12-14-17 A Few Fugal Things- End of the Semester

It’s the last week of class for the college semester! This one was rough because it started with a hurricane and that just seems to throw everything off. I’m proud of all of us for making it to the end.
A few frugal things
– I made the above 3 ingredient drop biscuits from items already in the pantry. The recipe is simple and works well. I made potato soup to go with it (in the pictures at the bottom using my new Instant Pot. I got a great deal on that Instant Pot of about $50 from Kohl’s after coupons, discounts and Kohls cash. There is a learning curve but I’m figuring it out and it does make recipes much faster.
– I did a much better job of packing my lunch for work and trying to bring snacks instead of buying overpriced crappy food on campus
– I bought chips and cookies for my end of semester class parties with my students. My students contribute too and so I have been treated to quite a few free meals including cinnamon rolls, bakery pastries, pasta salad and one student even ordered pizza for the whole class.
– I was also fed lunch at a small holiday party on campus and encouraged to take some food home too, which I did to feed B
– I thought I was going to have to buy more chips for the last class party but then a student left behind an unopened bag at the previous party and that saves me a trip to the store and some money. I still have tons of cookies left over and I will probably put some out at Christmas but I’m not sure how long I can save the rest. Maybe I should return them?
– I have found more Christmas gifts at the thrift shop. Luckily those I care about don’t care if their gifts are new or not (even though items must be vintage or like new) for me to consider gifting them. They also must be something I know the recipient would actually want for a gift, otherwise there would be no point.
– My mother needed a new coffee pot and I told her I would find her one at the thrift shop soon. I found one in perfect shape for about $3.50 which is soooo much cheaper than new. I also found her several shirts in the color she needs for work for $1 each. If they don’t fit her quite right she passes them on to her struggling friends. I love helping others in small ways like this and it costs me almost nothing.
– There is an Anthropologie skirt that I wanted that even sells on eBay for a high price. Hence why I didn’t buy it. I actually found the exact skirt at the thrift shop for $1!!!!!!!!!!! Now the question is, do I sell it or keep it? Hmmm, not sure yet!
– I went to a Faculty Development class even though it was a night class and the last thing I felt like doing. It was the last class I needed to complete another certification. While it doesn’t automatically lead to an increase in pay it is something that is taken into account when I apply for a new contract etc. It is also a certification that allows for more flexibility in my schedule which is always a bonus. It never hurts to build up your credentials and resume when it’s free!
– I am soon to get out our Christmas decorations. Although this year I can only put out the ones that the kittens won’t break or eat. Most of these decorations my mother gave me from my childhood and most of them she purchased from thrift shops.
– We are avoiding a family function this weekend for a variety of reasons. It will also save us money from having to drive hours there and then also the money of a pet sitter.
Not so Frugal
– We accidently left the hose on for 3 extra hours when adding water to our pool. Bummer! (We got the bill thankfully this only cost us about $20. Could be worse!)
– The pets still have fleas despite hundreds of dollars in flea treatments even though the problem is not nearly as bad. Not quite sure what to do at this point but we are still trying to figure it out.
– Our cat damaged the carpet in one of the bedrooms. It’s going to be a Christmas gift from my father for him to fix it for us.
– One of our other cats had to go to the vet leading to hundreds of dollars in vet bill. Thankfully he was cured of that sickness but is now sick again. Bummer! Hopefully this time he will get better on his own.

 

Extra Income
– I had another yard sale with my father and made another $100. Yay!
– I am off of work for winter break and plan on listing some of my great eBay finds from the past few months. I have needed to focus on my full-time job during the semester but this is a great project for long school breaks and as items sell it provides extra income the rest of the year. I need to stop expecting myself to be super woman because it is a good plan to buy things to resell during the semester and then list them on school breaks. It’s not like they usually sell immediately.
– I told my Dean that I would be willing to teach an extra class in the spring if she needed me to. It’s extra money every paycheck.
Harmful Chemical Free Living
– I am still looking for a new floor steam and swifter at the thrift shop. No luck yet but I know I will find them soon.

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