Sam Squared

           We had a really lovely, but cold, Thanksgiving. My daughter's ran the community run for our local family service organization. I got up to drive them and picked them up so they didn't have to worry about keys, but was a wimp to stand in the cold. I used the time between to get my sweet potatoes and glazed carrots prepped. We had lunch at my sister's but ended up with three cars. I went early to help, my son and older daughter came 45 minutes later after they had gotten pets settled. My youngest had a time schedule of her own and was slow to get showered. It all worked fine. I laugh at the small gathering number of "just" 39 people, four who came to visit before leaving to their in-laws, so didn't eat, and two who came later for just dessert.       The last few Fridays I've been doing a fiscal wellness check for my own accountability. While I did the SNAP challenge for Monday -Wednesday meals, I still spent on the household and...

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans. I hope however you spend the day and the weekend, it gives you what you need. My kids and I are joining extended family at my sister's. I haven't seen many family members since her July 4th (on the 6th) party. There will be good food, football, a walk post meal, and card games. All the kids and pets are staying with me, so that's special as well.  Photo by Abby Kihano: https://www.pexels.com/photo/winter-squash-beside-corn-230127/      The last three days I participated in The SNAP Challenge . As a refresher for readers outside the United States, SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The challenge was to eat from a budget of $5.16 per day for three days, the average  SNAP per person benefit, total of $15.48. I only shopped at my local store, walking to and from, aligning with the experience of limited shopping options so many families face when on low incomes. There were very good suggestions in the...

      Photo by AS Photography: https://www.pexels.com      My low spend week was anything but low spend. Some by choice, picking up dinner twice, and other necessity, kitten vet bill, but regardless money leaked, no, poured out last week. There were so many good comments on the post, like thinking, and different approaches. Now it's my birthday today, Thanksgiving Thursday, and a whole month of more holiday spending cheer (read that with a sarcasm filter.) My older daughter came over yesterday to watch the football game and hang out. We spent time reviewing calendars and figuring out ideas where each of us could save to off set so many of the splurges we both know will happen.       My birthday will be low key. Nothing today though maybe I'll see if there's a freebie like a scoop of frozen custard to take advantage of, though will give to my son. I'm doing the SNAP challenge the next three days and we have leftovers that need eating that...

           I used to try " tenner"weeks , or other low/ no spend weeks. It feels like that's just not doable in my life anymore. I seem to run out of things and notice as about to use. Sure, I could do without something the house ran out of, but not seeing the point of not replacing if I'm just going to the next week. However, staying out of stores does prevent impulse buys.       There's been PT co-payments and gas tank fill ups and top offs trying to use points or coupons that may expire. There's impromptu meals with coworkers even with my minimal in office days. Things are coming up starting this week through January that will make a whole week not possible. I think the best I can do is "essential only" weeks, and maybe track that.  I tried this the week of November 16-22, Saturday to Friday. We didn't have austerity level meals either, so adding our dinners here too. I'm not counting any spending by my son unless he bought for t...

           I apologize for not responding to comments yesterday. I was a bit overwhelmed with the kind words and also the firm words that I'm paraphrasing, telling me ( gently) I need to get on with it and learn these things. It was also a chaotic few days at work. I appreciate the community and you all taking the time to leave a comment.        I'll summarize Sunday, I attempted a low spend week. (Preview: epic fail) I want to keep on with my  Friday Fiscal Wellness Check so recapping here too.   Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs Broke down the rest of the boxes from document destruction and took cardboard to the free recycling bins. They were nearly full again, but just managed to get them all there. Minimal groceries bought ( ok, this is a lie) and meal planned ( mostly) with what we have in the house. There were a few odds and ends needed.  My daughter brought her laundry and I sent her home with multiple ready t...

      S ome days, I feel like a child knowing little to nothing about the details that keep a home functioning. I've relied on hiring out a lot of things or relying on my kids, and other family members to take care of it. While I'm grateful the trades persons are skilled and family are willing to help, I need to learn and do more things for myself. I feel almost silly writing a post like this, showing how ignorant, overwhelmed, or apprehensive I am. But, little by little I need to be able to do most basic things myself. My son is not going to be here forever. My girls have their own lives, and family members are getting older themselves. I also can't be hiring out every task that might stump me if I should be able to learn how to figure it out. Take this post as it is meant, a little reassurance to myself that I have not  become completely useless.  "Accomplishments" included... Changed burned out light bulb in garage. This required me climbing on a ladder, whic...

      Photo by Valeria Boltneva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gourmet-bruschetta-with-herb-garnish-close-up-29380170/      Through work, we were invited to participate in The SNAP Challenge . For readers outside the United States, SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with the average benefit is $5.16 per person per day. We were asked to participate between November 25-27, to shed light on how hard a limited budget is on eating healthy, particularly when other economic stressors are added. I went ahead and signed up, but will participate alone in my house. I think as I approach retirement, it might be more akin to the experience of an older adult and stretching a senior citizen budget.       I think it also adds additional challenge of not being able to leverage with other household members allocation. Some families or individuals may get more or less benefits. As the name states, it's intended as supplemental, but t...

      I generally start my day with just coffee. Rarely do I  eat breakfast. Lunch is often leftovers but also might be breakfast type foods, or whatever I can cobble together from bits in the fridge or pantry. I don't think too much about it during the week, but on office days have to think ahead a bit to throw in my lunch bag. Fortunately there's microwave and dishes there to reheat food, and cutlery to eat so don't need to bother with those.        Here was last week of work day lunches. I had no office days last week.  M- spicy tuna (pouch)  and mayo on toast, banana  T- Can of ravioli, clementine W- Trader Joe's Cheerios, clementine, apple slices with peanut butter Th- Can of baked potato soup, toast  F- Minute brown rice, cheese, avocado and salsa on two small tortillas       The two days I used canned goods were my least enjoyed lunches, but I had to grab something between meetings and didn't have thi...

      Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-counting-cash-money-4475523/      I'm getting into a rhythm again with my blog. Sunday posts may be thinking pragmatically about the week ahead, tasks to accomplish, or a seasonally motivated topic. Wednesday posts for a while will be on planning for retirement. Friday makes sense to do a check on the past week's spending and fiscal well being, maybe other life check in. It will not be a frugality post necessarily, but more retrospective of opportunities, challenges, choices, and missteps. November is half over when today ends. As this is my first Friday check in, it's covering a couple weeks to the start of November. I'm trying to share in a way to be accountable to myself and perhaps share something I did that might give others an idea to try or avoid for their own well being.   Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs Paid all bills on time, including full credit card balanc...

           We all have our necessary bills, though definition of necessity and what bills vary person to person, family to family. After housing, food, utilities, pet food and supplies, gas are covered, the rest of any remains can be spent or saved.       We've long had a system of putting money for periodical but required bills in an account each month to ensure we can pay those bills. Car and home insurance, property taxes, and car and maintenance are deposited at the same time I pay the monthly bills. Unique to me are also veterinarian costs, boat costs (for now), and cabin expenses. I'll call them sinking funds , a fairly new to me term I've read from other bloggers. Essentially each dollar set is aside for a future obligation so not caught short when the expense is due.       In my budget, I have line items for discretionary spending that I treat as bills too including my church, another regular donation, and str...

      Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-cloudy-skies-over-american-flag-932352/      It's been almost a week since Election Day in the United States. Today is Veterans Day and I am proud of the service of so many of my family and friends. I thank you and all veterans.       Perhaps this post is not appropriate today, or maybe it's the best day. M aybe I'm lazy, or tired, or just feel I'm without the right words to relay my utter disgust at the results of the election. This video has been posted multiple times on Facebook, Twitter ( I just can't call it Musk's letter), and other platforms so perhaps you've seen. He has the words my tirade won't really capture.   One Man's Retrospect Post 2024 Election       For some of us, the disgust in the election started before 2016 when the Republican Party even put this person on their ticket. It continued through his first campaign when video...

      Photo by Zeynep M.: https://www.pexels.com/photo/milk-coffee-wax-candle-and-book-18567306/      It may be early to start thinking 2025, but it's time to grab a brew, a note pad, calculator, lap top and my spending history to financially prepare for the next year. I'm doing a lot of number crunching to ease my mind now that I've set a firm retirement date. I've run several 2024 tax calculators and think I've gotten ahead on potentially having to pay in due to interest earnings. When I increased my withholding in March, it was a shock to see how drastic take home pay was cut. But, I've managed just fine on it, and the interest earned on CD's can safely sit. Granted, my son living with me has helped with costs in several areas, like previously hired out jobs. Others have increased, ones I'm not passing on to him because they've been pretty negligible so, far like utilities.       There's a few investments I'd like to make while I'm st...

      Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom through Pixel.com      I'm increasingly getting to an anxious state of having so many jobs and not a good system or plan to get them done. October whizzed by, and I was not feeling particularly strong through most of it, so the list in my head just kept growing. I decided I needed to calm myself down and really look at things in the lens of how critical and how time sensitive something is. Those tasks that hit both  the highest levels of importance and have a time window must be prioritized.       My kids often say, and I paraphrase, I tend  to tackle too much at one time with a skewed sense of urgency. Then, when it's not completed to my satisfaction, or frankly not completed at all, I get frustrated and more overwhelmed. They see the cycle, the repeat behavior. I go in whirlwind, bathroom renovations, patio, fence, railings, fireplace replacement and so on, but not one of these projects would...

           I was blogging a lot, but then I hit another overwhelmed period, so then it became a bit hit or miss. Blogging is writing. I let thoughts come out on these pages. I followed blog trends like tracking frugal activities, menu planning, and week recaps. It stopped working for me along the way, though I like reading how others manage the ordinary, yet important pieces of life. As I move into these last months until retirement, I'd like to lean into writing with more focus and intentionality. Maybe it would be a good direction in helping to work through grief.     Long time readers of my other blogs ( no longer active) might remember I was working on a book.It was a collection of short stories woven into a larger storyline.I haven't touched it in nearly two years, and at that point was five plus years into it. Perhaps time to get it done after retirement and at least close that chapter.I won't pretend I'm a great writer, or even a good one. ...

      I pay the household bills and my credit card at the end of the month/ first few days of the new month. October was expensive, but in a known or intended way, (after adopting the kitten was decided.) I had several one off expenses budgeted for and some flexible spends also in the budget. Here's some of those: 2nd half property taxes Teacher license fee Fingerprint fee for said teaching license  Oil and air filter change Six month car insurance premium  Meals out to celebrate my daughters' marathon achievements  Kitten vet bill, extra tests ...then  spaying. ( Shared expense with son) Donation to an old classmates fundraiser for a health crisis Gift cards for my friend for quick meals to and from her many out of town medical appointments for breast cancer treatment  Clothes dryer heating element went out so had a repair bill...but better than cost to replace the dryer.  Halloween treats for the neighborhood ( and proud that no one dug int...

      November used to be a good month with my sister, my mom's, and my birthday. Plus, Thanksgiving is fourth Thursday. There were lunches and shopping trips and hanging out at my parents house. With my mom's death the day after her birthday in 2010, then my sister's unexpected death the day before her birthday in 2013, the month has felt cold, bleak, devoid of color for over a decade. In my pretending state, trying to push myself to find the good again and maybe some joy, I'm pushing myself to reclaim November.       I'm still breathing and have a birthday ahead of me plus the Thanksgiving weekend will be filled with my kids, their pets staying with me, and seeing extended family and friends. One of my friends since young childhood, also sadly a widow at too young an age, does a daily Thankfulness post in November. I'm not to that stage yet, but I'll read her reflections with hope. My list to reclaiming the month is shorter, but with promise that the...