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Home > Archive: January, 2010

Archive for January, 2010

Baby, it's cold outside

January 27th, 2010 at 07:30 pm

Wind chills below zero and temps headed that way.

School started yesterday, and besides the usual challenge of figuring out when to eat and use the bathroom when I teach five hours in a row, everything seems fine.After last fall's harried semester, this should be easy.

I'm home three days a week now, and need to rebalance how I spend home and work time.

Off to grocery shop now which is always so much better during the week.



Grey Rainy Sunday

January 24th, 2010 at 11:58 pm

I'd actually ( I can't believe I'm saying this) prefer some snow to our yucky rain. But I've made a big pot of soup for tomorrow's dinner, did a little shopping, and need to spend some time on household things tonight.

January always seems endless to me.

Our financial goals for the week are simple--eat up what's in the fridge and get ready to start the semester. I'm only on campus two days a week this term which should save on gas and some other expenses. But we need to stay on top of spending to allow for my decreased work load.

A couple things accomplished

January 21st, 2010 at 10:49 pm

I've decluttered four Gourmet magazines to my happy-to-have-them co-workers. It was fun to get rid of them, and have people happy to get them. And I checked out rates on the safe deposit box that I blogged about yesterday. $17/year sounds like a reasonable amount to me. I also mailed my book sale.

I remembered to use my Walgreen's vouchers and coupons when buying a birthday card for my father-in-law, so the pennies have been taken care of.

One more (I was going to say final, but I have to see this "salesman" Saturday, and I'm sure he'll disappoint yet again) rant about the doofus car salesman. He e-mails me asking when we're going to pick up the car with no specifications about transferring the plates, the registration, what kind of payment he'd like. He's not sure he can be there when I drop $18,000 on him on Saturday. What kind of salesman is this? I wanted the final total to get a certified check, and he doesn't know. Finally some other person at the dealership returns my call.

I should get his commission. He did nothing but stand in the way.

Safe Deposit Boxes?

January 21st, 2010 at 05:48 am

With all the floods, earthquakes, and general havoc about lately, I'm wondering about getting a safe deposit box.

During my first marriage I had one, but closed it when I left that town, and we haven't had one since.

I found bond Savings Bonds my mom gave to DD, and must admit, I'd forgotten completely about them. What if the house had burned down? Eeek! Maybe I'd better get one!

Does everyone else there is SA-Land have one?

Happy Car News!

January 19th, 2010 at 03:58 pm

I'll start with the good news. We've agreed on a deal on the used car we've been looking at. We pick it up on Thursday, and it's beautiful. Now for my rant: Why is buying a car from a dealer such a stupid, irritating farce? We offered them the same price last week, and the salesman did the huge melodrama routine with asking the manager, and we were crazy to think we could buy the car for that price. We were then about $1000 apart. Yet a week later, we're at the same price? All because we walked out? It's so inane!

On my decluttering front, there's plenty in the old car's trunk that can go. And I've sold another book and freecycled some of my mom's earrings.

Ins and Outs

January 15th, 2010 at 05:06 am

Still trying to figure out what we're going to do about buying a car over the weekend. There's a well-priced model four hours away from us, but I really don't feel like 8+ hours on this endeavor. But I guess we will if we have to.

I sent four kids' books to work with DH since no one wanted them on Craig's List.
One of his co-workers wants them. I'm making another bag for the library friends' sale. I'm giving myself 6 points for the donations. I got some moisturizer free from a survey company, and just when I was almost out of my usual brand, so that's a nice bonus!

I also bought a short-term bond fund today in my IRA to get a slightly better yield on the cash in my account. I'm generally against bond funds, but don't feel like stepping back into the market just yet with this cash.

We also sent some money to Haitian relief yesterday. It doesn't seem like much, but we pray it will help.

I've lost some steam on my purging projects this week. I'm hoping plenty of sleep tonight will help me get going tomorrow. Tiredness always makes me eat more and spend more!

More book sales

January 13th, 2010 at 07:30 am

I sold two books today for a total of $104!
Six Points plus all that nice cash.
It pays to clean the office!

Blue Skies

January 12th, 2010 at 06:19 pm

Yeah, it's still coldish today, but we have lovely blue skies. That always lifts the spirits.

My new class started last night and I have 30 students. Thirty may not sound like a lot, but that class lasts 4 1/2 hours. I came home, took two ibuprofen and went to bed. But I avoided spending anything at the vending machine there, which is a triumph of sorts.

I'm giving myself 1.5 points for throwing out more of DH's elderly spices and recycling the jars. I did throw the ancient cardamom pods on the "compost heap." And listed a bunch of things on Craigslist and Amazon, so hoping to reap some nice rewards there.

I hope to get out for a walk under these sunny skies!

Out with More

January 11th, 2010 at 03:39 pm

After a frustrating Saturday, the weekend got a bit better. We made an offer on the used car I'd like, still crossing our fingers that my car lasts for a bit longer. But the salesman made virtually no counter offer, so I'm letting it lie for a bit. I wonder if he'll call me back? Any one have any experience with used car negotiating with a dealer?
The upside was the dealership is so posh they have a customers' lounge with a coffee bar and Haagen Dazs ice cream so DD got a nice cone and we had some coffee.
But I want a REAL counter offer on a car that's been sitting on the lot for 3 months.

DD started skating lessons which I knew would be hard for her. But she went out with us again yesterday--screaming for the first 10 minutes, then asking to go again.

In between we got to the Salvation Army to drop things off and I found my ornament storage box at Target.
I'm giving myself 12 points for the Salvation Army dropoffs and just listed some kids'videos on freecycle.

My evening class starts tonight! It's one of my favorite classes to teach, so I'm looking forward to it.

The Organizing Continues

January 8th, 2010 at 05:18 pm

I'm still going on the between-terms organizing projects. I'm finally getting caught up on my household chores and have sold my daughter's skates and another book today.

Today's organizing errands call for a trip to the post office, to the sporting goods store to check on jacket prices, and to the home store for an ornament holder. I've stored Christmas ornaments in an old Jack Daniels box for 25 years and I'm treating myself to a new plastic bin.

Then I'm dumping stuff at the Salvation Army. What fabulous fun!

Hey! Just got the Amazon notification that another book sold! Hooray!

Snowy Day Calls for Reorganization

January 7th, 2010 at 04:41 pm

I had other shopping planned for today, but we're getting hit with a big blast of snow, so I've spent a chunk of the morning reorganizing the shelves in the basement, including the canned food etc shelves.

They look terrific and should help with my
"Eat our Way Through the Freezer" plan for the upcoming months.

I have a couple of books sold to deliver to the post office so may venture out into the whiteness.

I'm starting a new ebay/amazon challenge for myself--kickstarted by a recent $100 or so in sales.

Here's to the spirit of organization! Long may it last!