Sam Squared

           No doubt about it...I have too much stuff. My daughter's and son have too much stuff for the spaces they are living in, and the spillage is into my space. To be fair, my older daughter is good at not bringing it in or keeping excess, my son has limited temporary quarters, and my youngest's apartment is small. Still, after cleaning up from Christmas, the every day items are just too much. We all need a pruning of our wardrobes. I can cull my kitchen and not miss 1/3rd of the items and maybe more.      No, I do not need to spend more on stuff so that's one area I can put an immediate halt. I'll moan like everyone that the cost of every day living is going up faster than I can update my budget. I compared my utilities when bills were paid Friday to last year. Gas is up 6% and electric up 11% from December 2023. Internet goes up $30 month in February after the two year promotion ends unless I drop speed and bandwidth. Car and house ins...

       This sort of spending recap is for self accountability on how intentional I've been the last week and if I can find flaws that might help me make fiscally better decisions in the future.  This is my summary from Friday, December 20 to Thursday, December 26th. Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs I had massive grocery store order, trying the online order and pick up for the first time. This covered all the items for my contributions to both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals, plus food for my family with extra treats and requests. By doing the online, I didn't put extra end cap items. Unfortunately, they only put one of two of the 4 pound boneless hams I needed. I also realized a few other things aren't on my list, but I managed a quick in and out stop at the local grocery for just what was on my list.(And the 4 pound boneless would have been plenty. I sent ham home with two sisters, also widows, plus had leftovers as there was no shortage of food options...

      I had a different post ready to go, but decided I needed to feel more upbeat and not lean into what could be too much heaviness. The winter solstice is behind us, New Year's Day 2025 is just around the corner. Today is Christmas Day. While it can be filled with sadness for those I've lost, parents, siblings, and my dear husband, I have people in my life to care for and who care about me. I can even laugh a bit this year.      The other night I turned on the TV to a Nate Bargatze Nashville Christmas. I've never heard of him before, but the special was very entertaining, not crude humour as is so often the case, just funny. I particularly enjoyed this bit. Merry Christmas!

           It's 10 weeks now until my retirement ( plus two days). There's that inner experience so many people get on Sunday nights, the Sunday Scaries, dreading that they have a whole work week ahead and the weekend is over. I never really experienced this too much, Monday was an opportunity for a  fresh start, so it wasn't Monday I dreaded. However, Tuesdays have always felt like a challenging day. Once Tuesday closed, I felt like the rest of the work week was a breeze, even when it wasn't.       This morning though ( or more middle of the night), I woke up with an uneasy, uncomfortable brain worm. Am I making a huge mistake giving up a good job with benefits and living just off retirement savings? At least until December, I'll solely be using my 401K from my current employer, so I can avoid the additional tax penalty of withdrawal before 59 1/2. If you're at least 55 and use accounts from the employer you retire from, the 10% pe...

           The Friday post is my personal accountability to review in where my funds are going and look for stupid spending in hopes of improvement.  This is my summary from Friday, December 13 to Thursday, December 19th. Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs The only groceries this week was bread, milk, cheese, a few munchies, and bananas. I ran out of coffee filters and disinfectant wipes so grabbed them as well.  I used freebie codes from the Holiday station store game for a free hot chocolate on a bitter cold Friday, and an additional 15¢ off gas.  Still had a few beers and hard lemonade for Vikings game watching. 12-2 baby, let's go! SKOL!!! Brought a treat platter for trivia that was enjoyed by my team and the host, plus a few other patrons. I sent the leftovers with my friends for their daughter as I have loads more of all for other holiday events.  Free exercise. Well, I shoveled and that's always a work out even when it's not heavy...

      We'll get a White Christmas. The 3-4 inches expected is a nice amount for me. It covers the ugly dry, brown, dead vegetation with fresh blankets of white. It's enough for those that like sledding or ski runs to enjoy their hobbies, and I like the freshness of the air after a snowfall. I hate shoveling, but this is a manageable amount. My daughter shared this photo of grandpup looking out her living room window. It was too cute not to share with you all. 

      Photos from pexel.com.      After a full day Friday at work, covering an extra mailbox as my data systems person took the day off (and also this past Monday and Tuesday), an evening out with my kids for my son's birthday, and a full day Saturday with my siblings at the play and then later book discussion, I was worn out on Sunday. But, having neglected even staying up on basic household tasks like laundry, bathrooms and floors, I spent Sunday getting caught up. Plus, I still had Oreo Truffles and Peanut Blossoms I wanted to make. Next weekend I'll make quick breads/ mini cakes for neighbors, but I don't have the freezer space to do in advance. I splurged on this adorable mini Bundt pan to make copy cat bundtinis like Nothing Bundts . (I'll share pictures late.) Actually, I  spent just $5 at Home Goods on clearance.       I've often heard from other retirees that their lives sometimes feel like all or nothing. They either are p...

    Photo from pixel.com free photos.       I had a nice time yesterday with my siblings/ their spouses plus a cousin to round out our group. We were 14 at a Dinner Theater matinee for White Christmas , then later (after dicey roads from sleet) to my sister's for book discussion, some cards, and of course more food. The venue was packed, weekends sold out in August. Grease is starting on January 31 and apparently there's just a handful of dates left with tickets, weeknights only. I noticed last weekend the movie theater was packed too. People are traveling again in record numbers, vacations and return to family gatherings.       And, everyone I know wants to have less stuff. Sure, those just starting out have needs to fill homes or get a work appropriate wardrobe, or a better car for their driving needs. I'm not hearing about a lot of wants of things being prioritized. I am splurging on things like tickets to an event over more shoes or...

     This sort of spending recap is for self accountability on how intentional I've been the last week and if I can find flaws that might help me make fiscally better decisions in the future.  This is my summary from Friday, December 6 to Thursday, December 12th. Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs I did not want to go out Wednesday when temps got to 0°, but recalled my $4 CVS Extra Care bucks were going to expire. I signed into the app and ordered to pick up Thursday two cans of Progresso soup 2/$4. We always can use canned soup for an easy lunch or supper, or an easy item for food bank/ little free pantry donation.  I had another $4 off anything at CVS. I stopped on route to PT and stocked up on canned tuna, another food pantry option. Picked up the last of a Kohl's order on route home from the office, savings a trip to the next town up the highway.  Spent Intentionally Grocery and household spending was through the roof last Saturday, but much was to repl...

           I've had a few weeks of lunch and dinner meetups with people that I've not seen for a while. I met a friend for lunch in early November, met in the workplace- first I reported to her and then as my career took off, she reported to me the last decade I was there. I met a more recent colleague/ friend that works in a different branch of our enterprise now, but she was who recruited me to my job. Then last week calendars finally worked to meet up for dinner with another friend of over 30 years, also met through the work place. This is just examples of so many friends that have come through work. Not surprising since 40 hours a week or more have been spent with these people at different points of my life.       It does give me pause;  how will I keep staying connected to people in my past and forge new friendships that align with my change in lifestyle. I know I'm retiring years earlier than most of my friends. Some, because ...

      The Honest Christmas Letter post was really for personal catharsis. I do not want my children to lose their connections to their dad's family.  I don't want my MIL, who's had to adjust to loss as well, to feel like we're abandoning her. It's not easy to "say no and make your own traditions" when as a widow, your MIL is still with you, and there's other complex ties for your children to the other side of the family. It's just that I'd like to be more open and honest without feeling judged that I'm not widowing right. I feel that a lot, and sometimes from other widows. I know it's my feelings, not necessarily intent, which I own. Sadly, there's a lot of us widows blogging, each with different experiences and navigation issues and no approach fits all. I was writing for me alone.        It's now Sunday, December 8th, the second Sunday of Advent. As I'm honoring and even celebrating a bit the Christian components of Christ...

           This is a second post for myself today mostly to keep myself accountable on my financial house. This is my summary from Friday November 29 to Thursday, December 5th. Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs Grocery and household buying was only on necessities we ran out of ( as noted this morning.) Used gift card and freebie voucher...see below...to offset costs for a dinner out Dropped dinner off for my daughter on route to another meetup. It was a chili Mac and cheese made with scrounged use them up items. I worry she doesn't eat well and has been struggling this week with her anxiety and depression. Since I was close, it worked out really well. She had soccer so was going to eat it later. I haven't heard the verdict yet, but it's cheese, macaroni, and chili so can't go wrong, right? ( She just texted back that it was good.) Spent Intentionally I took two of my kids out to Green Mill when we did a bit of shopping later Friday. Used a free birthday sm...

     Even if I'm not hosting the big Thanksgiving meal, my grocery budget takes a hit each year. I bring sides and appetizers for 40+ people, extra alcohol, and stock up for my immediate family being here. We go out for at least one meal, this past week was Friday with my kids. Rinse and repeat for Christmas. I have meetups with friends (Something about the close of the year sets these catch-ups being scheduled in December- nostalgia perhaps). I include the cost of extra food and beverage in my Christmas sinking fund deposits, but know it's stretched. Tightening my general grocery spending in-between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's will be how I leverage regular spending to offset holiday spending. These aren't hard and fast rules by any stretch, but a few strategies I'm tucking into. Maximize leftovers into repeats or recreation meals.  Really using items that have been in freezer and pantry for a while- getting creative with meals  Forego favorites for...

      I've already shared I'm going to try and write more in retirement. It'll be good mental energy plus a way to positively fill hours no longer working a paid job. I know though I'll need other hobbies and activities to keep my life full.       Recently the parks department in our county put out a survey for forming walking groups, asking about best days and times. Scary, but one of the parks had an attempted and then sadly, a sexual assault, so I'm leery of walking alone in any place that has isolated spots. I'm sure this is partial in response to those attacks, but also what a great way to build community.       I'd like to get in on the pickleball craze. One of our city courts was upgraded, and converted 1/2 the tennis courts to pickleball ball. I know nothing of the rules but see there's community ed classes I could try this spring and maybe find other newbies. My knee isn't fully pickleball ready but maybe by spring.  ...

           I'm ambivalent about Christmas letters. Folks can include if they want, I'll read or skim depending quite frankly, if I have interest enough to read with any vigor. My MIL does one, but requires us to write the paragraph for our families. Mine is short and sweet. People might read it and wonder why there's so little about my husband's family and much more about siblings'. Her relatives and friends that I know, already know what's going on. Those I don't know, I  doubt care for more than a Readers Digest summary and I don't feel like sharing more anyway.       She crams it all on one page, so forgoes grammar and proper punctuation and uses abbreviations no one would know in her editing. If my SIL's took my approach, she'd have a nicer formatted letter, but not my call. Oh, and this year, she (hopefully) inadvertently left out my older daughter's minimalist update completely by not cutting and pasting right, so reads like w...

           I'm trying to be careful with money. There's enough needs to spend money on and not needs, but social expectations (baby gifts, work lunches family birthdays, holidays) that stretch my wallet and check book. I'd like to figure out how to keep more of my take home while still managing life via being extra savvy and maybe getting a bit of extra spending power through other means. The side hustle opportunities are sparse these days it seems.      I tried Thred-Up. That's the business that sends you a collection bag for gently warn garments and they resell online. They take a flat fee and a certain amount per item sold, you get the rest. I sent at least 20 what I thought were great items. Half sold, but I didn't even get to the minimum flat fee of $14.99. I was shocked that an item that sold for $20, resulted in only about $3 for me. That was the best one. My experience it seems was typical. I should have looked at a few forums on rese...