My English Castle's Personal Finance Blog

Yesterday's blog revealed that one of my spring classes might not actually run.

So, I've decided a preemptive strike on expenses by canceling the daily paper.
We also get the Sunday paper which I'll keep and the Sunday NYT which would be torture to do without.

But the daily paper almost always appears at the university, so I'm canceling that as a first swat.

Now, let's see, what's next?

The University is going through one of its budgetary crises, and I've just been told one of my spring classes has been delisted.

Now frequently they solve these, but I'm not counting on it this year. For me it means about a 25% drop in income. I'm crossing my fingers that it actually "makes" as we say.

In the meantime, what expenses can go?
Hmmmmmmm. This may require some deep thought.

Today paychecks from both my FT and PT jobs hit the bank account. I'd transferred some emergency fund money into our checking last week to cover some expenses, but we are more than fully solvent on current income again.

I've been pretty good about eating lunch at home and I do think the morning oatmeal helps me make it through 3 hours of teaching without keeling over.

And yet another sigh of contentment because I see our local grocery chain has extended the double coupon promotion on Wednesdays indefinitely. Not a huge deal, but it does probably save $5 a week. Hey with that, I could probably buy an investment bank!

Well, nothing major like medical stuff or car repairs, but for us--we usually spend about $20 plus church contributions every weekend.
But we got a babysitter last night and had a great dinner out, then went to a Harvest Fest and spent more than a little on things like hayrides for DD and walking around food today. And of course this makes me anxious--I know we have a nice emergency fund and we hardly overspent, but I'm an emotional spender, and this sort of market news makes me hyperconservative with my spending.

I went to an estate sale yesterday at a posh house a mile or two away from us. It amazes me the junk people accumulate--this house was jammed full of stuff--odd decorative stuff and furs and dozens and dozens of fancy pairs of shoes. Sales like that always make me want to dejunk. So much stuff that you can't take with you.

My university operates on a 9-month pay schedule which means they haven't paid me since June. We've been fine as we (almost) live on DH's income, but it sure is tight for my co-workers. I've bought several of them coffee lately, and have heard plenty of tales of eating the last cans of soup in the cupboard before next week's checks.

I'm so happy we have a decent size amount set aside. I sort of naturally spend less when I'm not being paid, but we don't have to, and that's a relief from the financial anxiety many of them feel.

But I have to admit, all this government intervention and bailout makes me a little anxious. We'll all be paying for this for years.

It's been an expensive couple of weeks.
We have delightful Brits staying with us (there goes the grocery and wine bill), I spent my birthday weekend in Chicago (very rainy so much shopping was done), and we had the lovely b-day doo-dads--cake and flowers.

So, scared again by the prospect of eating Chinese tuna in my retirement, we're pulling it together again. I've listed some ebay things, doing a freezer inventory, and hanging laundry on this my lovely day off.

I just got the happy news from my dentist that many of my silver fillings need replacement, that I need a crown, and as a result of bad orthodontia years ago, one of my teeth is on the move--meaning a bridge and maybe veneers.

He'd like to do lots of work--ending up with a grand total of over $10,000. This may be spread over some time, but I'm currently wondering whether bank robbery might be the answer.

Somehow my small economies at the grocery store and ebay sales feel very paltry.

Some of you might recall a discussion we had a while back on luxury items, particularly designer handbags.

I just finished a book called _Deluxe:How Luxury Lost Its Luster_ that had an interesting discussion about "entry-level" fashion items like designer bags and perfume.

I'm not sure it completely explained the conspicuous consumption thing better than say, Thorstein Veblen did all those years ago, but it's an interesting look at marketing--especially to young women. Her analysis of the "it" handbag both made me sad and mad.

It's an interesting read--and happily for me--at the very budget-friendly public library.

DH just e-mailed with the lovely news that my car needs both new brakes and a new tie rod. Just when I was feeling good about
payday being a month away. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

I will say though, I'm not spending much.
Expenses have been limited to a coffee at school and not much else.

Since it's cooled off here, maybe I should make chili tonight instead or picking something up at the double-coupon shopping extravaganza? That might save a buck or two.

Sigh--I hate car expenses.

My extra teaching job finally paid me, so we're solvent without touching the back-up or emergency fund. I can see more expenses looming in the future--car repair, dentist,
etc, but we're also only a month away from my regular paycheck.

Summer has again taught me we can indeed live on one of our incomes--but it's not very pretty. Perhaps if all the retirement stuff was funded, DD's college fund, and the house was paid off it would be easier.

But I have to say, I love teaching, and I'm looking forward to it. Someone please remind me of that later in the month when I've already started to complain!

Frugal choices for today will include eating lovelies from the freezer supplemented with that farmers' market produce and hanging out the laundry.

Our local farmers' market is small but fun.
We bought yellow tomatoes, cukes, green and wax beans, corn, and my favorite--beets.

A little jaunt to the library rounded out the morning, and now I've sent DH and DD off to amuse themselves so I can get my last-minute class planning done. I printed out our family calendar for the month, and we are busy busy busy.

But I still love the first day of school and all those new faces and possibilities.

before the insanity of the university starts again. We're out to a friend's house for dinner tonight, want to pick up some great sweet corn tomorrow and get ready for school by cleaning and organizing a few things.

I'm making a mixed berry fruit tart tonight and going to think about how sweet summer is before it's gone.

My money goal for today is to sign up for bill pay on the second emergency checking account. They offer $25 for the first time you use it, then I'm canceling it after I pocket the $25.

I wish all my SA friends lovely summery weekends!

I'm doing some chapter reviews for a colleague of his new textbook. That should net me $100 or so. And tonight's the last night of my summer class with its paycheck a week away. But I've promised that class pizza tonight (they should buy ME pizza as an apology for how aggravating they've been), so that's a bit out of pocket.

No other spending on the horizon until all the school fees on Thursday.
Oh, and the plumber tomorrow.

That's how it'll be for a week or two--drips and drops...

Have I done my major things that I blogged about last week? Please don't ask.

We're back from a few days in upper Michigan and Mackinac Island. I'm happy to report that I used all of last year's postcards, and we saved a few bucks by bringing water,and other beverages with us in our softside cooler to the hotel. But I've got to remember to pack a corkscrew and bottle opener regularly!

I can tell we don't eat out much by my reaction to restaurant prices. Man oh man, have things really gone up that much?
$10 sandwiches and $5 beers are a bit too much for me.

We had a great time though--I love the lake and it's so pretty there. DD rode along on the bike and the children's program at Fort Mackinac was splendid.

But now--alas--back to reality with meeting and the semester all starting this week. Time to ship the Amazon sales and the ebay sales.
Time to formulate my semester. Time to be a grown-up again.

Ha! You thought this was going to be about the Olympics, didn't you? Nope, a different china from our various former lives instead.

I'm happy to report that both the china cake plate DH received for a wedding gift for his first marriage, and the vegetable dish lid from my first set of wedding china sold last night on ebay. Since my former husband broke the vegetable dish years ago, I have no idea why I held onto the lid, but it sold for $10 last night. The cake plate went for more. It's so satisfying to get something for basically nothing.

I sometimes wonder if I'm penny wise and pound foolish. I watch the small things like a hawk--the Walgreen's rebates, the double coupons, the cheapie school supplies, the low gas prices, but I think I'm going to try to shift to big picture thinking for the next few weeks--not instead of small economies, but in addition to them.

I'm going to try to talk my credit card company into no annual fee. We carry no balance but charge a lot and get lots of airline miles. I'm going to finally finish our will. I'm going to check the brokerage balances and make sure that I'm budgeting the right amounts for medical withholding through my pre-tax account.

And I found a fun cheap pop dance class for my daughter to try--and here's the funny savings--I was decluttering and found postcards we bought last year on our trip to Mackinac Island. We never wrote them out or sent them, so when we return there next week, I'm sending them then!

I made $65 today leading a book club discussion for a group of women. I usually moderate their couples' book club, but their book this time was in my scholarly area, so they asked me to lead their women's only session. I have mixed reactions about this (yet another) sideline job. I really like all of them, and they're such terrific readers that they're fun to be with. But it's a lot of work for not much money.

However, the gas station across from their country club (this is so not my usual life) is among the cheapest in town, so I filled up there as well.

The book club funds are all allocated to my someday trip to Rome with a friend. It occurs to me now that I should start a sidebar showing those funds. Maybe that will help keep me motivated.

Academic life is no treasure chest for the budget, I tell you.

Yesterday was pretty fun as DH returned home from England with all sorts of goodies, including hand-me-downs for DD from her favoUrite cousin and all the British cooking magazines I love etc.

DD went to a funny birthday party at a pet shop and had a great time. I managed to delay the adoption of the "free fish" she was given a credit for until I check Goodwill for fish bowls. I don't think I want to spend $5 on a pet store fishbowl for a fish with a life span of a week or so.

So with all this plenty surrounding us, I've challenged myself to walk an hour a day and buy only dairy and produce for the next few weeks. We have tons of stuff in the freezer and pantry, and I'm going to stir up some wondermeals from them.

Tonight--Tikka chicken masala

Besides the insurance payments due, and my adjunct job forgetting to pay me, all the back to school shopping has to continue. I've done really well with specials at Target, AlGreens, and Office Depot/Max, but DD needs two new pair of gym shoes and another pair of regular school shoes.

Oh yeah, and then there's the money for school lunches, and some sort of "activity" fee.

I have to say I'm sorely tempted by the cutie shoes like umi and other upscale kid's brands. We've had terrible luck with Carter's and other Kohl's brands. The velcro doesn't stay on, and despite my valiant efforts at supergluing it, we may get one pair of nicer shoes for HRH.

Aren't those two words that just set your souls aflame? Yeah, me too.
But since DH is in England, I decided to do a little surprise for him. And we're so sad that he'd probably get more excited about a clean garage than almost (ahem, almost) anything else.
I freecycled some more of DD's clothes today, and have filled two garbage cans with all sorts of junk from the garage. I broke down and bought one of those Rubbermaid tool organizers which is pretty ok.
Another hour and I'll be done.

On a less happy note, my adjunct job "forgot" to submit my earnings total for last month, so I have to wait another very broke month until they pay me. Grrrr

Freecycle happily rid us of our 50-year-old basement fridge last night. It's odd to have appliances older than you, isn't it?

But I've decided to spend the day dejunking and getting stuff ready for our basement remodeling. Maybe I'll find more stuff to list on ebay since that basement has its fair share of buried junk and perhaps some treasure!

and hoping they'll show up.
It seems to be the summer doldrums here.
My ebay stuff isn't selling, the hotel I want to book for a late August getaway is only posting specials for early August thus far. I've done some successful back-to-school shopping for DD, but it seems like ages since I've been paid, and my regular university income doesn't start until October. Good thing the free lance teaching will cover me starting August 1.

I think I need to declutter or do something non financial to take my mind off money for a bit.

Has any out there tried this?

I've used miles for regular flights and rental cars before, but I played around with the American Airlines site trying to use up some miles for hotels in Seattle or Vancouver. They're happy to try to talk you into this--but the amount of miles was incredible. For a 5-night stay at a nice downtown Vancouver hotel, they wanted, (hold your breath) 168,000 miles.

It's such an incredible rip off! I'm a firm and fast believer in priceline for last minute hotels, but I'd like to use some of these excess miles.

All of our annual insurance bills come due in late July and August--life insurance, homeowner's and at least one car. So until I get paid again, I'm transferring money from savings to help cover it. That and the prospect of a leaking coolant system on my car makes it all sort of ugly.

But I got a couple of checks from surveys and am determined to keep my chin up.

Maybe I can find something to list on ebay....

We had a 6th birthday party for DD this weekend and the bakery sent my husband home with the wrong flavor (NOT CHOCOLATE!) cake.

This all happened about an hour before the party. So what does the bakery tell me? That if I wanted a refund, I shouldn't have served it. This to a woman with a houseful of 6yearolds wanting the Surf's up cake.

I'm calling the store manager!

On yet another former rant, check on yesterday's NYT for an article about foreclosures and the foreclosee's penchant for designer handbags.

That title sounds way more exciting than it is. Didn't somebody on this site discuss phantom electricity usage lately--telling us that the clock on the microwave probably uses more energy than all your microwave usage all year?

We have three clocks in the kitchen (yet I'm never on time!): The microwave, the range, and one on the wall. Last night, after telling DH about phantom electric use, we stared at the microwave for a few minutes and figured out how to turn off the clock.

I think that'll save about 12cents, but still I'm happy!

This is a mini-rant about a spending choice I think is pretty darn ridiculous.
If you're a designer handbag freak, log off now.
As some of you know, I teach at a large public university. Almost every term for the past few years, I get a 20something female student who wants to talk to me about her cool designer handbag that cost her $300+. I have no idea why they want to talk to ME about this--maybe they think I need fashion help. Today a friend told me about her niece who is tens of thousands in debt yet prides her designer bags above all else.

Has the world gone nuts? I have my splurges, but they tend to be a pint of raspberries or a bottle of hand lotion that's more expensive than normal.

My first car cost less than their bags!

My DH will eat anything without complaining or even minding. His mom is a baaaaad cook. I refuse to blame English cooking in general, but her cooking fits the stereotype. DH is happy to eat whatever's put in front of him. He has no qualms about bringing home office leftovers and eating them for dinner.
We don't generally eat leftover office food for dinner, but it's a quality worth cultivating, I think.

My father was a lovely man, but always wanted meat and potatoes and 2 veg for dinner. Anything that smacked of leftovers or thriftiness was scorned.

I do think being willing to challenge your own ideas about all sorts of purchases can really help save.

Trying (and mostly succeeding) to live on one income while you're earning two is one of the smartest money decisions I've made .
DH all upset about something that happened at work and asked me tonight if we could live on what I make. Yeah, we could.
It wouldn't be pretty, and I'd be more maniacal than I am now about discounts and coupons and lights switched off, but I could hear him breathe a big sigh of relief.

Now if I could figure out how to pay for my mom's assisted living expenses.

Lovely double coupons today too along with free dishwasher additive at the local grocers, so I'm feeling pretty good.

So, I'm back from a week and half vacation and start teaching a new class tonight.

Some of my whiny I-wants have been satisfied by buying a new bed. There was a great article on slate.com about mattresses. I wondered why I was so confused buying a mattress. Apparently all the big manufacturers just relabel them with different names to confound comparison shopping. So I bought one and got a great deal. The bed frame came from overstock.com complete with mypoints bonus money.
And I actually admitted by age (gasp!) to get a discount at the Eddie Bauer Outlet on vacation.

I'm so sorry to report that that retail therapy did indeed make me feel better.

But then this morning's paper had a scary article on natural gas prices for this winter. I probably should've saved the old mattresses as insulation!