want to get this started. I'm still struggling between this as a challenge to SAVE $5000 or to GENERATE $5000, but if I keep arguing with myself, I'm never going to start!

I think I will use this both to do things more frugally than I would have otherwise. I'll count the savings, but that's the easy part.

I would like to take the old exercize equipment and see what Play it Again Sports will give us for it, be it buy or consignment. Typically we would just donate all to Goodwill or Salvation Army and take the write offs, which we need. Hubbie would divorce me if I tried a yard sale.

I'm also looking at all the little things that come in. Rebates, new ways of spending and shopping and savings that I've started doing since coming to this site, and are keeping a regular pile of checks pinned to the frig.

Not sure what to do about the deals. As I journaled yesterday, I used customer loyalty rebates and offers to buy $58 at drugstore. com for $5, plus free shipping, plus 5% back from eBates and 5% back from my credit card for drugstores. So, do I count this as $53 to my challenge, or should that just be kept as savings. Hmmm.

Saved $2500 yesterday by cancelling my annual professional memberships. It's been an expense for the last 25 years, so does it count towards the challenge? Hmmm.