Friday Fiscal Wellness Check August 29, 2025

                      

       For Friday Fiscal Wellness Check,  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, August 22 to Thursday, August 28. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing. 

Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs

• I need to do some juggling because with the insurance savings, all got processed at one time and the refund from the old policy hasn't been returned toy credit card yet. But, I've got it figured out timing wise without having to draw from CD's. It'll mean a tighter September but that'll be good for my self discipline. 
• Groceries and Household purchases were just top off and fresh items like milk, bread, eggs, fresh veg and fruit. Nice produce at the Farmers Market this week.
• Not sure why, but there was a significant reduction on pups soft food so bought 6 cans to get him to end of month. He has a couple dollops on top of his dry. I could have wiped the shelf, but that seemed greedy.
• Made 6 mini zucchini bread loaves, and froze 5 cups of pureed zucchini from a massive one my daughter brought me. There's still another to process but she might be reaching the end
• Paid for and immediately put in for reimbursement from my FSA for my post surgery annual checkup and X-rays, which was subject to the annual deductible.

Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

• Entered Fetch receipts and MS Reward.  
• Rolled over two large CDs at the higher interest ahead of the anticipated interest rate reduction
• Scheduled my social security appointment for later in September so should be ahead of the paperwork to receive husband's benefits after November when I turn 60. I received an estimate that's $130 more than was given after he passed away but I understand there was a slight COLA.
• I'm only working a couple hours this morning so through the week should be just shy of 20 hours tracked. I'm set up for electronic invoicing and payment now so should receive first two weeks on Tuesday.

     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.

• Joined sisters and cousins/ extended family cousins for an impromptu birthday lunch for my one remaining first cousin on moms side. She's been quite down lately and others thought a nice surprise might cheer her up. I hadn't planned spending more on food out of the house for the rest of the month but sometimes budgets get ignored. August was definitely a high eating out month so will try and be careful in September
•  Splurged on another $8 pepperoni roll at the farmers market ( but still in my budget target).

     Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 8/22 to Thursday, 8/28). 

• Fri -  Leftovers and later popped a small Roma pizza in the oven as feeling hungry 
• Sat-  Potato, beef, and cheese burrito 
  
• Sun- Goulash
• Mon-  Leftovers 
• Tues- Meatballs in mushroom gravy, steamed potatoes, tomatoes, cucumber, and onion salad 
• Weds- Ham and Swiss stuffed chicken, summer squash, fresh garlic and sesame green beans, pepperoni roll
•  Thurs- Turkey meatloaf, stuffing, garlic and sesame green beans ( had bought a lot at Tuesday Farmers Market) 

      My daughter has to work a booth later for her job at the Minnesota State Fair and the other two met her there this morning to spend the day. Tomorrow my youngest and I are going to the Minnesota Twins game. Two very expensive good days, but catching that last of summer I guess. How was your week?