I sent an extra $5.00 to cc #1 today.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $668.14

Extra payment to cc #1 $5.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $673.14

Hi, everyone.

I got my state tax refund yesterday. Today, I sent that amount to cc #2 as a payment for the anticipated car repair. I should get my federal refund in a few weeks. I will apply part of it to the rest of the car repair cost. The rest will go towards cc #1 debt. So, that portion will be part of the 52 Week Challenge.

Hello, everyone.

I feel so blessed. I use cc #2 monthly for paying one bill. We also occasionally charge other things to it and it has rewards points which you can cash in for credit, a check, gift cards, etc. I don't like gift cards because they sometimes have fees attached to them or are limited to a specific store. They also have expiration dates and I don't have the time to keep up with such things. I would rather have a credit on the account if I have a balance or a check that I can deposit and spend however I want to. Today, I logged into the account and found that I had 5,000 rewards points. I cashed them in for a credit on the account because I currently have a balance. I am counting this as found money on my 52 week challenge.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance $573.04

cc #2 rewards points $25.34

New 52 Week Challenge Balance $598.44

Hi, everyone.

My husband gets his monthly check on Monday. When it clears, I will send $66.70 directly to cc #1.

Also, the mortgage payment clears on Monday. It is already allocated for.

I will have another Pinecone deposit soon and I will send it directly to cc #1.

I used $7.63 of spare change towards my grocery bill today. I made an equal payment towards cc #2. I charged a small amount to it and need to get it paid off soon.

We went to have our taxes done today. We will get $1095 from federal and $137 from the state.

I will probably be able to cash in my rewards points on cc #2 later next week. I am probably going to ask for it as a check, as I don't do gift cards.

We need to have some work done our car that will cost about $700.00. With the remaining $531.00, I will make a large payment to cc #1. With the earlier $66.70 payment and this payment, the cc #1 balance will be about $3600. Woo-Hoo! This is awesome. This will go a long ways towards paying off cc #1 this year.

I will post updates later.

I get paid tomorrow. I have already paid both cc bills, allocated for 1/2 of the mortgage, and made out a deposit to savings.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $379.04

cc #1 payment $50.00
cc #2 payment $20.00
House savings $30.00
Regular Savings deposit $40.00
Professional savings deposit $20.00
Escrow savings deposit $2.00
Tax/AAA Savings deposit $7.00
HVAC Savings deposit $5.00
Slush Deposit $20.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $573.04

Hi, everyone.

My cc #1 bill came due and of course, interest on top of the balance. The current balance is $4339.00. I recently cancelled a magazine subscription that I decided I did not want. Because the 1 year subscription had not even completed yet, the gave me a refund in full! Woo-Hoo! That totally surprised me, because I only contacted them to make sure that would cancel it. This is great news. I immediately sent the $39.00 for that to cc #1, bringing cc #1 to $4300.00.

Prior 2016 52 Week Challenge Balance: $340.04

Magazine Refund $39.00

New 2016 52 Week Challenge Balance: $379.04

Hi, everyone. My credit union does a profit payout every January. This year, mine is $9.44. I also got a Pinecone deposit. I transferred both directly to cc #1.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $327.60

$9.44 Profit Payout Payment to cc #1
$3.00 Pinecone deposit

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $340.04

This brings my cc #1 balance to $4328.22.

Hi, everyone. I sent $5.00 more to cc #1. I want to send more except I want to see the price tag on car repair or replacement first. Ugh. I really hope it is just a repair.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $322.60

$5.00 extra payment to cc #1

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $327.60

This brings the cc #1 balance to $4340.66. Woo-hoo!

Hi, everyone. This is the first time in awhile that my cc #1 balance on the margin is accurate. I would charge something to it, pay it off, but I had a hard time decreasing the balance. Because I had 3 paydays last month and just got paid again yesterday, I have been able to bring it down.

cc#1 balance $4345.66

I have also been doing very well on paying a little extra to the principal on the mortgage, so the balance is going down quickly.

Mortgage Balance $65,248.40

Hi, everyone. I got paid today. I have already allocated for 1/2 of the mortgage, mailed a deposit to savings, and paid the gas and electric bills. I also made a $75.00 payment to cc #1. Here are my numbers.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5.00

$ 40.00 Regular Savings Deposit
$ 20.00 Car Savings Deposit
$ 20.00 House Savings Deposit
$ 2.00 Escrow Savings Deposit
$ 2.00 Professional Savings Deposit
$ 2.00 HVAC Savings Deposit (for eventual replacement)
$156.60 Principal Paid on Mortgage
$ 75.00 cc #1 payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $322.60

As for my car issues, my car had made a weird noise a couple of times recently. It sounded to me like the starter. When I called a mechanic, I scheduled an appointment to bring it in. I had him listen to the sound. He got a weird look on his face. He said it sounded to him not like the starter but the fly wheel. Anyway, the mechanic said later that to fully diagnose would take a minimum of 8 hours labor at $70.00 per hour. That's not counting the cost of the part needing to be replaced or labor for replacing them. Ugh. I have been so careful with this car because it has a slight oil leak and power steering fluid leak and have watched those like a hawk, but had no idea about this.

Hi, everyone. I am sending an extra $5.00 to cc #1 today just because...

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $0.00

$5.00 payment to cc #1

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5.00

Hi, everyone.

It looks like everyone who participated in the 52 Week Challenge in 2015 had tremendous progress on their goals. I, for one, have really enjoyed the 52 Week Challenge this year and also the support from all of you on my goals. My goals listed below for 2016 are primarily concentrated on debt payoff again, but I will also be saving money too.

1) Increase my retirement contribution by 0.15% in January.

2) Continuing contributing to savings as normal.

3) Continue making cc #1 payments of $100.00 per payday and also $67.48 out of my husband's monthly check.

4) Contribute any survey money, rebates, etc. towards cc #1 payoff.

5) Grow as much of my own food as I can and buy as much other food organic as possible through local or other sources. This will help me to eat as clean as I possibly can for my own health. I also intend to save some produce as I possibly can with a Foodsaver. I know I can do carrots this way.

6) I will continue using the fountain card as a way to challenge myself to spend as little as possible on beverages while I am at work. I will funnel my savings to cc #1.

7) For awhile, I have been using my pocket change as a way to pay part of my grocery store bill. I will continue this.


Here is the link to the chart you can use. I did not use the chart, as I needed to contribute specific amounts to accomplish my goals of debt payoff.

Hi, everyone.

My payday is tomorrow, because Friday is a holiday. More money is going to debt, savings, and retirement. Here are my numbers. I have already paid the trash bill, water/sewer bill, and allocated for 1/3 of the mortgage.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5863.18

$40.00 Regular Savings Deposit
$60.00 Car, House, Car Lic/AAA, and HVAC Savings Deposit
$100.00 cc #1 payment
$3.00 Pinecone payment to cc #1
$20.00 slush deposit
$66.70 DH's payment to cc #1

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $6152.88

Hi, everybody.

I got another Pinecone deposit. I am forwarding it directly to cc #1 as we speak.

Tomorrow I and my husband both get paid and will be paid and I will send $100 and $66.70 to cc #1 also. I have to go out of town for a bit today and will spend a little bit, but whatever is leftover I am sending to cc #1 also. By the time I pay that and account for my savings deposits, I will be breaking $6K on my 52 Week Challenge this year! Woo-Hoo.

I am so happy I made it these past two weeks without having to break out the credit card for an "emergency" as a result of my doctor's visits.

See you tomorrow for updates!

Hi, everybody.

I got another Pineccone deposit of $5.00, so it went right to cc #1 before I had a chance to spend it on baubles and shinies.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5858.18

$5.00 pinecone payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5863.18

My resolutions, financial and otherwise, will be:

1) Increase my retirement contribution by 0.15% in January.

2) Continuing contributing to savings as normal.

3) Continue making cc #1 payments of $100.00 per payday and also $67.48 out of my husband's monthly check.

4) Contribute any survey money, rebates, etc. towards cc #1 payoff.

5) Grow as much of my own food as I can and buy as much other food organic as possible through local or other sources. This will help me to eat as clean as I possibly can for my own health. I also intend to save some produce as I possibly can with a Foodsaver. I know I can do carrots this way.

6) I will continue using the fountain card as a way to challenge myself to spend as little as possible on beverages while I am at work. I will funnel my savings to cc #1.

7) For awhile, I have been using my pocket change as a way to pay part of my grocery store bill. I will continue this.

Hi, everyone.

It was payday yesterday for me, so I have already allocated for 1/3 of the mortgage (in a 3 payday month), allocated for car insurance, and paid the electric bill. I also found a penny on the ground outside a store today. I used $0.69 I had in pocket change to pay for part of my grocery bill.

I got my latest mortgage statement and I paid $155.36 in principal last month. Woo-hoo!

So, here are my update 52 Week Challenge numbers.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5592.82

$20.00 slush deposit
$40.00 regular savings deposit
$50.00 cc #1 payment
$155.36 principal paid on mortgage

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5858.18

I will delay making more cc #1 payments until the end of the coming week because of some other expenses.

I will not be going anywhere for the holidays or having company. My challenge for the next two weeks will be to make as many meals as possible from the food I already have. I will have about $135.00 unexpected expenses at a chiropractor in the next two weeks and want to make sure that does not impact the food budget or other areas unnecessarily.

As part of my recent exercises in gratitude, I have come to realize that whatever my problems, I am incredibly blessed. I have a husband who loves me, friends, a job, a car to get around, money to buy what I need and some of what I want, and the ability to grow food. In the past six months, I have donated food, pet supplies, household goods, clothing, and other items to 1) my college campus's food pantry that serves students in financial need, 2) a local domestic crisis center, 3) the local humane society, and 4) my college campus's office that serves international students.

Hi, everyone. I got my Pinecone deposit and sent it right away to cc #1.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5587.82

$5.00 pinecone payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5592.82


Also, I took the day off today and after a morning appointment which ended earlier than anticipated, we went to a local furniture store and bought the new chair. With tax, it was $435. Free delivery. I put it on cc #1, but plan to have it paid off quickly with the following: 1) I had $20.00 in my slush account, 2) $315.00 from regular savings, and 3) $100 from my paycheck on Friday. I don't like taking so much from savings, but that's what it's there for, right?

And even better, my husband asked if they could deliver it to today and they did about 30 minutes after we returned home. We were very happy.

This is for those who do Pinecone surveys. I just logged in to see my balance and saw I have enough to redeem. I noticed under "cash option" that they have brought back the $3.00 option. I know they did not have that for awhile.

As soon as I get my $5.00, I will send it right to cc #1.

I had to stop at a store on the way to work and found a nickel on the ground. Woo-Hoo!

And now for the not-so-pleasant news. On Saturday, DH and I have to go out shopping for a living room chair like a La-z-Boy or something like it. The spring in the current Queen Ann wing back chair is actually poking out the back side. However, it is in considerably better shape than the chair I am using. Its springs on the bottom are completely shot. So, we are performing a chair switch e roo where I get the Queen Ann chair and my DH gets a new chair. I will probably take the cost out of the regular savings account. Ugh. And I just built it up to $1000 about a month ago.

Hi, everyone.

I sent an extra $5.00 payment to cc #1 "just because I can do it." I also used pocket change of $2.14 to pay part of my grocery bill, lessening the amount coming out of checking.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5580.68

$5.00 extra payment to cc #1
$2.14 pocket change for grocery bill


New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5587.82

Hi, everyone.

I got $5.00 from Epoll surveys today, so I sent it right to cc #1. I also sent another $2.00 to cc #1 because I have been doing really well with the fountain card.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5573.68

$5.00 epoll surveys
$2.00 fountain card challenge

New 52 Week Challenge Balance $5580.68

I am doing really well this week with the fountain card, so I am sending an extra $2.00 to cc #1. I will probably be able to send at least one more payment to cc #1 before next payday.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5571.68

$2.00 extra payment to cc #1

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5573.68

Hi, everyone.

After creating my budget for my 3 paycheck month, I decided to make a $100.00 payment to cc #1. Woo-hoo!

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5471.68

$100.00 payment to cc #1

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5571.68

Today, I also used some leftover pocket change to pay for part of my grocery bill. It was a small amount and I can't even remember how much, but I try to do this every time as it lessens the amount coming out of the checking account for the purchase and empties my purse of excess change. Woo-Hoo!

I also plan to start my own seeds for a vegetable garden. I need to check on the exact time I need to start that, but I plan to plant the seeds in old egg cartons and put the cartons under a plastic container to make a mini greenhouse so they stay warm. Starting my own seeds will save me some money in the long run and also result in an increased harvest due to planting them earlier. I have not done this before, so I need to read up on it. This is a frugal activity, but requires some work on my part. Wish me luck.

Hi, everyone.

I get paid again tomorrow, so more money is going to debt, savings, and retirement. I have already written checks for the gas bill, savings deposit, internet/phone bill, and allocated for slush deposit and 1/3 of the mortgage. I get paid 3 times this month, so I am dividing the mortgage up into 3 parts.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5371.68

$20.00 Slush Deposit
$40.00 Regular Savings Deposit
$20.00 House Savings Deposit
$20.00 AAA/Car Tax Savings Deposit

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5471.68

I will also make a larger than normal payment to cc #1, but I have not decided on the amount yet.

Hi, everyone. I just want to wish Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and hope that you are having a restful, stress free day.

I finally got $5.00 more from Pinecone, so that went straight to cc #1.

Also, I have been doing pretty well with the fountain card, so I sent $2.00 to cc #1.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5364.68

Pinecone $5.00
fountain card savings $2.00

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5371.68

Hey, neighbors! I just got my updated mortgage statement and my balance is down to $65,559.74! That's a difference of $312.91, including my extra principle payment of $34.32.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5051.77

Mortgage Balance Difference: $312.91

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5364.68

Hi, everyone. I got paid today and so more money went to debt, savings, and retirement. I am doing so much better than I ever dreamed I would on this challenge. For the first time in well over a year, the regular savings account is over $1,000.00. Woo-hoo! I have worked really hard to get it there.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4919.02

$40.00 Regular Savings Deposit

$20.00 Slush Deposit

$22.75 cc #2 Payment (made a purchase on the card - this brings the balance to $0)

$50.00 cc #1 Payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $5051.77


I have also been stocking up on some foods that we use a lot when I see them on sale. This has helped me to level out the grocery budget better. I have also had good success with the fountain card this week. I will likely be making another $5.00 payment to cc #1 next week.

Hi, everyone.

I just cashed in some more survey points and rebates that will come to fruition soon.

I cashed in my rebates at mrrebates dot com for $11.97. I will get that at the end of the month.

I cashed in my survey points at epoll for $5.00.

I will probably be able to cashed in points at pinecone for another $5.00.

This will all make additional payments totalling $21.97 to cc #1.

Hi, everyone.

I figure I have saved at least $2.00 this week by using my fountain card and making my own tea. So, $2.00 is now on its way to cc #1.

Prior 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4917.02

$2.00 extra payment

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4919.02

New cc #1 Balance: $4408.00

Hi, everyone.

My 52 Week Challenge is going great, better than I ever even dreamed. I feel so blessed. With Thanksgiving coming up, I feel that I should recognize that I am blessed with, among other things, 1) good health, 2) finances in good shape and improving, 3) friends, family, and a husband who all love me, and 4) a good job.

Old 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4727.02

$40.00 Regular Savings Deposit
$20.00 Car Savings Deposit
$20.00 House Savings Deposit
$15.00 AAA/Car Tax Savings Deposit
$75.00 cc #1 payment
$20.00 slush savings

New 52 Week Challenge Balance: $4917.02

My challenge to limit trips to convenience stores has worked out famously with only 2 trips this week as opposed to daily trips previously, sometimes multiple times per day. All other food and beverages have been brought from home, prepared at work using teabags I brought to work with me, or purchased at work using my new fountain card.