Accomplishments Mar 8 to Mar 14

Made: a batch of all-purpose cleaner

Took out some children's books and a DVD for my husband and I (No) from the library.

Visited my parents last weekend who live 2.5 hours up north in a house in the woods. We spent some time enjoying some outdoor activities. My son got to try snowshoeing (using my childhood snowshoes!) and cross-country skiing (which he LOVED). It was fun...but I'm REALLY ready for spring to show up.

The Sunday that we were up there was Value Village's 50% off sale, so we went. The prices at the VV closest to them are a bit lower than any of the ones near us so it makes the 50% extra good. I bought some great items of spring clothing for myself (8 items, mostly higher-end, including a shirt that is identical to one I had last year that I loved but got a stain on that I couldn't remove!), two shirts for my son and a pair of dress pants for my husband. The total for all of these was less than the retail cost of one of tops I purchased.

My mother also gave me a winter jacket that she had bought for herself at a thrift store for $18  but she found a bit too small to be comfortable. It's a Rossingnol ski jacket originally retailing for over $350 and in perfect condition. My father also gave me a box of mason jars that he has been collecting for me. He's hoping it will encourage me to do more canning this year..and then share.

The biggest accomplishment of all this week was I got a new job! It's with the same organization I already work for but its a better and more challenging position that is, essentially, my ideal job. It came with a small raise and I negotiated successfully for a higher one. I have never before negotiated my salary, as with many people I think, it's something that falls outside of my comfort zone. I have been really making an effort at being more assertive lately and it's been paying off in more ways than one. With applying for and obtaining this job plus 10 minutes of negotiation I managed to increase my salary by $4500 -- worth a bit of squeamishness I think! I am so excited by this new opportunity and it will help us to move ahead with our goals of finally paying down our debt that much  more quickly.

We ordered in one night (I was stuck in a snowstorm and I was home late and came home to a massive tantrum....that's my excuse anyway!) and one other night we went out for a celebratory dinner! I don't feel guilty about that one in the least! The other nights we had tasty and frugal homemade meals including an especially inexpensive Ham Fried Rice made with leftover rice I had stashed in the freezer and leftover smoked picnic ham that I had purchased for .99 a pound and some sale frozen peas among other ingredients.

All in all...it's been an exceptionally great week!