Morningstar's Personal Finance Blog

Things have been very busy and I have neglected to post in my blog. I have significantly reduced my monthly spending (by about $300.00) but decided against adding it to my challenge. Over the past several weeks I have saved $11.00 by taking the local roads over the toll roads. Add another $362.00 for FSA reimbursement and $80.00 for unexpected check in the mail. That brings me a little above my expected goal for the quarter (3/31) but I am not disappointed. Onward and upward, I say. Hope to continue with my minimalist spending and add to my challenge in the process.
Previous total: 1,077.00
Today's total: 453.00
Total: 1,530.00

I have not been spending as much as I have in the past (which is a good thing). I have another $296.00 to add from the FSA and 27.00 from the March money jar.




Previos total: 695.00
Today's total 322.00
Total: 1,077.00

It has been about 2 weeks since I have been able to add to my challenge. I have been really busy at work and have changed my spending habits. I won't add all of my savings to my challenge as it's more money that I didn't spend vs. saved. We saved 23.00 on the electric bill and I did not renew another magazine for 12.00 but other than that, I don't have much to report.

I am disapointed that I am not close to my quarterly goal of $1,500.00 but hopeful that I'll catch up later in the year.

Previous total: 660.00
Today's total: 35.00
Total: 695.00

I just received my first reimbursement from my flexible spending account. This is exactly the type of checks I'll be putting in the challenge. Previous to the challenge, if I received something like this, I would just spend it, treating it like it was found money. Now it will go into savings. So, I add 34.00 to the challenge. We also got a reimbursement check from church for items we purchased for a dinner and since we already paid the credit card bill, another 120.00 for the challenge.
Previous total: 507.00
Today's total: 153.00
Total: 660.00

Finally received my annual credit card reward. I have only had this card a year and pay it off every month so it was a pleasure to receive the $103.00 bonus from the card.

Challenge is slow but I am learning to watch every dollar and am (hopefully) making better choices.

The grocery store seems to be where I need to be the most watchful. Thanks to everyone who posts on this site for all of your helpful advice.
Previous total: $404.00
Today's amount: $103.00
Total: $507.00

Things have been a bit slow for the $20 challenge. I do have $25.00 to add for this month's proceeds of the coin jar. I also have $3.00 from another recycled ink cartridge coupon which was used to purchase a much needed roll of packing tape. And another $1.00 for a no-spend day (I don't have many of those) and $2.00 for additional coupon savings at the grocery store. I am still evaluating our spending habits which has been a real eye-opener. Here's hoping March is better for the challenge!
Previous total: 373.00
Today's total: 31.00
Total: 404.00

I got my "big fat check" today from ebates, another $45.00 to add to my challenge. For anyone who is interested, you can PM me if you want the link. There is a special promotion that both I and the person I refer will get $10.00 if you accumulate $5.00 in rebates. It's not for everyone and I only got this much because I did mostly all of my Christmas shopping online this way and referred a lot of people. It's a neat site to check out but like I said, it's not for everyone and this is the first time in a few years of using it that I got such a large check.

Previous total: $328.00
Today's total: 45.00
TOTAL: 373.00

DH and I went to a church function last night and won the 50/50! We gave a little more than half of our winnings back to the church but I still have $81 for the challenge. I am also adding another $8 because I am not renewing a magazine subscription. There are already too many subscriptions and I can go to the library and read them whenever I want. So, I have $89 to add to the challenge!


Previous total: $239.00
Today's total: $ 89.00
Total: $328.00

For the last several weeks, there has been a "free" Wall Street Journal on the doorstep of my office. I am assuming that the delivery is to get people to read and then subscribe to the paper. I thought it was hassle at first and no one in my office seemed to read it, so one day I opened it up and als, found a $10.00 coupon (off of a $20.00 purchase) for Office Max. Since I needed a new color ink cartridge for my printer, I used it and saved $10.00 for my challenge.

Previous total: $239.00
Today's totoal: 10.00
Total: $249.00

Finally an entry for my blog. Things were looking a little bleak there for a few days. I am re-evaluating all of our spending and shifted my focus from the $20 challenge to seeing exactly where all the $$ is going. I have learned so much from all of you in such a short time. I am adding $3.00 to my challenge for taking the local roads to work for 3 days last week, another $1.00 for getting gas at the cheap gas station near work again and $3.00 in savings at the grocery store that I would not have usually saved. Also, I reviewed the credit card bill and found that there is $60.00 in cash rewards available so I am having it transferred to my bank account and will add that to my challenge.

Previous amount $172.00
Today's amount 67.00
Total $239.00

DH and I had an "extra" vehicle for the past 5 years. At the time of the purchase, we had 2 extra large dogs and no vehicle that we could all travel in comfortably. It was a '91 minivan and this weekend we said goodbye. We had a lot of fun times and great memories in that van. On the bright side, I have another $60.00 to add to the challenge. (DH got some of the $$).


Previous Total 112.00
Today's Total 60.00
Total 172.00

I recycled some more ink cartridges that I had been saving for DH's school. The club that recycled them disbanded. I got a $15.00 coupon and used it towards a new ink cartridge for my computer. Also found an old envelope in my desk with $16.00 in it - will add to the challenge. And lastly, saved $1.00 at the gas station. All the stations by my home were 1.96 and the one at work was 1.89. Glad I didn't have time to stop for gas on my way to work this morning!

Starting Amount: $ 80.00
Today's Amount: $ 32.00
Total: $112.00

This challenge is proving more difficult than I thought. You all make it seem effortless. Maybe some day it will be. . For now, I have some entries and will continue to look for ways to save and add to my challenge.

I took local roads to work last week and saved $5.00 (it's really 70 cents a day for the toll road but I'm rounding up). Also recycled a toner cartridge and got $3.00 coupon which I used to buy a ream of paper which I desperately needed.

Starting Amount: 72.00
Today's Amount : 8.00
Total: : 80.00

I have been getting ready to log in with my challenge to date. I have been keeping track over the last week. My goal is to reach $1,500 on a quarterly basis with a final goal amount of $6,000 for the year. Although I always try to be careful with money, somehow bad habits seem to resurface. I have never kept track of my successes of saving money and was sometimes wasteful with the savings. This past week I have taken my coins to be cashed in and will start with that. So, here goes.

Starting amount: $20.00
Today's addition: 52.00
Total: 72.00