Friday Fiscal Wellness Check October 30, 2026

                                                     


         
     For my Friday posts, I copy a 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, October 23 to Thursday, October 29. I list things as they come up. 

Use it Up/Avoid Waste
  • I've been eating all the soft foods I prepped ahead. 
  • Used another of my daughters butternut squash in a vegan soup and sent half home with her. 
Avoiding Spending/Saving on needs 
  • Used local deals to get 12 cents per gallon back, at close of cc. I'll get the the 1.5% unlimited cash back too.
  • I was tempted to get some lo mein noodles from the delicious Chinese restaurant by my daughters house. Instead, I threw a can of soup in my bag. I wouldn't have truly enjoyed the noodles without crunchy stir fry veggies. Plus, I didn't waste any time picking up food and ate outside on her deck while the dogs played on a perfect fall day.

  • I'm  handing out individual bags of chips, Pringle, and goldfish crackers this year as I do not want any temptation of leftover candy. I bought a variety and spent just shy of $50 and have enough for  up to 90 kids, which is at least 1/3 more than I've had last few years. Since it's a Saturday, I anticipate more kids and they'll be out longer. If not, I don't mind leftovers as I can put away to go with future book club or card nights, or send with my kids for their brown bag work lunches. If I run out, the lights go off.

Opportunities to add Funds/ Windfalls 

  • Entered receipts in Fetch.
  • Renewed a CD at 4.25% interest. This was the CD I started last fall mostly with the funds earned on the contract job I had. I considered starting another CD as the interest is better than currently on my HYSA, but worry about locking too much cash away should it be needed unexpectedly. 

 Non-Thrifty or Frugal Expenses

  •  Since the cats my son adopted were as much my decision as his, I helped with 50% of the vet bill ( total bill was $189). I do miss them, except when I'd like to just wake up slowly, check messages,  etc. on my phone and they'll have none of that.
    The sun wasn't up, but she felt I should have been. Thats me she's set upon.

Then, there are often other things that impacted my check book that came up without much planning or notice, an extra optional or necessary expense, or an all-out splurge.

  •  Nothing this week, but my semi annual life insurance payment invoice came. I add here as this is optional since technically I have no dependents. This is one I must keep until age 65, then theres no further premium for life, though the payout drops to 15% of the policy current value. I've done the simulations and even adjusted for interest and inflation, even if I live another 30 years my beneficiaries will receive at least double what that same cash would have earned, so its a nice supplemental benefit.

  Daily Dinner Diary (Friday 10/23 to Thursday, 10/29). 

Fri -  Bean soup ( last of it and it'll be a long time before I make again) and softish toast

Sat-  Elbow macaroni in tomato sauce, cottage cheese

Sun- a very loose meatloaf, mashed potatoes

Mon- elbow macaroni in tomato and chili sauce, piece of meatloaf 

Tues-  toast and banana...I developed a gastrointestinal issue overnight and food was the last thought. I think combination of sugary butter cookie at a meeting, chili macaroni  and taking NSAID's for my tooth area on repeat just was not a good combination. While the worst seemed to pass by Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday I  felt just sort of bleh.

Weds-  Leftover burrito bowl...my son picked us up Chipotle before getting his cats as a thank you, and for being the bad guy in taking them to the vet.

Thur-  Butternut squash soup 

Leftovers/ Added to Freezer:
  • Nothing, didn't cook anything not eaten or shared.
      Tomorrow of course is Halloween and I should get a fair number of little ones and not so little ones. I love it when teens still trick-or- treat. I've never had any that weren't polite and just enjoying a night still being kids. How was your week?

   

          

Comments

  1. JuhliOctober 30, 2026 at 8:41 AM

    What a great idea to pass out individual bags of chips, etc. Bet the teens will have them eaten quickly. How do you make vegan butternut soup? Sounds interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anne in the kitchenOctober 30, 2026 at 9:24 AM

    I hope your mouth heals a little faster and you can have some crunch. Soft foods can taste fine, but I always miss texture.
    I do regular size hershey bars and keep a total from the prior year so I will have an idea how many to buy. (Thank you Publix for having them BOGO every September) If I run out the lights will go out. If not, any leftover will go into the freezer for holiday baking.

    ReplyDelete
  3. BelindaOctober 30, 2026 at 10:28 AM

    This is the time of year to check in all those fall and winter squashes. Butternut soup sounds delicious. Chips are a great idea for trick or treaters. They will appreciate that over another piece of candy I think. Such a beautiful cat! I'm sure you do miss them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. KirstenMOctober 30, 2026 at 11:45 AM

    That's a chunk of budget if Halloween treats! Good idea to buy savoury instead of sweet though.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AprilOctober 30, 2026 at 4:22 PM

    Preparing for a stock-up on Sunday; October groceries finished a bit higher than I had hoped so carefully scrutinizing the shopping list. I know we are careful with our dollars; I still cringe when I see some of the prices or hear others talk about how much they spent at the grocery!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cheryl KimbleyOctober 30, 2026 at 4:37 PM

    You mentioned on my blog the other day about time to get baking needs. Maybe buy choc. candy after Halloween and chop and use it for baking instead of expensive chips!
    Sounds like a good week. Have fun with the trick or treaters.

    ReplyDelete
  7. JackieOctober 30, 2026 at 6:23 PM

    I have bought some chocolate to hand out, but I am not too sure there will be many out as it is supposed to be colder and even rainy. My lights will probably be out by 8 pm.
    I do hope your mouth heals quickly. Not fun always having to eat soft foods.
    Cute kitty.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousOctober 30, 2026 at 8:31 PM

    I pondered what to do about the puréed feel of the Stempede soup because you were right about that. So I used a can of carrots , a can of corn which gives it some crunch, and a can of regular cut green beans along with evaporated milk mixed with chicken bullion broth so it was not too thick like the cream
    would be and it was actually not as mushy. Also don’t overcook it. I did use the crockpot. It would probably be even better as far as texture with fresh chopped carrots, Cindy in the South

    ReplyDelete

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