Week #1

Sunday was the first day of the contest and I was pretty nervous because I was out of town, going to a water park, and then going to the airport.

We ate breakfast at the hotel (continental breakfast not available) - cost was 2 breakfast buffets and kids eat free. Total including tip $13.83 - kids also had leftover french toast in-room microwave and we had our first cups of coffee with the in-room coffee maker.

Food - eggs, sausage, bacon, bagels, toast, fresh fruit, coffee, juice

Snack and Lunch - packed a styrofoam cooler in trunk of car with ice from hotel - salads, yogurts, grapes, pretzels, carrot sticks, peanut butter (minis), filled water bottles with ice and added the single serving lemonades to each one.

Dinner - Wendy's for my husband - double cheese burger combo and kids shared a 5 piece nuggets, small fries, and drink oop $10.56
I finished my salad and yogurt at the rental car facility.

We made it through the airport by refilling the water bottles with water (after clearing the security gate) from the water cooler and made it through without buying anything.

Monday - We were on vacation for 10 days and I cleaned the fridge before I left. We were out of dairy products, deli meats, and produce. My trip to Caputos:

gallon milk
lettuce
mango
string beans
peaches
carrots
grapes
strawberries
yogurt
swiss cheese
deli ham
proscuitto
deli turkey
apples
tomatoes
plums
2 - snacks for kids
jar giardiniera
bananas
rye bread
onion
cucumber
lime
eggs
oop $36.22

so far total - $60.61

breakfast
cereal, eggs, toast/bagel

kids snacks - pb crackers, mini cookies, pudding

lunch - pbj sandwich, soup, turkey burger, lemonade

dinner - chx enchiladas (freezer - homemade chx stock, bell peppers, salsa verde), cheese, chicken, tortillas, cream of mush soup; spanish rice (from a homemade premix), fresh fruit

I have leftover mix in the crockpot from cooking the chicken and seasonings, will add leftover rice, cumin, lemon pepper, 1/2 can of corn for tortilla soup. Will freeze some for a cooler day.

All You Grocery Challenge 2010

It's baack!
$25/week per person in the household for groceries including food out.
Here is the link to enter: www.allyou.com
Contest starts on June 20. I'll keep you posted as to my progress.

$100 in Proctor and Gamble Coupons

Spend $50 between 02/01/10 and 4/15/10. See official rules and form www.thankyoumom.com

Additional Grocery Savings

additions to blogs I follow:
www.jillcataldo.com
www.mashupmom.com
www.moneysavingmom.com

sign your Jewel card up for free catalinas to print:
http://tv.catalinamarketing.com

In today's Jewel ad, have $20 worth of coupons mailed to you:
www.makeiteasytakeiteasy.com

Trading Options

Finally, my 2 year goal was to do covered calls and trade my self directed IRA. I finally have the trading platform, my analysis software, my paperwork in order. Within the next 2 weeks, I should be an active trader.

This week:
reread Understanding Options by Michael Sincere (writing covered calls, managing covered calls)
look for 10 stocks with profitable covered calls
find 3 blogs that I can follow

Probate - out of state

Inherited timeshares - annual maintenance costs, legal fees, and agent fees.

We inherited 3 weeks of a timeshare. The title work was never transferred into our name and now we want to sell the weeks. I ordered the title work for the timeshares and it has never been transferred (death was in 1996).

We talked with one attorney and the cost would be about $2500+court fees (expecting $400+). Plus the agent to sell the timeshare wants a minimum of $1500 or commission above that. That doesn't leave much left.

Today, I was on the website to Florida's circuit court. After reading a bunch of statutes, do believe that we can represent ourselves. I sent an email to the probate department of the county and...

I'll keep you posted.

2009 Annual Report

Happy to say that I have my income taxes done. I'm calculating the figures to see if we met our goals:

• age x income/10 = average accumulator of wealth x 2 = our target (from book Millionaire Next Door)
• 20% savings contributions (retirement, added cash value in insurance, principal reduction of mortgage, and education savings)
• 21% of annual income from passive sources (net rental income, dividend, capital gains, & interest) - an age based calculation
• 10% charitable contributions to family/community

Also, the annual report should reflect our mission - financial freedom and time spent with family, a comparison of the net worth statement from 2008-2009, employment marketability...