My friend's ex was found dead today in right next to his mom. I unfortunately; immediately thought a drug overdose but we will not know until the autospy is performed. She dated him years ago he was such a looser, thank God she left him. Unfortunately there is a small child involved who loves her dad no matter what and I really feel bad for her

$635 at the dentist today. If it is one thing that I have learned and that is to take care of your teeth. My god, this is so expensive. I did put this on the credit card and plan on paying off (I will pay off) before the next billing cycle. I just did not want to clean out my saving and take funds away from my house fund and besides I will not acrue any interest before then. I still have a ew more things to take care of, inregards to my teeth but I am holding off right now

I just wanted to say thanks to every one on this site, who not only read my blogs but encourage me as well. I have come a long way and still have a way to go but blogging has really help me open my eyes. Now you all know that I got a bonus today and the old me would have thought about all the things I could buy but instead my focus was on upping my challenge.

I feel as though we are one big family here and I am comfortable with blogging and sharing things that I am afraid to share with family members or friends. I don't know but we all share something here and it is wonderful.

I am aware that $4000 to some is not a lot but to me I feel like a millionare, lol... I have never just saved $4000 not even $200 for that matter. lol but any how I am happy

Last year, I wrote about my attempted suicide and my battle with depression, I can honetly say sincee I have joined this site I am the happiest I have every been in a long time (even though I am single)

Just felt like I needed to share this with you and again I just want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!

oops I forgot I added $7 more dollars to my challenge

New total $4007.00

PS for anyone who is going through anything, I know how you feel; just hang in there the best is yet to come

What a nice surprise today I got a two week bonus check in addition to my regular pay I am so happy. So I transferred the funds to my challenge (may as well since I was not expecting it ) and I have met my $4000 goal for my challenge this month. I am so excited. Now for June I need to up my challenge from $4000 to $6000 and then I will be on track with adding $1000 a month for the year. I can actually sense one day I will be a home owner wow am I happy

New total for my challenge a whopping $4000 the most I have ever saved yippie

I was on a roll and just broke my cycle today not only did I buy breakfast but lunch als0 so I had to add $11 to the challenge. It is not the $11 that I am upset about but the fact that I was too lazy to pack lunch

New total $2660.94

This is crazy, even though I am saving for my dream home I was wondering why wasn't I paying rent?

Basically before I moved home my rent was $475 a month plus a $348.11 for a car payment (before I totaled my car) and now that I have no bills other than what I help my mom out with (cable, light water and phone) a light bulb went off and I think I should start it back up. So as of June 1st I now have a car payment and rent; this should really boost my savings. I am also adding this catagory to my money software so that I will stay on track. All funds for rent will go my challenge/home account and funds for car payment will go to my new/used car account

Just wanted to wish every one a happy and safe Memorial Day

I like the idea of the $20 challenge, since starting I have been really saving and not touching these funds. I just added another $10 for not buying breakfast or lunch new total $2644.94(I made a mistake in an earlier post regarding my balance). At my age I am a shame to admit but I never had a savings with more than about $200 or so dollars, it feels really good
When ever I add even just a dollar I know I am closer to home ownership

Well that is not the case with my challenge (knock on wood) I have been fortunate to add and continue to add with out withdrawing, I am so happy. I just added $9 which brings my total to $2694.94 I was really hoping to have atleast $3000 by the end of the month but no such luck; my original goal was $4000 but minor things came up

For every day, I do not buy breakfast or lunch I add $5 to my challenge and let me tell you it has really been helping me to up my challenge. At the start of the month I had $2337.99 now I have $2595.15

When it comes to convenience ING wins over all. I opened up an HSBC account last year and have not transferred a dime sense. Reason 1) my customer number is twenty digits long and I can not log in 2) even if you verify all your info over the phone the refuse to reset your pass word or give you the account number. No I am closing this account and have to send in a ton of BS to do so

Is what I have beening adding to my challenge, $2 for not buying breakfast and $3 for not buying lunch

New challenge total $2567.19

I am making a slow progress but I am happy

Can you believe it I got my refund from Cingular/At&T $83.60. I can not believe it, I thought it was going to take at least two weeks

I was going to add this amount to the challenge, but since I am only workig one week this pay period at my part-time gig I will hold on

This is why I do not buy cell phone insurance along with the $50 deductible. Anyhow, this was in my inbox from the Dollar Stretcher and I thought I would share:

Used Cell Phones I don't think anyone needs to take out cell phone insurance,especially if you're like me with used cell phones you've notdisposed of. Here's the reason why. My son's cell phone wasrun over by a car and smashed to pieces. He had one month togo on his cell phone contract and would be eligible for adiscounted upgrade in 30 days. What to do? He borrowed afriend's old, used cell phone (from the same provider), calledthe company, and they transferred my son's service to the usedphone. I learned from this to keep at least one of my old cellphones.

My BP was down 110/60 which I think is low but according to the new numbers for BP this is great. Anyhow, I got on the bike for five minutes yesterday...lol I am so out of shape

Oh yeah I forgot, Cingular called to verify CC because of course they were running into problems processing my $83.

Just lovely

Called Cingular or At&t which ever one they go by and spoke with Mike Gagon who stated he needed to look over my account, I do not know why when he clearly sees the credit of $83.60. Then he states it has already been processed I say to him I know tht is why I am calling for a refund I paid the bill twice and what happens next he places me on hold. Come on, I can see if I owed them money, but the same bill was paid twice. Anyhow he comes back and tell me I will receive a credit in about 6 to 10 days, my next bill will be due in 10 days. And of course he could not give me a reference number that is why I am posting here

unbelievable

I just realized I paid my cellphone twice What was I thinking I am going to call and see if i could get this credited back to my account, I'd rather earn interest and have my funds than not

I was reviewing my spending habits, I have since decreased my dining out but upped my personal spending ( seeing the hairdresser once a week at $35) Haven't did much clothes shopping which is great, but I was able to up my challenge. I don't think I will hit the $4000 mark for this month but I think I will make it to $3000. So here are the numbers:
Income/Interest $3.08
Gifts Received $20.00
Total Other Income $20.00
Refund $58.76
Total Wages & Salary $2,994.02
Total Income $3,075.86

Expenses
Gasoline $96.45
Maintenance $87.98
Total Automobile $184.43
Bills
Cable/Satellite Television $82.85
Cellular $167.20
Electricity $106.70
Online/Internet Service $61.19
Telephone $46.57
Water & Sewer $41.39
Total Bills $505.90
Charitable Donations $20.00
Clothing $116.74
Dining Out $41.57
Education
Books $29.00
Tuition $240.40
Total Education $269.40
Gifts $107.73
Groceries $135.88
Healthcare
Dental $381.65
Physician $15.00
Prescriptions $41.99
Total Healthcare $438.64
Hobbies/Leisure
Books & Magazines $20.00
Household
Furnishings $18.99
House Cleaning $2.50
Total Household $21.49
Job Expense
Non-Reimbursed $5.98
Total Job Expense $5.98
Leisure
Entertaining $46.75
Newspaper $3.79
Total Leisure $50.54
Miscellaneous $50.45
Personal Care $195.33
Sales Tax $16.38
Taxes
Federal Income Tax $294.15
Medicare Tax $43.41
Social Security Tax $185.63
Total Taxes $523.19
Expense - Unassigned $15.53
Total Expenses $2,719.18

Income less Expenses $356.68

Saw the doc today and it is official I have high blood pressure and was given BP pills. He wants me to have a series of test for the hot flashes that I am having, and as far the pressure goes he wants me to excercise a little more (being that I don't ) so I will hit the bike at work every day for 10 minutes and will definatley start watching my sodium intake

Thanks to everyone who suggested I see the MD right away you guys were right.

All this saving and investing is new to me. I called the bank today, to transfer money to my IRA account and the rep offered me a CD with in my IRA earning 5.10% for six months, I said ok. I never heard of such a thing and since I will not be penalized in regards to taxes and I do not plan on taking the money out I thought why not and I can continue to contribute to my regular IRA and earn a better return�nice

Today was payday, and I still had $63 left in my personal account and tomorrow is payday from my second job so I am doing great this month any how here is what was paid out and saved:

Month Ending 5/31/2007
Paycheck $1,031.70
Automobile : Gasoline -$33.70
Education : Tuition -$140.40
Bills : Cable/Satellite Television -$82.85
Bills : Telephone -$46.57
Bills : Electricity -$106.70
Orchard Household Bank -$100.00
Transfer To (Contributions) -$50.00
Bills : Cellular -$83.60
Transfer To :New Home -$103.00
Transfer To :New Car -$40.00
Transfer To : Publix Savings -$76.37
Transfer To : New Home -$0.15
Lakeside Methodist Church -$20.00
HSBC Mastercard -$49.27

New total for challenge $2529.18

I contacted my brother when I was in my depressing mode(comparing myself to others) and ask if he was selling or wanted to sell one of his lots, well when I calm down from my hiatuses he called today and said he will give me one (free ) if I wanted isn't that great I am so happy, I did however offer to help him pay on it ($150 a month for about a year) I am sooooo happy, the deal is not quite final but I am sure it will be no doubt

So now I can really start socking away for my house because he said he would help me build I am just soooo happy right now, by doing this I am sure I would save about $80,000 in the long run

just wanted to tell every one thanks, and give you a heads up. I am seeing the doctor tommorrow; my pressure did go down but I am still going because of the slight headaches

Lately I have not been feeling well, last night I got up to take a shower and could hardly stand up; I felt faint

The nurse at my part time job took my BP which was 145/90, I don't know why and today I have a terrible headache but I have to drag myself to class

I will definately keep an eye on my pressure and make sure to get into the MD next week

I want a house so bad I can taste it. I have got to get more serious than I am. I mean I deposit funds regularly but I think it is time to eat peanut butter and jelly for a while. I must admit I am a little jealous, my friend just purchased her second home (she is selling the other) and we are just a year apart and I have not even bought my first house. Yes, we make about the same and it seems like she is doing much better than I am. I know some times people steal from Peter to pay Paul and in her case that maybe the case, but the point is at my age I am sick and tired of living at home with my mom.

Well I guess I could look at the bright side in just a little over a year I will have my bachelor�s and that will be a really big accomplishment, the first in my family. And the money that I am saving is adding up, so I should have a nice down payment in two years maybe I can get a 15yr fixed vs a 30yr . I guess patient is a virtue

Just added $7 to the challenge for not buying breakfast for two days and not buying lunch yesterday. I am doing really well with cutting back on the dining out. Friday, however I did splurge and hit TGIF for lunch but other than the one minor set back I am doing great this month

New total $2411.01

Just checked my points on MYPOINTS.com and I had a total of 5,105 simply by reading their emails this is great. At the rate I am going I should have at least $10,000+ points by Christmas in which I plan on cashing in for gift cards to give out as Christmas gifts more money saved for me and less stress

I fogot to post about this, my tooth that cost me about $1000 is now loose and of course the dentist can't save it and it will cost me $2040 (minus the $1000 break she gave me ) for a bridge. You have got to be kidding me was all I could think of, why didn't she tell me all this before I spent money I really did not have. I go back on the 31st for a crown and will speak to her then about this $4000 tooth...that just sucks

To all you moms out there:

To home ownership that is. When ever I add any amount to my challenge it is a reality that I am actually serious about home ownership and I am actually making progress and not just talking about it. I just feel so good; even though my additions may not be much but it all adds up. I just added $3 for 3 loads of clothes that I line dried rather than using the dryer bringing my total to $2404.01 My goal is to have $12,000 by the end of this year and another 12,000 by the end of next year brining my total to $24,000, which should be a nice down payment