November 30th, 2011. (Day 6): Step Nine

Step Nine: $1.28 - $2.56

Stake coming into this Step: $1.77

 November 30th, 2011. (Day 6)

– Today started out terrible.  I had lunch with an old coworker; I thought he would be an easy mark but he did not have any cash on him (I never really liked him anyway.)  He said that he used his only $1.00 to buy a pop tart at the vending machine (I hope he get cavities).  The only bright side out of it was he bought me lunch.  

Luckily the day ended strong, I was able to convince my employee to give me  ($0.12).  Two pennies for every person in our house.  Once again, the story worked or it was review time.  Then walking out the door I noticed ($0.10) on an unused desk.  It was probably the dime of the employee who was laid off.  I figured it was their gift to me.  Funny thing is an coworker walked outside asking was I was doing at the same time I was picking it up.  I guess she knew I was up to no good.

Walking to the car while talking to my son (believe it or not I was shaming him for not finding him any money at the time), I spotted a penny ($0.01) in front of the El Paso building.  Some homeless person missed it or did not want to pick it up because it was tails up.  Money is money.   Tails up or not.  

Driving home I stopped to fill up the car, while it was pumping I roamed around looking, for money, of course.  I found another penny ($0.01).  Not bad for a day's work.    

Grand Total: $2.01

Step Eight and Nine

Step Eight: $0.64 - $1.28

Step Nine: $1.28 - $2.56

Stake coming into this Step: $0.75 (the controversy begins)

 November 28th, 2011. (Day 4)

– First day back to work after Thanksgiving, I knew I could easily double my money.  Again, I used the "Story Experiment" strategy which is working pretty good since I am doubling under $5.  Everyone likes a good story and I am a good story teller which is not my profession so using this strategy is free game.  

I went to a coworker, Freddy, who often entertains my ramblings.  I mistakenly told him I needed $1.32 to double up from $0.64 (neither of us caught my mistake) though I offered him $0.75 in return.  He took the bait!  In counting my current stake, I noticed I had $0.76 not $0.75.  Somehow a gained a penny ($0.01)!!!  This is working better than planned.  I made a penny without even knowing about it.  They multiple magically.

I gave him my change ($0.76) and he gave me ($1.32).  The best part is I was able to unload my dirty change on to him (he complained but I told him money was money).  I have a crisp dollar bill (which he found himself, by the way... a future doubler), a quarter, and nickle, and two clean pennies.  I went over step 8 and into step 9.  Whoohoo!!.

Update:  Tonight, Hope added to today's winnings.  She brought home ($0.45).  That is my girl.  Per Hope, "This is how I got my $0.45, by my friend Quentin giving me his extra lunch money because he did not want it.  It happened after lunch."   Foolish boy.  He better get used to giving away his money to girls.
  

Grand Total: $1.77

Step Seven and Eight

Step Seven: $0.32 - $0.64
Step Eight: $0.64 - $1.28

Stake coming into this Step: $0.63



November 26th, 2011. (Day 2)

– Keeping to the rules of the game of working on the step you are on, I had to get off step 7.  I am one penny short.  I went over to my neighbors house to invite him to Thanksgiving lunch and while there I found myself looking for a penny.  I was going to ask for it if I found one; but to my dismay no such luck.   He was putting in floors so the odds of finding a penny was pretty slim.  I did not have the courage to ask him for one.  I am not committed yet.  

But my luck changed.  Michele needed something from the Big Store so I knew I would clean up again.  So I gathered Faith and my brother-in-law (who I converted as a doubler) to join the hunt.  (Paul C found 3 cents in my screen room while helping my clean.  I let him have it.  I figured adding it to my stake would break the rules and he was cheap labor.)

At the Big Store, I ran in to Gerald, who works in the hardware section.  He gave me a penny ($0.01) after my "story".  I figured a penny in the hand is better than two on the floor.  Thank you Gerald.  You made history but sorry you can't have it back when I become a millionaire.  Leaving, Faith looked around the registers but came up empty handed; but, while Paul C was checking out I noticed behind an empty register something shiny ... dimish.  Faith bent down and picked up a dime ($0.10) and then a penny ($0.01).  Score!  The cashier said there was a penny there too which Paul C noticed and Faith picked it up for him reluctantly.  He technically noticed it.  He is up to a new step himself, but I will let him blog his own story.

Grand Total: $0.75

First Day: Step One to Seven

Step Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven

Step Three: $0.02 - $0.04
Step Four: $0.04 - $0.08
Step Five: $0.08 - $0.16
Step Six: $0.16 - $0.32

Step Seven: $0.32 - $0.64


Stake coming into this Step: $0.02


November 25th, 2011. (Day 1 of Experiment)

– After stopping at Guitar Center and Will figuring out the code to the most expense guitar in the store (the code is 357 by the way), we came up short.  Then we stopped at Arlan’s Markets to shop for Thanksgiving and again found nothing (Will wasted his found quarter that could not be used since it was found before we got first penny).  Not discouraged we then went to Whataburger for lunch and had similar bad luck.  However, I was tempted to go thru the drive thru and find loose change but didn’t since it was a single lane.   After eating we got on the ferry and again came up empty handed.  Curses.

Our luck changed when Michele need to go to the Big Store for more shopping.  Walking in Michele found two cents ($0.02) in front of the shopping carts.  I noticed a penny under the unused checkout stand #1 and sent Will to get it but he failed since it was under the machine.  He redeemed himself and found a penny behind the trash can ($0.01).  Hope then found a penny near ($0.01) the Little Debbie Cakes (oh so good).  I hit the spot a well finding a dime under the coke machine.  My fat fingers pushed it back and Will then pushed it back further ($0.10).  Curses!!  I used my key to push it out.

Will was looking around the cash register #3 and found a dime ($0.10).  Then a worker, said  “There is another one there”.  Will picked up a penny ($0.01) (not quite a dime though … she must be from High Island).  Now while in the checkout line, I looked down and saw the mother load a shiny quarter under the gum and candy rack.  The problem was it was hard to reach, no wonder why it was there for so long.  I ordered Will to pick it up while I checked out.  He and Hope found a flyswatter and kicked it out ($0.25).  Hoped add to the booty and pushed out a penny ($0.01).  Then walking out the door, Hope found a dime ($0.10) under the paper stand in the back.   The irony is that I missed it when picking up my monthly Beach Triton.  

Grand Total: $0.63 (So close to a new step)