Friday Fiscal Wellness Check June 6, 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, May 30 to Thursday, June 5.
Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs
- I bought a box of crunchy oats and honey granola bars to toss in my back pack for the trip. These are great for taking that hungry edge off when out and about, avoiding over priced snacks. Of course I had my water bottle to fill as well. Actually never used them as breakfast was so substantial but came in handy for the 12:00 flight home.
- Having my Delta AmEx means no checked bag fee on first bag. I technically had a carry-on size plus my backpack, but as my sister has to check hers, there was no time saving by carrying on and it's nice not having to wheel a case along in the airport. Both were full flights anyway.
Spent Intentionally
- I budgeted a certain amount for spending money for the week and stayed within 10% of my budget. This included the bougie dinner for my sister's s birthday two of us paid for. That wasn't quite as much as I had thought. Meals overall were affordable.
Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls
- Entered Fetch receipts and played MS Rewards. Referred my two sisters to Fetch.
- Not a usual activity for me, but I won $62 at the casino in West Memphis, Arkansas on penny slots. My sister had won $10,000 a few years ago there and kept getting "perks" to come back. We played the Singo game in the pub ( bingo but music titles), had free meal because she had a considerable voucher, then she had more credit for the casino. All of us came out ahead- she made even more and cashed out. Please, please note this all was fluky and most people leave casinos poorer, not with more money.
Miscellaneous (added as a few things don't quite fit elsewhere)
- Can't think of anything not covered.
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 needed an extra fill up of gas with the extra trips ( weddings, grad party, trip up to my daughter's work). I really want to get my gas consumption down to not more than two tank fulls a month.
- It was still May, so I threw my hands up and took daughters out for lunch after the garlic mustard weed pull for my daughter's work.
Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 5/30 to Thursday, 6/5).
- Fri - Wedding dinner, chicken, ham potatoes salad cupcake.
- Sat- are late lunch, supper was just nibbling
- Sun- BBQ bacon burger
- Mon- Ribs, catfish combo ( still not a huge fish fan, but are a few bites) Lunch had been a cup of chicken and sausage gumbo and my sister and I shared fried green tomatoes. Both were delicious.
- Tues- Bougie dinner at Flights, so much food on small tasting plates that still looked like regular servings.
- Weds- pub food while playing Singo, but I had a grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich at Graceland earlier. Not bad if you like pb and bananas.
- Thurs- Son had bought a rotisserie chicken on Wednesday. I just made a sandwich with that and he made red beans and rice to go with his.
I touched on food but will try and do a little trip wrap up tomorrow. How was your week?
Sounds like you had a lovely time and had some good ways to maximize your budget. I had to look up Bougie! Congrats on getting out of a casino with more money than you started with.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest loves the word bougie to describe anything that's more "upscale" from our regular lives/ experiences. I sort of co-opted from her. We describe her cat as "bougie" who requires very specific food and has his aloofness, where as sons cat was picked up from the " mean streets", so she's a street cat. Street means feisty, resourceful, scrappy in her vocabulary.
DeleteI'm having a better month than I've had for a long time as far as being intentional about spending is concerned. I made a proper plan for spending and saving and it's working, although it's only month one ( I run from 26th of each month as that's when J gets paid) Our car passed it's MOT yesterday which was a relief as no repairs were needed. I also won on the Premium Bonds again, which was another nice bonus. So far, so good.
ReplyDeleteI say my month starts the 27th, but going to be more true month for June. Keep up a good June...cheering for us both.
DeleteThe trip sounds like so much fun! Nice work on the gambling win. It's a fluke, but enjoy it anyway! - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteI have no clue what made the win. I have $10 in play from when I went to a concert nearby but no gambling.
DeleteGreat job keeping your budget on track. So far my June has been rewarding. I just found out my salary almost doubled, which will keep me working awhile longer to pad my savings even more.
ReplyDeleteGreat news! Almost doubling the s unheard of. You must be valued.
DeleteI'm trying to rein in the spending for June after an expensive May... crossed several 'would like but don't need' items off my internal wishlist already!
ReplyDeleteMe too. If not a need this month, it has to be a very high want or very special.
DeleteSounds like you all had great fun on the trip and coming out ahead? Fantastic! I'm guessing it reduced stressload a bit!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a terrific and relaxing Friday.
Wel, maybe not ahead but not behind. I was willing to play $20. I won $67, but then played $5 with nothing results. It just confirmed the win was a fluke and stop.
DeleteWe had a good week here. The fried peanut butter and banana sandwich sounds good. If I ever get to Graceland I will have to try one of those. How neat that you won $62 at the casino. We use more gas in the summer because of yard sales, which is money well spent to me. 😂
ReplyDeleteIt was a treat and actually better sounding than other options. Bailey makes money from so many of your finds.
DeleteGlad you and your sisters had a good time! It sounds pretty frugal, too. I'm trying to stick to a budget this month, after several month fails. We'll see!
ReplyDeleteWith breakfast covered, we could eat light lunches ( and save room for an afternoon cocktail). The Tuesday restaurant was a splurge but other meals reasonable and with Wednesday night free courtesy of my sister's credit voucher, I stayed on track.
DeleteMy sister broke up with her bf because he moved to West Memphis. So, you know how Memphians feel about it. So, that is how we all feel about it. There are too many mosquitoes over there, too. Someday, I will gamble, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI ended up the week on a downer. My ss check ws cut to $141. Last month, my disability was cut. So, I suppose I can starve on $141!
Practical Parsimony above. Not sure why it posted. I did well today because I made calls that save both of us more than I ever made at a job in one day. I put out lots of fires today.
DeleteOh my gosh, Linda. I'm glad you got that resolved. What the heck happened? We were laughing as crossing over state lines meant my sister could cross another state off as she'd never been in Arkansas.
DeleteHi. You did very well budgeting for an upcoming trip/vacay. My sister and I too are thinking of banding together and going somewhere. We have someplace in mind but the planning would be tiresome. Glad it all worked out and you had fun!
ReplyDeleteThe fact that her room could accommodate three at no extra cost, plus a good daily meal made it affordable. I also had enough points for a practically free airline ticket. More on the trip tomorrow. Maybe just plan something simple. I find the best moments with my sisters is just our laughing and hanging out.
DeleteSounds like you had a great time and stayed within your budget without feeling as though you had to really watch your pennies. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI set a very liberal budget before going, but yes, glad I didn't go crazy over spending.
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