Friday Fiscal Wellness Check January 23, 2026
As a reminder in case you feel repetitiveness to my Friday posts, I copy the previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This will help me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, January 16 to Thursday, January 22. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.
- I was almost lured into a false sense of "saving" after receiving a 30% off Kohl's offer, + $10 Kohl's cash for every $50 spent. I even filled a cart, but ended up deleting it all. I got my shopping fix, but realized $50 on items not needed was not saving a penny.
- I didn't buy anymore alcohol for book club/card night, and used up more leftovers from other holidays. Everyone usually brings a few bottles/ cans of their preference as it's not expected that the host provides a fully stocked bar. I always have plenty of wine and hard liquor/ mixers though should anyone want that, along with soft options.
- Sent sister on the road in the morning with a travel mug of brewed coffee and a bagel with cream cheese. She was going to stop on route so, saved her probably $5 or more
- This might be thrifty or a splurge as I still can't figure out if my book download was free for the mom's bookclub. I requested a hold on the book for family book club, but if not in (58 in the cue for hard copy, and 9 for audio) I'll borrow my sister's 2nd Kindle. I read fast and several of us have done that in prior months.
- I had a pepper mishap ( shake became a dump) making a tomato sauce and salvaged it by adding milk and cream cheese. It was still quite peppery, but fortunately we like black pepper.
Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls
- Uploaded Fetch receipts and added to my MS Rewards points.
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 invited daughters roommate to join us for lunch Sunday, so of course it was 25% more than for four people. She's such a good friend for my daughter and I am happy it worked out for her to join. ( Her parents equally include my daughter too when in town.) We also splurged on appetizers.
Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 1/16 to Thursday, 1/22).
Fri - Baked beef ravioli
Sat- Hot Beef sandwiches, tuna salad, veggies and hummus or dip, various appetizers and snacks as I hosted family book club and cards.
Sun- We had a large late lunch for my daughter's birthday, so I was not hungry. My son found leftovers from Saturday for the football games.
Mon- Hot ham and cheese sandwiches and homemade cream of mushroom/ vegetable soup ( this was seriously good and will make again, but it was a made up recipe so hopefully can recreate)
Tues- salvaged pasta sauce over penne, turkey meatloaf
Weds- Dinner out with a friend for her birthday, son ate whatever he found leftover wise through the day/ evening as his work day was odd
Thurs- Sort of a mash up as I made both chili and chicken/ small shell pasta soup. I made a ham and pea salad earlier in the day so tastes of these various things made up dinner. They'll be Saturday and Sunday food too. I'm hoping to be ambitious and don't want any momentum stopped by cooking.
Not an inexpensive week, but mostly as planned. I had one sister with a birthday this past week and one next week so we're meeting up for either lunch or happy hour Saturday. I'm going to do a very thorough look at the grocery and household needs and only get what's needed. My low spend January has not been that effective, but I can end on the good this last week ahead, birthdays aside. How was your week?
Sounds like a good week on many levels. We have a small family so few birthday celebrations but a 3 year old's coming up in February. We have been puttering around after spending a lot to get electrical work up to code and having a new dishwasher installed.
ReplyDeleteThese are just going out to celebrate birthdays but adds up. My daughter's was a nigger deal. Appliances, ugh.
DeleteI chuckled at your Kohl's shopping trip. I do the same thing on Amazon. Load the cart, then save it for later. If later comes and I still need the item, then OK. But Kohl's made me so made over a return recently that I vowed never to shop there again. I think the Kohl's cash thing is fishy anyway. This week I have eaten out twice....also, I am buying the book club books as I go, since my library never seems to have the book or a few dozen people on on the list for it.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the gimmicks and sakes, discounts at Kohl's but every store does them now it seems. I'm glad I didn't push the checkout.
DeleteI think your week sounded solid!
ReplyDeleteIt was ok, but I d like to be leaner.
DeleteForgotten expenses week for me . My car insurance is was due and rather than just doing auto renew I shopped around and saved just under £100.00
ReplyDeleteMy daughter submitted her Phd thesis , so her funding has stopped pending her Viva and decision. We had a talk about how she can pay her bills in the interim , and eat , neither of which she can do without my help - but not an easy discussion to have as Rosie likes to be independent.
My sons birthday is early February and I think all his presents have now arrived - we will have a day out to celebrate
And I went to my local Gail’s which for once had no queue - and a space to sit . First time that has happened
Hope you are staying well and warm
Siobhan
You'll figure it out and she's so smart, and has you in her corner. Gails...one we didn't try, but there's more trips to come.
DeleteI came home from work and made creamed spinach, and chili from dried beans and ground beef. I made more chili than I intended! The weather is kind of wild here with highs going to upper 60’s then in the 40’s next week. I am completely missing the ice storm that, unfortunately, my oldest will get in the northern part of the state, from the tail end of the storm that is sweeping a lot of the U.S. this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI just hope he doesn’t lose power! Cindy in the South
I love creamed spinach but no one else really does. There's a DC steakhouse that serves sides table style and that's the good one.
DeleteGlad it wasn't an expensive week. Those are nice.
ReplyDeleteNo, I meant when I typed not inexpensive. Double negatives are not good grammar. I need to tighten the spending.
Deleteooooooohhhhh roger that.
DeleteMy fault...double negatives shouldn't be used. The rest of this week should be tame in terms of spending though another couple co-payments for dental and medical.
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DeleteSounds like you had a good week to me, Sam. That was a good save on the tomato sauce! Hot ham and cheese sandwiches are so good. I make them, wrap in foil, and bake for ten minutes in a 350 degree oven. They are so good!
ReplyDeleteI had a really nice boneless ham portion that we stretched forever.
DeleteGlad you could resist the Kohl's temptation! I often load my carts online, wait until the next day to decide if I really need/want whatever, then cancel everything.
ReplyDeleteIncluding your daughters roommate is a wonderful thing to have done. We used to do the same when Son3 was still in school, but since graduation his roommate has been his wife and including her goes without saying.
She's such a nice person and we enjoy her company.
DeleteThis has been a pretty good week here as it has been much too cold to venture outside. You had a great week.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dinner out with a friend supported a local latino business and was delicious and trivia is at our local brewery. I'll make sure to still spend where it matters in my community.
DeleteI was in London for work. The only personal money I spent was on two travel adapters I bought when jet lagged. Sadly, neither of them were the right kind & ... I found the one I thought I'd forgotten later in my bag. I was so annoyed with myself. Hopefully the hotel will keep them on hand for future travelers who do need that kind. I think it was around $20 or so. Not the end of the world, but the epitome of wasteful spending. The rest of my expenses were covered for the week. Of course, on the home front, Sam's car is in need of repairs, and our garage door is once again broken. Honestly, every appliance/car/house item we own seems to be dying at the same time. It's been a rough few months! On the positive side, I've done a very quick run of our taxes to get an estimate, & I think for the first time since we've been married, we'll be in good shape. That is such a big improvement over where we normally are. Hurrah! - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteI know I'm going to pay in because I have a nice chunk of interest and contract 1099 income not yet paid, but I had other areas over held to minimize the damage. I set the estimate aside so anything less will feel like a win ( though if course the reverse could be true.) I need to get a European adapter that will work for Greece. I just have a couple single ones, but with phone and hearing aids, Kindle, camera I need a multi prong solution.
DeleteThat's a really tasty sounding meal list and I'm going to borrow some of your ideas. I need to start making menus again.
ReplyDeleteI need to better plan too, so this was just what we ended up with. By weeks end, I think I'll have successfully eaten down the soon to be dated meat from freezer so need to start stocking up on kids leaders again.
DeleteDid pretty well staying on budget, despite prepping for the storm heading our way. We ended up buying a bit more then we normally do, but it's all budgeted for. The only splurge I did was go out with my partner late one night for a salad and orange scone. I had received some surprising news from family far away so it just felt like I need an not-so-planned date night with him. - JJ
ReplyDeleteFortunately I didn't need to do any prep buying so we were good..my son still went out for work. We just had the bitter cold not storms anyway. I hope all turns out well with your surprisingly news. Sometimes we need the treats to feel we can get through stressful times.
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