What is involved in the $20 challenge? I see so many bloggers here reference it, and I have no clue what it takes to participate!

Can someone shed the light on this for me?

I created my 2011 budget, and I'll tell ya - I wasn't happy. I used the highest amounts for the expenses, and the lowest amounts for the income, and we're short (by about $500) 10 of the 12 months. I know I am budgeting using the worst case scenarios, and it shouldn't be as bad as it is on paper, but still, I need to be prepared.

I'm thinking of selling some things - for those with experience, are you better off selling via ebay, craigslist, or yard sale? Or is there a better option? I'm talking about collectibles, jewelry, etc. Nothing too big or extravagant.

Thanks for your prayers. My friend's daughter was found and is returning home. The entire community is overjoyed with this news! She is injured, and will recover.

Please send prayers for my friends who have a daughter in Haiti. She was with a group that arrived on the island hours before the earthquake struck, and although some members of her group have been found and are safe, we have had no word yet of her survival.

Also please send prayers to the people of Haiti, so that they may once again have hope after having faced such disparity in their lives.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanaukkah, Kwanzza, or nothing at all, may peace be with you.

October has been like no other October that I can remember...the weather's been cold (in fact, it's snowing right now and it's the second time this week it's snowed). We've actually had to turn on the heat a few times. Normally we don't turn it on until November.

DH's business has been doing terrible. No business coming in. We've pretty much stopped spending except for necessities (medicine, to be exact). Luckily I have a well stocked freezer and we won't starve.

I've been doing quite well with the line drying efforts, even drying my sheets and towels indoors. Normally I will run those through the dryer. I've been shutting lights off left and right as well! The electric bill this past month was quite low, so I was pleased with my efforts.

I have a vendor show I'll be working at later this month. I hope to sell some stock on hand and gain a few more customers. I'll be promoting holiday gifts...hoping that people will be looking to start their holiday shopping early. I know I always do! Christmas comes every 12/25, so you might as well be prepared and not wait til the last minute.

We normally get a lot of trick-or-treaters, and have prepared. We spent @20 on candy at the warehouse club we belong to, and I'll divvy up 3 pieces per bag per kid. I always try to do little bags at Halloween...I remember getting the bags when I was little, and I always thought it was fun to get a variety of those little candy bars and goodies.

We were discussing what to do for Thanksgiving...we'd like to go out to eat (just the two of us - he suggested we get sushi!) and let it be a lazy day. But we're also torn. I know that at least 2 members of my family will invite us for dinner at their homes, and I worry about DH's sibling being alone for the day (not that we ever hear from his sibling, but that's a whole other story). I also like to cook a turkey, and we love the leftovers too. So Thanksgiving is a bit of a quandry right now. Time will tell what we decide to do. In the meantime, I'll watch the ads for specials going on at the restaurants.

New Year's is an easy one. We'll get Chinese food, stay home and I'll fall alseep well before midnight hits.

DH has been concerned about his business. He's been stressing a lot for nearly the last year because of the lagging economy. Sometimes he wants to just throw in the towel and give up, othertimes he's very optimistic that things are going to go great. He never wanted to be a millionnaire, he just wanted to provide a comfortable living for us and for his employees. We've had more than our share of bumps down the road for this business, and hopefully things will turn profitable in the near future.

It's interesting how employees think that a business has a bottomless pit of money. That they should get raises when they've done nothing to improve themselves at work, or improve the state of the business: "it's time" for a raise, they say. But when you tell them "do x, y and z, and you'll be eligible for a raise" they don't want to do it. "Gimme the free money" is their attitude! Don't even get me started about the ones who think they are supposed to be getting a holiday bonus!

There are not many people out there with a good work ethic anymore. I see the same thing at my full time job. Everyone wants what the other person worked hard to get...and some people were adamant that they were "owed" whatever it was they were wanting because of the stress the job caused them. The only thing work "owes" you is a paycheck for the work you've done. Not to mention that in this economy, I would think that anyone who still has a job would be trying to go above and beyond to make sure they're the ones that keep their job if and when the time comes. But some people just take for granted that they'll have their job forever. Shame on them!

I know a guy who had an inkling that he was going to be let go from his high paying job. Instead of trying to be the best at his job, he decided that he was going to slack off, since he figured he was going to be let go anyway so why put in the effort? As it turns out, he was let go, but it was because of his poor performance, not for any other reason like he suspected. Now he's been out of work for nearly six months, and he hasn't been able to find a job. He's close to losing his house at this point, and his unemployment is going to run out soon.

I imagine it could go the other way, too. Knowing that an employee can't easily find a job, I'm sure there are employers who are taking unfair advantage of their workers. I'm happily not in that position. I do my best at my job, and I have respect from my peers and my bosses, but I am one of the few at my place of employment who is willing to put in a little extra work. It doesn't go unnoticed, and that's exactly the way I want it.