Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

Thngs are really slowing down in our little town. Most of the work around here is related to the construction of new homes. Lots of people have found this area and are moving in. That has almost come to a standstill right now.

I am on a local forum. For years, I have been preaching to the other members of the forum how important it is to save some of what they make, every paycheck.
Of course, they did not listen to me, but continued to spend every dime.

Now, they are complaining that they no longer can pay their bills on time. And after 20 plus years of marriage, they have no savings to help them in these slower times.

But still they do not listen. Anyone can save a little bit, even if it is only $5 out of each paycheck. Please, everybody, pay yourself first!!

WE had dinner at home last night. It had been snowing a little during the day and we just weren't sure of the weather. So I am going to add the $20 we would have spent to the challenge money. We are going out tonight with a group of about 9.
Prev. total $2026.00
today 20.00
new total $2046.00

I am off to take a bridge class in 5 minutes and I just wanted to wish you all a happy valentine's day. Dh and I were frugal, we recycled last year's valentine's day cards, but we are going out tonight to dinner with several friends. Have a great day!

They are calling for snow tonight, so we will be dining in. I ran to the store for a few things for dinner and with my store card and a doubled coupon, I saved $3. Then I stopped and bought the kind of candy all the bridge players love. Kissables, and they were on sale for $1.50 off price, so I got two bags. That is $6 in savings for the challenge to day.
Prev. total $2020.00
today 6.00
new total $2026.00

Yesterday, I posted about going into my hometown bank that I have been using for about 12 years. I go there 2 or 3 times a week.
For the first time ever, I was asked for my I.D.
When I posted this yesterday, I got several comments. I guess everyone assumed that I got mad when the teller asked for my I.D.
Quite to the contrary, I was just in shock! It is the first time ever that I have been asked for my I.D. as a bank customer.
I think it is a very good idea. The teller did not know me and was fairly new. I think the bank is making it a requirement and that is a good idea.

So, I was just a bit shocked, but not upset a bit!! I will just make sure to take my purse inside with me from now on. ( I almost left it locked in the car)

I seem to do a lot of banking and I bank with several different banks.
I have bragged about my main bank cause for over a year they have paid 5.25% on money market funds.
I have banked with this particular bank for over 12 years and until 2 weeks ago, I had over 300K in there. They dropped their rate to 2.9% so I moved 200K to a c.d. at another bank.
Well, yesterday, I had 3 transactions to make; cash a check, make a deposit to one of the money markets and make a large deposit to my business account.

I approached the teller with my transactions in hand. After I handed them over, he said, "May I see your ID??
Huh?? I was shocked.
Do I look like a thief or something? A check forger? A bank embezzler?

I guess he was just doing his job!

I got married. Yes, it was on Lincoln's birthday and I eloped. It was not a smart decision. My first husband had one main interest and it was not me. It was sports, mainly football.

We were married for 12 long years. I finally moved out in Jan. of 1977. I met my dh in Feb. of 1977. He proposed to me on April, 2, 1977. My divorce became final on April 5th, 1977. We got married on Friday, may the 13th, 1977.

So, I was single for 5 weeks in the past 43 years.

This time, I got the marriage "thing" right!!

We played bridge today, so it was another no spend day for me!! I see that the stock market was up today, so that is two dollars more to add to my challenge.
Prev.total $2020.00
today 2.00
new total $2022.00

Well, I had another no spend and no use of gas day yesterday. These are getting easier! I will add $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2018.00
today 2.00
new total $2020.00

Oh my gosh!! My oldest granddaughter turned 19 today. It just seems like yesterday when she was born!!
I cannot believe that I am this old!
Oh well, they say you are just as old as you feel, so that is ok!! Just put on my favorite dance song, "Wipe out" and watch me dance!!
(hey and being this old sure beats the alternative)

Someone mentioned to me that they had bought Tide on sale, instead of paying $10 a box!! When did it go to $10 a box? I have used Trend for years and years. In one store it costs 99 cents and in the other store, it cost $1.09. It works just fine too!! Oh my gosh, I am shocked!

I went grocery shopping yesterday. I always use to shop on sunday cause things are slow, especially in the morning. However, lately, I have been going on Friday, when it is so busy.
I had a couple of coupons plus i used my advantage card. I only spent about $40 ($7 on elations) and I saved $6 with my coupons and my card. So, I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $2012.00
today 6.00
new total $2018.00

We cancelled the small policy we had on dh a few months ago. So now, I just take the monthly premium and add it to the challenge money.
Prev. total $1972.00
today 40.00
new total $2012.00

Yeah, over $2000 so far!!

Has anyone on this forum ever played a game called "Hearts"??
We have a church that offers classes four times a year to people who are 50 and over. I have taken the bridge class several times, but they are not offering it the next semester. Instead they are offering a game called "Hearts"
Has anyone on here played the game? I am assuming that it is a card game? Did you like it??

The stock market went up slightly today, the first time this week. I had a no spend day yesterday, so i will add $2 to my challenge money today.
Prev. total $1970.00
today 2.00
new total $1972.00

My business checking account pays interest. I sometimes have a lot of money in there. However, the interest rate they pay is 1/2 of one percent. (.005%)
so I can have like $17,000 sitting there and earn about 20 cents in interest a day. Not a very good deal for me, but a great one for the bank!

Well, after two days of no heat, the heater kicked on this morning for the first time. We have 70's weather for two days. Now it is down to 28 and the heat is back on, but I know I saved a few dollars. Still have not gotten my propane bill, so I don't know how much it is per gallon.

Ok, I had another no spend day. I did go to town after the storms left the area, but I just did my errands, picked up a check, paid a bill.I have had several no spend days here lately and that amazes me! I use to run to town everyday and I always stopped at the grocery store. I am getting better at this!

I really did!! I have some large tins and I have always used them to save for different goals. Then I put a picture on them to remind me of these goals.
For example, for the past few years, my goal has been to pay off a piece of property that we bought in a small subdivision. It has fantastic views of the mountain. The subdivision was called "The ridge at Owltown"

I took a picture of the view from the property and put it on one of my tins and called it "The Ridge" money. I tried to put something in that tin everyday, even if it was only $1. I thought I had all the money out of the tin, I paid off the ridge almost a year ago.
Today, I was looking around in the cabinet and looked in the tin. 3 $20 bills were in there, so yeah, now they go into the challenge money.
Prev. total $1910.00
today 60.00
new total $1970.00

It hit 75 degrees yesterday. I even put the air on in the car. ( you don't actually put it on, you set the temp. and it comes on when it needs to)
It was much warmer outside than inside of my house, which I keep set at 63 degrees.
So, the heat has not run for the last 24 hours and that helps the budget a bit!

I just figured out that I am losing money by not paying cash for a new car, but not very much a month. Plus, it keeps my husband from wanting a new car every year. We were discussing insurance also and how much young men have to pay for it. When we got our first vette, young men were paying $1200 every 6 months.And this was in 1978. The most I have ever paid is $450 every 6 months! I guess it is my age and the fact that I have never had a ticket or an accident.

I use the Ridge money for my car payment, but there is more in the envelope than I need to pay on the new car. I add the balance to my challenge money every few weeks or so.
Prev. total $1910.00
today 280.00
new total $2190.00

Don't look at the dow today. Bad news for sure!!

I got the propane gas that we use for heating, delivered this morning. I was afraid to even ask how much it is per gallon. When I ordered in Sept., it was $1.79 a gallon, but I know it has gone up. Some of you say you are paying over $3.00 a gallon.
I am only getting 200 gallons this time, but I have 1000 gallon buried tank. I still have 180 gallons left, and I think this will get me thru the rest of the winter. I write this down also, and we seem to be using about 130 gallons a month.
Gosh, I remember when I first moved here, I could heat the whole house for about $300 for the entire winter. That was 12 years ago!

My dh and i were discussing car payments last night. It is the one and only debt that we both do not mind!! I think that is kind of funny that we both agree on that.
I cannot stand to owe money on credit cards or have a mortgage payment, but I am ok on having a car loan. It is sort of like the electric bill, it is just something we have to have!! Cars, they are a pleasure to us and also a necessity.
Unlike a house, where the majority of your payment is interest, I always make sure that the majority of the payment goes to the principal when I buy a car.

I understand that most of you will NOT agree with me, but we are just "car people" Some women have to have their hair done every week. I probably spend less on car interest each month then they do on their hair. Gosh, I have not had my hair "done" in over 40 years!! I wear it long and straight!! (and blond)
Instead, we indulge in cars!!

Well my car is fixed. It seems that someone left out a bolt when the car was put back together in Florida. You may recall that my car just stopped when i went to Fla. for my class reunion. It turned out that the fuel pump just quit working and the entire car had to be taken apart.
Apparently when they put the car back together, he forgot to bolt the shifter cable back on or something like that!! Anyway, it is fixed and ready to come home and go back in the garage with Ole yellar!! I miss that car!!

I drove ole yellar to the bank today. The car has 1200 miles on it now and it is only the 3rd time i have driven it. Too bad it was raining and I got it dirty. Today is payday.
I love payday, coming home and putting money in all the envelopes! Now, I have to get ready for bridge, so it should be another no spend day like yesterday!!

Well, I had a no spend, no use gas day yesterday. I also walked a mile. So, I am adding $3 to the challenge money.

Prev. total $1907.00
today 3.00
new total $1910.00

Woke up to a rainy day today. Actually, that is good cause Georgia has been having a drought! Finally, the creek is starting to look good again!

My husband is building a big fancy house for a lady who is going to sell it. (spec house) She has hired a young man to make videos of it, while it is being built. Yesterday, he came over and had my husband talk on the video. I left them alone while they did it, but I know my dh was nervous. It took them almost an hour to make a 3 minute video.
Next time, dh wants me to do the talking. I think this is really neat!! I hope it helps sell the house, cause NOTHING is selling around here at all!!