Friday Fiscal Wellness Check April 4, 2025

  

    Three working day count down! Today is my second to last payday through my job. I'm truly motivated the coming week and beyond to be extra vigilant with my money, but did OK last week.  Here's my recap of Friday, March 28-Thursday, April 3.

Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs

  • My months end the 26th, but I stretched grocery and household shopping to the 30th. Treats were minimal and focused on healthy ingredients. 
  • Timed the meat discount right and hit ground sirloin, pork chops, and chorizo for 30-50% off the regular price. Used the ground sirloin, but froze the others right away. 
  • After a very busy last weekend, busy work week, plus the emotional roller coaster of the retirement party, I needed a home focused weekend and week. Staying put reduces impulse spending
  • My daughter came Sunday and did three loads of laundry saving her a lot of money. 
  • My outings were the grocery store for above items, visiting my brother, and walking the dogs. Very frugal on the gas tank. 
  • Entertainment was having a beer and popping popcorn with streaming movie, playing with pets. My younger daughter came for dinner Sunday and older daughter came Wednesday as it was her dogs (estimated as he was a rescue) 3rd birthday and stayed over. We had a nice dinner and hangout. She had been gone all weekend so her dog stayed with me so she was happy to see him.
  • My water bill still hasn't shown the big hike, or I've been careful, but it came in about $12 less than last quarter.
Spent Intentionally
  • Memorial $ for a funeral 
  • Donated to the Easter garden in my husband's memory 

Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

  • Loaded receipts and played on MS Rewards 
Miscellaneous (added as a few things don't quite fit elsewhere)
  • Finally did my taxes. Ugh, but could be worse. 
  • I took a free online course through the OLLI program. It was an introduction to plant based eating featuring two professors from the U of MN. I enjoyed it and will do more, hopefully some in person, but there's a fee to join the program so going to wait until I settle into retirement life a bit. 

     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 kitty threw up and we had her and poo checked out. Vet and meds are not cheap but she's worth it. 
  • Ordered and would not let my oldest sister pay me back, a wallet phone case for her iPhone. She has kids that would help but doesn't want to bother them, but she needed the protection and she's always got loose bills falling from pockets because she hates using a purse. 
     Daily Dinner Diary ( Friday 3/28 to Thursday, 4/3)
  • Fri - Beef burritos with black beans/rice, and cheddar cheese
  • Sat- Macaroni pasta bake with peppers, spinach, mushrooms, and tomato sauce, covered in mozzarella with spinach salad
  • Sun- Chickpea and vegetable curry with basmati rice and naan
  • Mon-  Sweet Chili baked Chicken drumsticks, potato wedges, green beans 
  • Tues - Cheeseburgers with all the toppings
  • Wed- Beef and mushroom stroganoff.
  • Thurs- leftovers/fend for yourself as we had different schedules 
     Lunches were any leftovers, sandwiches, soup, fruit,  carrots and ranch dressing, hummus on crackers or bread, and tuna on homemade bread.  

     I'm hoping beyond hope that the tanking markets at least get back to where they were when I made the decision to retire by June, but not holding my breath. This really sucks, but it's beyond anything I can do besides watching my spending. I wish you all good financial health.
     

     
     
  

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 4, 2025 at 9:30 AM

    Sounds like a really good week! I took a free Coursera class about a year ago (The Science of Well Being), taught by a professor from Yale, and I loved it. I've thought about taking more classes when I actually (intentionally) retire.

    I had a few wins here & there, but we've just been mostly working to prioritize our spending as much as possible, knowing that we are most likely going to have to go on $2900/month COBRA at the end of April. While there are very slightly cheaper options, re-establishing care with my conditions seems very unwise. We will fund out of our HSAs, so I'm grateful to have those accounts. I used a couple of rewards (Rite Aid & CVS) to pick up a few things before the rewards expired. - Hawaii Planner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMApril 5, 2025 at 2:20 AM

      I'm keeping my daughter in mine so her care isn't disrupted and it will hurt. But, I got HSA to cover for quite a while and delaying retirement even five weeks helped that expense a lot.

      Delete
  2. VixApril 4, 2025 at 12:39 PM

    That sounds like a very successful and non-spendy week! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMApril 5, 2025 at 2:21 AM

      More are needed. Still, need some lightness here and there.

      Delete
  3. CelieApril 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM

    Those meals do sound delicious, plus a frugal week. Retirement is just around the corner, and you're ready!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMApril 5, 2025 at 2:22 AM

      I think I'm a pretty good cook, so if thrifty, still will be tasty. Two working days.

      Delete
  4. SharonApril 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM

    Sounds like a pretty good week!
    I'm trying to stay in more (apart from walks). As you said, less trips out, less temptation to spend money. I am really trying to watch the spends. The whole tariff thing makes me not want to spend. Besides, it's a good mindset to be in! I really don't need any more 'stuff' when I'm trying to declutter!
    Apparently (not quite sure how lol) I have Microsoft Points now and then and ended up with a $10 GC this week. Also, we changed our internet service (saved $40 a month on that) and received $200 in GC for switching! Not bad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMApril 5, 2025 at 2:23 AM

      I've got $10 waiting to cash in but it takes a long time with the rewards. I like the trivia or wouldn't be worth the time. Anywhere we find savings is good news.

      Delete
  5. ScarletApril 5, 2025 at 2:22 AM

    I think you've got your eye on the ball and are as prepared as you can be for retirement. I'm looking forward to hearing your garden plans and seeing them come to fruition. I was having a decent week until I broke a crown last night. There's now going to be an unexpected dental bill to pay, and I'm not sure I'm ready for the dentists chair again after the trauma and brutality of my last experience!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMApril 5, 2025 at 2:24 AM

      I'm so sorry for the teeth pain- both physical and fiscal. I know nothing so everything will be a learning experience.

      Delete
  6. BelindaApril 5, 2025 at 10:20 AM

    We did our monthly stock up on groceries this week and are also being extra vigilant with our money as times are hard right now. I'm having a stay at home weekend too since I'm going to physical therapy three times a week now. It will feel good to stay home. Cool beans on finding meat at the discounted price. The plant based eating course sounds wonderful and right up my alley!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMApril 6, 2025 at 7:32 AM

      It was a good intro class both dispelling myths, and highlighting positive and negative impact of a plant based diet. Lost nutrition without adapting to supplements was interesting. Last weekend was home, this weekend has been all over.

      Delete
  7. Anne in the kitchenApril 5, 2025 at 9:24 PM

    Things will work out as you find your way to actually feel retired. It has taken TheHub until our recent vacation to realize he no longer has to live on a work schedule and cad do things like get a haircut or go to the bank any day of the week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMApril 6, 2025 at 7:33 AM

      He's had a long ease into retirement! I've got a busy April and May. Summer is well, summer so hopefully this just becomes life.

      Delete

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