The year is drawing to a close, and in the middle of the week as well. I guess it is time to reflect on what the past year brought to us.
Harvey and I both had to find a new doctor and were very lucky to find one that is so very thorough. Mind you after finding the nodule in my lung I am so glad she is so thorough. Both of us went through lots of tests this past year, and from the looks of the new year there will be still more.
I have been managing to simplify my life a little more each month. More of a decluttering challenge to make room for what really matters. Part of the decluttering process right now is finishing off projects I started and set aside, or using up yarn, fabric and scraps to make useful items that can be given as gifts. I went through my clothing and pulled many items to either be donated or refashioned. I hate to think things I had bought would be sent to a landfill. Still have way too many clothing items, but I will be cutting those down as time passes.
Organizing is helping me to realize that I don't need as much as I thought I would even just a few years ago. Things that I thought held sentimental value really didn't so were sent away for donation. I did take a picture of those items that tugged at my heart strings a bit.
I worked on getting things to help me save space in my freezer. Silicon molds entered into play. I plan on popping out the frozen blocks and storing them in bags. They should take up much less room or at least be easier to stack in the freezer. I need to purchase some smaller ones in order to really be able to freeze what we will use in the correct size.
Pantry has been a life saver when the weather has been iffy. I am planning a kind of re-stock by doing the $5.00 a week purchase especially for the pantry. But because I only shop every 2 weeks I will be spending $10.00.
One of the things I wanted to work on was lowering our electric bill and so started using my appliances to cook more. It seems to have worked to a certain extent, so I will continue to do so as much as possible.
Self-care wise, did not go as well as I had hoped. It kind of fell by the wayside. I tried to follow a skin care routine, but fell back to using just soap and water. Tried walking more, but always found something I wanted to do instead. I have managed to drink more water though, which I suppose is at least one good thing happening. I am also pretty much doing the intermittent fasting thing, but man it can be tough some days.
Financially we were under total budget for the year and I was under budget for groceries (though there were a few times I went way over budget by quite a bit). The amount I was under budget in groceries paid for the dining room chairs, the repairs to my car, and our new passports. Now just have to work on paying back the money spent on the stove, and perhaps part of one of the partial plates Harvey needed this year. Mind you taking off the under budget grocery line, from the yearly underbudget I think that the stove and one partial plate could be said to have been paid. I will need to check on that a bit. Knowing that because of being frugal we made the cash back for those items makes me very happy.
Outside we expanded the garden at the end of the season, picked up some Honeyberry/Haskap bushes, and Harvey purchased another pear tree. I gave some of my larger pots to Kris for his yard. He got them fairly late in the spring so they were not used, but I think that next spring he can use them for some more container gardening. I plan on doing more container gardening as well and finding some more medicinal plants (Kurt bought me a book for Christmas with lots of herbal recipes and ideas for plants).
I loved having monthly goals and plans. Mostly for projects I wanted to do or complete but those did help me work through all the crafts I wanted to get done. It even helped me to finish projects that I had started and set aside.
Learned a new craft, weaving, and I just love it. I still need to work on it, and I rather doubt I will move on from my rigid heddle loom to a floor or table top loom. So much to learn.
Now I get to think of some goals for 2026.
God bless.
Our pantry was a life saver this month too even with the holidays, which really helped us to save this month. And yes, it’s time to make goals for 2026.
ReplyDeleteDear Jackie, Happy New Year to you, dear friend! As far as the skin care routine goes, sometimes soap and water is the best. The only thing I use is Dove moisturing cream...in the pink jar. Dollarama sells it much cheaper than anywhere else and it is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI think it sounds like a really good year. You really accomplished a lot. Smaller goals are so much more manageable. May 2026 be a year of health and happiness for you both.
ReplyDeleteOh thanks for the reminder,about the $5 a week for the pantry! Such a good idea!
ReplyDeleteI got a jar of cream for Christmas made with tallow. I’ve been putting it on my face twice a day, morning and night. It really seems to be helping with dryness and wind damage. I never would have guessed that such a thing existed let alone worked. I’m not too old to learn new tricks!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday! I hope it was joyful!
Happy 2026!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've accomplished a lot this year, especially with regard to simplifying. I'm hoping to do some of that this year. I also liked your $5 pantry stock up idea. I might have to make it monthly, but better than nothing. Good luck with your list for 2026.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family. Although I don't comment that much, I want you to know what you write does inspire me to do so much better in my life. I love how you are trying to simplify your life.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Jackie! You accomplished a lot this year and you continue learning. There is a lesson in you perseverance for all of us.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I tallied up our grocery costs and was really surprised to note that it was only about $300 more than the previous year. I would have thought it would have been a lot more. But then I stopped and thought about it and realized that keeping the costs in line was because we aren't eating as much meat and what we do eat is stretched with pasta or rice. We rarely buy bread and instead make our own using sourdough. Fruit is our main expense and I can't see how to reduce the costs of that.
ReplyDeleteHere's to the new year and taking care of yourself. Glad the doctor is one that takes time. That's important. Wishing you a good solid new year - I have no doubt that you'll kick some serious butt. Cheers, Ivy.
ReplyDelete