Thankfulness

After having last week off as my fall break, I went back to work today to work the four days of remediation for kids who need it. I was apprehensive since I didn't know who would be in my class. Thankfully I have all 6th graders except for a few 7th graders. Unless one has taught an 8th grader with all their attitudes one can not know how happy I was to see my rosters. I had an easy day and the rest of the week will go smoothly. God really does look out for me at work. The stories I could tell............

Vice

I am usually an economically conservative person. I try to save money where I can. For example, I have not bought outer clothes in over four years. I have a friend who used to be a teacher/assistant principal/State Dept. of Education Curriculum Specialist who now flies all over the country as an education consultant for a private firm. She has slowly given me a ton of clothes over the last four years. Therefore, I see no need in buying new ones. Hers were excellent quality (some still on the hangers with tags). However, there was an area I was splurging in and it was getting ridiculous: lattes. At the height of my "addiction" I was spending about $20.00 a month (or more) on them. Luckily, my favorite coffeehouse closed down. Unfortunately, a year ago a chain coffee shop opened and it is a drive-through, so that meant I was in trouble on the way to work. To economize, I went to my own espresso machine. I buy the sugar-free syrups, espresso, and whipped cream. I'm saving a ton of money. I usually have one in the morning on the way to work and another in the evening.

Trick-or-treat, Democrat-style

I couldn't resist!

(Click on the picture to get the full-page view so you can read it clearly.)

Ways to Conserve

I checked my electric bill online the other day, and it was lower than I remember it ever being since I moved here over six years ago: $86.00. I thought about it, and the reason is that I turned off the air conditioning about a month ago. It has been so nice here I haven't needed it. We've used the ceiling fans, and when we've had a cold spell, we've used the fireplace. We also both have electric blankets.



Does anyone else cut corners to save money? If so, in what areas?

My Son and Parents

This is Matthew and my parents. As you can see, Matthew is now just about as tall as Dad.

Made $5.00 at Walgreens

I had a great trip to Walgreens today. This is what I got:

1 12 pack of Northern bath tissue
1 L'Oreal Revita-lift
1 Almay mascara
1 electric heater fan for the bathroom

The total was $57.00. I used my $21 gift card, a $5.00 Register Reward, a $3.00 Register Reward, and a store coupon for $5.99 for the bath tissue. I paid $30.00 but will get back $35.00 on my gift card. That means I MADE $5.00. The mascara was FREE after rebate and so was the Revitalift. The heater had a $5.00 rebate attached.

I then came home and claimed the rebates on my gift card. I love that I'm getting over $3.00 back as a 10% bonus for doing that.

Walgreens Deals

• I made a trip to Walgreens today to take advantage of a few offers. There was a $5 off coupon for spending $20.00. Here is what I got for $13 and some change:
  4boxes of Ritz crackers
  3 cartons of Pepsi
  2 packs of Orbit gum
  
  You may wonder why I need 4 boxes of Ritz crackers. I stockpile when it is an item I will use a lot of. I had been buying my son Armour lunchables for a snack on the way home from school (He will NOT eat at school--never has for his own reasons.) They were relatively cheap at Walgreens ($1.29), but I decided to make my own. I bought the Ritz, sliced cheese, and meat. I have some neat cutters that I got from a Pampered Chef party, so I will make the cheese and meat into neat designs. I hope he will eat them as well.
  

We both take Pepsis to school. The drink machines are selling them at $1.00 a can and I refuse to pay that or allow him to pay it either.

Rainy Days

I love rainy days like this~~as long as I don't have to venture out. They are perfect for a cozy fire and hot chocolate or latte.

This year I had wood delivered in July. The men were sweating as they unloaded it, but I wanted to have it ready for days and nights like this.

This week has been unseasonly cool for us at this time of year. I love it, though! I hope we have a cooler than normal winter.

Matthew

I am thankful for my son and his health. He's in the 9th grade and has only missed two days of school since kindergarten. Only one of those days was due to illness.

Thankfulness

Today what I am thankful for (and every day) is my health. I came out of the cancer surgery and preventive chemo. with flying colors. So far my follow-up blood work has been fine. Thanks be to God!

Thankfulness

As I was driving home this morning from taking my son to school, I reflected on what I am thankful for. I think I'll list one a day. Today this is it:

This is my dad and son at my son's Young Marines graduation several years ago. My dad will be 81 in a few weeks. I thank God he is healthy and still active. Matthew goes to his house every other weekend. They are very close.

*Matthew is now almost as tall as Dad.

My Town

While I am not a beach person, I do love the views. Here are some from my town.

Fall

October~~~The beginning of fall~~I love the cooler weather. Last night I had a fire for the first time this year. It was a crisp 40something. I have lived in South Carolina since I was five, but I still detest the humidity of the summer. Although the beach is minutes away, it's not for me. I live for this time of year. Does anyone else love fall? If so, what is there about it that appeals to you?

Time Off!

Yeah! I have a two week break from work! This is the last year we will have year-round school as the Superintendent wants all schools on the same calendar. I actually will be teaching the 28th-31st during what she calls "Extended Learning Days". Those are extra days students have to attend who have failed the state test two years in a row. The remaining 16 days are next summer. The pay was too good to turn down, and since I'm still paying off the cancer center, I couldn't say no. Even so, I have this week off and next Monday. Tomorrow is cleaning day. I have much to go through and throw out, and I'm going to clean the carpet with Dad's carpet cleaner.

Crossroads

I am at a point in my life again where I feel it is time to change jobs. Work is becoming more unbearable and moral over the entire school is LOW. There is an opening now at a middle school close to my home, but I don't feel I can move my son now that school has started. I am praying that if it is God's will that I will get a transfer next year so my son can get used to the idea of changing schools. I have always changed jobs when I felt it was God's will and His doing.

Cats

After writing about Buddy, I mentioned I would post later about why I'm a cat-lover. By the time I was 12, my brothers had moved out of the house and my 9 year-old poodle died. My mother said no more dogs because they were too confining; we couldn't go anywhere on the weekends. She did say I could have the pick of my grandmother's barn cat's kittens. Thus, my love of cats was born. I picked out a beautiful calico and named her Priscilla Mae, or "Prissy" for short. She used to lie among my dolls and stuffed animals while I "taught" them during school. She was with me from the time I was 12 until I was 31. I was devasted when I lost her to cancer.

Walgreens Savings2

In the second trip, I had $13.00 in Register Rewards and a $1.00 Easysaver coupon. Unfortunately, because I gave the $1.00 coupon first, the register would not take my $3.00 coupon. I paid $3.45 for this:
1 pack of Northern toilet paper
4 packs of Orbit gum
2 bottles of bubble bath

I will use my $3.00 Register Reward later in the week.

Walgreens Savings

I made two trips to Walgreens today. In the first I spent $13.45 PLUS got $13.00 in Register Rewards. This is what I got:
2 boxes of Kotex tampons
1 box of Kotex pads
3 Robitussen Cough and Cold
5 cans of Campbell's cream of mushroom and chicken soups
4 cans of Butterball chicken broth

Site Counter

Free Counter

Buddy

I thought I'd create a post about Buddy, our beloved dog, since he is in several pictures with Matthew. I should start by saying categorically that I am a cat person. (I'll write a post about that later.) However, Matthew wanted a dog. Being that all my animals have always had to stay close to me, I would not get one until we fenced the backyard.

Four Junes ago I had a privacy fence installed. I jokingly tell Buddy he was my $2500 dog. We then bought a doghouse for him, which he has NEVER darkened! Finally, we went to the local animal shelter and adopted him. The man there tried to talk us into adopting a large, bouncy, barky lab--Buddy's "roommate". Buddy, the ever-smart dog, sat obediently while "barky lab" bounced and barked. Of course, we wound up with Buddy instead. He has been such a joy to have. He is the best guard dog there is. I have trained him to even pull aside the curtain by the front door to look out. No one can walk on our street, much less walk a dog, without him going crazy.

Some other tidbits about Buddy: He loves Doritos and my cats.

Matthew

There's no specific reason I'm posting this except I think it's a good picture of Matthew and Baby, who is about 19.

Money Saving

I can't believe it's been over two months since I've posted, but work has been, well, WORK! I had to share what I just saved at Walgreen's today. I got all this for .17:

6 double rolls of Northern TP

4 bags of Hershey candy

2 Gillette shampoo

1 Olay Cleanser

1 Rimmel foundation

I had over $23 in a gift card and the rest was in manufacturers' and Walgreens' coupons. This is the best I've ever done.