I spent a total of $381.33 for grocery and household supplies like health, beauty, dog food. I had budgeted $400.00 so I did keep it under that. I saved $85.80 in coupons for the month.

Seems like the month of January has just flown by! I added another $32.00 to the $20. Challenge today that I would have been paying to the trash service. It has been harder then I expected trying to recycle everything. I hadn't thought about all the bits of plastic stuff like the plastic wrap that comes on most everything. Also, I had forgot about styrofoam if I buy a package of meat. I sure have more learning to do!

I do Swag Bucks and know that several of you do too. I try to earn 15 points per day by doing the daily poll and do some searchs.

Does anyone earn more then about 15 points per day? If so, how do you get more points?

I have trouble sleeping at night anymore. I think it must be my age...must be getting really really old. LOL....anyway I saw this natural product and the reviews are terrific, so I bit the bullet and ordered. I saved $5.00 (by using the special link), picked a free item and also ordered another small item to bring my total to $20.00 (after coupon) and got free shipping. It called "Peter Gillham's Natural Vitality, Natural Calm, Organic Raspberry"



Here is the link http://iherb.com/p/5124?at=0&rcode=biw630

Has anyone heard of it? I hope it works. I think I would feel so much better if I got better rest at night.

Today is payday, and there is overtime so I have added the overtime money to different savings account once again. I added $120. to my granddaughter's account ( she will get this sometime after she becomes an adult LOL), more money to my driveway gravel savings account, and also $100. to another savings goal!

I was able to add $35.00 into my $20. Challenge account today. I did some sewing work and also had $15.00 left over from another account that I did not use.

I went to the grocery today. I actually spent $55.25 and save $25.00 with coupons. Also most items were on sale. My orginal total would have been $103.43 before sale prices and my coupons.

I had decided that starting this month hubby and I would enjoy a "Date Night" once a month. I have budgeted $50. per month for this. This past Friday we at our first "date". We went to dinner and used a 25% coupon on our meal We had to present the coupon when our server took our order. When he gave us our bill at the end of our bill he had forgotten to take the coupon off. After reminding him about the coupon he took the 25% discount off. The coupon saved us $7.08. We then went to a local basketball game. Tickets were $5.00 apiece. So for dinner, tip, and basketball game, we spent a total of $35.00 for the evening. So now I have $15.00 left in my "Date" envelope. Haven't decided what to do with the leftover money, though I am kind of leaning toward adding it to the $20.00 challenge.

We started our exercise challenge last Saturday, so it's time to report in! I know for sure I feel much better when I stick to do an exercise schedule. My exercise is on the treadmill.

Total minutes 1/7/2012- 1/13/2012.......220 minutes


How did everyone else do?

A big thank you to CCraw who pointed me to a recipe for homemade Flour Tortillias! The recipe can be found at


http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/2007/03/and-end-to-my-quest-flour-tortillas.html

I cut the recipe in half to try it and beleive me these are wonderful and slightly puffy tortillias! So much better then the store bought ones and so easy and cheap to make!!

I used some leftover steak, onions, cheese, and tomatoes for the filling. I topped it with a nice dollop of sour cream, A winner for sure.

I earn a little bit of money throughout the year by sewing for people. Yesterday one of my customers owed me $16.00 for a job I did for her that she needed quickly, (as in..the next day!) I was able to do that for her. When she paid me she gave me $35.00!!! I also received $5.00 for another sewing job. So I have $40.00 to put in the $20. challenge today! I'm so thankful for the nice little surprises I receive!

I just love reading Denise's (Pennywise Meanderings) blog about how she has quit smoking. She puts a penny in a jar for every cigarette she doesn't smoke. What I have decided to do is put a penny in a jar for every 20 minutes I exercise. I want to exercise at least 40 minutes a day. I have an old (and I DO mean old) treadmill that still works and I have been using it pretty faithfully for the last month. I started this morning by walking 20 minutes so I have my first penny in my little jar!

Anyone want to join me for "The Penny Walk" ?

Just put one penny in a jar for every 20 minutes exercise you do. You can do any exercise you want! For now, mine will be walking on the trusty old treadmill. Each Saturday we will report how many pennies we have.

Today was payday. Quite a bit over overtime in the check, so I applied it to:

$400.00 Hubby's Roth IRA
$ 85.00 My Roth IRA
$164.00 Gravel for Driveway Fund

Also I should have about $20.00 to add to the $20. Challenge account early next week!

So far this year, I have only spent money one day!

I received a $34.00 check from my Chase Rewards credit card. I deposited it in to the bank today towards my $20 Challenge!!

I saved $21.40 today using coupons at the grocery store. I spent $52.55.

Today I had to go to town for an 8:00 appointment, so I made a list of the various chores I needed to do while I was in town. I had a list of 7 stops I had to make...got everything done and was back home by 9:35 AM. A list makes things so much easier and I also used a shopping list in the grocery store. I'm sure I saved money by using that shopping list!

$20. Challenge $68.00
Deposit $34.00
New Balance $102.00

I have always lived in the country and can't just run into town when I am out of an ingredient. So I have been known to "make do" many times!

Last week, my daughter called to say she was having guests for dinner and was going to make a homemade pot pie except she discovered she was out of potatoes. I asked her if she had any kind of potatoes at all....she said all she had was a bag of french fries....so guess what i told her? I suggested she defrost the french fries for a little while and then cut the potatoes in to chunks and then to continue to make the potpie filling as she normally would. She said it turned out perfect and no one guessed she had to improvise and use frozen french fries in her homemade potpie!! I was so proud of her.