Fiscal Friday Wellness Check, December 5, 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. 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 bottle of wine to take to a friends from my stash, saving her a bit. I won't miss it.
  • Leveraged a few black Friday deals, earned Kohls cash, and reviewed gifts already purchased to help ensure I don't overspend from my Christmas plan. 
  • Kohl's had it on sale and I leveraged earning Kohl's cash and a $10 extra coupon to finally buy the Bissell Little Green variety and furniture cleaner. I've been watching for a good price for a while now. 
  • Repurposed a pot that had a large flower arrangement from my husband's funeral to use for a Spruce Tip pot workshop. Used dirt from summer plantings. I also learned a new "craft" for future years and will buy clearance decorations after Christmas to put together with pots I already have or can get free from others for my own next year and to perhaps gift at a fraction of the cost.
  • Added the freebies per day to Kwik trip app, though will only cash in if there anyway. Plus, playing the Holiday 31 Days which usually has me scoring at least a couple free coffees each December. 
Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

  • Entered receipts I could find still in date in Fetch and MS rewards points
  •  $75 in Kohls cash as mentioned above that will be used to likely complete my shopping. 
  • As I use so seldom more as an emergency back up, I cashed out $36 in rewards for cash from my second VISA. I think once it's sent, I'll close that card as it still has my late husband attached and it's been ridiculous to try and change in just my name. 

     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. 

  • Sadly, both a friend lost her father, and an extended family had a terrible loss of a too young family member. I contributed to memorials for both, and funds for the young family. 
  • This could have been worse, but I very willy nilly topped up groceries without checking for any deals after the spruce tip workshop. On the good side, we made a loaded burger bar and had waffle fries, cake and ice cream to end the holiday weekend rather than going out or having take out. 
  •  Tuesday errands started with an additional round trip to St Paul to return my daughter's purse. I also stopped for picture  frames and food storage containers at IKEA and the market place lured me to aquire other things that were not needed, but at least we're practical like tea infusers and pretty napkins. 

     Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 11/28 to Thursday, 12/4). 
  • Fri - Rotini pasta with spinach and garlic sauce, meatballs on the side
  • Sat-  My daughter made pad Thai. It was an unusual take on it, but hey, she offered and it was fun to have her cook for us all. 
  • Sun-  Burgers, beef or vegan, with all the toppings, and waffle fries
  • Mon-  Spinach tortellini Alfredo soup with garlic toast
  • Tues- Breaded chicken, roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables 
  • Weds- Pork loin, wild rice, steamed broccoli
  •  Thurs- Vegan chili, rice with tortilla chips 
       I've a busy weekend ahead and am determined to get two batches of jam done today and my sister is picking me up at 4:15. How was your week?
           
     
  

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