Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

I got another rewards check in the mail. This time for $25 which I will add to the challenge.

Prev. total $14,413.00
today 25.00
new total $14,438.00

I got my $500 Chase rewards check in the mail today. My dh never believed I would get it, so he is quite shocked. The braves won, so $501 will be added to the challange.

Prev. total $13,912.00
today 501.00
new total $14,413.00

lucky 13!

I got my highest electric bill ever, today. It is for $204. Of course, I have a big house, 3200 sq. feet and it has been terrible hot this summer. I only budget $160 a month. It looks like I need to redo my budget.
I got the interest on my local money market account credited today. That was $129 to add to my challenge money.

Prev. total $13,783.00
today 129.00
new total $13,912.00

Today, August 16th is the day that Elvis died in 1977. Most of you know I am an Elvis fan. I have an Elvis bedroom with a lot of souveniers including all my old Elvis 45 record (with covers) that I bought when I was just a kid.
I was lucky enough to see him in person at a concert before his death. It was one of the greatest nights I have ever had!
Did you know that there is a radio station located across the street from Graceland, that plays nothing but Elvis songs all the time? I have that on my corvette, so I can listen all the time.
He died 34 years ago today. I am adding that amount of dollars ( Plus $1 cause the braves won in the 9th inning) to the challenge money.

Prev. total $13,748.00
today 35.00
new total $13,783.00

WE woke up this morning to the sounds of the water department digging up our front yard (again) When ever the water main breaks, it breaks in our yard cause we are at the bottom of the hill beside the creek.
We were without water for over 5 hours, plus our yard id now dug up. This is very annoying, because it happens about every 6 months. One time, our driveway even caved in. We got an estimate last month to have it repaved for almost $6000. I am so glad we did not have it done. Then the braves lost after being ahead for 6 innings! I think I will go to bed early and wish for a better day tomorrow.

For the stock market that is! I have watched my mutual funds go down, down, down. At least the market went up yesterday and the Braves won, so I will add $2 to the challenge.

Prev. total $13,746.00
today 2.00
new total $13,748.00

Well, I got my first bill from Chase and I got my bonus 50,000 points. (I charged $3000 on my dh's hospital bill)
I tried to redeem my points on line, but I couldn't do it. So, I called and got someone who spoke terrible english. He said he will be sending me a check for $500. My dh does not believe that I will get $500. I hope I do and I will add that to my challenge money!

I have had a busy week so far this week. On Mondays, I play bridge with friends here at my house. We all took lessons together, so we try and play once a week.
On Tuesday, I got my little poodle, Holly groomed. When I picked her up at the vets, I asked for something to give her cause she has been throwing up. I had to see the vet and I was there all afternoon, so they could work me in. $170 later, I have medication to help her problem.
On Wednesday, I went with my husband to the doctor. It was nothing serious, thank goodness, just hemorroids. Painful, but not serious. That visit was only $50, plus $15 for medication.
I did some grocery shopping today and saved $4 using my bi lo card, plus the braves have won 3 games in a row. ($3) I am adding the $7 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $13,739.00
today 7.00
new total $13,746.00

I got a pinecone check in the mail today. I have noticed that if you don't do the survey right away, the next day they are not available. I need to check my e mail more often.
I also had a no use gas day yesterday so a total of $6 ($3 from pinecone) to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $13,733.00
today 6.00
new total $13,739.00

I opened both a Lowes and a Sears card last month. They both offer a 5% discount when you use their card. Since I only use my credit cards when purchasing things for the spec houses, it seem smart that I save 5% when possible.
I bought the appliances for the house last month and saved 5%. Of course, I planned to pay the entire sears bill in full, so I already had the check made out.
I was surprised when i opened the bill to see that they had given me $15 off my purchase to welcome me as a new customer. I wrote a new check and will add thet $15 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $13,718.00
today 15.00
new total $13,733.00

The last time I looked at it today, the stock market was down over 300 points.
I am having a no use gas day today; the braves finally won yesterday, so I am adding $4 to the challenge today.

Prev. total $13,715.00
today 3.00
new total $13,718.00

I am adding my ING and my money market interest to the challenge every month. I am NOT adding the interest that my Melrose c.d.'s earn, which is only paaid quarterly.
In this case my ING orange checking account paid me $149 for the month of July.

Prev. total $13,566.00
today 149.00
new total $13,715.00

I got a dollar bill in the mail the other day. It is from nfomysurvey. I use to do surveys for them all the time, but it took so long to accumulate enough points to ever cash out, so I stopped the surveys.
They still send me this booklet once in a while. You have to keep track of all your expenses for a month and write them down in a journal that they send you.

At the end of the month, they send you a pre paid envelope to send the journal back, and another dollar bill. It seems like a lot of work for just $2 but I don't really mind recording my expenses.

I stopped to pick up a few things at Bi Lo today and saved $3 with my bi lo card, so that is $4 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $13,562.00
today 4.00
new total $13,566.00

Happy August 1st. Last year, I spent most of this date and about $7500 on the emergency room with my dh. He was having a gall bladder attack, but it took them about 12 hours to figure out what it was.
Today, he is doing fine after having surgery last august.
I did my net worth today. It has gone down quite a bit due to the stock market. But the big thing is all the land we have been buying. We have bought 5 pieces of land since last December. I have paid cash for 2 of them and financed the other 3 at 2.99%
So, that has made our debt go up. However, we will be building on the lots, so eventually the debt will go down once we sell.
Today is bridge day, but I managed to do my grocery shopping and saved $5 using my advantage card. I also had a no use gas yesterday.

Prev. total $13,555.00
today 7.00
new total $13,562.00

Boy, this month went fast! The braves won their last two games and I had a no use gas day yesterday, so I am adding $4 to my challenge money! My goal is to save $17,000 in the challenge this year and I am doing pretty well with it.

Prev. total $13,551.00
today 4.00
new total $13,555.00

Yesterday, we had a real estate closing on the house that we sold. (our spec house)
The real estate ladies were both there; the one that I listed with and the lady that sold it.
My realtor gave us a gift. I swear I don't know what it is.
It was like a wide vase with the lid standing up all sealed up. Inside was a beanie baby bunny (no tag), a candle and a bottle stopper. There was a card with a one hundred dollar bill too!
When we took out the bunny, candle and bottle stopper and put the lid back, the gift looked like a huge urn that you put ashes in (from cremation)
Anyway, I am very grateful for the $100 bill. The ladies got to split $16,000 in commission. (And didn't even have to advertise as the first couple that looked at it bought it that day)
I am adding the $100 to my challenge money.

Prev. total $13,451.00
today 100.00
new total $13,551.00

WE had our house closing today. Everything went smoothly and the money is back in the bank earning a big 9/10 of 1 percent interest. The realtor took us all out to lunch to celebrate, so that was nice.
I also got a $50 rewards check from my Chase master card, so I will add that to the challenge money.

Prev. total $13,401.00
today 50.00
new total $13,451.00

A mama deer came to our deer feeders last night, with her triplet, spotted babies. We had twin baby deer last year, but never triplets. They are so cute.
My regular 4th Wednesday of the month check came in, so $486 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,915,00
today 486.00
new total $13,401.00

The bear came again, this time about 2 in the afternoon. I wasn't too happy about that. It searched the deer feeders, then headed to the bird feeders. I quickly put up my puppies, then opened the back door and yelled go away. He/she left and I took the feeders down and put them in the garage.
The poor birds sure have to fight for their food around here.
We watched the braves game last night until we got too sleepy. The game lasted almost 7 hours and was not over until the 19th inning. That was certainly worth more than $1 to my challenge money, so I am adding $6 today. (Braves won. but it was challenged)

Prev. total $12,909.00
today 6.00
new total $12,915.00

We started a new spec house last week, so we had to order a port o let. Sure enough, when my dh got to work yesterday morning, it was tipped over. We think kids must go out to that subdivision to park at night. We are the first house to build on that particular street, sunset view. ( pretty name)
I saved $4 using my Ingles advantage card yesterday, so I will add that to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,905.00
today 4.00
new total $12,909.00

WE attended another land sale this morning. For some reason, about 3-4 years ago, everyone decided that this area was the place to live and dozens of new subdivisions were developed.
The developers put very high prices on all of the lots and the land just did not sell. So, now the bank is foreclosing and taking all the land back.
This is our 5th time to attend and we have bought land at 4 of these sales.
I think we got a pretty good deal on all 4 lots, buying them at less than half of their original price.

I really did not think we would buy any more land, but this was too good a deal to pass up. We got an acre on a creek AND with a view! That is almost impossible to find around here. This is where we will build our next spec house after we finish and sell the one we just started this week.

I had two no use gas days in a row, the braves won twice and the stock market went up. That is $7 more to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,898.00
today 7.00
new total $12,905.00

WE started on the new spec house today. It is always very exciting to start on a new house. The other spec house will close next Friday and I will get the money to put back in my account. (Yay)
The new owners hired a private inspector to go over the house yesterday. Absolutely nothing was found wrong. (we knew that)
The private inspector was also a licensed builder from North Carolina.
I am adding the money from my corvette envelope to the $20 challenge today! Hubby still does not know that the car is paid off. (shhhhhh)

Prev. total $12,098.00
today 800.00
new total $12,898.00

I took my poodle Holly into the vets again yesterday. This makes about 5 times she has gone this month. They do blood work every time and this time she had a very good check up!
It is expensive, but of course she is worth it. I hope we can stay away from the vet for a while.
DH needs new glasses badly.
Braves won Monday night and the stock market went up yesterday, so $2 to the challenge.

Prev. total $12,096.00
today 2.00
new total $12,098.00

I took my change into the bank today to convert to bills. I have $35 for the $20 challenge. Then I went grocery shopping and saved $6 using my advantage card.
Right next to my car, I found 2 pennies. One of our S.A.'s on here keeps track of all of the change she finds and she finds a lot. I am lucky if I can find 50 cents a year.

Prev. total $12,055.00
today 41.00
new total $12,096.00

I went out to visit the spec house today. Dh had the trees all trimmed up and the view is breathtaking. We have 180 degree view of the highest mountains in Georgia.
Brasstown Bald is the name of the highest mountain in Georgia and this house has a wonderful view of it. Dh was busy doing landscaping today. Everything is almost done except the kitchen. Dh builds all the cabinets in place. We are waiting for the granite counter top to be installed tomorrow and when the cabinet doors are finished, dh will install them.
WE have a closing the last Friday of the month.

When I got home, the braves were already playing their Sunday ball game. Unfortunately, they were behind 6-2. They managed to tie it up in the bottom of the 8th and then in the 9th, with 2 outs, a single brought home the winning run. I will be adding $2 to the challenge money for that!

Prev. total $12,053.00
today 2.00
new total $12,055.00

I have stayed home the past two days and have used no gasoline. The stock market went up slightly yesterday, so I have $5 to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,047.00
today 5.00
new total $12,053.00

I got a Lowe's coupon in the mail yesterday for $10 off. We were going to Lowe's last night anyway to return some light fixtures. We loved the fixtures, but when you pull off the "made in china" stickers, the paint came off too.
While there, we purchased some light fixtures that we really loved, for the next house. Every one that comes into this spec house comments on these light fixtures. We used our $10 off coupon, so I am adding that sum to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,037.00
today 10.00
new total $12,047.00

My a/c is running night and day, both units! I am sure my electric bill will be way over budget this month. I guess it is time to adjust the budget.
I had a no use gas day yesterday, saved $2 at Ingles today and it looks like the stock market will end higher, so that is $5 more to add to the challenge!

Also, my dh pulled the permit for the new house today. We pulled the last permit on Oct. 13th for the spec house; listed it on Friday the 13th in May and sold it to the first looker.
Today is the 13th, so I hope it all happens again. Lucky 13!

Prev. total $12,032.00
today 5.00
new total $12,037.00

WE watched tv last night. They are showing clips of the new Dallas show that is going to be on next summer. Yes, they are bringing the Ewings back! That show was my dh's absolute favorite when it was on. We never missed even one episode!
In honor of J.R., I am donating $5 to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,027.00
today 5.00
new total $12,032.00

I managed to squeeze in my grocery shopping before the gals caame over to play bridge today. By using my Ingles card, I was able to save $10, so I am adding this amount of money to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $12,017.00
today 10.00
new total $12,027.00