Friday Fiscal Wellness Check March 28, 2025

 

     This week has been a blur, so just no time for a post since Sunday. Only because I start these Friday posts right after the last one ends and add bits did I get this one done. I'll recap my retirement get together later. Still absorbing the afternoon- evening. Monday marks the true final week. I'm scheduling time with the data system newbie but using major chunks of vacation time, more so than the previous weeks to utilize as much as possible that otherwise will just stay in a perpetual bank. Here's my recap of Friday, March 21-Thursday, March 27.

Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs

• Kept just to my needs list through March 26, my fiscal month close and successfully shaved 10%off my Household and Grocery budget
• Son had bought a rotisserie chicken over the weekend, so I turned the last into broth. It was a cold start to the week, so made soup for suppers and lunches ( plus frozen enough for a later meal)
• Yay! The book for book club came in so no last minute purchase 
• Walked home from dropping vehicle off on Friday and walked back to pick it up Monday saving gas for my son or anyone else who would have drive me. It's not a pretty walk along the highway coming into town, but there's a walking path so it's safe. They would have given me a loaner but my sister drove on our road trip instead.

Spent Intentionally

• Memorial $ for a funeral (I have one more today)
• Costs for road trip meals, wineries, but stayed on budget. I have points/ reward dollars to cover if I choose

Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

• Loaded receipts and played on MS Rewards 

Miscellaneous (added as a few things don't quite fit elsewhere)

• Made an ISO for bricks to use as edging to rock garden area in back yard. Kim inspired me with her success. 
• Splurge and a save combined: My sister travels for her job a lot. It's less than she used to, but when she does, she's given a big hotel room and a car. I and another sister are joining her in Memphis in June. We'll have Sunday then the two of us will have Monday- Wednesday to explore (neither of us have been) then meet her evenings. Because I already bought my UK plane tricket, I had enough air miles for a free round trip flight, -$12 for a hold fee. Full breakfast is provided at hotel so only my meals later and spending money to cover. She goes again later summer and two other sisters are joining her. Likely we'll prioritize Graceland and the Civil Rights Museum. I'm open to suggestions. 

     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 mirror on my vehicle was a not a fun expense but at least it is back to looking brand new ( it's just 2.5 years old). On a good note, they quoted around $200, I mentally planned for $300 in case something else was amiss, and it came in under $150.
• My daughter's car battery completely died and had to be replaced. 

     Daily Dinner Diary ( Friday 3/20 to Thursday, 3/27)

• Fri - Son grabbed something when he was gone for the day and back late. I ate pb toast and fruit before going to game night at church
• Sat- out with sisters on mini road trip 
• Sun- Last of the pot pie soup I had made for lunches last week, son had last of rotisserie chicken he bought over weekend, with fruit plus soup 
• Mon-  Baked beef ravioli with mozzarella and spinach 
• Tues - Cheese and rice enchiladas plus I had made a huge crockpot of 15 bean soup with chicken and bacon, son had that as well. 
• Wed- Chicken thighs, ricotta, lemon, and spinach pasta
• Thurs- leftovers, but this was my very casual retire gathering at a market like place in Minneapolis called Malcolm Yards, a multi food  drink venu. I had cake, then later a pizza and a dumpling like thing.

     Lunches were sandwiches, soup, fruit and yogurt, veggies and dip, and tuna on crackers or in wraps with a pickle. Some time this weekend I'll do the big shop for the month ahead. It'll be big on the household side of things as I'm nearly out of dishwasher detergent, liquid Dawn, garbage bags, and shampoo and conditioner, and it will be a dry dog food purchase month. I need to do a deep look at the grocery needs and meal plan more carefully to offset the higher than average non-food shop. Meals out or take out has to be minimal after a more than average March. I think a challenge of some sort might be in order.