Editor's note: The following post was written by my frugal friend (and college buddy) Susan: If you don’t work in education, you may not know that, as a rule, teachers can earn raises in one of two ways. The first is at the start of the new school year, we get paid a little more than last year. The second is by taking classes. Every district has its own rules about how many classes it takes for a raise, and what kind of class it needs to be and even the topics it can be on.  The main topics … [Read more...]

Thinking about getting that college degree?  Not sure where you'll find the time?Consider online classes.  Online college courses are convenient.  You don't have to be "in" class at a set time.  While most classes do have deadlines to meet, the coursework itself is self-paced.  You can work on your class at 3 a.m. if that's when you function the best.  You can take one course at a time, or a full load. Online courses can also save you money.  You won't have to … [Read more...]

Note: This is the third post in Northern Cheapskate's Back to School Savings series. Please join me this week as I share more tips for saving money as you head back to school. Confession:  My kids aren't old enough for me to worry about buying new school clothes.But that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about school clothes shopping already! Especially since my husband the college instructor has been hinting about a new back to school wardrobe for him.So here are my thoughts on how to save … [Read more...]

I love this time of year. I love seeing fresh notebooks, sharp crayons, and little pencil boxes. I haven't been in school (aside from my former job) in 10 years, and my kids are nowhere near old enough for school, and yet, I still LOVE school supplies.That's why I love this time of year. It's a great time to get super cheap pens, pencils, glue sticks, and erasers. I've seen notebooks for 5 cents each, and boxes of pencils for 25 cents. There are also good sales on hand sanitizer, organizers, … [Read more...]

I've been out of college for some time now, but each spring, I still reflect back on the time around my graduation. It was a happy time, full of promise, and yet, it was full of unknowns.What I've realized over the years is what college doesn't teach you can cost you.College doesn't prepare you for life on your own. Sure, college gives you a lot of great information. You learn skills you'll be able to use throughout your career. But it doesn't prepare you for the loneliness of life on your … [Read more...]