Friday Fiscal Wellness Check, February 13, 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, February 6 to Thursday, February, 12 . I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing. I'm adding a subcategory, technically part of avoid spending and saving on needs, but with an emphasis on being more intentional-Use It Up/Prevent Waste.

Use it Up/Avoid Waste 
  • We had a very simple, but delicious little Super Bowl spread with loss leader pizzas, using the last of the Christmas brie with pears, some sausage my son received at Christmas in a charcuterie box, plus various chips and dip. I had these fun napkins from years ago. 

  • Made four mini loaves of banana bread from bananas that ripened oddly
    My weekly bread picture it seems. 

Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs
  • Entertainment (minus exception below) was cheap this past week with a lot of Olympic watching. Minnesota always has a big winter Olympics presence, so it has extra interest.
  • My daughter and I had a browse in a thrift store and found her some Columbia capris-walking shorts convertible pants, and a French Press as she's been liking coffee made that way in her office. Hopefully it saves her a bit of money not buying her Caribou. I broke my no clothes and found a long skirt perfect for Greece (can wear mixed and matched, casual to a bit nicer) for $3.99 and seems good quality. 
  • Very low grocery spend of under $25. I'm trying to maximize ingredients and put a few meals in the freezer. 

Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

  • Uploaded Fetch receipts and added to my MS Rewards points. 

 Non-Thrifty or Frugal

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. 

  • With my daughter not feeling great, I brought her some food plus she was actually in the mood to go out for lunch and talk. I used my entertainment budget cash so now just have $11 left if I intend to stick tight (I don't really have plans with others travelling and that will cover a hard seltzer and tip at trivia). She tends to not take care of herself physically when she's not mentally doing well so having no thought needed food helps. Hopefully her meds balance soon, but she seemed better than earlier in the week. 

     Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 2/5 to Thursday, 2/12). 

Fri - Chicken noodle soup with toast 

Sat-  macaroni and cheese and green beans

Sun- Super Bowl food including pizza, wings,  nachos, and charcuterie (a day of grazing- leftovers will used for lunches for several days)

Mon-  Chickpea curry

Tues- Chicken noodle soup, plus baked a large package of chicken legs that had thawed. 

Weds- leftovers and veggies and ranch dressing dip 

Thurs- leftovers ( a bit under the weather)

     I'm in a blue period again. Life is both a lot and I'm in a pity me stage that life will never be what I had hoped and dreamed for myself and my family. I know that's very selfish with so much real struggle and tragedy in the world, but we can't help what's in our head. That's the big reason I relaunched positively Tuesday. I don't want to look like the empty shell externally that I feel like inside. Trying to fake a happy life gets tiring though. How was your week?

           

     

  

Comments

  1. VixFebruary 13, 2026 at 8:03 AM

    Sending you loys of love and good vibes, Sam. I hpe the darkness lifts and you start feeling more positive very soon. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMFebruary 13, 2026 at 6:44 PM

      Thanks, Vix. My kids are each dealing with stressors, and I'm trying to split time amongst them and others.

      Delete
  2. ElleFebruary 13, 2026 at 8:18 AM

    Living the life you had never planned to have is beyond imaginable. Hugs Sam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMFebruary 13, 2026 at 6:45 PM

      It would be nice to be able to talk options to help solve some challenges right now. I see endless years of problem solving alone.

      Delete
  3. BelindaFebruary 13, 2026 at 9:14 AM

    You're right, Sam, we can't help what's in our head. I'm sure some days are better than others, but we don't always know when those feelings will surface. Hang in there, my friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMFebruary 13, 2026 at 6:46 PM

      The just think positive crowd are fortunate it works for them.

      Delete
  4. Anne in the kitchenFebruary 13, 2026 at 9:46 AM

    Grief is a cruel being that everyone experiences differently. Loss is hard and the reminders of what life is like now appear over and over. Just do what you can, when you can.
    And don't consider a 3.99 skirt blowing your no clothes purchase. I think a skirt for Greece should be a T&E expense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMFebruary 13, 2026 at 6:46 PM

      It will be a good item to pack and will get $3.99of use.

      Delete
  5. KirstenMFebruary 13, 2026 at 10:25 AM

    I totally get not being able to live out your plans. We came into a bot of money at the end of 2019 and spent the first two months deciding which European river cruise we would do, and travelling abroad holidays for almost the first time.... but covid and my oxygen dependency scuppered everything. I spent 2020 being very angry indeed. Grieving, I realised.
    My husband, bless him, has also had to give up plans in order to protect me from illness. Cheerfulness is harder in winter.
    Acknowledge, accept, and do what one can... small wins, little joys.
    Nothing will replace my dreams of Venice Paris Florence Prague Amsterdam. Tears and rage is not helpful, I've found...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KirstenMFebruary 13, 2026 at 10:27 AM

      Yeah, being cheerful in spite of weather, sadness, etc is WORK. I hope my guardian angel is taking note and cutting me some slack when I slip into whinge mode!

      Delete
    2. KirstenMFebruary 13, 2026 at 10:28 AM

      The nuns at my first school were very keen on guardian angels. What you learn when you are six sticks.

      Delete
    3. SAMFebruary 13, 2026 at 6:48 PM

      I think I might have got stuck with either a failed guardian angel or passed by completely. I don't have much faith right now in higher powers to help me ease my sadness. I'm sorry you lost out on your travel plans. That's rough.

      Delete
  6. Sue in SuffolkFebruary 13, 2026 at 11:16 AM

    When a partner dies - a lot of you dies too - hopes and plans. It's no wonder that we feel down sometimes. Just have to get up again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMFebruary 13, 2026 at 6:50 PM

      Do we though? Would anyone miss a widow just disappearing in the shadows? That's how I feel- overlooked unless I'm needed for something. That's today's thoughts. Hopefully not tomorrows.

      Delete
  7. ScarletFebruary 13, 2026 at 2:22 PM

    'We can't help what's in our head' is so very true SAM. Your struggles are real and are not diminished in their impact on you by what's happening elsewhere. Thinking of you all Xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. TreadersFebruary 14, 2026 at 3:54 AM

    You're not invisible Sam, we see you. It's great that you're there for your kids but I expect worrying about them isn't helping your mood, plus a Minnesota winter!!!! Hang in there hon, Greece will be here soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SAMFebruary 14, 2026 at 7:15 AM

      I will be on my trip soon. I think a lot of us around my age feel invisible in society especially when you don't have the expected milestones most do by certain ages. I appreciate the blog world in these moody blues days.

      Delete
  9. GinaFebruary 14, 2026 at 8:13 AM

    Trying to fake happy makes me feel worse. You just have to feel what you feel while you feel it, you know? Be authentically you. Sometimes it hits me hard that life will not be what I assumed it would. Not that there isn't happy, but its tempered with resentment and regret sometimes. It is how it is.

    ReplyDelete

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