Ima Saver's Personal Finance Blog

Today is the birthdate of elvis Presley. He would have been 72, but he died at the young age of 42 back in 1977. Happy elvis day!!

I am having a no spend day today. I am just staying home, watching hubby draw houseplans. Even my little Holly wanted to come upstairs to be with us.
Since I am using no gas, I guess I will add $1 to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1671.00
today 1.00
new total $1672.00

It is true, my husband did not go to work today. Of course, he is not laying around doing nothing. He got up at 7 a.m., fixed his breakfast and is drawing up a set of house plans for a friend's son.
Of course, he will make a little money on this, but not as much as he usually makes on a set of house plans.
He will probably charge the friend about $250. If you order them out of a magazine, you would probably spend $750 or more. Hand drawn plans are expensive. He has no computer knowledge, so he designs and draws the plans by hand. When he gets paid, i will add that to the challenge money.
I have spent the whole morning paying bills for the houses we build and our personal bills. Good thing i like bookkeeping.

Well, I had a pretty good mail day today. I got two checks in the mail, one was a $10 check for a pinecone survey and the other check was $245 that someone owed me.
I went back and got some more hair coloring while it was on sale. I had a $2 coupon and there was another $1 coupon on the box, so I saved $3 there.
I will add this $258.00 to my challenge money.
prev total $1413.00
today 258.00
new total $1671.00

It is a pretty day and I am just thinking about my wonderful husband. He has always been such a hard worker.
I think that is why we have all the things we have. He has never worked a 5 day, 40 hour week.
Even though, for many years, he never made decent money, he always worked long hours to make up for it.
We got used to eating dinner at 10 at night because he would work from 8 am til 9 pm.
He has always worked 6, ususally 7 days a week.
when I worked at the restaurant, I was head waitress. What that means is, when someone calls in sick, you work their shift. So, I know what it it like to start work at 9 am and work til 10 or 11 pm.
When I left this job is was because my husband wanted me to stay home with him in the evening. I only made between $20-$40 a day, so he decided to work even longer hours so i would not have to work.
Now, maybe you know why I indulge him when he wants a fancy car. He is worth it!!

I used to live in volusia county, fla for many years. we had a fellow that fixed appliances and we always called him Mr. Shorty shorts, cause that he what he always wore.
He thought himself to be god's gift to women. This was in the 70's. He had thick black hair, wore heavy gold chains and those shorty shorts! Even on his repair calls, he wore those shorts.
We moved to the Georgia mountains 22 years ago and my husband built houses. Imagine our surprise when a customer bought appliances and they were installed by: you guessed it, Mr. Shorty shorts. He has moved here.

Last night, we went to dinner. Who sat next to us, but Mr. Shorty shorts and his wife!!!
It was Jan. 5th and can you guess what he was wearing. Right again, those shortie shorts!! In January!! (Mr. shorty shorts is at least 65 and still thinks he is a ladies man)

I just got back from making a bank deposit and picking up a few things. I got two items at Ingles, coupons for both, for a saving of $1.25.
I then got my hair coloring with a coupon for $2 off. Before I started the challenge last year, I always paid full price and never looked in the drug store flyer. Now, I notice that rite aid has the brand I use on sale about once every two months.
I went to Bi Lo to get eggs(the ones my husband likes) and they had n.y. strip steak on sale. I got 4 nice big steaks for $12, enough for 2 meals. That was a savings of $8. all in all, I saved $11 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $1402.00
today 11.00
new total $1413.00

I bought a beautiful piece of property two years ago. It has a drop dead mountian view and we hope to build a house there some day.
I financed $64,000 thru a local bank. I have been making extra payments every month so i have the balance down to under $24,000.
The bank changes the rate and the payment once a year. The rate always gones up and the payment comes down. Ihowever, keep making the original payment plus extra on the principal each month.
I also make the payment every 28 days instead of once a month. They give you a coupon book once a year.
Well, I made a payment in Nov. and my next payment is not til Mar. 2nd and I have run out of coupons.
I have been saving in a special savings account I call "The Ridge" for the past two years (My $20 challenge money went into this) and I know have enough money to pay off the property.
As soon as we close on our spec house, I am going to the bank and pay this property off.
Therefore, I decided to take my payment money I have saved for the last two months and add it to this year's challenge.
It might as well be in the bank earning 5.25% interest.
Prev. total $ 87.00
today 1315.00
new total $1402.00

Wow, I have had over 200,000 visits to my site. Boy, am I flattered!! I am going to toast each and every one of you at dinner tonight!! Cheers! (and thanks)

Well, I have had a no spend and use no gas day. I put $1 in my challenge money when I use no gas to go to town. My bridge game got cancelled at the last minute.
I also had a crummy mail day. everything went in the garbage.I got 6 catalogs today. Who wants to buy anything 10 days after christmas.?
Prev. total $86.00
today 1.00
new total $87.00

There is a sticker in my refrigerator that says my frig uses 843 kwh per year. that is only 2.3 kwh per day. My electric runs about 9 cents per kwh. so it is costing about 21 cents a day to run it, or $75.55 a year. that is a lot cheaper than I thought for an appliance that runs 24/7.

Well I just earned $1. I took a survey about diamonds. Yes, I do have a few, but they are all pretty old. I inherited 2 diamond rings and I won a diamond ring when I sold tupperware. I still have my original engagement ring, but I need to get it fixed. The stone fell out. My dh bought me a diamond watch for an engagement present.
Currently, I pretty much wear rings that I bought from QVC!
I like this survey place. The points add up quickly. I have already gotten 2 $10 checks and I only need about 160 points to get another $10 check. The other survey place I do will not issue a check until you hit $30. At 3 cents a click, that takes quite a while. I have been doing that one for a year and no check yet.

I am going to go and play bridge this afternoon. So i should have a no spend day today. The bridge classes start back next week, so that will be good.
I walked a mile yesterday and also did 20 flights of stairs, so there is $2 for my challenge money.
Prev. total $84.00
today 2.00
new total $86.00

I took my change jar to the bank today to see how much I had saved. I save all my coins, except my pennies. I try and use them all up. Anyway, I came home with a little over $40 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $44.00
today 40.00
new total $84.00

We had a great dinner out last night. I get so stir crazy when I stay home several nights in a row. We had lots of left overs to bring home too. My dh made up a big pot of ham and bean soup last night. That will be his lunch for the next week or so. The ham was free so the only cost was the beans and some pototoes. I am not a soup lover, so I will eat the leftovers from last night.
Today is a pretty sunny (but cold) day, so I will probably make my liquor run to North Carolina.
It sure would save me money if this county wasn't dry and I didn't have to drive to another state to buy liquor. Well,I have been here 22 years, so that is not going to happen anytime soon.

Seems like there are lots of new people and new blogs starting in 2007. Lots of people are joining me in the $20 challenge and that is fun! It seems easier to start something like this at the beginning of the new year! Let's all save like crazy!!

It has been a while since I climbed 20 flights of stairs, but I did it yesterday. I also walked a mile on my treadmill. that is $2 more to add to my challenge money. Everyone really seems excited about the $20 challenge and it is so good to see so many people jumping on the band wagon.
Prev. total $42.00
today 2.00
new total $44.00

Well, we are all excited about the new $20 challenge for 2007. I started my new year by eating at home.
One of you asked why i eat out so much instead of saving the money and eating home. Well, number 1, I really don't like to cook and number 2. I hate tv. It seems like the tv is always on when we eat. (dh likes to watch)
But mostly it is because my husband works long hours, 7 days a week. When he comes home in the evening, we like to go out, on a date.
We brown bag our liquor and set ups, so there is no charge for that. We have a long leisurely dinner, for at least 2 hours and we sit and talk the whole time.
I know it is wasting money, but it is our entertainment. We don't go to movies, or bowl, or play poker, etc. etc.
We just enjoy dining out.
We do get inexpensive meals, usually spending $20 or less.
We could not afford this when we were young, but now we can. I don't spend much on groceries, obviously.
Anyway we saved $20 staying home last night, so I will add that to my challenge money.
Prev. total $22.00
today 20.00
new total $42.00

I called my favorite restaurant this afternoon to see if they would be open tonight. They are not, nobody is except the fast food places. Even the mexican restaurant is closed.
Guess I will be fixing dinner at home tonight. Well, there is some more money that I can add to my challenge money.

I walked 2 miles yesterday, so I have $2 to add to my challenge money.
Prev. total $20.00
today 2.00
new total $22.00

Ok, I took a $20 bill out of my misc. envelope and I am ready to start the new $20 challenge for 2007. I don't know if I can hit $20,000 again, but that will be my goal. So here, i go!!
New total $20.00

I am still checking my meter every day and writing down how many kilowatts I have used. I think it helps to keep me frugal. I also still keep the heat set on 60 in the daytime. Yesterday, it did not run at all and has not run yet today. I did forget to turn off my hot water heater last night after the dishwasher was done. So, I wasted some power leaving it on all night.
I budget $160 a month ($40 a week) for my electric bill. Any money I spend that is less than $160, I put into my challenge account!

I think I am going to resolve to stop watching QVC and Home shopping. Those programs get me in trouble. I was almost tempted to buy a ring I saw on there yesterday. Lucky for me, it sold out before I could. I did spend some money on there for christmas. I need to keep those shows turned off. Anyone else have this problem?

Well, I burned a few calories this morning. I went out to sweep off the deck overlooking the creek. Wow, what a job. We have not been out there since last summer, so all the fall leaves were piled up. And it poured all last night, so they were heavy and wet.The deck is under a lot of trees, so there were limbs down too.
Now, I will let it dry off then Holly and I can go and sit outside for a while.
Last night I read some of Clark Howard's book, Get Clark Smart. I am not sure if I will finish it or not. It is good, but not much that I did not know already.

I just took my puppy outside to go pottie. We had lots of rain last night, so the creek is really noisy. The sun is out and the day is beautiful. I think I am going to go sweep off the deck that my dh built over the creek and go out there and sit a while. I love watching the water rush by.

I know New Year's day is a holiday, but I always wondered what every body does on this day? My husband has gone to work and it is just another day for me.
thank goodness the bad weather we had last night is gone and it is a pretty day today.

I just want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year!!

Have you ever heard of a possum drop? They are having one near here tonight and have been doing it at least 22 years. (as long as I have been here)
They get a live possum, put it in a cage and lower it at midnight. They do it at a little old gas station and hundreds of people turn out to watch.
I am not making this up folks. This happends in Brasstown, N.C., right over the gerogia line! Someday I will have to go and see it for myself!

I just went to the store to pick up some steak for tonight. It is raining and cold, and we have decided to stay home. I saved $2 with my store card, so that will be my last contribution to my challenge money for 2006.
Prev. total $20,023.00
today 2.00
FINAL TOTAL $20,025.00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We were invited to a party tonight but i think we are staying home. It is a very formal affair (tux or suit and tie) but it ends at 9:30. (It says so on the invitation.) dh needs to draw some house plans, and he wants to just stay home. I will have to run to the grocery store and get something for dinner. It is a miserable rainy day, so maybe it is better to just stay home. There is a local lodge serving dinner with a live band for $120 a couple tonight. I have never been to it (brand new)so I think we will just save the money. Talk about a cheap new year's eve!!