Our Money Blog

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 am going to ask my kids DD (26 years old, but still going to college)
and DS (23-years-old, going to trade school and raising my grandchild) to start paying their car insurance and their part of our Cingular phone bill if they can.
My DH is working again (claims adjuster) but we have had to put stuff on the cc's and we are having to pay interest on them again. Yuck!!!!
We have helped our kids a lot money wise, now if they could help us out while DH gets back to bringing in some money it would be so helpful.
I am thinking of getting a second job if something doesn't change soon, but I really think I should try to get our adult children to pay their bills before their 53-year-old mother has to work a second job.
I am venting a little here, and it does feel good to get it out.
WE have a good relationship with our kids but I'm not sure how they are going to take this.
DD is working full time while going to college and DS is also working a food service job and raising his son.
I know neither one of them has a lot of extra money, but neither do I and we (hubby and I) need to be saving for retirement.
Both kids have their own student loans to pay back too.
But they have the rest of their lives to pay it back, and we are not that for away from retirement.
So, wish we luck as I talk to my kids about money.
But. it's time.

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

My husband (the insurance adjuster) ended up in New Hampshire this week. He had never been farther north than Atlanta so this was quite a trip for him.
They had some bad storms in the NorthEast and a lot of adjusters got sent up there.
I hope he makes a lot of money because he sure is a long way from home!

My DH started a new career as an insurance adjuster about 1 1/2 years ago.
He spent a year in Florida working the cleanup insurance claims left over from Hurricane Wilma. He finally got to come home Dec. 8, 2006. Then he enjoyed four months at home doing honey do's, and working on projects in our home and yard that he had been wanting to do.
We were living off of the money he made last year (Although I work too).
He called his company and told them he was ready to be deployed again and they sent him to New Hampshire over the weekend.
We live in Texas so this was a very long trip for him in his pickup.
He went to work the storms that they have had up there in the past few weekds.
He makes excellent money doing this kind of work, but I sure do miss him when he's gone.
I can't quit my job and go with him because we need the health insurance we get through my job.
While he was in south Florida last year I did get to go and be with him several times and it was like a nice vacation for us together in an exotic place we had never visited before.
So maybe I will get to go and visit in the northeast united states too. I have always wanted to go.
So while it is difficult for both of us bding apart, maybe we will get to do some things we had only dreamed of before.
I am the financial planner in the family and DH just trusts me to do it all.
This forum and website have been immensely helpful to me.
I continue to learn a lot and it keeps me committed.

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

My husband and I have never been good about saving money. We are both in our 50s and we do not have much put back towards retirement. We will have social security and pension from work, but no 401K and a dwindling savings account until he gets back to work.

So . . . now I am getting the idea from Dave Ramsey, and a lot of reading, this website, books, etc.

We never made a lot of money until the last few years and not a whole lot of money now.
I guess there are others out there in the same boat as us.
There is still time to do something about it though.
When DH goes back to work we will hopefully make up for lost time.
We had a good weekend with DGS birthday party on saturday and a quiet sunday with him playing with his presents. DS is working again now so that at least helps with the finances.
Spend about $130 on Saturday for gifts, cake and decorations. So we didn't spend any on sunday for easter. Hopefully, that made up for it.
DGS had a great birthday.
DH and I are trying to do lots of cooking at home and buying groceries on sale through the ads.
Have not really been keeping up with how much we have spent.

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.

Spending today.

Breakfast and snacks for work
$3.50
Lunch: $5.75
clothes for Austin at resale shop:
$35.00
Going out to dinner tonight with friends.
$30.00

It does add up, but I hardly spent any money all week. And buying austin's clothes (3-year-old grandson) at the resale shop is very cost effective.
I got several nice (old navy, oshkosh, other brand name) pants and shirts, that had hardly been worn for $35.00.
I think I got seven shirts and 2 pair of jeans for that. Not bad.
I have started buying his clothes at the "nicer" resale shop since he is almost three now and going out to day care everyday. I do buy him clothes at retail prices too. But if I can find a few things at a third or less of the retail price, it really does help.
My husband and I are helping our son with finances until he finishes his schooling.
It is tough going, but we think it is worth it.

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

I started listening to Dave Ramsey last May and ever since I have been into paying off the debt and getting fiscally fit!
But until I started reading everyone's blogs here I was still not being very frugal. But I am now!
I spent $4.75 on lunch at Sonic yesterday while I was out running errands, and it bothered me so much.
Two months ago I would not have thought twice about spending that or more for lunch, but now it really bothers me!
I was like, "$4.75, that is outrageous!"
I was always the type who would not order water in a restaurant. I would always order iced tea or soft drink, but now I am rethinking that. Now, I realize it is the little things that make the difference.
Hey, old dogs really can learn new tricks!
Thank you bloggers for having a very positive effect on me.

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!

I am a little frustrated with trying to save money right now.
I tried to implement the envelope system with our food for one week.
I put $200 in the envelope and DH and I headed to Walmart. We buy all of our groceries there because it is cheaper than the other three grocery stores in town. Up to $1 or more cheaper on items that we buy all the time.
We do buy other things there as well. Diapers for our grandson, paper products, cleaners, persoanl hygiene items, things like that. hink $200 per week will be about right. Our total bill was $166. Then we went to another store and spent $25 more. For a total of $191. So we have $9 left until next Saturday for any other food items.
We have never tried this before and DH is not as gung ho about it as I am. He says he is, but then he bought a huge packagae of rib-eyes. $28 worth. I guess as long as we don't buy spend more than $9 before Saturday on food, then it will be a success.
I am learning here on the SA website and other bloggers that it doesn't have to be perfect.
Just the act of paying attention and trying to save is helpful.
We always spent whatever we wanted to on food. DH never wanted to spend too much money eating out. But buying groceries, he never griped about. But I always noticed that our biggest expenditures every month were at the grocery store.
The envelope method will probably help us not spend so much.
But then there is my son, who seems to be in la la land about money, and we are supporting him and his son, while our son finishes his education.
I will have to educate him about money, but he has so much going on right now with his X and trying to raise a 2-year old . . . that my finances are not the most important topic to him right now.
I gave him $100 cash in an envelope on Saturday and told him that was his money for the next week and to try to make it last. ( He has to drive an hour both ways to his school five days per week.)
I will be interested to know how long it lasts him.
He did get his part time job back this week, so maybe that will help.
DH is doing insurance adjusting and will have to go back to work soon as we are running out of money.
I hate for him to be gone for several months but we have to have an income.
I didn't spend .75 in the candy machine at work today on those M&Ms I was craving, so I will add that to my $20 challenge money. Good for my savings and good for my diet. Hoooorrrayyy!
Spent$3.50 on Sunday newspapers yesterday for the ads and coupons.
Spent $7.56 at the P.O. today for postage and to stock up on stamps.
Otherwise I have been sticking close to home and saving money.

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

$12 for challenge.
+ $144 old total

New total:
$156

I am continuing with the saving-ways.
Brought my lunch to work today and ate with my friend in the lounge

Went out of town this last weekend to see my parents. It was my dad's 85th birthday. We met my sister and her husband there and had a very nice visit.
I told my dad to keep having birthdays and we would keep coming to help him celebrate!

My sister and I split the cost of an inexpensive DVD player for him and got him some movies.
He loved it!

We are helping my son go to school and help him take care of our grandson. He is not working right now, so that is quite a drain on our finances, but it is so worth it for him to get the education. I am so proud of him. Sometimes he wants to quit so he can work and support his son, but we keep talking him out of it, so he will finish. He likes about another year.
He has to drive about an hour both ways to get to his school, so he is really tired of the driving.
The cost of the gasoline is a big thing,
but, "this too shall pass!"

My husband and I are continuing to save money where ever we can.
I haven't been spending any in the vending machine at work and he has not bought any more magazines. Ha!
I think this is probably where a lot of our money was going. That and eating out.

We have a budget now and we want to implement the envelope system. Or at least try it.

My new savings account is earmarked for new furniture. I am excited about that.

Turn the thermostat down a degree or two.

Make sure all unnecesary lights are turned off in the house.

Fewer trips to town in the car.

Packing a lunch for work.

All things I have been doing since I started my blog a few days ago.
It's just making myself aware of saving money and making it a focus that I am working on right now.

Another thing I have heard about for gas saving.
Make sure the car tires are at the right air pressure.

I have been a frivolous spender most of my life concerning many of these things.
My DH always wanted me to be more conservative in these ways, now that I am I know he likes it.
My father was such a tight wad. He was really a sweetheart but very saving, grew up in the depression.
So I really grew tired of that growing up.
Always said, when I get married, I'm going to have "fresh bread whenever I want it." And I have too.

It will be back to work for me tomorrow at noon. They think ice will be melted enough to drive around at that time.
I'm ready. It's been a VERY long weekend.

This four day weekend of reading these blogs and spending more time thinking about money has helped me get focused on saving on everyday things.

I have been eating too much fast food for lunch and knew I was spending too much on that junk.
I used to never eat out at lunch.
Tomorrow I am taking part of the stew I cooked for supper tonight, along with some of the cornbread.
Well, I guess I will take it on Thursday since I don't go to work until noon tommorow.
It has been a good saver not to be driving the vehicles for a few days.
Son made it home safely tonight after spending last night in hotel.
Thank you God!
I bought my makeup on Ebay today.
Started splurging and buying the bare minerals makeup a few months ago.
Really do like it, and found it cheaper on Ebay.
Savings??
About $8.

Noticed others have what I call their anti shopping lists. Here is mine:

1. Dog toys (she always tears up everyone I buy)

2. Magazines I don't do this too much anyway, but they are so expensive. You read it once and then it lays around the house.

3. Stuff for grandson, clothes, toys, books . . . stuff. He has everything he needs right now. He is just so much fun to buy for.

4. garage sales, estate sales. I love estate sales, but I really don't even have time for them right now.

I have a list of things I need. For example, wiper blades for my car and mats for my car.
So when I think about spending on things that are fun, I try to think about things that I need.
That way I have money for things that I need. But so boring.

I am starting out my $20 challenge with the money I rolled from our coin jars.
Then the $30 saving at Walmart.
$111.00 coin jar.
$30.00 Walmart savings
$3.00 talked hubby out of going to Walmart just for deoderant
Total
$144.00
Woohoo! Adds up!

Also, I started using cold water for the washing machine, for everything except the towels and sheets.
I hadn't even notice that I was using warm water for the rinse until I read it on here. So now using cold water rinse when washing in hot water now too.
Was washing most clothes in warm water with cold water rinse.
Now using cold/cold for clothes.
Have no idea what to say that saves me per load.

Wanted to go to Penney's yesterday to look for a jacket for work on the clearance sales, but talked myself out of it.
So. . . really haven't been out since Sunday to spend any money.
Son had to get a motel roon last night though, so that was an unfortunate expense. Oh well, at least he wasn't driving on the ice and snow!

In a way we saved $30 at Walmart last night as a result of using this website and finally starting to pay close attention to our everyday spending habits!
I found a blanket on the clearance isle marked down to $20 from $36 that I put in my basket. Hubby was kind enough to talk me out of it reminding me we have lots of blankets at home and since we live in South Texas how much do we really need blankets anyway!!!!
He talked himself out of two magazines (his absolute downfall) at a tune of $10. So we really came home $30 richer because normally we would have let each other have our "indulgences" just so we could get what we thought we wanted.
I am getting the hang of this now. Scary thought!
Hubby wanted to make a trip to Walmart Sat. night just for deoderant! Reminded him he could just wait until we went the next day and save the gas money.
Bought gas at Walmart saving 3 cents per gallon after putting money on the card and paying for it with the chase card and earning rewards that way too!
Very, very good.
Rolled the rest of the coins for a grand total of $111.00 more or less.
Will have the actual total when I take it to the bank and open a savings account.

Finally found what I have been looking for, praying for, help I need to get started saving money. Need this sort of daily reminder for trying to save and why I'm trying to save and actually saving some money.
Been too long a spender and wondered why we never had any money left over. Always spent everything we had. Wanted to live like the rich people live. HA!

Fianlly got around to rolling the coins we have had in the jars for so many years now.
Will take it to the bank and open a savings account on Tuesday after Martin Luther King holiday.