Skirt Alteration

As I mention earlier, I bought a long skirt at Goodwill with the intention to alter it to suit my purposes. This will be a cool alternative to shorts when the summer heat sets in. My alterations are to make the skirt knee-length and add a pocket. Here’s how I did it. The original skirt:

I measured 21 1/2 inches from the waistband and cut with pinking shears.

I saved part of the lower remnant to make a pocket.

I used a portion from the front placket with a buttonhole and facing under the fold. These details will add to the pocket usefulness and strength and the work is already done for me.

Here is the pocket pinned in place. If you look very carefully, you can see the black pin heads. I attached it with a simple running stitch and then went over it again with another running stitch, filling in the gaps of the first. This strengthens the pocket and looks a little more finished. I added the button, hemmed the skirt and the whole thing took me about an hour, including stopping for photos.

Here is the finished skirt and the Goodwill T-shirt I plan to wear with it. A new summer outfit for a little less than $10.50, plus my time.

Victory!

This is another wisdom tooth surgery savings post. You can just skip it if you find this kind of thing boring.

When I last posted I was still $526.76 from my goal. Then I canceled my safety deposit box, which was due for renewal in March saving $40 this month and every year thereafter. Then I custom-fitted a sheet to my bed, by hemming it myself. If I took it to the tailor, it would have cost $10.

Yesterday, I worked an extra shift for high bonus pay. There was a lot of driving involved which is reimbursed at 0.55 per mile and I have four hours of mandatory meetings next week, which will boost my next paycheck by an additional $480.

And, there is still three weeks till the surgery, so I can keep on saving.

I did spend some extra money in the past week–$200 for some new high hat cymbals (expected and saved for) and tickets to a theatre production for me and middle son –$174. That was unexpected, but I’m sure I’ll be able to cover it.

Wisdom Teeth Progress

Here’s the progress I have made in coming up with the $1,131 up-front cost for middle son’s wisdom teeth surgery (I will get reimbursed from health insurance eventually, but we get a 5% discount if we pay the day of surgery.)

Sunday: I guess the warranty expired on our drinking glasses, as three of them have broken in the past week. We still have three left and six mugs, so I am not going to replace the drinking glasses. We have plenty of dishes to drink out of without resorting to just putting our open mouths under the running tap. Though middle son does that anyway. Money saved: $21.59. Middle son wanted a haircut- used my trusty Wahl clippers, saved $18.00.

Monday: The check for books I sold at the National Hospice conference came in. $82.50. I bought my entire summer wardrobe at Goodwill for $17.05. I will need to alter the skirt before I can wear it. Here’s what I bought, and what it would have cost if I bought it new:

Columbia T-shirt. Retails new for $30, though they are selling them on their website for $20 now. I paid $3.49, so savings of $16.51.

Sheer dress shirt: I have seen something similar at TJ Maxx for $15.99, I paid $1.74, savings-$14.25.

Caldwell Creek skirt: While my skirt may be twenty years old (guessing by the floral print) it is in like-new condition. I found a similar length floral print on sale at the Caldwell Creek website for $90. I paid 6.49 for my skirt. Savings-$83.51. I will have a future post about how I am altering it to suit my needs.

Liz Claiborne top: Mine, new with tags still on it $3.49. From the JC Penny website, a similar top retails for $36, and is on-sale for $27. I saved $23.51.

Black sweater: I have bought similar items at TJ Maxx in past for $25.00. Mine was $3.49, saved $21.51.

For the rest of my summer wardrobe, I will use the few items left from last year and also, I plan to cut off a pair of black jeans that are getting faded to make shorts.

Tuesday: Free movie (Girl Rising) on a topic dear to my heart. Plus I got to connect with some really cool people. If I had just gone to a show at the multiplex, it would have been $10.50 with out any of the bonuses. Youngest son came down with the same viral infection I had a month ago. Instead of progressing to pneumonia, his morphed into a bad cough with a total body rash. Itchy. So in addition to his antibiotic, he is taking the generic for Benadryl, that I had lying around the house. I could have bought more….but I let it get down to the last tablet…and then the rash was gone, saving me $4.31. Also, I got rear-ended a couple of weeks back–no physical harm to anyone involved and she has insurance, which is paying for the repair of my vehicle and a rental car while mine is in the shop. The rental car company tried to sell me some extra insurance, in case I crashed their car, at $10.59/day. No, thank you very much. Savings $31.77.

Wednesday: Canceled my fitness membership. Saved 19.99 for March and 19.99 in April. I will walk in the park near my home and walk to some of my errands and do body weight (push-ups, squats, etc.) exercises at home. Also, today, got a check from the consignment shop for an article of clothing they sold for me. $6.00

Thursday: I have been helping a friend with a big de-clutter project. It is a two-hour drive each way to the friend’s house. When I left today, she gave me $40.00 for gas.

$453.53 accumulated these past five days toward the goal. $526.67 yet to go.

Ouch!

Just when you are enjoying a thoughtful reverie, life intervenes and it is back to work.

Middle son is getting his wisdom teeth removed on April 14th. There are three, possibly four impacted teeth, which means that parts of the procedure fall under the dental insurance and parts of the procedure fall under medical insurance. The oral surgeon is charging us $2,262 for the privilege and the kid’s dad is responsible for half. If we pay cash on the day of surgery we get a 5% discount.

Which means that I need to come up with $1,131 cash on April 14th. I am starting today. I got a check in the mail from the insurance company for the original evaluation– $132.80 and youngest son needed a haircut, which I did in the kitchen with the hair clippers I have had for several years saving $18.00 including tip. Alright! $980.20 to go….