Sam Squared

                                                                        It's a new year now and more than any other, I need to pay attention to where my dollars are going. Illness hit our house, not me so much ( though fatigued and sniffly), but my son, so I stayed put too as I did not want to be a carrier to others. I'm going to look for a new picture to start the 2026 Friday Fiscal Wellness Check. I'll likely still copy the previous week, delete the old and updated as I go along the week. This will help me add as the week goes on. I have big needs and bigger wants in 2026 and it already feels like money is pouring out of my bank account and it's only my first check in. Tracking major focus areas help my accountability to myself. You're welcome to come along for the ride.  Here's...

      A reminder of the past year and that I want travel to be part of 2026.        Happy New Years Eve. Will you be out celebrating? I'm still on the fence about my plans. I've been invited to a sisters and if I go, I plan to be home well before midnight and greet the new year in bed. I've still got a bit of the seasonal mood malaise. Earlier, I hit publish on my fiscal list. Money is not life but let's face it, it's a tool to help enjoy the good things in life and I can't say the cost of living isn't bothering me. A couple recent medical/ dental frustrations really put me in a down mood right before Christmas.       I eventually come out of my self-pity episodes; I know I need to control the story, take charge, and not just wallow. I don't like that I'll likely have new prescriptions or that my lazy habits and genetics took a toll on my mouth. But I'm getting both dealt with, and perhaps these are the shakes I need to take be...

           Like everyone else, I have no crystal ball to predict how high prices will go, taxes will increase, and whether my appliances and car will need major repairs or replacements. I also don't know what health changes may happen. I had a recent dental, followed by a lab/ vitals check-in appointment this past Monday with unfortunate news, but will be managed, albeit with more appointments and probably medications.             Now that I'm on a fixed income, my goals need to reflect watching the little things and plugging spending holes, but allow me to pursue a few dreams and aspirations. I know as well as anyone that tomorrow is not promised. This is not meant to be a "woe is me" post but rather a taking command post, and leveraging opportunities despite the unknown.   Here's my first pass, subject to review at least quarterly.  Update my spending plan to accommodate increased health care costs, both i...

           Glad I wrote this a few days ago before the gloomy mood set in. The post's not really where my head is today, but that's ok. I'm home today, wrapping gifts, tidying the house, and hope the nice weather promised will lure me outside for a good long walk.       I'm doing a very low-key Christmas. I just decided there really doesn't need to be stress. In past years, that was probably self-created. Instead, I'm just going day to day trying to find the pieces of December that fit my spirit. That's going to be my mantra through the cold winter months. I have a huge to do list, regardless of being low key. But I want to enjoy my time when I can. Here's been some of my entertainment lately, free or very low cost. Watched the latest Blanc movie, Wake Dead Man already in Netflix. It was very good and Josh O'Connor is an excellent actor. I had only seen him as the teen- younger adult Prince Charles in The Crown . This role couldn't have...

                                                                       For Friday Fiscal Wellness Check,  I copy the previous week, delete the old and updated as I go along the week as a way even when busy and not in a blogging mindset, I'm accountable to myself.  Here's my recap of Friday, December 12 to Thursday, December 18. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.  Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs More free shoveling exercise  Used a 50% of photo Walgreens to order just enough pictures of my family ( taken at MILs birthday party) to stick in cards for family and friends that like that sort of thing. Plus, I had $2 rewards credit to use to further reduce the cost.  Besides cards I purchased at Dollar Tree ( which have gone up con...

      This will be my first year full year living off a fixed income of social security and 401K withdrawal. It's an odd feeling heading into 2026. For so many years the focus was saving for retirement and now it's ensuring my funds outlive me.      Now, that's not to say I won't try to enhance my intake in different ways. I'm just trying to be mindful to not depend on the enhancements. Currently, my intake covers my living expenses including sinking funds for the required, but irregular expenses. There's also room to put savings aside for optional spending like vacations/ travel and Christmas. It might not be all I want, but is more than I suspect many retirees can afford. For that, I'm grateful and aware of this privilege.  I'd like more travel days in 2026.      There's the dreaded "but" though. I do not want to go backwards in savings. While I have longer term funds in CD's, my readily accessible emergency fund could be depleted wit...