Just thought I'd start this post now and will add onto it more as I think of things [or revise them. ]

I think I'll give myself $5.00 per each pound that I lose.

Now remember, this is not real money [read my previous weight-loss post for explanation.

It's nearly 1:00 a.m. and I'm really too tired right now to figure out more of the details;

but hope to work on that more tomorrow.

Now I'm trying to decide when to start and I think I'll wait until the 1st of August.

For some reason, I've always had problems starting things like that during the middle of the month. *lol*

These are my monthly expenses for August.

Total amount I receive each month is $630.40.

Some of the extra money will go into my Daily to do's savings account,

the rest will go into a checking account which I set up specifically for saving money

[I got no checks or MAC card for the account.]

Also, my phone bill includes my DSL and I am paying more on the bill than it will be,

so eventually I'll have credit built up for a free month [hopefully at Christmas-time!]

August bills

Tithe 65.00 [paid]
Rent 195.50 [paid]
Blog-a-thon 20.00
Etc. - 15.00
Cable 10.00 [paid]
Phone 75.00 [paid]
Compassion Int. 32.00 [paid]
Debt Reduction 25.00 [donated to Samaritans Purse]

Etc.

Toilet paper
Dry cat food
Cat litter

I just found a cool site from someone elses blog on here and went there today.

It's called Fru-Gals and I love it [it's a money saving forum too.]

So, what does that have to do with weight loss?

Well - on Fru-Gals, they have a "Community Bank" on their website where, you make deposits with money you have saved.

This is not real money but is a tool used to guage successes.

Okay, so on the way home from the store tonight [a short 2 minute walk *lol*], I got to thinking ...

Why can't I do a challenge like that for myself for losing weight and exercising and blog about the "fake" money I made since I know I only have so much money each month to be able to save in real money.

Now, I'm thinking that this just might work for me!!

[I love a challenge and especially one where I can see results adding up!]

I first want to do some serious thinking about it ... you know, like how much $ I'll give myself for losing 1 pound.

And, if I'll give myself money for good choices made [such as for not buying that donut to eat, etc.]

Also, I'd give myself a certain amount for each block that I walk [to me friends, seeing the money [real or not!] add up ... is motivating!

I also thought about subtracting so much from my total for days I didn't exercise or when I might trip up and pig out.

Had thought about making the money I subtract to be an even greater amount than what I would put in for making the good choices [that could be a big motivator too!]

What do ya all think? A silly idea or is it crazy enough that it just might work? *Giggle*

Love,

Jennelle

P.S. I also had thought that this might work for my cutting way down on smoking too!

Hmmm, I may see another challenge in my future.

Oops ... oh, that's right - I am "supposed" to be saving aren't I? *lol*

I really thought it was going to be a no-spending day but I sure blew that one big time.

I run across the street to Quality [sometimes I refer to it as Bi-Lo 'cuz I forget they changed the name of it recently. *lol*]

Anyways, what was it I went over there for?

Oh yeah, that's right ... it was to see if they still had a pillow there like the one I bought a month or so ago.

It was like a special item and I absolutely love it ... it's so soft and furry [it's a type of speciality pillow.]

Anyways, I use it all the time [and can't seem to sleep without it now!]

Since I got rid of my big [ugly] office chair for my computer, I've been using a kitchen chair that is less than comfortable [it feels like I'm sitting on a darned brick or something. *lol*]

That was a few weeks ago and then I started using my pillow on the chair seat just so I could stand to sit on it for extended periods of time when I'm online.

Well ... I know how things work and eventually the pillow I have now is going to wear out and I wanted a back up one for when that happens.

Any other time I have "really" liked something and then it wore out and I looked for one just like it - of course, I could never find it.

That's why I wanted to buy another one now for sometime in the future [it's $9.99 and worth every single penny of it so I don't feel as if I am wasting money at all on the purchase. ]

While there though, I also got some watermelon slices, a couple of bananas, a couple of long johns [bad girl, huh? *lol*]

I also picked up 9 cans of cat food [3/$1.00] and if that wasn't enough, I also bought 2 pretty votive cups for $1.99 each and then 2 nice smelling candles to go in them for ... I think $1.59 a peice.

Yikes - who put all that stuff in my cart? It couldn't have been me [could it? *lol*]

The reason I bought the candles was a sort of money saving reason.

Okay, I know - excuses, excuses but really, I do have a plan.

You know how you have times that something simple can just make you feel better and I don't mean spending money or anything to do it?

I bought the candles and votive cups so that sometimes when I feel stressed [or deprived!], I can take a nice long hot bath and light my little candles and just relax.

For the cost of them and I'm sure they'll last a long time, I thought it was a wise purchase [or atleast I hope it was. ]

One thing though ... I got home and realized that the girl didn't charge me for the candles.

I had stuck them inside of the votive cups before putting them inside the cart so they [the candles] wouldn't fall out or anything.

Well - when I got to the check-out, I was busy trying to get my savings card out and ready and paying for stuff and I totally forgot to tell her that those were separate from the votive cups.

Will have to go back tomorrow and pay for them.

Oh yeah 'n I also spent over $4.00 for a little ball for my cats to play with.

It lights up and makes some tweeting sounds and I figure that they'd really like it and play with it alot [they'd better for that price. *lol*]

There are many times I feel guilty because they can't go out and play [they are declawed and I live on the 7th floor in an apartment building in the middle of town.]

I get to feeling guilty because they can't be like normal cats and go out 'n run and play.

Anyways .... that was my trip to the store today.

I'd hoped to have a no-spend day tomorrow but I have to go back to the store to pay for the candles and also while there,

I have to pick up something for a picnic on Sunday.

One thing that makes me feel better is last night I had returns to go to Walmart and ended up with $55.00 money back and that was what paid for todays trip to the store.

I got on MyCoupons boards and am happy to say that I was able to find 10 of the $1.00 coupons good off from any 1 Morningstar Farms product.

This is great 'cuz I buy their veggie hot dogs so this'll be a $10.00 savings for me with using the coupons.

The coupons are costing me 49 cents [1 cent each for coupons + postage] and so that'll be a total of $9.51 savings.

Woo hoo - this works for me!

So glad that I come on here 'cuz I got totally inspired again, it's just what I needed!

Love,

Jennelle

For the first time in awhile, I decided to go looking for freebies tonight.

Didn't do too bad - I've got the following coming to me now.

1. Free pedometer
2. Free sample of Calgon [cotton candy]
3. Free Nivea body lotion sample
4. Jergens Moisterizer sample
5. Dove advanced hair color [shampoo I think]
6. Dove advanced care for hair
7. Sample of Aquafresh extreme clean

Not too bad for about 10 minues, huh?!

Love,

Jennelle

Just had an after thought ...

Since with the freebies, your required to give an e-mail address,

I'm thinking that maybe getting an e-mail address just for the freebies might not be a bad idea.

That way any junk mail that might be generated from doing this, won't clog up my regular in-box.

I used to use coupons all of the time but with just buying for myself now, I rarely use them anymore.

Mostly now, I tend to buy about the same type of things all of the time and things like bags of beans [lima and cheap!], ya just don't see coupons for.

However, I do buy Morningstar Veggie hot dogs alot and really should be looking around and seeing if I can come up with some of those.

I mean, I probably buy 6-8 packages of them a month [if not more] so if I were to be able to find $1.00 off coupons; that'd save me nearly $10.00 a month!

I do know the value of coupons and how helpful they are ...

Back when I did use them, it was nothing for me to get over $100.00 in groceries for under $10.00.

One time in the span of a week or two, I got around $600.00 for about $125.00. Not bad, huh?!

There is no reason that I can't get my butt in gear and start looking for coupons on the things I buy now [that I know they have coupons for.]

I've been procrastinating on this and it's about time that I stopped, don't ya think?!

Love,

Jennelle

Awhile back I was on a yahoo group that the concept was to post your daily to do's list and then you'd give yourself so many points for each thing you got done from your list.

I really liked the whole concept of this so decided that I would adapt it to my own liking and do it.

The people on the list added their points up and at the end of the month, reward themselves with something that they buy for themselves or a facial or whatever.

The 1st of June, I started my own challenge and have faithfully done this every day since then!

I make my to do's list every night [for the following day] and then as I get things done, I check them off [I get one point for each thing done which = one penny per point.]

For the month of June, at the end of the month - I had $33.16 that I earned [which I had to pay myself for! *lol*]

What I decided to do was to start a savings account just for this and that's just what I did.

So - for now, I have just over $33.00 in my account and so far this month ...

I have $22.86 added up since the 1st of July. Not bad, huh?!

Many things on my list get bonus points [if it's something that I need to do but have really procrastinated on, etc.]

It's adding up though and I'm so happy that I've been consistent like I have been.

I don't plan on taking any money out of this account and also, won't put any other savings in it.

That way, I can see how this adds up for just doing my to-do list challenge.

Love,

Jennelle

Hmmm ... well, right now I can think of several of them.

These aren't in any type of order really, not of importance anyways ...

1. Get another vehicle

2. Lose weight

3. Get a life again!

4. Move to an apartment with a balcony

5. Take a trip [not sure where but by the ocean somewhere!]

I had hoped to start my no-spending challenge this coming week [on Monday] but it looks like I'll have to put it off a day or two.

Today I had planned on going to Walmart because I do have a list of things that I "have" to get.

That didn't happen though because I was tied up most all day and then by that time, it was too late and the bus had quit running for the day.

My granddaughter is staying overnight with me tonight and possibly tomorrow night and we have a wedding to go to tomorrow.

So again, I won't get to Walmart to get my stuff.

Sunday the bus doesn't run and Monday, I have a Dr.'s appointment.

Looks like I may not be able to get my stuff till atleast Tuesday.

Oh well - atleast the idea has been planted for my no-spending challenge,

which put me in a much better position than I was in just a few days ago, right?

Love,

Jennelle

I've always loved this saying:

"Use it up, wear it out;
Make it do or do without!"

We are so blessed here in America that we have so much.

Many times we [at least I do], buy things just because I "think" I just have to have them.

There are a lot of times that I could make do with what I have but just didn't want to [I wanted NEW!]

Well - times are a changing and from now on, I fully intend on [or hope to anyways!],

make the "use it up, wear it out", my own motto.

Love,

Jennelle

I am so excited 'cuz after I started this blog and decided to get serious about not spending and with saving money;

I finally quit procrastinating about calling the phone company as I'd planned on doing for quite awhile now.

Today I did call and for one, I changed from having my number un-published to being published [saving $2.50 a month.]

That may not sound like much, however it adds up to $30.00 a year!

Also, while on the phone with them - I changed my DSL from the $29.95 a month plan which I've been on for about 3 years now ...

To their $17.95 a month plan.

Total savings per year? $174.00 for downgraded DSL.

Total for going back to having a published number and changing my DSL service?

A whopping $204.00 a year in savings! :-)

I am so happy to find this place because it's just what I was looking for!

Lately I've been thinking about starting a challenge for no spending for a week;

this will make things so much easier [you know - 'cuz I'll kind of feel accountable if I write it on here. *lol*]

Should I take this challenge [challenging myself, really ...], I will probably start it this coming Monday.

Can't think of any spending that I need to do that day with the exception of a co-payment to the Dr.'s office.

And - just to get off to a good start, I might just have them bill me for that later [it's only $1.00 so sometimes I let it go till it's 4 or 5 dollars 'n then pay it with a check.]

Well - it's late now so guess I'll go for tonight but am hoping to get back on here tomorrow 'n gab some more.

What else can I say except this site is WAY COOL! :-)