Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

I received my first Christmas card today. I like to get thanksgiving over with before I think about Christmas. I picked up dessert to take to the Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday and it was marked on sale for $2 off. So, of course I am adding that to the challenge money.

Prev. total $18,841.00
today 2.00
new total $18,843.00

We are going out to dinner tonight. Friends have invited us over to eat in celebration of my birthday this week. My birthday is the day before Thanksgiving which is a very busy night for her, as she is cooking for 14 people the next day.
Our friends are people that we built a house for about 10 years ago. I think that it is so nice that we make friends with almost everyone that we build for. You don't hear that about too many builder's that we know. But my dh builds every house as if he is building it for himself and it has to be perfect.

I took my change into the bank today and had it converted to dollars, plus I saved $5 with my Ingles card today. $37 more for the challenge.

Prev. total $18,804.00
today 37.00
new total $18,841.00

My husband's framing crew is working today. They are putting up roof trusses.
That is so amazing to me cause in the 27 years he has been building, no one else would ever work on a saturday. Dh has always worked saturdays, sundays and most holidays. Of course, he gets no paid time off, so he works. You would have to know the locals to know how rare it is for them to work on Saturday. Most people here are out of work and need money, badly, but not bad enough to work on Saturdays!

I can't get over it.

Well, dh just got home. It seems that only 2 of the workers showed up (2 didn't), so dh had to help them put the trusses. It is a windy day, so it was not an easy job.

I got a check from Pinecone. plus had a no use gas day yesterday, so $5 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $18,799.00
today 5.00
new total $18,804.00

Plus, I found a quarter!!!!

We got invited over for Thanksgiving day, for a mid day dinner. Since we had no family, we are usually alone on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. (dh has a father and brother and sister in law. We have never once been inside the brother's house and FIL is getting too old for his 88 year old girlfriend to have anyone over for dinner.)

We so appreciate having friends to spend time with. I am bringing dessert. They had us over for dinner once and had a delicious Edwards Hershey chocolet pie. I found them on sale at the grocery store and bought two of them. I saved $6 on the two pies. (frozen) I will also pick up a cake at the bakery next Wednesday to take with me.
I am adding the $6 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $18,793.00
today 6.00
new total $18,799.00

I always remember this date. It is the day that my father died, right before my 10th birthday.
My father had retired from the service after serving almost 30 years.

My mother had never had a job in her life. Lots of women never worked; they stayed home and took care of the home and the children.

For almost two years, we had to live on my parents savings. The pension was cut off and there was no money coming in. Finally, my mother was able to get a job and the three of us had about $25 a week to live on. Fortunately, my parents had saved and had paid cash for their home when they retired to Florida.

That is how I learned to be so frugal. My mother didn't buy anything she did not need. I don't remember her ever buying anything for herself. I got a job at age 12 and was able to buy my own clothes and things for school. (I made $3 a day for a 9 hour day)

It was a valuable lesson.

Friday, the stock market went up and I had a no use gas day. Saturday, I had another no use gas day. $5 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $18,788.00
today 5.00
new total $18,793.00

Happy Veterans day to all the veterans and all those who are serving our country. Thank you!

World War I ended on Nov. 11th, 1918. In 1921 an unknown soldier from World War I was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The day became known as Armistice Day.
In 1954 ,Congress passed a bill proclaiming Nov. 11th as Veterans Day.

Today, Veterans Day is celebrated in November, the 11th month, on the 11th day, at 11 a.m. and the year is 2011. Nov. 11, 2011, 11 am.



I received a pinecone check for $3 and I had a no use gas day yesterday. That is $5 for the challenge.

Prev. total $18,783.00
today 5.00
new total $18,788.00

I did my grocery shopping on Tuesday and using my Ingles card I saved $12. Then on Monday and Wednesday, i had two no use gas days, so that is $4 more. This $16 will be added to the challenge.

Prev. total $18,767.00
today 16.00
new total $18,783.00

The vet put our little poodle on a strict diet, Hill's prescription food. Holly hated it and I have been force feeding it to her for 2 months.
Then we tried a purina food made for sensitive tummy. At first she ate it, now she won't. She has always been such a picky eater. I don't know what to do. Today, I let her have some of her old food. I can't stand to see her starve.

I took the Hill's diet food back to the vet and they gave me my money back. That is $32 I will add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $18,735.00
today 32.00
new total $18,767.00

I am going to friends house for dinner tonight, (so is dh) and I am bringing my own Burger!
We built their house about 10 years ago and they have us over for dinner all the time.
Unfortunately, I am a funny eater! So she tells me what they are having and if it is nothing something I eat, I byob, bring my own burger! (ccoked of course)

I have been a funny eater since I was born according to my mother. I never wanted any baby food, just milk. As I gor older, I refused food all the time. She tried making me sit there, serving it again, etc., etc., but I just would not eat most things.
The last time she forced me to eat something I did not like, I threw them up, all over the table. I can still remember what it was, stewed tomatoes.

I do not like fruit or vegetables. I have never had a salad in my life. I eat no seafood or tuna fish. I will only eat white meat chicken. I don't even like pizza unless my husband makes it with lots of hamburger. I know I am strange, but that is just the way I eat and I am too old to change now!

But, I do enjoy going over and eating with these people who put up with somene who brings their own burger!

I had a no use gas day, so $2 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $18,733,00
today 2.00
new total $18,735.00

Yes, we broke down and bought so more land. That means 6 lots (1 acre or bigger) than we have bought so far this year.
This acre is right next to the one we bought and are putting a spec house on. The view is wonderful.
When we first looked at this subdivision 3 years ago, these lots were going for $125,000 each. I just bought this one for $40,000.

I have got to slow down and not even look at any more land for a long time. We paid cash for some of them and financed some for a pretty good rate, 2.99%
I have to really start being more careful with money and have lots of no spend days, starting with today!

I am adding my 1 dollar bills to the challenge.

Prev. total $18,733.00
today 4.00
new total $18,737.00

Today was pinochle day. I have taken both pinochle and bridge classes this year. I love playing cards. I did this a lot when I was young and first married. It is a cheap way to have fun.
I like bridge the most. We play every Monday at my house and I have just signed up to play on Thursdays at a local church.

Well, my dh had to have new tires put on his work van yesterday. He shopped around and compared prices, but the tires were over $800.
I did my grocery shopping today and saved $4 using my Ingles card. I had a no use gas day yesterday and a dollar bill came in the mail from a survey place. That is $7 to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $18,726.00
today 7.00
new total $18,733.00

Has anyone heard anything about "networthiq"? I went to their website last month and again today and was advised not to go there. (by McAfee)
However, I did do my networth on paper and was happy to see that it finally went up after months of going down, down, down, due to the stock market.

We have a big halloween party downtown on the square every Saturday before Halloween. We have always gone to it to see all the kids (and adults) dress up. Several times, we have dressed up ourselves and walked around. Then we go out to eat.
Last night, it was so cold and windy we decided to stay home.
I miss not dressing up and going to a Halloween party. We have friends that use to throw a huge Halloween party every year, but she has not been in good health lately. The fun part was my husband's costumes! He always won first prize, he was so funny looking!
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up on Friday, so $3 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $18,723.00
today 3.00
new total $18,726.00

I took my older dog, Holly back to the vets today. I took her to a specialist 2 months ago and he put her strickly on Hill's prescription diet, nothing else.

Well, she hates it and won't eat it , so I have been force feeding it to her. She is so skinny now, but is so hungry all the time. I have spend a lot of money on her the past few months, but she is certainly worth it. We are going to try a different type of food, but I can only buy it at a vet's over in North Carolina. I will get some next week and hope she likes it better. (she has always been a real picky eater)
I got my usual s/s check yesterday and will add that to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $18,237.00
today 486.00
new total $18,723.00

I mentioned that we had company all last weekend. It was a lady that I have known since junior high school.

We were invited to a big party Saturday night and wondered how we were going to get there? We have 5 vehicles (3 corvettes, one hot rod and a work van)but none with a back seat.

We decided to call our town's one and only cab company. We would make arrangements for them to pick us up at home, take us to the party and then come back and get us.

So, I called to get prices. To take us one way, about 7 miles was about $30 including a tip. No way was I going to pay $60 in cab fare just to go to a party.

My husband solved the problem. He put an ice cooler between the two van bucket seats and I rode in style, on a red cooler!

The party was great and so was the food!

I stocked up on diet sprite for sale today at Ingles and saved $8 to add to the challenge!

Prev. total $18,229.00
today 8.00
new total $18,237.00

I have been gone for a while from this site. First, my dh went to Fla. for his father's 90th birthday. I stayed home with the dogs. Then, my computer got sick and had to be professionally cleaned.
My best friend who I have known since 8th grade came for a 3 days visit. So, it seems like there has been no time for savings! So, back on the saving trail for me.
I am paying some bills today and I have $650 in the corvette envelope and $90 left in my electric envelope. (Thank goodness that bill went down a lot, but now I have to buy propane)
Anyway, $740 will be added to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $17,489.00
today 740.00
new total $18,229.00

I haven't been on here in the last few days, but I have been reading. My dh left to go to Fla. last Friday morning and came back on Monday night. It was his father's 90th birthday!
I stayed home to take care of the two puppies! It was a long four days and I really missed him. However, I did have 3 no use gas days, so that is $6 to add to the challenge.
This weekend, I have an old girlfriend coming to visit me. We are invited to a big bar b que bash (800 people) on Saturday and then to a party on Saturday night. Our problem is transportation!

In case you don't know, we have 3 corvettes (no back seat) a 1933 ford victoria hot rod (no heat) and a work van. (no back seat) I would NEVER drive with my friend. She is a terrible driver and I get car sick easily.

Prev. total $17,483.00
today 6.00
new total $17,489.00

I noticed today that ING lowered their interest rates on their electric orange checking account. They went from .0114 to .0110. Not that big of a change but I am ready to see rates start to rise. I just gave away an old railroad bond dated 1869 and way back then they were paying out 7%. You sure can't live on your interest now a days.

I did another pinecone survey last week, so I have another $3 check to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $17,483.00
today 3,00
new total $17,486.00

I throw all of my loose change in a jar and take it to the bank every two months or so. Today, I took it in and came home with $37. That will be added to my $20 challenge fund.

Prev. total $17,443.00
today 37.00
new total $17,480.00

The surprise birthday party we went to last night was great. Everybody brought food, so the hostess did not have to do a thing and there was plenty to eat.
We all enjoyed the brand new room that dh built onto the house.
The birthday boy really did enjoy the gift I gave him; a 1869 coupon bond of the Blue Ridge railroad company, all framed. (He is big into trains) It will look good in his train room.
The hostess insisted that we all bring home our own leftovers, so we have appetizers for tonight.
Another friend called and invited us to dinner for tomorrow night.

I did my grocery shopping today and even with dh with me (can't work cause it is raining) I saved $6 with my Ingles card. I will add $1 to that cause the stock market went up yesterday, for a total of $7.

Prev. total $17,436.00
today 7.00
new total $17,443.00

We are going to a surprise birthday party tonight. This is for a guy we built a house for about 10 years ago. Dh just finished turning their large outside deck into a large sunroom, addding on about 450 square feet.
This guy is a model railroad hobbiest and has a huge layout of model railroads in his basement. His is the 2nd largest layout in the state of Georgia. (Strangely, the largest is also in this town, Blairsville, Ga.)
I have a neat birthday gift for him. It is a bond issued by the Blue Ridge railroad company in 1869. It is a thousand dollar bond paying interest at 7%.
It is a coupon bond. It is very nicely framed. I have had it for about 30 years, but I think he will enjoy it more than I. Dh has it very nicely gift wrapped and ready to go.
I am playing bridge all afternoon, so today will be a no spend day and also a no use gas day. In honor of that, I will add $2 to the challenge.

Prev. total $17,434.00
today 2.00
new total $17,436.00

Another check arrived unexpectedly in the mail yesterday. It was for $55 and was from Home Depot. I had returned something a few months back and it showed up as a credit on my Home depot card, so they mailed me a check.
I also got a good deal on hair coloring. (No, I am really not a blond) I had a $2 off rite aid coupon, plus a cash register receipt for $4 off, so I got $7.99 hair coloring for $1.99. This will all be added to my challenge money along with $1 I saved using another coupon.

Prev. total $17,372.00
today 62.00
new total $17,434.00

I got an unexpected check in the mail yesterday for $70. Like I do with all unexpected money, I add it to the challenge.
However, we were invited out to dinner Wednesday night. It was a couple that my dh built a new house for, about 10 years ago. They hired him two months ago to turn their deck into a sunroom. He just finished it this week.
They gave him a thank you card and $250 in cash. Quite a surprise! I am letting him keep the money cause he needs new tires for his work van. That will certainly help out!

Prev. total $17,302.00
today 70.00
new total $17,372.00

I received a check from my new Citi credit card in the mail today. They promised if you charged $500 in the first 60 days, they would give you a bonus check for $100. I charged my dog's vet bill ($500) and met the requirements very quickly. Of course, I paid it off immediately. I am adding this money to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $17,202.00
today 100.00
new total $17,302.00

SAving advice, for some reason I have not been able to come to this iste for the past two days. I have missed you all. I don't know if it was just my computer, which has been acting up, or if this site has been having a problem. Anyway, I am so happy that I could get here today! I am going to a land auction today. I already bought 5 pieces of property since last December, so I really don't need any more. But I may find a real bargain!

I went to the bank this morning to cash dh's paycheck. It is a smaller check than usual cause he did not work this weekend. I hope I can keep up the $30 a day challenge.
I played bridge all afternoon, so it was a no spend day, plus I won at bridge. All around wonderful!
We picked up a few items at Bi lo yesterday and with my bi lo card, I saved $4. That will be added to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $17,198.00
today 4.00
new total $17,202.00

It dropped down to 40 degrees here in the mountains this morning. The house inside is down to 64 degrees. I have little Holly on a heating pad to stay warm. Bigger Molly can handle the cold weather better than Holly.
We spent the afternoon with a mother and her son yesterday. They are from Wisconsin. Son got a real good banking job here and moved into the fanciest subdivision in the area. His home has 7500 sq. feet.
Mom wants to build in the same subdivision as the son. However, she wants a 2500 square foot house with basement for $200,000. That just can't be done.

They went to a company that operates in several states and they advertise that they build home for $48 a square foot.
What they don't tell you is that the price does NOT include the following; permits, septic tank, grading, rough in plumbing, digging the basement, the basement itself and the floors. The price starts inside from the walls up. They also hire the cheapest subcontractors that they can hire to do the work as fast as possible.

My husband builds every house as if he is going to live in it himself and his workmanship is the best ever. We showed them 3 of our houses and they were in awe that dh could do all of the work by himself.
plumbing, electrical, tile work, hardwood floors, staircases, cabinets, built in furninture, rock/sone laying, etc. They said he really had a lot of talent.

But, I don't feel like we will get the job cause the most important thing to them was the price. Dh works by the hour, so we do NOT give a contract price.

I give them every paid bill, so they know to the penny what the house cost. I have done it that way for 27 years and I will continue.
It works for us!

On August the 31st, I started what I am calling " a $30 dollar a day challenge. I am trying to save (and put in a canister) $30 every single day. Some days, it has been rough, but so far, I have been doing it.
In the 33 days since this challenge has started, I have saved $990 which I have put in my ING electric orange account. (I am not adding this to the challenge)

I also earned $149 in interest on my ING account and I AM adding that to my challenge money.

Prev. total $17,048.00
today 149.00
newe total $17,197.00