Friday Fiscal Wellness Check February 6, 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 30 to Thursday, February, 5. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing. 

Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs

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  I mostly just wandered but spent a full $2.25 total on these wildflower seed/ gift tag/ card ( which I'll use for MIL for Mother's Day and plant for her) and a very cute pick for spruce tip pot next Christmas.
• I really need February to because lower than low spend month and tuck anything unspent in my line items towards Greece. I took out my spending money for the month in cash and when it's gone, it's gone, but I've got ideas to make the month not feel tight entertainment wise.
• Really planned meals based on store specials and what we already had in the house. I'm aiming for austerity level spending without austerity level meals (good protein and lots of vegetables)
• Made two loaves of chocolate chip zucchini bread from shredded veg in the freezer ( so much still in there) and the last of a bag of chocolate chips from Christmas. I used this recipe but omitted the cinnamon because I knew I was adding chocolate and didn't want differing flavors. I used real eggs, not veganised. 
  
  
  

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. 

• Highschool programs rely on admissions and concessions as fundraisers to keep programming somewhat affordable to students. I gladly spent $33 on admission for myself ($20) and a bit of lunch for sister and I ($13) as she drove. 
• Made a small donation to my niece's gymnastics team. With such a large family, I can't make big amounts but try and show support. I like this one as it was just a straight up donation and not buying overpriced stuff with low returns to the program. (No more Tastefully Simple or Butter Braids please-their regular go to fundraisers)
• As expected, my doctor added a blood pressure med, so now need to factor that into spending each quarter, but fortunately I have fairly good coverage or it could be worse. Plus, she added a nose spray as she felt my persistent cough and flemminess is all stemming from the sinus area. I was glad there was a Walgreens version but still, not an inexpensive OTC product but if it helps, worth it. 
• Spoke too soon...more out of pocket dental of $99.98 for previous two visits so will have one more of $49.99..I had $18 in OOP medical too. Good thing the mammogram ( sent estimate) is 100% covered. Does anyone wonder why preventative medicine is too often pushed aside? How many people don't have $536 if they don't  have coverage or a very high OOP deductible including preventative for a mammogram?
  
  
  

     Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 1/30 to Thursday, 2/5). 

Fri - Chicken pot pie with mashed potatoes on the side (store bought crust, but will give homemade another try as it still looked"rustic" but crust tasted much better than the one I made for the apple pie a couple weeks ago) my beaten up but still functional insulated cookie sheet saved the mess in the oven from overfilled pie. Keeping it real and not Instagram pretty 

Sat-  Chicken tortellini Alfredo soup made ahead on Friday and toast when I got back from an all day choir competition, my son polished off the rest of the pie between his lunch and supper, so guess it was a hit. 

Sun- Baked chicken thighs, roasted sweet potato, broccoli 

Mon- Goulash with mixed vegetables 

Tues- I ate out with mom friends, long overdue catch up with the full group. There were plenty of leftovers for my son.

Weds- BSC thighs, wild rice, peas

Thurs- Made a pot of chicken noodle soup, plus additional leg quarters-which my son had one with leftover vegetables and rice from night before after he came home from a late work night

           I mentioned my daughter needs a bit of mom care so today I am making her favorite, curry and bringing her some portions along with baking and soup. I start cat care tomorrow and as this is same sister having surgery later in the month, I'll put some soup in her freezer too. So, how was your week?