I walked for 40 minutes today. Not bad for the first journey out. It felt so invigorating!!! I can feel my heart jumping for joy at the prospect of getting off the meds...and my pocket book is looking forward to the heavier load it will carry when I do!

I have gotten 10 loads of laundry done today....If you arent familiar with my blog...that is not an admittance of being a total slob. I do all of the laundry for my parents and they had a really big load this time...I swear, for two little old folks...those two can go through alot of clothes and towels..they do not believe in using anything more than once...ugh. Ok...so maybe I was a little behind on my own...but goal is to finish before bedtime tonight!

Today was a no spend day- my favorite kinda day.

I will be taking some cans in this weeks so I can make a deposit to the challenge account...but my challenge account will be a slow grow this year as we are planning a couple of week+ family vacation road trips ...and that will take a significant amount of money compared to our usual camp somewhere close kinda vacations.

Ah...the new year, doesnt it feel great?

Oh...and that refund....I still dont have it. *$(@)&*# Circuit City.

My DIL asked me to stop by the bank where she works and open a savings account so that she could be entered into a drawing for an extra day off + $250. So, I did!

For opening a $100 savings. I was given a $10 bonus, a free loaf of banana bread and a cute little piggy keychain!! (Plus DIL is now entered into the drawing.)

I am going to put the $10 bonus into my 2007 challenge account...bringing my new total to $27! I hadnt planned on jump starting this until the first of the year...but since I have an opportunity..Im taking it!

My challenge account took a step backwards today. Actually about 200 of them.

My son is very kindly putting our gutted out- not yet textured or painted bathroom back together. We purchased all the materials at the first of last year...but DH never got time to do it.

DS is trying to suplement his salary this winter with sidejobs...so i am paying him to do it.

So, unplanned money that I dont have will come out of my challenge account to very happily get this project done.

New challenge balance =$703.00

I cancelled my insiders-club membership today with MyPoints and should receive a refund of $56 from the annual fee. I was able to use enough of the benefits to outweight the cost, but dont feel that I need it any longer.

I will move the money into the Challenge account when the credit goes through.

I am home alone tonight . Well, as alone as one can get when sharing their space with 2 adult dogs and 9 puppies. I am doing my best to enjoy inspite of the arm pain.

I received a $3 rebate check today, so that will go into the challenge account, bringing that total to $736.22!!

DD2 has changed our cell phone plan (she works for the company) and we are now going to save 1/2 of the prior months' bill or $35 per month. YESS!

I am trying to do some decluttering around here and was able to donate two bags full of books to the dialysis library and two bags full of clothes and other stuff to Goodwill. I bagged everything and put it in the car before I had a chance to reconsider. My closet and dresser are cleaned and organized now...and it sure feels good! But I have a long way to go..if you didnt know, I am one of those domestically challenged prople!- so small victories are huge to me!!

We are all sold out of madrone wood, which seems to be the only wood selling so far. We now have a wait list for 10 cords, so hopefully our wood guy can get us another load. If so, we will make more than we thought and THAT is a good thing!!

My new, lower salary takes effect on Monday, so I wont be able to deposit for the stair challenge until next March when my salary returns to normal. So I am going to get creative. Pop cans, rebates, and a percent of the puppy money will all help...oh, and I am doing some online surveys which sill help too.

However, when I came to this site in March, I had ZERO in a challenge account and after joining, my goal for the year was $500. So I am already pleased with my results.

Puppies eyes are open and they are starting to walk, albeit a little wobbly.They are two weeks today...and that means they will all be going to their new homes in the next 4-6 weeks!!Time to advertise!

I received a $10 bonus for an ING referral and I also received a shipping refund of $13.20 from Insiders Club. Both of these are being added to my challenge account, bringing my new total to $756.42!!!

Had enough points to cash out on the survey site so i will add that $7 to my challenge account, bringing my challenge balance to $723.33!!

Love it!

I was able to add that $6 survey check that I received a few days ago...+ I received another $20 CC rewards check...so my new challenge balance is $702.22!!!

Boy, 2 challenge updates in as many days...Love it!!

I received a survey check in the mail yesterday for $6 (dont you love surveys sites that pay quickly...and in cash??)

And I was able to request another rewards CC check for $20 because DH put a large motorcycle repair on my card last month (luckily the repair was paid for by a 'friend' of a 'friend' who had borrowed the quad for a ride and then rolled it into a large pond)

So, my new total with both comes to:
688.22!!!

...which will bring me to $700 on Monday when my stair challenge $$ goes into the account! woo-hoo! But that is a happy dance for Monday!

I received my $20 CC rewards check and am adding that to my challenge account...which brings the total to: $662.22!! Woo-hoo!!

(Maybe the mail will bring a rebate or two today and I can add even more!!!....fingers crossed)

I received $7.80 for the cans I returned and I also deposited the $3.92 rebate check that I received this weekend...which brings my challenge account to $612.20!!!

I received the Advil PM rebate in the mail and will add this to my challenge account.

3.92 + 586-20 = 590.12!!!

We registered DD3 in HS this morning...deposits, yearbooks, color guard, pics, student body card...and I handed over a check for $111.

I passed about 4 coffee stands on the way home...boy did a mocha sound good! But I was good and came home without tossing another $3+ out the window.

2 rebates totalling $6.50...which will bring my challenge account to $585.20!!

I also got a coupon for free make-up up to $13 value...which will be a nice stocking stuffer!

I am planing to start running cans to the recycle center again...and I will put that money into the challenge while my stair challenge is on hold for the winter. (Ill keep doing the stairs, but after September, my pay gets cut back and I wont have the $14 per week to contribute to my challenge)

I used samples of laundry soap today for free laundry...and clothes air out on the line.

I also used the free pouch of chicken from Tyson to make a yummy pasta salad. Enough for at least 3-4 days lunches.

I also used some of my free sample shampoo, conditioner for my shower...

So, this was a pretty frugal day.

I received a check for $8.47 from Insiders Club for shipping refund. I am rounding it up and xferring $8.50 into my challenge account.

new total: $551.70

I have continued to add $14 each week for my stair challenge...but I am going to have to table that deposit for the winter when my paycut goes into effect- which will start in October..

So I am thinking about other ways to keep adding to my challenge...hmm, time to get creative!

I received my first rebate check from Insiders Club. It was for shipping fees and a $10 bonus rebate= $14.47

This brought my challenge account to $513.52!!!

Ok- this is exciting...at least for me.

A couple of days ago, I bought a package of batteries for all the battery operated things around here.

Rayovac had the best price, so I went ahead and bought a big pack for $4.87.

TODAY, Im perusing online coupons and find a $3 rebate for the batteries!!!

So, I got the UPC and found the reciept and I will mail the rebate off tomorrow...

Totally unexpected $3--- HOORAY

Which makes me wonder....do you serious rebaters save receipts and UPC codes incase a rebate comes along??? And do you recommend???

Doing the $3 happy dance here!!!!(of course, this will go to the Challenge money- so I will go ahead and deposit tomorrow...which, by the way, throws me over $500!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I havent updated my challenge account in a while.

But here goes:
current balance: $470.56
+ tape rebate 2.99
+ valvoline rebate 11.50

new total: 485.05

I am holding off on taking from this account to pay all those bills from last week.

DH is working some overtime and we sold 2 cords of wood to be delivered this weekend...so I am HOPING, HOPING that there is enough between the two that I do not have to take from my challenge account that Ive worked so hard to accumulate.

I have planned all meals at home this week and am making several today to have on hand...the weather is supposed to hit the 100+ mark again as of Friday....ugh.

So, I will be splitting in the evenings after it hopefully cools off a little!!

Today has been a busy bug day (Mondays always are) So far Ive sold almost $500 in jobs...nice!

DD3 just left for her last day of school for the year. It is a half day today- and they are just signing yearbooks.

It has been raining here for several days...A wonderful thunderstorm that brings such drama with the loud rolling thunder. I am very much enjoying it.

The weather is supposed to clear up tomorrow. So I am holding off on laundry until I can use my clothesline again.

I requested a $20 check from my rewards card this morning...and DHs ING account is complete...so there is a $25 bonus that can be withdrawn in a month.

So, my challenge is at:
$354.29
+ 25.00 ing bonus
+ 20.00 cc reward bonus
$399.29!!!

I am running errands this afternoon.

I have to make a deposit for our pest business. (Its been a good week ) The kids are on a big 3-person termite job today.


I have to deposit DHs check. It is a smaller check because of vacation last week and no OT. So no extras this week!

Then I am going to the grocery store. I have a $10 off for spending $50 coupon, 4 double coupons, some great coupons from the train and that I printed off of the puter this am...and a shopping list. So I am armed and ready to strech that budget!!!

I opened an ING account for DH today...so my challenge account just grew $10!!!...and I will deposit the additional $25 bonus for his account next month.

I am going to close out the BofA account today.

I will also close the Wells fargo saving account today.

If I have time this afternoon, I will apply for a couple of the trial memberships.

A good, frugal kinda day!!

Fern- you are much on my mind.
{hug to you}

I have added my stair money, my rebate $ ($2.47) my BofA bonus $50! and now have a grand total of $330.29 in my challenge account!!!

My original goal, set in March, was to save $500 by the end of the year...I am very pleased with how fast this little account is growing...and am hoping to have reached the $500 by the end of July now.

That means if the account keeps growing at this speed, I will make DOUBLE my original goal or $1000 by the end of the year!!!!! Oh-yeah-- happy dance in Oregon!

I finished opening the online BofA account last week...and low and behold I received a $50 bonus deposit to the account today!! Woo-hoo!

I am going to add that $50 to my challenge money on Monday and will update the total at that time! (Don't you just LOVE free money!!)

Wells fargo, however, is making me work for the $25 gc. That account has been opened over a month, the certificate code for GC.com STILL does not work...service via email has been no help...and I did not receive the call back from their support department as promised today. I will try again on Monday. I feel like IMTHISCLOSE... yet miles away at the same time.

DD3 and I go to the library every Wednesday. Rather than take the bus home, she walks to the library and spends an hour with her 'study group' friends and then I meet her there afterwards and we check out books.

Being that we are there WEEKLY, you would think library fees would be non-existent.

Well...

I stopped by the library a few days ago with DD3 and the librarian mentioned that DD3 had some overdue fines...so, I pulled out a dollar..thinking $.20-$.30.....but the fines were $7!!!!!!

Without batting an eye, the libraran looked at DD3 and said "I think you should 'work' these fines off. I have some books that need to be cleaned/shelved...can you come Wednesday after school?"

Of course DD3 was more than willing...and I was greatful for the non-monetary solution. So DD3 will be 'working' at her first job tonight. (It pays $4 per hour towards the fees, so she will work for 2 hours)

DD3 had already volunteered to work at the library 2 days per week this summer so this workoff of fines will be good training.

and I have decided that $7 will go to the $20 challenge since I didn't have to pay afterall!

Challenge update: stairs last week = $14 to challnge plus todays $7 = $235.06!!

I have added another $14 for last weeks stair challenge which brings this account to $214.06.

I am having fun watching this little account grow!

As I mentioned in my earlier blog, I received the Gillette rebate for $9 and change...I decided to round it up to an even $10 and add it to the challenge, which puts my balance at $200.06!!!

woo-hoo!! This little account is growing fast!

The good, the great and the not so great...

Received my first rebate check today for $9.43 from Gillette...I will put that into my $20 challenge. (update balance later)

DH got paid last night and this check was huge thanks to all the overtime last week....we will put some of the extra in his business account to help with these expenses until the earnings start coming in.

and the not so great...
I cancelled my Complete Home membership today (30 days was up) and I never received the circuit city gc's nor did I get credit to my points (200) for signing up...

But the good stuff far outweighs the not-so- good today!

My challenge money is at $190.06 (thanks to another week of stairs and interest)...next week I will top $200!! yesssss!

I signed up for auto-pay for Directv and they just gave me a $10 credit for doing so!! Now, not only do I not have to remember to make the payment, but I can add $10 to my challenge money as well!
so...165.64 + 10 = $175.64!!!

The new phone books are starting to arrive on door steps this week...so I anticpate a SPIKE in business calls. We are also starting to get calls "you took care of us last year...and we need you again"...as well as alot of customer referrals (our customers just love their tech, my son...see mom beam with pride)

Have to run a business deposit into the bank today...and will stop by the library to pick up two book recommended here...then I need to catch up on my reading!!

Added another $14 to my challenge today so my little account is now up to $165.64.

This weekend was all about grandbabies...and oddly enough, spending too much money on margarita's!! (Darn this warm weather...lol)

GS spent pretty much the entire weekend here...(his mom is on notice that the answer for next weekend is NO)
GD came and visited gramma for about 4 hours yesterday.

DH was in the mood for a margarita Sat evening...so I bought the makings for those and got him some Irish Creme for his coffee...spent $52 (ouch!)

Then last night we went w/ friends to dinner at the mexi place on the river...wonderful dinner, more 'ritas and great company...dinner for 3 (DD3 went too) plus drinks and tip ($69) OUCH AGAIN...
so my little miscellaneous fund suffered terribly...and I am now down to under $80 for the unexpected...

Grocery shopping today...need to restock on some items, so I expect close to $100 today...

Sigh...feels like 3 steps back...but it really was a fun weekend, so it was worth it...(repeat 10 times and you will believe it..)

Is anyone else tired today??? I am pooped from all the fun yesterday...I guess I am getting OLD.

I met DD1 at Walmart (anyone else call it wally-world?) today. Bought my summer sandals $12.74 and a few other things we needed. Then we went to Costco and bought a few other needed items. We had Costco dogs and sodas for lunch $3 for both of us....what a deal!)

I spent $68 dollars today in total.

We are having Mexi-food at home tonight. Got dinners all planned for the week ahead...back on budget!!!

I added $14 to my $20 challenge for the week and earned .01 in interest so my new total is $151.64...I am seriously considering purchasing a sewing machine with some of this money....I have always wanted to learn how to sew...but I am still in the pondering stage...I also need a new dining room table (badly)...decisions, decisions....