I’m not in The Monroe Evening News newsroom this week. Instead, I’m taking a vacation week with part of that time spent in a continuing education class in Monroe for Sunday School and religion teachers (I have taught Sunday School for more than 10 years, most recently first grade.)

During our class, the participants are creating figurine dioramas and other props to use when presenting religion lessons to young children.

I have been reminded during the past two days that teachers are incredibly good at finding frugal deals!

More than half of the participants are from out of town. Some are staying overnight with those who live nearby. And these Sunday School teachers have already been on the hunt all over town for cheap craft supplies!

• Today, the instructor showed us the rolled-up woven mats that her students use as work areas. “Where did you get these mats?” someone asked. The answer: at a discount store clearance rack, nearly 15 years ago.
• On at least two other occasions today, the instructor pointed to some classroom equipment and said “I got this item at a dollar store.”
• Two teachers were in downtown Monroe Monday night for dinner and, and on a whim, asked a local business man if they could have any leftover empty boxes. He gave them a pile of boxes that we all picked through today.
• Several teachers also went shopping at at Crafts 2000 Monday night in search of whatever they could find at that store. Those of us who are local then explained to the visitors where the nearest Big Lots, Jo-Ann and Michael’s crafts stores are.
• We need fabric remnants for some projects. The instructor had some white fabric that we started cutting up today. I brought a bag of scraps with other colors from my sewing box, and purchased three more fabric remnants with additional colors today at the Monroe Thrift Shop.

And then there was an example the instructor gave of where spending money is a long-run frugal option:

She showed us a circular puzzle that illustrates the church calendar. She told us the directions are available in a pattern book, but it is a tricky project because of the number of pieces involved. If we don’t know an expert carpenter, she can recommend someone who made her puzzle set.

Yes, it does cost money to have the puzzle made on special order.

On the other hand, the instructor said, her puzzle has lasted 15 years with many, many children having worked on it during that time.