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