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Sunday, October 29, 2023

Week 43: October Update and November Goals

OCTOBER ACCOMPLISHMENTS & FAILS

Reduce spending on food, household, toiletries and alcohol

October total $787 vs $948 for September - yeah! I know we can do better.

Complete major home projects

The earthquake retrofit is done and the final inspection is on Tuesday. Then we will get the signed certification to submit for our insurance discount and also submit our request for a partial refund of our home purchase city transfer tax.

The yard project is progressing. This coming week the rest of the plants go in, drip irrigation system is installed and bark mulch spread. 

Finish little tasks

Did some decluttering, organizing and mending/alterations. More to go.

Exercise regularly & more

Definitely a fail. Even had to postpone my first Pilates session a week due to illness.

NOVEMBER BIG GOALS

- Pilates weekly, at home exercise at least 3 days, and long walks at least 3 days

- Plan 2024 finances to replenish savings a bit

We have spent almost a year getting ready to move, moving and then doing the work on the new house. That has been a very costly and stressful. I am going to try to slowly add money back into our savings while learning what a normal year’s living expenses are here and focusing on other parts of life!

- Keep grocer, household, toiletries and alcohol spending under $800 (2 guests for 7 to 10 days but not hosting Thanksgiving & will eat out some)

- Low/No spending on household furnishings, clothing, coffee out, books, etc.

- Clean up dust and dirt from completed projects

The retrofit project unleashed lots of dust into our house probably coming in around the baseboards and ceiling fixtures the best we can figure. Every surface is dusty and it even is inside some kitchen drawers, etc. The yard project made all the screens and windows filthy on the outside too.

I don’t expect to get it all done in one month but it really needs focused work and effort. I’ll look for decluttering and reorganizing options as I go. We did put open a new furnace filter once the work was done.

- Visit one new place in area

- Try at least one new social activity

- Take pup on an outing

- Spend time with granddaughter/local family at least once not counting Thanksgiving

4 comments:

  1. Great goals and plans.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I should probably call some of them aspirations instead!

      Delete
  2. When we had the earth quake retrofit done in Seattle, every single surface in the house had to be washed/cleaned/vacuumed. It took for ever. They haven't had an earth quake since then.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is exactly what I am facing and some dust seems to have gotten into the heating ducts. This too will pass.

      Delete

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