2007 $20 Challenge Information

[BabyBear]

I like this idea! I'll have to give it a try.

One thing I do is "round my purchases", but I do it for all checks and debit card purchases. I balance my checkbook like normal, but I added another column for rounded amount. Sometimes it's only 2 cents at a time, or 84 cents, or whatever it may be. I add them all up at the end of the month and transfer that amount into one of my ING accounts. I think it was only around $2.80 one month up to $14.83 another month. It all adds up though.

We save a lot of change since I have gone to mostly cash in the past few months. When I cash my check, I deposit what I need to pay my bills and then get the rest in cash. I split it between my envelopes, but don't include any change. So, if I get $150.84, I throw the 84 cents into our change jar.

I'm curious now to know how much all of these little things will add up to.
Thanks for the challenge.

[myself]

Originally Posted by BabyBear

I like this idea! I'll have to give it a try.

One thing I do is "round my purchases", but I do it for all checks and debit card purchases.

Bank of America actually has a program that does this for you. It's called "Keep the change". However, there are a couple of things that are different with their account. As of Oct 23, 2007, their website states the following:

• It only rounds-up debit card purchases
• The first 3 months they match 100%
• After the first 3 months, they match 5%
• The reward is paid annually (and paid within 8 weeks of the anniversary date that you started)
• The amount they credit your savings account will not exceed $250/yr

[DeniseNTexas]

Ima Saver, I wish everyone did what you do and broke a new bill when buying something. One of the most irritating things about my job is waiting for a customer to count out change for a purchase. I understand that young kids and the older folks might have a hard time counting it, bless them! I don't show impatience while they do this but I do sometimes feel it. I find myself thinking 'Jiminy, let me do that for you!' I know, it's sad but it's just so bothersome when they have to dig through the purse, the wallet and the coin purse, their pockets, etc to get 17 cents. Okay, now y'all know what cashiers really think when you're digging! lol

I might start using your idea Ima Saver. I love it!

[Ima saver]

It is annoying to wait for change! I wonder when we get to vote on the winner of the 2007 challenge??

[DeniseNTexas]

Its very annoying. As for the voting, I haven't a clue. I still haven't figured out how all this works.

[Ima saver]

It is pretty simple, you kind of make up your own rules as to how you , personaly want to add money to your challenge money.

[DeniseNTexas]

Oh, I understand that part. I meant the voting and such.

[threebeansalad]

Like Ima, I'm wondering if there will be another contest for the 2007 Challenge?

If yes, when can we expect the voting to be available?

[ScrimpAndSave]

I'm going to have to get in on this!

[braxton]

So who won this challenge... I didn't see the results, or maybe I just passed over them

[jerminix]

Im interested

[xplosionplaya15]

how do you get paid

[sandyandry]

I have joined this forum recently , i was not knowing about $20 challenge, but it is really interesting

[JavaFalcon]

That's about all you'll get, interesting.....

[Ima saver]

The first year they paid out prize money!

[akrogers]

I went into the bank to cash in some rolled coins and the teller told me that a man had recently come in with a suitcase of 2 year's worth of spare change. The total was $1600. It really did add up for him!

[Aleta]

Although this was started as a challenge from the owner of this site, you can do your own chalenge to yourself. It's just easier when someone else puts out a challenge. I just started on my own around late November of one year and deposited my first $20.00 in December. I didn't wait for the new year. I started mine with change found around the house and deposited it into an ING account.My challenge to myself was to get at least $20. into the account each month. It could come from doing surveys, coupons, pennies savied, money found on the street, rebates, or even checks from credit card rewards. You can do by using your skills as in sewing, gardening, etc.

[Ima saver]

This is my 3rd year in a row. I saved over $20,000 each of the first two years. This year I might not be able to save that much in the challenge, but I enjoy trying!

[Walt_Pennsyl]

Well I was never a coupon user before, but I think it is important to do this. If you use a coupon or a store card, it will tell at the bottom of the receipt how much you saved on that purchase. I take that actual cash (in dollars) and physically add it to my challenge money. This is not just on paper, but the real cash goes into my cash box.
I never did that before! It is amazing to me how much it adds up.

[Walt_Pennsyl]

If you look at the dollar savings on the coupons or storecards, it will not actually tell you how much you saved in all cases. You have to first decide whether you would have bought the item at all, without coupon or storecard. Then you have to figure out what the generic would have cost, or making from scratch. If I compare the cost to generic, or not buying it all all on my club card, I may be saving some money, but not at all what my receipt says.