Sadie and I walked today after Cliff went to work; he had his every-three-month doctor visit this morning so the doctor could ask him how he's feeling, and to get his blood work done. Once you've had CABG surgery and go on all those prescription drugs, you get to see a doctor regularly.
A couple of weeks ago, I vowed to patronize the small-town grocery stores around here. Last week I spent only $68, and today I spent $63. Trouble is, today's money was spent at Walmart.
I know, I wasn't going to do that. But the grocer in the town where our doctors' office is had to close down due to competition from Walmart. I don't drive. It was either patronize Walmart or make a special trip someplace else, and I hate to make Cliff drive extra miles in his free time. So on the second week of my "patronize local grocers" vow, I folded. Hopefully next week I'll get back on track.
I've found I watch my grocery dollars more closely if I take a certain amount of cash, rather than using the checkbook. So that's another practice I'm implementing.
We are not in dire straits; but we're in our sixties, so I know the time is coming when we won't have Cliff's steady, quite generous paycheck to count on. I may as well get used to budgeting now.
On this gloomy, gray afternoon there's a cold front coming through, possibly bringing rain. Sunday may bring sunshine and sixty degree temperatures, say the weather-guessers. If it does, we'll get on the Gold Wing and head out on the open road for a few hours... if the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise.
