I don't think I have ever been so happy to see a Friday in a long, long while. We have an event in Apex tomorrow, so here's hoping we do well.

Saved $3.39 with my Lowes Foods card yesterday. With Pennsic fast approaching, I'm worried we won't have enough money saved up for much more than gas.

Previous Pennsic Balance: $246.39
Contribution: $3.39
New Pennsic Balance: $249.78

Also, John took his lunch to work today. . .and I didn't have to make it for him. He made it himself while I was asleep! Ladies and gents, they CAN be taught! *huge grin*

Previous Challenge Balance: $60.24
Contribution: $1.00
New Challenge Balance: $61.24

Okay, so the last few days have been strange, but I'll talk about that later.

Trying to remember what I've done in the last few days money-wise. I know we went grocery shopping, but I don't remember what we bought or what I saved or what coupons I used. Its nothing but a fog.

The yard sale at the flea market wasn't quite as profitable as I'd hoped, so perhaps the third time will be the charm. However, that's $10 to the Challenge.

Previous Challenge Balance: $50.24
Contribution: $10.00
New Challenge Balance: $60.24

*sigh* I used to have a brain. I wish I knew where it wandered off to. . .

Chrissy and I will be having yet another yard sale tomorrow at the flea market in Raleigh. Not sure how we'll do this time, but I'm confident that we shall do MUCH better than last time.

Tomorrow we plan on arriving at the flea market around 7 a.m. and be up and running by 7:45, tops. Last time we didn't get there until 9 a.m., so we missed the early bird rush and didn't make much money as a result. But this time will be different. (I hope.)

I packed lunch for John today, and I made both dinner Friday and breakfast today from scratch. I also combined 5 errands into one car trip AND resisted the urge buy a new video game even though it was at a reduced price. GO ME!

That's $5 to the Challenge.

Previous Challenge Balance: $45.24
Contribution: $5.00
New Challenge Balance: $50.24

I also didn't go anywhere yesterday, so I'll put a gallon's worth of gas money into the Pennsic fund.

Previous Pennsic Balance: $227.84
Contribution: $2.85
New Pennsic Balance: $230.69

Time to load up the Suburban. Wish us luck!

The last few days have been both good and bad. I'd rather not talk about the details right now, though.

John took his lunch to work today. Yay.

Previous Challenge Balance: $44.24
Contribution: $1.00
New Challenge Balance: $45.24

Still raining here in North Carolina. I won't complain, though. Most of the state has been experiencing drought conditions for nearly 18 months, so the more rain the better in my not-so-humble opinion.

John took his lunch to work today, so that's more money for the Challenge.

Previous Challenge Balance: $43.24
Contribution: $1.00
New Challenge Balance: $44.24

I also had a No Driving Day yesterday, so that's $2.85 for the Pennsic 35 Beer Fund. Not a bad day, if you ask me.

Previous Pennsic Balance: $220.01
Contribution: $2.85
New Pennsic Balance: $222.86

I also have to get some trash and recycling hauled today. I have some things to return to Wal-Mart, too. Baby Bro bought some dog food for Luna, the new pup, but got the wrong kind. Since its unopened, I'm going to see if I can get a GC by returning it. All three dogs need food, and the two larger dogs need some new chew toys. Luna rumaged through the house two nights ago and tore up a newspaper, a roll of paper towels, and a maxi pad. She's part German Shepherd, and they are notorious for being "chewers". She's destroyed no less than three rope bones in as many weeks. If I don't buy her some more chew toys, though, I fear the house will be chewed to death. *sigh* Not much a choice there. Not until she grows out of the chewing stage, anyway.

Oh, well. Better than being eaten out of house and home. (Yes, I know. Horrible jokes abound.)

I packed John a lunch before he raced out the door to work this morning. $1 for the Challenge.

Also saved $6.75 in coupons when buying Scott toilet tissue on sale at the grocery store Wednesday. I forgot about that. Had to run back inside the store after I looked at the reciept and realized the cashier had forgotten to scan my coupons! I was NOT pleased. He and the manager apologized profusely, though. The store was absolutely PACKED with people, so I guess the poor guy had a few fried ciruits if you catch my drift. Its not like he gyped me on purpose, so I thanked him and went home.

At this rate, I'm running out of change in the money cup to put in my savings jars! I'm going to ask John if he will take out $20 in cash/change when he gets paid on Thursday to put towards the money cup.

He said he doesn't want to know the day-to-day earnings of the two savings jars, because he has too much on his mind right now due to the management training courses he's taking for Circuit City. Can't say that I blame him, but I do resent it a tiny, tiny bit. Its like he doesn't think I have a lot on my mind since I'm not working outside the house. *sigh* But its only a tiny bit of resentment. I've shared my feelings with him on the subject, and he says that he understands, so I don't think it will grow into anything huge. Thank the gods for reason, you know?

Previous Challenge Balance: $35.49
Contribution: $7.75
New Challenge Balance: $43.24

Not too much to report for the Challenge today.

John took his lunch to work--$1
Made dinner from scratch--$1

Previous Balance: $33.49
Contribution: $2.00
New Balance: $35.49

John took his lunch to work--$1

Previous Balance: $32.49
Contribution: $1.00
New Balance: $33.49

And I don't mean the one we're saving for.

I got some chores done before the rain started today. Washed some dishes, cleaned the recycling bins, hung up some laundry. Even grabbed the laundry off the line before it got soaked again. Its still drying in the house, so I guess that still counts toward the Challenge.

John took lunch to work: $1
I drank a glass of water with lunch: $0.25
Hung laundry on the clothesline: $0.50
Washed the dishes by hand: $1

Previous Balance:$29.74
Contribution: $2.75
New Balance: $32.49

Decided to make burritos for dinner tonight, so I had to stop by the grocery store on the way home from the apartment cleaning.

Even with buying two pounds of ground, some yogurt, lettuce, cereal, frosting, sour cream, milk, and bananas, I still got out of the store spending less than $20. The frosting and the cereal were on the "Damaged Goods" rack, so they only cost me $3.44 for two cans of frosting and one box of name-brand cereal. (I was craving GrapeNuts, and what do you know? There was one box on the damage rack. *grin*)

*preens*

I saved $2.49 in coupons today. I also combined several errands today on the trip home from work, so I believe that is $1 added to the Challenge. One of those errands was a trip to the recycling center, so that's another $1. On top of that, we're cooking dinner at home tonight, so that's $1 to add to the Challenge, as well.

Yay!

Previous Balance: $24.25
Contribution: $5.49
New Balance: $29.74

I've come to a bit of an impasse when it comes to my saving money. We have a vacation coming up in six weeks or so, and we only have $190 saved up for the expenses of that trip.

I can tell you that going to Pennsic War isn't cheap, but it doesn't have to be extravagant, either. I'm not sure how little we can do the trip on, but I plan to find out. However, it makes me wonder how I'll manage the Challenge AND save enough money for Pennsic.

So, rather than ruin my chances of saving big with the $20 Challenge, I'm going to slightly change where I'm putting my savings. I have decided to put whatever I save using my shoper rewards card at various stores into the Pennsic 35 Fund and put what I save in coupons into the $20 Challenge fund. Hopefully, there will be good results all around.

John cooked sausage gravy and biscuits from scratch for breakfast. One more dollar for the Challenge!

Previous balance: $23.25
Contribution: $1.00
New Balance $24.25

One last post, I swear.

Put clothes on the clothesline instead of running the dryer-$0.50

Cut out and organized my coupons, eliminating some unneeded clutter-$0.50

Ate leftovers out of the fridge for lunch instead of cooking something new-$1.00

Drank a glass of water instead of soda-$0.25

Previous Total: $21
Contribution: $2.25
New Total: $23.25

Every time I drink a glass of water instead of something more expensive, I'll add $0.25 to the Challenge Jar.

Taking a break from helping Jeff steam clean his carpets while he vacumes the next section of the house. I'm folding laundry and picking up around the house to get ready for my turn. (Did my living room yesterday morning, so its time for the hallway and the bedrooms.)

I think I'll put $1 toward the Challenge for doing the carpets myself instead of hiring someone else to. Go me!

Previous Total: $20
Contribution: $1
New Total: $21

Whenver John takes his lunch to work instead of buying it, I'll add $1 to the Challenge money.

I'm going to give this a try. I only wish I had seen it sooner.

I happen to be the planner in the family, whereas John likes to "live life on the fly". Its an interesting match, to say the least. This should be very interesting.

Here's the ideas I've come up with off the top of my head:

-Every time I cook a meal from scratch, I'll stick $1 in the jar.

-Whenever I combine two or more errands to save gas, I'll add $1.

-One-half of the proceeds from my yard sale in two weeks will go to the challenge.

-Whenever I resist the urge to buy a new video game, $1 goes in.

-When I hang a load of laundry on the clothesline instead of running the dryer, $0.50 will go in the jar.

-When I finish everything on my weekly To-Do List, I'll add $5. (I've had a HUGE problem with procrastination lately. Hopefully, this will give me some extra incentive to get off my butt and finish things.)

-Whenever I remember to take the trash and recycling to the collection center, I'll add $1.

-Whenever I wash the dishes by hand instead of running the dishwasher, I'll add $1.

That is all I've come up with for now. Perhaps I'll gain more inspiration while I'm working on my To-Do List today.