Nothing too interesting to report. I just wanted to catch up on recording my spending since I haven't recorded anything since last Wednesday.

Thursday:
T-shirt to support breast cancer awareness, $10.
Friday:
Snack from vending machine = $1.
Saturday:
Kroger, food = $68.31
Palais Royal:
clothes for wedding = $31.00
Babysitting = $20
Sunday:
Kroger, food = $37.75
Today bought muffin and hot tea, $2.20


saved $9.55 using coupons
add to old $20 challenge total of $52.54
= new total for $20 challenge = $62.09

DGS and I went to a free carnival with some friends last night. The university I work for provided this as part of our homecoming week festivities.
We got free cotton candy and carmel corn and got to ride a few rides.
Ya gotta love free entertainment!


Wednesday spending:
McDonald's : $6.48
Walgreen's: $4.98
saved $9.50 with coupons
add this to $20 challenge
old total: $47.56 + $4.98 =
new total = $52.54

Sorry, this is a boring blog post. Just recording my spending and saving.
I know I have been spending too much money on stuff, so I thought I would start recording it here to see just how much I have spent and on what.
I plan to do this all month. Then I can go back and take a look and add it all up.


Found money = $.04 over the weekend.
Old found money total = $1.51
New total = $1.55

Found money, Monday = $.13
new total = $1.68

Spending, Friday =
Walmart = $70.70 includes a BD gift for a party my DGS went for $17.00.

Spending Saturday =
Walmart = $80.00 groceries and household stuff.
saved $5.05 with coupons. This will go into my $20 challenge.
J.C. Penney's = 49.75. Sheet set, one pair Levi's for DGS, two new wash cloths.
Saved $30 with coupons.
Add this to $20 challenge.
old $20 challenge total = $22.51
+ 25.05=

New $20 challenge total = $47.56


Spending, Sunday =
McDonalds = $5.88
Church = $200.00

Monday spending =
Yoga class = $3
Child care = $20
grocery store = $6.97

Well, our DD and her SO are making it legal on Oct. 23. They already have a very sweet and precious 5-month-old baby boy. They have been wanting to get married for awhile, but not finding the right time. Yes, I know the right time would have been before she got pregnant, but that didn't happen, so now they are going for it. They said they wanted to do it in October because this is their favorite month.
My DH and I talked it over and decided on what we thought we could afford to chip in for their small ceremony and reception (party).
Our DD is 30 and already has the baby and living on her own with SO, so we don't feel obligated to go all out for a wedding and they don't have much money right now since our DD is staying home with their baby. But we are very excited and happy that they are finally getting married. She is our only daughter and we have waited a long time for this day. So, even though we have a lot of debt right now, we are giving them $1200 to help them with expenses and as a wedding gift.
They are going to the JP and then having a recption/party at a friend's house afterward.


Spending--
muffin this morning = $2.26
pizza last night = $10.80
grocery story = $19.45
Dr. Haynes = $24.00
Found = $.03
New found money total = $1.51

New $20 challenge total = $22.51

Okay, so my DH and I are raising our DGS 6-year-old. My DH works out of town for months at a time. Currently, he has not been home since he left at the end of June. So, I am almost totally responsible for our DGS.
I work 40 hours a week, take care of DGS, our home, our dog, our cat, and our one-acre lot of yard to mow and attend to.
I had been excited to get DGS into scouts when he was old enough. So, when he brought home the flier from school about joining he was excited about it.
We went to the meeting last night and here is where I start doubting if we can do this.
They expect the parents or parent or guardian or whoever to attend all the meetings with the scout and go on weekend long camping trips in the cold and sell a whole bunch of popcorn.
I can probably go to the meetings and I don't mind selling popcorn, but I am not going to be camping all weekend. I just can't do that and work full time and take care of everything else. And I'm pretty sure my husband won't be willing to do it even when he is home.
So, even though I did pay DGS's $19.75 fee last night to get him signed up, I'm thinking about telling DGS that we are not going to do that and we will just have to find other activities that won't be so time consuming.
I am the kind of person who really needs my down time and some me-time. I am not getting enough as it is, so I don't think this would help.
They really made me kind of mad, because they say on the flier that the boys will get this cool rocket thing for coming to the meeting, but they wouldn't give you one unless you signed up.
Don't get me wrong, I think scouting is great. I think my DGS would really enjoy it and get a lot out of it. But I just don't think I'm up to it.
And that really makes me kind of sad and bummed out about it. If I didn't have to work full time, I think I could do it. But not the way things are now.

I found $.60 the past two days on the ground.
Yay!
New found money total= $1.48

$20 challenge-
previous total = $21.88
new total = $22.48

Spending -- weekend and Monday.

I didn't have a chance to record my spening since last Friday so here goes.
I am recording all my spending (besides regular bills) here because every time I try to use a small notebook and pen in my purse I end up forgetting or misplacing my notebook or something happens.
So,,,, since I always know where to find my blog, here goes.
Saturday --
$22.00 - Dollar General - cleaning supplies, and stuff, stock up. Saved $11.00 with coupons.
$87.00 - Walmart - groceries and Halloween costume for DGS. saved $10 with coupons.

Monday --
$3.00 - Yoga class
$10.00 - baby sitter
$3.40 - McDonald's Happy meal for DGS
$17.50 -- grocery store, food.

I found 11 cents in change yesterday

I am starting my $20 challenge, for the year, with my coupon savings and my found money. (I know it's late but I have just recently returned to SA).

Coupons = $21.00
Found money total = $.88

$20 challenge = $21.88, this is going into my new living room furniture fund. Yay!

Does anyone have a link to set up an ING online account?

I'll use the first one I receive.
Thanks,
Zenith

If you get the cartoon "Opus" in your Sunday comics section you should read the one for yesterday. It was a funny take on the government stimulus package.
I have not updated my $20 challenge money in awhile.
I have saved about $10 with coupons on items we use regularly at the grocery stores.
Previous total = $29.78
New total = $39.78
I continue to search for coins (hopefully bills too) on the ground while I am out, and since the last time I updated that total I have found $.40.
FOTG (found on the ground) money =
Old total = $.43
New total = $.83.

I was treated to some very nice meals on Valentine's Day via my work. I am on a search committee to hire a new worker and we get to "wine and dine" them. So it was out for a nice lunch and an even nicer dinner. Chocolate cream brulee for dessert. It was so rich I couldn't finish it.

Meanwhile, I have been searching the ground for change when I am out and about and I can report I have found $.16 in the past week.
Old FOTG total = $.27 + .16 = $.43, new FOTG total.


I have not been doing much toward couponing lately, but I haven't been spending much money either.
My husband has gone to grocery shop as I write this. And it is pouring down rain, so I am glad I am here typing and dry.
Thank God for sweet husbands.
Late winter is such a trying time. Cold, snow, ice, wind and rain. Cloudy days on end. It's like Mother Nature is having birthing pains to get us into Spring.
I will put up the groceries when my husband comes home and we will find us a snack and try to find something good to watch on TV tonight.

Last night we went out to see "There will be blood." It is up for Best Picture. Daniel Day Lewis was really good in it. But it was so dark and theatrical I can't really say I enjoyed.

I'm so sorry for those affected by the Northern Illinois school shootings. It is such a waste!!! Those poor people didn't do anything wrong. Stupid!

I, like many of you, have a dog. Her name is Abby. She is a mix of Austrailian Sheperd and some other good breeds. She is the sweetest thing. She weighs about 50 pounds, and she is tri-color, with golden eyes. She follows me wherever I go in the house. And since I have been here at the computer so long, she is sleeping on the floor beside me.
She is a great companion.

My friend treated me to lunch yesterday. She won the football pool and got $50!
I saved $14 with coupons last weekend so that will go to the challenge, and I found 12 cents on the ground.
Have been trying to stay home and not even look at advertising, so I can stay out of temptation.
Old total $15.78 New total = $29.78.
Old "FOTG" total (found on the ground) total = .15. New FOTG total = .27

Not anything very interesting to report today. Except we did save $4 with coupons when we did grocery shopping yesterday.
New total $15.78
FOTG (found on the ground) total = .15

I went in to Walgreen's for envelopes yesterday. I spotted a box of 40 security, white envelopes and the label below the row read .99. I thought that a reasonable price, so I took it to the register, proud of myself for not looking around and spending more money. Just the necessities. Then I was charged $2.15 at the checkout. I paid, then went back to check the price again on the shelf. I found myself a manager-type and asked him which price was correct. He looked at the price on the shelf and said he would give me my money back on the difference. So I got back 1.08, that I will add to my challenge money.
This is not the first time this has happened to me at Walgreen's. So beware.

saved $1.50 at the store with coupons.
add that to previous balance and new total is $10.70.

Found on the ground total for 2008 is 15 cents.

Went to shop at Kroger last night and saved $9.20 with grocery coupons and store coupons. The things I bought were on sale, plus I had coupons to back them up, so I felt really good about my savings. And naturally I want to start the new year off right and start adding to my $20 challenge.

2008 20 dollar challenge balance = 9.20

484.09 = previous balance
+20.00 = coupon savings
504.09 = new balance

I went couponing at Walgreens yesterday at lunch. I got some great deals with some already low advertised prices with some nice coupons and saved $20.

It was fun!

This A.M. I am at 168.6, so I am down again today. I hope to maintain that loss and be down a little bit more tomorrow.
I only have about a month until the contest ends, and I talked to another contestant today and she has lost 6.7 lbs. I didn't think anyone had lost much, so I really am challenged now!
It is all friendly competition, but I'm a pretty competitive person, so this really motivates me to try to catch up to her.
I told her she better keep it up, because I was right on her heels. Ha!

Anyway, I need to add a little money to my challenge money, because I have been eating pimento cheese and crackers at my desk everyday for lunch, so I am adding another $12 today.

472.09 = old balance
+12.00
484.09 = new balance

We are having a biggest loser contest where I work. Everyone put in $10 at the first and we have 10 people participating. So, the winner will get $100. We have done this at work two other times and I won one of the contests. Well, I have gained weight since then, so I want to lose weight and win the $100.
I had lost about 3 pounds earlier, but I have put some back on. I am working out every weekday and cutting back on my eating.
I was thinking, if I won the contest, I could add it to my challenge money.
There is only a month left in the contest, but if I get serious about it now, I could end up winning, which would help me out in two ways.
So here goes. I am needing more motivation, so I decided to blog about it and make make myself accountable here.
So, wish me luck!

392.09 = old balance
+80.00 savings
472.09 = new balance

I have not been updating my savings to my $20 challenge, so I have a lot to update here.
Not eating lunch out = 10 days X $4 per day = $40 savings.

Saved $10 with coupons on Saturday.

Got another $30 CVS gift card for transferring a prescription. Used the $30 gift card to buy things we normally use. In other words, I feel like I really saved $30.

This is how I do my challenge. Things that I really have to work for; clip coupons, watch the adds, shop around.

And, I love to eat out, so not eating out is a sacrifice for me, and I add that money.

another delicious sandwich for lunch yesterday.
I save so much money if I don't go out to eat, but sometimes I let myself go out, because I enjoy it so much. But, I don't need a lot of extra calories that I would get from eating out right now. I've lost three pounds in the past month on my way to losing 25 more.
$388.09
add $4 to my challenge money.
$392.09

I had a no-spender on Sunday. I never even left my house.
But on Saturday I ventured out to Walmart for grocery shopping and I saved $2 with coupons and other offers.

$386.09
2.00
$388.09 new balance

I saved $8 at CVS last night on purchases with two of my ExtraCare CVS coupons.
And I saved $3.19 at Walgreens on a buy one-get-one free deal on almonds.
So I am adding $11.19 to my challenge money.
It does take time and effort to keep up with the sales and coupons, so I am using these savings for my challenge money.
This forum really keeps me motivated to save where ever and when ever I can.
Thanks!
Previous balance = 377.90
+ 8.19
New balance = $386.09

I read one of Suze Orman's first books, (can't remember the name, maybe it was "9 steps to financial freedom?" yeah, I think that was it) read it many years ago, and always remembered the part where she talked about, "Taking care of your money, and more will come to you."
Something like, if you are good to your money, more will come to you, even out of the blue.
And since I have been on savingadvice.com since January, I have read a lot of folks reporting they received, "A check came in the mail today!"
I was always thinking, "I wish I could get some checks in the mail I wasn't expecting."

Well, yesterday I did!
A dividend check from StateFarm Insurance.
I have no idea why I got it but it was for $125.40 I was so happy and excited.
I immediately thought about old Suze Orman, and I think . . NO, I know she was right about that concept.

previous balance = 252.50
new balance = $377.90

Old balance = $232.50

I brought bread, turkey, cheese, and mustard from home and fixed lunch and ate in my office all week so I am adding $20 to my challenge money.

New balance = $252.50

Brought delicious leftovers for lunch so another 5 bucks to add to my challenge.


Old balance = 228.50
+ 5.00
New balance = 232.50

We saved $15 at Walmart last night with coupons and other offers.
Woohoo!
I brought my lunch Tuesday and today, so that is another savings of $10.
Add $25 to my challenge.

Old balance:
$203.50
25.00
New balance:
$228.50

I have been very, very bad lately about eating out at lunch again.
Today I ate a can of tuna fish I had in my drawer and some peanut butter and crackers. Saved myself the 6 bucks and change I would have spent on a salad and diet coke.
So, hopefully, I am back to my saving ways.

Well, don't know if I'm really starting again, or just catching up, but I haven't been posting on my blog lately, and I want to get back to it.
DH is almost finished with our new fence. It is beautiful! Complete with an arbor, a reatining wall with flower beds, the works. But he sure ended up spending a lot more money than I was expecting. Oh well, he will be going back to work soon. He is an insurance adjuster, He was gone for a year last time and he has got to be home for three whole months without having to go make a living, so he did some things he has wanted to do for a long, long time. He is very creative and artistic and a carpenter, but he never had much time or money to build things the way he wanted to. Now he has had the time and the money, and he has created some beautiful things for us to enjoy in our yard.
He will be working again soon and hopefully making lots of money again, so we shall see.
Meantime. . . on my $20 challenge I will add 75 cents more today since I did not visit the vending machine today at work for M&M's.
old balance: $202.75
plus: $.75 :
new balance: $203.50

We received, in the mail, a coupon from CVS pharmacy/drug store for a $30 gift card with every prescription transferred there from another pharmacy, or any new prescription.
So I went for it. I have previously had my prescriptions filled at Walgreens, but I don't feel any kind of loyalty to Walgreens. I got the $30 gift card on one prescription already.
I have another coupon and will transfer another today.
I am going to be frugal use the $30 gift cards to CVS for items I would have bought anywyay, like vitamins, makeup, and such.
It almost feels too good to be true.
I hope I am happy with the pharmacy at CVS.
I guess I could always change again.
But for now I am loving it!
And it feels like money I could add to the challenge.
$172.75 = old balance
+ 30.00 = $202.75 new balance

Passed on the M&Ms today 75 cent savings.
Have not gone out for lunch for 4 more days X $4 = $16.
So I am adding $16.75 to the challenge.

Old total = $156
Plus $16.75
New total = $172.75

$172.75 new total for my "new furniture" savings account. All Right!

Lunches brought from home $5 x 2 days = $10.
Did not buy coffee, savings $2.

$12 for challenge.
+ $144 old total

New total:
$156