Friday Fiscal Wellness Check May 22, 2026

                                


           I appreciated the feedback and will keep posting these checkins on Friday, though might try and edit word count. 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. I just sort of list things as they come up, then edit before publishing. As I wasn't feeling great last week, I didn't keep track well so this covers a few weeks. 

Use it Up/Avoid Waste 
  • Made the strawberry jam from the pre-measured supply. As I've now plenty for my own family and giving, the remaining frozen fruit will be used for muffins, quick breads, and desserts for get together before the summer fruit starts coming again. I want to get involved in new jam varieties to me such as blueberries and peach. My SIL made last summer and the combination is absolutely delicious. I have canned 22 jars in total, four gifted already, and one in the refrigerator being used. Peanuts compared to master jam makers. 
Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs
  • I can't pass at a reduced rotisserie chicken so used for several meals.
  • This will be the last month my son shares my car, but it's been nice for him saving on insurance. Rarely have we had to juggle time. The nearly $1,000 saved will come in handy in his new home. 
  • After my mishap last Sunday, I was pretty much home bound so not spending money on much of anything and had to pass on two different outings.

Opportunities to add Funds/Windfalls 

  • Entered receipts in Fetch, played MS Rewards.
  • Earned $6.35  on SAGO surveys completed while watching YouTube

 Non-Thrifty or Frugal

  • Pup needed a refill on insulin and sharps-$142. With dose increased, likely I'll need in 3-4 weeks rather than a bit over 6, roughly increasing the cost per year by 50%.
  • Though minimal gardening is happening, I spent a small fortune getting top soil and compost in a garden bed. Future years should just need top offs but yikes it takes a lot of bags to be able to decently plant. 

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.

  • Urgent care visit was an added co- pay.

  Daily Dinner Diary (rather a list of various meals the last two weeks). 

  •  Chicken and mushroom risotto and mixed vegetables.
  • leftover bits, fruit x3
  •  "Girls dinner" on Mothers Dayincluding bruschetta, spinach artichoke dip, taquitos, mozzarellasticks, and sqeet potato fries. They really went all out! The girls and I avoided restaurants, but I  was pretty beat up and sore from the fall earlier in the day so would have changed plans anyway.
  •  Italian seasoned pork loin, mashed potatoes, spring peas
  • Rigatoni with meatballs, marinara
  • BBQ chicken drumsticks, Mac and cheese, green beans 
  • Turkey meatloaf
  • Bacon wrapped pork chops
  • Homemade pizza 
  • Chicken Wild rice soup 
  • Chipotle with a BOGO Reward
  • Creamy pesto and chicken fettuccine 

       I realized most of my spending and my thrift actions were PF ( pre-fall).  I'm puttering, just still not moving fast. The condo closing was yesterday, but son is busy all weekend with cabin and paid work, so no action on sourcing items and move in. I'll do a post about the condo buying experience as a bit different how it all came about. I have pet care duty and plan on just a quiet weekend. How was your week? 

  

Comments

  1. ElleMay 22, 2026 at 7:42 AM

    For sure, garden start-up costs are significant. Hopefully with kitchen scrap/leaves you can get a compost pile going in a far corner of the yard and use it next spring. I have zero grass so I ask my neighbor to dump his grass clippings on my side of the short picket fence and I top dress with that once planted. Great for retaining water and it composts in, feeding the soil.

    How exciting/scary for your son!!!!! It's certainly a big deal in 2026 for a young person to buy their first home.

    Sending positive vibes for quick healing of your injury so you can "get on with it". :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 22, 2026 at 9:15 AM

    It was an okay week on my side. Some frugal wins, but shadowed by work & some health complications I'm trying to puzzle out. Having an autoimmune disease means I'm always wondering what this lab means, or what that twinge is about. Most typically, it's nothing. Sometimes it's disease progression. The mental load of that is taxing, I'd say. - Hawaii Planner

    ReplyDelete

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