Mamasita's Quest for Financial

Not a very frugal weekend for me, sigh...

I had car maintenance done, almost $400. But this was necessary, I have to keep my transportation in good shape as it gets me to work and my kids to school. I want to keep this vehicle for a long time.

I decided to do some of my holiday shopping Saturday. The stores are already filling up with shoppers, and I decided I do not want to be a part of that crowd next month. I picked up all of the gifts for my children. The total for Christmas for both of them is $56.00, because $40 of their gifts came from an Amazon credit card reward.

I signed up for a home warranty program for my rental property, $40 a month.

I also purchased about $50 worth of supplies for my classroom, materials that should really benefit the students.

On the plus side, I had an additional $150 worth of purchases I decided not to make just yet. $49 for a printer, I'm going to make do without one for now. I have other ways to make copies if I need one, like bringing a flash drive to the local copy center, or printing school related things at school instead of spending money on my own ink.

I also want to check some local thrift stores before I purchase jackets for my girls. I don't have much luck finding kid clothes at the thrift stores here, but I have to check. You never know what you will find!

I was so tired after a crazy week, I went to bed at 9pm last night. I woke up at 3:30 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep... and it's Saturday!!! I don't feel tired, but I know I will be dragging later. I need more than 6 hours of sleep. All I can think of was that I didn't take a sleeping pill last night (lately I have been), and I woke up really hungry. So either my body doesn't sleep as long naturally without a sleeping pill or my stomach woke me up... I guess I can always take a nap later on, especially since we will be going to a Halloween party tonight.

Since I had all of this free time on my hands I downloaded a couple templates that I set up for managing the rental house budget. Now that the place is officially rented I want all expenses to be paid out of a different account so I am not mingling my personal expenses and income with rent received and rental expenses.

I'm looking forward to saving again, I haven't had much increase in my savings account lately.

She signs the lease tonight. The security deposit will be deposited into a separate savings account. I'm starting a new spreadsheet for condo expenses and income, with a page for the tenant's deposits to be recorded. After the rent has been recorded and deposited, I will pay my mortgage and other condo expenses and transfer the rest into my personal savings. I'll track my profit on the spreadsheet.

I will work on the tracking spreadsheet this weekend. I welcome any suggestions from fellow bloggers who have ideas on how to set up an efficient tracking system!

I need to take action to get my condo rented. I'm going to post flyers at the base this week, and look into listing it in the local online paper. If I do that this week, I will feel like I have accomplished something. I also need to swing by there after work one day and check the mail, clean the bathroom. Besides that it is in move in condition.

This weekend was fabulously productive and quiet. I got about 8 hours worth of planning and paperwork done for school. Since the kids weren't home I didn't feel upset about it, I kind of enjoyed getting all of that work off of my plate. I also ran, met up with a friend for coffee, and did errands.

I got a wonderful massage yesterday. I know that massages are supposed to be really beneficial healthwise. I think I can set a mini goal of $60/month for a massage. I will have to "earn" this money somehow, through savings elsewhere, ebay, I don't know. I'll have to ponder that for a while...

I've been working really hard on trying to think more positively. Some of the positives of my awful work situation this year:
-I've lost almost 10 pounds due to never sitting down and just drinking a smoothie for lunch everyday because I don't have the time to sit down and eat lunch
- I get great sleep. My days are filled with work, kids, and running for stress relief. By the end of the day I don't want to lay in front of the t.v. or computer. I look forward to sleep soon after I tuck the kids in bed.
-I'm so tired by the end of the day it is faster to whip up something quick and nutritious for the kids (if it has a dairy, grain, protein and veggie I'm happy!) than to sit down for a restaurant meal.
-I think long and hard before going to a store. If it is a shopping trip I don't have to make, then I don't make it!
-I don't plan elaborate weekend activities. Even the kids look forward to easy weekend mornings where we can sleep late, then bake or take the dog somewhere.
-My grocery bill is about $25 cheaper per week than usual, because I prepare very simple meals now. Some weeks I don't even have to go to the grocery store because we have enough food to last us another week. I still don't do processed foods or frozen meals, but I do rely on frozen veggies, bagged salad and precooked chicken. Because I don't buy a lot of snacks or boxed items, we still come out ahead at the register.
There you have it, how I live healthier and save money by staying employed when any other sane person would have left!

It felt great to have 48 hours to recuperate from the week! SO came home for the weekend, so I had a partner to share the weekend activities with. I'm all caught up on the cleaning, laundry, and groceries, thanks to SO. I also have leftovers for dinner tonight. SO is heading back to training today, but only a few more weeks.

I got lots of sleep and ran 4 miles yesterday. I am ready for the week! I'm looking forward to payday, we are getting a small bonus, my first bonus/raise of any kind since I started working here almost 5 years ago! I plan to put that in savings for now, I haven't earmarked it for anything just yet.

I took new pictures of the condo this weekend and submitted my listing paperwork. I also produced a "for rent" flyer for friends to post at the local bases.

I found out where to go for the mail key for the new condo, so I plan to do that right after work. I am sure I have a stack of bills and new house mail waiting for me! When I go through that and pay whatever I owe (utilities set up, HOA fees, arrange my first mortgage payment), I'll set aside that money each month so I know exactly what I will have left to spend and save.

I also filled out some listing paperwork last night so that I can list my condo for rent. All I'm waiting on now is some pictures my family took of the condo that I want to attach to the listing. Hoping to get those by tonight so I can email my information off. My goal is to have a tenant by November 1, when my first mortgage payment is due.

I got word on a full-time position available at a local university, doing what I used to be doing, academic advising. Sigh. I loved that job... I did brush up my resume and wrote a letter of interest for it. I think I will type up the rest of the required documents, just because. I don't know if I could actually accept it, or if they would even offer it to me. I just know how miserable I am right now at work.

I have been keeping myself busy with my girls and the house when I get home at night so I don't even think about work, which is a good thing. I really needed to work on not bringing stress from the job into other areas of my life.

I've got the condo now and soon my first mortgage payment will be due. I'm lucky that it's less than some people's car payments but I'm still planning to rent it out. Even though I'm tempted to keep it as a summer place some days! Now I just have to set up automatic payments for mortgage so I always know that is paid. Then I can determine what will be left for savings.

Work is still really tough, but I'm feeling better able to cope with it all. Medication seems to help with that! October will be "scary-busy" with a bunch of demanding paperwork on top of my daily expectations I'm trying to reach with my students. I'll just do my best, my students' needs come first, paperwork second.

Although it was dreary and rainy today, I still got out of the house and did all kinds of errands. I also met friends for lunch and made it home by 6pm.

I broke down and bought some sensible black shoes They look a little orthopedic for my taste, but my heels aren't going to work this year, too much running around! Whatever, if I can keep up with my students, who cares if I'm the teacher with the old lady shoes?!

I also went to the condo with my parents and took pictures. I'm working on a flyer to advertise the condo for rent. My dad liked the place, I think he'd like to use it as an artist getaway! No matter how old you are, it's always nice to get your dad's "approval"!

My English Castle's latest entry about having to reprioritize expectations hit home with me. It made me realize it is high time I wrote my own adjusted list of expectations!

Not only am I back to school with a full, tough caseload, but SO is away at leadership school for 6 weeks. So I'm back to being single mom for a while. I had forgotten how tough it was to get everything done by yourself!

Daily, I've got to find time for: Keeping the kids clean, fed, and prepared for school. Keeping myself clean, fed, and prepared for school. Exercising at least every other day (usually right after work, before I pick up DD). Feeding includes a balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Nothing fancy, and it has to be quick and simple- think quesadillas and fruit/raw veggies. Fun, fancy meals can be for the weekends.

I have to have dance class once a week with my girls, that is "family time" for us. We have also implemented Tuesday "family game night", that is an hour after everything is done that we hang out and play together.

If I have to stop at the bank, I gotta schedule it right after work. My regular cleaning checklist(1-2hrs) and cooking will be done on the weekends.

I cannot imagine turning on the t.v. during the week. I really wanted to see the Biggest Loser, but I was so tired by the end of my night and I still had to check my bank account online! I think I will trade in t.v. time for a chance to check my bills on the computer and unwind by reading some of my favorite sites. Gotta be in bed around 9pm so I can read/fall asleep. My life is pretty mundane during the week!

It was the fastest closing yet, I guess in part because I was the only signer. This is my first place I have gotten all on my own.

Now I can refine my budget since I have the exact PITI amount due. It came in lower than estimated, that's always good. I'm going to bring my parents out to the place today to see it. Too bad it's raining, though, I was hoping we could take the dogs for a walk out there. Oh well, I guess there will be other days!

I still don't have the exact figure from the lender, they will have that to me this morning so that I can pick up a certified check to bring to closing.

Since the condo is being rented the current tenants replaced the carpets, which I wasn't expecting. That was the only project that I "had" to have done before I could do anything with the place. Now I can say the condo is pretty much move-in ready. There are some things that could use updating, such as the cabinets in the kitchen, but that is just a matter of some paint or stain eventually.

I will probably use the home for my family getaway for a few months and then decide how to get it rented.

I'm anxious to close so that I can determine how much money I have left. I had already pulled funds into checking to cover carpet replacement so I can put that money back after closing, too.

On a positive note about school, things are getting a little bit easier in the classroom. We have been blessed by two volunteers fresh out of college who are getting experience in my classroom while job hunting. I'm constantly amazed how God works things out, things were so desperate in our class for a while there. I know that these volunteers will not be here forever, but we have appreciated them this week. They have allowed me to do some teaching while still fighting for the additional assistance in the room. I've had to get the assistance from parents to advocate for their children, which makes the school system look bad. But we've been demonstrating significant need for over a month, so it's time to take things to the next level.

I stopped by one flooring place this weekend, to look for carpet for my upcoming condo purchase. I told them I would give them a call after I close on the condo. I have to decide if I want the place to be like a little "jewel", with the best of everything because it is so tiny, or if I want to go the other route, and just go "clearance style".

Although I would love to be able to keep this place for my family's enjoyment, and technically I can afford to do so (it would cut into monthly savings), the frugal me will probably transform it to a rental after a few months of freshening it up. For use as a rental, "clearance style" is probably the way to go. It's a beach condo, anyway, it is supposed to be casual, and easy to clean as sand and water tends to find its way inside easily enough.

I have leftover furniture set aside to furnish the place, so if and when I decide to make it a rental I would not have spent too much on furniture.

Maybe that will be my challenge, to get this little place feeling fresh and comfortable for as cheaply as possible! I still want to love what I've done to the place, though.

I managed to sleep in an extra hour... I guess I have an internal alarm clock that won't let me stay in bed much later. Oh well, I feel refreshed and now I am enjoying my coffee without having to be anywhere anytime soon!

I have a doctor's appointment later this morning, which is awesome that they are open on Saturdays! Then later tonight there is a surprise engagement party for my brother and STB Sis in law, very excited for them! Sometime during the day I will get some shopping or cleaning done.

I need some items for my classroom- aprons for crafts and cooking with the kids, a bulk box of paper cups and plates, disinfectant wipes. So my mission this weekend is to find these items as cheaply as possible, or make my own.
I have lots of rags, so I am going to make a bottle of vinegar/water solution, less chemicals to worry about. (the school cleans the surfaces at the end of the day but will not provide bottles of cleaners for each classroom, maybe they are afraid they will get misused??) I'll bring the used rags home at the end of the week to wash.
Aprons or smocks I might be able to find at a thrift store under uniforms. Paper cups and plates... I know I can buy a few packs from the dollar store that will last us a little while. We have plastic dishes we also use but this year it will be much easier to just use paper, we don't have the time or space to be washing dishes frequently. (We cook once a week in my class.)
For my own life? I have regular grocery shopping to do, and I also want to start pricing carpet for the condo I'm purchasing. I want to have the floor underneath the old carpet treated because it really smells bad right now. The place is small so I don't think it will cost too much to replace.
I might try out a new church Sunday. I've been really torn in my heart lately at the service I've been attending. I think in my heart of heart I am Quaker, and I want to attend my first service this Sunday or next Sunday.

We are still struggling at work with the shortage of staff in my classroom, it feels like a circus. I start every morning determined to do the best that I can, but somewhere around 10:00 the stuff hits the fan for a few hours. There just are not enough staff for the needs of the students we have. My building is still battling with the department to send me more staff. It makes for a really horrible day, to be honest. I can see why they make you sign a contract, because I don't know if I would stick around for this...

Yesterday after a long day at work, I ended up with a few blissful hours to myself. SO had duty, and the girls went out to dinner with their dad. Instead of going home to Ramen noodles and a half bottle of wine and crying, I turned into IHOP. I had a quiet dinner all by myself with some fresh coffee, and enjoyed the silence. I was just craving a comfort meal, you know? The coffee must have done the trick, because I came home refreshed, ran 3 miles, lifted weights, and walked the dog, all before the kids came home. Sometimes you just need a few hours to clear the noise from the day. I think I will indulge in silence a lot more this year!

But today is yet another day, and I have another chance to do the best with what I'm given.

Closing on the condo is still on time for around the 16th of September. I haven't really given it much thought since I have been slammed with school. I've been putting aside some cute dishes and things I've found at thrift stores that I want to put in the new place, I'm going to enjoy making the condo a little getaway!

That's all I can say. The students made it through the day safe and happy. Still waiting for approval for the additional assistance in the classroom. It is urgently needed.

Looking forward to an even better day tomorrow, I know that the year will get easier as we get to know the kids and we get the staff we need.

My own children did just fine back to school, they have lots of classes with friends which always makes things more pleasant.

I have the feeling September will be finished quickly.

I made it through teacher work week. I pleaded my case for additional help in my classroom, and the specialist who visited agreed. I know I will be getting additional help eventually. So I am not going to freak out anymore, just keep my sense of humor next week, enjoy getting to know my students, and keep them safe!

In a few more weeks I will close on the condo, so my budget will look a bit different. I am excited about this new place, and hope to enjoy it a bit before turning it into a rental.

Trying not to panic, but the staffing in my special ed classroom has been cut from 4 adults... to 2. Yikes. Same kids as last year, actually add in 4 new ones, same needs or greater than last year. But the funding the dept. used to provide the additional staffing is not there this year. I have been fighting my case all summer, building administration is also fighting for me.

Since our needs are legitimate I know that we will eventually receive at least one additional assistant. It's just scary to envision how we will make it until then. I want the best for my students and it frustrates me to no end to think that I can't teach them appropriately because I just don't have the hands to do so.

The day after the hurricane, and it was absolutely beautiful here. We were fortunate that we sustained little damage. There was a leak from the ceiling, but we have put a maintenance request in to the condo association. That should be covered by the association policy, we will see. We looked at the beach house, and that little place fared the storm without any damage! We talked to the tenant and everything is fine, even the little shed out back. I'm so thankful xoxo

We didn't make any plans for the weekend because we weren't sure how the storm would impact us. We ended up having friends come over for a barbq and swimming at the pool. Some of my friends still didn't have power so they took showers before they left.

It's back to work tomorrow, and I'm actually ready. I was pretty depressed last week, but I feel good now. I'm just not going to let work get me stressed and down. Now that I think about it, it seems so silly to get all upset and anxious over work issues. I think back to when I was like 20 years old. I worked a lot, but when I wasn't at work I didn't think about work- I had so many other things I cared about, like my love life, partying, college. Now I have even more things to care about, like my family! I will give my 110% when I am at work, but when I'm done for the day, I need to put work away from my mind.

Woke up super early due to wind and rain, but I figure I can always nap later on during the day. Local weather reports show nasty weather coming in, but that we are prepared for.

I am in the process of purchasing a one-bedroom condo on the Bay. We will see how the place weathers this storm before I go any further in the purchase.

Looking on the positive side, I won't be going anywhere today, so I won't be spending any money! With birthday, back to school, and home inspection expenses, August has been a spendy month. I am looking forward to my September 1 paycheck.

Our beach house has already been evacuated (it had a tenant), there was a mandatory evacuation for the area yesterday. I figure we will see how the place looks at the end of the storm and deal with the house then.

In the meantime, I've got my family to take care of. We live several miles away from the coast now so we are just going to ride out the storm at home. Not looking forward to being without power for days on end, but don't see a real need to evacuate just yet. We live a few miles away from an emergency shelter if things get really bad. Of course I'd rather pack everyone up and drive off to a vacation somewhere else but in reality it is not as easy as all that. The storm is expected to impact such a large area, where would we go? Besides, the roads are clogged up with all of the tourists and beach residents who Really Have to leave the area.

We have enough food and water stocked up so we won't starve, we've got cooking fuel for outdoor cooking, a couple bags of ice to help the fridge stuff last a little longer. Two full tanks of gas. Candles and flashlights. Meds. We pulled cash from the ATM so in case power is out we can make purchases.

Hoping we all make it through the storm safely, hopefully things will die down and it won't be as bad as it seems.

Yesterday was so tough for me. Hormones were raging, and I could feel it from the moment I woke up. After dropping a child off to camp, attending a physical therapy appointment for myself, and trying to school shop with my oldest child, my car started smoking in the parking lot. The same car I have been feeding good money to this year for tires, tie rods, brakes, etc. So I almost cried then and there, thinking it was the transmission as there was reddish liquid dripping out the bottom. After filling it up with coolant, I managed to get it to a new service center. Fortunately, it ended up only being a loose radiator clamp. Yet I still had to hang out at home that afternoon and reschedule a child's doctor appointment because I didn't have my car.

I was also feeling depressed because the end of summer is near. I love summer, and we've been having such a good time. I was also feeling so overwhelmed thinking of all of the new students I will get this year, too.

To top it off, I've developed asthma, probably triggered by allergies related to nearby fires that have been lingering this summer. So I just feel like I'm falling apart. Yeah, and I turn 35 in a week.

The world wouldn't stand still just because I was screaming on the inside, so I continued on my day the best I could with dance lessons, kid feeding and caring, and driving. By the end of the night I just wanted to lock myself into my closet and cry. My significant other saved the night, though, insisted that I didn't need to lock myself in a closet and gave me a good back rub instead.

I woke up this morning feeling refreshed, and back to my old self, go figure. Amazing how different you can feel in the morning sometimes.

I'm still working on positive thinking to improve my outlook. I am excited to see my students again and get our room set up. I'm looking forward to fall goodies and fall activities with my kids. I have to have patience with my health, I am feeling better every day and taking good care of myself. And being 35 will be fine, I'm having a blast! (Well, most days!)

I've decided I'm ready to take a little dip back into real estate. My roommate owns the home we live in right now, so I don't have a primary residence. I found a great deal on a beach condo, right on the Chesapeake Bay. Very tiny, but I can set it up just the way I want to because it will cost so little to paint, replace flooring, etc. Yet another benefit to a tiny place!

I can afford it even with staying in my current residence, so we will probably stay there all summer and on weekends when we feel like it. (It's only 20 minutes away from my current home). Then in a year or so I can rent it out, as the current tenant pays well over what my mortgage payment will be.

I'm excited, this will be my first place that is all my "own", in my name only! Also a little nervous, because of course anything can happen before the final documents are signed, especially in today's lending climate.

I don't want to admit it, but looking at the calendar, I have just about 2 weeks till I return to school. Luckily the kids go back a week later, so they have a little more time to sleep in and swim.

The kids and I have had an excellent summer so far, and it's not done yet. I will just continue enjoying our time together.

I know returning to school won't be bad. I love my job, I just love the summers so much!!!

Today I will run a few miles, visit with my mom who just returned from out of town, and then take Mom and the kids to the pool. If Mom isn't feeling up to it I will drop off my car to have the squealing brakes looked at and take the kids to the pool while we wait for the verdict from the repair shop.

I blew a tire Tuesday, so I ended up getting 4 new tires ( I really did need new ones), a tie rod (?), and alignment, total of another $700 in car work. My breaks have also started squealing, probably need new break pads. Ugh.

As much as I hated taking that money out of my savings, I paid those expenses without a grudge. I am fortunate to have a vehicle to get my family around, and I am very fortunate to have a savings account to cover such expenses.If I value having transportation, I should happily pay for it, n'est ce pas?

On the other hand, even basic cable irritated me. Those few additional channels added no value to our lives. I invested in a couple pairs of rabbit ears, discovered I could get reception to some public access channels, and I cancelled cable completely. So I elimintated our cable bill. Although it was only $20, I was bitter paying that bill because I realized it added no value to our lives.

Now OVERPAYING on something is not smart, so I will of course try to get the best deals, but I do not want to become stingy with my money. Money is just paper, it is my attitude that causes me financial stress or harmony.

(Yes, I'm making a conscious effort to improve my attitude and outlook!)

July has been a busy month for me, with birthdays and vacations filling up the time. Finally able to sit down and post an update.

I got paid for August already. I've scheduled money to be deposited into long-term savings, that always feels good. I'm on track with the rest of my August bills. I'll have another birthday to shop for, and back-to-school expenses, but I think I have planned for that.

I'm getting anxious about the upcoming school year, but it's a little excitement, too. Another chance to become a more skilled teacher! I have to restrain myself from purchasing lesson books and teaching supplies. I'll just try to make most of my teaching tools from things I already own or can pick up from yard sales.

I have been making income-based payments on my student loans since April. I gave them my pay and my ex's pay info, and that is how they calculated my monthly payment of $409. Ouch. I updated my student loan info with our AGI instead, which is much, much lower. Now my new income-based payments will be $103 a month! So much easier to handle! I also currently qualify for the public-service student loan forgiveness program, or at least I will after 10 years of service and payments.

I've gone ahead and set up an automatic investment into ShareBuilder. I have a good start on my safe long-term savings and feel ready to start contributing to stocks again. If I lose my shirt, I still have my long-term savings. Though I need to start looking at stocks as long-term savings that just happen to fluctuate.

My mom had mentioned that the thrift store had a half-off sale yesterday, so I decided to go check it out. I'm so glad I went! I picked up some Dockers capris, Limited capris, and a nice Talbots shirt, as well as a new shirt for DD for the school year, all for $9.40!

I'm inspired to stay away from the regular stores when I pick up new clothes for the school year. At least for myself- I didn't find much for kids at the thrift store. I guess it depends on the day. I'll keep hunting for great deals for the kids throughout the year.

We had a great long weekend, and actually did very little spending.

We started with Friday by spending an hour at the Aquarium (where we have season passes), then went on to a family picnic at SO's work. It was so hot out, we all went home and took a nap! After a little rest we took the kids to Chuck E Cheese with a coupon for $22. We finished the day by picking up the dog and going to the beach for sunset and letting the kids play.

Saturday we had a friend come over to introduce her baby to the swimming pool for the first time, we ended up spending a couple of hours by the pool. A wedding that night, followed by drinks with friends at a local bar. Total cost of the evening: $20 for drinks.

Sunday I met up with friends at the beach, worked out, and went to bed early (the sun makes me so sleepy!)

Monday we hosted a BBQ. The party food items came out of our grocery budget. We all went over to the pool after eating. It did storm that night, so I'm glad we celebrated our Independence early that day!

All in all, a great weekend with friends, family, and water! My favorite things!

I drank too much, ate too much, spent too much... hung out with much younger friends this weekend and I can feel it! It's fun doing something out of the ordinary, but I'm ready to head back to my regular life!