Sam Squared

      A reminder of the past year and that I want travel to be part of 2026.        Happy New Years Eve. Will you be out celebrating? I'm still on the fence about my plans. I've been invited to a sisters and if I go, I plan to be home well before midnight and greet the new year in bed. I've still got a bit of the seasonal mood malaise. Earlier, I hit publish on my fiscal list. Money is not life but let's face it, it's a tool to help enjoy the good things in life and I can't say the cost of living isn't bothering me. A couple recent medical/ dental frustrations really put me in a down mood right before Christmas.       I eventually come out of my self-pity episodes; I know I need to control the story, take charge, and not just wallow. I don't like that I'll likely have new prescriptions or that my lazy habits and genetics took a toll on my mouth. But I'm getting both dealt with, and perhaps these are the shakes I need to take be...

           Like everyone else, I have no crystal ball to predict how high prices will go, taxes will increase, and whether my appliances and car will need major repairs or replacements. I also don't know what health changes may happen. I had a recent dental, followed by a lab/ vitals check-in appointment this past Monday with unfortunate news, but will be managed, albeit with more appointments and probably medications.             Now that I'm on a fixed income, my goals need to reflect watching the little things and plugging spending holes, but allow me to pursue a few dreams and aspirations. I know as well as anyone that tomorrow is not promised. This is not meant to be a "woe is me" post but rather a taking command post, and leveraging opportunities despite the unknown.   Here's my first pass, subject to review at least quarterly.  Update my spending plan to accommodate increased health care costs, both i...

           Glad I wrote this a few days ago before the gloomy mood set in. The post's not really where my head is today, but that's ok. I'm home today, wrapping gifts, tidying the house, and hope the nice weather promised will lure me outside for a good long walk.       I'm doing a very low-key Christmas. I just decided there really doesn't need to be stress. In past years, that was probably self-created. Instead, I'm just going day to day trying to find the pieces of December that fit my spirit. That's going to be my mantra through the cold winter months. I have a huge to do list, regardless of being low key. But I want to enjoy my time when I can. Here's been some of my entertainment lately, free or very low cost. Watched the latest Blanc movie, Wake Dead Man already in Netflix. It was very good and Josh O'Connor is an excellent actor. I had only seen him as the teen- younger adult Prince Charles in The Crown . This role couldn't have...

                                                                       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, December 12 to Thursday, December 18. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.  Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs More free shoveling exercise  Used a 50% of photo Walgreens to order just enough pictures of my family ( taken at MILs birthday party) to stick in cards for family and friends that like that sort of thing. Plus, I had $2 rewards credit to use to further reduce the cost.  Besides cards I purchased at Dollar Tree ( which have gone up con...

      This will be my first year full year living off a fixed income of social security and 401K withdrawal. It's an odd feeling heading into 2026. For so many years the focus was saving for retirement and now it's ensuring my funds outlive me.      Now, that's not to say I won't try to enhance my intake in different ways. I'm just trying to be mindful to not depend on the enhancements. Currently, my intake covers my living expenses including sinking funds for the required, but irregular expenses. There's also room to put savings aside for optional spending like vacations/ travel and Christmas. It might not be all I want, but is more than I suspect many retirees can afford. For that, I'm grateful and aware of this privilege.  I'd like more travel days in 2026.      There's the dreaded "but" though. I do not want to go backwards in savings. While I have longer term funds in CD's, my readily accessible emergency fund could be depleted wit...

            Photo Pexel.com      Not even back three weeks and I'm ready to plan again. The Greece trip for me starts March 3rd with a long two stop flight and a change in time zone, meeting friends on the 4th. I've already committed and the expensive parts, flight and hotel, are done and paid for since August. I know that is just a taste of what I want to do in 2026. My UK friend and I have talked about Scotland next fall, perhaps starting again near her, driving north to see that part of England, and onwards to Edinburgh or perhaps even a stay on a Scottish Island. I'd definitely need to do much more research and price comparing before committing, but it's on my list. The last season of Outlander hits in early 2026 so my Scottish FOMO will kick in. As I've looked at costs though, it might really stretch me too far.  I need to be wise and if I need to wait a year, so be it.       I booked Greece on a whim, though had...

                                                                Before I dive in, has anyone heard from Linda at More Or Practical Parsimony? I think her last post was the day after Thanksgiving and I haven't seen any comments from her. I hope all is well in her home and maybe she's having computer issues again.       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, December 5 to Thursday, December 11. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.  Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs Resisted the temptation to hire out snow removal. While we got a lot, it came in 1-2 inch amounts and gav...

      I love how the UK big stores have Christmas stories as part of their advertising leading to Christmas. I have a few favorites I've seen on YouTube over the years. Wouldn't ya know, Minnesota's own Gerten's green house has got into the "magic" with their advertising.       I'm not getting any proceeds, but I'll disclose I love this garden center. They're a great support for youth fundraisers in our communities, have gorgeous plants, trees, and shrubs, and a beautiful shop as well. This is from where my work friends gave me the gift card. It's a hop skip and a jump from me, so a great place to shake off the winter blahs. I'm sure you all have your local favorites. It's a Facebook link but I think you can still watch even if you're not in Facebook.  Would You Watch This Christmas Classic in the Making      This is for anyone that likes a good hoky Hallmark movie and a bit of a wander in a garden center at Christmas.  ...

      It was a slow day again today. I decided to do online church. We got just enough snow again to shovel driveway and sidewalk but not enough for plows so side streets will be lousy. I'm hoping they get out tomorrow early with scraping and sand. I watched the Vikings finally win with a healthy team. I read my book for tomorrows book club. I think all the gifts I've ordered have come and did a bit more online shopping today to just about finish.I will get anything else done this week and go into next weekend in wrapping mode.       I've had to come up with ways to use up a massive package of ham ends and slices I thawed. I made an egg bake, ham and pea salad, and bean and ham soup. There's pieces left for my son to make a few sandwiches and I'll see my youngest  so she'll get a leftovers care package.      I'm thinking about a friend who's struggling with anxiety. My daughter's having a hard month too. I'm reading about so many pe...

                                                              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. I copied an old one as I haven't done Fiscal Fridays for a bit while away but now with the UK trip done, Christmas shopping, and a new trip ahead, time to be back on track.  Here's my recap of Friday, November 28 to Thursday, December 4. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.  Avoiding Spending/ Saving on Needs Other groceries for the week were minimal and I made a meal plan, more a list of options. There's quite a bit of meat in the freezer that I need to circulate to the top and use up.  Gave my daughter a bot...

      We'll see if this survives Little Miss this year. Last year she routinely sent the little tree sailing off the piano. Lights to the lanterns are a new addition.       I'm not putting stress or expectations on myself in December other than to just try and chill, enjoy time with family and friends, and slow down to see the lights and hear the music. I really miss my husband right now, being that he'd be retired and we'd enjoy these things together more without the stress of his job. Now, likely I still would be working as that had been the plan for me to keep working and follow four years later. So, in that sense, I feel I really need to maximize the gift of time I have.       This weekend is busy. Friday I'm joining my sister and niece for her church Women's Christmas Dessert. The program has been good the last two years and the table settings spectacular, set up by the table hosts. Saturday morning is the AAUW Christmas brunch...

      I just fed the big dog after letting him out. The "barely a dusting" of snow as advertised seems to be shovel worthy. I'm a bit achy from Sunday. Shoveling uses muscles I haven't used since last March. I'll have to find a work out that mimics the motions for spring through fall. Other than shoveling, bringing bins back, getting the mail, and walking the dog, I've no reason to leave the house let alone go anywhere.  Little Miss likes a good snowy day snuggle too.      Yesterday's day of errands was both expensive and time consuming with the addition of that running my daughter's forgotten purse to her before she left for work. That was not a fun 6:20 errand, but I'm glad I noticed it in time to get it to her. She's have been left with no ID, cash, or cards, never a good thing when you live in the city and have a long commute.       As for Christmas shopping, I'm getting close to being done. Long gone are the years I was done an...

      While I wasn't gone quite the whole month, coming back on a Holiday weekend felt like my trip was stretched. This will be my first December being retired. Though, while away, I received a call or text alert almost every day that substitute teachers were needed. Now, I'll only sub in my home district and prefer to only schedule in advance, but might accept a Tuesday call in when grand pup goes to doggie daycare or a Friday when he's back with my daughter. I'll have to make sure I'm prepared to accept those days the night before as for the middle or highschool I'd need to report by 7:30.       I sort of don't want to commit to anything though. There's so much to do here and really, Christmas is just three and 1/2 weeks away. I've got a fairly full social calendar scheduled and want to be able to get outside with the dogs in daylight, which lets face it, barely lasts 8 hours in December. It's cold, but both dogs love the snow and I've got ...