Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

These no spend days are getting much easier lately. I have had several this week and also, I have had 3 stay home and use no gas days.
I use to run to the grocery store almost every day, just for something to do. Now, I stay home and am staying out of the stores.
I am going to add $6 to my challenge for my 3 no spend, no gasoline days.
( I am spending $3.45 for a gallon of gas now)
Prev. total $5326.00
today 6.00
new total $5332.00

I just read in an aarp publication, that the only place that seniors spend more money than folks younger than 50, was playing the lottery. I thought that was interesting. I just never even think about playing it and rarely go to a store where lottery tickets are sold.
Today, I am adding the money that I put aside to pay for aarp life insurance. I cancelled it a while back and just add the money to my challenge.
prev. total $5286
today 40
new total $5326.00

Steak is one of my favorite foods, but I rarely order it at a restaurant. No one can cook steak any better than my dh. I can almost always buy steak on sale at the local bi lot. We can usually have a nice steak dinner for two for about $7 instead of spending $35. (or more)
Last night I picked up 2 N.Y. steaks on sale for $6, saving $5 which I will add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5281.00
today 5.00
new total $5286.00

I am so glad I learned how to check my bank totals every day on the computer. Lat month, the bank deducted $10 service fee because my account went below the minimum. I added to the account, showed them my paperwork that had a lower minimu and got my $10 back. Well, it happened again. I was able to straighten it out over the phone and am now on a free checking with no minimum!

We stayed home and I cooked dinner last night. Cube steak on sale with rice and peas. I am adding the $20 I saved to my challenge money.
Prev. total $5261.00
today 20.00
new total $5281.00

I had too much money in my phone/cell phone/DSL envelope, so I am adding $80 to my challenge money today. My goal is to save at least $20,000 for the challenge this year.
prev. total $5181.00
today 80.00
new total $5261.00

Payday for me is every Monday when I cash my dh's paycheck and head home to put the cash in all the different envelopes. I noticed that the envelopes seemed pretty full, so I decided to "rework " the envelopes today.
Since there are sometimes 5 paydays in a month, I usually have more than needed in each envelope.
That is good, I like to have a week or two extra.
But, It has really built up in some of the envelopes. That money needs to be sitting with my challenge money, earning cash in the bank.
So, I am reworking the envelopes today and I have $400 from the car payment envelope to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $4781.00
today 400.00
new total $5181.00

I have received another $50 check from my Chase reward Mastercard. That makes $200 I have received from them so far. DH charges on the card at Home depot for his building materials and we always pay the bill in full each month.
The $200 received has been just this year, so I am looking forward to many more $50 checks.
I will add this to the $20 challenge.
Prev. total $4731.00
today 50.00
new total $4781.00

A big check came in the mail today. It was for $1922. I have explained this before, but we get a "rebate" check from a building supply place 2 or 3 times a year. We simply promised to be loyal to them and buy all of our building material there in exchange for a 5% rebate. After all, Home Depot often gives us coupons for 10% off.
That will go directly into my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $2809.00
today 1922
new total $4731.00

y net worth did not go down in Feb. as I originally thought. All my mutual funds and stocks went down, but I managed to add enough cash to my savings to make up for it. My net worth went up slightly. I hope the market gets better!

I have a friend who gets a delivery from the UPS guy everyday. She shops on line constantly. She lives in a small house but the house is overflowing with "stuff" She is in the process of building a bigger house, so she can fill it with more stuff.
The sad part to me is that she is 60 and she and her husband had to let a loan to build this house. By the age of 60, you should really be mortgage free, especially if you make good money like her husband.
I thought you got wiser when you get older, but I guess that is not always true!

I am working on my net worth this weekend. I try and do that the first day of each month. Every single one of my mutual funds and stocks have gone down, all of them!
How have you done this past month?

That what it said on the news today. They counted down the 10 things most lied about by women.
Guess what was number one??
How much money they spend!!
Do you lie about money and how much you spend??

I went and did my grocery shopping early this morning. It was so nice and quiet and I got finished in a breeze. My dh uses prilosec every day and he was out, so I picked some up. It was $5 off at Ingles, plus I had a $4 off coupon, That is $9 I saved on prilosec.
I also picked up a couple of packs of meat that was on sale. All in all, I saved $15 to add to the challenge money.
Prev. total $2794.00
today 15.00
new total $2809.00

The electric bill came today. It was only $80. The power company announced that they are raising rates next month, but I have been well under budget each month. I have $120 left in my budget envelope, so I am adding that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2674.00
today 120.00
new total $2794.00

We attended a meeting of an antique car club on Thursday night. It was a dinner meeting, but we chose not to eat there. (we don't like the place) So, we ate dinner at home late, after the meeting. That gives me $20 to add to the challenge, plus I have $5 more for no spend days and the market having an up day. All told, $25 more for the challenge.
prev. total $2649.00
today 25.00
new total $2679.00

Well, I have been lax this week about my $20 challenge. (I have been hooked on playing mahjong on this computer) I did receive a check for $551 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2098.00
today 551.00
new total $2649.00

I am so glad it is March. Oh, I know we still are in a winter month, but things start to change this month.
First, daylight savings time begins on March 9th and the days will be longer. (more sunlight.
Then, spring begins on March 20th, less than 3 weeks away. Yeah for March!!

I have two dollars to add to my challenge money today; the stock market went up yesterday and I had a no spend day. I did order a $50 check from Chase master card today. This will be my 4th $50 check so far this year. That is the reward for charging on the card. I will add that to the challenge when the check arrives.
Prev. total $2096.00
today 2.00
new total $2098.00

We are snowed in, today. We only have an inch or two, but the roads are slick. Dh is happy as a clam out working on his hot rod. Now, I know why he had gas heat put in this garage when he built it.
We had dinner at home last night and probably will again tonight. I am glad I had some meat in the freezer (dh does not like to eat any meat that has been frozen, but he will tonight)
Looks like a no spend day for sure!

The weather is terrible here, so we are staying home for supper tonight. We are going to cook on the grill. However, the wind is blowing so hard here, I hope dh can get the grill lit!
I was reading here about one couple's splurge on going out to dinner and they spent $70. Well, I spend that when we go to Gatlinburg, but around here we can get a sit down dinner for two for about $16. So, I am adding $20 to the challenge for staying home tonight.
Prev. total $2076.00
today 20.00
new total $2096.00

We had a nice birthday dinner out for my dh last night. Our local restaurant was having a 50's night with burgers and banana splits! The waitresses were dressed like the 50's!! we met a couple of friends there and had a great time. I also went grocery shopping yesterday and saved $5 using my store card and some coupons. I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2071.00
today 5.00
new total $2076.00

I spent most of the day playing mahjong yesterday. Well, that kept me from spending money. I had four no spend days this past week, plus the stock market went up on Friday, so that is $5 more to the challenge.
prev. total $2066.00
today 5.00
new total $2071.00

I am having another no spend day today. The good news is the electric bill is smaller than last months. The bad news is that the propane bill is about the same as in October, but I got 100 gallons less than last time. It is really getting expensive to heat your home now.

A friend gave me the site to go to, to play mahjong! I have never seen anything like it before. I have spent the entire morning, playing that game. I guess I am hooked.
Well, it is a cheap way to have fun!

We went shopping yesterday and stopped and looked at all the how to books at Lowes! By the time we got back to town it was too late to eat at our usual place. (Our town closes up at 8pm.) So, we ate at Wendys and that saved us $12 in food, so I am adding that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2054.00
today 12.00
new total $2066.00

We are building a big fancy house! Most of the spec homes we have built were cute little homes, except for the last one.
We get to pick everything out,which is the fun part. Pick stuff out with someone else's money!!
This house is their spec house, so we are trying to save money. But it is a high end house, so we have to make it nice. (Price is $799,000)
What would you all reccommend that we use on the countertops in the kitchen?
In the bathrooms?
(I like tile, but have been told that tile is OUT)

I am $10 richer today.
Last year I opened up a new checking account just to use when we build spec houses. Well, we have not built one this year, so the account is pretty much just sitting.
I check my accounts everyday and noticed a $10 service charge on that account. On calling the bank, I found that I got charged because I was below minimum balance of $750.
When I opened the account, I was told the minimum was $500.
Yesterday, I found my paperwork and I was right. I took the paperwork to the bank and they put the $10 back in my account. Apparently they changed the minimums, but they did not bother to tell me!
It pays to keep your paperwork!

Today is a special day to me and it makes me think about my life so many years ago.
I did not have a happy first marriage and my first husband physically abused me. I guess it made him feel like a "big man". Well, he was. He was 6 feet 7 inches tall and I am 5 feet 2 inches tall.
I remember the very first time he hit me. We both worked; I made $1 an hour and he made about $1.25 an hour.
We had not been married very long. His cousin wanted us to go to the dog track and gamble with him.
I said "we can't afford that"

When we got home, he hit me and told me never to say that again. I don't remember if I ever said that again, but it did not take much for him to hit me again!

When I moved out, we split our assets equally. Within about 2 years, he was broke. He wound up living with his new in laws and never had any money the rest of his life. He never owned a house again, he could not "afford it"!

That was 31 years ago, when I moved out the first week of January, 1977.

Thirty one years ago today, I met my darling husband on a blind date!

I went grocery shopping this morning. I like going on sunday mornings when the stores are so quiet. My dh and I eat an egg for breakfast every morning, so I need to buy a dozen every week. I saw a dozen fancy brown eggs for sale for $4.50. I could not believe my eyes.
No, they did not come home with me.

Yesterday, I had a no spend, no gas use day plus I walked over a mile. I saved $2 today by using my advantage card. That is $5 more to add to the challenge.
prev. total $2049.00
today 5.00
new total $2054.00

We have had a problem lately. The neighbor's young, male german shepherd is in love with my 5 pound, female poodle, Holly.
He is here all the time.
We have very low to the floor windows and he follows us from room to room. When I put Holly in the pantry, I went back to find the 150 pound shepherd standing with his front paws on the window ledge staring in at Holly. He was trying to figure out how to get inside. You may have already figured that Holly is in heat!
On the money front, I had a no spend day, no use gas day and I walked over a mile. That is $3 more to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2046.00
today 3.00
new total $2049.00