OK, six days post announcement of merger, not "takeover" as DH presented. It is business as usual and there is no real plan in place and things may drag out for six-nine months (end of year) timeframe. DH is thinking that it may be beneficial for him to ride it out and see about severance. He was willing to leave without it, but it might make his transition to academia easier. If he could get a semester or two full time, he'd be moving along at a quicker pace. So I'm thinking of this as a time to build up funds (still taking spending to minimal levels).
I resigned myself to let go and let God. I'm ultimately not in control of things (I'm speaking of overall the way situations that are beyond my control play out, not to be confused with magical thinking).
I perseverated for a day or two about extraneous expenses. The soccer club in the area that DH has partnered up with in the Fall wanted my son(s) - the oldest won at state, beating out the club players at the council and regional levels. It's expensive, like "all off of your chair laughing at how much this costs" expensive. We hadn't accepted their offer of acceptance, citing the expense. Back on 2/1 the Director said he'd see what sort of scholarship they'd be able to offer. Last Friday they came back at 75% discount (total club fees $400 for all three of them, payable in three payments in March, April, May). And if we needed to delay or defer a payment because uniforms would cost us $120 that was fine too. My parents are picking up the cost of the uniforms - they've paid for my daughters' dance things in the past and like to be equitable. So, we can manage the $400. It worked out. 
And we have a weekend away planned, to a resort in Wisconsin, with an indoor waterpark and it is where my daughters have a dance competition. The room and dance competition fees were paid for with the Christmas money from my inlaws. My extraneous income this week has been $114.33 (redeemed from the Chase freedom account) and $119.02 in reimbursed expenses for the Cub Scout Blue & Gold Dinner (which I used from checking account). So I've designated those funds for our weekend away:$50 for gas, $100 for waterpark fees, $50 for dinner at Culvers. I'll use the rest for snacks/breakfast food in room (that we'll bring) and maybe a movie. Going to spend it and have fun. It worked out
I found out my grandma will most likely come from CA for 8th grader's graduation. She was here last year and is still going strong for a 93-year-old. That makes us rethink our trip to CA this summer. Goal was to see Gma, and if she is here, we might explore a closer and less expensive alternative to original travel. It worked out
And my Irish Dancing older daughter is in need of a new dress. The younger daughter's dress will do for this competition/performance, but not overall. My daughter doesn't love it, and I can't say that I blame her. It just isn't quite right. A mother at our school is making the alteration to lengthen it. She happens to make ID dresses and just got beautiful fabric from England that is my girl's favorite color. And she has colored Swavorski crystals to complement it. And if I sell daughter's old dress (which is a Sciope Rince out of Ireland that holds it value), I might even be able to replace it with a new one and have money left over.
So, the money is really taking care of itself.
Update to "I lied"
February 26th, 2013 at 02:49 pm
February 26th, 2013 at 04:37 pm 1361896621
The Irish dresses sound so pretty.
February 26th, 2013 at 07:11 pm 1361905899
How many kids do you have? I was thinking it was four, but the numbers in this post =/= four.
February 26th, 2013 at 07:33 pm 1361907193
Five
February 26th, 2013 at 08:01 pm 1361908884
February 26th, 2013 at 10:34 pm 1361918093
February 26th, 2013 at 10:46 pm 1361918804
@snafu - the initial outlay of expenses was covered by my father for the first dresses. Since then, it has been a matter of selling old ones first, and then buying new ones within a few hundred dollar range. And since they've been dancing forever, they only go once a week now instead of twice (saving $100 a month).
@ mjrube94 - Like I said, they really wanted the oldest who was 1st in state and beat out their players at the local level. It helped that DH partnered up with the President of the Club for the initial stage of the competition. The other two were just bonuses. I imagine they were afraid that my son was going to the competition (a newer club that has caused some rivalry on the soccer scene). We will see how it goes. And if the deeply discounted fees continue next year.
February 27th, 2013 at 01:00 am 1361926852