I usually get a lot of mail that I think is junk and simply just trash it. But thank goodness I opened this one. It was a $25 gift certificate, apparently I earned enough points.
So I went into Macy's and bought a dress and I got $3 back which I added to my challenge.
Had i known I would get cash back I would have bought a five dollar gift, oh well, I love the dress though.

On a different note, since I have given up sodas, I'm down almost 7lbs, and that's with out any excercising. Wow

Things are going pretty good in the new place, rent was paid today. I pretty much paid it in its entirety; however, the BF had provided me money in which I paid the electric, water and cable. In addition he has given me another $200 I figured all in hall he gave me a little over half for the rent, but I used the money to pay bills (i.e. cable, water) buy groceries and miscellaneous household items. At least it wasn't wasted.

Further more if things continue I probably won't need a part-time job, as I had planned only because my car will be paid off in May and that would free up close to $400 a month. Plus if I budget, and the BF keeps doing what he does we will be fine.

On a different note, I have not any sodas all week, well the week isn't quite over yet but over 6 days no sodas I added $6 to the challenge for this reason

Not sure if I shared this, but my back has been killing me, I think the bed is too soft. I started therapy which has helped but tomorrow I will buy a firm mattress cover; hopefully this helps, verses buying a new bed. We will see.

Day two and no soda, yeah! So I'm adding $2 to the challenge
Wow April will be here soon which means two months in the new place and it feels great.

Not much to add so I'll post later

Car payments and I am done! Thank God! I cannot wait until May when I send off my final car payment. The goal is to continue to put aside the money I was paying on my car, well at least a portion of it. I plan on paying down some debt as well.

On the home front, things seem to be going pretty well, no complaints.

My dad offered my someone money to buy the place that I am in, but I really don't plan on doing so until the end of the year but it's great to know he is supportive. My mother would never offer

In the end, things seem thus far to be moving along very well

I finally received my Visa gift card from BCBS in the amount of $200. I was actually planning on using the gift card later on this year, but guess what? It expires 3/12. Are you kidding me? And if I would like a new card with an extended expiration date, there would be a fee.

So I paid my car insurance early $125.63 and tomorrow I will get an oil change. Once I am paid, I'll add the money saved using the gift card to my challenge.

Either way, I saved money

Back to normalcy. I have been in a lot of pain since the move, back problems.

I believe I have strain/sprain my lower back. The doctor advised that I use heat and I know better from working at the clinic, but I did so and I think it made things worst So I have decided to ice and am feeling much better than yesterday.

On a different note I used 2 coupon for Tide today saving me $2 so I added this amount to my $20 Challenge

My friend came into some extra money and her house warming gift to us to to take us grocery shopping tomorrow this will save $60--good friend

In the end that's it for now, I will go ice

$67.69 is what I had left in my checking account before payday today so I added this amount to my challenge/EF; I can't wait to hit the $2000 goal, only a $100 away.

In other news, I'm loving the new place and at the same time not even remotely missing my mother. I am so thankful for being out of such a toxic environment.

It's only been a few days since I receieved notice of my GC being mailed but I'm still anxious.

Today is payday and I am hoping I'll have my mileage reimbursement check as well so that I can get an oil change.

That's it so far.

Whew! I received an email from BCBS that my gift card has been shipped. Now I can use that money to pay my cell phone bill if I receive in time along with my Internet bill.

Hopefully, I will have it by the end of the week

Okay we are going into month number 3 and I have not received my $200 from BCBS. Well I called them and was advised that there was a delay and the gift cards will be mailed on the 23rd.
Well I'll give it a few days after that and if not received I will call them again. This is crazy

It's been about two weeks, and I am loving the new place. It's funny because I hardly ever think about my mom, but I will say this, when it comes to cleanliness, we are just alike.

Other than my BF daughter, things seems to be going well. I'm definitely going to have to work with her and her cleaning habits

I've still kept track of my spending but haven't really been able to sock away anything. When I get my mileage check, I'll add the $114 to the EF

Oh, I almost forgot, I really need to set up a grocery budget, things are getting out of hand. I find myself at the store every week and I really want to go twice a month ( each pay period). So we'll see

Okay we have moved in, whew! I'm actually loving the place. However, the BF gave me his portion of the rent and he is short $50. All I can do is shake my head.

I haven't said anything but I do know that if this happens next month, there is going to be a problem.

He is currently waiting on $350 from a job he did which he should collect next week and I should have my $50

But moving right along, I was able to sock away $200 to my EF to cover my portion of next month's rent. Also I'm waiting on a $140 check for my mileage reimbursement for February, which means once received I'll pretty much have my portion of the April rent, with out touching my EF.

Also if things go well, I should be able to sock away an additional $200 to my EF by March 15th