Our Money Blog

My spending for Monday, Sept. 27, 2010

Salad for lunch at work = $4.50
Babysitting = $13.00
Yoga class = $3.00
Walgreen's, nuts on sale BOGO = $6.50
Picked up dog from being boarded over weekend + $24.00

Found on the ground money = 1 quarter and 1 penney = .26.

Hello Saving Advice Friends!

It has been a very long time since I updated my blog. But, I hope to start coming here daily with a few words about my financial life.
When I come here I pay more attention to my saving and spending wisely. I can't do it perfectly like so many of you seem to be able to do, so I think I felt a little intimidated by writing about my financial life here. But, after further review, I know I need whatever help I can get to pay more attention to my money.
So, hopefully, my blog will begin to grow again.
I have credit cards to pay off, a house that needs to be refinanced at a better rate, and savings accounts that needs to grow.
I have recently lost 25 pounds! So that goal has been reached. Now, on to the finances.
My short term goal is to get our travel trailer refinanced at a better rate or simply transfer the entire balance to a 0% for a year credit card. I don't have a working computer at home right now, so I will be posting on my blog from work and there is limited time for that.

Question?.... How do I update my sidebar?

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

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

Went to Walmart last night for a few grocery items and I take my coupons and I do price matching there. I showed the checker a grocery store circular where items were offered at a cheaper price than at Walmart. They say they will match the price so I do that. Then I had a few coupons too. Two of the coupons were declined by the cash register. She pushed them back at me without saying a word. I pushed them back at her asking what was up. She said ma'm those are no good. I said "well, they should be." I looked at them, not out of date . . . I knew I bought the items I had presented the coupons for. So I start digging back through my bags to show her and sure enough I had bought the right product. She called a manager over to look at the coupons. All the while she is sighing. You know getting this tired look on her face and rolling her eyes at me. And doing that great big "sigh" thing. Well, the manager looks at the coupons and the products and says yes she would just have to enter the coupons manually because they were good. This brings on more eye rolling and sighing, but she complies.
It was just obvious by her body language that she thought I was a total jerk or something.
I just got so offended by that. I guess I should have gone and reported her to a manager or something.
If the store is going to offer price-matching and honoring coupons, then it is not my fault if things get slowed down a bit.
This is not the first time this has happened to me at Walmart.
Should I call the store and report it?
What would you do?

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.

I was going through a stack of mail today that had accumulated on the kitchen counter, sorting through the credit card offers, bills, junk mail, and other stuff.
I came across an offer to renew a car warranty on my daugters car. I tossed it in the garbage saying in my best game-show voice, "No deal."
Amusing myself, I went on to an offer for a magazine subscription. Tossing it into the garbage I shouted, "No deal."
I was getting good at this.
I love watching Howie Mandel and the Deal or No Deal show. I sure would like to get picked to be on that show. I don't think I would blow my chance at some big money like some people to do at the end. It seems like they just get greedy or insane I'm not sure which. But it just kills me when they give up a $100,000 offer and end getting $10 or something.
I've even thought, "Maybe on the first offer if they offered me $25,000, I might just quit while I was ahead. "Deal, deal." I would say. No, just kidding.
But going through my junk mail today, I was thinking how these companies are trying to get me to give up my money.
So, NO DEAL! Capitol One. NO DEAL! Chase. NO DEAL! Magazine subscriptions.
I'll just keep my money thank you.

I had a heart cath performed this morning by my cardiologist, brought on by an abnormal exercise stress test result. Even though I have never had high cholestrol or high blook pressure, I did smoke for over 30 years, so I was a bit concerned about my heart.
Then, my insurance company would not pay for the much less invasive heart CT Scan, because they said everyone who has the CT Scan ends up having to have the heart cath too. They didn't want to pay for both procedures.
My portion of the hospital bill was $998. Luckily, I had money in my Health Flex Account to pay for it.
The results of the test were GREAT! They said my arteries looked perfect and heart function? or something like that was, at 75%! Anything above 55 is considered normal.
So, while I did not like having to go through the procedure and the cost involved, at least I have peace of mind about my "beater."
Not only is my heart good, it is GREAT!
Thank you Jesus.
The heart cath procedure is not bad at all for anyone wanting to know. I had a lot of confidence in my doctor and the hospital, and really I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

WOW!!!!! I went to weigh in this morning and I am under 160 pounds for the first time in years. I was so surprised and happy. Weight Watchers really has worked well for me. It is easy, if you just do what they say to do.
Yea me!

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

I bought my 3-year-old grandson a John Deer hoodie, a sweat shirt with Superman and other super heroes on it, and a plain white long sleeved knit shirt.
I thought he would like all of them, but instead he only liked the sweat shirt with the super heroes.
Of the others he said, "Nannie, I told you I didn't want these, just the superman shirt."
I buy almost all of his clothes at resale shops, and he always looks good!

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

WE have been trying, since the first of Jan., to use up food, cleaners, etc., that we have at the house instead of going to the store so often. Since I do most of the cooking/cleaning I guess it is really me doing it, but anyway, it is working.
I have always liked to buy things on sale and stock up, but our pantry has been just full to overflowing so much, I thought we really need to use what we have for awhile.
It has made me come up with meals using just what we have and it has really helped out the old food budget this month.
I definitely believe in buying sales and using coupons, but we were going to the store too often and thus spending too much. And some of our food was spoiling/getting too old before it could be used.
I made a chocolate cake from scratch tonight with a homemade frosting so we wouldn't be tempted to head to the store when we wanted something sweet later on.
DH was impressed and followed behind me cleaning up the kitchen.
What a team!

Anyone have a home treatment for laryngitis. (I know how to spell it 'cause I just looked it up on WebMd).
WebMd said if the laryngitis is with some cold symptoms (mine is) to take Ibuprofen or Aceteminophen and using hot steam from a bath or shower helps. Or a cool mist humidifier.
I am off work for the next three days, so that will help matters, but I have never had it this bad before. It is really frustrating to try to talk.
Anyone have some home treatment they swear by?

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.

We are going to pay off a big chunk of debt in the coming weeks with a gift from DH's mom.
A car loan in the amount of $1630.00 and another payoff of $3800.00.
This will free-up monthly minimum payments of $275 and $200, for a total of $475.00. Wow! Almost $500 per month that can be thrown at the credit card debt.
I have had about six no spend days this month.
I have been thinking of my 2008 financial goals and I am ready to start recording them here.
1. My main financial goal is to be debt free by the end of the year. I think this is a realistic goal, IF, DH gets some good work in this year.
My other goals will be small to make this big year-end goal possible.

2. Don't acquire any more debt.
I listen to Dave Ramsey a lot and read a lot of financial advice here at savingsadvice.com. That keeps me from taking on any more debt. We have used the credit cards in a pinch but I'm not counting that.
Our Christmas was very frugal this year, and I am proud of the progress we have made.

I kind of abandoned my blog mid way through the year last year, and I was trying to lose weight.
I finally started weight watchers at the end of Oct. and I have lost 10 pounds. I still have three weeks of prepaid weeks with WW, but I don't think I want to spend the money on it right now.
I find it pretty expensive and I am at a good weight now.
I know what to do now, if I will just do it on my own without the knowledge that I will be going to weigh-in on Tuesdays.
And the leader and other members do offer good ideas and support.
I had never done weight watchers meetings before and it worked for me.
I did it online one time, but I didn't do very well at it.
I would really like to lose about 10 more pounds, but that would be it.

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.

I had a telephone call from Dial-America-Marketing on Saturday. They wanted me to renew my magazine subscription to Reader's Digest. The proceeds also benefit MD Anderson Cancer Center. I have ordered magazines through Dial-America several times, but this year, I am trying to be a lot more frugal, thus I told the salesman no on the phone. He went on to say how surprised he was by my declining the offer.
I told him that I since gasoline and groceries have gone up so much, I just did not feel like I could afford a magazine subscription at this time.
He again tried to "sell" me.
Then I said, "I am trying not to spend too much so that I can have some money some day and retire with dignity."
He just laughed and thanked me for my past support.
I thought it was funny that he started laughing. I don't guess anyone is ever that honest about it.
At least I didn't yell his head off.
Besides, my mother gave me a lot of her old magazines that will last me several weeks, and I'm sure I can get others for free as well. So yea me!

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

I am reading "The Tightwad Gazette II," by Amy Dacyczyn. She is known as the "Frugal Zealot." She wrote a popular newsletter in the 80s and 90s filled with frugal ideas.
I liked this quote from the book.

"People who put their surplus money into short-term extravagances rarely build the same wealth as those who put their money in things with lasting value."

To her, buying paper towels is a short-term extravagance. She uses cloth napkins. But she only decided to use cloth versus paper after she figured the detailed cost of using both.
She is an economist in that she does these in-depth price comparisons on everthing they use.
She doesn't write her newsletter anymore, and I wonder what she is doing now. I'm sure she made a lot of money from her books. She was raising, I think 6 children, while writing the newsletter.
Interesting ideas and I have already started using some of the ideas in the book.
A lot of it is time consuming, and things I could do even though I work full time.
I will try, because I do want to have some money some day.
I want to be able to retire in 10 years, and things must change in order to do that.
My good husband is outside digging the garden spot for spring as I type. Ummmm... fresh vegetables I can just taste them now.

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!

I took off two days from work to get some things done at home. Keeping 3-year-old grandson leaves no time for concentrating on getting my income tax done.
I accomplished a lot in two days and feel less stressed about things.
I weighed 168.1 this morning, so I am down a little more. Yippee!

although I ate well yesterday and exercised a lot, I didn't lose any weight. Still weighed 168.6 this morning, but it (some loss) could show up tomorrow. I will have to try to keep it up this weekend, which is always difficult.

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

Thanks to all who encouraged me on my last post about our biggest loser contest.
Today I am back down a couple of pounds.
I am going to post my weight here and hopefully, it will keep me encouraged to do more.

I started the contest at 171.4 lbs.
Today I was 169.3 lbs.
So I am making a little progress.

I don't think anyone else in the contest has really lost too much either, so maybe I do have a chance of winning the $100.
I know my DH would be proud of me and my kids.
I am going to work out at lunch again today.

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.

I have exciting news! But first let me give you some background.

My son has been going to a technical school for about a year, and he still has a year to go. He gets pretty down about the daily grind of it all.
He has to get up at 5 am and drive an hour, five days a week, to get to his school. Then drive home, or go to work at his fast food job. And sometimes he doesn't get home from his job until very late at night and then do it all again.

My son is raising his 3-year-old son. The mother is not in the picture. They live with us and I help raise my grandson.

When my son first started the school he had to get some student loans, and if my husband or I co-signed for him, he got a lot better interest rate. So I did co-sign with him.

Then I started listening to Dave Ramsey, who you know says "never co-sign for anyone."
Well, I hated to tell my son no about co-signing for him the last time around -- when the school wanted some more money; but I had faith in what Dave Ramsey said, because I really did not want to have that debt on my financial record anyway.

Well, it seems my son has been doing some talking to some of his school friends about their loans, and questioning the financial aid office at his school.

Then this morning they tell him that they overlooked, or made a mistake or something like that. And they failed to offer him a $7000.00 PELL GRANT that he was entitled to.

Whoa Baby! $7000.00 that my son or me will not have to pay back on student loans!!!!! Now that is some good news!!!

So, I get to wondering about this. Did this happen because I did not co-sign for my son, maybe he started paying more attention to these loans he is incurring, and asking the questions he should have asked in the first place. I have let him handle all of the financial aid people. Anyway, I am very proud of my son for finding this error and bringing it to their attention.

Or maybe, as I have talked about before, the rule is true. That when you start taking care of and respecting your money, then more money can unexpectantly come to you.
Now, I absolutely believe in the power of prayer. And I no that God does take care of those who help themselves.
I am very grateful to God for this occurence in our lives at this time.

This made my son feel a lot better about his life and the hard work he has done toward this educational goal with family obligations, and financial hardhsips.
(Not to mention $3.00 per gallon gasoline)

Suze Orman said there is plenty of money in the world, more than you would ever need, but you do have to pay attention, and attract more of it to you.

DGS and I went to visit relatives for mother's day and we had an excellent time.
It was a 4 1/2 hour drive, and three-year-old DGS was really good. He didn't sleep any on the way over, but had a good 3-hour nap on the way home yesterday.
I was exhausted when we got back and didn't make it in to work until noon today. Good thing my work is easy to get along with.
We did very well with our spending while gone. I brought snacks and drinks for us and didn't spend very much money for eating along the road.
I got to be with my mother for her mother's day. She is 84 so that was very special to me.
She is in very good health and her mind is still very good. Such a blessing.