Sam Squared

         I officially typed 2025 within a date. New year, new opportunity to save, or dig myself a financial hole. I'm getting downright nervous as I see my three year average earnings dip lower and lower on my retirement account. I have no faith that the economy will rebound, so it's my duty to figure out how to be more responsible for my financial health. 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 27 to Thursday, January 2nd. It was a bumpy week to say the least.  Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs See below and the need to meal plan from pantry and freezer is evident. I got nothing for groceries for the house but fresh stuff we ran out of. I'm setting a target of under $50 a week for groceries and household the rest of January. My pantry is packed plus son will be go...

           Happy New Year and welcome 2025. I am hopeful, probably the best word, that life changes in the year ahead will be positive. While I hope for things for others, my children mostly, anything they do or don't is of their own volition. No one else's life is my responsibility anymore. That's both liberating and scary ( and lonely). Of course there's the we're all humanity and have a responsibility to the collective good philosophy. I'll step in to help when needed by my family and friends of course- a whole story on that from last night to come.  Here's a few hopes for myself.  Successful transition to retirement. Continue to lose excess weight while getting stronger and improving my health. Expand my social circle through activities. Affordable and (some) slow travel. Live more sustainably.  Improve relationships while establishing my own needs within them.  Taking the wheel, steering the rudder, of my own life.    ...