Friday Fiscal Wellness Check November 28, 2025

     


     Not my usual Friday post after nearly a month of traveling but thought I'd do a placeholder type post. I'll finish up a bit more snippets of my trip at some point over the weekend. I got home around 2:00 yesterday, managed a bit of Thanksgiving family time, and now will be home most of the long weekend enjoying time with my immediate family including all the pets. I arrived home to three adult children, two dogs, and three cats, happy to see them all. 

     Overall, I think I was on budget with my trip, though my friend was so generous hosting me. I probably spent more on items to take home than I planned, but made some compromises too. I regret nothing and hope I can return the favors and be as gracious a host as Siobhan and family/ friends were to me and an open invitation stands. I'd never have been able to experience half of what I was able to on my own. 

     This weekend I'll get sorted and transitioned back to normal life. I have two huge piles of mail to go through and the regular life admin for the end of the month. I see there is plenty of food for meals, someone even made sure I was stocked with coffee and my 2% milk even though my kids prefer almond milk. My list to end November and to get back on a practical mindset is as follows.

  • Sort mail
  • Pay insurances 
  • Balance check book with auto payments to come in early December (I record as if I physically write checks to ensure nothing is overlooked)
  • Pay balances on all credit cards 
  • Update and transfer sinking funds payments 
  • Start Christmas "to do" list including

  1. Gift shopping list- review items already bought (some previously in the year and a few gifts bought on the trip)
  2.  Determine cash gifts for kids (some for fun money but also want to start gifting annual investment support that long term will help them more)
  3. Holiday food budget plan including for baking, candy making, and any needs to finally make jam from all the fruit prepped and ready in the freezer
  4. Get friends and family addresses from my friend to send thank you/ Christmas cards to the UK
  5. Decorating simply for Christmas

     Besides Christmas, my son's birthday is in December so I'll take my family out for dinner. There might be a girl's day to see the second part of Wicked. Otherwise entertainment wise, it'll be simple things or events already paid for. I'm looking forward to meal planning again, making soups, chili, hot dishes, and curries that are cook once eat several times. Let's just say I ate very well the last four weeks and despite the miles walking on most days, I suspect a few pounds crept on. I'll try and do errands by foot as often as possible. 



Comments

  1. TreadersNovember 28, 2025 at 1:26 PM

    I'm happy to see you got home safely. Your list is impressive but I'm sure you'll get it all done during jet lag!!! Glad you had a great time and can't wait to see the pictures. PS, did you notice you're in 3025 in your header!!! That was one helluva long trip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 28, 2025 at 3:35 PM

      Woops! I travelled for a really long time.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousNovember 28, 2025 at 3:28 PM

    Not Bossy Here! So glad you are home safe and sound! Can't wait to hear about the rest of you trip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM

      I'm very unorganized in the photo department but hope to straighten things out and do a wrap up.

      Delete
  3. Cheryl KimbleyNovember 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM

    Glad you are home all safe and sound. I bet you love seeing the family - people and pets!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM

      The big dog came along for the ride and was so excit d to see me!

      Delete
    2. MarthaNovember 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM

      I hope you give yourself a couple of days to rest before starting on the list. Glad you made it back safely.

      Delete
    3. SAMNovember 28, 2025 at 5:11 PM

      Today was more puttering but I feel pretty good.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousNovember 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM

    So glad you made it home & had an amazing time - exactly what retirement is about! I also just think it's incredible that the time spent was with someone you met online. What a wonderful gift of community! Welcome back to real life! - Hawaii Planner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 28, 2025 at 5:11 PM

      It was a great trip. And, we took your advice and had dinner at a Dishoom, the one in Notting Hill. It was delicious and treated us to a birthday dessert for both of us plus a greeting card and coupons for free apps and cocktails. I left with her to give to her daughters friends that live in London.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousNovember 29, 2025 at 8:57 AM

      Oh, yay! So glad you were able to try it & that you had a good experience. I love that place. - Hawaii Planner

      Delete
  5. CelieNovember 28, 2025 at 5:52 PM

    Welcome home! It sounds like you had a really wonderful trip. Always good to be home tho, with family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM

      Both being away and the return were wonderful. I had a great time.

      Delete
  6. AnonymousNovember 29, 2025 at 6:37 AM

    I am impressed you were able to do family things after a very long flight! I am usually comatose after a four hour flight across country after a four hour drive to the airport! Cindy in the South

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 29, 2025 at 1:53 PM

      I was a bit wound, so it worked out well.

      Delete
  7. BelindaNovember 29, 2025 at 7:07 AM

    I’m glad you are back home safe and sound, but what a wonderful trip. Sounds like Siobhan and family/ friends really stepped up to the plate in order for you to experience as much as you did. And how neat to come home to your loving children and pets. The thoughtfulness behind the coffee, milk, and food, shows that you and your dh raised them right. 💕 Welcome home. 🏡

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM

      Wonderful people that treated me like lifelong friends. The house was chaotic with five pets, as expected, but I haven't had to leave yet for a thing other than fresh air.

      Delete
  8. VixNovember 29, 2025 at 11:11 AM

    Welcome home! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMNovember 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM

      Thank you. I'll be back at some point in the future. So much more to see and just dabbled into the National Trust properties.

      Delete
  9. AprilDecember 1, 2025 at 3:54 PM

    Welcome home, Sam! I see I have some posts to catch up on!

    ReplyDelete

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