Friday Fiscal Wellness Check October 17, 2025
My trip was fantastic, little bits in the recap below. 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, October 10 to Thursday, October 16. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.
Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs
- We only ate out four times, not counting the airport bagel and coffee. We did a grocery run for sandwich and salad fixings, a never ending meat, cheese, and cracker tray, fruit, snacks, bagels, yogurt and beverages including coffee.
- After the first expensive and mediocre lunch because it was both on the beach and walking distance, we went to places with specialties my friend knew and loved. I think it's good use of money to support less commercial local options.
- We played bingo and had wine at a winerie. My friend won the coverall grand prize of three bottles of wine and wine tastings for two. We had plenty of open bottles and were wined out so she'll get to use the Tastings and keep the bottles for her November stay with family (her husbands siblings and mom have condos in building too.)
- Grand total for pretty much six full days, all was $700, including a gift card for my friend. I had estimated $1,000 so well under budget and feel we enjoyed all we intended.
- Entered receipts in Fetch and MS rewards points- pretty lazy on this actually
- I billed for 25 hours last week and between some work on the trip and today, another 9 hours this week. I'm pretty much wrapping down the work.
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.
- We were relatively thrifty on the vacation, but I did buy a $30 sweatshirt and a pair of cute tennis shoes because they were half off.
- It was a 7:00 a.m. flight on Saturday and we succumbed to needing caffeine and something in our stomachs so sucked it up and bought coffee and a bagel that came to $12 a person.
Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 10/10 to Thursday, 10/16).
- Fri - Beef Flautas with salad
- Sat- We ate late lunch, me a grilled chicken sandwich, (friends-mahi mahi tacos, grouper sandwich) then meat, cheese, crackers, veggies, fruit for supper with Margaritas
- Sun- Chicken wings and pizza, shared
- Mon- Chicken Caesar Salad,leftover pizza and fruit
- Tues- Happy hour wings ( at one place)- then Royal Red shrimp ( friends) and Philly Cheese steak sandwich ( me, due to my shell fish allergy) shared French fries that came with my sandwich ( at a second place).
- Weds- Nashville Chicken sandwich. Finished the last of the Key lime pie (4x, 3 people, 1 pie!)
- Thurs- Another late lunch after leaving condo, but we brought the remaining almonds, pretzels, clementines and baby carrots with and nibbled at the gate and on the plane.
I was to renew one CD today but decided to cash it and add with the one that matures in another week to save myself one separate trip next renewal period. I'll probably add to it as well with the money banked so far from the contract and earn a little bit since they'll mature before taxes are due. How was your week?
Well done, Sam, given your vacation!
ReplyDeleteWow great that you managed to keep so well under budget! I'm glad you had a good time. It was something much needed.
ReplyDeleteYou did well with your budgeting on your vacation. I'm so glad you had a lovely time!
ReplyDeleteOh, how great that you had a fantastic time and so far under budget! What a win. You are smart to combine both cds.
ReplyDeleteReally well done. We try to eat from local places also
ReplyDeleteLove that it was such a great trip, and under budget! We are deep into our Greece trip planning & I'm finding it hard to imagine we will be under budget. The lodging is much pricier than I originally budgeted for. We have 3 people and hotels in most non-US places only allow for three, which is making it challenging. Your option is often to add a second room or book a suite. Yikes to both! - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds like so much fun was had AND under budget. Yay you!
ReplyDeleteEssentials only purchased this week. I have 2 new kittens that are hungry . Food and cat litter are the priority while I eat from the freezer. I'm only buying fresh fruit and of course, my evening dose of fabulous dark chocolate :-)
Spending-wise, it was fair. I did return a rug, rug pad, and extra end table that I had zealously bought from Target. I decided that less was more (: I ate out only once. Go me!
ReplyDeleteI think I settled my health insurance situation, but needed to enlist the help of DH’s union to do so. Interestingly, the day following my call to the union, I received a call from the insurance company. The representative only left a message on the machine, because I was out, but I have the name and number of a manger to contact should there be any problems, as well as assurances of restoration of coverage and apologies for any confusion. When I called them, I was unable to talk to anyone, or even find the right department!
ReplyDeleteOn a whim I called the union near the end of business Tuesday afternoon. By the timeline, it appears the union rep I spoke to must have taken the case up immediately the afternoon I phoned. I would probably still be working my way through automated phone menus. But by all means, let’s hear more about how unions are outdated!
-Meg B.
I'm so glad you had a great time and your friend winning wine & wine tasting? That's brilliant! x
ReplyDelete