Friday Fiscal Wellness Check, July 25, 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, July 18th to Thursday, July 24. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.
Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs
- I am doing better hitting loss leaders and got terrific ones at both my daughters and my local grocery store.
- Used a coupon that gave me an additional $7 in rewards at Walgreens when I went back for more loss leader freezer bags and Diet Coke. While it needs to be used in increments of $5, I'll use today for two more laundry soaps to add to the laundry stores.
- My daughter's zucchini is coming and she brought a couple beautiful ones. ( Sadly, just about all my efforts are a bust- even the big plants already with tomatoes and peppers hate my home, nothing new coming)
- Entertainment was time at the lake, walks, and chilling (or sweating this past Tuesday night) with the dogs out on the patio with inexpensive wine. He was chasing moths.
- Replaced my SPF face cream before running out. It's ridiculously expensive (though not compared to many)for the amount, but it suits my face very well and preventing harmful damage is worth every penny. I've a history of skin cancer in my family as we're very fair skinned. My dad was always so tan, but I realized as an adult, that was not good at all, but over exposure regularly without protection.
- Entered Fetch receipts And played MS Rewards for points.
- Did am online focus group and will receive a $70 gift card. I wasn't selected for part 2 which would have paid an additional $50.
- Finally got confirmation that the out of pocket for my hearing aid OOP reimbursement has been approved and a check will be mailed.
Miscellaneous things that don't quite fit in other categories
- Nothing really notable.
Then, there are often other things that impacted my check book that came up without much planning or notice, an extra optional expense, or an all-out splurge.
- I paid for my and two sisters tickets to the fall AAUW Wine Soiree scholarship fundraiser. I am treating my them both as one sister regularly hosts Memorial and Labor day gatherings and Christmas, and the other does 4th of July, a winter euchre card tournament, and Thanksgiving. I refused to let them pay me back.
- Another out of pocket ding for my daughter's oral procedure. I'm not sure if I can use my HSA on her expenses but am researching. If not, I'll take more reimbursement for the health insurance premium as I was reducing to just draw her portion. It'll have the same impact, but still money not able to be used in the future.
Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 7/18 to Thursday, 7/24).
- Fri - Chicken, couscous, and broccoli
- Sat- Old fashion hotdog with sides for late lunch, made popcorn later
- Sun- Grilled cheese with tomato sandwich
- Mon- very rough interpretation of a vegan crockpot cassoulet, using up the last carrots and zucchini lurking in my crisper. My version was very modified but very tasty and a significant amount went into the freezer.
- Tues- Ham, mac and cheese , baked beans
- Wednesday- pork chops, seasoned rice, mixed vegetables
- Thurs- BLT wraps ( used my lettuce and tomato. Gardening returns are minimal but had at least this to show for it) on tiny little tortillas that were BOGO.
Basic living is expensive. I'm trying to put money where it matters most to me. Aren't we all? How was your week?
I've had a great week. I walked 60.6 miles (remember, I am 4y post 2nd knee replacement). My 3 zucchini plants are feeding the neighborhood ;-) (I generally don't make it this long without bugs that kill). We are a location normally up to 110F this time of year. That means my tomatoes didn't drop their flowers and fruit is well on its way!!!! We've been in the 80s and this next week the highest prediction is 98!!!! This means every morning we're between 60-65 and I open up all doors/windows until it reaches 68. I am heat intolerant, likely 4 decades in cold ORs caused that. I will take ALL the wins :-) Hope you have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou're a walking machine. I hate that Xtreme temps in either direction. I want to live where it's always between 40 and 75 with the rare temps in either excess.
DeleteI'm glad you got some good loss leaders this week. I feel your pain on the garden plants. My tomato plant has grown very slowly this summer and still no flowers yet, same with my pepper plant too. My green thumb is non existent. LOL
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for the lettuce at least. We e had several salads worth. I'll learn for next year maybe.
DeleteMy vegetable garden is a sad state of affairs. Pumpkins are looking good, and we got some currants, but that’s it. We might get some corn, as I have 3 rows. BUT, my farmhouse plum tree yielded loads of fruit, so I am up early to make plum jam, plum sauce and a tart. While there I saw that the apple trees should be prolific, and the blackberries? WOW!
ReplyDeleteHearing aids, ugh. DH qualifies, and we have been waiting since February for the VA to send his approval. This after several visits with his VSO. Yes, we can afford them, but at this point it’s the principle of the thing. He needs them because of his service! He has earned that benefit. We could get them and hope for a reimbursement, but the way the VA is now? No way. Our state has passed a bill to increase the number of VSO’s (veteran service officers) across the state to offset cuts, but the VSO’s can’t affect speeding up the process at the federal level. Our VSO has been almost driven to tears by this mess.
I know when DH finally gets those hearing aids, he will feel like a new man, sort of when I got my first pair of glasses and the scenery looked crystal clear! (And why did Americans consider ears, eyes and teeth “extras” when it comes to healthcare?)
Sorry, I am in a mood…
-Meg B.
My pumpkins and squash have lots of growth but I'm seeing no evidence of anything materializing. I 100% agree with you on the medical front. Teeth, eyes, ears are part of our bodies last time I checked. It seems like people can abuse their bodies with crap food, smoking, drugs, risky behaviors and get care, but basic changes due to heredity or aging in these areas are extra. Mind boggling.
DeleteWith you, Meg. Those should not be "extra" as part of health care! My dad paid out of pocket for his hearing aids, because insurance covered such a tiny drop in the bucket that paying up front cash was the better deal. Who knew that hearing was "optional"?
ReplyDeleteI had to abandon my gorgeous zucchini plants & cucumbers, because they are not worth the watering. As soon as you have anything close to being ready to harvest, the squirrels or rats get into the raised beds (despite all of the safeguards) & eat them as they stand. It's so frustrating.
You did well on your loss leaders & your menu always looks good! Garden tomatoes are such a game changer, in terms of taste.
And, lovely to be able to treat your sisters, both as a thank you, and for a good cause that benefits others. - Hawaii Planner
I keep catching a squirrel in the peppers so thinking he's eating all my flowers. The BLT wrap was delicious. I love good tomatoes.
DeleteOur friendly squirrels have stripped the apple tree completely. Most years they leave us a single apple. So far they have not found the pear tree, but the birds and bees certainly have.
ReplyDeleteOther than a few tomatoes we have harvested nothing, but a cantaloupe is closing in on harvesting.
That's rough. My apple trees might be their own downfall. The apples are too heavy for the branches. I doubt they'll last until late September when they're ripend.
DeleteHumid as hell here, but a good week. Exercising inside to Denise Austin on free YouTube in addition to early morning walks with the dog. Spent less $$ on groceries and no eating out. People came to our house for visits so I did very little driving. Library books as always.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a nice day, then yikes, the humidity kicks in.
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