Friday Fiscal Wellness Check, May 2, 2025
I copy the previous week, delete the old and updated as I go along the week as a way even when busy and not in a blogging mindset I'm accountable to myself. Here's my recap of Friday, April 25-Thursday, May 1.
Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs
- Tried to keep groceries to needs and easy meals for here and to bring to my SIL.
- Used a 20¢ gas coupon to fill my tank for a nice $2.60 savings. Yes...waited until I was quite low, which I don't like to do, but wanted to maximize the ample discount.
- My garden Weasel cracked and one of the three prongs snapped off when I was getting some rough patches thatched up for grass seed in front yard. My first instinct was to run over to the hardware store to replace. Then found the two prongs left were still doing the job. I'll make due for now but keep my eye open for a replacement in coming yard sales or at least best price new.
Spent Intentionally
- Bought one bag of grass seed to start some growth. I got the Pennington for patches that a neighbor recommended that had good luck even over a bigger surface area
- Bought seeds (though I know I should have started them already indoors) including lettuce, bell peppers, chili peppers, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, and tomatoes. We still had threats of frost so I'm planning to plant after this weekend.
Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls
- Loaded receipts and played on MS Rewards- tried to be more diligent this week and hit another $5 target
- I'm pausing on advance scheduling subbing but holding Tuesdays open to accept a few days in advance. My first day on Tuesday went well even though I was covering for a teacher whose classes all day included students with behavior issues, socialization issues, or other challenges that present difficulties in a full school day. (I do have training and had past experience in volunteer capacity with children with social and emotional challenges.) I'm scheduled for May 6 as well. After that, will be play it by ear whether to accept the same week or not, but I met the minimal 1X every 150 days so will be good for fall.
Miscellaneous (added as a few things don't quite fit elsewhere)
- I've been bringing meals and healthyish snacks, but others have too that I've eaten when I'm at my brother's. So I guess I probably haven't spent much more on groceries other than I'm splurging on favorites for my SIL.
Then, there are often other things that impacted my check book that came up without much planning or notice, or an all-out splurge.
- I spent $35 on sandwich fixings and sides (veggies and dip, chips, snack bites) for my brother's house last Friday. Having easy things carers can just nibble on without work is needed.
- Met my daughter for a celebratory (completed her first run of 2025, a 1/2 marathon) drink and appetizers at the same place my retirement gathering was at, Malcolm Yards.
- My absolutely favorite coffee, Cameron French Vanilla was on sale. I kept my splurge to just one bag as it was still 40% more than the Aldi version.
- Two lunches out (treated my friend as I hadn't gotten a meal to her as a new mom as I'd have liked), plus ordered in supper Thursday night was not thrifty at all. ( I brought dinner though cooked at home for Wednesday.) It was an unusually very scheduled week, plus some timing glitches.
- I haven't ordered for two years, but I'm on my last pad of blank checks at one bank. I was flabbergasted that the same order went from $10.90 to $32.50! Plus, they charge a fee if you want tracking. Where do you all order checks? I need to be better prepared in 2 years.
Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 4/25 to Thursday, 5/1)
- Fri - Tuna hot dish
- Sat- A quick sandwich before going to brothers
- Sun-Appetizers, son ate leftovers he brought from the event he worked Saturday
- Mon- was supposed to be the AAUW dinner but cancelled due to weather, so made a baked pasta for both my son and for lunches/ leftovers. I actually wasn't very hungry as I had gone out for lunch so I ate a small spinach salad.
- Tues- Pork chops with cinnamon apples, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables
- Wed- Italian Turkey Meatloaf, Italian bread, steamed zucchini
- Thurs- Take out Chinese food after I got back from my brother's
Lunches were any leftovers, sandwiches, soup, fruit, carrots and ranch dressing, hummus, tuna pasta salad (packed for Tuesday), plus I had two lunches out and my niece's friend brought lunch at my brothers.
How was your week?
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My week was pretty good, but I need to start meal planning & prepping again. I suppose, on the positive side, my freezer is looking much more organized, as it's pretty bare bones at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI use checks so rarely, I don't remember when I last ordered them. But, when I did, I ordered them through the bank. I pay 99% of all bills through bill pay, or even better, charge on my credit card via auto pay, and then pay off monthly. I have only had a handful of expenses I had to pay with check in the last year (school related stuff for Nick, and the DMV, perhaps?) - Hawaii Planner
I did some stock up shopping and meal planned before I went to hopefully be ahead as the month goes on. I have such a big family with graduation, weddings, etc. and like to use checks to ensure gift received. I am doing more and more electronically but so many charge a 3% charge or a flat fee ( my electric bill charges $2.95) but the duplicate checks have gotten too high- over the 50¢ a check.
DeleteMy week was good - ate lunch from home every day, but ate fast food too :( got to the gym x3 as of today and my phone says I have pretty much secured my 150 fit points for the week (as per the world health organization this is good? so i am happy!) cheques are not often used, so I am not surprised that the cost has essentially tripled. You'll most likely move to paying those bills online? I never use cheques and use no fee banks which even provide a printable void cheque!
ReplyDeleteIf I hadn't gotten duplicates version, they would have been $10 less, but still over 50¢ a check is criminal. I have enough things that still require check payment and they serve as a receipt.
DeleteCheck with banks…many in my area have a senior plan that make checks free….( and a few other services)……worth looking into to
DeleteNo suggestions as to where to order checks but I too have found the prices have increased substantially. My approach is to try not to write any that I can pay a different way.
ReplyDeleteI've stretched to two years when years ago we replaced twice a year, so definitely using less.
DeleteI know at my banks one of which is Bremer they will print out a sheet of like 6 for free if you run out. And that can last me a long time as I auto pay or use a card on most everything.
ReplyDeleteI do too, but a few bills charge insane electronic fees and for gifts or some small businesses ( plowing, critter issue for example) check was the best option.
DeleteMy credit union had always given us free checks until 3-4 years ago. I just ordered through Costco and have enough to last me into the next life, for less than half of what my credit union was going to charge me for 100 checks..
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing a lot of Costco recommendations so will look before this supply is gone.
DeleteI order checks and deposit slips through Current. Be sure to look for free shipping- the prices are low but shipping can be high!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think they were around any more. Thank you.
DeleteI wait for Father's Day sales to buy tools as they are on sale then. Why not on Mother's Day, I say?
ReplyDeleteI was in a bank that provided seniors free checking and free checks. When the bank changed, no more free checks. But, as long as I had the checks that were free from the other bank, they honored them, so still free. I have so many checks and write so few that I have a lifetime supply.
If you buy several plastic snakes from toy section at WM, you can put those in garden to keep birds from birds from dining on seeds or seedlings or fruit. Move them around to keep birds frightened. It works, promise.
I'll be looking for snakes.
DeleteWow, shocking check fees! I’ve not ordered them for years either. It’s rare for me to write a check these days.
ReplyDeleteI looked over and most are gift checks. I have a huge family remember. Then there's a utility that charges a lot for electronic payments and my snow guy is a bit business antiquated.
DeleteI order my checks from Costco, and order 800. They last us a long long time, but they are the cheapest I can get them that way. The quality might not be as high as bank issued checks, but who really cares?
ReplyDeleteI don't care if the job works. I'll be looking at Costco.
DeleteI get 100 from Checks in the Mail for a 2 year period. I have 3 bills (2 monthly and 1 quarterly) that do not have another method to pay, but other then that do not really use them a lot. I get the same design, no special font, no special handling and do not get trackable. I use a 20% off code (REORDER20) and swagbucks to get a discount and paid less then $20.
ReplyDeleteThat sure beats my ridiculous price.
DeleteSounds like a pretty good, balanced week
ReplyDeleteI rarely use cheques any more. If I need some I got to my Credit Union and they will print me 5 off for free ha ha!