Friday Fiscal Wellness Check, December 19, 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, 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 considerably) I used cards I already had to round out. No savings on stamps but still stayed well under the line item in my Christmas budget plan 
  • Selected a book, Thursday Murder Club, that my daughter already had, for the next family book club. I'll read and pass on to anyone that can't get a library or free Kindle download. 
  • Used Up three too soft apples and overly ripe bananas in three small loaves of vegan apple cinnamon bread. I never get the right amount of bananas as they are eaten well before I get the store or go uneaten. There seems to be no in-between so happy for this option for bread beyond traditional banana bread.
  • Used last pork sirloin and gravy for base of a simple stew.
  • Treated myself to a coffee and bacon wrap using a gift card from last Christmas when out and a pit enjoying "free browsing" 

Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

  • Entered receipts I could find still in date in Fetch and Microsoft rewards points (links provided and we both get points if you use my referral.)
  •  Received the $36 point check from the old credit card. Im going to close that one as it's still tied to my husband. I'll open a new back up once I explore offers. 

     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. 

  • I can't recall anything this week, so that's a win.

     Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 12/12 to Thursday, 12/18). 
  • Fri - Pork sirloins with rice and veg mix, gravy
  • Sat-   Lasagna as a request for my sons actual birthday eaten before his plans
  • Sun-  Leftovers 
  • Mon-  Pork stew with potatoes and green beans, toast
  • Tues- Chicken Caesar Salad 
  • Weds- Chicken wild rice soup and warm baguette
  • Thurs- Chicken parmesan sandwich, hash browns 
           Tomorrow I'm going to my daughter's and need to do a covert measurement of her kitchen countertops and sink cupboard space. My bathroom guy is going to update her counters in the butcher block and farmhouse sink she's been wanting since she bought the house. I'm just getting an estimate but she'll pick the final choices. I'm using money set aside for a few years. It's essentially my main Christmas gift to her ( for a few years). How was your week?
           
     
  

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 19, 2025 at 9:40 AM

    That is a fantastic Christmas gift! I love chicken wild rice soup - do you have a recipe you like? I've tried to make it at home, but haven't found a good recipe. Sounds like it was a great week, with lots of wins & no splurges - which is always a pleasant surprise. I realized that I let a bunch of Starbucks points expire (what a waste) & should have redeemed for a free breakfast or something, but am just never there after starting my job. I used to go with friends once a month or so after my workout class. I need to be better about monitoring rewards & the like. - Hawaii Planner

    ReplyDelete

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