Sam Squared

      Photo   by Ella Olson      I'm trying to blog more, things I've been thinking about and trying to put down in words. It's a way to get through the long winter, and as I lamented with Kim on her post a few days ago, helps a bit with the loneliness. This post is one of those musing topics that occupy my brain when I'm trying to put the chaos and cruelty of the world aside for a few minutes of calm.      I wish I could say non-consumerism is a topic, a lifestyle, an aspiration I have for purely for altruistic means, saving the planet by avoiding exploitation of natural resources, reducing waste, and of course not buying from companies that oppress human beings. Those all are great motivators of course. Realistically when I'm choosing to be more intentional about use of things, it's usually motivated initially to combat excessive spending or consumption elsewhere in my life. Whether it's because I over cooked and leftovers are heaving ...

                                  I like this new photo from pexels.com found by searching Money Management. It helps remind me that it'll be a series of little things and not dramatic actions that will keep me heading in the right direction this year money wise. It's a new year good and truly. The glitter is put away. Despite the warm weather, snow remains and more will come; I'll hunker down and try and enjoy the simple things. In efforts to meet a huge financial lift towards needs and wants in 2026 I need to pay attention to where my dollars are going. I copy the previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This will help me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, January 2 to Thursday, January 8. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.  Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs My daughter was still here, but by Friday night all of us we...

           It took a long time post Christmas to get the house back to regular chaos, knowing full well deep cleaning, purging, and organizing is still needed. I blame this on both illness but also my youngest being here for two full weeks. Let's just say she and cats are the equivalent of micro tornados, touching down and leaving a mess each place they touch. While Monday we all were still not great, after working remotely in the morning, she finally packed up, no spare room in her little Sonic, to resume normal life.       This should have been my jump to get things done. Instead, I had mindless TV on while I scrolled on my phone. Enough though! I hit the power button and declared an end to the television being on after 8:00 a.m.  and before the 6:00 p.m. and even then only if there's something I'm intentionally wanting to watch. Amazing what the quiet can do for feeling calmer. I think background voices and sounds are comforting,...

      Goodness, that was a cold of all colds, perhaps flu. Thank you all for the well and healing wishes. I had gotten this years flu vaccine back in October but still managed to get a bad case of something. Hopefully I'm done with illness and can get on with the month and the new year. Getting through March to hopefully the real beginning of spring in April, takes a lot of my resiliency. I'm tired already of shoveling and driving on icy roads from the merry-go-round of snow, melt, freeze, repeat. If I could hibernate for three months, I wouldn't complain. But I'm not a bear heading to my cave though my ever expanding waistline might be confusing. Instead, I'm trying to figure out my calendar ahead, and build in some things to look forward to, even if it means venturing out in the cold. Part of my remedy to cabin fever is to also look ahead and beyond winter. Here's a preview of my evolving 2026 calendar.  January: Youngest daughter's birthday and dinner, ho...

           So much for hitting the ground running on my list to organize. I am not glamorous sick as this AI shows. I'm snot filled, achy, and with a pounding head. See you on the other side - hopefully soon. 

                                                                        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...