Sam Squared

     I guess this weekly post is sort of a journal. Where have I been and what have I been doing sort of thing.  This is for May 4-10, 2024. Saturday : My sister hosted a fun Derby day. I didn't really have a fancy hat, but seeing the pre- races, there was a style that looked like a headband, with big flowers attached. So, I made my own with tissue paper. Silly, but funny.  We all put two dollars in the kitty, drew two horses. I had the two favorites. The favorite didn't even show, but my other horse, Sierra Leone placed 2nd so I won $5, a whole $3 profit. My sister M was voted best hat, but I got two votes. Sunday : I knew I'd ache Monday, but we got a lot of yard work done, and prepped for fence posts. I splurged on more flowers to replant and a hanging basket, just because. I'm truly done now- need to make sure I water every night, so they don't die. My daughter put the planters I bought last fall together. They're smaller than I had in my mind, and shorter,

      I'm off a few hours early this afternoon....we'll see. I haven't checked the weather but I think all weekends supposed to be good. The fence posts went in yesterday. No date for the remainder but it's a start, and the young man that is managing the work thought it looked like two weeks out rather than the up to four.       I realized that on my May intentionality list, I put going to the cabin for an initial cleaning the same weekend as my Chippewa Falls get away. So, I'm scheduling my floating holiday for May 17, and plan to use that as the day. However, I just got Pups sedated groom, shots, and full physical exam scheduled day before so he might be a little loopy still. As my son may or may not be here, the cabin may need to wait. But that's next weekend to figure out.       This weekend is Mother's Day, never the same since my mom passed 14 years ago. We'll join my husband's family for brunch out with my MIL. My son suggested taking me to a

            No more talk about the SS news, or non- news depending on perspective. But, I still need to be very focused on putting all spare money aside towards that six month bridge between retirement and turning 60 next year. I'm trying to find a good life too, and so trying to both save money and put money where it might help bring some joy.  Here's my journal for the week in thrifty actions.  Saving on things we buy My son stocked up on both laundry soap and dishwasher tablets, buying at a good price in a quantity that should get us through June.  My daughter has the same weed whacker and was able to source a multi pack of new line for both of us to last the summer at a much lower cost than in single or double packs in stores. **As I type this, I'm reminded that another thriftier option might be to share a weed whacker. But if you know how weeds can take over very quickly, we both want one at our own house. For other yard maintenance items, sharing or borrowing might wo

      Imagine my expression when NPR ran an update on the new timeline for Social Security and Medicare (to a lesser extent) to be depleted if nothing is done soon.  NPR Social Security and Medicare Benefits . Well, benefits greatly reduced at minimum with no action.       That throws one more curve ball in my and all current or soon retirees, plans. I guess we've all been hearing this, but now new dates are in play. I guess there's not much we can do but advocate that Congress puts forward a solution and the president signs. I will feel doubly cheated-my husband worked and payed in since he was 15, and so have I. He never got to use a penny of his, and I'll switch to my own when I turn 67 (or at whatever age they end up pushing back).       We never have counted on a hefty SS benefit so have squirrelled away as much as possible for the past 25 years in our deferred 401k. We added to the Roth account when we could. I wish we had done more, but we've enjoyed life too wit

      I'm sure you're all going to be sick of my yammering about retirement planning. I can't help it. With how life is now, thinking forward is what keeps me managing the day to day stress and frustration. I love my kids, my family, my friends, but the 9-10 hours every day work and the countless other hours where problems pop into my head when I'm trying to be signed off is draining.       Last year, work this time of year was almost a relief. But, I realize now decisions being made last year that I had not been a part of  either because of missed work days or not quite in the right headspace to fully comprehend, could have been different. I'm left dealing with the negative impact of a path announced by those that had little to no understanding to what implementation would mean at the volume and timeline required. I laugh in the not funny way that today is staff appreciation.       Happy Tuesday all. I want to be on that train of thought that if I just get through

         I know I should just wait until I have more answers from experts, but I just hate not feeling like I have control of understanding my budget and cash flow. The numbers I need both to bridge between July and December 2025 skew a bit differently with each new factor I add. In general, my aim is to figure out where to find the living expenses, sinking fund deposits (which include both required irregular expenses  and optional ones), and health care for both my daughter and myself. In my latest iteration after learning and then calculating how severance works, I've landed on a goal figure and have 14 months to save.      My budgets tight on cash flow, but I think there might be some fat to trim, especially this time of year when heating can be off but not so hot air conditioning is needed. How taxes shake out next year will either align with my conservative, worst case scenario approach, or yield a positive win. How I balance things like credit card points, reward programs, an