Keeping on Track

I am starting my staycation this week.  I have a lot of stuff to do in the yard and if the weather won't co-operate, there is lots to do in the house.

All of this is dependant on my body holding up.  My back/neck/shoulder are killing me.  I don't sleep.  I'm trying more physio next week.  Short of chopping off my head I can't find any relief.

My work is still rolling along.  It pays me and that is all I find positive about it some days.  I am going to buy an ergonomic mouse for my work computer as my hand aches from endless clicking away all day.  I am required to work full time for at least 6 weeks starting I think Sept.  That is the equivalent of 2 extra paydays.  I have places to funnel the $$.  Plus it increases RRSP room 😀

I continue to have a glimmer of hope that someday there will be a different job for me...

After the grim reality of what our groceries cost every month I am being mindful of leftovers.  I hate leftovers.  But my family doesn't mind so I try and make them taste ok to me.  Summer is also bbq time so I can do much more variations on the menu's.  

My kid#2 and I have a plan to go to Scotland a year from now.  2 weeks in my ancestors home land.  We hope that for once our red hair makes us blend in with the crowds! Nothing set in stone yet.  It depends on his education plans.  I eagerly await Jane's trip (From Life Begins at Retirement) to see what she and her brother do! 

I have a travel savings account and I will add to it every month for the next year.  I think $10k will be what I need for the 2 of us.  I have that now and will pad this up.  The thought of driving on the left terrifies me - and kid 2 will only be 22 years old so I don't think he can drive a rental, tours may be very costly.  Doesn't matter.  I'm doing this.  

When kid3 is older I will do a great trip with him too.  Memories are more important than being the richest person in the cemetery.  With the knowledge of my retirement being comfortable I am spreading the extra bucks into different pots.  Not such a focus on 20 years from now.  I need some good things now too.  More travel, more self care, more time to stress less and enjoy.

The good things:

Payday today

Nice dinner out planned for tonight.  FREE with gift cards

My yard is in full bloom.

Things that suck:

I need a new computer and am having trouble deciding what would suit my needs

My office at work was 27 degrees (Celsius)

Dh needs new pants.  Worlds worst shopper for clothes.

The Tally for a month of eating...

This was a known growing cost every month for us.  But wowza.
This is May minus 3 days away where the 3 of us ate out 5 times, and dh was gone on business for 5 days.

Butcher shop.  85.98
Groc. 26.07
Groc 90.19
Groc. 38.16
Groc  86.37
Groc 78.82
Groc 154.57
Groc 20.81
Costco 200
Farmers Market 20.00

$800 for a month of normal eating.
I take my lunch to work every day.  It is yogurt, frozen berries, some milk and a bowl of cereal.
Kid3 takes a sandwich, juicebox, apple, small treat (homemade cookie/muffin) or cereal bar.
Dh eats lunch out every day - that isn't included here

This is Canada.  Land of zero coupons and shitty expensive produce.

If I changed grocery stores I could maybe bring it down 10%.  I hate Superstore.  Its dirty, other side of the city, meat is crappy, every time I go the people in the store and workers are rude.  I can't bag my own groceries with one arm and the store smells like rotten olives have been hidden like easter eggs on every asile.

I don't buy fancy food. Pork chops/chicken/ground beef.  Potatoes/rice/pasta.
We did have steaks once last month.  They were discounted $8 per pound making each steak 5 -6 dollars.  That was a splurge.  Our regular meal is hamburgers or hotdogs at least twice a week.

I know that our food costs have shot up in the last 4 years, you can't find cheap quality food.  I don't know how people making minimum wage eat?!  I shop from the weekly flyer, I stock up when it is a great sale.  My pantry is half full of canned and dry goods.  I keep a list of frozen stuffs I have in the deepfreeze.  I mealplan.  Leftovers make their way into soup.

I don't know how to change anything, at this point it is reality.

With that I'm off to put a pork roast in the crockpot for pulled pork sandwiches on leftover burger buns and make coleslaw with a $1.50 sale bag I bought last week.

The good things:
I can afford to feed my family decently
We prep and make meals together often

Things that suck:
No decent farmers market stuff yet
I like the idea of a garden - but I hate gardening.  I only like flowers 🌹
My dog would do more digging than me in any garden I might plant!!
My obnoxious FIL looks like shit.  He's lost 50 lbs since I saw him before xmas and his colour is that of a blueberry.  Maybe the two handfulls of pills that he doctor shops for isn't helping?