Plan of Attack

With all of this free time coming up, I am feeling the pressure to find something to do with it. One of the great things about being a teacher in my corporation is that my pay will continue throughout the summer. Several teacher friends have warned me of the summer spending frenzy that they often fall into. It is easy to go shopping, go out to eat with friends, or pay extra for treats like ice cream and putt-putt when you now have the time to enjoy those things. However, my husband and I are trying hard to set budgets and stay on track especially while he is still in school. All of the fun extras are going to have to be small rewards once in a while and not every day things.


I have decided that I need a plan of attack and a list of goals for the summer. I am a list maker and enjoy being organized or at least attempting it. I love afternoon naps and sleeping late but that doesn't always feel as rewarding as checking an item off of a list. I have come up with a list of items that I categorized. Each item will fall under one of the three categories:

1. No Spend Activities
2. Professional Development Activities
3. Reward Activities with little spending



No Spend Activities

• Organize my closet (this has to be done each season for me) :)
  
• Clean the apartment ( we already own the supplies needed )
  
• Lay by the pool with Sean
• Update my blog
• Go for a walk
• Clean out the pantry
• Start recycling
• Join the local library and visit weekly
  
• Find a church to attend together
• Donate unused items to Goodwill
  

Professional Development Activities

• Tutor twice a week (this will add to our wallets too!)
• Continue working at the nursery on Sunday
• Read Read Read ( I have a few books to finish then I will borrow from the library)
• Attend 3 days of professional meetings (June 2-4)
• Read and get familiar with materials for next year
• Search for free resources to use in the classroom next year
• Organize my files

Reward Activities with little or no spending

• Collect our change for an ice cream trip
• Play tennis once a week
• Use the gym equipment that is free at the apartment
• Rent a $1 movie from Red Box
• Play a round of Putt-Putt
• See one of the many free concerts at our local outdoor amphitheater
• Play the Wii together
• Learn new card games
  
• Save for a trip back to Madison to visit friends
• Save for a family trip by the end of July

Hopefully I will be able to spend less, but enjoy more of this free time. Today was a pretty good start. I woke up at a reasonable time and went for a walk with a friend who lives at the same apartment complex. Sean and I made our weekly grocery list and headed out to do our shopping. I did manage to get a nap in. I was still recovering from that last week of school followed by a weekend wedding that I was a bridesmaid in. Whew. I was worn out! Later I signed up for a Zumba class at the community center and prepared for the next 3 days of meetings.

Here is our menu plan for the week:

Monday: Hamburgers & Macaroni

Tuesday: Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots
(My wonderful grandparents supply our meat from their farm!)

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken & Rice

Thursday: Grilled Ham and Cheese with vegetables

Friday: Lasagna & Bread

Total cost of food items only for the week: $52.10
We also purchased detergent, contact solution, and paper product.

Here's to hoping for a great week!