Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

We use to go out to dinner almost every night. We did not spend a lot of money. Most dinners were under $20 for two, plus a good tip. However, I can see that we are really saving money by eating at home more often. Lucky for me, my husband likes to cook, cause I really don't.
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up, so $3 more to the challenge.
Prev. total $16,574.00
today 3.00
new total $16,577.00

I think we are getting fewer christmas cards this year. It use to be that everyone you did business with, sent you a christmas card, a big nice one! So far, we have not received one single christmas card from a business. I guess everyone is tightening their belt.

I did my grocery shopping yesterday and managed to save $5 with my Ingles advantage card. I will add that to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $16,569.00
today 5.00
new total $16,574.00

I firmly believe that.
This is my 3rd year of doing the $20 challenge. When I started the challenge, I asked my local building supply store if they would consider giving me a small rebate each month, if I used them instead of home depot. After all, I often have home depot coupons offering 10% off plus I get a rewards check when I charge there. (I can't charge at the local building supply store)
The local store agree and sent me rebate checks every few months.
Well, this year the store is doing badly. It has let most of its employees go and hardly carries any stock at all, so if you want something, you usually have to order it. Last summer, they sent me a small check and that was the last they have sent. I figured that they could not afford the rebate any more.

Last week, I helped a friend with her rent to the tune of $400. Today, in the mail, I got a check for $461 from this store.

You see what I mean when I say, "what goes around, comes around"?
Prev. total $16,108.00
today 461.00
new total $16,569.00

I got two small checks in the mail yesterday. A $6 rebate check from rite aid and a $3 pinecone survey check. I had a no use gas day yesterday ($2), so I have $11 to add to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $16,097.00
today 11.00
new total $16,108.00

We met our new neighbor yesterday. He came over and introduced himself.
We live in a very nice subdivision, 15 homes on 29 lots. In good times, the few homes that have gone up for sale, sell quickly.
As far as we know, none of our neighbors are in trouble with their homes. We built 8 of the homes, mostly for people older than 50.
However, it turns out our new neighbor bought the only house in here to be foreclosed on. A young man lived in it with his girlfriend. It was the smallest house in the subdivision, only having 2 bedrooms.
The new neighbor got a steal on the house for only $150,000. The reason I say it was a steal, was that the creekfront lot it was on sold for over $80,000 before the house was built.
The new people plan to fix it up and even add onto it, so it might be future work for dh. I hope so.

The parade was nice, but I am frozen. It was about 34 degrees, but it was windy, so that made it seem so much colder! We stopped by the cowboy store (that's the name) to get some corn for the deer, and dh found a pair of shoes to get me for christmas. He is so happy over that!!

We got snow this morning. It is the first time my puppy has seen snow and all she wanted to do is eat it. She loves ice.
It is the kind of snow I like. It covered the trees and grass but did NOT stick to the road. Looks like the Christmas parade is on for this afternoon!! I am so glad about that!!

They are calling for snow to come in after midnight tonight. I stocked up on a few things in case we cannot get out tomorrow. I never keep meat on hand, cause my husband does not like it frozen. So, I got something for dinner and I stocked up on dog food. (My 2 little dogs eat so much food!)
I kind of hope it does not snow cause the christmas parade and the tree lighting on the square, is tomorrow afternoon.
I had a no use gas day yesterday ($2) and I saved $3 using my advantage card today. This will be added to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $16,092.00
today 5.00
new total $16,097.00

My husband is home for this entire week. In the almost 33 years we have been married, he has worked all the time. 7 days a week, weekends, holidays.

This is the first time that work has been slow. He got a lot down around the house the past few months. (BTW, he is a builder, but specs are not selling here)
He has a house, but the owner wants to do a lot of the work to save money. So dh is out of work until all the painting is done.

He is driving me crazy trying to find something to do. A few months ago, he retiled both the front and back porches. (BIG JOB) He laid rock. He has replaced light fixtures! Last week he replaced all the plumbing on the kitchen sink.
Right now he is replacing the baseboard in the pantry. Our house is staying in tip top shape, that's for sure!!

I sure hope he never retires! Anybody need a handy man??

I have 5 one dollar bills to add to my challenge!
Prev. total $16,087.00
today 5.00
new total $16,092.00

Happy December 1st!! It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. I did my grocery shopping at Ingles this morning and the store played christmas carols the whole time. I don't know how the cashiers can stand listening to christmas music for 8 straight hours a day! (I do like christmas music, don't get me wrong)
I had a no use gas day yesterday and the stock market went up, so $3 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $16,084.00
today 3.00
new total $16,087.00

I got another chase rewards check in the mail yesterday for $50. That makes over $1000 I have received back from my chase mastercard and I have never paid one penny in interest.
My electric bill was also very low, so I have $130 left over in my budget envelope. I will add that $180 to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,904.00
today 180.00
new total $16,084.00

I got a free turkey at Ingles today. I also bought an apple pie on sale for dessert tonight. We had our dinner alone last night and I had forgotten about dessert. Tonight will be left overs. My poor husband took leftovers for lunch, so he will probably be ready to go out to eat soon.

I had a no use gas day yesterday and have 8 one's for the challenge for a total of $10 to add.
Prev. total $15,894.00
today 10.00
new total $15,904.00

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I feel like you all are my family. I don't actually have any family alive. My father died before i was 10 and I lost all my grandparents before age 12. My mother died when I was 33 and I have lost all my aunts, uncles, cousins and my half sister. However, I have my wonderful husband and my saving advice friends! Plus my two sweet dogs, Holly and Molly!!

Please pass the cranberry sauce!!

My usual 4th Wednesday of the month check came in. From now on it is going to be $486 a month since Uncle Sam is deducting $97 a month now.
I have $7 in one dollar bills for a grand total of $493 to add to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,401.00
today 493.00
new total $15,894.00

I opened a new certificate of deposit yesterday. The best rate I could get was 2.1% interest.
When I was much younger, we use to say we could easily live on the interest if we had a million dollars in the bank.
Back then, I was a bookkeeper for a small savings and loan. (No computers then, we did everything by hand including figuring the interest.)

We were paying 6% interest on savings accounts and 8% on C.D.'s. That means you could have earned $80,000 in interest if you had a million in c.d.'s
That is over $219 a day in interest.

Today, your one million will earn you a little over $20,000 in interest or $57 dollars a day. $57 dollars a day is pretty hard to live on in this day and age.

Oh well, anyway, I think it will be pretty neat to have a c.d. come due on my birthday next year. I just hope rates head up some day.

I colored my hair today ( I have been doing it my self for over 30 years) so I am adding $100 to my challenge for saving all that money for so long.
Prev. total $15,301.00
today 100.00
new total $15,401.00

I am having a birthday again and remembering an old song that George Burns recorded in 1979.
I wish I was 18 again,
and going when I've never been,
but old folks and old oaks,
standing tall, just pretend,
I wish i was 18 again.

It sure would be nice to start over again, knowing what I know now. However, I have been pretty lucky in my life and have enjoyed it.

I was born on Thanksgiving day. My mother griped that she had fixed a big dinner and did not get to eat any of it!
lol!!

My dear husband gave me a neat birthday card this morning. It plays my favorite song to dance too, "Wipe Out"
(most of you have probably never even heard this song)

President Kennedy was assassinated. I was working as a cashier in a restaurant across from Stetson University. One of the cooks called the restaurant to tell everyone and I answered the phone. What a scary time that was.

Well, my husband got all the outside christmas lights up today. He also put in all new pipes for the kitchen sink and organized the pantry. Sadly, the reason he is getting so much done around the house is because he does not have that much work.
He has a house going on, but the owner wants to do as much of the work himself. Unfortunate to say, the owner is not much of a carpenter so dh is not happy with the workmanship. Dh has a good helper, but the owner does not want to use him. ( or pay him)
Hopefully , the next house will proceed a little smoother.
I did my grocery shopping the other day. According to the receipt. i saved $15 using my advantage card, so I will add that amount to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $15,286.00
today 15.00
new total $15,301.00

Since I put up my christmas tree so early, (it came in in October and I wanted to see if I liked it enough to keep it) I decided to put some presents in front of it today.
About three years ago, I made a great purchase at QVC. For about $25 I bought a selection of beautiful christmas gift bags with tissue paper.
Since it is just dh and I (I sent the granddaughters checks), we re use the bags over and over each year.
So, in just a matter of a few minutes, I got about 10 gifts assembled and under the tree. (We don't give expensive gifts, just things like shirts, socks, good stuff to pig out on, etc.)

Ho Ho HO!!

The older I get, the more tired I get of being ripped off. When I use to buy something, (anything) and there was something wrong with it, I just put up with the problem. I don't do that anymore.
I bought some oreo cookies last week and when I opened them on sunday, they were all broken up. I took them back to the grocery store and asked for a new package of cookies. No problem even tho I did not have a receipt. I did that a few months ago with some mints I bought. They were all melted. I have taken back sour cream that had gone bad. From now on, receipt or not, I take it back! It is my hard earned money, not Ingles!!
I did have 2 no use gas days ($4)and 3 one dollar bills left over. Plus I got a $3 pinecone check in the mail yesterday. That gives me a total of $10 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $15,276.00
today 10.00
new total $15,286.00

It is a beautiful sunday day. dh has even taken his hot rod for a ride to Ace Hardware. It is warmer outside of the house than on the inside. I took my puppy to be groomed Friday and she looks like a different dog, they took off so much hair.
I have 5 one dollar bills to add to my challenge.
Prev. total $15,271.00
today 5.00
new total $15,276.00

I took all of my change to the bank this morning. I try not to spend any of my change except for pennies. It adds up. I have $36 to add to my challenge today.

Prev. total $15,235.00
today 36.00
new total $15,271.00

In case no one has noticed, today is Friday the 13th. The only Friday the 13th of the entire year. I got married on Friday the 13th, so it has always been a lucky day for me.
I had to take my puppy in today to get groomed. She had gotten terrible matted. ( a maltese) They really had to shave her down to get out all those mats, but she looks real cute. (and a lot skinnier)

Ok, I did it almost. I kept track like wonderlake suggested! In case you don't know what I am talking about, I had a colonoscopy yesterday.
I started taking the moviprep at 6 pm on Tuesday night and finished it up by 3 am Wednesday morning. So, I spend all of the night and the next morning going to the pottie!
Then, I spent the rest of yesterday afternoon sleeping, but went out for a nice dinner. Boy, it sure was good to get to eat after having nothing but a few popcicles for 37 hours.
I am adding $80 to my $20 challenge in honor of the colonoscopy!!
Prev. total $15,155.00
today 80.00
new total $15,235.00

That is all I am eating today. I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow.
I am thinking about Fern and how much she disliked the moviprep she had to drink. I start drinking the same thing at 6 pm, then I have to get up at 4 am and drink another quart.
You don't realize how hungry you will get. I have not had anything but two popcicles since before midnight last night and will not get to eat until about 11 am tomorrow! My tummy is certainly protesting.
At least the rain has stopped. The cream is so full, it almost came out of it's banks.
I have not added to the challenge in a few days, but I have 7 $1 bills to add today.
Prev. total $15,148.00
today 7.00
new total $15,155.00

What a beautiful day it was today. Almost 80 degrees and still some fall leaves to look at. We rode around for a while and spent no money except under $5 at the grocery store for tonight's supper.
I had two no use gas days on Thursday and Friday and the stock market went up, so that is $5 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $15,143.00
today 5.00
new total $15,148.00

How are foreclosures in your area? They are really bad here in this small town. We only have a weekly paper, but it is full of foreclosures every week. Sadly, I recognize a lot of the names. The biggest real estate brokerage house in town is even being foreclosed on. It once had over 50 employees. This has been going on for over a year, I don't see any signs of anything getting any better. I just wonder how your area is doing?

It is Thursday morning and I have 5 one dollar bills left in my wallet. So, into the $20 challenge they go!
Prev. total $15,138.00
today 5.00
new total $15,143.00

It is time to start collecting for your local food pantry or food bank. Actually, anytime is a good time with so many people being out of work.
If you still have a job and can afford it, please pick up a few items to donate. Here is some of the things they want:
canned potatoes
canned peas
bagged rice
canned chicken and tuna
chunky soups
peanut butter and jelly
powdered milk
mac and cheese

Please help out if you can. I buy 3 or 4 items every week and will take them in before thanksgiving.

I check my bank accounts almost every day and noticed that the bank had lowered the interest rate they pay. When I first opened these checking accounts, the bank was paying 3.19 for an entire year.
We have to keep a lot of cash in the bank for building spec houses. We never take out a loan to build a house, so I was pretty happy with that rate.
When the end of the year was up, the bank lowered the rate to 2% in July. Last month, they lowered the rate to 1.75% and today I noticed it was down to 1.49%.
I can remember the good old days when banks paid 6% and 8% and people could actually live on their interest if they were careful.