Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

While my husband was recovering from surgery last week, I just let all my bookkeeping go! As a result, I am catching up on all my bills today. I pay all my own personal bills, plus we pay all of our customers bills too and collect from them later. So, I do a lot of check writing.
I did manage to go grocery shopping yesterday. I found some pretty good deals and managed to save $9 using my advantage card. I must say, I am certainly stocked up on toilet paper. I will add that $9 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $11,814.00
today 9.00
new total $11,823.00

At least that is what my dh wants everyone to think. He is outside, right now, cutting grass, after having surgery on Tuesday night. I think he is planning on going to work tomorrow. Of course, his plans have changed. He won't be putting down hardwood floors, cause he cannot swing that heavy hammer. I think he will be laying tile instead.
I got a good deal on sprite yesterday, a Bogo at BiLo. That saved me $4 plus the braves won, so I am adding $5 to the challenge today.
Prev. total $11,809.00
today 5.00
new total $11,814.00

But is is sooooooooo boring. We got out today for the first time since the surgery, so I had two no use gas days in a row. The braves won, so I have $5 to add to the $20 challenge.
My dh has lost 10 pounds; I am so jealous!! Last night he wanted pancakes. He ate one! Who eats ONE pancake??
We went to the grocery store to see if anything appealed to him to eat. He picked up watermelon and cantelope for his dinner to night. He does not need to lose any more weight!

Prev. total $11,804.00
today 5.00
new total $11,809.00

I have been busy the past few days with my dh being so sick. I was surpised to get on here today and see all the responses to my blog about the emergency room.
Apparently a lot of you are experienced about gall stones and gall bladder surgery. We were not and it was the very last text the emergency room did; after testing him for everything else.

Monday, we got busy and went to visit the office of the surgeon.
I felt very confident in him and we were sure he would do a good job. After all, dh built his house!

Then we went over to the hospital to fill out form and back the appointment.

On Tuesday morning, we met at the hospital at 10 am. They finally took him into surgery at noon and he was out by 2 pm. He got to go home by 4:30. They don't keep you overnight if you are feeling ok.

Now, he is not feeling great and was surprised that he could not go back to work today. But he is doing ok. The hardest thing for him is getting up and down from the bed and he doesn't feel right if he bends over. I have been helping him get up from the bed so he doesn't hurt himself. Last night, he slept in his recliner and says that is much easier to get out of.

The puppy likes to jump on his lap and sit with him, so we had to put a pillow over his stomach so she would not hurt him.

The hardest thing is having nothing to do! My dh is one of the hardest working men you have ever met. He can hardly wait to get back to work!

Dh has not felt well the past few weeks. He wakes up in the middle of the night with pain in his chest and then throws up for hours. We went to the doctor and he changed dh's heartburn medicine, but he still got sick.
Yesterday morning he woke me. He had been up sick all night. We went to the emergency room and came home after 3 hours. He fell asleep for a while, then woke up to the pain again.
We went back to the emergency room about 6 pm and did not get home til 2 in the morning. They did all kinds of tests on him. They found gallstones.
Today we spent most of the day at the doctor's and at the hospital getting him signed up for surgery tomorrow.
This is something very rare for us. I have NEVER been in a hospital or had surgery and dh has only had his appendix out when he was 17.
We have hospitalization on dh, but it has a $10,000 deductible, so I know this is a very spending few days. It's ok, I just want him to feel better.

I got my payments today on the personal loans I made. I made $177 in interest and received a $3 pinecone check for $180 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $11,624.00
today 180.00
new total $11,804.00

I cashed the paycheck on tuesday and this morning I still had every dollar of my weekly allowance. That is what happens when you stay home. I never left the house on Wednesday and Thursday, so I had two, no use gas, no spend days.
I went thru my envelopes while paying end of the month bills and found $70 in extra cash. I had two no use gas days ($4) and $3 in extra one's, for a total of $77 to add to the challenge.

Prev. total $11,547.00
today 77.00
new total $11,624.00

I got my usual social security check yesterday. As always, I am adding that to the challenge money. I have never once spent a pennny of it.
Previous total $11,061.00
today 486.00
new total $11,547.00

I got a $50 check from my Chase rewards master card yesterday. My dh charges a lot at home depot and Chase gives us 3% back for home improvement purchases, so I get a $50 check almost every month to add to the challenge.
As a mentioned in a earlier blog, I am now only getting 1% interest on my savings account. When I opened the account, it was paying 5.25%, then it dropped to 3.25%, then to 2% and now it is down to 1%.
I have $60,000 sitting in that account, so I am now earning $50 a month in interest. Heck, I can get that much just charging a few thousand at Home depot and paying it off each month!

Prev. total $11,011.00
today 50.00
new total $11.061.00

I just checked on my bank accounts. I have three checking accounts that pay interest. I use one for business, one for personal checking and the 3rd one, I use as my savings account.
The business and personal, which have less than $50,000 in them, rates were lowered to 1/2 of one percent.
My savings account which has more than $50,000 in it, was lowered to 1% interest.
Those accounts were paying 3.25% when I opened them.
It is funny, but a friend sent me an old newspaper clipping today. It is from the Atlanta Journal and has banks offering an over 10% interest rate back in 1979. Heck, I remember when you could get a 16% C.D.

Back then, I did not have much money. Now that I have some money, I am get 1% and under!! grrrrr...

Oh well, I have 5 one dollar bills in my wallet to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $11,006.00
today 5.00
new total $11,011.00

I was really worried about my dh. He has been waking up in the middle of the night, with a sharp chest pain and then throwing up a lot.
I finally got him to the doctor on Wednesday. Before they run expensive tests, his doctor decided to switch his heartburn medicine. He has been taking prilosec for about 10 years.
He is on prevacid now and is taking a double dose every morning. He also had to give up some of the food he likes, especially the millions of tomatoes that he has grown. (We are handing them out to all our friends and neighbors)
What he hates the most is that he is not supposed to have a beer when he gets home from work.

The funny thing is, our county just had a vote on beer and wine; and for the first time in the 26 years I have lived here, it passed and will now be allowed to be sold in this area. It passed the same day he was told not to drink any more beer.
I feel sure that once his stomach is back where it should be; he will be allowed beer again. He only drinks one or two.

This could have been an expensive problem, but so far we have only spent $50 for the doctor visit and $45 for the blood work.

The braves won yesterday, the stock market went up and I got a check from Pinecone, so $5 more to add to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $11,001.00
today 5.00
new total $11,006.00

I did my grocery shopping yesterday and I saved $6 using my advantage card at Ingles. That means my challenge money will hit 11K today.
My dh has been sick the past few days, so sick he was thinking about going to the emergency room. He got into the doctor's office this morning and they are giving him medication before doing any tests. I sure hope this medicine helps.
We do have medical insurance on him, but we have never once used it. It has a $10,000 deductible, so we always just pay the bill in full.

Prev. total $10,995.00
today 6.00
new total $11,001.00

I got my electric bill yesterday and it was the most expensive electric bill that I have received in the 26 years that I have lived here.
I have always budgeted $160 a month and it has always fallen under the budget. (I have a big house)
This month, the bill was $177!!
Now, I know it is hot and I am running the a/c a lot, but this was a shock.
However, the electric company did announce in the paper that they were raising rates this month, so I think that accounts for the high bill.
Time to reset my budget.

I have 7 one dollar bills in my wallet to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $10,988.00
today 7.00
new total $10,995.00

I never did get the Rite Aid rebate check that I was expecting, but I did get two rebate checks from Behr paints. They were having a rebate special on Memorial day weekend; the same weekend my husband was painting. We got two checks, one for $20 and one for $40.
I saved $7 at Ingles yesterday using my Advantage card. I got a great deal on Ruffles potato chip and on toilet paper in a 12 pack.
I have never bought toilet paper in a 12 pack before, but I can see where you can save a lot of money by buying a large pack when it is on sale.
This will all be added to my challenge money!

Prev. total $10,921.00
today 67.00
new total $10,988.00

I never buy anything just because I can get a rebate; I only buy a product if I really need it. My husband has to take prilosec everyday. I am so glad it is no longer prescription which was $130 a month. It is now over the counter and runs about $26 for 42 pills.

Rite aid often offers a $4 rebate when you buy prilosec. The problem is getting your check. It was promised in 2-3 weeks; it has been 5 weeks and I think I will never see the check. I think the problem is that they issue these little cardboard checks and they are not in an envelope. Anyone can see they are a check and they seem to get "lost" in the mail.

This is the 2nd check that I have not gotten from rite aid! I guess I need to write to them.
I am also waiting on two rebate checks from a paint company.

I have been doing some research on dog food.

When I got my poodle, Holly, she was a very picky eater. I called her breeder and complained that she would not eat. He told me to give her something like, vienna sausages, but in the baby section instead. I hope you know what I am talking about. Finger foods for babies!

Well, that got her hooked on people food and she has not wanted dog food since. She has a very sensitive tummy and gets sick easily. We had to quit giving her people food completely.
She will eat the wet, pouch type of dog food IF she is in the "mood".

When I got the puppy, Molly, I was so happy to see that she will eat any kind of dry food.

I only give her a little of the wet, pouch food once a day. That is because I mix her eye medicine in it. (white dogs sometimes get tear stains under their eyes and I have found something that actually prevents it)

So, since she seems so healthy and eats well, I decided to put her on adult dry food; the best dog food that I could find.

After doing some research, I found a food that is called "Chicken soup for the animal lover's soul"
It's main ingredients are chicken, turkey, duck and vegetables, not chicken by products. It is considered one of the best.

I actually found it for sale at my Ace Hardware store. The smallest bag was 18 pounds for $24, but I think it will last her quite a while. I had a $5 off coupon from Ace, so that helped.
I will add the $5 plus my $3 pinecone check to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $10,913.00
today 8.00
new total $10,921.00

Yesterday, we spent most of the day driving around and looking for residental lots for sale. I can't believe it, but for the 1st time in 26 years, my dh does not have a house lined up to build.
He is NOT the kind that can sit around, so he wants to build a spec house.
I am kind of against it, because nothing is selling here. People only want bargains and I would hate to use our money to build a house, to just give away.
The stock market did go up on Friday; the braves did win on Saturday and I saved $3 using my Ingles advantage card today, for a total of $5 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $10,908.00
today 5.00
new total $10,913.00

We are invited to a party tomorrow night. It is a Christmas in July party for the humane society. Our shelter is a no kill shelter which I really am proud of. I try to donate money as often as I can. (I plan to put them in my will)
The whole house is decorated for christmas and all the gifts are for the animals and are put under the tree. Since I know that the shelter always needs money, I always write a check and pin it to the tree. What a great idea this party is. This is the 3rd year in a row that this couple has given this party.

Well, the stock market went up two days in a row; the braves won 2 games in a row, so $4 to add to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $10,904.00
today 4.00
new total $10,908.00

When Bi Lo runs a special on steaks, it is usually a good one. Yesterday, I was able to buy 5 steaks, NY strip and rib eye for 2.99 each. I spent $15, but I saved $9 which I will add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $10,895.00
today 9.00
new total $10,904.00

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy 4th of July. I hope you all have fun today. We are invited toa 4th of July cook out tonight, complete with fireworks! I will be wearing my 4th of July shirt and hat tonight.
While looking thru an old purse today, I found a dollar bill, plus the braves won last night, so $2 to add to the challenge today.
Prev. total $10,893.00
today 2.00
new total $10,895.00

Last month I made two personal loans to a couple we have know for about 9 years. I took the money out of savings earning 1.5% interest and loaned it to them at 4% interest, which is still better than they could get at the bank.
I have decided that I am going to add the interest only each month to my $20 challenge.
The two checks came in the mail yesterday and I earned $179 in interest. Also, the braves won, so a total of $180 will be added.
Prev. total $10,713.00
today 180.00
new total $10,893.00

You can vote early at the courthouse. It is so nice because you can be in and out in about 5 minutes. On Sunday, friends are having a big cook out with lots of fire works. I am supposed to bring chip and dip and potato salad.
I stopped and got the chips on sale yesterday, so I saved $3 for the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $10,710.00
today 3.00
new total $10,713.00

A good start to a new month, except for the stock market. I did get two checks in the mail today. One was from Pinecone for $3; the other was for $50 from my Chase rewards credit card. Of course, they go straight to my $20 challenge.

Prev. total $10,657.00
today 53.00
new total $10,710.00

Today is the last day of the 2nd quarter of the year. The stock market has not done well, so most of our net worths have gone down.
I did save some money today. Bi Lo has steaks on sale. I bought 5 steaks (n.y. strip and rib eye) and a gallon of ice cream on sale for $15. That is 5 meals and dessert for only $3 each. According to the receipt, I saved over $12 at Bi Lo today. I am adding that money to the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $10,645.00
today 12.00
new total $10,657.00

I had a no spend day today and also used no gas. The braves won last night, so I have $3 to add to the $20 challenge. Also, I received 2 prilosec coupons in the mailing from a nice lady here at saving advice, so thank you very much.

Prev. total $10,642.00
today 3.00
new total $10,645.00

I sat down and paid all of the end of the month bills today. My electric bill is the highest it has been since last august, with the air conditioning running all the time. However, the electric bill still came in under the amount I budget each month, so I have $35 to add to the challenge today.
Prev. total $10,607.00
today 35.00
new total $10,642.00

I finally had a no use gas day yesterday and the braves won last night. I have 4 one dollar bills left in my wallet, so I have a total of $7 to add to the challenge money.
Prev. total $10,600.00
today 7.00
new total $10,607.00

Until Christmas!! Can you believe that! Time goes so quickly the older you get. I turned in all my spare change at the bank this morning. I have $35 to add to my $20 challenge fund!
Prev. total $10,565,00
today 35,00
new total $10,600.00

I get a check the 4th Wednesday of every month. It is my social security check and it is for $486. I have never spent the first penny of it. I always add it to the $20 challenge.
This is a little know fact; you can start getting your social security check at age 62. When you turn 70, if you want to start getting the larger sum, you can turn in all the money you have recieved thus far, and receive the larger monthly payment. You get to keep all the interest on the money for the past eight years.

Prev. total $10,079.00
today 486.00
new total $10,565.00

I did my grocery shopping today while my puppy, Molly was at the groomer's, getting even prettier!!
At Ingles, they had some bogo deals on a couple of things that I needed. The nice thing about Ingles is that if you only need one of the item, you get it for half price; so that is what I did. I had a few coupons and my receipt says that I saved $10 on my groceries.
I always take my grocery savings and add it to my $20 challenge, so that is what I will do today.

I spent almost as much on Molly as I did for my groceries for the week, but she looks so pretty!!

Prev. total $10,069.00
today 10.00
new total $10,079.00

And boy, is it hot!! The A/C is working overtime, especially upstairs where the computer is! Today is also the longest day of the year.
I got another dividend check in the mail today from tim Horton for $18, and the braves came from behind to win yesterday; so that is $19 going into the $20 challenge.

Prev. total $10,050.00
today 19.00
new total $10,069.00