Friday Fiscal Wellness Check March 14, 2025

 


     Three week countdown! I start these Friday posts right after the last one ends and add to it over the week. The motivation to watch what I spend and try my best to live a good and generous life is growing with each day that passes as I approach April 8th.  

Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs

  • Groceries were just top offs of essentials (coffee, canned dog food) milk and cottage cheese, and fresh produce. (Exception, bought a few ready meals for my daughter who had a rough week schedule wise ahead.)
  • I brought my brother and sister in law salmon, roasted sweet potatoes/russet potatoes ( brother doesn't like sweet potatoes but they're my SILs favorite and she deserved to be treated too) and a carrot, apple, and craisin salad Friday night using ingredients I had on hand. This is one of their favorite meals, though I'm not sure how much my brother was able to eat. The splurge was premade graham cracker crusts to make little banana cream pies. Puddings have been one thing that's tasted good to him. 
Spent Intentionally
  • I had my appointment for the hearing aids. I decided to just get the one step up from standard option, with almost 80% coverage. I just can't see jumping to a deluxe option when I've never had them at all. I'll get a 90 day trial. Maybe I'll regret not splurging, but these will be a start towards better experiences in groups and being able to hear more distinctly when there's a lot of background noise. 

Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

  • Loaded receipts and played on MS Rewards 

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

  • The quick and inexpensive lunch my daughter and I had Monday when in the city - wasn't. Menu and prices changed since last stop and we didn't realize her meal was no longer part of $11 lunch special and was now $17. At least she had leftovers. 
  • My sister invited me to take her husband's MN Wild ticket as he was under the weather. They're season ticket holders. I treated to snacks and beverages and prices are eye watering. They lost in overtime but still a fun night. 
     Daily Dinner Diary  ( just Friday, March 7 to yesterday, Thursday, March 13th) 
  • Fri - Homemade chicken Alfredo pizza 
  • Sat- We both were technically out but I  had left meat for chicken gyro like sandwiches and made a quinoa salad-  son ate at some point. I had chili and corn bread and too much chocolate and pretzels with ham and pickle dip at my sister's for family book club. 
  • Sun-  I made a batch of chickpea curry (brought for lunch Monday) but we also had a sort of crepe dinner as my daughter wanted to do this. I made a savory cheese and turkey sauce, plus had fruit, Nutella, and whipped cream. Let's call these crepes but really were just very thin pancakes as none of us had the knack. 
  • Mon-  Goulash 
  • Tues - Sloppy joes with sweet potato homemade fries 
  • Wed- Pulled pork and Mac and cheese ( yes, I wanted comfort food.) 
  • Thurs-leftovers 
Lunches were leftovers, quick enchiladas or tostados, sandwiches, soup, fruit and yogurt, veggies and dip, and tuna on crackers or in wraps of course with a pickle. 

     I've got a 9:00 oil change and tire rotation appointment- costs are getting so high, but I'm given the employee discount still. I need them to quote and order the parts to get my side mirror fixed after the blip with the passenger side. I know there are less expensive places even with the discount but I trust the head of the service department where my husband worked. I'm joining family for a concert tomorrow night, reliving my 20's with The Gin Blossoms, another splurge. I guess it was not a frugal week. I hope you have a good weekend. 
     
  

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM

    Time is flying! Sounds like you had a busy week and a good balance between work and play. My week has had a few pops of frugal but with DD home for spring break and me taking pto, we’ve been living our best lives lol. Did get some free kohls cash in a promo last weekend that we spent very wisely, she sold a bunch to Plato’s and we’ve used some coupons here and there. I’m just thrilled that she’s here and choosing to spend time with me. She won’t be home again until Easter so I’ll definitely be tightening the purse strings into a chokehold between now and then. JoAnn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMMarch 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM

      I think my girls should try Plato's closet for turning over their closets. It'd be thrifted thrift likely though, lol. Thread Up was a bust. These were a lot of families at the game thinking it was maybe part of a staycation.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMarch 14, 2025 at 10:05 AM

    Oooh, Gin Blossoms! That would be a fun concert. Your crepe dinner sounds good. We had no power for 24+ hours, so there was takeout on our side, but we were able to turn it into several meals, so at least I ordered a good mix (I ordered extra protein, so we could round out the meals a bit). I've tried Thred Up as well, and am not a fan. - Hawaii Planner

    ReplyDelete
  3. Frugally challengedMarch 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM

    I got my hearing aids a month ago. I had the ones I could get free on the NHS and they are fine. I have an app on my phone and adjust them on there.
    A friend got her first aids a couple of months ahead of me and she had the free ones and then a pair at about £500. She says the paid ones are better but not £500 better.

    ReplyDelete
  4. VixMarch 14, 2025 at 1:57 PM

    Hey Jealousy! Have a fantastic time at the gig! x

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM

    Yay for trying hearing aids. Hubby only lasted 2y with the lower end. He LOVES LOVES LOVES his bluetooth aids. They adjust automatically to surroundings when we're in noisy restaurants or at a concert/movie. It's a hard to check to write but he thinks worth every penny.

    Wohoo!!!!! 21 sleeps=3 weeks. I'm excited for you to try-on retirement. I don't know if I've shared. My fist 6 weeks I slept 9-11 hours every night! (and I didn't use an alarm before as I woke up early naturally). It is extraordinary to be rested nearly every single day!

    ReplyDelete
  6. SharonMarch 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM

    Have a great night out! Deserve a treat once in a while.

    ReplyDelete

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