Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

I wish I had know about mutual funds when I was younger. My family knew nothing about money matters except that they were frugal and paid cash for everything.
I started work at a young age and always saved at least 10% of what I made, but I always put my money in a savings account.

If only someone would have turned me onto mutual funds back then, what a head start I would have gotten.
although there were not a lot of mutual funds in the 50's and 60's there were some. One, called twentieth century back then, (now American century) would take deposits of any size, so anyone could own a mutual fund.
I wanted to learn about investing, but had no one to give me advice.
I looked in my tiny library, but there were no books on finances.
I finally bought a copy of money magazine and have been reading it for over 20 years.
I read everything they said about mutual funds and sent off for about 50 prospectus!
I read everyone of them and decided on the Twenthieth Century because I could open a mutual fund with only $50. That $50 has turned into $50,000.

Now, I tell every young person I meet about the smart thing to do, open a mutual fund account when you are young!!

They had kissables on sale today, so I bought two bags on sale today and saved $2. Have you all tried them, they are like m and m's but even better. My bridge group just loves them. (and they don't melt in your hands either)
The stock market went up yesterday, so that is $3 more to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $25,855.00
today 3.00
new total $25,858.00

This year was the 1st year that I got a social security check. It started in January. Since this is new, unexpected money for me, I have added it to my challenge money every month and never spent a penny of it. I get a whopping $538 a month. I am not making fun of it, I have never made very much money. My highest year of working full time, I made a little over $8000 that year.

In the mail yesterday, I got notice that I am getting a cost of living raise. I am sure I have told everyone that my lucky number is 13. (I got married on Friday the 13th) Well, my raise is going to be $13 a month. So, as of January, I will be getting $551 a month! I wonder how anyone can actually live on social security?? I am glad I have always been a saver!!

That is what I did, played bridge. I love that game. Also, I don't spend any money when I spend the afternoon playing bridge! We played at my house, so no gas used either!!

I took a ride today with my puppy to go and visit my dh at his job site. He is just finishing up a small house. The last thing he does is build in all the cabinets in place. I have not seen the house since the basement was started and it is really cute! The best thing is that he brought the house in, under the budget of $150,000.
The house has beautiful mountain views and the weather is a balmy 70 degrees, so it was a nice day out there.
The stock market went up on Friday plus I danced at least a mile last night, so I am adding $2 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $25,853.00
today 2.00
new total $25,855.00

We had a great time at the party at my house last night. No one brought any music so we danced to my really old 50's and 60's records. My favorite to dance to is "wipe out" Anyone remember that one?? Gosh, we had a ton of food. My only problem was I bought $22 worth of chicken wings at KFC last night, thinking my husband could have some of the leftovers for lunch, but someone took them all home. I guess they were good, I never tried any!
The white elephant exchange was a lot of fun and we had some really good gifts.

We stayed home last night and decorated the garage. We set up the bar and have a table for the cd player and records. (Yes, I still have records) dh strung christmas lights all around the garage and we have a fake tree out there too. We are even lighting up the deck over the creek if anyone wants to sit out there.
Yesterday, the stock market went up and I saved $2 using my Ingles card, so i will add $3 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $25,850.00
today 3.00
new total $25,853.00

We are having a christmas party tomorrow night. Actually, a bunch of people on the local forum have a get together every year at christmas. This is our 3rd year.
This year they are coming to my house. So, we have the house and yard all decorated.
Now, I am really not suppose to supply anything, but my dh kind of goes overboard when it comes to partiesm so we are making several appetizers and providing quite a bit of the liquor.
We have a big house, but this is a younger group and they like to dance. So tonight, we are going to transform the garage into a party room with a bar!
Now, if someone hopefully will bring some music. I doubt if they want to dance to my 50 year old elvis records!

I am excited! We are also going to have a white elephant exchange which should be fun!

MY dh has needed new glasses for over a year. He finally went for an eye exam and got a new prescription for glasses. We usually go to Lenscrafters. They involves taking a day off, losing a day's pay and a 4 hour round trip drive.
we decided to try out the vision store at the Walmarts, about 25 miles away.
Well, we did not get glasses in an hour, but we will go back and get them in about 10 business days.
While my dh tried on frames, I over heard a man asking about an AARP discount, which he got.
when figuring the total for the glasses, it was over $100 cheaper than lenscrafters, and then I asked about the AARP discount.
They took 30% off the price of the glasses saving us $70. I was thrilled. This money comes out of our medical account, so it will be no problem at all.

My dh and I decided to cut way back on christmas presents for each other, a few years back. Now we just get a few practical presents, like underwear, socks and things we enjoy eating.
so I found some canned nuts he would enjoy and they were on sale, $4 off (It was a tri pack) I will add that to my challenge money along with $1 cause the stock market went up yesterday.
Prev. total $25,845.00
today 5.00
New total $25,850.00

Paying all my bills that are due before the 10th. Also, I have to pay all the bills that are due for the houses we are building by the 10th. I did all the books and am caught up to date. I had planned on today being a no spend day but then realized I am all out of conditioner. (I bought the shampoo by mistake) I will pick some up when I go to take my computer class. So far, I don't feel like I have learned a thing. Maybe the light will come on for me someday??

I went to buy prilosec today and found it was on sale, plus I had a $4 off coupon. Then CVS sent me a $3 off anything coupon, so I bought some much needed cover girl make up for about $2. The prilosec was $5 off and I got some chips for the party on sale. Altogether, I saved about $13 today, which I will add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $25,832.00
today 13.00
new total $25,845.00

I added up my interest for the month and it came to $2302.76. I really expected it to go down this month because my main bank here has lowed it's rate from 5.25% to 4.2%. I put some money into Vanguard when the money market was paying 5% but now it is down to 4.72%, the last time I checked. Every time they lower the prime rate, it does hurt us savers.

I did my net worth in networthiq this morning and it went down for the first time since I started keeping track of it. It was because the value of my stocks and mutual funds went down in November. I added some cash but not as much as I had planned cause I have several emergencies come up.

Monday is payday for us and also the day that I do my written budget. I use the very old envelope system and have for over 40 years. Hey, it works for me! so, I have already done my budget for the week.
I use to budget a small amount monthly for life insurance, then we decided we were just wasting the money, we can self insure dh. So, I now add that money to my challenge money, which i will do now.
Prev. total $25,762.00
today 70.00
new total $25,832.00

My christmas tree is up and all decorated. It looks just beautiful. It has been a few years since we had a real tree because we have cut back on presents so much. The outside of the house is all decorated too. My neighbors across the street decorated a lot, so our end of the block looks really good. No, I am not going to worry about the electric bill this month at all. It will still come in under budget. I am having the bridge group at my house today and I am thrilled that everything is all decorated thanks to my dh. He did it all!!

I did my grocery shopping today and saved $12 using my store card and getting NY strip steaks on sale.
However, we did splurge and bought a live christmas tree this year. We are having a christmas party next Saturday and my little fake tree looked might pitiful in this big house!!
I guess he will decorate it tonight, while I watch. He got all the christmas lights put outside and I am just waiting til dark to plug them in.Now, he is shampooing all the carpets! That man ia amazing!
Prev. total $25,750.00
today 12.00
new total $25,762.00

My dh is outside right now, cutting the grass?? The grass has not grown in over a month. However, we are having a christmas party next weekend, so I think he is mostly cutting up all the leaves that has fallen. Oh well, it is his day off and he always spends any time off, working around the house. I think he will put up christmas decorations later too.

We had our local little christmas parade today. It only lasted 30 minutes, but it was cute. The kids are getting smart now, they bring bags to carry all the candy that is thrown to them.
My dh took off early and went with me. We really enjoyed it.

I took my change for the month to the bank yesterday, so I have that cash to add to the $20 challenge. I am surprised that I have managed to save this much money this year.
Prev. total $25,718.00
today 32.00
new total $25,750.00

People joined us for dinner last night. They were the most boring people, especially her. I really did not enjoy myself at all.
However, I did get my regular check for $538 in the mail the other day and forgot to add it to my challenge money, so I will do that right now.
Prev. total $25,180.00
today 538.00
new total $25,718.00

Happy December 1st! I hope this month calms down. October and November proved to be pretty spending months.
First I went to my class reunion and the car broke down and we were stuck in florida. That cost us about $3000 all told.
Then I decided to get two appliances repaired. After shelling out $400, neither of them worked, so I spent another $1000 replacing them.
My husband had two eye appts. and then had to get treatment at the clinic last week. Another $450 gone!
Yesterday, I spent $400 getting new brakes on my car and having the oil changed.
Ok, I hope things are slowing down. The only major expense I am expecting this month is a pair of new glasses for dh.
I am happy to say I have still not had to dip into my emergency savings to pay for any of this, but have mananged to save up and pay these charges off of my credit card out of the paycheck.
I hope this is a quiet month!!

Well the stock market went up yesterday and I saved $2 using my advantage card at the grocery store, so that is $3 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $25,177.00
today 3.00
new total $25,180.00

The new refrigerator came today and they picked up the one that did not work correctly. I only bought it for the ice maker, which dropped 24 cubes of ice in 24 hours. Let's see if this one is any better. At least it is the correct size, they sent a big one the first time.
I am making up my deposit for the bank and I have $315 in Ridge money to add to the challenge money.
Prev. total $24,862.00
today 315.00
new total $25,177.00

My first chase business card statement came today. We have being using the GM credit card which gives back 1% on all purchases and I had received several checks, plus $550 on the new car purchases.
This busines card gives you back 3% on all purchases made in home improvement stores and 1% on everything else.
Since my husband uses the car at home depot all the time, it should add up a lot quicker.
I just earned over 4000 points and I can cash in at 5000 points and received a $50 check. I think I am going to like this program!!

I have not thought too much about finances the past few days. Both dh and I came down with a stomach virus. He went to a clinic, but I did not.
I do not get sick very often, thank goodness, but it has been 3 or 4 days of throwing up and not wanting to eat.
I just had my first real meal of toast and chocolate milk a little while ago. At least we have saved money not eating out for several nights.

Well, my dh was sick all day with a stomach virus and we had to go to the walk in clinic. So we had to spend almost $150 on the visit and medicines.
However, it was a great day in the mail department.
First I got a check from state farm for $100. That was to pay for the towing bill while we were in Florida. That bill was charged and has been paid off already. So, it goes to the challenge money.
Next I got a check from Tim Horton for over $12 plus a check from Pinecone for $5. That is a total of $117 for the challenge fund.
Prev. total $24,745.00
today 117.00
new total $24,862.00

Wow, One month from today will be christmas day! It is coming quickly!!

I went to a surprise birthday party last night.
The big surprise. It was for me!!

I am on a local forum and one of the girls decided to throw a party for me.
We were supposed to meet for dinner last night and about six, she called me to tell me that her daughter had made me a birthday cake and to please come over to see it before we went out to dinner.

so, we went over at 7 pm. and there was about 20 people all sitting in the living room yelling surprise to me!!

They had all brought food and for gifts they brought canned food to give to the food pantry!!

We had a really great time. It was my first birthday party since I was ten years old and I never had a surprise party!!

I guess this was my best birthday ever!!

Every time I save a dollar using my store cards (Ingles, Bi Lo), I add that money to my challenge money.
I think next year, I am going to keep track of that seperately on paper, just to see how much I am saving. I am sure it is several hundred per year.
Today I saved over $6 using my advantage card at Ingles.
Prev. total $24,739.00
today 6.00
new total $24,745.00