Sam Squared

      Photo by Valeria Boltneva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gourmet-bruschetta-with-herb-garnish-close-up-29380170/      Through work, we were invited to participate in The SNAP Challenge . For readers outside the United States, SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with the average benefit is $5.16 per person per day. We were asked to participate between November 25-27, to shed light on how hard a limited budget is on eating healthy, particularly when other economic stressors are added. I went ahead and signed up, but will participate alone in my house. I think as I approach retirement, it might be more akin to the experience of an older adult and stretching a senior citizen budget.       I think it also adds additional challenge of not being able to leverage with other household members allocation. Some families or individuals may get more or less benefits. As the name states, it's intended as supplemental, but the reality is that without it, there are fami

      I generally start my day with just coffee. Rarely do I  eat breakfast. Lunch is often leftovers but also might be breakfast type foods, or whatever I can cobble together from bits in the fridge or pantry. I don't think too much about it during the week, but on office days have to think ahead a bit to throw in my lunch bag. Fortunately there's microwave and dishes there to reheat food, and cutlery to eat so don't need to bother with those.        Here was last week of work day lunches. I had no office days last week.  M- spicy tuna (pouch)  and mayo on toast, banana  T- Can of ravioli, clementine W- Trader Joe's Cheerios, clementine, apple slices with peanut butter Th- Can of baked potato soup, toast  F- Minute brown rice, cheese, avocado and salsa on two small tortillas       The two days I used canned goods were my least enjoyed lunches, but I had to grab something between meetings and didn't have thinking time. To be honest, Wednesday was probably my favorit

      Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-counting-cash-money-4475523/      I'm getting into a rhythm again with my blog. Sunday posts may be thinking pragmatically about the week ahead, tasks to accomplish, or a seasonally motivated topic. Wednesday posts for a while will be on planning for retirement. Friday makes sense to do a check on the past week's spending and fiscal well being, maybe other life check in. It will not be a frugality post necessarily, but more retrospective of opportunities, challenges, choices, and missteps. November is half over when today ends. As this is my first Friday check in, it's covering a couple weeks to the start of November. I'm trying to share in a way to be accountable to myself and perhaps share something I did that might give others an idea to try or avoid for their own well being.   Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs Paid all bills on time, including full credit card balance. If possible, bills a

           We all have our necessary bills, though definition of necessity and what bills vary person to person, family to family. After housing, food, utilities, pet food and supplies, gas are covered, the rest of any remains can be spent or saved.       We've long had a system of putting money for periodical but required bills in an account each month to ensure we can pay those bills. Car and home insurance, property taxes, and car and maintenance are deposited at the same time I pay the monthly bills. Unique to me are also veterinarian costs, boat costs (for now), and cabin expenses. I'll call them sinking funds , a fairly new to me term I've read from other bloggers. Essentially each dollar set is aside for a future obligation so not caught short when the expense is due.       In my budget, I have line items for discretionary spending that I treat as bills too including my church, another regular donation, and streaming services because they are the same each month. Oth

      Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-cloudy-skies-over-american-flag-932352/      It's been almost a week since Election Day in the United States. Today is Veterans Day and I am proud of the service of so many of my family and friends. I thank you and all veterans.       Perhaps this post is not appropriate today, or maybe it's the best day. M aybe I'm lazy, or tired, or just feel I'm without the right words to relay my utter disgust at the results of the election. This video has been posted multiple times on Facebook, Twitter ( I just can't call it Musk's letter), and other platforms so perhaps you've seen. He has the words my tirade won't really capture.   One Man's Retrospect Post 2024 Election       For some of us, the disgust in the election started before 2016 when the Republican Party even put this person on their ticket. It continued through his first campaign when video of his behavior and opinions of women

      Photo by Zeynep M.: https://www.pexels.com/photo/milk-coffee-wax-candle-and-book-18567306/      It may be early to start thinking 2025, but it's time to grab a brew, a note pad, calculator, lap top and my spending history to financially prepare for the next year. I'm doing a lot of number crunching to ease my mind now that I've set a firm retirement date. I've run several 2024 tax calculators and think I've gotten ahead on potentially having to pay in due to interest earnings. When I increased my withholding in March, it was a shock to see how drastic take home pay was cut. But, I've managed just fine on it, and the interest earned on CD's can safely sit. Granted, my son living with me has helped with costs in several areas, like previously hired out jobs. Others have increased, ones I'm not passing on to him because they've been pretty negligible so, far like utilities.       There's a few investments I'd like to make while I'm sti