Sam Squared

       As shared last week, I have big ticket bills and then holiday shopping before the end of the year. I'm tracking my variable, discretionary spending to get a better grip. While boring blog content, it'll give me a good view of where my money is going not including the regular bills required to maintain my life and home like utilities, insurance, and taxes. Its not intended to be no or low spend, but personal awareness to tweak my priorities in terms of where my money is going. Saturday: $16 BIL found cheesy cruise shirts and I bought one too.Not a need or even a high want, but three BIL's love planning cruises and all the kitsch that goes with them. My husband would have been right with them for the cheese.   Sunday: $4  Fo r research (curiosity) I ordered a $3.99 Too Good to Go surprise bag. Curiosity quenched...will pass on future though someone else might have thought this was a good buy. I ate the sandwich and grapes for my lunch and froze th...

                                                                            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, August 7 to Thursday, August 13. I just sort of list things as they come up. Use it Up/Avoid Waste Putting this here as it saved food from garbage likely. I tried a $3.99 Too Good to Go meal.- pure curiosity. This is very new in my area, and limited but Ive seen YouTube unbaggings and it seemed fun to try for not a huge amount. It was from a convenience store so hopes we're not high. But, I received a small, but ample turkey, ham, and cheese sandwich, grapes, three giant cookies, and a container of 12 donut holes. The cookies and donuts went in the freezer f...

     Between August and mid-October, I have so, so many big ticket bills coming due and then it's rolling into the holidays. While cash is there, I'll still release a silent gasp when paying. I'm tracking my variable, discretionary spending to get a better grip. This will be boring navel gazing blog content, but you're welcome to gaze along. This will not include the regular bills required to maintain my life and home like utilities, insurance, and taxes.      After my Sam's Club run, I've minimally shopped since July 21st, and plan to keep this up; short of loss leaders or exceptionally low deals, I'll buy just what's needed each week. I'm putting this plan to other discretionary spending too. If not already planned, I'm going to clutch my purse closed ( as best I can in the moment.)      I got off to a frugal bang for this accountability starting on the first. Sunday, I did a meal planning possibility list and a calendar/ activity review fo...

                                                                          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, July 31 to Thursday, August 6. I just sort of list things as they come up. Use it Up/Avoid Waste  My neighbors sadly lost their beloved 17 year old dog last week. He was pups buddy. She gave me the rest of a fairly large bag of FreshPet food, one of pup and grand pups favorites. I miss seeing that little guy across the street.  Used up frozen refried beans, deboned chicken thighs, and remnants of salsa, cheese dip, and last of the cheese tray that I hadn't froze to make two quesadillas. Made two batches of (vegan) zuchini bread both Friday when it was co...

      When I cook, I tend to get 3-6 portions. My pattern might be eat one night, leftovers for lunch or dinner the next, freeze remaining portions. My meal prep/freezer containers generally hold two portions. This works good for me as I can pull out in a week or two and have a meal two days in a row without thinking. It's also a nice amount to send to my son ( though he'll eat in one meal) or my younger daughter that will either provide her two meals, or she shares with her roommate.       I've been trying to avoid much time grocery shopping and use up things so they don't linger. Recently through both Googling for ideas and my adaptation, I made a few successful meals. It's been nice having easy heat and eat options the following day.  Vegetable au gratin Bag of Stir-fry fresh veggies* 1/2 crown broccoli florets* 1 can cream mushroom soup or your own white sauce blend 1/2  can milk Remnants from sour cream tub, estimate 1/4 cup 1 cup shredd...

                                                                        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, July 24 to Thursday, July 30. I just sort of list things as they come up. Use it Up/Avoid Waste  To say I had leftovers from book club is an understatement. I sent leftovers of fresh things home with siblings, froze what I could, and brought care packages to son and youngest. I sealed up chips or brought to kids. Miscellaneous leftovers were my weekend meals at home.   Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs   Enjoyed leftover beer and canned cocktails with a couple neighbors Saturday night for a pleasant, if warm night. Free entertainment since drinks were ...