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Archive for December, 2008

Resolute?

December 28th, 2008 at 02:34 am

I'm beginning to think about NY's resolutions. Christmas is over, and we didn't do too bad with the spending. I also happily used up Target gift cards on half-price stuff today, and turned in grocery store certificates for a $20 gift card.

But because my income is going down with one fewer class to teach, I'd like to find some other ways to save and am looking forward to all the SA resolutions.


Low-Level Anxiety

December 15th, 2008 at 03:09 pm

I guess that's what I feel about the economy and our financial condition right now. My husband's job is contractual, but he's been there 8 years. I have a teaching contract too, but it's at a baseline level, and I always fill in with additional teaching and editing work. I guess we're fairly secure. We have no consumer debt, two 10-year-old cars, and a small mortgage. Our EF is funded with almost 6 months salary. We're years from retirement and 11 years till DD goes to college.

But still--I've seen so many people laid-off, our British friends are jobless right now, and I just get the feeling this will be a long long slog.

I think I need to ask myself those questions (especially since school is on a break now) about what I can do right now to make things a little better.

Errands errands errands

December 11th, 2008 at 10:34 pm

I could spend from dawn to dusk tomorrow doing errands. It seems I need a oil change, my hair cut, to go to the Post office, the store, pick up stuff at school, oh man--the list just accumulates,doesn't it.

I probably should've done more today since they're predicting a high of 15 tomorrow.
Cold!

I wonder how much all this is going to cost?

And I wonder if I should put more plastic on the windows!

Snow Business

December 9th, 2008 at 08:50 pm

It's the snow season here and I feel like hibernating. We had about 6" of snow today, and I'm making soup and staying in.

Only two more days of school left, and I suspect I'm happier than my students.

No real financial news except outstanding ebay sales on things I was going to donate to the Salvation Army. Ebay seems to be picking up, I think.

Possum at the Door

December 8th, 2008 at 11:23 pm

That title either sounds like a children's book or bad omen to me.

Today after picking up DD from school I was greeted at the back door by a possum. Now we live in the suburbs and often have raccoons, deer, and even an occasional coyote, but this possum scared the heck out of me. People are telling me they think they're cute, but not me. Ugly!

No real financial news except the approaching end of the semester and the realization I have one paycheck left at my normal four class full time load.

The weekend was fun--full of friends and Christmas tree shopping and a few hours spent grading projects and reading papers.

I'm actively looking for ideas for Christmas for my 20-year-old nephew who lives in a frat house and is, according to my sister-in-law, hungry all the time. I'm thinking a homemade food basket with emergency supplies. Any one
have good ideas for things to include?




Rosemary for remembrance?

December 3rd, 2008 at 08:22 pm

I bought a rosemary "tree" before Thanksgiving at the local grocer. It was so pretty, and although I have a small rosemary plant already, I thought it would be a nice fragrant Christmas decoration.

In two days, half the plant was dead and shedding needles like crazy. I nursed it along, but as I headed back to the grocer today, I thought, "I'm taking this ugly thing back." DH said I was crazy and they would never refund my money, but they did!

In fact, it caused great hilarity as everyone came by to take a look, calling it everything from a Recession Christmas tree to a Charlie Brown special. So $16.99 back in pocket and the ugly dead thing out of my house.

Wishing I liked cold

December 3rd, 2008 at 03:58 am

especially today with wind chills in the single digits and the energy bill arriving with an over $200 total. I've been wearing a fleece vest when I come home from school to try to avoid turning the heat up--but I like it warm. Although I guess 68 isn't all that warm.

The semester is starting to wind down, and I'm going to have to think of some ways to
make up for the lost class. I'd like to ebay some things before Christmas and rejuggle the budget. We've opted for a larger flex spending account deduction which will also seem like less in pocket, though it will save us about 30% probably.

I had a flu shot today so have given myself the evening off from grading papers and presentations. Maybe an early bedtime with a book? Now that's a dream come true!