I haven't been keeping up with blogging recently because a very good friend of mine died this past Monday. It was not unexpected, but it is still hard to accept. I'm working my way through it.

As far as finances go, I've spent all of my grocery budget, and 91% of my variables. I'm just kind of hanging on till the end of the month. On Easter, though, I'll probably be providing a meal for my family, so there will be some spending and I will probably not come in under budget.

The bathroom remodel plans are moving along. It is scheduled for April 3, and now I am waiting for my PM company to authorize a water shutoff that day. I've purchased the work permit (who knew it would be $344? Wow.) I've scheduled a before-and-after inspection. A handyman from the PM company got in touch with me about removing the towel bar, which is in the way, but he has sort of disappeared. It doesn't matter if he doesn't do it, because the installers will do it if need be -- I just thought it would be a good lead on getting a handyman, but I don't want a disappearing handyman.

I've bought the Easter candy for my grandkids, including, this time, my grandson's girlfriend, who seems to be a regular fixture. (A nice one, though!) Chocolate prices have really gone up. I spent $31, and then I'll give each a ten-dollar bill (which is our tradition). C'est la vie.

I have finally started on my bathroom remodel, after putting it off for quite some time. I'm going to do it in stages. The first stage is the tub/shower area. I'm having Bath Fitter install new walls. I have backed off from the idea of removing the tub. The total cost will be in the neighborhood of $5600. (Would have been $10,000 to remove the tub and install a new shower). I put $1500 down. Work will begin in approximately three weeks. The next stage will probably be a new toilet and a new tile floor. Since I will be replacing a flush valve toilet with a tank toilet, it will be a bit complicated.

Before they can install the shower walls, I have to remove a towel bar that's impeding on the space. It is a ceramic bar, grouted into the tile. I've been trying to remove the grout, with little success, and in the process I have damaged the tile a little. I have decided that I need to get a handyman who knows what he's doing. Even if that wall gets damaged, though, it is a small area where I can just replace all the tiles, if need be. So I guess that will be the real next stage.

Even spending $5600 is scary to me, but I do have it in savings.

In other news, a dear friend who lives in Michigan has just been placed into hospice. I want to get up there and visit. 

Sometimes it seems like everything is happening at once.

Grand Total                 1859

I'm a little late getting this out, because I was visiting BFF in Indiana. But here it is, not a bad month. Property tax was the big expense, and I got a break with not having to pay my assessment fees. Fees and services included the license for Microsoft Office. Medical was a bit high because of a copay to the dermatologist. Entertainment included art supplies as well as the usual streaming expense. The pet supply expense was a new heater and thermometer for the aquarium. Nothing else really stands out.

March has started out with some expenses. My vacation expense, for my weekend with BFF, was $59 for food and gas. I also spent $92 on some new clothes -- underwear, joggers, T-shirts. I have spent $78 on groceries already, because I was out of almost everything. And I made a $25 donation to the American Heart Association. I also purchased filters for my drinking water; they are pretty expensive, $36 for two. So I've spent 43% of my variables already, but spending will slow down now.

Still hard to believe it's only March. We've had springlike weather for most of the winter. It's crazy.