Friday Fiscal Wellness Check March 14, 2025
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.
- 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.
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
ReplyDeleteI 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.
DeleteThey don’t pay much per item but at least it’s something. We have two near us and what one doesn’t buy, the other usually does. Make sure things are clean and folded and use a laundry basket or reusable tote bags instead of garbage bags to take stuff in. They offer discounts and prizes sometimes when they buy from you too. JoAnn
DeleteOooh, 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
ReplyDeleteI hope I can find the particular crepe recipe again on line. Best crepes ever I think it said. I halved it, and they turned out really good.
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteA 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.
Even at the lower, I'd still have had several hundred out of pocket. Mine will be $580, ouch but hopefully for good things.
DeleteHey Jealousy! Have a fantastic time at the gig! x
ReplyDeleteI'll give a recap.
DeleteYay 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.
ReplyDeleteWohoo!!!!! 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!
Not sure why I came up anon.
DeleteI'm pretty impressed with the lower to mid features. She said most get and keep what I selected and will have the Bluetooth gesture. I'll try for 90 days and see if they meet my needs. Now with the economy I'll have new things to keep me awake at night, but I can understand the relief of getting stress from work off my mind.
DeleteHave a great night out! Deserve a treat once in a while.
ReplyDeleteI'm with the "it's okay to have a treat every now and then" group!
ReplyDeleteIt's been more now and not then, this weekend
Delete“The past is gone, but something might be found/ to take its place.”
ReplyDeleteI *love* the Gin Blossoms. Let us know how the show was!
Your crepes are ingenious! I make pull apart bread for breakfast around the holidays which are similar—frozen puff pastry (no way I am making *that* from scratch) with Nutella spread between two layers of puff pastry, slice the edges on either side to about 1” to the center, twist, bake. It’s very similar to the butter braids the kids used to sell for the band fundraiser. And, in fact, a kid asked me to make them years ago after eating one of the butter braids. (And funny how you mentioned butter braids in an earlier post too!) In any case, now you have me wanting to try my hand at crepes!
-Meg B.
The crepes while not a regular round size due to my awkward shakes pan, still were so simple and delicious. There were thumbs up from son and daughter. I even skipped vanilla because I was out, plus with trying savory, not sure vanilla works. It's a keeper idea. I'll find a vegan option though my daughter makes a delicious pancake that no one would think was vegan.
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