How a teacher's mind works...

...so I am at the school today finishing the 'getting ready for first day' process. It's a lot of sort and put away...copy and get in the right piles...that sort of thing. Nothing of giant consequence. Ask any teacher I know, they have to get the room sorted, decorated and put to rights before they can get down to the real work.

So one of the other teachers comes in with a bag of duotangs from Staples. Our kids have a school supply list that they fill before they come to school and duotangs are on it, but sometimes WE want duos for something specific and it's just better to have extra on hand. (one of those out of pocket, no reimbursement things). She says "Duotangs are 9 cents at Staples!!!!". Immediately I salivate, thinking ohhh I HAVE to get some at that price. They were 33 cents two weeks ago when I got MY boys their school supplies. I use them in colour codes for different things and the kids again, bring their own, but I have extra on hand. If I want a blue duo for suchnsuch, and they don't have one, I just get one out of my box and give it to them.

So I go into my box and see how many of each colour I have. I have a paperbox FULL from past year's purchases. Different colours. I don't need any. But I want some. 9 Cents!!!!!

So I go take my big box of them into her room and slam it down on a desk and say "THIS is all your fault". and we both laugh.

Do I need any? Nope.

Will I succumb and run before I go home tonight? *shakes the magic eight ball* 'chances are favourable'

After all, I have NO pink ones and I'm low on green.

man it's like this ALL year long, but worst, during school supply season LOL

Organization - one of my favourite tools

My favourite organizational tools EVER is my Mom's Family Organizer. I stumbled across this about four years ago in Costco and just thought it was the best idea ever. Trying to keep track of appointments and events on a small calendar just wasn't working. There just wasn't enough space to write everything in and still have it legible.

I found this and peeked through the sample copy on display and couldnt' believe the space inside. It seemed perfect. Granted it takes probably 1/3 more space up on the wall where you hang it, but I had the room.

The first year or two, I had it all incredibly organized. Each person had their own colour, special events had THEIR own colour etc. I loved it.......until............other people started writing on it. Now it wasn't that their contributions were not welcome. It was that.......they refused to honour the colour system and everything was all wonky. For an anal retentive like me, it drove me NUTS. Not being anal, they were unwilling to compromise.

So I had to let go of the colours and just be glad I had a great space to write on. One of the best parts is............STICKERS!!! For anyone who has been reading awhile, they know of my passion for stickers LOL. All kinds of stickers. for bday, sports events, special days, doctor appointments, library visits, mechanic trips etc.

When I did a very expensive costco restocking trip last night, I got my new one for the next school year. It was $9.99 Canadian, I believe. I curled up this morning minus my coffee (out of filters) and started jotting down the dates I know. There is a ton when school first starts up and all their activities begin and it gives me much peace of mind. It's also very scary to look back on and think "HOW did I make it through that month?"

Let the year begin!!!

Small goal attained

On Tuesday, I added the final bit of $ to max out my very first, albeit small, RRSP contribution. The goal was $1000 and it is now sitting all nestled in a savings account after Christmas.

The goal was originally $1500 but for some reason that number, combined with all the other things I needed to do for school start and fall goals, kept stressing me out. So I lopped it down to $1000 and felt better immediately.

My goal for next year's is $1500 and I will keep increasing it from there. Sometime next year my first consolidated loan SHOULD be paid in full, so I will have some extra money there to put towards it and make it a more reasonable amount.

Still, I am pleased I actually was able to accomplish this for the first time. I wish I were only 20 though and not the venerable age of almost 40 when I am finally starting to 'get it'.

It's back to work today for me. Time to start earning $ again. Happy Day all.

A tale of $25

I spent some time this morning sorting and bagging up my bottles/cans for recycling. About 30 minutes to sort....20 min driving time there and back, and 30 min in line and at my turn. What did I get in return? $24.50. I count that as a snowflake so rounding that off, I will tuck in $25 into my snowflake wallet and at the end of the month, I will put it down against my consolidated loan. My 'wish goal' for snowflakes is $125 so, $100 more to go.

On the way home I stopped at Shoppers. I needed a 4L milk(1 gallon), a box of my cereal (on sale), a covergirl blush, and a covergirl mascara (on sale). My cost there.. $24.55.

So in the blink of an eye, I spent virtually exactly what I just 'made' at the recycling depot. It goes, that fast.

Granted they are from different compartments of my money, but really, it's all the same money and they voided each other out.

It sure made me realize that saving, and watching what you spend, can be two completely different things.

a First

I just realized that I start back to school day after tomorrow and I have spent a total of $10 on my classroom. The start of the year can bring anywhere from $200 to $500 on things for set up.

I put a moratorium on that kind of spending for school start this year. A girl can only have so much stuff before she's not using any of it. It was a struggle a few times not to hit the teacher store when I was in the city, or just 'pick up a few things' at Staples, but I perservered.

Heck I didn't even go to Teacher Appreciation Day at Staples this year for my free tote bag and stickers etc.

What did I buy? I large desktop calendar to help keep things organized. Could I have survived without it? probably.

I am very pleased with myself.