Sam Squared

      Clear skies ahead My mantra is I'll get through this financial stretch to end the year, then really hone in on my budget. I got a bit loosy tracking categories. While I had money set aside to pay for the cruise and ridiculous airfare, it was a bit of juggling. I plan to be much tighter with my travel account as part of sinking fund deposits.       Tamara at My Retirement Project posted a bit ago about travel plan's extended to 2030. That's fantastic for her, and some are not just planned but even booked. I really get inspired by her posts; truly creating an early retirement (at 50 if I'm correct) that aligns with goals for health, family, and friends, and with travel, now in comfort.      Anyway, as I've shared, my travel notebook is getting a lot of pages created for possible destinations and itineraries. I've got side notes as well as places to visit that might include a bit of condo looking. I just am not sure when or where, (or ev...

                                                                                              I think I'm Blogger and phone glitch free for the time being. I've been reading other blogs and trying to comment but it was hit or miss. So many good posts the last few weeks! Blog world is a favorite frugal activity.      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. I thought I'd have a home focused week once home Sunday night, but forgot I had both a doctors appointment and consult with the oral surgeon referred by my dentist. I'm facing a wisdom tooth extraction.  The extended summer like weather changed what I wanted to spend time on Monday, ...

      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...