We are having terrible weather. My dh is trying so hard to get a new house started, but the weather just won't cooperate.
It has rained hard all day and the weathermen are predicting rain, sleet and snow for the next 4 days! So far, all I can see is rain, rain, rain. The creek is almost out of it's banks.
Today, the property tax was due, so I had to take the check down to the courthouse. Tonight I am planning on staying home and staying warm and dry!
I have really had good luck with getting checks in the mail this month. Today, I got an $8 check from Wendy's. Of course, that will be added to the challenge.
Prev. total $16,984.00
today 8.00
new total $16,992.00

I made a frugal dinner last night. I bought a turkey breast on sale for only $2 right after Thanksgiving. We had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet pototoes and cranberry sauce, all for a cost of slightly over $5. My husband also has hot lunches from the leftover, for the next two days and I have turkey for sandwiches.
I did my grocery shopping yesterday and saved $8 using my Ingles advantage card. I will add that to my $20 challenge.
Prev. total $16,822.00
today 8.00
new total $16,830.00

We went to a very nice christmas party last night. When I was much younger, we had a lot of parties. The parties usually started about 7:30 or 8 pm.
Now, the parties start about 6 pm, before you have even eaten dinner! So, they really put out a lot of food to fill you up.
There were serving dishes of food placed all over the housse. The hostess was thoughtful enough to label what was in each dish! Since I am such a "funny" eater, this was very helpful to me.
She set up the bar, outside on the back deck. Since it was below freezing, no one lingered too long around the bar.

Well, the stock market went up two days in a row and I saved $4 at Bi lo this morning buying a BOGO, so $6 to the challenge.

Prev. total $16,577.00
today 6.00
new total $16,583.00

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 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

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

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!!

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.

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!!

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)

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

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 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.

Lux got me to thinking about that? I have 2 plots that my mother purchased when I was a little girl and my father passed away.
Thanks to Lux, I was able to find a website with a phone number to call, but I was wondering if any of you know the average cost today?

Once a year I have to complete my husband's building license renewal for the state of North Carolina. Even tho we live in Georgia, N.C. is only 10 miles away and he has built houses there also.
N.C. requires you to turn in a financial statement to prove your net worth.
When I first joined this site, I discovered networthiq, so I pretty much do my net worth every month. That made doing the renewal pretty easy.
Our networth did go up slightly, but we are not saving nearly as much as we did in previous years. I have to blame this on the economy. My dh is just not working as many hours as he use to. He only has one house going now, as opposed to two or three.
However, I am just grateful that he has work at all and even small amounts of savings are better than none at all.

I have always loved Halloween. I love getting dressed up. Usually we have a party to attend. My dh has won first prize in costume the past two years and I have come in 2nd. This year, the lady who gives the party has been ill, so no parties this year.
Our little town celebrates Halloween on the square downtown. For the past few years, we have dressed up, walked the square and then had dinner out in our costumes.
This year, it is pouring down rain, so it looks like we won't be dressing up. But, we will be back next year!
The stock market went up on Thursday (down badly yesterday) and I had a no use gas day, so $3 more to the challenge.
Prev. total $15,130.00
today 3.00
new total $15,133.00

I am still setting aside all my one dollar bills each day to add to the challenge. I have 4 of them to add today. I also save all of my change. My regular end of the month check came yesterday, so I am also adding that to my challenge.
Prev. total $14,543.00
today 587.00
new total $15,130.00

It was a beautiful day today. Especially, after yesterday's all day rain. No heat, no air today; the weather is perfect and I got all my errands run.
The free dinner last night was delicious and I am going to take $20 to add to the challenge; cause that is what the dinner would have cost us at least!
Prev. total $14,523.00
today 20.00
new total $14,543.00

I got up early this morning and went and did my grocery shopping before the store got too full. I saved $7 using my Ingles card, plus I had 4 one's left over from yesterday. That is $11 more to add to my challenge money.
prev. total $14,284.00
today 11.00
new total $14,295.00

That is what it is like today, in the North Georgia mountains. Cold and occasional rain all day. Too bad there is a big festival at the park and also a big car showing going on. I am only going outside when the pups need to go potty.
I had a no use gas yesterday ($2) and 2 one dollar bills to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $14,280.00
today 4.00
new total $14,284.00

We are expecting temperatures at below freezing this weekend, but I still have not turned on my heat. I live close to N. Georgia gal, so our weather is just alike. I wish I had a fireplace that burns wood, like she does.
Yesterday, the stock market went up and I had a no use gas day, so $3 to add to the challenge. I don't have any one's to add, cause I didn't spend any money!
Prev. total $14,277.00
today 3.00
new total $14,280.00

The dow first hit the 10,000 mark in March of 1999. Well, we all know that the market went way down and yesterday, finally made it back to the 10,000 mark again. They are calling it "the lost decade"
I went grocery shopping at Wal marts yesterday and spent almost $15. So, I got no one dollar bills back to put into the challenge for today.
To celebrate the 10,000 down, I will add a $5 bill to my challenge money.
Prev. total $14,272.00
today 5.00
new total $14,277.00

ps I meant to say to celebrate the 10,000 DOW, not down.

I feel like I have spent most of this year in the vet's office. First my older dog, Holly, got sick in February and we had all kind of tests plus blood work done. She got current on all of her shots.
Then we got Molly, the puppy. She came with a terrible ear infection which we worked on for months. She got all her shots. Then she got spayed.
Holly got her teeth cleaned and she too came down with an ear infection which I have been treating forever.
I figured that I have spent about $2000 on vet bills this year.
Today Holly ears passed inspection! I hope I have no more vet visits for a while.
The stock market went up yesterday and I got a pinecone check for $3, so I have $4 to add to the challenge.
Prev. total $14,243.00
today 4.00
new total $14,247.00

I got my statement from Edward Jones the other day and noticed that I had $175 just sitting in their money market account from some dividends that had accumulated. I called and asked for a check, so i could put it in my account and get some better interest. So, I am adding that to my $20 challenge account today.
Prev. total $14,068.00
today 175.00
new total $14,243.00