My $20 Challenge goal was to save $2,500 extra by December 31st. Although I am retired, my part-time income has been greater than I expected, something for which I am grateful. Since my last update on October 18, here is my progress:

Balance Forward = $1124.84

Gas Reimbursement - $124.12
November Part-time work income - $673.28
November 1099 Income - $739.12
NSDs (12) and NDDs (10) - $76

New Balance = $2737.36

No wonder my palm's been itching! I'm finally on a roll with my $20 Challenge. In the past month I have received $35 in rebates (for a new shredder and a flash drive), $739 in 1099 income for 10 hours of consulting, $30 for an insurance overpayment, and $6.85 for recycling our plastic and aluminum. Since August 27, when I last added to the challenge, I have had 11 NSDs ($3 each) and 8 NDDs ($4 each) so that is another $65 to add. I am also adding the free $25 (plus interest) I received for opening my ING account back in January. From now on, I will deposit all challenge $$ into ING which is going to be dedicated to my $20 Challenge funds.

Balance Forward = $222.43

Rebates - $35
1099 Income - $739.12
Recycling $$ - $6.85
NSDs (11) and NDDs (8) - $65
Insurance premium overpayment - $30
ING Balance - $26.44

New Balance = $1124.84

My goal by December 31, 2008: $2,500. I think I might actually make it!

My favorite local radio station asks listeners a �call-in� question every morning. Today it was: �Where do you hide your money?� One caller said he had hidden $1,000 in a DVD to surprise his wife for a Disney trip� but she sold the DVD at their garage sale before he could surprise her! Another fellow called and identified himself as a �senior citizen.� He said he hides money in different places and for a variety of reasons� only problem is he can�t REMEMBER where. What was the most he�d ever hidden? He said it was $2,000 he�d stashed in a shoe for a home remodeling project.

The DJ nicely said, �Hey, it doesn�t just happen to senior citizens!� Well, at 58, I do not think I�ll call myself a senior citizen for at least 15-20 years (unless I can get an �over 55� discount somewhere for it), but I can sure identify with stashing money so safely I never find it again. The other day I found $60 in an old wallet I took out to put in the Goodwill box. I got the same rush as I did last summer when I won $7 on the penny slots in Vegas. Yeah!

Actually, I mostly use the bank for keeping my money, so when I �find� money, it is more about having forgotten it was there to begin with. One thing I have done for the last 20 + years: I keep a $100 bill folded behind my driver�s license in my wallet. This is my DIRE and IMMEDIATE emergency money. I�ve had to break it out only three or four times over the years� and it gets replaced if I use it.

Each time I�ve had to use it, I�ve been somewhere that takes only cash but I didn�t pay attention until it was too late. Out of the blue, my pedicure place stopped taking CCs and had just placed a tiny sign by the cash register. Another time, DH and I had taken my DSS to a Basque restaurant for his birthday and while we sat enjoying our meal, I spotted a sign on the door that said �Cash Only.� The restaurant was out in the boon-docks, with no ATM or bank open. The look of horror on DH�s face told me he only had his usual $40-80 on him. It was great to say, �Don�t worry, I have some cash.�

Well, I will add the $60 I found to my $20 Challenge:

Balance Forward = $155.43

8/25
NSD = $3
NDD = $4

Forgotten but Found $$ = $60

New Balance = $222.43

My goal by December 31, 2008: $2,500

Yesterday was finally a NSD! We went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth, but we used gift cards and drove the Prius. I am also adding the $80 we saved from our vacation budget.

Balance Forward = $72.43

NSD = $3

Under budget vacation = $80

New Balance = $155.43

Today when I checked my bank account I saw that I'd received the $125 payment for a � day consulting job I did about a month ago on a Saturday. I�d forgotten about it, so it was a pleasant surprise. I decided to send the entire amount to Kiva,

Summary of my $20 Challenge for last week:

Balance Forward = $54.04

Drove Prius 3 days = $6.39

NSD (4) = $12

New Balance = $72.43

My $20 Challenge is looking very sad right now. If I earn any 1099 income in my retirement, I will add the entire amount to this category. I am currently negotiating a consulting contract with my soon-to-be former employer, but I am not sure I will accept the assignment. This is the great thing about having CHOICES. The project will have to really appeal to me, otherwise I will pass.

Well, my $20 Challenge is off to a slow start. Here is a recap of the past 5 days:

Balance Forward = $47.65

Drove Prius 3 days = $6.39

New Balance = $54.04

Another way to look at it is that even small steps toward a goal are important.

you could have gotten a discount if only the business had informed you of it? Yesterday I learned from a friend that the vet we both use gives a 10% discount for clients over 55. I called, and sure enough, they said they would apply it for all �future� services/meds. I did not feel like arguing with the young lady who works in the front office on Saturdays but I will definitely speak to MC�s vet next week to see if they can go back to April to apply the discount. Poor old MC has kidney failure and I have spent over $2,000 on him since April.

I think they should post information about a senior discount in a visible place in the office.. and trust me, it is NOT that I don�t look 55.


$20 Challenge
Balance forward: $41.65
NSD: $3
Did not drive: $3
New total: $47.65

I've wanted to participate in the $20 Challenge for a while, but was at a loss as how to structure it. I see that my SA blogmates have many different ways of doing their challenge. This is what makes it fun. I didn�t want my savings to be �hypothetical.� In my case, I want it represent actual realized savings that are not part of the regular monthly savings that I incorporate in my budget. So here is what I decided:

No drive day = $4 (from my $150 monthly gas budget)

No spend day = $3 (from my �$100 monthly allowance�)

Drive the Prius to work (20 mi. RT) = $2.13 per day @ $4.25 per gallon

Rebates

1099 Income (if I work PT after I retire)

Under budget in any category

My goal by December 31, 2008: $2,500.


Here is what I have so far:

$20 to start
$10.65 - drove Prius to work 5 days last week
$6 � 2 �no-spend days�
$5 � rebate check received yesterday
Total: $41.65

Well, I have a long road ahead of me but I am hopeful.