Temptations Resisted on a Saturday

Temptation: Go to coffee shop around the corner and get a breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee.
Solution: Use last English muffin, last piece of cheese and an egg to make my own. Make a cup of tea with honey, which is better for my sore throat anyway. This one wasn't hard, I'm just lazy.

Temptation: Spend money by renting a movie, since I am home sick all weekend.
Solution: Watch Hulu queue, read Real Simple and my book.

Temptation: Want to go buy lavender nail polish, which Real Simple says is in for Spring.
Solution: Go through my colors and paint my nails pink instead.

Temptation: Really want to go clothes shopping after I played with Old Navy's turn yourself into a mannequin game. (See picture.) (I was bored and home sick, okay?)
Solution: Do a load of laundry, which reminds me that I have a lot of clothing and gives me more options when I look in my closet (granted, this one was WAY less fun than shopping, but it worked).

Nothing like...

...going to work when I am sick because I have too much to do to not be there. I got my kids started on a project, finished ordering supplies for our department, filled out field trip paperwork, called about our school poetry book, did yearbook stuff, and then came home to a reduction-in-force notice.

Which you may know as a pink slip.

The good news is that getting that secondary credential will save me. The bad news is that I will probably have to change grade levels next year (boo!) and that until I file a hearing and get all the paperwork done I will be in limbo.

I know I'm lucky that I have the secondary credential, but the pink slip just feels like a slap in the face. I am in the fifth year of teaching, I am the English department chair, the yearbook adviser, and I teach honors. But apparently, I am expendable.

A Frugal Afternoon

Today I went down to the district office in downtown LA and took care of two pieces of business. I applied for my secondary credential in English and I turned in my transcripts to the salary allocation department. As a teacher, my raises are based on my years of service and continuing education credits. I turned in enough units today to get a raise! YES!

The lady told me it will either start on my April or May paycheck. I am expecting around $100 extra each month, after taxes. The other good news is that whenever it kicks in I will be retro paid from February, which is when I finished the last class I needed. I feel good because I know I can use this amount to pay down my debt faster.

After that, I headed to the mall to not spend money. That's right, I made a trip to the mall solely to use four coupons for free items. I'll detail it in my free stuff in March post at the end of the month, but it did sort of provide a shopping fix without requiring spending.

Then I renewed my library book to avoid a fine and so that I can finish Persuasion by Jane Austen by Thursday night for book club....which is what I need to go and do now.

Reality has set in

I started doing Financial Peace University, Dave Ramsey's class, through my church. It's been okay so far...nothing revolutionary, but some good ideas and discussion with other people. There are a few other single people, and one of my friends who is a teacher, so it's nice to talk with her. Also, I think down the line I will get a lot out of it, since he'll cover investing and retirement, which I know nothing about. Last week was about money and relationships. I told my friend Ana that we should have ditched the class and gone out to try to meet guys. But I digress.

One of the assignments was to do a "quickie" budget, listing your monthly expenses. In one column you had to list how much was left to payoff any debts. I listed my student loans, my car, and of course the dreaded credit card debt. Adding up that column was super depressing. I never think of my student loans as "real" debt. But they are.

Granted, I don't regret taking out loans. I wouldn't have been able to go to college otherwise, and though I went to a private school that costed more, I had a great experience and met many of my best friends there. So I don't feel about it the way I feel about my credit card debt, which consists mostly of Starbucks and Marshall's.

BUT, the reality is that until those are paid off, I will have debt hanging over me. Dragging me down. I was imagining how nice it would be to get to do what I want with that extra money. Save it. Put something in a retirement account. Actually go shopping again at some point.

So, obviously credit card debt takes top priority. Then a $1,000 emergency fund to start. Then paying off the car aggressively. Then the student loans. Then three-to-six months expenses in my savings. Then a house down payment.

I think I should change the name of my blog to "Debt Free by 30." Or "Oh My Word, I Have More Debt Than I Thought."

Leftover ingredients are the mother of invention

The thing about posting about a meal that I improvised out of random ingredients is that it's only helpful if you randomly have all the same leftover ingredients that I do. But pretend that you do and you can make mushroom tacos! A restaurant near my house has these as a vegetarian option and they are great. Here's my version, invented today...

Ingredients:
1 onion
1 clove of garlic
sliced bella mushrooms (leftover from the ones I put in my chicken salad)
the last dregs of some Trader Joe's salsa
2 flour tortillas
A small handful of cheese
sour cream

Saute chopped, onion, garlic, and mushrooms in olive oil for a good while, until onion is transparent and mushrooms are cooked but still have a little bite left to them. Heat tortillas on stove and put mushroom mixture in tortillas with cheese, salsa, and sour cream. Enjoy!

Seriously, they were good. And it was nice to use up ingredients and still eat something appetizing.

Sometimes it's good to spend money...

Earlier this school year, one of my fellow teachers lost her battle with breast cancer. Ms. Magsombol worked with middle school students both here in Carson and in the Philippines. In her memory, my school is participating in the Revlon Run/Walk on Saturday, May 8th. Our team is made up of teachers, members of Ms. Magsombol's family, students, and parents. I am excited to see my school community really come together to fight against women's cancers.
I am participating not only as a woman who cares about breast cancer, but as someone who lost a friend to breast cancer, and as a role-model to my students. I want them to see that it's important to do something about the causes that are important to you. I want them to participate in a race not only to promote their physical fitness, but to support the health of others and to learn to be people who are compassionate with their time and money.

I know this blog is about saving money, but I believe one of the (many) reasons to save money is so that you can do something worthwhile with it. So, if you would like to donate, here is my fundrasing link: https://www.revlonrunwalk.com/la/secure/MyWebPage.cfm?pID=538358 

Or, if you live in the LA area join me! You can register at www.revlonrunwalk.com/la

Things I got for free in February....

1. Sample of hand sanitizer
2. Movie rental (every 17th movie (or some ridiculous number) is free. I used it to rent The Hurt Locker)
3. Big Love Season 3 (I got this from Amazon using Swagbucks. YES!)
4. Four feminine products from Kotex
5. A Gillette Fustion razor...seems pretty nice too!
6. Free deli sandwich with purchase of a large soda at Jack in the Box