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!

I'm re-organizing my photos and keepsakes. I used to keep them in the seat of my gossip chair, however, I recently got into collecting tins (like the ones that chocolates come in) and have since transferred the photos and whatnots into the tins.

With many, many photos and keepsakes left to move I've run out of tins. I stopped by the local thrift store on my way home from work and found a tin for .35C. With tax almost .40C.

I turned down the tin and left the store empty-handed (a true miracle for me). The reason I turned down the tin is because I can use somethhing else I have at home (like the empty photo albums...) to preserve these photos. Once I truly run out of things to store my photos in I'll buy some tins.

I more than made up for not spending .40C by driving so much. I wish my English group would get it together: either you need me or you don't! Actually, it's not my entire group, just one girl. I'm pretty much worthless until she arrives and everytime she said she was going to be there, she wasn't.

You win some, you lose some.

I opened up an Roth IRA today. I put in a $100 as my initial deposit. I plan on depositing $100 a month for the next couple years and then increasing my depsits until I max it out.

I'm very excited about this. I'm looking forward to seeing my statements and seeing how the money grows!