Monthly Archives: October 2025

October In Review

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October has been a struggle to say the least.  I developed another eye infection but there is some evidence to say that they are actually shingles… I am just hoping I can keep from getting again.  I don’t think things are slowing down but I am hopeful that I am becoming more adaptable and that we can get in a rhythm soon.  On a positive note, we have almost finished the new building in the driveway. Painting and new lights are all that is left. This should make things easier but we shall see.

Emergency Fund- Goal is $1000- $250. I am very doubtful that we meet this goal this year. However stay tuned for some big financial update that will happen this month.

Groceries- Goal $820 per month.  Goal  met with $678. We are working on continuing to work through our pantries, fridges and freezers. I would like to stay under for the remainder of the year. As a side note, we are also helping to support a family with our food resources as well.

Gas- Goal is $500.  October total is $343. We will be driving to Florida in November/ December and that should increase this amount.

Blogging- For 2025- the goal will be 10 posts per month. This is actually post number 6 for the month. I have been struggling but am hoping to get myself back in a better routine.

Debit- Goal is 200000 total debit for the end of the year! Huge update and changes coming soon.

Health/Exercise- I am continuing to slowly lose weight. This morning showed 179.  For a total of 46 pounds of weight loss. Ideally I would like to hit 50 but we shall see. We did alot of walking for the Halloween party so that should count as exercise.

Reading through the Bible this year-Still on track! I am going to finish the year strong!

Monday Menu Plan

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I am all about celebrating the small wins right now. So for me to actually get this posted on a Monday is a HUGE small win.  I have multiple meetings after school this week. Zach and Kendall start swim practice 3 or more times a week. So life is definitely not getting any slower.  Another positive is that we are still using up some quick “convenience” meals from the freezer.  I am only shopping for items we need which means we are completely out of.  I am hopeful to continue this until at least December. I will likely have to restock some meals or at least start some different things in the crock pot to keep up with the busy schedule.

Breakfast- Saturday- Sausage balls and pancakes. Sunday-  Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk,sausage, pop-tarts, and eggs)I would like to make at least one more hot breakfast this week but no guarantees.

Lunch- Saturday- Sandwiches (I did make bread for these) Sunday- LongHorn Steak .  Left-overs are always great for lunches and I have a stash of crackers and other snack items as well.

Dinner- Saturday-Matt and I ate out and the kids had chicken from Costco  Sunday- Chicken Gnocchi  Soup, Monday-Baked Ziti Tuesday- Chicken Enchiladas  Wednesday-Rice A Roni and Chicken Sausage Thursday- Probably left -overs  Friday-  Taco Pasta

2 blogs in a week!  Another success!

Missing In Action

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I just checked and the last blog was dated October 4.  That is over three full weeks ago.  I did not realize it had been so long. Work has been hard and busy so far this year. I feel like I am just doing the minimum and that is all. I can’t seem to find my groove.  I took a quick trip to Disney on October 9th with Andrea and Nancy. We flew out on Thursday evening.  Attended the Halloween party on Friday and then flew home on Sunday.
Haley flew in for Braxton’s birthday party on the 17th.  I am going to try and put in some pictures from his party on Wednesday.
On the 19th, I went to Urgent care with a stye starting on my eye. I was given an antibiotic. That did not seem to help this time so on Tuesday, I was back at the doctor’s.  They think it may actually be shingles.  I was given an antiviral medication which started to make improvements within 24 hours.   They did not do a blood test to confirm shingles as medication needed to be started within 72 hours and I was pushing the limit as it was.
All the sudden we are in the last week of October, the weather is cold and rainy. The only good news/thing I can share right this moment is that we have finally finished redoing the building to the point where I can start moving things into it in preparation for Christmas decorating!
Lots of things are changing during the next two weeks and my goal is to get my self back on track and get ready for fun!

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A deal is not a good deal if you cant use the item or if it goes bad before you can use it.  I am seeing more and more people talk about couponing again. That is great and I would love to get back to full force but in the mean time, if you are spending money you don’t have on a good deal then you are just dumb.  No one needs 17 bottles of detergent on a shelf!   I just finished working on my Amazon subscribe and save order, I follow a couple of rules, if we don’t need it skip it, if a snack cost more than 45 cent, skip it.  I will pay up to 90 cent for protein or good granola bars.   Today I noticed that I have 4 bottles of Tide on the list as well as a huge container of Tide.  I decided to figure out which was cheaper, turns out the bottles were by one cent an ounce so that is the one that will be delivered at the end of the month.

Last Saturday, I headed to Dollar General to pick up sodas on sale.  I purchased 3 12 packs of Diet Coke and 2 12 packs of Dr. Pepper. I also picked up 6 boxes of water flavors. Total spent $27.22 total saved $23.25!

CVS is a hard store especially when some people count Extra Care Bucks as money and others as coupons. I use them as coupons!  I had 2 ECB, a $4 off a purchase and $2 off a purchase. I was able to use all three and pay twenty seven cents for the following, travel size hair spray, travel size toothpaste, a new bath sponge and 2 carmel candies!

That is how you save money!