My Lucky Streak! I Found Another Dollar Bill!

Okay, I don't know what's happening but I did it again. I found another dollar bill today! I went to volunteer at Learning Ally today since the studio will be closed to recording the rest of the week because they're doing some construction. 

So, as I pulled into a parking space, I saw something on the ground. It looked like money. Could it be money? It was money! It was this dollar bill! I was shocked!

I stopped my car all catty wompus and scooped it up. Then I backed up and parked properly. 

This proves that to find money, like many other things in life, you have to be at the right place at the right time. If I'd volunteered on Wednesday as usual, I guarantee that dollar would have been long gone. It also proves it pays to volunteer. (Well, you know what I mean.)

This dollar pushes me over the total amount I found in all of last year! Yay! (My yearly found money totals are over there, on the right.)

This Found Money Facts:
Denomination:  1 dollar bill!!!
Year:  Series 2003A
U.S. Mint:  ?
Condition:  well worn, nice and soft
Total Found Money to Date for 2012:  $5.76

Hold the Phone! I Found a Dollar Bill!

Today I did it! I found a dollar bill!

Here's what happened:  I was running errands (what else do I do?).

First, the library to return an overdue DVD and some books.

Then to Papago Park in Tempe to check it out then review it for ParkGrades.

Then to Penzey's to buy some bay leaves and vanilla (I had a coupon for $5 off $10 or more).

Then to Michael's (had another coupon).

Then to Fresh and Easy in Scottsdale (not my normal one). Walking in I spotted a dollar bill on the sidewalk right in front of the doors. I think someone leaving must have dropped in. They probably got money back and didn't realize they'd dropped it. Or someone left it there for me. I don't know but it's mine now! 

Oh! I also found a nickle in the parking lot when I went to Penzey's and Michael's. I parked in the middle and walked to each store. AND at Fresh and Easy as I was using the self-checkout lane, I spotted a dime in the change dealie bob! I found the button somewhere along the line.

What about you? Have you found any money lately?

This Found Money Facts:
Denomination: 1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 dollar bill!!!
Year:  1983, 2004, series 2006
U.S. Mint:  P, P, ?
Condition:  silver coins are a tad dirty, dollar bill was nice and flat and lovely when found
Total Found Money to Date for 2012:  $4.76

Banner Day! I Found 9 Pennies!

Most Thursdays, I watch two of my grandkids in the evening. On the drive there, I go to the Scottsdale library, which is on the way. I've never found much money there (a penny, once, I think), but today while walking from the parking lot in to the library, I spotted four pennies on the sidewalk! I scooped them up, went inside to return a DVD and pick up a few more. Then on my way out, I saw another penny near where I'd found the others. I must have missed it, so that made five pennies! I was thrilled! 

Then I went to Hobby Lobby, which is also on the way, and while walking to the store, I spotted four pennies in the parking lot! Woo hoo! I was pretty much shocked! It's rare for me to find more than one coin at a time and to find these two sets of four pennies was something! 

I'm reading Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George and am 100 pages away from finding out whodunit. I love her Inspector Lynley books, but they are long! I'll finish this tonight (if I can stay awake) or tomorrow.

This Found Money Facts:
Denomination:  9 pennies
Year:  1981, 1987, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2012
U.S. Mint:  none, D, D, D, D, D, D, D, D
Condition:  range from tarnished to bright and shiny
Total Found Money to Date for 2012:  $3.61

A Dry Spell But I Finally Found Some Money

I hadn't found any money since last Tuesday. A definite dry spell for me. But this is to be expected, I guess. The weather is heating up here in Arizona. We've already had a 100+ degree day and it's just April! Yuck. And with the heat, I stay inside more. A lot more.

But today I had to run some errands. First I hit the post office. No found money there. Then I went to the bank where I convinced the banker to let me continue to have my checking account for free instead of charging me $15 a month (it worked since I told him it was entirely up to him; I could move my money to my credit union, no problem). Back in my car, I spotted a penny on the ground before I shut the door! Then I hit the grocery store and found a penny on the floor on the way out. Yay! Only two cents but I'll take it.

I watched Moneyball when I got home. I had no idea what it was about (well, I knew it had something to do with sports but that was it; I didn't even know what sport). Luckily it was about baseball, the least offensive of them all. And this movie was great! I loved it. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill really worked well together, and Moneyball was a book first, based on the true story of using statistics and metrics to choose ball players. I'd recommend it highly. 

What about you? Found any pennies (or bigger denominations) lately? 

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  2 pennies
Year:  2005, 2010
U.S. Mint:  D, D

Condition:   one is scratched and tarnished, one is fine and dandy
Total found money to date for 2012:  $3.52

Found Two Pennies on My Bike Ride

It's starting to get hot here. I decided to go ride my bike a little this morning while it was bearable. I found two pennies!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  2 pennies
Year:  1994, 2008
U.S. Mint:  none, D

Condition:   one is dirty and tarnished, the other is shiny
Total found money to date for 2012:  $3.50

Found a Green Penny

Today I took a walk and found a penny. It is positively green! It doesn't look as green in the photo but I guess the copper has tarnished so much it turned green.

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  1972
U.S. Mint:  none

Condition:   so tarnished it's green
Total found money to date for 2012:  $3.48

Found a Penny in a Parking Lot

Last night I watched the U.S. version of the movie The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I was a tad bored with it since I'd read the book and watched the Swedish version. I mean, I knew what was going to happen! It was still a good movie though. But I decided to pause the movie and got my doodle stuff and made this Zentangle doodle shown here.

Today I ran to the library to return that DVD (and some others) and when I came out, I spotted this penny in the parking lot. It was right next to a car door so I'm guessing someone reached in to their pocket for their keys and out popped the penny! Maybe not. Either way, it's mine now!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  1974
U.S. Mint:  D

Condition:   tarnished but fine
Total found money to date for 2012:  $3.47

Rode My Bike and Found 26 Cents!

Today I rode my bike to the post office and on the way home, I spotted this penny in the street. Then I rode down a couple of alleys and found the quarter! It was buried in the dirt but I was walking my bike, spotted a funky metal piece so reached down to get it. That's when I saw the edge of the quarter. Yay!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny, 1 quarter
Year:  2001, 1996
U.S. Mint:  D, D

Condition:   scratched up and dingy
Total found money to date for 2012:  $3.46

Found 44 Cents!

Today I volunteered (it's Wednesday after all), then I took a walk since the weather has cooled off and it was perfect out! It has been a little windy and I was hoping I'd find some bills floating around. No such luck, but I did find some coins!

I walked down an alley with my trusty magnet and found a whopping 44 cents! What a great alley! Woo hoo!

Have you found any money lately?

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  4 pennies, 1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 quarter
Year:  ?, ?, 1974, 1989, 1988, ?, 1990
U.S. Mint:  ?, ?, D, D, D, ?, D

Condition:   Mostly very dirty and tarnished
Total found money to date for 2012:  $3.20

Found Two Pennies and Got a Haircut

This morning I found a penny in the parking lot here then, I finally made an appointment and got my hair cut today. I was getting shaggy. So after my haircut, I went to Sprouts, which was next door, then walked around the parking lot a little and found another penny! Yay!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  2 pennies
Year:  1984, 2007
U.S. Mint:  D, D

Condition:   shiny, tarnished
Total found money to date for 2012:  $2.76

Second Post of the Day: More Found Money!

Right before dark, I decided to walk around the complex a little while. I, of course, had to scope out the parking lot for coins! I didn't find anything right away but I did see a fluffy, black cat hop up on to the hood of a truck then on to a fence then up to the roof of a building! It lay down right there, about a foot from the edge. I think it must live in one of those units or it just likes the view from up there. 

It was pretty cute! If I'd had my camera with me, I would have taken a picture, but I didn't, so I didn't. I talked to the cat a little while, closed my eyes at it, and it closed its back at me. That means they like you. That's what I've read any way. 

Then I walked around the rest of the parking lot. Near the West end, between two cars, I spotted a dime! Then when I was picking it up, I saw the penny! Yay!

Oh, I found the little pitcher in the picture at Goodwill today. Isn't it cute?!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny, 1 dime
Year:  2007, 2008
U.S. Mint:  D, D

Condition:   tarnished, shiny
Total found money to date for 2012:  $2.74

Found a Penny at Goodwill

Today is half off day at Goodwill so I checked out one (only one; I've been known to go to two or three, so I was good today). I spotted a bright, shiny penny on the floor, so I scooped it up. I also returned some books and DVDs to the library and went to the post office but didn't find any more money. Oh well. I'll take it!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  2000
U.S. Mint:  D

Condition:   Looks like new!
Total found money to date for 2012:  $2.63

Found a Penny at Michael's Craft Store

Today as I was standing in line at Michael's to check out, I spotted this penny on the floor! I didn't have my camera with me and that might have been too obvious since there were lots of people around (but no one else grabbed it!). So, I took this photo when I got home of it with a rock I painted last night.

I also painted the jar lids shown here for an article I wrote (Jar Crafts). I hope I can keep my mitts outta the candy jars till Sunday! (They're for the grandkids.) I really should hide them!

If I don't find any money before then, Happy Easter, everyone! 

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  1990
U.S. Mint:  D

Condition:   Fine, tarnished, but fine.
Total found money to date for 2012:  $2.62

Found Four Pennies

Today I found one penny in the parking lot here then went to volunteer. Then I headed over to Fresh and Easy. In the parking lot, I spotted two pennies on the way in then one more when I came out!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  4 pennies
Year:  ?, 1988, 1996, 1967
U.S. Mint:  ?, D, D, D

Condition:   Three pennies are good, a bit tarnished, and one is a mess, unreadable.
Total found money to date for 2012:  $2.61

Rode My Bike, Found 9 Pennies

This morning I walked around the parking lot here and found 2 pennies! One of them is a cute little Lincoln penny with the log cabin on the back. Love those pennies!

Then since the weather is perfect here, I rode my bike and took my magnet along. I parked my bike and walked behind a strip mall, found tons of junk with my magnet, and I found 7 more pennies!

I took this picture of the found money with some candles I made last night. I used some recycled food containers as candle molds.

Read about How to Make Candle Molds Using Recycled Food Containers here if you're curious about what these two candles were molded from.

 
This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  9 pennies
Year:  5 = ???, 1958, 1967, 2003, 2009
U.S. Mint:  5 = ?, none, D, D, D

Condition:   These pennies range from shiny and bright to downright grody.
Total found money to date for 2012:  $2.57

Took a Walk and Found a Penny

Today I finally figured my taxes. This is a yearly task that I despise. I think about it, dwell on it, stew over it, and usually try to get it done in February, just to be done with it. For some reason this year I just kept putting it off. But yesterday, I bought the tax software so this morning I had a couple cups of coffee, checked email, diddled around and then loaded the CD into my computer and got busy. By 11:30, I was tooling through the papers, doing it. Getting it done.

So, by 2:00 I was finished. The check was written (only had to write one check, and will get a refund from the other guys). It about evens out, as it should, so the big bad government doesn't keep my money all year. Any way, it's such a nice day here that I decided to take a walk and enjoy the weather. I found this penny! When I got home I had this Easter card from my sister in the mail. Thanks, Kay!

 
This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  ?
U.S. Mint:  ?

Condition:   Dirty, scuffed, and unreadable
Total found money to date for 2012:  $2.48

Went to Walmart, Found a Penny

Today I went to Walmart to buy tax software (ugh, can you say procrastination?), kitty litter, and printer ink. On the way to my car, I spotted a penny under a car. It was barely under so I was able to snag it!

Then on my way to my home, I spotted something floating through the air. It landed on my windshield. A twenty dollar bill!*

*April Fool's. Sorry. I wish.

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  2008
U.S. Mint:  D

Condition:   Very bright and shiny
Total found money to date for 2012:  $2.47