I'm home

 will write more later... Ortho doc went through roof with all the issues I had.

Late everyone. 

Kim at OUT MY WINDOW pantry challenge

 still eating from the pantry..

still have not went to the store for anything but milk.

Does M sending bread and a sweet over this coming Saturday caught as shopping? LOL

Hamburgers with homemade rolls, asparagus, and sweet potato and peaches.

Strip steak and huge salad...we were going to put the steak on the salad but decide to just eat it on it's own plate. I put apples in the salad for our fruit.

Meatloaf , hassleback potatoes, carrots , and raspberry pie filling on sponge cake with cool whip.

Big egg... leftover ham and potatoes tossed in skillet with beaten eggs poured on top. AKA Frittata  but Hubby's family has always called it a big egg.

Cream of mushroom soup HOMEMADE. As that is the only way Hubby will make it

French toast with bacon

What ever we could find in the frig day .

5 am

ORTHO doc said if I didn't want to go out in this weather ... it was okay we could postpone it... Hubby was like we will leave early and get there driving main routes not secondary like we did yesterday to "clean up the mess " of what wasn't done before surgery. Took us 2 1/2 hrs. for a 1 1/2 hr.  drive yesterday. BUT coming home the main highways it took 1 1/2 hrs. 

First....ORTHO forgot to get my primary doctor's release in early Jan when I had seen him so I had to go back to see him. Second they forgot to fax the forms to primary so I had to GO GET THEM , take them to the doctor , then take them back to ORTHO.

Hospital forgot to send results of bloodwork and EKG to Primary so they had to call for that. My BP was so high they ran another EKG. Doc said it is most likely stress of the drive (saw a person do a 360 in the middle of the highway when they hit an icy patch) and the mess that was caused by people not doing their job. I now have the main person of the ORTHO private phone number 

 Doc  CAUGHT they(ORTHO) had forgot to have me sign a paper with witness in ORTHO office... so back track to deal with that.

Went to the hospital as they had changed my surgery time but didn't leave the time to be there... ORTHO DOC changed it to later to give me more time for roads to be cleared and then wanted me to know it was okay if I postponed, he had even gotten a statement from my ins acknowledging the surgery might be postponed due to weather and they would extend the time frame for me.  

Ortho office ordered codeine for my pain med instead of the pain med that is listed in my records ...it's on my RECORD I don't take that. SO office head called CVS to stop it from being filled. CVS had already rejected the order (GOOD JOB CVS)  and they ordered what was listed.

Ortho made it clear if I didn't have surgery to use the pain meds now to help me get to the surgery.

ORTHO forgot to schedule the date in 2 wks to remove sutures. SO today BEFORE surgery I will have to bring that up AGAIN and make sure I have it before leaving hospital tomorrow...I am supposed to spend the night... might be two or even three as Ortho doc noted to hospital of another weather storm coming through on Thursday. 

MEAN TIME

house is cleaned, paths for me to walk with walker are clear, main dishes are in freezer and I even brought up 2 wks of veggies and fruit from the pantry and put them on the counter. Have some dessert stuff if Hubby gets the urge to bake. Brought up 2 cups of 5 different rice, instant mashed potatoes and told Hubby he would have to go down for fresh potatoes and pasta and pasta sauce if needed. 

I haven't slept more than 3 hrs at one time due to pain that has now cranked up to a 10.

Surgery is at 12:30. Hubby is plowing the driveway so we can get out (got 10 inches and then 35 mph winds) right now (it's 5:37 am). We will leave at 8 to get there by 10. I have a caffeine headache, am dehydrated and am starving which is weird as I am NEVER hungry in the mornings. 

I probably won't be back on until Wed night or even later if they hold me to Friday.

SO READY TO GET THIS DONE>

waste not want not Wednesday

 should be whacked out Wednesday LOL.

Late last night I got a call from my primary doctor that they still had not gotten the form from the Ortho doctor they needed to fill out to release me.... since it's been almost 3 months since they were supposed to get it (the day after I saw my primary) they would need to see me. Doc is giving up his lunch to see me on Monday the day before surgery as the only other time he had open was when Hubby was working and I am not driving myself for 180 minutes. Learned that lesson already. I called Ortho office and they thought they had but then found the form still in my file so was suppose to do it immediately. Doc's head nurse AKA his wife was going to call them if she didn't get it by 5 last night. 

I still have 21 things on my to do list that I want done by Monday. BUT I have all the food in the freezers for meals. I would to put some pie crusts (not rolled) and hamburger buns into the freezer if I get to it. I think I would like some vegetable beef chunks soup afterwards also. Maybe beef stew... IT'S FREAKING COLD HERE. Our high yesterday was lower than the low for the state capital here in Ohio. Hubby said we have been getting about 1-1 1/2 inches of snow daily with the snow showers.

On the good side of being cold  as E, his brother M and his BIL J have been clearing the pond daily to keep the snow off (snow makes the ice mushy)He thinks they will cut tomorrow. As today everyone is cutting wood for the 4 schools.Hubby made the comment they best be making sure their WIVES have cut wood before this polar vortex hits.

We had an Amish guy come borrow our generator, his Englisher that cuts the horns on his cattle couldn't get his generator to start. So Hubby lent him ours with the understanding if we lost electric he was coming after it. They brought it back last night and had the guys generator in the back of the truck. Hubby looked at it and mentioned it had 2 GFI outlets. Used his keyto push the reset button to reset them and the generator started up. Englisher was embarrassed and the Amish got a chuckle.

The electric bill was down $10 below budget but I am having to use the dryer for furniture throws and bedding (less dog hair after surgery) so it's going to go up. 

I have my mid calf dresses along with sweaters ( along with long johns and knee high socks LOL)already picked out for after surgery, wearing some of it this week to make sure they fit and I am comfortable in them. Dug into to my stock up for a pair of slippers that fit snug without socks in case Hubby leaves before I get out of bed and I have to go sockless because I am NOT stretching out my socks with the sock helper. Memo to myself I can not use either walker to dry clothes on as I have one in the bathroom for helping get off the toilet and one for me to use. SO laundry will be done mine in morning and Hubby's at night or something like that.

Today I am in the basement cleaning... that's 5 things off the to do list

Thursday I will be in the east and west lofts . It's going to be warmer (HA HA by 3 degrees) and there is low heat in those areas. That's another 4. 

That will leave the main floor to do last and any additional food prep I want to do.

M has asked I send over what I want her to bake for us ... I know a loaf of bread but I think I will also ask for cookies or a sweet of her choice .I will take that note over to her on Monday so she can think about what and when it fits for her. 

At this point I would walk out the door right now and go have surgery.

Baby shower info

 Rebecka has allowed me to post her baby shower info from Amazon and Target and said a big thank you for even asking. 

https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/rebecka-bartlett-april-2021-springfield/2R5AF368R5KR9

https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/d8d145749b5a411da4460e2bc54d1d19?ref=grshare_grandapp

They are living in a two story house so they figured a glidder on one floor and a rocker on the other. I asked why she had them both on her lists . 

Make it happen Monday

 Electric bill is in... $10 below budget. YES!!!!

We have to order salt for the water softener ( 2 weeks after normal fill) and propane (right on schedule for the cold we have) for the tank next week. Hubby is dealing with it since I will be down with surgery. I told him I would remind him when we got to the hospital...give him something to do while he waits hours on me.

Saturday we ate left overs and Sunday we had refried beans with cheese with tortilla chips.  We are eating the left over refried beans as casserole tonight.

I made, rolled and dehydrate almost 6 lbs. of noodles. 

Today I am making pie crust... a chicken pot pie for the freezer, a Dutch apple pie for now and a couple single and 1 double crusts for later. I also need to make bread and rolls.

North and south loft and their stairs in on the cleaning list for today. 

I have a teleconference with SS today. The only thing they need is my checking acct info. All the rest is done unless they find something... don't they always find something???

Daughter 4 is counting down to her grandbaby is due... 10 weeks. AND if she isn't working yet she plans to come up and help plant the gardens also.

I found these from that were daughter 4's when she was born. Now washed and packed up for her grandbaby

Not that she'll use blankets much with baby in April but she can keep them instead of me. I have a couple things that was Son2's that he told me to pass to Army Grandson when they start their family as Son2 doesn't have kids. 

My SIL has lung damage from covid. She already suffers from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (aka pots) and has a pace maker. She has a host of doctor appts that brother and the kids are taking her too. Brother has his own medical problems. He was worried about bankrupting her if he went in to the nursing home (he is 70 and she is 49) Now she is worried about bankrupting him. She did listen to me when I told her to get a home that they could stay in that was ADA for wheelchairs. SO they could stay put as long as they can have someone come in and care for them. Which is cheaper than the nursing home of $9000 a month. That is the cheapest in this area. The county home that takes Medicare has a 3 yr waiting list. 

I best get to making it happen LOL

Blessed Be 

Update on Daughter 4

 This coming week is her last week of radiation and chemo. 

She gets rescanned on March 4th to see if the cancer is still active or restarts. THEN she will have surgery. 

Right now insurance is only willing to pay for the ovary to be removed even though the Doctor feels ALL  should be removed as the cancer could start else where. PLUS  I brought up the fear she is dealing with triggering her PTSD and bipolar, she brought it up to her doctor... or I should say she showed him my text. Then her Lupus doctor chimed in that it could trigger her lupus to flare up when she's had in under control. It's starting to flare now with her off all medication. 

She is handling all the stress by taking her 5 dogs outside to play in the snow several times a day. 

Son 2 dropped off a couple yoga dvd's he had for her. As her doctor will not release her to work with weights or walk in her steel toe shoes but told her she could do some relaxing yoga. 

She earned enough extra money being taxi to some elderly to buy  a crib and some sheets for her grandbaby. 

She is also now getting her dog food for a huge discount thanks to the vet that she takes the dogs to. 

She is planning on having a baby shower for her daughter in March. Not sure if it will be virtual or in person. She knows several have things for her daughter and she is waiting to see what all that will be. 

pantry challenge 2/1/21 to 2/7/21

 Monday

 Lunch chocolate chip angel food cake

Supper chili (home canned) with cheese and tortilla chips

Tuesday

Lunch Pizza rolls

Supper Bacon cheese burger, FF

Wednesday

Lunch. Pizza rolls

Supper. Pork ragu with broken lasagna noodles

Thursday

Lunch cottage cheese and crackers

Lasanga

Friday

One meal at 3 as I spent the entire morning and afternoon in pretesting at hospital.

Smoked ribs, coleslaw and fruit salad from Davis Meats in Sidney

          

Feb. goals

To do the panty challenge  (http://outmywindowtoday.blogspot.com/2021/01/monday-february-1st-oh-my-pantry.html)

Do mini spring cleaning of entire house before surgery.

Turn West loft into guest bedroom with twin bed from son 2 

Put several meals (at least 30) in freezer to help during recovery and beginning of spring planting. 

Go through the 12 boxes, 2 file cabinets, seeds, and 5 clothes baskets AND shell the dried beans I harvested in Nov. 

Get through pretesting (Feb 5th)

Take recycling to township hall (Feb 6th)

Finish filing for SS (Feb 8th)

Celebrate Chinese New Year (Feb 12th)

Surgery (Feb 16th at 11:30)... spend night at hospital. Go through 2 Phys therapies there . One the night of surgery the other the next morning)

Celebrate our 26th anniversary Feb 18th

Out patient physical Therapy Feb 19th... they said having PT on the 3rd day after helps get past the Mac truck that runs you over when your immunity system kicks in full force. 

They mentioned maybe 1 PT a week at out patient but we will have to wait and see.

Savings. Simple Sunday

Should be sleepy Sunday after a night of snow coming in a mere 3 inches with the forecast calling for a lot more. Dogs were pacing a lot during the night and had both of us up and down. We are expecting freezing rain next or a wintery mix. I really don't want the freezing rain. We decided against plowing or shoveling until after the system passes. 

Saved 50% on seeds. I have had 3 places I had ordered last year that couldn't fill my orders sent me discounts. I focused on things I can plant for fall crop.

Moved some things around in my IRA and made over $20,000 in 6 wks. Knowing how it's went I will probably lose it by next week. 

We only bought milk this past week. 

We have been eating from mostly the kitchen frig freezer. I want to put 10 meals in the freezer to easy things while I am down. M said to say something to her on Tuesday or Wednesday if we need her to bake bread for us on Saturday. We saw that there is pork butt on sale for 89cents/lb at the local Save A Lot until Feb 2nd so we will go get some of that. One for smoking and another for adobo pork. 

I pulled frozen corn, a round steak, instant mashed potatoes, cherry pie filling and whipped topping (freezer) to go on top of the choc chip angel food cake M sent over for our meal tonight. 

I put ham out for tomorrow's meal... thinking scalloped potato and ham, maybe coleslaw as I have a cabbage in the frig. I can use part of it for coleslaw and the rest for fried cabbage and fried potatoes and sausage.

Blessed be

Finally Friday , Speed up Saturday

 Finally Friday...I finally got the east loft decluttered. One black bag of trash to the outside trash can. One stack of boxes and a large paper bag of newspaper for burn trash, 3 boxes of Daddy's stuff, 3 boxes of Mother's stuff and 4 boxes of our own. I plan to sort through boxes during recovery as Hubby said he would bring one down a day for me to sort.

Speed Up Saturday....Under winter storm warning of  3-10 inches of snow from 6 pm tonight to 7 am Monday. Possibly turning to rain middle of snow and then freezing ... I just hope we don't get WIND. Right now the wind is blowing at 11 mph.

Hubby made sure both trucks were full of gas and moved to the barn for cover. He disconnected the work truck from flatbed so he could put in under cover at the barn also. He checked on M and E making sure they knew it was going to get bad, tomorrow is church Sunday so they would be looking at being out early in buggy. M needed kerosene so Hubby got it when he went to get fuel for the truck. She is sending over angel food cake later today as she had made noodles and had extra egg whites. Hubby had already got milk so we didn't need anything.

I made sure the trash was out in the can and the can was bungee corded to the steel fence post. Too windy to burn anything so that stuff went to the holding area we have inside. 

Generator has been checked  and is ready to run if needed. 

Lamps are filled with oil, I have candles, lighters and matches. Meals for next 3 days are planned so we are set. 

AND YES I remembered all 6 adult kids what they needed to have if they lose electric and to be safe through this storm. One forgot to fill their car tank , another has no candles the 3rd didn't have anything they could eat with out power. SIGH. I guess 3 out of 3 being prepared is better then 0  out of 6.

Stay safe everyone

Blessed be

Thankful Thursday

 The house bills are paid for the month and first half of Feb.

Daughter 4 has only 2 more weeks of chemo and radiation. I am thankful she is doing so well through this trying time. She is thankful to Anne, she got her 5 dogs their tags.

I am thankful my granddaughter who let me know my great granddaughter is the size of an eggplant. 

Hospital called to go over "paperwork" so I don't have to make THAT trip. Doc would like me to spend the night, insurance is okay with that but depending on covid in that area on whether I do or not. 

I am thankful that those Hubby hauls for is willing to work with him while I am dealing with this. 

I am thankful that L on her way to school this morning, brought over bread and cookies M, her mom had baked the day before. Her brothers stopped the buggy at the end of our drive at our mailbox to pick her up. I am thankful Candy (their horse) did not leave a deposit in my driveway like most other horses do.

I am thankful that Hubby stopped and got milk last night and checked out the sales at Save A Lot while there.

I am thankful for a day without pain up to 8-9 on scale of 10 ( it's a 6 so far, usually goes up around supper)and decided to wash baby blankets to give to granddaughter AFTER today's laundry is dried on the drying racks. 

I would be more thankful if the SUN every pops out of the clouds like they forecasted... I do not think it's going to happen around here.

What are you thankful for?

Blessed Be 

SIGH

 Daughter 4 checked... she knows she can't file taxes until mid Feb. But she was just wanting to know what she was going to pay in from doing door dash and instacart. She was figuring a couple hundred between state and fed and had that back.

She did NOT get the $600 stimulus  but what she did get..

was her paperwork for unemployment that did NOT take taxes out. EVEN though I saw what she marked when she filed for them to TAKE TAXES out. 

She freaked.... As between all of that she is almost owing $1K. Federal... she could not handle looking at State. 

I reminded her she was not behind on child support. Her ex just gives the money to the son as allowance. It's $20 a week. Like she was 2 yrs ago for 2 kids at $50 a week for EACH. She can make payments if needed as she can show she's off work due to cancer. CALM DOWN. We can pay it and tack it on her loan. CALM DOWN. 

Doesn't help she pulled a tendon  in her elbow to shoulder 

walking one of the dogs. They slid on ice, dog one way and her another. Her dogs are as big as mine.  

She's bored so a friend lent her a carpet cleaner to clean her furniture as she has all wood floors and no throw rugs(the dogs played tug of war with her throw rugs). Radiation is to start along with the chemo she is on this week for 3 wks... then rescan and possible surgery.. I remind her that the light is in that tunnel, faint but in the tunnel.

She's also upset because she can't help me spring clean and nether can Son 2. Her for medical and he is leaving for AT about the same time I have surgery.SO he is having to get a friend to cat sit as I can't get down to change the litter box (automatic but still needs dumped). The other 4 are too scared they might give me covid as they all deal with the public.   At this point I really don't want them in the home anyways. I don't think they wear their masks like they should and are in "friends and other family" homes without masks. In this state you are to wear a mask if you are NOT in your OWN home and guests are to wear them in YOUR home.

Masks suck... but I would rather have a mask on than get covid. My SIL who is 48 is still sick from it and it messed her lungs up real bad. They aren't sure where they picked it up as the whole family including Brother's in laws and the church got it. He is in and out of funerals, she is a preacher with her brother, their kids are working in businesses that are open. They hang out with family and friends that don't live with them without their masks. Lesson learned. I hope it doesn't cost her her life as she already has a pacemaker.

Back to work... another round of decluttering the east loft

Motivation Monday Task Tuesday Waste not want not Wed.

Heavens what a week.

Since trash is hauled to the road on Monday night. My motivation was to check all 3 frigs for anything that needed tossed(lost celery that Hubby forgot to wrap tight with the foil). I also finished decluttering the "bucket"(flours and oats in 5 gal buckets) room. Had 2 bags of trash, some recyclables and 3 boxes of stuff to go to Daughter 4. She uses it, passes it on or sells it.  I started a spreadsheet to track what we buy from Amazon. It helps to keep track of stuff and the amount not going on to pay the mortgage down. 😁Boy did that comment make Hubby change his mind about ordering some stuff.

A neighbor sent over a meal... 3 glass containers that were 8 x8 inches. Main dish in one, two sides in the other and a dessert in the 3rd.... just the right amounts for us to have 2 meals from it. Hubby liked the idea of the 3 dishes, he asked if we had any thing that size... NOPE. We hadn't downsized those type of dishes. He did order those from Amazon after going through The Prudent Homemaker site. Maybe we won't have so many leftovers in the freezer because we got tired of eating it.

I made a casserole that I got off Amish365. Zucchini hamburger casserole. Texture was soft like custard can be. We really liked it and have leftover in the freezer for when I am down with surgery.

Task Tuesday...

I used my walker and walked around the 1st floor to make sure I can get around safely after surgery. 

I spent 30 minutes working in the east loft decluttering.

I updated finances and the calendar.

Then I went to bed sick... 24 hr bug

Waste Not Want not Wednesday.

Hubby used the last piece of chicken in the frig to make a wrap (tortilla wrap) for his lunch as he will be between jobs and will be able to eat.

I took a package of thin sliced beef out of freezer for supper. Not sure how it's going to be used until I know what time Hubby is going to get in. If it's going to be late it will be wraps (he loves wraps but not sandwiches)

random thoughts

Slow down Sunday? 

Make it Happen Monday? 

Task for Tuesday?

Waste not, want not Wednesday?

Thankful Thursday?

Finally Friday?

Speed up Saturday? 

 I have a bored kid LOL

Did the budget

We are over in a few areas and under in some others so it balanced. BUT I don't want that to continue through this year. 

Instead of paying the bills, buying the groceries , blah blah blah and then saving what is left or putting it over on the debt AKA zeroing out. I paid the house bills (the electric is the only one that floats but I figured out the average as they don't do budget billing) then I pay all the "extra" amounts on the debt. Leaving what is left of groceries, fuel for dog truck, all the odds and ends that can nickel and dime you if you are not careful. 

I bought vacuum bags for my food saver, bought generic. I would like to have more wide mouth canning lids. Maybe 10 more dozen. The bulk store has not gotten any in yet.

I would like to buy some plants for the garden since I am not growing any of my own this year.  I priced them at Burpee as they are usually the most expensive.SO I at least have that cost. 

I down loaded 2020 orders from Amazon, check what I spent and on what. Pandemic cost us an extra 1k for things I wouldn't have bought.  I have set up a spreadsheet to track what I am buying and the costs for each month instead of at the end of the year. Daughter 4 is going to help keep me on track

Tuesday update

We stopped at CVS and I bought $42.72 worth of granola bars for Hubby and paid $2 after coupons and extra bucks. 

We went to chiro which was right around the corner from CVS. 

 Then we went to go pick up our dog truck at the mechanic's. It was on the way home. I drove it home. Was a bit leary trying to get in the truck by myself. Out is easy as I just turn sideways and slide out. I did it better than I did getting off the recliner part of the couch last night. Definitely will be sitting in the chair behind the couch to watch tv after surgery.

Hubby went to pay his work truck payment and fuel up since he has work this morning at dawn. He also stopped at Michael Angelo's pizza and brought supper home. 

We had talked about getting some take out since we didn't go out for my birthday but I didn't bring it up thinking if I just didn't say anything he would forget and I would just do something with eggs. Since it was supper time when we got back. 

WELL... he brought home plain coated popcorn chicken with garlic butter sauce, deluxe 18 inch pizza, cheesy bread with garlic butter sauce, a sausage, onion, and ham calzone for him and a "pms" calzone for me... (pepperoni mushroom sausage), and a chef salad for each of us. He thought we could put part of it back in the freezer for when I have surgery. Good thought but GEEZE. 

We had sunshine ... 

been awhile since we have saw the sun rise.. back to dreary with clouds and snow flurries today

Blessed Be

Weekend savings

 I roasted 5 pie pumpkins, made puree and then put on dehydrator sheets over night.

This is the result

I then crumbled it

to put in my spice grinder

and ground it up to use in puddings, breads, pancakes... I haven't done pie. But anything that I can toss a couple spoon fulls into does great...even whipped cream . I do usually add some pumpkin spice along with it.

This usually lasts me a year. I try to keep enough to add to vanilla pudding to make pumpkin mousse at Thanksgiving.

I made 5 gallons of laundry soap. 

We ate from the freezers and pantry. I have 25 empty jars (some fruit and veggies came from freezer) and the kitchen freezer top drawer is now at just a little bit of ice cream, a bag of peas, a bag of peas and carrots and a bag of ham for what ever casserole. We will be working on the second freezer drawer of that frig next... I know there is some fried chicken in it. Plenty of fruit and some cooked hamburger for casseroles etc.

I placed an order with Amazon for some things that Hubby needed stocked for his homemade trail mix. He paid for it out of his money since the only time he eats it is when he is in the truck working. Let's him keep his sugar level and not have to worry about where to stop for something to eat or making a mess in his truck as he really doesn't like to eat sandwiches or such in the truck. 

I inventoried my canning jars and canning lids. I still need to buy bulk wide mouth canning lids when they come in again. M said she had enough to get through canning her meat and if she found any more wide mouth lids she would try to get me some also. I need 730 more jars if I am feeding daughter 4 for a full year.

I made a list of what veggie plants I will need to buy this year AFTER I made the list of what I want to put in the garden minus what I can buy at the auction or from Amish growers. I will go through my seeds next. Since I am having hip surgery Feb 16th , I am not growing my own plants this year. Less frugal but less stress.

For my birthday Hubby trimmed all the oak trees that had limbs low enough to hit me when I mowed. He also finally put up the tv in the dining room that we have had now for 2 months. We want to watch the weather news while drinking our coffee at the table. We do NOT watch tv while eating. 

Son 2 had our dog truck while his car got fixed. When his car was done, he dropped off our truck to get the oil changed... he also figured out where the tiny coolant leak was since the truck sat in his garage instead of a gravel driveway. 

This is what my granddaughter sent me for my birthday

She says she feels huge... Mid April is the due date

Blessed Be

Did you know salt had sugar in it?

 Yep... I checked it out. 

2nd ingredient.... I have to "eat" 1/8th of a teaspoon a day for my goiter. 

I have the mudroom decluttered and the laundry room decluttered. I would have continued but my hip and leg said they were done... I might coax them to declutter the kitchen later.

I am waiting for the pie pumpkins to cool so I can puree the flesh and then dehydrate. I will grind that for powder afterwards. Easier to make pumpkin pancakes or muffins that way. 

How the year ended financially.

 

Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without: 

 It was during this time that Calvin Coolidge was quoted as saying “Eat it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without” (Later, the phrase became more popular with, “Use it up.”)

We live in our Ira's and what ever we earn. In Dec  Hubby started getting his Social Security.

We had several projects to do, some had the stuff here already.

Jan 2020 our investments were down to $300,000. Hubby decided to not work for Ohio dept of transportation plowing snow. SO he started a business hauling and doing odd jobs for Amish/Mennonites. We picked up some cash making ice blocks for E and M since no ponds or river froze for the Amish to make ice blocks. I picked up some selling asparagus, traded asparagus for 10 gallons of beets also (mother in law got half of it)

We pay for our health ins, co pays, meds, otc , out of pocket came to a total of $14,600.  

We had NO money put back for anything.

Mortgage, property taxes and farm insurance remained at $22,800.

Propane was 6 tanks at $1.899 ($4075 with tax)when we moved in for the first year to 5 tanks at $1.699.($3098) Our propane company said that was great.

Electric average was $150/month ($1800)first year to $125/month ($1500)

Trash service  remained the same $204 a year.

Life ins remains the same of $1332 a year 

Internet/ home phone dropped from $1440 a year to $1020 a year.

Cellphones dropped from $1380 to $1320 a year. We both carry to cover large amount of data that we do use.

Car insurance stayed the same since Hubby bought a new truck $8500 a year.

Dogs (we did find cheaper food and meds that work better for Wilbur and Rascal, Charlotte still needs shots for her allergies), non food, pandemic crap, food, gardens, fruit trees and berry bushes etc . I did not track very well since the goal was to restock completely for a year.

THEN in Sept Daughter 4 was diagonized with ovarian cancer. The new job she had for only 25 days let her go as they would not cover her time off, they offered her to quit due to medical so they could hire her back when she is recovered as they don't do rehires any other way. IF she had stayed with her old company whose pay was about half of the new company she would have had medical time off, with pay and medical ins. That so called "change for the better" she thought she was doing, actually was for the worse. We figured out her budget...$24000 a year since a hit and run driver totaled her car she is driving and I CUT our budget so we wouldn't pull more from our IRAS to cover her. I am thankful I am completely stocked in non food and food before she went down.  The money we are using to support her would have been used to redo the front porch and add an ADA wheelchair ramp. 

GOALS FOR 2021. 

Within the last week we have put money back for emergencies so we don't need that now. 

We put money back for the medical out of pocket needed for the year. 

Hubby is now getting his social security to cover his business if needed as he did know there would be slow months. Any money he doesn't use is being divided by 4 between the mortgage, 2 loans and savings.

When I start getting my social security the same will be done 

Any earned money gets divided by four also.

When Daughter 4 is supporting herself we will let the money divide the money by 4 until we reset for next year.

I need to keep  better track of the finances going out and in. 

How are things going for you?

Blessed Be