It was incredibly slow today at the restaurant and I earned a grand total of $7.00 in tips.

I earned $40.00 by housesitting for another neighbor that returned a couple days ago. I decided this $40 will be used for gas, with the reminder going to the Challenge.

Old Balance: $111.00
+ $2.00
New Balance: $113.00

I started babysitting and housesitting when I was 12. It's a great way to make money.

I'm 18 now and most of my neighbors no longer need babysitters. However, they still need housesitters.

I made $20 this week by watering the plants for one neighbor. I'm taking care of another neighbor's hamsters while they're out of town (they get back tonight).

Another $20 into the Challenge...

Old Balance: $91.00
+ $20
New Balance: $111.00

Gas went down. Which means instead of spending $40 and not even completely filled, I spent $36.85 and filled up my tank completely!

I am happily adding another $3.00 (my change from the $40 I gave to the clerk) to the $20 challenge.

No more gas pump woes! (For now)

Old Balance: $88.00
+ $3.00
New Balance: $91.00

I made $18 in tips today; should have been more but 2 servers forgot to tip me out. Servers.

$3.00 into the $20 Challenge. I've noticed that it's become more of a collection of ones.

Old Balance: $85.00
+ $3.00
New Balance: $88.00

I've decided that I'm going to add any tips in ones to my $20 Challenge.

Over the lunch hour I made $29 in tips, $14 of w hich was ones.

Old Balance: $71.00
+ $14.00
New Balance: $85.00

I didn't get my dad a gift yesterday, but I'm adding the ones I collected from my iPod purchase. 8 ones because the banker gave me 5 ones when I cashed in my checks.

Old Balance: $63.00
+ $8.00
New Balance: $71.00

I'm thinking that I might have to gas up tomorrow rather than wait until Friday. I'll wait as long as I can, but I don't want to run out of gas on the freeway.

Yesterday I graduated from high school and I have "made" $700 thus far. Of that, I've spent $125. $100 went into my Roth IRA and $25 was spent on summer clothes.

That leaves me $575 left to spend.

Tomorrow I'm going to Costco to buy a new 30 GB iPod. I've had my current iPod for 3 1/2 years and it has survived many, many stunts. From falling onto tiled kitchen floors from my hands to being dropped down a flight of stairs to being dropped onto the concrete sidewalk, my iPod has served me well. But like most gadgets it is time to retire ye olde iPod. The new one will cost about $249.99.

Though it is tempting to spend the rest of the money, I will be putting it into savings. I will withdraw it in a few months when I leave for D.C.

As for my shopping trip today, I spent a total of $21.45. Admittedly, I bought two pairs of khakis at Ross instead of a thrift store, like I planned. But I stuck within my budget. I'm adding $8.00 to my Challenge Box because I ended up with 8 ones at the end of the day. Don't know how that happened, but it did.

Old Balance: $55.00
+ $8.00
New Balance: $63.00

Got up this morning to discover that all my pants were dirty because I forgot to do laundry the night before. Luckily for me, I found a pair of capris that I haven't worn in a few weeks.

Put them on and fixed the pocket lining to find $10!

ETA to add something else. I tutored or 2 hours today and made $20/hour for a total of $40.

Into the box it goes...

Old Balance: $5.00
+$10.00
+$40.00
New Balance: $55.00

But I bought a box of crayons for $2.14. I paid with a $5 bill, so I received $2.86 back. $2 into my $20 Challenge fund!

I came up with a great way to add more money into my challenge money. Everytime I plan a no-spend day but break it by buying something unnecessary (i.e. box of crayons) I have to put an additional .50C into the box. If I break it by buying something necessary (i.e. box of kitty litter because I forgot to buy some the day before) I have to put in .10C.

I think on Monday of each week I'll plan out my spend days and my no-spend days. I'll also list on each Monday everything I know I'll need to buy so I have a good idea of what I'll be spending.

I'm not going to "penalize" today's purchase because I thought of the penalty after I bought the item.

Old Balance: $3.00
+ $2.00
New Balance: $5.00

Thanks to everyone who cleared up my questions regarding the $20 Challenge. I'm going to bend the rules slightly though. Instead of starting with $20, I'm going to start with a grand total of $0 and build up from there. All of my money that I "earn" from this challenge will go into a special box until the end of the year, when I roll it up and bring it to the bank. I've decided to split it among 3 accounts: 1/3 into savings, 1/3 in checking, and 1/3 into my Roth IRA. [So I can pay myself but still treat myself!]

My money-saving habits thus far:

1. I always pay with bills and put the spare change into a coin jar.

2. The only coupons I use are for Barnes & Noble and I only use them if I can combine them with my membership discount.

3. The extent of my DIY-ness is making jewelry. Which actually doesn't save me as much money as one would think...

4. I shop at thrift stores, secondhand book stores, garage sales, etc.

None of the money saved from the above will count towards my money challenge.

Today I "thought of" (I actually stole this from someone else but now I'm going to use it) saving all the one dollar bills I receive. I went to the movies today and a matinee cost $6.25. I paid with a ten dollar bill and received $3.75 back. I'm taking the 3 ones and putting them into my special box.

Money challenge balance: $3.00.

I've decided to try the $20 Challenge.

I have a couple questions though... do I have to find a creative way to come up with the $20? Also, do I spend any of the $20 or do I just build upon it?

Thanks everyone! I can't wait to start coming up with unexpected money!