A Magnet for Money

Dave Ramsey often tells callers that money is drawn to those who properly manage it.  I think that he means that when you know where every penny of your money is going, you find that you have more than you thought. 

The first written budget we made starts tomorrow – January 1st.  Last night I was balancing my Money register against CEFCU online and discovered an unknown deposit was made earlier in the day in the amount of $666.72.

My husband got an unexpected end of the year bonus for work.  Extremely unexepected, since earlier this month there was some concern that he may get laid off. 

Coincidence?  I hope not.  It would be wonderful to get unexpected amounts of money on a more regular basis, unless of course, it was an inheritance. 

I’m off to check the Illinois database for unclaimed property…

 

***UPDATE*** I did check that site and found 2 amounts for my grandmother (who died in 2007).  One amount is between $10-$100 and the other is more than $100.  My mom is her executor and is going to send in for more information.  She said she’d give me a 10% finder’s fee (mimimum $11 at this point).  Perhaps there is some truth to this money magnet thing after all.

Wish Me Luck, Kenny Rogers…

My very lucky friend Ron and I have planned an outing for this afternoon. We plan to go for a walk, out for a light lunch and then to the Par-a-dice, a local Riverboat Casino. I would be thrilled to turn my $20 into $40.

I don’t think I have used up all of the luck that has been allotted to me in my lifetime. I have won as follows:

In grade school I won a 6 foot tall stocking full of toys from Bogard’s Pharmacy.

My name was drawn to receive a $25 gift certificate to Books N Stuff when I was in junior high. This was around the height of popularity for the R.L. Stine Fear Street series.  I was able to get about ten of them, because the paperbacks cost about $2.50 each.  Those were the days.  Now we pay $14.00 or more for softcover books.

At Project Graduation (Class of 1995), I won a curling iron and a free night’s stay at the Hampton Inn which had recently opened in East Peoria.  When I tried to redeem my free night’s stay there was some concern over my age.  They weren’t going to let me stay there because I wasn’t 21.  Duh, you donated the gift certificate to a high school graduation party!

A few times I have won up to $5 on scratch off lottery tickets, which I buy two or three times a year.  I have won a few times on the Par-a-dice, but when you subtract Craig’s losings, I figure we broke even as a familial unit.

What have you won?

So, Kenny Rogers, its about time for me to meet Lady Luck.  Just remind me when its time to walk away and when to run.

UPDATE:  THE LOSING STREAKER JUST OPENED HIS TRENCH COAT!  HOW OBSENE!