FMJ - Day 724

March 24: I found a dime at a Church's Fried Chicken on South St. in Lakewood, CA. I love Church's chicken -- it's always tasty.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.10
Bottles & Cans Collected: 9
Running Stats
This Month: $13.22
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $19.81
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $403.67 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $863.98 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 96 for the month
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,130.93

FMJ - Day 723

March 23: While in Cerritos for the day, we found 12 cents in two occurrences. The first find was a penny that was found beside my parking space at McDonald's on South St. The next find was made with the kids and their Uncle while getting ice creams at Coldstone -- a dime and penny.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.12
Bottles & Cans Collected: 7
Running Stats
This Month: $13.12
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $19.71
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $403.57 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $863.88 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 87 for the month
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,130.93

FMJ - Day 722

March 22: We found 3 pennies. Ajay and I both found pennies in the Albertson's at the corner of Stearns and L.A. Aves while picking up some fish for dinner. Earlier in the day, I found found a penny in Wood Ranch.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.03
Bottles & Cans Collected: 6
Running Stats
This Month: $13.00
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $19.59
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $403.45 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $863.76 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 80 for the month
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,130.93

FMJ - Day 721 A Recycling Update For You.

March 21: We found nothing! We made way to the Wood Ranch Recycling Center on our way to tennis practice. So, no extra fuel was used in this trip to turn-in our bottles and cans. We received $16.30 for our recent collection.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.00
Bottles & Cans Collected: 5
Running Stats
This Month: $12.97
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $19.56
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $403.42 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $863.73 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 74 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,130.93

FMJ - Day 720

March 20: We found three pennies breaking our "no finds" slump. The coins were spotted in front of the outside payphone at the Von's on Yosemite Ave. Funny, I don't believe there are people who still use payphones... maybe the pennies were some sort of alms for the poor payphone. A gratuity of sorts.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.03
Bottles & Cans Collected: 8
Running Stats
This Month: $12.97
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $19.56
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $403.42 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $863.73 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 69 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 719

March 19: Well, no finds for a third day... 8 bottles and cans were collected from various points during the day's excursions.

FMJ - 718

March 18: Again, No Finds.... We did collect 3 bottles.

FMJ - Day 717

March 17: Nothing found... funny not even a St. Pat's Beer bottle.

FMJ - Day 716

March 16: 40 Cents was found on a trip to Glendale Galleria. Ajay found a dime in the McDonald's and I found a quarter in Target... together we scooped up 5 pennies strolling the corridors of that incredibly busy place.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.40
Bottles & Cans Collected: 12
Running Stats
This Month: $12.94
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $19.53
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $403.39 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $863.70 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 50 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 715

March 15: We found 11 cents... a dime and penny. The dime was found at Del Taco on L.A. Ave. The penny made its way to us by resting along a sidewalk in Cerritos, CA.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.11
Bottles & Cans Collected: 0
Running Stats
This Month: $12.54
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $19.13
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $402.99 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $863.30 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 38 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 714 "The Great Gas Out!"

March 14: Today, I decided to participate in a "Gas Out." I didn't use any gasoline -- just hoofed it! The kids were home from school and Maya had her friend stay the night last evening. So, we all just stayed home! In the afternoon, we took a walk down to the McDonald's on Yosemite Ave. It's about a two mile walk round trip. At the entrance to our development rested 2 quarter atop the wall of the flowerbed which encloses our development's sign. What a find! I'll credit it to the "Gas Out!" The kids picked up 3 cans along the walk.

Unfortunately, it won't be a full day's refrain from gas usage -- my wife still had to drive to work and we're planning to drive to Cerritos to stay the night with my mother-in-law who as of this morning had surgery to a foot. She's on crutches for a few days and requires some help around the house. But, I do figure that I saved at least 2 gallons of gas from being consumed... it's a grain of sand in the grand scheme of the gas crisis but maybe it we all practice a few days of conservation, we'd could have a meaningful effect on these spiraling gas prices.

FMJ - Day 713

March 13: During a stop at the 99 Cents Only store on Tapo St., Ajay scooped a penny near the entrance. I found a penny, also.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.02
Bottles & Cans Collected: 10
Running Stats
This Month: $11.93
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $18.52
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $402.38 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $862.69 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 35 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 712

March 12: Today, we celebrated the installation of "Braces" on Maya's teeth. She been waiting for the last of her baby teeth to fall out -- the last having to be extracted. Ouch! While at the dental office as Maya was on the chair, Ajay and I strolled across the street to Del Taco for a Soda and Quesadilla. We found a nickel and 3 pennies on the window sill near of our table. We also found a nickel in the crosswalk while crossing back on L.A. Ave. At Mission Burrito on Tapo St. where Ajay and I feasted for lunch, we found a penny along our parking spot.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.14
Bottles & Cans Collected: 5
Running Stats
This Month: $11.91
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $18.50
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $402.36 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $862.67 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 25 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 711

March 11: While making a soda stop at the 7-11 at the corner of Tapo Canyon Rd. and Cochran St., I found a penny near the register.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.01
Bottles & Cans Collected: 3
Running Stats
This Month: $11.77
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $18.36
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $402.22 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $862.53 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 20 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 710

March 10: Found a penny at the Von's on Yosemite Ave.

FMJ - Day 709

March 9: Found three cents. 2 pennies were found at the 7-11 at the corner of Tapo Canyon Rd. and Cochran St. An evening run to Von's on Yosemite Rd. for some ice cream bars and we find a penny at the check-out.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.03
Bottles & Cans Collected: 1
Running Stats
This Month: $11.75
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $18.34
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $402.20 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $862.51 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 17 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 708

March 8: No money finds... six bottles collected.

FMJ - Day 707

March 7: Another single penny day as AJAY found a penny at his school.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.01
Bottles & Cans Collected: 2
Running Stats
This Month: $11.72
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $18.31
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $402.17 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $862.48 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 10 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 706

March 6: Found a single penny while pumping some gas at ARCO on Madera Rd.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.01
Bottles & Cans Collected: 3
Running Stats
This Month: $11.71
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $18.30
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $402.16 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $862.47 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 8 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 705

March 5: I found 14 cents while having a snack with Maya at McDonald's on L.A. Ave. in Simi Valley.

I recently learned that my wife is thinking of taking a position with another company in the Washington, D.C. area and we may be moving back east... It's a developing story.

End of the Month -- February 2008

End of Month Stats:
Total found - February 2008: $4.13
Average Amount Found per Day: 14 cents

Stock Holdings
FMJ and B&C Fund - Stock Held:
19.337 Shares/PEI Worth: $478.20
21.667 Shares/GRT Worth: $251.33
40.473 Shares/UDR Worth: $904.57

Total Stocks Held Value: $1,634.10
Value last month: $1,662.61
Stock purchase cost: $1,778.01
Loss of Value from Stock Cost: ($143.91)

Other Funds Owned:
Non-deposited FMJ Funds(still in the jar): $23.40
FMJ Savings Account: $71.91
Note: a jar count on November 1, 2007 was done and $200.00 deposited in the savings account to cover the purchase of more shares in PEI. On October 24, $147.00 was used for the purchase of 3.991 shares of PEI.

Dividend & Interest Income
This month: $
Savings Interest 2007: 98 cents
Savings Interest 2006: $1.77
Dividends 2006: $34.30
Dividends 2007: $88.04
Non-reinvested Dividends: $17.10
Total Dividends Received: $188.39 (Since 2003 merger of CWN & PEI)

Total Asset Value of FMJ Fund: $824.84

Bottles and Cans Fund
Running Balance: $1,114.63
Cash used to purchase stock: $1,013.17
Cash Account Balance: $101.46
Sept. 30, 2007: $999.18
B&C Stocks/cash value: $1,006.03
Loss in B&C Fund: $108.60

Total Value of Both Funds:
February 29, 2008: $1,830.87
December 31: 2007: $1,817.99
November 30, 2007: $2,075.57
October 31, 2007: $2,230.89
September 07: $2,327.61
August 07: $2,217.07
July 07: $2178.49
*Increase from Prior Month: $12.88

* Increase due to dividend payments, recycling, & money finds that offset unfavorable share prices for REITs which have been in a period of decline the last six months.

FMJ - Day 704

March 4: This morning while getting the L.A. Times, the vending machine jammed when I inserted the coins... a few taps and shakes and my coins were returned plus an extra quarter. After that, I found 3 pennies in the Carl's Jr. on the corner of L.A. and Yosemite Aves.

A stop for a snack with Maya at a Burger King before we hit the tennis courts for practice produced 2 quarters, 2 dimes and a penny.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.99
Bottles & Cans Collected: 5
Running Stats
This Month: $11.56
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $18.15
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $402.01 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $862.32 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 5 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 703 "Let's go to Europe!"

March 3: Last night, we made a late night stop at the Ralph's in Porter Ranch, CA. Upon leaving the store, Ajay checked the Coin Counting machine for "left behind rejects." Sure enough, he pulls a handful of coins from the reject shoot. Here's a list of his catch:

1 - 50 cent Euro
1 - 10 cent Euro
2 - 5 cent Euro
2 - 2 cent Euro
4 - 1 cent Euro
1 - Philipine Pisa
2 - (2 Kc.) Ceska Republic
1 - Canadian Dime
1 - 5 New Pence from the United Kingdom

1 U.S Nickel and 3 pennies.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.08
Bottles & Cans Collected: 0
Running Stats
This Month: $10.57
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $17.16
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $401.02 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $861.33 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 0 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 702 $10 bill found!

March 2: The kids spent the night with their Uncle and Aunt Reshma at their home in Santa Monica, CA. My Wife and I did some browsing at the Topanga Promenade Mall in Woodland Hills, CA. While looking for a new cellphone charger in the Target, I spied a $10 bill 2/3 of the way up the aisle. There were three young boys who turned into the aisle before me but hadn't notice the folded bill laying in the middle of the aisle so I quietly sped past them and put my size 13 shoe atop it until they walked past. A FOOT SAVE! Now, that's a keen find! Also, found a penny near the Verizon kiosk.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $10.01
Bottles & Cans Collected: 0
Running Stats
This Month: $10.49
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $17.08
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $400.94 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $861.25 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 0 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 701

March 1: On a shopping trip to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, I found a 1 cent Euro Coin. We also found a "restroom token."

48 Cents was found, otherwise... a quarter at the AMC movie theater on Third Street -- we saw Spiderwick Chronicles with Uncle Nicky. The kids loved the movie! I found two dimes and three pennies in the food court area.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.48
Bottles & Cans Collected: 0
Running Stats
This Month: $.48
Last Month: $4.13
2008 Finds: $7.07
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $390.93 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $851.24 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 0 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 700

February 29: Happy Leap Year! We found 2 pennies... one was found in the parking lot at Wood Ranch Shopping Center. Also, found a penny at the Wal-mart in Simi Valley.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.02
Bottles & Cans Collected: 0
Running Stats
This Month: $4.13
Last Month: $2.46
2008 Finds: $6.59
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $390.45 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $850.76 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 63 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63

FMJ - Day 699

February 28: We made a trip the recycling center and received $8.40 for our bottles and cans. Also, found a penny at the Rancho Simi Tennis Courts.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.01
Bottles & Cans Collected: 8
Running Stats
This Month: $4.11
Last Month: $2.46
2008 Finds: $6.57
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $390.43 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $850.74 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 63 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,114.63