Now I Know/Response to Dirt Cheap

So now I know that a few folks are reading my blog - of course they're all my family, siblings and children. My husband, your dear father and brother-in-law, has never even turned to my page - honestly, I really think he doesn't even know where to look. Of course, he goes weeks without ever getting on a computer. I can't even imagine.

But, after reading Rebecca's blog tonight on Dollar General and Dirt Cheap, it got me thinking more about an article I read in the AARP magazine. Oops, I just showed my age for anyone who doesn't already know me. Every penny counts and to save money you need to count every penny. As my salary continues to shrink before my eyes, we are reverting to some of our earlier habits before we got a little lacksadaisacal because we had a t-i-i-i-ny surplus each month. For starters, we are trying to plan our menus for the week so we're not running to the store every day - because you spend tons more than you would if you went once a week. We're trying and hoping, again, to refinance the house to lower our payment, which might allow us to pay ahead on it so we can pay it off before we die. We are rethinking my going to California for the conference in May - haven't decided for sure yet, leaning towards going, but a little iffy - because the cost is about 3 times what it was last year at Aspen Grove. (Mom actually thought they were paying my way since I was presenting. Hm-m-m. I think they save that for the keynote speaker...not there yet...) Impulse buying is coming to a halt - I resisted buying all the magazines this week that I wanted to while I was standing in the check-out line, and I borrowed a book from a colleague instead of buying my own copy. We'll be looking for more ways to save in the months to come as the state legislature chops more out of education, including teacher salaries. I'm really not consoled with the phrase, "at least you have a job." The problem is, I'll have a job until I'm 80 because I won't be able to retire, in spite of Dirt Cheap.