
new total $6565.00

I took my new puppy to the vet yesterday. She is not a healthy girl! She has an ear infection and a hernia. The food he told me to feed her is not good for her at all. It is purnina puppy food and the vet told me that it was terrible food.
I feed Molly, "Chicken soup for the dog lover's soul" and the vet told me that I should give it to Abbey too. She does not like puppy food. (the vet)
There is also something wrong with puppy's eyesight and leg too. She hopes it will improve with better nutrition.

My puppy came with a health guarantee, so I could give her back and get my money back. But then she would just be sold to another unlucky household.
Instead, I will try to get her better. She can have surgery to repair the hernia when I get her spayed/
The vet is even putting off her shots until she is eating better food.

Beware of purnina puppy food!

I have taken a few days off from posting. That is because I have a new puppy and her name is Abbey!
My malta poo named Molly has suddenly become a mother to the new puppy that looks just like her.
Abbey is pure maltese and so tiny. She is 8 weeks old today and I am taking her to the vet in a few hours for a check up.
Thanks for missing me, but I am still around. I will be busy with house breaking chores for a while.

On Thursday my dh went with his friend to see his 2nd ever big league game (baseball) in Atlanta. They had a great time and the braves won. It is always more fun to see a winning game.
Last night the braves were down 9 runs, so we switched channels. They came back to win 11-10 in overtime. Today they won 4-0, so I have $3 to add to the challenge. I had a no use gas day today, for a grand total of $5 for the challenge.

Prev. total $6497.00
today 5.00
new total $6502.00

I have not blogged in several days, so I need to catch up on my $20 challenge. The braves won 3 games in a row and the stock market went up two days in a row, That is $5 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $6492.00
today 5.00
new total $6497.00

WE finally got some much needed rain today. It has not rained in a month and dh has been watering like crazy! He is trying to keep his garden and all the flowers we have planted alive!
Yesterday, I got a scare. The house would not cool down and the a/c was on. I thought maybe we needed a new system cause ours is 17 years old! The repair man came today and it is running and cooling again.
The braves are not playing right now and the stock market went down today. The only positive thing that I did today was have a no use gas day. $2 to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $6490.00
today 2.00
new total $6492.00

DH and I both love wild critters, but I wish they would stay out of our garden. I don't eat veggies, but dh loves them. Last year the deer got almost all of this corn, even tho we feed them bagged corn out in the back yard.
This year, he fenced in his garden and he keeps a radio playing. That seems to work with the deer but now something else is eating the corn and the tomatoes. He is off to home depot to see if he can find a motion light that will come on when movement occurs. He thinks it is raccoon.
The braves swept the phillies this weekend ( 3games) and I have had a no use gas day. That is $5 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $6485.00
today 5.00
new total $6490.00

The party that we went to last night was great! The couple had a full sit down dinner, all catered. They also had live music. We ate so late, we were not able to get to the other party in time.
There were about 70 people at the party! We all sat under the stars! I am sure glad it did not rain. (even tho we really need it.)

Happy 4th of July everyone! We are invited to two parties tonight. We hope to make both of them.
Dh and I don't drink many soft drinks. The only thing I buy is diet sprite which we both use in mixed drinks in the evening.
I like to really stock up on it when it is on sale, which is usually around holidays. I got some yesterday and saved $12 to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $6473.00
today 12.00
new total $6485.00

Andy Griffith died at his home this morning. He will be missed by millions. I watched him growing up and I am still watching his reruns to this day. Rest in Peace, Andy. You made the world a happier place.

My interest to my ING account posted yesterday. It was $80. It is going down cause we are using that account to finish up the house we are building. Sadly, we have had no lookers. At this point, I would sell the house at zero profit, just to get our money out of it. The next house will be a smaller cabin. But this lot had such a great mountain view, we just had to put a really nice house on it. Keep your fingers crossed for me that the house sells.

Prev. total $6393.00
today 80.00
new total $6473.00