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June 9th, 2011 at 06:24 pm
I suspect we've had this discussion before, but I'm wondering how much, if anything, folks spend on gifts for their kid's teachers and other school staff. A mom at school shocked me this morning when she said she bought a (eek!) $100 gift card for her son's teacher.
I had DD write a thank-you note and gave the teacher a $20 gift card. The bus drivers each got a small Target gift card too. Am I too cheap?
More progress on the deluttering! I spent half an hour in the basement laundry room clearing things up and throwing misc junk away--and lo and behold--I found DD's long-lost Hello Kitty camera! She'll be thrilled.
I've also listed a couple of books on ebay. Slow but steady, I hope.
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Castles and Hovels,
Junk and more junk
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June 8th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Today I shipped off my four ebay sales totaling $66. Not spectacular, but they were just taking up room in the closets. I'd like to list some more later tonight. I've started my closet reorganizing and am enjoying my new basement storage closet. I got rid of about 10 pieces of my clothing and three of DH's. The pile is getting huge so I'd like to drop them off at the charity shop tomorrow.
Here's to more delcuttering and a cooler day tomorrow!
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June 8th, 2011 at 05:19 am
I really need to do a complete financial inventory. I know many of you do them on Quicken or on a spreadsheet, but I think we need to rebalance our retirement portfolios, check on DD's college savings and figure out where we're at.
I spent lots of time today writing promotional material for my new fall class and starting the website for a couple other classes. We only went out to go to piano lessons and a quick run to Walgreen's. The rest of the day was spent clearing things up and doing laundry. It looks like another hot day tomorrow, but I've got lots of errands including some much needed grocery shopping.
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June 7th, 2011 at 02:54 pm
It's very hot here. We live pretty close to Lake Michigan, and although it's much cooler by the lake, when I arrived at my evening class last night, my car thermometer said 102. I'm looking forward to a quiet day with some decluttering and puttering around the house. DD only has three days left of school and while I love her around, I'm easier to amuse than she is.
I've still got many garden and yard chores to do, but they might have to wait until it's less humid.
Two of my ebay items sold last night, and one has already been paid for. So, I'm adding a whooping $5 to my totals, and I'll be eager to add more tomorrow.
Here's to a quiet day!
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June 6th, 2011 at 05:09 am
Yeah, I was intending to pack a lunch on my weekend trip to Minneapolis, but I didn't. At least I was good for my health and got a salad about halfway there. I split the dinner tab for my friend's birthday with another two friends, so it wasn't too bad--and we had a splendid weekend together.
I've been friends with this woman since we were in second grade, and let's just say that's a very long time ago. We had a grand weekend, walking talking, visiting the U of M landscape arboretum, and just catching up. She's a great friend, and it was well worth the twelve hours in the car. I got to see my mom too, which was good.
On the way home I stopped at the outlet malls in the Wisconsin Dells which did some damage to my budget, but I think I've got a solid summer work wardrobe now. I bought some pants at Banana Republic, tops at Eddie Bauer and found a great sale for DD at Gymboree. Not cheap, but satisfying and likely worth it.
Good intentions resume tomorrow as my ebay sales ends.
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hit the road, jack
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June 3rd, 2011 at 04:03 pm
I'm off to Minneapolis in a couple minutes and think perhaps I should pack some food. I usually stop halfway for lunch and (gasp) outlet shopping, but
I could and should forgo both. DH is always very sure that a packed lunch is the way to go, but then coos about how terrific Culvers is after we're there.
I may make a bargain with myself that if I pack a boringly low-carb veggie lunch, I can spend the $6 at the outlet mall. Temptation, you're everywhere!
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June 3rd, 2011 at 04:24 am
In response to last night's anxiety, I got a little busy today. I did three loads of laundry and hung them outside, made chicken broth with the remnants of a leftover rotisserie chicken, listed five things on ebay and one on Craigslist. Three of my ebay items have bids. I'm always surprised at what I can find to sell--from old Turbotax programs to vintage eyeglasses. I'm also happy to report the garden yielded its first fruits (uhmm veggies) in the form of a dozen or so radishes tonight.
I'm headed to Minneapolis this weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday and to visit my mom, and so made a load of food for DD and DH. Bean salad, berry muffins, and a chocolate cherry cake will make them happy I'm going.
I bought an Old Navy half price groupon because I KNOW it'll get used, but to try to stem some of my nerves, I'm going to try to raise enough extra cash for two mortgage payments in case the job situation does hit DH. Now if I could just find a groupon for a half price family room at a decent London hotel...
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June 2nd, 2011 at 03:15 pm
DH's job situation is still unsettling. He's under a lot of pressure there, and last night, for the first time, wondered out loud about job security. That got me thinking (and fretting and yes, worrying) late into the night.
We've tried hard to live on his salary alone, but most of my part-time salary goes into the general fund and we spend it. My full-time salary goes into savings, and we have a solid 20K in savings at all times. When that fund gets higher, we do needed home updates. We have a small mortgage and enough money in our UK savings to cover that. We have adequate insurance and solid retirement and college funding. We have no consumer debt.
But still I worry. I don't get paid at the university again until October. At 3am I was spinning scenarios of how to save more and spend less. Yikes, I think I'm going to need a nap today after I implement some of my ideas.
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June 2nd, 2011 at 01:51 am
I finally got a few ebay items listed: mostly some kid's clothes and a few vintage magazines and odds and ends. I listed low starting prices as my goal is mostly to get rid of these things. I have another load of books to take to Half Price too as the office cleaning continues unceasingly. I'm hoping t oget the Craigslist photos done tonight to sell more of DD's clothes. Look for a photo of my clean office sometime next week.
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June 1st, 2011 at 03:31 pm
Last night was one of those bad nights--not horrible, just irritating. Yesterday afternoon we decided we really needed to attend the funeral for a friend's mom. We don't know them all that well, but they always seem like they really need/appreciate our relationship.
The funeral was way on the other side of town, through a huge road-work zone. It took us longer than we thought, but we managed to get there on time. DH changed into a clean shirt at the gas station, but managed to get oil on the shirt in the station restroom. Then DD dropped a piece of cake on her new dress at the coffee after the service. We got lost coming home, then arrived home only to remember that DH's car was still at the park and ride from his morning commute. What should have been a 25-minute trip took us over an hour all together.
Then DH misplaced the manual for his new circular saw and tore the house apart looking for it. He's having some issues at work, and his anxiety level is really high. After 90 minutes of looking for the manual, he was driving me so nuts, I decided to evacuate the scene and do some laundry. There was no talking to him, but sure enough, the manual surfaced this morning under the Sunday paper.
So--I'm hoping for a calmer day today. When DH is that wound up, he needs the calmest home I can muster. I think dinner on the patio and a cleaner house might help him.
I'm hoping to get a walk in after grocery shopping and cleaning. CB has inspired me!
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May 31st, 2011 at 06:39 pm
After a fun weekend that had a few too many dollars spent and a few too many calories ingested, it's time to reboot the diet and budget. I started both out this morning by enrolling in a program offered by my health insurance plan. They will send those who enroll a $50 gift card if 15 points are completed. I got eight points for doing the health assessment and will get a walking and exercise program set up to earn enough points for the card. Two birds, I hope.
There's plenty to do around here today, and DD only has eight more days of school left, so I'm going to try to get as much fall class planning and research done while it's quiet here.
I sold another book, so I'm adding $14 to my ebay fund.
Friday I gave some friends a couple of books to help with my decluttering.
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hit the road, jack
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May 26th, 2011 at 09:21 pm
I'm so pleased at how much I got rid of today!
I gave our toddler travel bed to a co-worker, our old fax machine to another one, and was going to donate a strange bust of Shakespeare to the department office, but I dropped him--and the bard's head went rolling down the street. For a moment I was upset, but then it all seemed very funny. I picked up the head and put it over the department mailboxes. It's lovely.
I took a large bag of books to Half-Price for the lofty sum of $5.50 and stopped to get the Walgreen's freebies of the week and an anniversary card for DH. It's our 10th anniversary today.
I really want to get rid of more, more, more! Decluttering becomes a habit after a while for me.
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May 25th, 2011 at 09:06 pm
That's what my home office is--a dig site. Everything gets thrown in here when I'm doing an emergency clean, I got tons of my mom's stuff in here, the dog's crate, and so many books, I'd rather not discuss them.
My cast-off books aren't worth much on Amazon, so I'm torn between donating them to our local library or dumping off a load at Half-Price books. But I've made a big bag, mostly of once-read novels and books I used to teach, but will never again. I moved our "travel" section downstairs, have found a new owner for the fax machine and the toddler bed, but I must admit, it's still too full and a little depressing.
I'm going to take a break, head to the grocery store,and start again after dinner tonight.
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May 23rd, 2011 at 04:40 pm
I bet many of you can tell when school ends for me. I'm always purging stuff and cleaning in a one-month frenzy. Yesterday I finally hauled out a big bin of DD's summer clothes, and as always, she has way too many. I don't buy her lots of clothes, but she is growing very quickly, and in her lankiness, many things (particularly shorts and skirts!) are way too short.
One of her British cousins is three years older, and we always get lots of hand-me-downs from her, so we sorted through clothes last night. About half of last summer's things are salvageable, but I'll have to deal with the other half. i wish I could truly just put them all in a bag and take them to the Salvation Army or Goodwill, but I always seem to resist that. That said, I freecycled a large bag this morning--and they're already gone--to a woman starting as a foster parent. That was VERY satisfying. Some other clothes should probably be ebayed or sold on Craigs list, so that's on my agenda this week.
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May 22nd, 2011 at 04:22 am
For the past few years (oh man, nine years!) we've been making do with an IKEA dresser. I never liked it, but got a great offer on my antique dresser when we moved.
But we were both pretty tired of it, and DD has been putting up with the free dresser I trash picked and repainted before she was born. Her dresser is WAY too small for her, the drawers stick, and only about half her clothes fit into it.
That said, it was time for a dresser. I've looked, and looked, and looked some more at estate sales and resale shops, and two years ago found a new Amish-made dresser that I fell in love with. We have a short wall in our room which complicates finding the right size dresser too. We resisted the dresser for years, but as DD's clothes get bigger, so does the need for a new one. Today, I bought it. I found the same dresser cheaper at a different store, they did a pretty-good deal on it (after I said I'd think about it and suddenly $200 fell off the already discounted price). I'm thrilled and happy, and in four weeks DD will get our IKEA dresser and we'll have a wonderful cherry swoon-worthy new one.
I'm thrilled; truly thrilled.
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May 20th, 2011 at 04:16 pm
Please again reassure me (and DD) that we are not the only folks on the planet without cable TV.
Here's today's story: I've decided to so a systematic evaluation of all our bills and started this morning with the phone bill. We have cheap-o "pay-as-you-go" cell phones, so it was the DSL and home line I considered. I called ATT, and of course, they tried to get me to bundle with a TV package for about $20 more a month than we pay now. But I wanted less, not more.
The call continued and eventually (20 minutes in) they came up with a package that is $25 less than we pay now. I resisted the cable TV package and instead of paying $240/yr more, I think I saved $300. I'm happy and can do without the cable as can DH. DD is another matter!
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May 20th, 2011 at 02:52 am
But not until next fall. My conference proposal got accepted and we're all going to Montreal. Today I found a Canadian penny on the sidewalk, so it must be a sign.
We've never been to Quebec, so I'd welcome all suggestions. it'll be mid-October when we're there.
Still working on dejunking around here. I expect I have a solid week of it ahead.
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May 18th, 2011 at 05:06 pm
We e-mailed a bunch of friends and relatives about our UK trip yesterday. We always stay in London and few days and then head to a rental place near my in-law's home. Usually after a week there, we head out and explore another part of the UK.
After reading an interesting article in the NYT, we've decided on East Anglia this year, and wonder of wonders, one of our friends has a holiday cottage there (or her mother does) where they think we can stay for free! This doesn't seem like such a big deal in the US, but everything I've looked at was over 100 pounds a night for the three of us. This will be great news to the travel budget if it works!
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May 17th, 2011 at 08:17 pm
I've just clicked on the "submit grades" link, and I think I'm done with the semester.
I've spent the morning returning library books, taking the dog to the groomer, returning a redbox film for my night class, and ordering some books that I'm requiring for my fall classes.
Any hour now I'll be ready to start cleaning our home office. Or the bedroom. Or the family room. Or the bathroom. Or DD's bedroom. I've got plenty of housework to catch up on, but am actually looking forward to it. Maybe I am my mother: I love a clean house.
On the financial front, I read some editing projects, took a couple of surveys while I was grading, and am scouting (not very well) for some UK lodging bargains.
I've also sold a book which I'll post tomorrow.
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May 16th, 2011 at 07:03 pm
I was expecting an easier day today since this is my first day of my university break. But all that needs to be done around here and my evening class seem to be keeping me running.
I've got quite the full program planned for my evening class tonight, so it doesn't feel like I've had the day off at all. And off to an essay award judging in a few minutes too.
Like Annie, I'm singing "Tomorrow, Tomorrow..."
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May 14th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Our city is dominated by one grocery store chain--and it seems lately they've divided their stores into upscale and not upscale. The non-upscale one closer to our house has gone from bad service and stocking to worse. I never leave there without muttering how bad they are, hos many things they're out of, and how they can't seem to stock things without blocking the aisles completely.
I'm always unhappy when I leave there.
But it's close, and it's cheap.
We need more grocery stores!
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Food, glorious food
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May 13th, 2011 at 03:32 am
It's been a wacky weather day, but we had a gorgeous sunset. Lots of rain in beautiful sunshine and very steamy humidity.
Today was the official last day of classes, and I said goodbye to the last of them today. I proctor a competition for students tomorrow, so I'll see some again, but most are just gone.
I had a celebratory lunch with an old friend, and am finishing up grades now. We bought our UK tickets last night too. From Chicago, Virgin saved us over $1000 vs BA on three tickets, and over $500 on American. The prices were still ugly, but I needed to get it done.
Stay tuned for summer plans and decluttering.
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May 12th, 2011 at 02:18 am
Lots of rain and hail here, but it didn't start until I returned from school. I said goodbye to three sections of students--and some of them I was sorry to see go. Others--not so much.
I was late going to bed last night. It took lots of time to get my grades figured, and so I was late this morning. I contemplated saving some time by parking in the U ramp, but parked in my super-secret street spot and made it, copies in hand, with plenty of time. I was happy to have pocketed that $6.
Off to peruse UK airfares again. Ugh.
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May 11th, 2011 at 01:29 am
There are two teaching days left at the university! Though I'm still buried in work, I feel the delight that will be mine very soon! I have lots to do over the summer, but a good month before DD's school break starts.
I haven't looked hard for summer work, and the editing I did last summer is over, but I have two new classes to plan for fall, and my evening class runs until the end of June.
I've done some preliminary planning about things we need to get done, and I hope I can avoid the week of vegging out I usually do when the semester's done.
Budget crunching will wait until next week, and I'll post some summer goals then!
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May 4th, 2011 at 04:17 am
We're at the place again where we're booking our UK holiday for the summer and are aghast, to say the least, at the airfares. There's nothing on our dates for under $1200 each. DH's mum isn't well, and those summer dates are the only times that work for all our work and school schedules. I really am angry at all those teaser airfare ads. They are so deceiving.
I am officially Grumpy--
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hit the road, jack
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May 3rd, 2011 at 03:01 am
We relented and took DD to Orlando for a fast four-day break. I'll freely admit it was as much for me as her since I spent my break ill and tackling single parenthood since DH was in England.
The airfares were cheap, the condo was super cheap, the car rental inexpensive, now if I could've just ducked those theme park tickets. Since we've "done" Disney a couple times, and because DD has become a Harry Potter maniac, we went to Universal for a day. I'm not much of a ride fan, but I thought the Harry Potter and the Forbidden whatever was terrific. I really enjoyed the stroll through Hogwarts too. But the rest of Universal was not as good.
The SeaWorld tickets allowed two days for the price of one, and I thought it was the best bargain there. The shows were terrific. We bought groceries and ate every breakfast and two of the three dinners in. Not as much damage as might have been done.
So now we're home and I'll need a few days to dig out and recalibrate the May budget. The "eat from the pantry/freezer" challenge will begin!
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hit the road, jack
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April 22nd, 2011 at 05:39 am
DD is at the point where she's outgrown most of last year's spring and summer things--as well as all the shoes from last spring. She's been wearing suede faux Uggs to school most of the winter, and now needs all sorts of new shoes. Plus an Easter dress and a sweater.
I bought myself some khakis for work and DH a new blue oxford cloth shirt with Kohl's cash from DD's shoes last week. In the meantime, it seems I'm shoveling outgrown clothes of here every day. I heartily admire all of you who manage this with several kids!
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April 21st, 2011 at 06:15 am
It's another cold lousy day here weatherwise. I love the headline from the locals weather site: More Dreary Cold Dullness. But after seeing the tragic tornadoes in the South, I guess cold dullness isn't so awful.
Busy day, but I did manage to get two of the capstone projects graded. They pay me on the grand academic piecework scale for those, but at least it'll cover DD's dental co-pay and the week's groceries! It's super-busy at the university, so not much else will get done for the next few weeks.
Anyone heard from CB? Is she traveling?
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April 19th, 2011 at 05:18 am
What's stuck? House not clean enough, can't seem to stay on a diet, still behind in my grading, don't feel like cooking. Diagnosis: Last three weeks of the semester.
I'm not really all that frustrated as the end of the semester is always like this. They're hanging on; I'm hanging on.
I listed a few things (not selling) on cragislist and ebay. They're stuck too.
I think I need smaller baby steps, so I did declutter a little, giving away outgrown kid's clothes and an apron from my mom's things.
Hoping to be unstuck soon, but work is sticky now.
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April 18th, 2011 at 05:02 am
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I just finished our taxes. They've been almost done for weeks, but one of my editing jobs didn't send me a 1099, and I spent days trying to track it down. They are done now--with a refund (thankfully) heading our way. I do wish DH would pay some attention to this stuff.
I made less last year as I didn't teach a summer class, and unless we're overdrawn (never) or I'm very fixated on money, he doesn't even blink at anything. it does have its good side, but I often feel like I'm alone in my battles with money.
We got the stuff for another raised-bed garden, got to the grocery store, bought DD some Easter things, and even went out last night to see a play. It was an expensive Saturday night, but since we seem to go out about four or five times a year, I guess it all averages out.
My decluttering continues. More on that soon.
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