Sam Squared

      Aren't these fun budgeting envelopes? Photo Pexels.com      A new to me term, but for an old concept, is Cash Stuffing,  basically the envelope method of budgeting. I've tried it in the past, but the disadvantages for me outweigh the benefits. I don"t want hundreds and hundreds of cash sitting in envelopes. I want to both earn the interest, even if just a few dollars, by keeping cash in my HYSA until needed and get credit card rewards for groceries, gas, and miscellaneous categories.      I think my money management  though is sort of cash stuffing, but virtually. On the first of the month, I pay all my bills. Now, most are on automatic payment sometime later in the month, but I enter them all in my checkbook on day one. For expenses I put on credit card, I check the account frequently and use the feature that will seperate your spending by category. It's not perfect, particularly since I pick up different items in differently...

           I had three pretty relaxing, no pressure days with friends. Those are the type of weekends most people need now and again. My friends, for different reasons, needed a break as well. G is still dealing with massive family and estate issues, and support for her mom. J took a full time teaching job, but still is taking photography clients on the side after making the hard choice to close her studio at years end. S is busy working and supporting her daughter with a baby and was stretched this week.       Friday we all arrived sort of staggered, but beer, wine, and a sausage and gnocchi dish for lunch, wild rice soup for dinner and just chilling was the days plan. Saturday we lingered over fruit, bagels, and coffee, a walk and some picture taking. Then, we headed into a nearby town for some thrift shopping.       J's daughter was the big shopper finding a couple indigenous artist framed needle work pieces, some fish ...

                                                                                            For my Friday posts, I copy a previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This helps me add as the week goes on. It was quite a busy week for me, not a bad week, but with many things that needed managing. I had added tasks to help others too. A very wonderful side benefit to my free time in retirement is I can be there for others. Here's my recap of Friday, October 2 to Thursday, October 8. I list things as they come up.  Use it Up/Avoid Waste Daughter is getting a lot of butternut squash. Used one to make soup plus a couple cups of milk that needed using up. I made a second batch to bring this weekend with coconut milk and vegetable b...

                                                                                          For my Friday posts, I copy a previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This helps me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, September 25 to Thursday, October 1. I list things as they come up.  Use it Up/Avoid Waste Brought full order of hash browns that came with my dinner Saturdsy night home. Brought my youngest a few freezer ready meals from my stash. She's been very busy with all her jobs this week. Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs   Minimal spending on H and G items this week-wet dog food, treats for dogs, quick oats, sugar, a couple things for a salad potluck, and diet Dr Pepper. I've been on a use freezer finds mod...

         I'm tracking my variable, discretionary spending through October, giving me a quarterly glance at where my variable expenses are costing me. However, I think this will be the last I post as its a fair sample to give anyone assessing insight. Perhaps I'll summarize at the end of October any spending tweaks I plan long term based on what I see in trends and patterns. The intent would be to make positive changes that will support my financial health and goals to live healthy and with intention, while not missing out on good experiences. Here's WIS, in the last week, rounded up to nearest dollar. Sunday: $0  My son was going to be back very late, so my daughter and I went for a play and cuddle with his cats and to refill water and food bowls. She had joined me for lunch and to see her grandma.  Monday: $0 Mom's bookclub was tonight. I made an apple cinnamon bread using a cake mix and a lone apple to bring with ingredients already at home.  Tu...

                                                                                        For my Friday posts, I copy a previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This helps me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, September 18 to Thursday, September 24. I just sort of list things as they come up. I know my WIS is somewhat redundant but my Fridays are a more overall check into how I'm doing in terms of financial wellness instead of daily tracking each expense. This was a big use it up week, honing in on priorities,  and preparing for some big expenses the rest of the year. Use it Up/Avoid Waste Used the rest of the thawed tomatoes my daughter gave me ( goulash last week) to make pasta sauce, which I then froze as wasn't pl...