So... another tough year of fatigue and exhaustion and failed stress management, with no motivation and no energy to blog. But still here! The good news is that I've been off work for 2 weeks leading up to final retirement from civil service (woo hoo!!). Close to 35 years of full-time work, practically non-stop (in a few different career types) and boy, am I tired!!!

Starting to decompress and release some of the stress- related tension and anxiety, but still want to take my time. I still have a ways to go. My fatigue and exhaustion is beyond description -- most have no idea of the magnitude of it since I kept pushing myself. I'm practicing extreme self-care for now, at least for the first few months.

I did not meet the big financial goal of $500,000 (per my sidebar) in retirement funds, but I was close...around $440,000 total maybe. I'll calculate later when I get more settled and organized and update my sidebar for end of year. I became much more concerned about my health issues and severe burnout. I'll adjust as I go.

Based on my estimated retirement income, I have a whole new budget that I've worked out, which I'm still brainstorming on and will only be able to finalize once everything is verified. I'm still (and probably always will be!!) on the path of saving and spending wisely. And I still love all of my saving-advice friends!

Happy Thanksgiving! And Happy Saving!!