Friday Fiscal Wellness Check April 3, 2026
For my Friday posts, I copy the previous week, delete the old and update as I go along the week. This helps me add as the week goes on. Here's my recap of Friday, March 27 to Thursday, April 2. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing.
- I had an obscene amount of cleaning supply containers under the sink discovered when prepping for the water filtration install. I organized on a shelf in the garage to use up as the small amount that I'll store under the sink get used up. I lost 2/3rds the storage space.
- It was darn right chilly on Wednesday and I wasn't feeling coffee or tea in the afternoon. I scrounged the last packet in my miscellaneous hot beverage packet bowl (probably well beyond date on package) of a cinnamon hot chocolate.
- I'm happy to say that I met the -20% grocery budget target for March. Granted, I was gone 11 days but I also made extra meals to send with my younger daughter. I plan to try in April too, but with cooking a nice Easter dinner, more like 10% is probably more doable.
- Finally figured out I can pay through automated phone payment my health insurance, saving a stamp a month. Little savings but nothing is dismissed these days.
- Filled up when gas was $3.22 and I had a few cents off reward. I feel for people relying on gas for their jobs, school, or medical appointments. My daughters have sizeable commutes and my son can be at wide varied locations and have all felt the pinch.
- With Q1 being in the books, I updated my cash flow projection for 2026 with new costs for pup and other lines based on increases, revised discretionary line items to fit priorities, and for now, should be still on track.
Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls
- Uploaded Fetch receipts and added to my MS Rewards points.
- I netted a whole $74 after my federal refund and what I owed the state. I'll file for my property tax rebate in August and hopefully get a small bit back, but willing to pay my fair share.
Non-Thrifty or Frugal
- Paid the balance after the water filtration system was installed. This was a painful purchase due to the necessity caused by reckless environmental actions in the name of corporate greed.
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.
- Splurged on Jersey Mike's sub sandwiches when kitchen was chaos and didn't know when exactly the technician was coming.
Fri - Hamburgers with all the fixings, homemade air fryer French fries
Sat- BBQ Chicken drumsticks, mashed potatoes, sweet peas
Sun- Chicken tacos, rice, and beans
Mon- Adouille sausage, red beans and rice, mixed vegetables
Tues- Late lunch (subs) so had cottage cheese and fruit
Weds- Meatballs in vodka sauce over spaghetti
Thur: Vegan chili and rice
It seems many of you are also planning, and without being disappointed, a homebound outlook for the coming months to rest of the year. I'm leaning into the opportunity to truly get things done in the house, the yard, and invest time in healthier activities and cooking. I'll have another life update soon that will occupy my time and will add expense, but bring lots of smiles. I'll continue to look at ways to maximize my budget elsewhere.
It's funny how much stuff can be stored under a sink until you go to clean it out and then realize how much is really there. Smart of you to move some of it to a shelf in the garage. Great job on reducing your grocery budget by 20% in March. $3.22 for gas is good right now, it's $3.79 here, and I want to see if I can find it any cheaper when I am out today and fill it up. Good deal on your refund, not too much and not too little withheld. I hope you have a good weekend and enjoy the Easter holiday with your family, Sam.
ReplyDeleteI know people look forward to getting a tax refund, but I'd rather the right amount is done from the beginning. Enjoy your Easter weekend too.
DeleteThose under sink cupboards - mine is certainly a hoarders paradise!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
The space constraints will force me to be better organized. No mire shoving things under.
DeleteI'm going to have to follow your blog more closely as I plan to retire in two years and I'm never been one for being frugal. I have been trying the past year, not eating out as often or hardly ever, but gas in California is at $5.59 per gallon! I was in Arizona last month and gas prices there were $3.39 and Arizona people were complaining! Ha!
ReplyDeleteIt started by us being very low to average earners, three kids, then college for said kids so have always been watchful. After my husband passed away, suddenly just one income. I retired last year after a lot of number crunching. I should be comfortable but not wealthy by any means, so trying to make sure my money out lasts me is my aim now.
DeleteYes to Alicia's gas comment. DS20 drives his car to/from work & it is outlandishly expensive. I'm going to offer to have him drive the electric car at least part of the time. We still pay to charge the electric car, but definitely not at the same cost as a gas fill-up.
ReplyDeleteWe have been paying close attention to our expenses as well. Looking for opportunities to reduce expenses where we can, while still optimizing our lives. I was really focused on travel optimization this week, as we have a bunch of "logistical" trips with DS19 getting to/from school & us making a few visits for move in/out & family weekend. I underestimated the amount of travel required, so I'm attempting to make the most of it with airline miles, credits earned from a canceled flight, & hotel free night awards. Every bit of money saved on logistical trips means either more money for fun travel, or just more money back into the budget. - Hawaii Planner
That's so much. My son earns less here but aside from living with me ( saving towards his own place) he finds the costs so much lower. Im tryingvto hoard rewards now for a future treat.
DeleteUgh! Now that I have read your blog I need to do the same with my under sink cabinet. In fact just this morning I found 2 containers of furniture polish in the cabinet above the washer, which is not where it belongs. I wonder if my excess cleaning products means I don't clean often enough. Probably!
ReplyDeleteLast year I couldn't find furniture polish so bought more. Guess what I found? I know I don't clean often enough but who knows but me.
DeleteI've got cleaning supplies left from the previous house owner that I said I would use up all along. They are different products than I usually use. The supplies are still on the shelf here 3 years later. I like to see what others are eating to give me some ideas.
ReplyDeleteI bet some if mine might have been here for decades and just rearranged. I too like ideas on meals planning.
DeleteI clean under the sink every few months and it is still full and I don't buy new items. I swear someone comes in and leaves stuff!! Got gas this week for 3.49, not too bad.
ReplyDeleteYou're better at organization and cleaning than I am!
DeleteCheryl nailed the problem, someone dies sneak in and leave stuff under the kitchen sink here! And I live with just a cat (maybe she does it?). Good for you getting through March with a reduced budget!
ReplyDeleteI found plastic bags...I wasn't even aware I put them there. I'll blame the cat too.
DeleteI'm going to be staying at home a lot, too, and will spend at least one free day a week reading or putseying around the house spending zero dollars!
ReplyDeleteYep, though the expenses seem to come to me. True though, need to be mindful to use what I have and be satisfied on humble days.
DeleteI live in Australia and our petrol at the moment is $2.89 a litre or $10.92 a gallon, caused by another countries war, it is beyond my comprehension that a percentage of US citizens do not understand the impact of who they vote for on the rest of the world. Rant over know that the majority of people reading this blog understand this. Lisa
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, from one who totally knows how it works. I gag even thinking about the orange demon and his ego that is trying to destroy the world. Thanks for commenting and sharing your reality.
DeleteYour gas prices are impressive! As someone who drives a total of two hours a day to and from work, gas prices are eating me up!!!!! Today, I saw $3.64 and $3.99 gallon but it is a holiday weekend and they tend to go up here on holidays. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how we escaped the nearly $4 prices but thought I'd better fill up. I do feel for the bite it's taking out of budgets when some have narrow margins already.
DeleteWhen my ex-husband upped and abandoned his rental way back in 2015 I ended up emptying it bit by bit over the next eight weekends. I bought all his cleaning stuff back here and was pretty good about using it up. Now, however, I have the same ubiquitous under sink hoard as most of your commentators do!!! Uugghh, something else to think about! And regarding gas, over here it's about $10/gallon right now (I just had to convert litres to US gallons) so I really, really feel for those that have a long commute!
ReplyDeleteIt's not sustainable no matter how much BS we're being pitched. Families will hurt. I must use up the hoards of stuff as I need the garage space back.
DeleteYou're a tornado at the momnet, Sam, I'm so impressed with how much you're getting done.
ReplyDeleteIn the Uk we have crazies who think that 15 minute Cities are a bad thing and the government are trying to imprison them in their own homes...I love that we live within a 15 minute walk of everything from the hospital, supermarket, GP surgery, dentist, cinema, swimming pool and the railway station (so we can catch a train to the airport or Birmingham) so we don't really need to drive anywhere! xxx
That's a terrific location to live. I can do a lot in walking distance but no public transportation a where near us. Things tend to be spread out, but with nicer weather, I can do more on a bicycle.
DeleteIt sounds like a pretty good month, that you're on target.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the taxes are all out of the way. I don't like doing them, but am just glad we don't owe anything!
It's hard to plan ahead to break even on taxes. There's different rules by state and changes in federal that are very confusing.
DeleteGood for you I say ! I have heaps of cleaning bottles too. How on earth did this happen?
ReplyDeleteDeep cupboards is my rationale. Things just ease their way to the back and then, forgotten.
Delete