CB in the City

I don't think I mentioned a few days ago that I got my tax refund.  It is $909.  It will pay for my plane ticket, my car repair, and some left over!

I got the news last night that GS1 has been selected for the baseball travel team this summer.  Last summer, at the end of the season, he was talking about not playing baseball anymore, so this was especially sweet news.  I guess he just needed a break, and to know that he could walk away from it if he chose to.  I was wondering what I would do for entertainment!

Sunny days are continuing -- the ice and snow are melting!  But we have a ton of it, so it will be around for a while.  My biggest concern is that the vaccine delivery process doesn't get interrupted again, and that it will be a clear day when I head out for my second shot.

I bought a plane ticket today.  Finally I will visit my son in Oregon.  I have not seen my DIL or grandchildren for THREE YEARS!!!  The first year I was in my lean, gap year and couldn't afford anything but the most basic things, so I did not do any traveling.  Soon after my finances recovered, my son lost his job.  He did not want me to visit until he found a new one, moved, and got settled.  After a few months, he found this job in Oregon.  Just as I was making plans to go, the stupid pandemic hit.  It has been so, so frustrating.  I have been able to see my son a couple of times when he came to Chicago for conferences.  But to lose that time with the kids, especially -- it's been heartbreaking.

I will be fully vaccinated on March 5.  I got the ticket for May 6, because my son said that would be the best time for them.  I can't wait.  I just can't wait.

The ticket was surprisingly cheap -- only $211 round trip.  Alaska Air, which I've never flown before.

I also bought a 10-pack of N95 face masks for $13 from Groupon.  I'll save those for the trip.  I know there will still be some risk despite my vaccination, but it is an acceptable risk for me.  I will be very careful and take all necessary precautions.

I'm keeping the plane ticket in variables, since it is so low.  Variables are at 96%, but there are only six more days.  I do have the car repair on Friday, but it will have to come out of savings anyway.

Other than that, it was an uneventful day.  We are beginning a slow thaw, so icicles are falling from eaves and gutters.  I have to be careful to use only my front door, where there are no overhangs, so no danger.

I crawled out this morning to go pick up my car at the city garage.  I had to take the train to get there, and that meant a four-block walk to get to the station.  Once I picked up the car, I went to Midas to get my oil changed.  They weren't able to take me right away, so I scheduled an appointment for an hour and a half later, and I ran some other errands -- I picked up needles and saline at the vet's - $16 - bought lunch at a drive-through for $10, and exchanged books at the library.  The oil change was $44.  Variables are at 66%..

While the car was up on the rack, they saw a problem with the suspension, so I scheduled an appointment to get that fixed next week.  It will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $400.  I'm not happy about that, but with all the problems people are experiencing with bad weather, failing power grids, frozen pipes -- I can hardly complain.

When I got home, I was very tired.  I'm not sure why it hit me so hard.  I tried to nap, but didn't fall asleep.  Finally got up and watched some TV.

The snow in my courtyard is waist high.  The roads are in bad shape, especially the side roads.  I saw many cars that were completely buried.  I can't wait for this winter to end.

Pay days are generally uneventful anymore, but this time I paid my first installment (of two) of my property tax.  It was $512.  The second installment is generally much less, and it reflects my exemptions -- homestead, senior freeze, and senior citizen.  That payment dramatically altered my checking account balance, but there is still $263 extra to put toward table refinishing, if I don't spend it!

The snow has finally stopped falling, but since we got 18 1/2 inches in one day -- on top of a healthy amount already on the ground -- digging out is going to be a challenge.  I'm so glad my car is in the city garage, and I hope by the time I have to take it out on Friday, conditions will have improved.  The first thing I will have to do when I get my car is get an oil change!  Then I will have to pick up needles for Iggy's fluids, and books at the library.  Perhaps a few groceries.

I was supposed to get a house call from UnitedHealthcare today, but I cancelled for the sake of the person who would have to come.

Intending to spend a strenous day reading and TV watching.....

I think this is the worst storm yet.  At least as far as inches go.  It's not wet and heavy like previous snowstorms were, thank goodness. 

I moved my car into the city garage this morning, but before I did, the car was buried in snow -- and it was cleaned off yesterday!  It was a treacherous, slidy drive, once I got on the road.  After parking, I  had to catch a train home, but I was lucky there.  The train came quickly, and it was not very crowded.  Then it was a four-block walk home from the station, in very deep snow.  Snow was still coming down.  It is still coming down now, hours later. 

I can leave the car in the garage until Friday at no cost.  That's a blessing.  Maybe the weather will be better by then.

When I was at the station, a man asked me for change.  All I had was a $5 bill, and I gave it to him.  He kissed it.  There's something about standing in an awful storm like this that makes you want to help out.

I spent $2 on laundry today.  Variables are at 57%, right at halfway through the month.  I have plenty of food, the gas tank is full -- I have everything I need except needles for Iggy's drip line.  And actually, I have two of those (which  are good for two runs, and fluids are done every other day).  So I should be good until I get the car back.  I'm going to try to relax and enjoy the amazing scenery.

My aquarium filter stopped working today.  This is the second time in the short time I've owned this smaller aquarium.  The company does not reimburse for early failure -- I guess they know they have a bum product.  At least they are cheap.  $18.  While I was out, I topped off the gas tank for $16.

I wasn't happy about having to go out today.  The temperature is hovering around zero.  There was some snow on my car, but at least it was easy to brush off.  It was light and fluffy.  I was glad to know that my new battery started up fine in this frigid weather after sitting for a day.

I put the second coat of paint on my radiator today.  It's not perfect, but it looks a lot better.

I took the $300+ car repair cost out of variables, which brought the percentage used down to 56%.  The car repair will have to come out of savings.

Yesterday I got a direct deposit of $112 from Allstate for Drivewise credits.  Then I took $80 out of my checking account -- $40 for the grandkids' valentines, and $40 for laundry money.  I have plenty of laundry money on hand, but since I was at the bank I got the limit in quarters, since they can sometimes be hard to find.

This morning I took my car to the dealer for recall work -- second time in a year.  Everything was fine and there was no cost.  The biggest disadvantage was that I had to be there at 7 am, and I slept terribly just knowing I had to get up so early.

When I got my battery replaced at Midas, they offered to do an oil change, since it had been a year since I'd had it done there.   I couldn't believe it had been a year, and I said I would need to check and see whether I'd done it somewhere else in the interim.  I couldn't find any evidence that I had.  Even so, it would be time for another, anyway.  So next week I'll take my car back.

I've been forcing myself to walk, even though it is challenging in this weather.  Yesterday I decided to drive and park downtown, where I hoped the walks would be less treacherous.  They weren't exactly clear, but they were better than in my neighborhood.

I used my walk to stop in at the library and to go to a hardware store, where I bought a can of radiator paint, and brushes, for $13.  My little bathroom radiator is looking pretty chipped and sad.  A new coat of paint should do wonders.  That expenditure, along with $4 for laundry, brought variables to 85%.

I thought I would stick at home today, but I realized I need to go to the bank and get fresh $10 bills for the grandkids' valentine cards, which I'll need to buy at Walgreens.  So I'll do that after I get cleaned up.

Well, it was a day.  I had to replace my car battery, wiper blades and cabin filter ($304), and while I was out, I shopped at Aldi ($89 -- how did I do THAT?), and picked up another bag of fluids ($12).  If I keep the car repair cost in variables, it is already up to 83%, and I'm not even two weeks in.  We'll see how it goes.  I hate to take it out of savings., but that's probably what will happen.

As others have mentioned, it is bitter cold and snowy here in the midwest.  I am not enjoying it.  Parking is a misery; walking around is a challenge.

Iggy seems to be holding his own, so I have not pulled the trigger.  With the bad weather and the car problems, I am just not in the right frame of mind for taking difficult steps.

I went to Walgreens (not mine, but one not too far away) to get my first Moderna shot yesterday.  I arrived WAY too early (fearful of things going wrong), so I ended up sitting a long time.  Other than that, it was uneventful.  Today I have a bit of pain and swelling at the site, nothing bad.  I am SO glad to have this under my belt, and I consider myself very lucky to have gotten an appointment when so many are struggling.

Afterwards I picked up a few groceries while I was there - $27.

Today is my Oregon son's birthday.  I sent him a couple of things from his Amazon list - $74 - and I also PayPal'd him $20 to participate in a Squares game for the Superbowl.  Variables are now at 26%.  Time to slow down on spending!

Iggy continues to be okay.  I don't want to take him to the vet during this frigid cold spell, so I'm hoping he continues on this track, for a while, at least.

Paid $45 today online for my visit to Immediate Care in January.  This takes my variables to 13%.

Snow is coming down like crazy (though it will stop soon) and temperatures are starting to drop.  I hope the cold will not make it hard to get my vaccine tomorrow.  There was a warning on my news feed that antifreeze could freeze.  Eek!

I have my faucets dripping and will keep it up throughout the cold spell.

This is the day I thought I would take Iggy to the vet for his final visit.  But I had to move my car for plowing before 8 am, and the only place I could find to park was way too far away for me to carry a heavy carrier, especially over ice and snow.  So I decided to take it as a sign -- not today.  And as luck would have it, Iggy seems much better and has even had a normal poop!  And he seems alert and peppy.  Go figure.

Tomorrow there will be another storm -- not as bad as the last, but I won't want to be moving around.  And on Friday -- on Friday -- I WILL GET MY FIRST COVID VACCINE!  Snagging an appointment was the most amazing thing that has happened yet this year.  It was beginning to seem impossible; I tried so many times without success, but this morning an appointment grid popped up when I logged into Walgreens' site.  I was so shocked I stared at it a minute before I was sure it was real.  I will go to a Walgreens just six minutes away, which was also very lucky.

Over the weekend we will have frigid temperatures.  The kind where it's best to just stay inside.  So between the weather, the parking, the shot and Iggy's improvement, my decision about his ultimate fate has been put on hold.  I am relieved.  I probably wasn't as ready for this step as I thought I was.

I went to the doctor yesterday for my wellness checkup, and since I hadn't eaten yet I was able to get my labs done on the same trip.  Today I learned that my cholesterol is much better, and everything else, including kidney function, is holding steady.  Such good news.  Afterwards I went to Sam's and stocked up on produce.  $41.  I also bought lunch at a drive-through for $7.   Variables for this month are at 7%.

What a good low-spend month this was, despite a big insurance bill.

Housing: $795

Insurance: $747

Utilities: $195

Groceries: $92

Vet/Pet Supplies: $70

Household Supplies: $63

Phone: $51

Entertainment: $46

Medical/Health: $26

Laundry: $26

Clothing: $25

Furnishings/Equipment/Decor: $18

Eating Out/Takeout: $18

Gifts/Charity: $17

Gas: $16

Fees/Services: $5

Grand Total: $2210

Variables: 52%

We are literally buried here in Chicagoland.  At least in my piece of it, near the lake.  I don't expect to be able to get out today at all.  My plan is to have my son take me to my doctor's appointment on Tuesday morning.  Then I'll walk to my car, which is parked in a garage near the medical office and drive home.  Hopefully by then there will be a parking place available, if the plows have done their work today.  On Wednesday I will take Iggy to the vet.  I hope he won't have another bad episode before then.  Today he seems good, though not eating.  I'm glad he's not eating, since he can't eliminate without pain.  I am feeling at peace about letting him go -- meanwhile, enjoying these few days I have left with him.

Iggy was sick again yesterday, and as a result I am washing sheets, a mattress pad and my bedspread.  He has also soiled his quilt, as well as another quilt I put on the bed temporarily.  I have those set aside to wash, but I don't know if I'll get to it all today.  This will add at least $4 to my laundry tab.  If I wash the quilts, $4 more.

I would take Iggy to be put down today, because it's clear to me now that he is more miserable than happy, but my car is in a distant garage and we have eight inches of snow, and it's still falling.  Besides that it's Sunday!  So if I could even get out I would have to go to the emergency vet, which probably isn't even open in this awful storm.  Iggy has taken refuge in his carrier and I just hope I can take him in tomorrow, but that will be dependent on whether my son can get his car out of his alley and whether he is willing to try.  This is all completely discouraging.  I'm angry at myself that I let the vet talk me into continuing to treat him when it was so clear to me that he was on a downward spiral.  Now I'm stuck in a bad situation.

I moved my car to one of the city garages this morning, and I will keep it there until my doctor's appointment next Tuesday.  Parking is free until February 3, because of the coming snowstorm.  The more cars that are off the street, the better the city will be able to plow.

DS picked me up at the garage, and we stopped at Walgreens on the way home.  I stocked up on batteries ($10) and also picked up some groceries ($13).  That should be my last bit of spending for the month.  Variables are at 52%, the best I've done in a long time.  It makes me wonder if I've done something wrong in my count!

Now I'm just looking forward to a couple of snow days, with no worries about the snow piling up on my car.

I thought I might go out and grocery shop today, since another snowstorm is coming.  Then I rethought it.  My freezer is full of food to use up.  The only thing I was worried about running out of was cat food.  So I ordered some from Amazon.  $21.  I already had two packages of Command hooks in my cart, so I got those, too, for $27.

The city has agreed to open the parking garages free so that the streets can be plowed more efficiently.  I take my car there when the snow starts.  I'll have to take the train home.  I haven't been on the train since the pandemic began, but I am trusting I can manage to stay away from people on the short trip.

Yesterday I checked to see if my 1099-R was ready, and it was!  So I went ahead and filed.  I'm going to get a tax refund of $909.  Whoopee!

We have been hit with 8 inches of snow, and I have been moving my car around for three days so they can plow.  A lot of others are not doing that, so the plowing has been hit or miss.  But the main roads are clear.  It's the side streets, like mine, that are a mess.  I wish I could plan on some melting, but it sounds like we will get another snowstorm this weekend.  Oh well.  It's winter.

The other day our water was turned off while another unit was getting plumbing service.  When it came back on, my toilet was suddenly flushing better, after having been sluggish for some time.  So, even though my toilet is very old, I scrapped the plan to get a new one, and decided to look for a new seat.  The current one is chipped and not attached well anymore.   Well, I learned that my toilet is actually smaller than standard and getting a new seat to fit is just about impossible.  If I could even find the right dimensions, the seat would probably cost as much as a new toilet.  I could get a seat that's too big, but that would probably look weird.

There's no rush, now that the toilet is functioning better, so I'm going to wait on the replacement.

Once I get my property tax paid, I'll focus on refinishing the dining room table.  And while it is out, I'll send the dining room rug out for cleaning.  After that, I need to retile my kitchen floor.

Right now I'm anxiously awaiting one tax document so I can file.  Should be available in a few days.

I hope the next stimulus payment comes through.  That will definitely help with the projects.  And, since I will be supporting small business, it will help the economy, too.

I got my electric bill -- or, that is, it hit my bank -- it's an automatic payment.  It's higher than usual.  I don't know if I've been using more electricity or if new charges have been tacked on.  I guess it's time to be more mindful of what lights are on.

I also paid my assessment fees -- automatically.  They have gone up, too.   Oh well, Social Security payments have also gone up by about $25!

We are expected to get a big snow today.  Tomorrow I am scheduled for a house call from United Healthcare.  I think I will cancel.  I don't really need it, and I think the nurse practitioner will have trouble parking on a bad snow day.

I made a run to the vet's office this morning and picked up a bag of saline, needles, and a bag of dry kidney care cat food.  The total was $37.  That pushed variables up to 38% -- still good for this time of the month, especially with my new lower variables bucket.

I have a little 403b fund from the few years I worked at a  local college at the end of my career.  It just surpassed $30K -- a milestone! It was at $10K when I retired (for the second time) in 2015.  FYI, this is just an extra fund; my main retirement fund from my university days is a bit larger.

Another pay day has arrived, and it was uneventful.  I paid off the credit cards (which is how I do my regular spending) and arranged to transfer funds to my credit union to make the mortgage payment.   There were no surprises.

I did a load of laundry today, taking the total to $14 so far.  Even though the cost of each load has gone up, I am still trying to keep the month's total under $20.

No sign of the sewer work that was planned.  I wish, when they put up signs clearing the street, they would at least show up to do the work.

Today I got my $50 worth of free stuff from my Medicare Advantage plan.  This happens every quarter.  I pick, and they send!  It's coordinated through Walmart.  This time I ordered two packages (48 count each) of Poise, a mat for the tub, 50 tablets of Dulcolax and six bottles of Fleet enema.  No, things are not that bad, but my recent bout with acute constipation made me aware I should have some help on hand.

Later today I'll go to the library and pick up three books on hold.  I need to move the car, anyway, because tomorrow they will begin sewer work on my street.  That should make parking a delight!  Not.

I spent $30 on entertainment in the past few days.  First of all, with the lottery totals so high, I decided to buy a ticket, but I didn't want to go out for it.  I figured out how to do it online, but I had to put $10 in my "wallet."  Oh well.  I have bought two tickets, one for MegaMillions and one for PowerBall.  On the first, I matched two numbers but won nothing.  On the second, I matched nothing.  Don't lecture me, please!  I only buy tickets on the rare occasions when the jackpot is extremely high, and there is a reason I classify the expense as entertainment.  A few days of harmless dreaming!

Then yesterday I spent $20 to rent "News of the World" on Amazon Prime.  I enjoyed the movie and do not regret the decision.  I did the same when "Emma" came out on demand.  I figure I will spring for the cost when the film is something I really want to see.  That doesn't happen too often.

Variables are now at 33%, a little over halfway through the month.  Pay day is coming up on Wednesday, but most of my spending will be on fixed bills, not counted in variables.

Glad I stocked up.  It's snowing nonstop, though we are predicted to get only a few inches.

Just lost an entry because I wasn't logged in!  I'm not sure how I could get to the "add entry" page without being logged in, but here goes, I'll try to re-create it.

I went to Kohl's this morning because the shoes I ordered from Amazon were too big.  After I went through the return process, I went to housewares, looking for a cutting board.  I didn't find one, but I found a nice gift for DIL on clearance -- after all the discounts and promotions, I paid $13 for a $40 item.  My first Christmas purchase for 2021!

Then I went to Aldi and finished my grocery shopping, ringing up $45.  Variables are at 29%.

Getting ready to hunker down, because it's going to snow tonight.  I may not be moving for several days.

Well, it seems to be an unusually nice day for this time of year, so I decided I would get out and do some shopping before the weather gets more seasonable.  I went to Panera for bagels ($7), Jewel for groceries, cat food and a birthday card ($41),  and Sam's for groceries, tp and gas ($51).   These purchases bumped my variables up to 21%.  I haven't done my "real" grocery shopping yet, which I will do at Aldi.  The groceries I bought at Jewel and Sam's were items I can't buy or don't like at Aldi.

I came home very tired.  I think I'll take a nap!

This morning I ordered a new pair of house shoes (Skechers sneaker clogs) and a dough hook for my KitchenAid stand mixer.  The total was $40 because I had a $35 credit from a returned Christmas gift.  I almost ordered a hook from a source that would have charged $15 for shipping, so I'm glad I caught that!

I am starting to see gaps in my food supply, so I may do some grocery shopping soon.  But not today, I don't think.  I still have plenty of food in my pantry and fridge, but I will soon need vital things like cat food and coffee creamer.

Variables are at 9%.

I am almost completely back to normal after pulling my leg muscle.  I'm grateful for that.  

This was not the best day.  I decided to go to the Immediate Care center for what was termed "acute constipation."  While getting reading to go, I pulled a muscle in my thigh while pulling on a pair of boots.  Really weird that this happened; it was hardly a strenuous movement.  The pull is so bad I can barely walk.  It's been a miserable day.

As for the problem I went for, I got an x-ray which showed no obstruction.  I just have to drink more water and eat more fiber!

While I was out, I spent $11 at a drive-through for a plant-based lunch.  I wasn't feeling up to cooking.  

My auto insurance payment (semi-annual) hit the bank today -- $748 was withrdrawn.  Also my $26 Medicare premium.

Variables are at 3%.

For 2021 and going forward, I made an adjustment to my variables plan.  Currently, in addition to fixed or regular expenses, I subtract $200 for taxes and insurance.  Now I'm adding another $200 for projects.  That will make my variables -- my "everything else" spending -- pretty low, but doable, I think.  If it's too tough, I can adjust again.  It should be a good discipline, though.

Yesterday I did one load of laundry and had a picture made into a 5x7 print for $2.75.  Variables are at 1%!

I got my stimulus deposit already!  Woo-hoo!

My sidebar is finally fixed!  Woo-hoo!

Does this mean 2021 will be a good year?  I don't dare think it!  But fingers crossed!

I've been thinking about new year's resolutions.  I think my number one resolution is to do my best to play the hand I'm dealt.  Pivot!  This past year has taught me that.  Other than that, my resolutions are:

Work on my novel every day.

Drink LOTS of water!  At minimum go through my five water bottles every day.

Have something with fiber at every meal.

Exercise every day, whether it is a walk, stretching, climbing stairs, or lifting weights.

Save for home improvements, and get them done.  I need to refinish my table, get a new toilet, replace the tile in the kitchen, send out a rug and runner for cleaning, and paint most of the rooms.

I will probably need to replace my phone in the coming year.  I'm just glad it's hung on this long.

Happy New Year, everyone!  Woo-hoo (another one) for 2021!

I won't be spending anything today, so I did my December recap, and my 2020 recap.

December:

Gifts/Charity: $1068

Housing: $795

Vet/Pet Supplies: $310

Utilities: $178

Groceries: $168

Medical/Health: $106

Phone: $51

Laundry: $24

Furn/Equip/Decor: $19

Eating Out/Takeout: $16

Entertainment: $12

Grand Total: $2763

2020:

Housing: $9708

Home Repair/Maintenance: $5071

Gifts/Charity: $3893

Car Repair/Maintenance: $2181

Utilities: $2148

Medical/Health: $1842

Groceries: $1593

Furn/Equip/Decor: $1337

Vet/Pet Supplies: $1099

Taxes: $909

Insurance: $869

Phone: $612

Fees/Services: $560

Eating Out/Takeout: $537

Entertainment: $283

Household Supplies: $273

Laundry: $208

Clothing: $204

Gas: $202

Personal: $163

Fares/Parking: $3

Grand Total: $33,695

You want to hear something funny?  My grand total last year was $33,696!  Of course there was a big difference in the categories.  This year I spent a lot more on home repair, gifts (that was thrown off by donating my $1200 stimulus check to DIL's business), and car repair/maintenance.  I spent less on furnishings/equipment/decor, insurance (I think that is just a timing thing), eating out, clothing, gas, vacations and personal.

My net worth went up by almost $5K.  Another surprise.

Update:  I forgot to check my TIAA investments.  My net worth actually went up by $5700!