Friday Fiscal Wellness May 16, 2025

       

    Usually 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. As the last two weeks I was not here mentally, I'm capturing what I can recall from two weeks. (Meals will just be one)Here's my recap of Friday, May 2 to Thursday, May 16.

Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs

• I had picked up the bill almost two years ago when I met this friend and another for wine and appetizers. Not that we keep tabs but friend both wanted to treat me for my retirement and recalled my check pick up from before ( to squash my argument) so my happy hour was no cost for me. 
• Entertainment was Derby Day, bookclub, and cards all rolled into one at my sister's. I brought tortilla chips and a jar of the DT salsa and the previous purchased (March) sangria from the winery road trip.
• I was planning to make a pasta bake for what ended up being the last Sunday night for SIL but my SIL on the other side sent me with 1/2 a lasagna, salad, and bread as she over prepared food for her kids confirmation. That was quite lovely of her and meant I moved the dish to the next night.
• Brought my SIL and niece lunch on the day they met with funeral home with ingredients I found at home, a lemon, spinach, and mushroom ricotta orso, plus toasted garlic flat bread. 
• I hit a church garage sale and loaded a bag for $7. Minimally, I got at least new plain black T and a pair of dress pants, older daughter got a running pull over and a T-shirt, and not sure what will fit but grabbed a capris cargo pant  and assorted jeans for younger daughter in sizes by waist so wasn't completely sure. What doesn't fit will be re-donated. This was the last hour of the sale.
• Received free "dig my own" hostas, chives, and a peony through Buy Nothing group. The peony looks iffy if it will take, but fingers crossed the others make it through summer and come back next spring.
• This is a silly one but saved me buying  a soap dispenser for kitchen. I don't like brands on display but found I could peel the label off and old clearance soft soap bottle and use a refill to fill it up. 
  
  
  

Spent Intentionally

• Bought three large bags garden bed soil- much more is needed but started with volume for the planter boxes and one of the two raised beds. I have a gift card for a garden center but bought at Menards as it's dirt and wanted to save the gift card for shrubs or perennials and maybe something else for the yard/ garden that will bring joy.
• Follow-up:bought three more, plus potting soil to replant overgrown houseplants. I'm buying this sort of stuff at big box Menards at lower cost and will use the garden center gift card for higher quality perennials once I really figure out what I want and need like replacement shrubs in the front. 
• I paid the first half of my property taxes on line and on time (due May 15). The 35¢ convenience fee was a bargain for my time and gas driving to the government center.

Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

• Loaded receipts and played on MS Rewards 
• I subbed again in May 6 ( too late to cancel after getting news of my brother)and wasn't going to take anymore initially,but decided to accept a 1/2 day math, ending at 11:30. I really liked that schedule but they are limited. 
• Remembered to send Menards receipts for 11% rebate. 

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

• We had two wonderful weather weeks. I took coffee outside and enjoyed the leisure moments. I'm not going to wait for yard to be pristine or even "cleaned up" to enjoy. Liking your abode is a great way to watch your fiscal house.
  

     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 bought one grape tomato plant for the patio container I had last year because the seeds I bought were a different type. I also bought two hearty variety of hostas for the mailbox. I know I have free sources but was impatient and saw a good price when I bought the soil and wanted something there. 
• I splurged, sort of, on a travel back pack. It was 60% off, had great reviews for travelling as a carry-on, plus I used a $10 Amazon credit bringing it to about $17 with tax. My backpacks have been hand me downs from my kids. 
• Lots of extra meals picked up and eaten out with family. 
• Funeral plants, plus $ towards two other family friend memorials.

     Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 5/9 to Thursday, 5/16)

• Fri - Salmon, son, salad,me,  bacon wrapped asparagus, chive and onion roasted potatoes 
• Sat- son took me out for early dinner and a beer as he worked Sunday. 
• Sun- had BBQ at sister's for lunch, then just picky bits with my girls for supper
• Mon- sort of beef stroganoff hotdish, green beans
• Tues- pork chops, apples, broccoli , salad
• Wed- went out for bar food with family after the visitation. 
• Thurs- Funeral food, and everyone did fend for themselves if they were hungry later 

      It's been an emotionally filled couple weeks. I wasn't focused on saving or spending,  just living. How was your week?