I just came back from school, taking final exam for my financial accounting class. It was about shareholders' equity in the balance sheet, and was difficult. But, hey, it's over. Now, I can watch TV without worrying about homework or tests.

Summer class will start in two weeks. Until then, I will take it easy.

This semester is almost over.

I had my final for MIS (Management Information Systems). This is one suject I had NO interest whatsoever, and bored me to death.

And, I did really bad on my final. Well, for some reason, I didn't read 3 pages I was supposed read, and I missed a bunch of problems from these stupid 3 pages. I still got a B as a course grade. I was really disappointed by getting a B, but oh well, there's nothing I can do but move on.

This concludes my Saturday classes. I've been taking classes on Saturday last four semesters in order to fit in my schedule. Being a full time student while having a full time job with one hour commute each way haven't been easy. I had to take some classes on Saturday to knock off some units and graduate in a reasonable period of time.

I finished all of the business core requirement courses, and no concentration classes are offered on Saturday. This means, bye bye, Saturday class. I will have Saturdays back again. Yes, I will actually have two days off a week. I am so happy

Looks like I have to change my class planning. I was going to take two accounting classes, but I could only get in one of them, so I need to shuffle class planning.

I originally had a seat in international accounting class, but swapped when I found tax classes was added. Well, guess what? The tax classes got cancelled.

To make a long story short, I will be taking financial accounting and a computer class that I need to take anyway. I wanted to take this computer class during summer because this class is on Saturday, and I didn't want to use my Saturdays for school anymore.

I guess I have to do what I need to do to get through.

At the end, this could be a good thing for me because our budget season starts February, and it will be a lot of discussions and meetings until April or May. If I took international accounting, I would have to leave my work at least by 4 p.m. because the class starts at 4:30 p.m. That may be pretty difficult to do.

So, I'm trying to tell myself it was meant to be. Plus, extending my graduation by one semester isn't a big deal, after all.

My back pain is almost gone. At least I can move around. Thank God!

I am leaving for Hawaii tomorrow morning, so I really wanted to get rid of my backache. It made me realize being healthy is so important to do anything! I was going to get a pedicure on Saturday, but could not go because I couldn't move an inch. I felt I wasted a whole day that really sucked.

I managed to get several copies of newspaper yesterday, though. It was such a great coupon day.

We are low on Nyquil and I was looking for a deal. 6 oz. Nyquil is $4 this week at Walgreens and they're having "Buy $20 and get $10 back" deal. There was $1.50 coupon yesterday. So, I am planning to buy 5 Nyquil.

$4 x 5 = $20
Less $1.5 x 5 = $7.5
Less $10
Final price $2.50 for five 6 oz. Nyquil.

By the way, all of my grades are posted. I got an A for Cost Accounting, Operations Management, and Tax. But, stupid A- for my Philosophy. I wrote a really baaaad paper for the final. I mean it was so bad that I received a D!! I have never ever got a D for my paper before. That shows Philosophy is not my thing. I hardly studied for the class so I shouldn't complain for A-.

Now, I am preparing to get my tuition reimbursement. I am getting $1,561.60 back for my tuition and books for last semester.

I always hear about people's debt from student loan. I've been going to college since Fall 2001, and working on my B.S. in Business Administration, concentration in Accountancy. So far, I have no student loan, and I will not have any.

I earned my A.A. degree from community college. Tuition was so cheap, especially when I went back to school in 2001, one unit was only $8. So, I paid $24 for my history class LOL My textbooks were so much more expensive.

I paid my own money for first two years or so. It wasn't a big deal at all. I was taking two classes per semester, so the cost was less than $500 per semester. Since I was in my 30's and always worked full-time, I had enough saving to cover the cost.

Then, I applied for tuition reimbursement program at work, and it was approved. My employer pays up to two subjects per semester, for tuition and books.

I don't know how much my out of pocket expense was for my community college days, but it was really cheap because my employer paid most of it.

Then, I went on to the State University where tuition is much more expensive. It came really handy to be in the tuition reimbursement program. I didn't pay a dime for my first semester because I only took two subjects to see if I can handle both work and school. Since I was doing ok, I took more classes and paid my own money which was about $500 per semester for tuition.

Now, I'm at a point I can take only two subjects per semester and will graduate in a reasonable time frame. I know I will have to take three classes in Fall 2008 or Spring 2009, but that will be the only semester I need to pay my own money. The rest is covered by my employer.

All and all, I think I will spend about $3000 (or less) of my own money to get my upper division done.

So, if someone is working full-time, and thinking about going back to school, I recommend to look for a company with tuition reimbursement program. It's also tax free money for an employee.

Actually, this is one of main reasons I am staying with current employer LOL

We got our operations management exam back. I scored 93%, and it was the highest in the class. I'm happy, but he doesn't curve. That means I cannot slack off for my final exam. I don't have to write any more papers for the class which is a relief.

Stopped by Walgreens and got a new type of Purell for free using $2.5 Walgreens coupon and $1 manu. coupon. I have three more manu. coupons, so I will go there and get three more.

I should just walk there since the store is in a walking distance. I need little exercise anyway.

I'm done with my mid-terms! Yay!!!

I took my last mid-term on Saturday morning. I felt like I used all my energy and I felt really exhausted after that. Fortunately, I've been doing pretty good on all the subjects I'm taking. So, I think I can relax a bit from now on.

Since I was focusing on my exams, I did a minimum deals last week, even though Walgreens had a super good deals last week.

On Saturday (the last day of sale cycle) I bought:
3 Crest tooth pastes $1.99 x 3 = $5.97
Less Walgreens store coupons $1 x 3 = $3
Less Manufacture's coupons $1 x 3 = $3
Final price Free

2 bags of M&M Dark chocolate
$2.5 x 2 = $5
Less Walgreens store coupon $2
Less manufacture's coupons $.75 x 2 = $1.50
Final price $1.50 for two bags

Tylenol Allergy $4.99
Less Tylenol printable coupon $5
Final price Free

I knew I could get 4 Excedrin for free, but didn't even bother getting them.....

Then, I recouped my energy yesterday afternoon. I went to Rite Aid. My Sunday paper didn't have a Rite Aid Weekly ad, but I knew there were some FAR this week. It turns out it was really worth a trip because they had many FAR items available. Also, L'Oreal Vive Pro shampoo & conditioners are BOGO sale this week. So, more free shampoo and conditioner!

I'm taking a tax class this semester, one of requirement for accounting mojor. My professor is an accountant, and he is also a lawyer. This guy cannot be more than 40 years old. Yes, he is pretty young to be an university professor.

Anyway, I don't like the way he teaches because his teaching style is not structured, and confuses me so much. But, I study quite a bit and prepared for the mid-term exam. I think I did all right. I know I missed some, but at least I understand the concept and could answer most of questions.

It turns out, the exam was exactly the same as the last semester and some student had an access to it. (All they had to do was to ask other students who took his class last semester if they kept the exam.) My friend told me the professor didn't even change the numbers in the test. It was exactly the same.

I'm really feeling bitter about this, because this teacher knows his test is hard so he will curve the grades. That means if some students knew the answers and scores high, that will set the bar and I don't think it is fair at all.

Well, the mid-term for this subject is already over and there's no way to find out who had an access to the previous exam at this point. (Other than the guy who told us about it.) I wonder if I should suggest the professor to change the numbers in problems for the final.

I just came back from taking my philosophy mid-term. I like philosophy. It's so useless, and fun LOL All they do is saying this and that, and there's no right answers whatsoever. I wouldn't major it, but it's fun to take it as a general education subject.

Tax exam is next, then, cost accounting. The last one will be operations management. One down, three more to go.....

It's only second week into the fall semester, and I'm already tired. So many things to do and too little time....

Nice thing is that the subjects I'm taking is pretty interesting. It really is worth my time.

I will go to the dinner preparation place tonight and prep some meals. I don't think I will sign up for October because I didn't find the menu attractive enough to pay more than $10 per mea. I learned how to prepare meals in advance with pre-made sauce with zip-loc bag from them. I also got a nice hint about the ingredients they use they are suitable for freezing. I consider the fee I paid as a lesson fee.

I still haven't got FAR items from Walgreens this month. Just been too busy!! I should make a quick trip today.

I went to my university during lunch time and paid 2nd installment for Fall semester, and bought a parking permit.

Installment $346.50
Parking permit $108
Total $454.50

I heard daily parking permit is now $5!! It's such a rip off.... School is forcing people to buy a semester parking permit this way.

Stopped by Togo's on campus and bought a college meal. 4 inch sandwich, a cookie (or chips) and a drink. Paid $4.99.

I was glad to see this menu because 6 inch sandwich is little too big for me and 4 inch is the perfect size!!

Now, I need to check and see if they have the books for my classes.

I will be getting my tuition back this Friday's paycheck. Yeah! I need to turn around and pay for next semester's tuition by July 2nd, so it really helps to get the money back before the due date.

College tuition is going up and up and up. My daughter will be going to college in three years, so my goal is to get my degree before she graduates from high school. She hasn't made up her mind about the school she wants to go to. Sometimes she mentions about UC Berkley, sometimes school around Boston. (She loves Boston for some reason....) I hope we can support her school choice when the time comes.