Small, good update at least.

And how smog check places can cost you more money. All events up to getting the registration happened a week ago.

I paid the internet bill and then went in search of a local smog check place that also did registration. I only had $255 in the bank and the registration was $183 so there was a very very narrow margin of spending. My first worry was that it would pass, which it did thankfully. It's not as old as my other car and it's a low emission vehicle so that was a plus.

The guy asked if I wanted the new tags as well and then he noted it was late..yadayada... his total came to $273 or something more than I had in the bank. I balked and asked if there was a senior discount jokingly but then told him only the smog check please but do transmit the certificate. Came to $59. Doing the math.. I then remembered there were DMV kiosks where you didn't have to make an appointment or stand in much of a line. BINGO! Local DMV was very close so we drove over there, two people ahead of us in line, I then had a small panic wondering if I needed proof of insurance but went through the process and thankfully it didn't. I was prepared for more obstacles to keep me from getting that done.

Took less time and money to get it that way than going through the smog guy. $1.87 or something fee  maybe 20 minutes total and I was out the door with my new tags. Now at this point I had only had a bowl of cereal for breakfast and that, my friends is not enough to sustain the amount of stress I was going through. I also needed gas. At this point it was close to the time I needed to pick up the grandkids from school so with Jon and I both running on empty for ourselves and having a 1/4 of gas we picked up the kids, Amber/Wellman gave me gas money (more than enough to fill my tank AND get some lunch) and off to Costco we went since it was on the way back home anyway.

We were going to do In n Out for lunch but then, we were going to be at Coscto anyway so... instead of our usual hot dog and slice of pizza we got a half and half pizza and took it home. Let me tell you... we polished off all but two slices of that pizza we were so hungry! (I had the left over pizza two days later for lunch.

 Due to the new change in direct deposits being ready early I got my SS money today instead of Wednesday and so it's another trip to Costco for supplies and supplements I have been out of. Cheap lunch date courtesy of Costco food court again, can't beat that dog and soda and a slice of pizza.

My brain has been foggier in remembering things than usual and yes, it's part of aging but I'm not ready for that yet but also I haven't been taking my multi vitamins for over two months and I have noticed a difference in my functions. I almost completely blanked on my pin code for my ebt card when we were at the store. Seriously I was panicking since we had about $50 of groceries and finally remembered I had a list on my phone just for that reason. I resolved to get my vitamins and supplements again when I got money.

I spent the extra money, got the vitamins, more naproxen (both Jon and I are taking that now for arthritis) and I got some Fish Oil caplets. There were a few options but most were in the $18-$25 range and I didn't feel that flush for money so I got the 1000mg of 'sustainably sourced' fish oil gel caplets. First bottle I picked up didn't rattle at all,  I shook it, showed Jon and he was slightly confused, I put that one back and picked up another one that did rattle and explained about them being gel and weren't rattling was a bad sign.

The weather has been incredibly mild the last few days, cold at night because it's been clear but then warms during the day enough to wear just a t-shirt out in the sun. I still have a dream of 'retiring' to the PNW but it's a dream still. Been looking at houses again and finding some good deals but when you're broke even a good deal is expensive and out of reach.

We have been eating home made food for the most part despite our forays to Costco. Comparatively we are spending next to nothing on eating out. When I was working and we had the extra money we would be at the sandwich shop, Rubio's or 5 Guys at least two or three times a month. That's down to 1 or zero times in the last year. Last time we had a little extra we went to 5 Guys a few weeks ago, last time I had Rubio's was my birthday (October of last year), sandwich shop hasn't seen us in, I think, a year.

So yes, we are scrimping and saving as much as we can. Not living the high life on our retirement for sure so if someone suggests we 'watch our spending' I think I'm going to threaten their existence. We will lose our on over 400 of food money after March so things will get even tighter. Seriously.