TM(21) is really into this 'rainbow sandwich' right now. It just needs some blue (but he doesn't like cheese.  & I mean, I saw some bright blue gouda cheese the other day at the store).  I just happened to walk by and it looked pretty.  Yes, that is a monkey plate.

The scones were *amazing*.  I might try another scone recipe today, to use up some expiring cream.  Very much an 'ingredients already on hand' recipe.

Edited to add:  Oh yeah, I almost forgot.  I did bake the scones on a flat pan and lots of butter melted and dripped all over the bottom of the oven.  *sigh*  & then the kitchen got a little smokey.  But the oven is very clean now and is all well.  

Some peace and simplicity has resumed after a very busy month...  Phew!

TM(21) & the GF are off at the family cabin (enjoying some R&R), so it's been very peaceful the last few days.  The photo is a lake near the cabin.  MH grew up going to the lake and is completely bored of it, so he has never taken me.  My friend just camped here and was telling me how nice the lake is for swimming.  There's also a small waterfall.  It was already on my radar for a swim and a hike, but this might motivate me further.

We couldn't justify our annual 3-4 days in the woods this year, nor were we able to coordinate.  But I will keep it in mind re: my upcoming week off work.  MH & I might go up for the weekend.  TM(21) is getting his fix right now.  & MM(23) is planning a trip to the woods in the next week or so.

The lake reminds me...

I mentioned in my Hodge Podge post that I had donated towards saving some of the Bald Eagle Habitat (in So Cal).  Last week was very dramatic on this front!  One of the beloved bald eagles (Mama Jackie) ended up being rescued and is in rehabilitation.  They still don't know what the underlying issue is or what her prognosis is.   & then a few days after that, I saw that they had raised the money to save the land.  It was very likely unrelated as a big donor had already stepped up.  They just finalized the deal and made it public.  That said, the crowdfunding raised $5 Million.  That is really amazing.  63 acres will be 'permanently' conserved.

I will keep this post short and do a seperate financial update.

July 15

$95 Pizza

$30 Greek Food

$10 Euro Deli

MM(23) requested pizza & baklava, for his birthday.  He didn't want anything (non-food), and so I sent him $75 to buy some clothes.  He told me it was on his radar and he planned to go to the thrift shop.  

I found an Eastern European deli in our neighborhood but they did not have the baklava they had advertised at some point.  It was a million degrees and I was short on time, so I gave in and we went to a fast food like Greek place to pick up the baklava.  Which was unfortunately pre-packaged.  I had some bigger dreams of more fresh homemade baklava.  

Back at the Euro deli, they had some meat and veggie filled pastries that we tried.  I was telling TM(21) to check the place out because he is into Kefir (they were very well stocked) and I told both kids they had some inexpensive samsa & pierogis.  I thought it was $5?  But later overheard MH telling the same thing.  The veggies pierogis had been only $4.  MH was impressed because the place is near his work.  Would work in a pinch, if he has to work a long shift last minute, which happens.  Anyway, I thought TM & the GF would appreciate the 'cheap date' aspect.  & that MM(23) would appreciate the 'cheap and vegetarian' option.

While at the Greek place, I bought a gyro bowl for myself.

MH picked up 4 Indian pizzas for dinner.  It seemed excessive but is what MM(23) wanted.  I was shocked that all the pizza was gone when I got home from work the next day.  It didn't last 24 hours.

July 16

$3 Movies (service fees) 

MH took MM(23) to the movies.  They saw the Odyssey.   MH had a free ticket he was holding onto for a more expensive movie showing.  I am just glad he used it.  He always hangs on for way too long, refusing to use any time we go out because he might need it later. 

July 17

NSD

I think that Friday ended up being a no spend day.

July 12

$1 Free Fries

$116 Groceries

I noticed no other household spending (MH) the last several days.  Other than this grocery run.

I took my mom out, and got some french fries to supplement my lunch.  She really enjoys getting out of the house, and I felt much more comfortable with it this time.  We drove by all the places from my childhood.  All my schools are still there, but most the rest has been replaced with housing.

July 13

$70 Birthday cake

$11 Evgo car charge

MH bought a birthday cake for his mom.  Will split the cost with his sister.

I took my mom out to the car charger.  I wasn't expecting this to be all the charge that I needed.  Was picking my aunt from the airport later.  I swear I looked it up and google said it was '10 miles' away and I thought maybe I'd charge up another 20 miles later (10 x2).  But it wasn't that far.  & then we ended up waiting in a nearby parking lot with the A/C running for an hour because my aunt's flight was stuck on the tarmac and then they lost her luggage.  But none of this made a dent in the car's range.  Probably because we mostly were stuck in traffic.  In the old days when I dropped kids off at activities, I'd notice an hour in extreme heat running the A/C might run through '1 mile' of range.  We probably used less power in mild weather land.  All this to say, this was the only charge I needed to get home.

For reference, it's $5 (at home) to charge up 250 miles.  So most of the charging for this trip was done at home.  The fast chargers are equivalent to the cost of gas.

My mom handed me $200 cash and said my Dad wanted me to have it.  I was very skeptical and texted my Dad about it before I left.  He told me, "It's okay".  Which I interpret that he didn't 'want me to have it' but he wasn't going to make me give it back.  & I mean, my mom talked about giving me money for a car, and things like that.  It adds another layer to how people with declining mental health are taken advantage of.  (I had a friend whose MIL bought a car for her nurse!  She did not have the money to give.  They found out after the MIL passed away.)  Anyway, my mom gave me $200 cash because that's all she had access to.  (Being handed anything more than gas money would be extremely out of character.  & even then, I don't remember the last time my parents gave me 'gas money'.  I don't know if that's because we are older & richer, or if it's because they've heard so much how cheap our fuel is.)

July 14

$3 Coffee

$9 Bridge toll

$9 Movies

I left my mom at 10am Tuesday.  My nurse aunt took over my mom's care for the rest of the week.  It sounds like it went pretty well.

On a whim I spent $2.50 on a fancy McDonalds coffee.  It was pretty good.  What is weirding me out is I have no idea how I got the coffee for $2.50.  When I checked back later it was $3.50?  I thought, "It couldn't possibly be cheaper in the Bay Area."  But I haven't been able to recreate this deal.  I think I must have used some app discount?  

& then I checked the bagel place where I get $2 hot chocolates.  Their fancy hot coffee is $5.50!  So that gave me a reality check.

MH & I went to the movies in the evening.  I guess it's $7 night?  I didn't realize, was just thinking that I had some extra time.  I think it was a $2 service fee to buy my ticket ahead (might have included some tax).  Which was smart because the place was packed.  As opposed to us usually being the only people in the theater. 

I almost forgot, I did spend $9 on bridge toll.  I generally will always favor a bridge toll over driving an extra 10 miles and wasting that extra time.  But it's an absolute no-brainer now that we don't have to spend $30+ on gas for this drive.  

If I get around to it, I will top off my 'tracking spending' posts through the 15th 18th, and maybe leave it at that.

Today I am in decluttering mode.  Trying to get rid of:

--4 Chairs (more to follow next week, when I can access)

--3 2 Bikes (note to self, might list next weekend)

--Swamp Cooler (I thought DL threw away the box so I couldn't return; have since found box)

--Electric Skillet

--Clock Radio

--Kids' Games (10)

--Laptop & CD Bags (FIL)

--Hodge Podge of electronics and various cords (FIL) that MM(23) tells me are outdated (no one would be able to use).  & MM hoarded a bunch of old weird stuff for himself, but even he has his his limits.

Edited to add:  I just happened to notice one person pick up most of the stuff.  I really expected it to be more of a challenge to be rid of the electronics hodge podge, so I should be thankful that guy showed up.

I still have a handful of things (mostly things that should be easier to get rid of), but feeling much lighter.  

The city is also coming this week to do a junk haul.  Then I will go through the rest of the stuff next weekend.  I wasn't sure how quickly the city would come out, but it was within a couple of weeks of scheduling.  I know there's at least one or two chairs hiding behind the old bed and desk.

The vast majority of this is stuff that MM(23) collected at college.  But some of it was old stuff he was willing to purge from his room.  & then the rest was admittedly a very small part of FIL's electronics hoard.  Annoying as it is to be dealing with it, I will admit that MIL did do most of the work.  & if I knew one person would pick everything up in an hour or two, I would't have griped about it.

Because things went so quickly, I asked MM(23) about some of the other furniture I found laying about.  He has my old table from college, which is going on the junk pile.  MM(23) had another piece of furniture that was pretty beat up and he has no idea where it came from, so I just added it to the freecycle pile.  I think someone will take it, but if not it can go on the junk pile.  

Edited to add:  This furniture was gone shortly after I put it out.

Totally random side note, but I recently discovered scones.  My work assistant took me (a few times) to a restaurant she used to work at, that is kind of like a Marie Callender's.  It's filled with old people and has a bakery.  😁 The food is always divine.  So one day she asked if we should get a scone.  I wouldn't consider myself much of a scone person, but said whatever.  When it came out, she told me I *had to* put butter on it.  I said, "That seems excessive."  (Every time I say that, it never is.)  It was freaking amazing.  I told both my kids to meet me for lunch sometime, see the new office, and I will take them out for lunch and scones.  Anyway, just happened to be watching a frugal cooking show recently and they had a scone recipe.  It was probably a simpler low cost recipe but it looked very doable.  So I am going to attempt to make scones now.

This TV show caught my attention because it was called 'Struggle Meals'.  Had the funniest conversation with TM(21) recently.  He tells me, "I told my friend H about your struggle meals and she asked if you were from the mid-west."  I guess her Dad is from Kansas, which is where both my parents have roots.  It's where my Dad grew up and where my mom went to college (where her mom grew up).  So H picked up on my mid-west 'struggle meals'. 

I made a struggle meal today:  Beans & weens.  It's a classic. 

I think also, my mom didn't like to cook, for the most part.  She did on some level and taught me a lot of cooking.  But then most of the time it was tuna casseroles and weird stuff like that.  Or things that only required a couple of ingredients.  She taught me a lot of baking.  So I make the weird struggle meals and the sugary treats, and then MH does all the normal cooking.  Is probably how my kids view it.

I suppose the scones are right in line with that.  Today it's beans & weens, and scones.  I wanted to try the scones anyway.  But MH is busy tonight and told me he won't be cooking.  

I laughed when the 'Struggle Meals' chef used a fork as a 'struggle whisk'.  Yup, that is how I was raised.  I own a whisk now, but it seems excessive and I rarely use it.  Maybe I shouldn't judge it as too excessive, but it is just one more thing to clean.

This reminds me of one of the funniest exchanges I saw on MM's college parent social media group (which is an amazing resource).  I just looked it up.  4 years ago...

College Student: I guess I don't have a cutting board

Parent:  Didn't I buy you one?

College Student: I can't find it.  I don't even have a lemon zester.  

😂

I think I acquired a lemon zester in my late 40s.  I will need it for the scones, now that I think about it. 

I need to watch more of the show.  The food looked really good.  & cheap.  

July 11

NSD - across the household

I was preparing to go take care of my mom, and the schedule was switched on me at the last minute.  I ended up staying one extra day (that I hadn't planned for).

I was mostly dreading everything about this.  The last time I stayed with my mom was just after she was released from the hospital 2 years ago.  My Dad had a trip planned, that he refused to change.  My Dad isn't honest with himself about my mom's mental state, and so I don't expect much honesty.  No idea what to expect, 2 years further down the dementia road.

Happy to report that we had a really nice time, she was much more clear headed.  I was so surprised with how *easy* last year was on this front.  Not expecting an 'easier' year after a decade of mental decline.  So it was more of the same.   & of course, extra cherished as I wan't expecting more good times with my mom (ever).

July 9 

$9 Lunch Out

I ate out and redeemed my free soda.

TM(21) requested homecooked chicken and dumplings (birthday dinner).  A newer recipe of MH's, that is more of a chicken soup gravy with biscuits.

The cake did not last long. 

July 10

$20 Groceries 

Another chaotic day.  My employer will be out of the country next week and so was pushy about needing certain things done.  While also having planned a work event.  & then I will be out of town taking care of my mom for a few days.

So we did some cooking thing (summer work event).  Much like the cake, the food was not pretty but it turned out pretty well.  I brought home tons of food for the kids, which is kind of usual anyway.  I am always saving food from the trash, but will have to let it go when I no longer live with human garbage disposals.

I just worked from home for a couple of hours, drove to the event (closer to my house than the office) and we finished up very early (2:00?)  Which was a relief because I had some packing to do.  Hadn't anticipated working after the event, so was over it and ready to switch to other stressful life things.

I am more of an off peak early bird but didn't think I'd have time in the morning to grocery shop.  I tried 8pm grocery shopping which was really very nice (more empty than 8am).  I spent $20 on cat food, ketchup and potatoes.  The last time I was with my parents their ketchup looked scary and was way expired.  I figured I would just bring my own.  (Ended up getting stuck with scary expired PB & mayo, this time.  I get it.  It's not so easy when you don't live with growing boys.)  I was going to pack some ground beef from our freezer, but for whatever reason it came up and my Dad told me he had beef I could use.  So that saved me some $$$.  I packed up some dinner leftovers and bread (about to expire) and figured I would be good for a few days. I also packed up a can of tuna, some veggies, and crackers.  

Before I forget, I am switching DL's name to TM.  From Drama Llama to Teacher Monkey.  He's more had an evolving identity over the years.  I think Musical Monkey or something like that would also suit him (more of his long term personality) but MM is already taken.  

July 8 

$3 McDonalds - coffee for cake

$16 rental liability insurance

TM(21) is the only one in the house who likes coffee at all.  I ordered him a cake (with coffee) last year but he did not care for it.  So I saved a chocolate coffee flavored cake recipe at some point.  I reasoned that I never drink the work coffee and I should probably just borrow a cup of brewed coffee (would be far less than my fair share).  But I was not in the office this day and thought maybe I should check the McDs app.  I could have gotten a free coffee, but I think I could only do one deal at a time and I decided to get some free french fries (+$1 soda).  Which means the coffee was $2. 

The coffee was more than I needed, so I took a sip.  I realized that A - my taste buds have chilled out over the decades and it's no longer the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted.  & B - I think my Starbucks generation (1990s high school) peers who practically shoved coffee down my throat, telling me I just wasn't doing it right, maybe went the wrong way with all the sugar and cream.  I am now thinking they would maybe could have won me over going the other way.  While I still disklike 'coffee flavoring' in general, this bitter hot drink didn't bother me as much and I can see it being an acquired taste.  I never minded beer.  So maybe bitter black coffee is more my thing. 

I made DL's cake.  It was a double decker, a first time for me.  I think I over baked the cake.  I checked 10 minutes early, noting another favorite cake recipe of mine bakes up 10 minutes faster in our current oven.  It was already well baked.  & it ended up sticking to the pan more than I anticipated.  In the end, the cake was ugly but it was divine.  The coffee taste was very subtle but everyone liked it.  & I mean, I pulled it off well enough.  I just refused to move the cake after I iced it.

TM(21) does like beer but he is wary of addictive substances (alcohol and coffee and whatever else) and so he has zero interest in any of that.  My friend had just been telling me she took her kid gambling on his 21st birthday.  So I asked if he thought about gambling.  TM's response was very, "Hells no." The one thing I know that he will enjoy is being able to go to a concert or a jazz club, without worrying about if it's a 21 & over show.

Oh yeah, MM(22) got home at 2am the night before, so everything about this day was chaos.  He likes to drive home late at night.  MH was kind of, "So you are coming home early so that you can unpack your car?"  MM(22) replies, "Nope.  Can I park in the garage?"  So we did that.  He once again packed his car very well.  Brought home all his big furniture and kitchen supplies.  Don't ask me how.  I should have taken a picture when everything was vomited all over his room, but he quickly went into 'organization' mode and I didn't get any pictures that captured the full crazy. 

I suppose we've only ever tossed old appliances and mattresses when we replaced them.  But MM(23) still has my old high school mattress.  Obviously time to move on, but seemed silly for a bed he uses a week or two out of the year.  He took apart the old bed (it's also not salvageable, probably because he is a monkey).  So we will have the junk hauled.  Apparently we get two free junk hauls a year, but this will be the first time using that in 25 years.  Or it sounds like MM(23) can drive it to the dump with a coupon (that I generally keep track of but I think one just arrived in the mail this week).  I think he would enjoy that and clearly he can make it fit in his car.  Will leave it to his preference.  We bought him a much nicer queen size bed for college, which he set up this day.  & he took apart my old desk (from 2000) that I don't think is salvageable.  Just an old cheapie thing that has been moved once already.  That might go in the junk pile.  He picked up a nicer/newer desk at the college (free).

My next project will be some serious decluttering.  My 'hoard everything the kids could use later' plan is going to evolve a bit.  I wouldn't keep the old mattress and no one wanted the old desk.  I will go through the chairs soon, see what the kids want.  (We clearly have extras).  & no one wants an electric skillet that MM brought home from college. I will be busy freecycling items.  I think the old bed headboard might be salvageable, but I am not sure (if it would work as a standalone).  I also have boxes of stuff from FIL's hoarder garage.  (Don't ask me.  MH thought MM might like some free stuff.  & also MIL was very pushy about giving us her junk.)  I just keep putting off, but I can see it's time to clear some things out.  

I spent $16 for one more month of rental liability insurance, because MM(23) is still on his lease for another few weeks.  Will cancel at the end of the month.

Anyway, the day was pretty chaotic between cake making and MM(23) moving.  & tearing apart old furniture, and so on.  I did several loads of laundry for MM(23), don't ask me why.  Bedding.  Probably because it's an easy chore and he was very busy.  We laughed and laughed about some mystery comforter pocket? he acquired.  I followed the washing instructions and didn't look inside until it got all jumbled up in the dryer.  I recognized the comforter I bought for his bed, inside this comforter cover of some sort?  MM(23) was so confused, remembering the comforter (that's where that went!) but not the bright orange cover he (or someone else) encased it in.  Maybe we were also a little silly with exhaustion, at that point. 

MH got his last paycheck for a while.  There was ~$400 left in the checkbook after that (I run the checkbook to $0.  It's just where money comes in and out.  I don't keep any money in there).  So it's easy to visualize excess.  Which isn't really a thing (having excess, re: our tendency to over-save and run things very lean).  But I figured I'd wait and see what MH's paycheck was and maybe just leave it in there to make life a little easier this summer.  In the end, I will need it for MIL's milestone birthday celebration this month.  I have no idea if this will cover it, but it will make a dent.  Not something we particularly planned for.  But I would never skimp on this re: my in-laws' generosity.  It's just unfortunate we spent their last big cash gift in one week in February (the emergency week from hell).  & MH is off work for summer, and our other cash reserves are lower than I would prefer.  So the timing is not ideal, but we will survive.

July 7

$2 Lunch Out 

$8 Groceries

$10 DL Birthday Gift (chips & salsa)

$33 Dinner Out

$50 savemooncamp.org

I've always been surprised by the 'rewards to spending' ratio when it comes to loyalty accounts and apps.  Historically not much of an eater outer, this means Round Table rains free pizza on us, though we might average one pizza every 8 weeks.  & then I signed up for the McDonald's app when it was clearly easier for their employees.  (Hindsight 20/20, they have the best app, re: my limited fast food use).  So now they give me infinite free french fries. 

I don't remember if the fridge was empty or I slept in or what, but I was thinking I'd check my rewards, for lunch.  I got a free burger and fries.  I was kind of joking with my coworker that Taco Bell never gave me anything.  But I got my first reward!  (Checking on a whim).  Free soda.  I decided to redeem at a future date.

Oh yeah, I had to buy a $1 soda to get the free fries.  I didn't want a soda and so I offered to a coworker.  I thought all McDs sodas were $1, but I guess that changed at some point.  I didn't know what she wanted and already committed to a large.  I figured I would survive re: $2 lunch ($2 for a large soda).  I just like their fries and fountain sodas (which happens to be their infinite reward).  I got the free burger from Burger King.

I swear I put eggs on the grocery list but MH swears they weren't on the list.  So he ran out to the store again.  He bought eggs and bread.

I met up with a friend for dinner, at my favorite Mexican restaurant.  She ordered some to go food for her son?  I briefly considered ordering some chips and salsa for DL(20).  He loves them so much that I picked some up on Christmas Eve for him.  I was more leaning against it, but then I remembered it was his birthday in two days.  He *loved* the pre birthday gift.

Two financial things of note that came from dinner.

My friend (mid to late 50s) casually mentioned she bought a home.  The post housing bubble burst has led to a generation of 55yos taking on 30 year mortgages.  Maybe that was always the case, but it's a little more 'starting over from zero' versus to when I think of the 'infinitely buying up' among my parents' peers.  Most our local peers (and somewhat older) lost their homes to foreclosure and have been re-buying in the past few years.  In this case, my friend was pretty smart with her money but lost her home to divorce. 

Completely random change of subject, but I have been keeping an eye on MM(22) expenses, as he graduates college and becomes an adult.  I think pretty much we cover the big stuff (room/board/healthcare) and off the top of my head we pay $15/month for his cell phone and $30/month for dental care.  & he covers most the middle stuff.  The only other thing I have come up with is I realized I also pay $20 to e-file his state taxes.

Talking to my friend, my Target credit card came up and I thought, "Oh yeah!  MM has my credit card!"  He is an authorized user, but I don't think he's used the card for a couple of years, and I completely forgot about it.  I did ask MM about it later and he told me he forgot the PIN #.  I told him if he wasn't using it anyway, we should retire the card.  But I will leave him as an authorized user.  There seems to be no downside to just leaving him on there.  Both my kids have 780+ credit scores, because of this one credit card.  Most the rest of my open credit was 'zero length of time' in recent years; I've never bothered with keeping old cards opened. In addition to refinancing mortgage periodically as rates dropped (paying off old loans and starting over).  So my kids benefited (credit score boost) re: the 15yo credit card.   I think this Target card is nearing the end of its life cycle.  MH refuses to shop there, but I keep using the card mostly because it's the only place I buy cat food in bulk.  I've switched to mostly buying toiletries and non-grocery items at the grocery store.  It's convenient.  But every once in a while the price of something (like granola bars) is still, "Hells no."

If you follow the Big Bear Bald Eagles (live cam), developers are trying to buy nearby land (partof the eagle territory).  They've raised $4.4 Mil of $10 Mil to block the deal and to preserve the land.  I wanted to donate a little more with the new month.  savemooncamp.org

July 5

$22 Movies

$31 Groceries

$57 Target

MH & went to the movies today.  I had sticker shock.  $14 for a 9am matinee?  Something like that.  We saw the new Minions movie.  (I very rarely buy a movie ticket, so in my mind a matinee is still $6 or something?  I don't know).  MH has his unlimited movie pass, and I bought a snack.

The most amazing cheesesteak place *was* by my new office, and then it went out of business quickly.  😞 So I told MH I would go to the movies if we could get cheesesteaks (right next to the theater), which are honestly kind of 'meh' (in contrast).  But it's all I got now.

I glanced at the cheesesteak hours as we walked by in the morning but completely missed the 'closed for the holiday weekend' sign.

So we went to the grocery store.  I wanted a couple of items like bread, and told MH I'd prefer the 'ready to eat' section over eating out.  Wasn't sure if I would buy anything, but my second choice was probably a pound of beef (which is very expensive these days, though would have lasted longer).  So I picked up a take and bake pizza not knowing what the price would be.  I think it was $11, and the kids devoured it. 

The GF broke one of my favorite little 10 oz glasses.  I popped online to buy more, but of course I can't find the ones I bought last time.  *Sigh*  I had already bought a couple of sets, but can't find them now.  In the end, I love the new ones I ended up with.  $30-ish.

I mentioned recently that I no longer deny myself things, within reason.  While shopping online at Target, I found a few pretty notebooks.  & then I remembered the granola bars are often 50% - 75% cheaper than they are anywhere else we frequent.

July 6

$17 Lunch out

$148 Groceries

MH did a grocery run.  

On whim, I tried another (highly rated) cheesesteak place by my work.  It did not win me over.

July 3

$31 Dinner Take Out (x2)

MH wasn't feeling great Friday and of course he would have eventually figured it out, but his smart watch ended up telling him his skin was a little hot, late at night or when he woke up the next morning.  So he took his temperature and he had a fever, a reaction from the shingles vaccine.

There's a local burger place we have never tried and MH was in a "Whatever, nothing sounds good" mood.  I treated myself to a milk shake and it was divine.

July 4

$86 DL(20) Birthday Gift

MH, the gift buyer (and insister on buying material things for holidays and birthdays), asks me if I planned to buy anything for DL's birthday.  No?

I guess DL(20) had just played this card game and it was amazing.  & asked if we could buy it and play it on his birthday. I presume MH bought some expansion packs and that kind of thing (re: the cost).

I thought I was going to entirely give up re: hectic week.  Nothing new or unusual, but it's a big birthday month, plus a few outings thrown into the mix.  It doesn't take much to throw off our minimalist preferences (usually reflected by a lot more downtime and a not crowded calendar).

Anyway, Wednesday is always more of a breather, and I suppose I will have a lot of downtime while I am caring for my mom later this week.  So I will soldier on.  

July 1

$86 salt/pepper shakers

I replaced a broken salt/pepper shaker set recently and MH does not care for the new ones.  I told him to get his own then.  I figured it was going to be a 'different strokes for different folks' thing.  He prefers to meet in the middle (and have less stuff).  I prefer to just use what I actually like (and have two of some things).

He figured it out.  I think we would both be happy with the much higher end salt and pepper shakers.  So while it is unlike him to spend this kind of money, I can see that's what he was excited about.  Just having one set that we both like.

MH received a $500 gift for his 50th birthday (6 months ago).  I think he might have been more on the fence, but I told him he still had some gift money left.  Usually he doesn't want to spend and I'd just invest.  But I told him this year, I was going to set it aside.  & not like he usually gets that much for his birthday!  But just talking about random money in general, when it falls out of the sky.  

There's probably a week or two (late June through early July) where I am spending down similar buckets of money.  I am extra appreciative of our slow burn through unexpected or set aside money (some of it I have been saving for years), during this murphy year from hell.  It's allowing some more luxury spending when we could not otherwise justify.

MH still has $250 of his gift money.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July 2

$103 Dinner Out (x4)

This was MH's last work day before his seasonal summer break.

He had his second shingles vaccine after work.   When I got home MH was over it.  Long day, and he was tired. We briefly thought we could sneak out and enjoy a quiet dinner for two.  (We do not always invited the kids because that is far outside our budget).  & of course, we had just talked about how we really needed to rein it in this summer.  Because I will likely need to touch our emergency funds, if anything else big breaks while MH is not working.  & we just have less money to spend, in general.  But usually we just muddle through.  It will be a harder muddle this year.

So of course, we go out for a big dinner.  

We did discuss DL(20)'s birthday plans (over dinner) and he told us he did not want to eat out for his birthday.  So in the end, I consider this a very planned (financially) pre-birthday dinner.  Cheaper than planned, because MM(22) was out of town.

Money well spent.  The food is always amazing at this Thai restaurant.

It's probably ambitious during a busy month, but I figured I'd dive into 'spending tracking'.  Just as a way to jump back into blogging.

Unlike in the past, will be focusing on my own spending (versus other household spending).  & maybe weekly, or 'every few day' updates.  & I mean, I can share grocery (household spending) but that is depressing right now.  😁 With a 5-person household.  MM(22) devoured all of our food for a couple of weeks, and then he left town for a couple of weeks (wrapping up stuff in college town; cleaning out rental).  We will definitely have to take some breaths and re-evaluate meal planning.

July will include 3 birthday celebrations, and a few days out of town caring for my mom.  

MH & I did our big dinner out, to celebrate MM(22)'s graduation.  MH's head was mostly where I expected it to be.  The one thing that was confusing to me was he seemed eager to push MM(22) out of the nest but I recalled MH had lived at home (free room/board) for 18 months?  It was just 6 months, I was confusing years.  So it does make more sense now. 

After that conversation, I ran into DL(20) and was asking him some questions about the GF's plans.  It turns out her rental situation fell through and so she plans to start paying us rent in a couple of months.  More things to figure out and talk about.  We might have a a couple of tenants paying rent in 2027. 

The bigger news is that DL(20) is talking about moving out, to help the GF with rent. (Not necessarily right away, but maybe when he finishes his degree next spring.)  I didn't *see* it because DL has been so insistent on living at home and saving money, and is so much like MH in that regard.  But MH called it.  We talked about it the other day and MH told me, "I just thought I would have done the same thing if you needed help with your rent."  Which honestly, I did need help with my rent at the same age, but I was more self sufficient and more quiet about it, I suppose. 

I wouldn't be surprised if all 3 of them move out at the same time, sharing an apartment to save money.

That reminds me, please send some good vibes.  The GF had a job interview this weekend for a job that she will enjoy (very much like the job she left on the east coast; it's a sister company).  The job market here is abysmal, like it always has been.  Both her and DL have been overly confident about this job, while I wouldn't personally hold my breath.  

I don't usually pay much attention to numbers other than an annual review.  But I figured I'd check in re: Emergency/Murphy year from hell.

First 6 months 2025:  In the black every month (earned more than spent), except for June when I had a $4,500 college bill.

First 6 months 2026: In the red February through May.  I have no idea how I ended up in the black in June.  We had several big expenditures, including more home repairs. 

Second half of 2026: I suppose that MM(22) could get a job tomorrow and our expenses could decrease drastically at that point.  But the only known at this point is that I no longer will have MM's college expenses.  

2025 vs 2026 spending: We've spent $19,000 more this half year, more than we spent last January through June.  

Details:

$6,000 College (more college expenses re: MM Year 5, but this is gone now)

$4,000 Home Repairs 

$4,000 Medical

$6,500 Emergency Vet

--------

$20,500 - Obvious reasons for increase in spending

This does not include things like paying an extra $3,000 in taxes (more FICA paid with raise; withholding more taxes re: loss of college tax credits)

I am grateful that this all happened this year.  We had so much going on last year and opportunities we were able to take advantage of.  The early year emergencies gave us the memo that there won't be much fun spending this year.  It set the expectation early.

I was cutting back retirement savings, intending to spend and enjoy more.  🙄 *This* is not what I had in mind.  But I have to admit it's one more reason I am probably stressing a lot less than I would be otherwise.  We will try again next year, re: more fun spending.

After all that, we somehow ended June with $2,400 in cash (above emergency funds).  It feels like a miracle we haven't had to dip into our emergency funds.  Will see what the rest of the year brings.

Side note:  By far not an all inclusive list of murphy year from hell, but it's the big/expensive stuff. 

Big picture: Net worth is up $50K.  

Details:

-$10,000 Cash (Medical Emergencies)

-$10,000 Investments (College Expenses)

+$ 5,000 Mortgage Decrease

+$65,000 Retirement 

It's always hard to sweat the smaller stuff when wealth is growing faster than we can spend.