Financial Friday

Happy Friday morning. I dunno about you, but I need at least one post with no political angst, worry, judgement or fear. 

Also I probably won't be posting until post inauguration after this. I need a bit of a rest and some self care so will return after Wednesday. Hopefully we have a smooth transition, praying and fingers crossed.

In my continuing effort to  be both frugal and increase sustainability, these are a few of the things on mt financial front this week, positive or not:

1.  90 percent of the time I am more than happy with my basic streaming only service and checking the news on my laptop/tablet a couple times each day and reading the Washington Post. Obviously this period in time is different. I have been trying free trial week and two week plans of all the larger streaming alternatives to take advantage of the news (my cable streaming service, Utube, Hulu Live, and now Sling).  If anything it has given me news overload, but I cannot see me continuing any of them right now, and they will end post inaugural events. So temporary free TV has been helpful but I will not move to the permanent cost.

2.  I've begun my monthly reimbursement for my part B Medicare, and $148 is heading to my bank account. This is an offering through my private secondary insurance which is not an advantage or supplemental plan. I've spent fifty of it in what is probably an unfrugal way (see laundry post below). The rest I plan to use towards a slightly larger counter top oven that will hold an eleven by seven casserole pan. I really don't see the need for convection or air fryer, but we shall see when I look. I was thinking that I should be doing some small apartment "prepping". But honestly I generally buy a couple canned items extra every time  I shop and I have not seen specific shortages of anything, although prices have risen. Said purchase will not be until mid February to keep my non spend January commitment.

3. I went through my fabric and found a host of smaller pieces. Anything that is at least eighteen inches is getting cut into napkins which I will make two sided. I am a messy eater especially in front of my  TV so these will get good use. If I have enough fairly coordinated sets I will forward them to family or save for gifting. Any pieces that are flannel will be cut and saved for wash cloths once I purchase the chenille or minky fabric to go on the other side.

4. I will have two free dinners this week, possibly with leftovers. While organizing my little desktop, I found two ten dollar outback gift cards (sent because of an order error back in Denver). Since cooking steak is not my forte and I no longer have a grill or a cast iron pan at the moment, this will get me a mainly free meal of steak, potatoes, salad and dessert (I expect to pay a tad more for the dessert inclusion, which is fine). In the normal times, Sequoia has a dinner in the restaurant area on  the third Friday of the month. Since we cannot eat together, today they have a take-away meal of salad and spaghetti and meatballs.

5. I cut my own hair again. At some point I will venture to the hairdresser or whatever. But I have (I think)  mainly managed the task of trimming my own nape, which was the only thing making me rush to a professional.

6. I am not normally a menu planner, but a grab what I have from the freezer or pantry for dinner type. I have been wasting more food than I would like, so I made a two week menu of lunches and dinners-breakfast not so much. Hopefully this will keep me from buying stuff I don't need (except for Hershey's kisses, lol)

7. My county does not offer recycling to multi dwellings, be they condos, high rises, apartments or whatever. I have valet trash and while they SAY they pick up cartons if they are tied together, I have no faith that these or anything else get recycled. I am trying to work on solutions (no large recycling spots) other than doing my best on the purchase side and fobbing some things off on my daughter's large recycling can at her house. Paid recycling pickup does not seem to be an option

8.  This morning I sent a large load including my comforter to the pick up and drop off laundry. Since I won't be going to D's house any time soon, I decided to take advantage of this on a one time basis and consider doing it once a month in the future. There is a small laundry room in the village. And I'm doing my due diligence in looking for washers and dryers with the goal of mid February delivery/installment. In theory I could do without a dryer as I dry many of my clothes by hanging them-but I have enough jeans and such that I really need both. Probably used (both electric). This is to date my only step off the ledge of the no spending except for food and supplies January commitment.

9.  According to the ever friendly and helpful IRS, my stimulus payment was mailed out on January 6 to my address of record. The IRS  being all knowing and that good stuff, I have no idea if that is here or the Denver address, so I am allowing up to three weeks for it to arrive, but probably guess more likely two. Much of that will go into the (new washer) sinking fund. But I really need new walking shoes (not sneakers as such) badly. So a good $150 of said cash will be spent down the road at the SAS shoe store getting new walking shoes. I also need a good comfy pair of around the house style Skechers at some point but that's a separate issue. Again, money will not be spent until February although put aside.

10. Oh, and stepping out of my box a bit on the menu thing, next week I am getting three hello fresh meals each for two people for a total of $22 plus tax and so on. these actually require cooking, Balsamic cherry pork chops, bulgolgi meatballs and a fancy sandwich and sides. Supposedly each has everything required, only takes 30 minutes max and all I need is olive oil and salt and pepper. If I like the meals the are great for the cost. The question, I suppose, is the packaging and if it is all reusable.