Friday Fiscal Wellness Check February 21, 2025

       

     After today, six full weeks to retirement. Then, just two more work paychecks and I'll have nothing coming in until June 1, other than getting insurance reimbursed through my HSA for May. I'm trying not to obsess about my budget and cash flow, but the topic is there at all times swirling in my brain. It's a good motivator to keep track of where, what for, how much, and why I spend where I do.

Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs

• With my Internet two year promotion over, it was going to be even higher ( due to price changed, taxes, and other fees🤣😭) than the jump to $95. I was able to get a better plan for $75 by contacting customer care. It's a two year rate and will save me $20 per month from what I had budgeted. Bonus, they have two years of Peacock. Even if We just use intermittently, that saves another $7.99 any month we would have used. I guess that's going to be the primary extra streaming for now. 
• Groceries and household purchases were needs only. Still, I don't think I'll get my 20% budget savings, but will be satisfied with 10%. I'll try again next month. 
• My daughter ended up only needing the procedure on lower gums, so saved $500. I'll take from the MDEA account, but glad to not deplete it since I'll want to apply some to my hearing aids.
• Kept heat low, used sweaters, slippers and blankets when sitting. I can't justify -0 to -19 outside, and cranking heat up inside. 
• Used gas saving when filling up- stretched my tank to two full weeks, without driving on fumes. 

Spent Intentionally

• Thought hard about needs or "social needs" when using the $20 in Kohl's cash and found two sweatshirts that will be future birthday gifts for SIL's. Whop- fooled me. Wasn't good until the 18th, so might stop tonight before my bowling meetup, but it's good until March 2. They were still a very good price so will save $$ later.
• Happy hour meant Saturdays meet up with two sisters was about 30% less than dinner because of specials. Brought 1/2 my appetizer, buffalo rolls ( huge) home.

Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

• Added receipts to Fetch and played MS Rewards towards gift cards. 
• Rolled the Max of 50 hours of vacation into my 401K

     Then, there are often other things that impacted my check book that came up without much planning or notice, or an all out splurge.

• Splurged on a fancy brunch with my daughter, her last chewable meal for a week before another round of oral surgery. (I know it probably seems oxymoronic to splurge on an expensive brunch, then nickel and dime my HH&G spending, but it's how I'm balancing.) 

     Daily Dinner Diary  ( just Friday, Feb 14 to yesterday, Thursday, February 20th) 

• Fri - Leftovers
• Sat-I had happy hour food with my sisters. My son heated up soup and later my leftover appetizer when he got home from somewhere, so must have had food out too. 
• Sun-  Chicken, mashed potato and gravy, homemade bread, vegetables
• Mon- because I ate a big brunch, I just had leftover soup when I got home. No clue what my son ate. 
• Tues -Home made Alfredo pizza with assorted veggies and dip as a salad ( no greens in the house)
• Wed- Baked breaded cod, cheesy hash browns and brown rice and mixed vegetables 
• Thurs- Pork roast, mashed potatoes, steamed zucchini, with drop biscuits 

Lunches were leftovers, Sandwiches, soup, veggies and dip, and tuna on crackers or in wraps. It's supposed to warm up. I'm bowling with church group tonight after the coordinator specially reached out to me, which was kind. I had fun last year so hope to enjoy the outing. I'm getting in a funk again. Well, not getting in one, already there. I'm hoping the weekend shakes it off a bit.