Frugal Friday-This Week in Retirement!

I don't always listen to music, but on occasion I do. I have multiple play lists on Amazon music, and sometimes I just let it play what it chooses. Right now? The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance-which reminded me that this is one of my favorite Westerns and I haven't seen it in awhile........

1.  My biggest frugal/financial news this week? I'm in the process of making some major changes with my health insurance. After TONS of research, I've decide that my retiree health insurance is not the best supplement to Medicare. So as we enter open season, I am trading my retiree health insurance for a zero cost Medicare Advantage plan. I know I have other Federal/State retiree types who are reading this, and I'll happily explain my thinking in depth, but for now let me say that I'm going for the Humana zero cost advantage plan. The fact that the feds allow me to put my insurance on hold and come back to that, made this decision easier. My health insurance was running around the $150 mark monthly, and I will open a special account purely for medical costs and use it. My broker did tell me that an awful lot of folks with "retiree" health insurance is taking this step away, for a variety of reasons

2.  Remember my concierge/executive issue regarding my primary provider?  I've decided to walk away, and once I transfer my insurance issues, I plan to join this practice. a primary care center that was created with people 65 in mind. Frugal because I'm not spending over two grand just for the privilege of keeping my current doctor.

3. I went to lunch with my gals at a local restaurant attached to a winery. I went to knitting at our local independent book store and went to happy hour afterward where I had pomegranate green tea and two small egg rolls. On Thursday, I went to happy hour where I watched the Rockies lose (after going to be the previous night an hour before they pulled out a win in the 13th inning). I had a slider, fries and iced tea (I do drink, I just prefer it to be after dark and at home). Four days out among the spending people cost me around $42.00 with tips.with tip. Two of these events were monthly only. Admittedly a teeny big more on average per event, because at the winery I had a real drink, the personal pizza AND dessert. Still around ten dollars per outing which is my general goal except for the book club, which is usually just tea or hot chocolate.

4. In contrast, the rest of my week was mainly home or near home, and mainly no cost. I finished one season of the Jack Irish TV series and cannot say enough good things about it (I watch it on the Acorn channel via Amazon Prime). I read two novels, often taking advantage of the Indian summer experience of my back yard. I spent piles of time in my studio, finishing a shawl, working on a fall quilt, and fulfilling my promise to myself to art journal each day. I also did some writing, and made myself some earrings (having serious trouble making the loop at the top of the earrings, but I'm working on it). All stuff I love to do, done with free stuff of inventory bought on sale or gifted in my stash. 

5. I'm thinking about my frugal Christmas these days. My sister purchased some yarn she loved, and I will make her a shawl with that and then add something small. Except for my live in sister, son-in-law and kids, my goal is a high of 25 dollars plus little goodies here and there for family. As a family gift for my brother/sister-in-law-adult kid, I chose the knitting pattern below which will use the yarn shown. Which is on sale for about half price, this week. The contrasts will be most likely red and cream and the total cost will be $30. I don't value my time as such in stuff made as gifts for family the way I would if I was still in business. On the slightly less frugal side, my gift aside from hand made stuff tends to be a "do something" outing for myself, sister and sister-in-law. This year I decided we would do high tea at the Brown Palace hotel. Worth the $40 bucks per. 

Meanwhile, tomorrow is one of the main local craft fairs, held at the city museum. My plan is to take enough cash to partake of a food truck, and add a single checkbook along with my drivers license and such in my pocket. I tend to use craft shows as ideas, being an "I can make that myself kind of person". If I see something I love, I'll ask the seller for their card and or website info and go from there. Because I love to support local artisans, but I tend to waver on purchases in this area.  Because of course, I always think I can make it myself, realistic or not.  

Other than the fair, I plan to next a bit this weekend. Said plans includ pulling out the large slow cooker, making some minestrone and savory biscuits, cook the premade pumpkin pie I got, and except for that craft fair, embrace an at home fall weekend!