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Birthday Weekend!

October 29th, 2021 at 02:51 pm

This is my birthday weekend! On Saturday I will be going out to dinner to my favorite seafood restaurant with my brother and family, then back to thier house for cake and ice cream. On Sunday, my best friend is taking me to lunch, then we will hang out for the day. 

Today (Friday) we are getting hit with a high wind and rain storm. Public schools in a lot of the state actually cancelled classes today because of flooding concerns. I hope to not lose power. 

I did a freezer and pantry sweep and will be eating up a bunch of leftover things for the rest of the month. I have a single hamburger pattie that I will pair with some carrots, a serving of mini meatballs and gravy, and will add a side of greenbeans. I have 3 breaded chicken patties and will fix some instant mashed potatoes and corn. Two servings of vegetable soup that I froze, I will probably have these for lunch. I have plenty of eggs, cereal and oatmeal for breakfasts. Lunches can be tuna or chicken salad, or PB&J. The next senior center food distribution is on Wednesday so I won't  need to do much grocery shopping, usually just fresh produce. 

I started my Christmas shopping and hope to have everthing done in a few weeks. We are keeping the spending low, everyone agrees to keep it simple this year.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

Mid Month Update

October 16th, 2021 at 08:39 pm

October is the first month on my reduced income amount from my retirement distribution (from $1500 to $1200). I also average another $200 - $250 from Swagbucks and My Points. So far, my spending for the month is $1053.61. All of my usual monthly bills are paid, except for the cell phone bill so I am right on track.  My grocery spending is at $46.29. The food I receive from the senior center monthly give away has really had an impact on keeping this low. I only really need to buy fresh produce, butter, milk, eggs, iced tea, and some ice cream every now and then. 

We are expecting some storms today, and then a cold front will move in. I'm ready for the cooler weather. It's mid October and it is still very warm and humid. I'm over it! Smile 

Keep an eye out for grocery store promotions for free turkeys and/or hams for Thanksgiving. My Weis grocery store is giving customers a free one when you have enough points on your grocery club card. I will easily reach the 400 points needed by completing the on-line customer satisfaction surveys on the bottom of each shopping receipt. I earn 100 points for each one I do, limit of one per week. I will probably get a ham, and use it for Christmas Eve dinner when the whole family comes over. Meats are so expensive now so this will help the budget a lot. 

My brother, nephew and cousin will be over tomorrow for our football watching Sunday get together. We all just pitch in for food so it's a fun, low cost get together. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

October Senior Center Food Give Away

October 7th, 2021 at 04:13 pm

October Senior Center Food Giveaway (once per month) 

 

Just a reminder. This is not income based (not a food bank), the only requirements are that you are a member of the senior center, you live in the qualifying neighborhood zip codes, and are a senior (age 60 and up). None of the food is USDA (government subsidized). Everything is donated by local grocery stores and are store brands or name brands. Nothing was expired, opened, or damaged. Everything is aleady bagged up, they just load it in your trunk. I have no idea what I am getting until I get home and unpack it all. 

I got there right at the end of the distribution time and they still had a LOT of food left. I asked what they do with anything left over and she said they donate it to local churches that have food pantry’s 

 

Here is what I received: 

 

5 lbs. of frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts (amazing)! I searched around in my pantry and had everything I needed to make some BBQ crock pot chicken. I am using half the chicken for this. Yum! 

 

1 gallon of milk 

1 box of cereal 

1 box of hot wheat cereal (like oatmeal) 

4 cans of low sodium spaghetti sauce 

boxes of spaghetti pasta 

1 box of rigatoni pasta 

2 cans of sweet corn 

3 boxes of mac and cheese 

1 small package of instant mashed potatoes 

2 beef ramen noodle soups 

1 cup o noodles chicken soup 

1 box of graham crackers 

64 ounce bottle of apple juice 

2 cans of tuna 

1 can of green beans 

1 can of sliced potatoes 

1 can of diced tomatoes 

1 can of Beefaroni 

1 can of vienna sausages 

1 can of mixed vegetables 

1 large can of pork and beans 

2 cans of tomato soup 

1 can of mixed fruit 

1 can of unsweetened applesauce 

1 can of sliced peaches 

1 can of kidney beans 

1 can of sliced pears 

small jars of peanut butter 

2 jars of grape jelly 

4 small individual cups of apple sauce 

1 can of luncheon meat  

15 ounce bag of raisins 

1 (2lb) bag of brown rice 

1 (1.6 lb) package of instant non fat dry milk 

1 (6 pack) of bakery sandwich rolls 

1 loaf of unsliced bakery sesame bread 

1 (6 pack) of bakery sour cream cookies 

1 large pouch of Market Street Beef stew 

2 pouches of Market Street chicken (like canned chicken but in a pouch) 

 

2 toothbrushes 

2 rolls of TP 

2 bars of bath soap 

1 large (32 ounce) bottle of 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner 

1 tube of toothpaste 

 

I am VERY grateful for this program, and will be sharing with my family.

September 2021 Spending/Saving

October 1st, 2021 at 03:12 pm

Income Total$1700.00

     * $1500 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  

     * $200 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal

      

Total Spending: $1475.14

Total Savings$224.86 (difference between monthly income and monthly spending) 
 
Fixed Expenses: 
Verizon bundle (internet, cable, home phone): $174.51

Cell phone: $59.97
HVAC and water heater contract: $29.95 
Condo Fee (includes water) $190.00 

Health Care: (includes health, dental, vision, prescription plans) $476.37 
 
Variables: 
Utilities: $97.70
Gasoline: $39.84
Groceries: $105.58
Health: $61.82 (co-pays, scripts refillsvitamins and personal health care items) 
Take Out and Dining Out: $49.11 (most was birthday dinner for bff)

Shopping and Other Spending $63.10 (birthday giftcard for bff, wireless mouse, phone charger)

McAfee yearly renewal: $127.19 (multiple devices)

 

* Condo is paid in full 
* Car is paid in full (2017 Camry) 
* No other debt  

 

Notes: Starting in October my recurring monthly retirement account distribution decreases from $1500 to $1200. The dental expenses (ongoing) will be paid from my emergency fund, so I do not count it against my monthy spending. Likewise, I have a seperate savings account specifically for paying yearly property taxes, car insurance and condo insurance. Prior to retiring I funded this account for at least 10 years of payments. I do not count these expenditures in my monthly spending. Thanks to the monthly food giveway from the senior center, my grocery spending was a lot lower, and I expect it to be even lower in October. 

$$Money Saving Deals$$

September 28th, 2021 at 07:11 pm

I went to CVS today and took advantage of the following deals:

 

Buy 2 name brand toothpastes for $7.98 

I used a CVS store card coupon for $7.98 off 2 of these toothpastes 

These were free, except for tax which was .48 cents 

 

Buy one name brand deodorant on sale for $2 

I paid $2.12 (.12 cents tax) 

Received a $2 CVS Extra Buck back to use on a future purchase 

 

I received a CVS app coupon to purchase any hair, cosmetic, or nail product up to a $5 value for free. I chose a bottle of name brand shampoo that was $4.29. This was completely free. 

 

I purchased: 

3, eight packs of name brand toilet paper (mega rolls, 24 total) 

1 pack of name brand tissues (48 count) 

After applying coupons and CVS extra bucks earned on previous purchases, I paid $5.15 out of pocket (.86 cents of that was tax) 

My receipt said this was a 91% Savings Value 

I also received a $10 CVS extra buck to use on a future purchase. 

 

Total out of pocket for all of these products (and tax) was only $7.75. And I received a total of $12 CVS Extra Bucks back to use for future purchases. 

 

Disclaimer: I do not work for CVS! ðŸ˜Š 

$$Dental Work$$

September 25th, 2021 at 03:08 pm

Last week I needed to go into the dentist and discovered that I had a cracked tooth. After 2 visits and some significant pain I am happy to say that I am finally feeling much better, with just some minor soreness. This not only physically hurt, but it hurt my wallet too. Even with decent dental insurance I’m still estimated to owe around $1200. A large portion of this is the cost of the crown I will need. It also includes another small procedure on another tooth and an upcoming cleaning.  

 

Fortunately, I have a healthy emergency fund to pay for this expense, so while I will put it on my credit card to earn cash back points, I can pay it off in full when the bill is due.  

 

I’m looking forward to having my family over tomorrow on Sunday for football watching and lunch. My cousin is bringing pizza and wings, and I’ll be serving homemade apple pie for dessert. We always have such a good time on our football Sundays. It’s a low-cost way to have a great time with family. 

 

The weather here on the east coast has turned cooler and I am loving it. It felt so good to open the windows and turn off the AC for a bit. Fall is my favorite season! 

Mid Month Update and Some Changes

September 15th, 2021 at 10:23 pm

After reviewing my assets and expenses, I made a few financial changes: 

 

I reduced my monthly recurring retirement account distribution amount from $1500 to $1200. This will go into effect in October. After a thorough review of my investments by my sister who is a CPA and CFA, and independently by my friend and tax preparer, who is also a CPA, both made similar recommendationsMy basic bills are covered monthly by this reduced amount. I also consistently earn between $200 and $250 a month through Swagbucks and My Points. This amount will be used for any other expenses I may have each month. I feel confident I can continue to live modestly, but happily on this amount. 

 

I reduced my monthly Verizon bundle expense by dropping my land line phone that I wasn’t using. I also increased my internet speed. This reduced my monthly bill from $174.51 to $160.43, a savings of $14.08 per month. 

 

I contacted my cell phone provider (Verizon) to see if there were any discounts for my current account. I could save $5 per month if I signed up for auto pay, but for various reasons I prefer not to. I am considering switching providers, but I’m just not sure yet. I am very happy with my service, and since I dropped my land line phone it is important that my cell phone and service works well. I have heard both pros and cons about other providers. So, for now I am staying with my current provider and plan, even though it is more expensive than others. I may change my mind as I continue to investigate other choices. 

 

My grocery spending at mid-month is $42.50. The grocery give away from my senior center has had a real impact on my ability to significantly reduce my grocery spending this monthI spoke with the Director of the senior center, and she said this program is solidly supported and will continue well into the foreseeable future.  

 

I will continue to shop for deals, use senior discounts, use coupons and always search for ways to reduce my expenses.

 

Next up will be reviewing my car insurance and condo insurance plans.  

 

On the spending side, I purchased a backup wireless mouse and a phone charger. My electronics are now all new or newish, so I’m in good shape there.  

Groceries From the Senior Center

September 5th, 2021 at 07:11 pm

I mentioned in a previous post that my neighborhood senior center sent members an email notifying us they will be having a monthly food giveaway. The only requirements are that you live in the qualifying neighborhood zip codes and are a senior (age 60 and up) I organized what I will be donating, keeping, and sharing. Here is what I received: 

 

Donate Items 

1 large (64 oz) bottle of Apple Juice  

2 small snack packs of Welch’s fruit snacks 

1 box of Farina hot wheat cereal 

2 boxes of mac and cheese 

1 can of cheese ravioli 

1 box of devil's food cake mix 

1 large box of instant mashed potatoes 

1 can of red kidney beans 

jar of grape jelly 

1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup 

jar (15 oz.) of Alfredo sauce 

 

Keep Items 

package of salted caramel cookies (from the bakery) 

1 individual pack of cheese crackers 

2 Quaker granola bars 

1 small snack size of Ritz cheese crackers 

2 packs of Ramen Chicken Soup 

2 cans of chunk light tuna 

box of graham crackers 

half of a bakery marble cake (gave this to my neighbor) 

1 can of white chicken 

1 package of Market Street Chunk Chicken Breast 

1 small can of Carnation evaporated milk 

2 cans of vegetarian beans 

1 box of Quinoa blend 

1 can of pears 

1 can of tomato sauce 

1 can of condensed tomato soup 

1 can of sliced peaches 

1 can of condensed vegetable soup 

1 can of diced tomatoes 

1 can of chili with beans 

1 box of honey nut cheerios 

1 box of rigatoni 

1 box of thin Barilla spaghetti 

2 lbs. of ground beef 

2 lbs. of American cheese (I will be sharing this with my brother) 

1 jar of peanut butter 

1 loaf of rye bread 

6 Kaiser rolls (gave these to bff) 

2.5 lbs. of frozen peas (gave half of these to bff) 

1 small chocolate parfait 

 

Personal Care Items (all keep) 

2 Palmolive bath bars 

2 rolls of TP 

1 tube of hand cream 

1 tube of lip balm 

1 large nail file 

1 pencil eye liner (gave this to bff) 

1 bottle of laundry soap (64 oz.) 

I large bottle of 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner 

 

75% of this was from my local grocery store chain; it was their store brand or still had their labels on it. Everything was very fresh, and nothing was expired. Some meals I have planned to make are pea soup, chili, grilled cheese and tomato soup, PB&J sandwichtuna and chicken salad. I already used some of the ground beef to make some meat sauce for spaghetti. I had stopped buying ground meat because it is just too expensive now. 

 

It makes me very happy and grateful that the grocery stores in my area are donating food to the community instead of just dumping it in the dumpster. This will really help me to reduce my grocery spending. I will mostly just need to buy some fresh produce, eggs, and chicken on my next grocery trip. 

August Spending/Savings

September 1st, 2021 at 08:53 pm

Income Total$1829.00

     * $1500 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  

     * $225 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal

     * $104.00 Credit Card Cash Back Rewards

      

Total Spending: $1411.13

Total Savings$417.87 (difference between monthly income and monthly spending) 
 
Fixed Expenses: 
Verizon bundle (internet, cable, home phone): $174.51

Cell phone: $60.03
HVAC and water heater contract: $29.95 
Condo Fee (includes water) $190.00 

Health Care: (includes health, dental, vision, prescription plans) $476.37 
 
Variables: 
Utilities: $114.71
Gasoline: $0
Groceries: $153.35
Health: $70.00 (co-pays, scripts refillsvitamins and personal health care items) 
Take Out and Dining Out: $20.72

Shopping and Other Spending $52.49 (birthday gift for my brother)

Eye Exam: $69.00

 

* Condo is paid in full 
* Car is paid in full (2017 Camry) 
* No other debt  

 

I had challenged myself to stay below $160 for groceries this month and came in just under at $153.35. 

$$Great Deals$$

August 29th, 2021 at 10:18 pm

I went to CVS early this morning for some itemsHere is what I purchased: 

 

2 Colgate toothpastes (these were 2 for $7.98, but CVS sent everyone a digital coupon for $7.98 off 2 to your CVS card, so these were free) 

1 pack of 4 Charmin TP (mega rolls) (on sale for $4.99) 

1 small bottle of Palmolive dish soap (on sale for .99 cents) 

7 cans of Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore tuna (on sale for .99 cents a can) 

5 boxes of Special K Cereal (on sale for $1.99 a box) 

 

After using coupons and CVS Extra Care bucks earned on previous purchases, and my $10 CarePass Bucks for the month, I paid zero out of pocket! The only thing I had to pay was tax of .54 cents. The Trip Summary on the bottom of my receipt indicates that I saved $62.54 for a Savings Value of 100% 

 

I am well stocked now on personal care products and paper products, so I am focusing a little more on food items. With this purchase I am nicely stocked for breakfast and lunch for a few weeks. This really helps me to keep my grocery bills down as food prices keep rising.  

 

I received an interesting email from my senior center. It said that they will be doing a food give away this Wednesday for members of the center. They intend to do this once a month for the foreseeable future. This senior center was brand new and opened back in 2019 just a few months before Covid hit. Then it closed because of the virus. It reopened a few months ago before Delta, but I haven’t been visiting due to an increase in the positivity rate of lateI think I will take advantage of this though. Anything I receive that I won’t use I will donate back to the food pantry where I volunteer.  

 

Praying for everyone in Hurricane Ida’s path. We expect to have a lot of rain here from the remnants of the storm later this week.  

Free Milk!

August 25th, 2021 at 07:44 pm

I was volunteering at my usual food bank today and we got an unexpected milk donation from one of the local grocery stores early this morning before we opened. We were able to give most of it away, but there were still a few gallons left after we closed so the distribution manager said the volunteers could take a gallon if we wanted. We don't have any way to store it so I was OK with taking a gallon home so it wouldn't go to waste. 

It was funny because I had planned to go to CVS to buy some cereal anyway and now I had free milk for it. The cereal deal was:

Cheerios were on sale for $1.77 a box. I bought 2 boxes for a total of $3.54. I used a $1 off coupon, and a $2 CVS Extra Buck that I earned on a previous purchase, bringing the total out of pocket price down to just .54 cents for 2 boxes. Plus, I earned a $1 Extra Buck to use toward a future purchase. My trip summary on the bottom of my receipt said I saved $10.94 or a 95% savings rate. Not bad!

I also just cashed out my points from Fetch for a $10 CVS gift card. I have another $10 of extra bucks from my Carepass, and $3 of other extra bucks earned so I have a total of $23 to spend on upcoming purchases. I'll see what kind of deals are coming up in the next couple of weeks. 

 

 

Mid Month Spending Update and $Deals$

August 15th, 2021 at 04:15 pm

I went to CVS this morning and got a pretty good deal on these items: 

2 Lady Speed Stick deodorants 

2 Colgate Max Fresh Toothpastes 

 

After using coupons and CVS Extra Bucks that I earned on a previous purchase I paid: 

$3.46 out of pocket (includes tax of .77 cents)  

 

My receipt says that I saved $13.87 for an 83% savings rate. Plus, I earned $5 in CVS extra bucks to use toward a future purchase. So, I technically earned more than I spent. These are products and brands that I routinely use. 

 

At mid-month my total spending so far is at $1106.68, with only my cell phone bill and any grocery spending left for the month. I do have an eye exam appointment tomorrow and there will be some cost for that but not sure how much yet.  

 

I had challenged myself to stay at or below $160.00 total spending on groceries this month and so far, I am at $72.42Right on track. I also already earned enough grocery club card points for another $5 off a $25 purchase coupon which I will use this coming week 

 

On the fun side, I went to my brother’s last night to celebrate his birthday. We had pizza and cake and he opened his gifts and cards. Then we had a great time watching our NFL team win its first preseason game!  

 

After an oppressively hot week with temperatures near 105 degrees with the heat index, it is finally much cooler today, and it is predicted to stay cooler for most of the upcoming week. I’ll take it! 

August Grocery Challenge and $Deals$

August 3rd, 2021 at 08:51 pm

I decided to do a grocery challenge for myself for the month of August. My goal is to stay below (or at) $160.00 for the month. Food only. 

 

On 7/31 I noticed that I had some grocery store club card points that were going to expire, so I ran over to the store and picked up a carton of 18 large eggs. These were priced at $2.49. After using my points, the cost was just .99 cents. I eat an egg every morning for breakfast, so I am set for a while. 

 

Total spent: .99 cents 

Total saved: $1.50 

 

On 8/3 I did my weekly grocery shop and spent $39.74. By using my club card and e-coupons I saved $7.50. I used a $5 coupon off any total over $25 that I earned from July’s points and $2.50 in e-coupons through the store’s app.  It really pays to just spend a few minutes here and there filling out the surveys at the bottom of the receipts to earn pointsand by clipping the app coupons before I go.  I also earned 50 Fetch points by scanning in my receipt. I am almost halfway toward earning another $10 CVS gift card through Fetch. For anyone interested, my main grocery store is Weis. I think this is a mainly east coast grocery chain.  

 

Total Spent: $39.74 

Total Saved: $7.50 

 

I also did a pretty good deal at CVS on 8/1.  

I bought: 

4 cans of Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore Tuna (on sale, 4 cans for $5)  

2 packs of Cottonelle TP (9 mega rolls per pack, 18 rolls total) 

3 pack of Kleenex tissues (each box has 144 tissues).  

I used a combination of coupons, CVS extra bucks earned on previous purchases and a $10 CVS gift card earned through Fetch. And, I earned a $5 extra buck to use on a future purchase.

 

Total out of pocket spent: $5.18 (includes tax) 

My trip summary at the bottom of my receipt says that I saved $35.88 or a 71% savings rate.

 

I don’t know if people are interested in these types of small savings posts. I am pretty low income these days and these types of small savings here and there really help me. Maybe they will help, or interest others too.  

July 2021 Savings/Spending

July 31st, 2021 at 09:29 pm

Income Total$6545.34

     * $1500 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  

     * $250 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal

     * $5919.34 Federal Tax refund

     * $336.00 Remainder of 3rd Stimulus check

     * $30.00 Medical Refund Check

     * $10 CVS gift card redeemed from Fetch

      

Total Spending: $3230.26

Total Savings$3315.08 (difference between monthly income and monthly spending) 
 
Fixed Expenses: 
Verizon bundle (internet, cable, home phone): $174.51

Cell phone: $60.03
HVAC and water heater contract: $29.95 
Condo Fee (includes water) $190.00 

Health Care: (includes health, dental, vision, prescription plans) $476.37 
 
Variables: 
Utilities: $122.74
Gasoline: $35.45
Groceries: $169.90
Health: $25 (co-pays, scripts refillsvitamins and personal health care items) 
Take Out and Dining Out: $0

Shopping and Other Spending $1891.31 (includes new laptop, printer, virus protection, 2 year warranty, fridge repair, AARP renewal, Amazon purchase)

Haircut and tip: $55.00

 

* Condo is paid in full 
* Car is paid in full (2017 Camry) 
* No other debt  

 

I lumped all the random spending under "shopping and other" instead of a bunch of seperate line items. The medical refund check was unexpected, it was for 2, $15 co-pays. I'm happy with my grocery spending, I have been really making an effort to lower it in spite of rising prices.

 

Money In Money Out

July 17th, 2021 at 01:39 pm

I finally received my federal tax refund! It was e-filed back in early March. I received $5919.34, and of that the IRS paid me a whopping $37.34 in interest ðŸ˜Š. I also received the remainder of the last stimulus payment for $336.00. Because they initially based that payment on my 2019 tax return, I didn’t receive the full amount because I was still working in 2019 and my income was too high. They recalculated it based on my 2020 return once they finally processed it and sent me the rest. So, a grand total of $6255.34.  

 

Now for the spending. My refrigerator started leaking water every few days a few weeks ago from the bottom freezer drawer. Not a large amount but I needed to get it checked out. Turns out it was a defective drain that needed to be replaced. Cost for that was $270.13.  

 

I purchased a new laptop and laser printer. This was a planned purchase as I really needed an upgrade. My old laptop was limping along and my printer broke a while ago. I decided to invest this time in really good quality devices. I spent a total of $1855.92. This includes the laptop, printer, anti-virus software, and a two-year warrantySet-up was actually easier than I anticipatedI’m fairly good with technology but certainly not an expert so I was relieved to only have a minor headache after everything was completely set up and working. I just love it so far! Well worth the investment. I paid for everything with my tax refund money. 

 

My sister and BIL left last week after their three-week visit. I miss them already, but I am glad to get back to my normal routine.  

 

The weather continues to be extremely hot for this time of year. We have been under excessive heat advisories with the heat index over 100 degrees for the past week. Certainly not as bad as what the west coast is dealing with but hot enough. I have been taking care of running any errands in the morning when possible and just staying inside the rest of the day. I am really looking forward to fall, my favorite season. Have a great weekend everyone! 

Mid Year 2021 Financial Goals Update

July 7th, 2021 at 07:39 pm

2021 Financial Goals  

 

These are the spending/income goals I set for myself for 2021: 

  1.  
  2. 1. Groceries: Spend $2400 or less for the year. 

  1. 2. Shopping: Spend no more than $1000 for the year. 

  1. 3. Utilities: Stay under last year's spending total of $1011.45 

  1. 4. Income from Swagbucks and My Points: Earn more than last year’s total of $1825 

 

Here is where things are at mid-year: 

  1.  
  2. 1. Groceries: So far, I have spent $1378.37, leaving me with $1021.63 left for the year. This averages to $170.27 a month left to spend to make my goal. I can do this, but I really need to watch it.  Rising food prices aren't helping!

  1.  
  2. 2. Shopping: So far, I have spent $803.17, leaving me with just $196.83 for the rest of the year. The bulk of the spending was the treadmill that cost right around $540. Shopping is a big catch all category that includes clothes, gifts, household stuff, etc. I think I need to better define this category for next year. There really isn’t anything I can think of that I need to buy, so we will see how this goes, but I doubt I will accomplish this goal. 

  1.  
  2. 3. Utilities: So far, I have spent $566.72, leaving $444.73 for the rest of the year. This averages out to $74.12 per month for the rest of the year. I definitely won’t make this goal. I was home a lot more due to Covid and retiring, and it has been so hot so far this summer and it is only early July.  

  1.  
  2. 4. Income from Swagbucks and My Points: This one I am doing great! So far, I have earned $1375, leaving just another $450 to earn for the year to make this goal. I will make this easily. 

 

It's interesting to check in and see where I am at mid-year. It's easy to forget about yearlong goals, and how easy it is to get off track. This will help me re-focus and try to make at least some of those goals! 

June 2021 Spending/Saving

July 3rd, 2021 at 03:23 pm

Income Total$21,775

     * $1500 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  

     * $275 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal

     * $20K gift from my sister and BIL (totally unexpected, this goes straight to savings)

      

Total Spending: $1445.31

Total Savings$20,329.69 (difference between monthly income and monthly spending) 
 
Fixed Expenses: 
Verizon bundle (internet, cable, home phone): $174.84

Cell phone: $60.05
HVAC and water heater contract: $29.95 
Condo Fee (includes water) $190.00 

Health Care: (includes health, dental, vision, prescription plans) $476.37 
 
Variables: 
Utilities: $75.43
Gasoline: $0
Groceries: $207.10
Health: $113.84 (co-pays, scripts refillsvitamins and personal health care items) 
Take Out and Dining Out: $85.93

Shopping (on-line): $31.80

 

* Condo is paid in full 
* Car is paid in full (2017 Camry) 
* No other debt  

 

I am a bit surprised that my spending wasn't much higher this month due to my sister and BIL visiting. Dining out is higher, but groceries were not. I had a really good earnings month from Swagbucks and My Points.

 

20K Gift!

June 24th, 2021 at 12:49 am

My sister and BIL are visiting from Texas for 3 weeks. They are staying with me and we are thoroughly enjoying our time! They are here until just after 4th of July. I was overjoyed when they told us they were going to relocate back to Maryland in just a couple of years. They need to sell some real estate and a business they own in Texas first. 

I may have mentioned in a previous post that my sister and BIL are very, very wealthy. They have worked very hard, made smart investments, and have been active in real estate and other business ventures. They live modestly, in spite of thier wealth, and are committed to philanthropy and donating to causes and organizations that are important to them. They are just very down to earth, kind people. Much to my surprise they gifted my brother and I $20k each! This was completely unexpected and very generous of them. I will be putting this in savings, but have earmaked some for a family vacation in 2022. 

My expenses for June will be up a bit, but this was expected. We have been enjoying dining out, cooking out, a girl's shopping day and more. It has been quite a visit so far!

Free Food/ Senior Appreciation Day

June 10th, 2021 at 02:57 pm

I went to my grocery store last Tuesday to pick up a few things and to start taking advantage of my newly discovered 10% senior discount every Tuesday. They were also having a senior customer appreciation day, and every senior (60 years old or older who have the store club card) received a free bag full of products!  What a nice surprise. The bag itself is a very nice, very large reusable grocery bag. Inside I recieved these items:

1 pen 

1 roll of paper towels 

2 rolls of Scott toilet paper 

1 pack of cheese and peanut butter crackers 

1 nature valley granola bar 

nutrigrain mixed berry bar 

1 quaker oats granola bar 

1 box of stove top chicken stuffing 

1 box of cereal 

1 pound bag of white rice 

1 box of pasta 

1 jar of Prego pasta sauce 

1 can of green beans 

1 can of mixed vegetables 

1 can of mandarin oranges 

1 can of ravioli 

1 can of chicken soup 

1 can of vegetable beef soup 

3 individual packs of quaker oats maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal 

1 reusable grocery bag 

 

Anything I don't use I will donate but I think I will use most of it. I had a pack of the oatmeal for breakfast this morning and it was delicious! None of the food items were anywhere close to expiration and weren't damaged in any way.

 

I also used some of the digital coupons I am now using from the grocery store app on some things I bought, saving me $6.56. Some of these coupons are pretty high value. I am determined to do everything I can to keep my grocery spending down in spite of rising costs. 

 

I also discovered that I can earn 100 grocery reward (store card) points just by going on line and filling out the customer satisfaction survey that is printed on the receipt. You can do this once every 7 days. It only takes about 2 minutes to fill it out. Points add up for the month and expire on the 4th of the following month. Points can be used for money off certain products, or, if you have 500 points to use you can get $5 off your next $25 purchase. You earn one point for every dollar you spend during the month, but these survey points make it possible for me to get up to that 500 point mark. I will certainly take advantage of the $5 off. 

 

None of these ways to save are new, but they were new to me because I just hadn't taken the time to look into all the ways I can save just by utilizing what was available to me from my grocery store ,their club card, and the app.  All of these small savings can really add up.

Small Ways To Fight Inflation

June 5th, 2021 at 05:30 pm

None of these suggestions are new, but with food, gas, and other consumer prices on the rise I decided to refocus on some of these:

I have been trying out more of my regular grocery store, store brand foods. Some of these have been a pleasant surprise. I tried a jar of store brand pasta sauce (24 oz) that was on sale for $1. It was delicious!  I also tried the hearty vegetable soup (low sodium) 18.8 oz for $1.29. Also very good. There was a sale on certain canned food items for .50 a can. I tried the black beans, corn, diced potatoes, and baked beans. I liked the black beans and potatoes, but the baked beans and corn were not very good. I also now buy the store brand bread that sells for $2 a loaf if you buy 2. The multi-grain bread is really good. I had  been buying the Sara Lee bread but it is $2.99 a loaf at my store when it is on sale. So, while not huge money savers, it all adds up. I will be continuing to try other store brands as I need things. I know that Aldi has a lot of really good low priced items, but it's a bit of a drive to get there, and the fresh produce at that store has always been disappointing. 

I also decided to stop buying red meat. I didn't buy all that much anyway, usually just ground meat, but with prices rising I can do without it. I'm also no longer buying lunchmeat, again I didn't buy it a lot but yikes, in my last grocery circular the prices were really high.  

I took a closer look into my grocery store rewards card, app, etc. I have the store card that I swipe at the register and always save that way, but I discovered that I am eligible for the 10% off senior discount every Tuesday! I thought the eligible age was 65, but it turns out it is 60. I will be shopping on Tuesday from now on. I also finally downloaded the app which has a ton of digital coupons. I also have a better understanding of how the points system works and will be using those points more efficiently. All money savers!

I am eating more meatless meals, while still being sure to get enough protein, and not increasing my unhealthy carbs. I don't want to just start loading up on pasta and rice dishes so i've been looking for alternatives. I don't like meat substitute products, or tofu, so mostly veggie meals.

Because the price of gas is up, I'm no longer driving around to different grocery stores to save a little here and there. Unless I see a really incredible sale on something (like chicken, which I eat a lot of) I plan to do all of my grocery shopping at my one, very close store. They have good prices, the produce is really fresh, and they always seem to have decent sales. I'm also trying to run all my errands on the same day, if possible to save on gas usage.

These strategies are nothing new, but every little bit helps!

In other news, my sister and BIL will be arriving mid-month for a three week stay! I am sure my grocery spending will go up, even though they will certainly also pay for food. We have lots of activities planned so spending will be higher then usual, but I'm not stressing over it. The plan is to just have fun!

May 2021 Saving/Spending

May 31st, 2021 at 02:19 pm

Income Total$1837.47

     * $1500 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  

     * $225 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal

     * $112.47 Cashback Credit Card Rewards

      

Total Spending: $1535.93

Total Savings$301.54 (difference between monthly income and monthly spending) 
 
Fixed Expenses: 
Verizon bundle (internet, cable, home phone): $174.84

Cell phone: $60.05
HVAC and water heater contract: $29.95 
Condo Fee (includes water) $190.00 

Health Care: (includes health, dental, vision, prescription plans) $476.37 
 
Variables: 
Utilities: $70.53
Gasoline: $0
Groceries: $303.20 (see note below)
Health: $61.67 (co-pays, scripts refillsvitamins and personal health care items) 
Take Out food: $8.56

Shopping (on-line): $68.00

Personal: $44.76

CVS yearly Carepass renewal: $48.00 (see note below)

 

* Condo is paid in full 
* Car is paid in full (2017 Camry) 
* No other debt  

 

*Groceries were high due to having family over for dinner twice, and having friends over for brunch once. I also shopped on 5/30 and most of these groceries will be consumed in June, but I counted it in the month I made the purchase. It gets too complicated to take out grocery costs that are for entertaining, because I always have leftovers, and I use some things I already have on hand, like spices etc. I am just so happy to be able to entertain friends and family again!

 

* CVS Carepass Renewal: Once a year I pay $48 for a yearly renewal. For this, I get $10 a month in CVS Extra Care bucks every month automatically sent to my CVS member card, worth $120 dollars a year to spend on anything I want at CVS, free shipping on CVS brand purchases and a 20% discount on any CVS brand purchase. So I net $72 ($120 - $48) in free stuff every year just from the Extra Bucks. I have also started back up on my CVS couponing again, now that products I use are back in stock and on sale (paper and cleaning products).

Gasoline and Food Prices

May 13th, 2021 at 06:22 pm

I took a planned trip to the grocery store yesterday. The gas station that I always go to is in the same shopping center. I did not need to get gas, but observed fairly long lines. I live in Maryland, and we have been moderately effected by this ransomware attack on Colonial.  My opinion is that people panicking and hoarding gas made this whole thing much worse. Similar to the panic buying of toilet paper and other products we witnessed at the beginning of the pandemic. Hopefully, now that the pipeline is functioning again, the availability of gas will get back to normal. 

The average price of gas today in Maryland is $3.01, one week ago it was $2.84, and one month ago it was $2.76. Gas prices always increase in summer, so it will be interesting to see how high they go this summer. From what I have been reading, there seem to be multiple factors in play that are effecting prices. 

On the usual grocery products I purchase, I have not really been seeing any significant increases yet. With that said, I do not usually buy any red meat, other then the occasional pack of ground meat. I did notice that the price of a box of pre-made frozen hamburgers that I would occasionally buy jumped from $10.99 a box to $13.99 a box. And out of curiosity I noticed that the price of bacon seemed really high at $7.99  for a one pound package. I haven't purchased or consumed bacon in a very long time so I don't really know if this is normal or not. The pre-made rotisserie chicken that I usually buy was the same price as always, and Aldi had a sale on the Fresh Family Pack of split chicken breasts for .99 cents a pound. Nothing else that I bought had jumped up in price, fresh veggies, butter, canned soup, canned chicken, mayo, canned black beans, bread, ice cream etc. I think the price of eggs may have gone up a bit, but I didn't need any so don't really know for sure. 

How are prices looking in your area? I know prices are different depending on brand, organic, gluten free, the store and geographic location. I keep reading and seeing people comment on various blogs and facebook pages that food prices are seriously increasing, but I am just not seeing it yet. At least, not on what I usually buy.

At almost mid-month, my finances are right on track for the month of May. 

This weekend I will be spending the day on Saturday with my best friend. We will be hitting up some fresh farm stands and a few antique and thrift stores that have re-opened. We will have lunch somewhere and just have a long, fun day out. On Sunday I will be going to my brother's for a family cookout. My SIL has been in the hospital (to be released on friday) and we will be celebrating her return home. This was not a Covid illness. It feels great to be getting back to normal, now that we are all fully vaccinated. The infection rate in Maryland is now below 3% and many restrictions are being lifted, other then the indoor mask mandate which remains in place for now.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

April 2021 Savings/Spending

May 1st, 2021 at 04:05 pm

Income Total$1700

     * $1500 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  

     * $200 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal

      

Total Spending: $1576.18

Total Savings$123.82 (difference between monthly income and monthly spending) 
 
Fixed Expenses: 
Verizon bundle (internet, cable, home phone): $159.08

Cell phone: $60.05
HVAC and water heater contract: $29.95 
Condo Fee (includes water) $190.00 

Health Care: (includes health, dental, vision, prescription plans) $476.37 
 
Variables: 
Utilities: $88.09
Gasoline: $30.91
Groceries: $181.47
Health: $78.56 (co-pays, scripts refillsvitamins and personal health care items) 
Take Out food: $36.70

Shopping (on-line): $0

Car registration renewal: $135.00

Tax prep payment: $110.00 (My CPA friend prepares my taxes each year)

 

* Condo is paid in full 
* Car is paid in full (2017 Camry) 
* No other debt  

 

A pretty unremarkable month for finances, spending was low and I am very happy with my grocery spending for April.

Simple Pleasures and Spring Cleaning

April 18th, 2021 at 05:34 pm

I woke up earlier then usual this morning and decided to have my coffee out on my balcony. It was just a bit chilly, but a beautiful morning! It was very still and quiet with only the sound of an occasional bird song. I thoroughly enjoyed the calm and peacefulness. What a wonderful way to start the day, a true simple pleasure.

My plan for today was to get started on some spring deep cleaning so I decided to start on my master bedroom. I tackled cleaning the ceiling fan first, not an easy task since I have very high, vaulted ceilings. I stood on a three step ladder and used my Swiffer with the extended pole, and was able to clean the blades really well. Oh my the dust! I really need to do this more often. Then I tackled my bed, stripping everything off and washing everything. When I bought this condo I was really happy that it came equipped with a side by side, full size washer and dryer in my unit. It can accomadate oversized loads so I washed and dried the mattress pad, bed skirt, blanket, sheets etc. I switched out my down blanket for a lighter blanket and bedspread for spring and summer use. Since my bed frame is on wheels and I don't have a headboard, it is easy to pull the bed away from the wall and dust and vacuum behind it. I also turned the mattress, and gave it a good spray with Febreeze fabric freshener. After a break for lunch I will start taking down the curtains and cleaning the windowsill, and window. That may be enough for today, but I will keep going if I get a second wind! If not, tomorrow is another day.

Not much new on the financial front, still waiting for my federal refund, I fear it may be a while. My monthly spending looks good so far. I did have to pay $135 for my car registration renewal, and my CPA cashed the check for her tax prep fee of $110. Grocery spending is looking good this month after going way over last month. More in line with my goal of staying at $200 for the month. 

My brother may be doing some grilling for dinner, if so I will be heading over for burgers out on the patio later.

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend, and have a great week!

Fully Vaccinated!

April 11th, 2021 at 07:26 pm

Last Friday I received my second Moderna vaccine. I had some mild side effects for a couple of days but am feeling mostly back to normal today. I am so thankful to be fully vaccinated. Most of my family and close friends are either fully vaccinated or have their second one scheduled. We are looking forward to some get togethers very soon! My sister and BIL will definately be coming for a visit this summer and I cannot wait. I miss my sister so much.

I still have not received my federal tax refund. The status still says it was recieved and is being processed. It was e-filed early March. I know they are backed up, but I think if I owed them money  and didn't pay it promptly I would be fined and charged interest. Smile

I am loving my new treadmill! I have been walking on it almost every day and I try to go a little longer each time. Now I have no excuses not to get my daily steps in. It's nice to not be hindered by bad weather outside.

The lines at the food bank where I volunteer are still long. I think it's going to take quite a while for many people to get back on their feet.

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!

 

 

March 2021 Spending/Saving

April 1st, 2021 at 01:04 pm

Income Total$3280

     * $1500 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  

     * $200 Swagbucks and My Points earnings (cash out to PayPal

     * $1064 Stimulus

     * $516 State Tax Refund

      

Total Spending: $2155.54

Total Savings$1124.46 (difference between monthly income and monthly spending) 
 
Fixed Expenses: 
Verizon bundle (internet, cable, home phone): $174.51

Cell phone: $60.03
HVAC and water heater contract: $29.95 
Condo Fee (includes water) $190.00 

Health Care: (includes health, dental, vision, prescription plans) $476.37 
 
Variables: 
Utilities: $106.49
Gasoline: $0
Groceries: $280.78 (I spent too much, no real reason why this is high)
Health: $82.02 (co-pays, scripts refillsvitamins and personal health care items) 
Take Out food: $0 

Shopping (on-line): $539.70 (treadmill, other)

Priority Mail Charge: $12.85

AAA yearly renewal: $75.00

Haircut, style and tip: $60.00

Ulta, Make-up stock up $67.84

 
* Condo is paid in full 
* Car is paid in full (2017 Camry) 
* No other debt  

 

Notes: Spending was up (mostly the treadmill purchase) but income was also up. I did not receive the full $1400 stimulus as they used my 2019 tax return earnings. They have still not processed my 2020 return even though it was electronically sent the beginning of March. 

 

I totally blew my grocery budget. I try to stay at or around $200. 

A Spendy Month

March 26th, 2021 at 06:16 pm

March has been a very spendy month (for me) so far. I purchased:

The treadmill I have been researching for a few months. I need to increase my exercise and I love walking. But the weather here just isn't consistent enough for me to be able to walk outside a lot. I don't tolerate heat very well so with summer coming I needed a solution. I looked on Facebook Marketplace but the few I found for sale were really old, very bulky and heavy, and just more then I needed. Plus I would have had to pay someone to deliver it to me. I wound up with a new one from Amazon with high reviews for a total price of $445.19. This includes tax and a $20 shipping fee. What I love about it is that it requires NO assembly, and isn't overly heavy. It folds down flat and can be stored under a bed if I want to store it out of sight. It is lightweight but very sturdy, has a powerful motor and a 1 year warranty. It is simple to use and I can't wait to receive it! I used my state tax refund ($516) to pay for it. 

My AAA membership was due for the year, $75

I purchased refills of the makeup I use from Ulta $67.84. I don't wear a lot of makeup, mostly a light foundation and powder, a brow pencil and some tinted lip balm. This purchase will last me several months. I was running out of everything.

I finally had my hair cut and styled and gave a nice tip, $60.

And, I already went over my $200 monthly grocery shopping budget by $33.88. I broke the golden rule of not going to the store when I was hungry!

So, a grand total of $648.03 (not including the grocery overage). Other then somewhat blowing my grocery budget I am feeling good about my purchases (no buyers remorse). I waited to buy the treadmill until I had the money to pay for it, and the rest were just ordinary expenses that I cash flowed.

Have a great weekend!

 

Can someone please fix the comments!!

March 21st, 2021 at 05:53 pm

Cannot post blog comments. This is happening repeatedly lately. Thanks!

1st Vaccine and Other Updates

March 15th, 2021 at 10:16 pm

Last Friday I received my first Moderna vaccine dose. Other then a sore arm I had no side effects at all. My second dose is scheduled for early April. The college I worked at is a vaccine site so it was very convenient, and the process was very smooth. There was no line, and I was in and out pretty quickly. Most of the time spent was the 15 minute observation time. I'm glad to have round one completed!

I finally got a haircut on Saturday. It was my first cut since July and I really needed it. I have decided to let my hair go gray and no longer color it. So far it seems to be blending in well and I don't hate it yet. My hair feels so much healthier and I sure didn't miss the cost. I spent $60 for my cut and style, and a very generous tip. 

On the financial front, I will be receiving a $5822 federal refund, a $516 state refund (already recieved this one) and the $1400 stimulus for a total of $7738! I knew I would be getting a large federal refund but this was larger then expected. I do plan to spend some of this on a new laptop and printer. I have also been pricing treadmills but I am still on the fence about it. The rest will go to savings. 

My state has relaxed most retail and restaurant restrictions on capacity limits, but have kept the mask mandate and distancing mandates in place. I saw that at my salon on Saturday. There were a few too many people in there for my liking but everyone was masked and I didn't get close to anyone except my stylist. I'm really glad to be on my way to being fully vaccinated. 

Have a great week everyone!

March 2021 Grocery Spending

March 9th, 2021 at 04:46 pm

Yesterday I went to the grocery store and spent a total of $34.17 here is what I bought:

$1.00     1 can of baked beans

$4.39     2 cans of premium canned chicken breast (for chicken salad for lunches)

$1.50     1 package of peeled organic carrots

$.58       1 crown of broccoli (I still have some left from last week)

$3.46     2.05 lbs of red delicious apples

$8.99     prepared Stouffer's Meatloaf (2 lbs, six individual slices with gravy)

$4.49    1 box of chocolate popsicles (still have some left from last week but decided not to run out!)

$1.29    1 dozen large eggs

$4.38    2 small tubs of butter/spread (this will last a while)

$2.50    1 gallon of unsweetened iced tea (this will last a while)

$1.59    1 quart of whole milk

The meatloaf is for the bulk of my dinners this week. I'll have one slice with veggies for 6 meals. I was going to buy ground meat and make my own, but ground meat was not on sale this week so this option was actually less expensive, and I have had it before and really like it. And it's easy, just heat and eat. I really don't mind eating the same thing for several meals.

This grocery store, Weis, is right down the street and very convenient. I find thier prices are generally stable and they have decent sales. I could make a special trip to the Lidl's where eggs and milk are a bit less expensive, but it just isn't worth it to me to drive 3 miles away to save about $1.00. I'm still trying to limit how many stores I go into until I can get vaccinated. 

So far for the month of March I have spent a total of $101.08. My goal for the month is to stay at or under $200. I only plan to shop once a week on Mondays. 

 


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