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Archive for December, 2006

Sold the wii - & thoughts on missing Man

December 6th, 2006 at 02:59 pm

Sold the Wii for about $460 with shipping and all, made around $120 profit when all is said and done. phew - takes a load off.

I wanted to list some of our baby items from craigslist but was not feeling so well yesterday. Hopefully by the weekend, I need to scrub the things down and make them shiny so we get more money for them!! Wink

I got my shoes and they are the cutest shoes ever and I LOVE them, but Land's End apparently makes their shoes super-narrow. They do not fit. Bummer. I am sending them back today. I am sad because I lOVED those shoes. The search for a wide casual pair of shoes continues...

For the most part I am in a daze and could care less about any of this. Dh told me over the weekend that he was REALLY sad because James Kim from Tech TV, and his family, had been missing for over a week. We discussed that they were probably long gone, but how the worst part was not knowing. TO find out that Monday that his wife and young kids were saved. The story is incredible - their car was stranded in the snow in the ORegon mountains. They were all able to stay alive for a week in their car. After one week, on Saturdday, he set out to find help and has not been seen since. Yesterday I Watched the news reports all day and was sad when they called off the ground search for the night around 4pm, they felt they were getting very close - following his tracks and such. THey will resume today with the light of the sun. But each night passing looks less and less promising.

Dh and I discussed it and we figured no matter his fate, as long as the kids made it, that was the saddest part of it all. A 7 month and 4yo. We really took it to heart because our kids are close to that age. I Said if it was me I Would just be glad the rest of my family was saved. BUT there is still hope and I really pray they find him today - alive and well. To him, he may have just wanted his family saved. TO his family, if he does not make it, I Can not even imagine. I imagine I Would feel guilty being saved and him not making it as he tried to find help. & the poor kids to lose their dad. THough they are lucky to be alive, it is pretty bittersweet today, I imagine. THe worst part is still the not knowing I am sure. FOr now there is hope. I really pray they find him today, and that he is still alive and well...

A story like this really makes you stop and appreciate all that you have.

Text is http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_120606ORBmissingfatherJM.5b67cb78.html and Link is
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_120606ORBmissingf...



December is Ugly

December 5th, 2006 at 05:54 pm

I finally posted the Wii on ebay - phew.

I was balancing December in my head and figure I better write it out. I Can update as I Remember forgotten tidbits.

+285 slush fund balance for insurances
+5000 payroll (December)
+150 Bonus (estimate = last year bonus)
+500 Wii sale (estimate)
-1800 credit card**
-500 Utilities/Household
-1300 mortgage
-675 health insurance
-315 preschool for Jan.
-215 Personal loan payment
One-time/unforeseen payments:
-600 Estate attorney
-350 Updated house insurance
-200 Disability insurance
-----
( 20)
-----

**1300 right on budget for november expenses + 100 reimbursed birthday gifts +270 Wii + 130 nice gift for FIL - both financed by wii sale

I generally pay everything a couple of weeks early so I have a little float. The only thing really due before the 1st is our health insurance - the mortgage, preschool, and loan payment are more like due the first week of january, I can pay after I get paid on the first. & the credit card and utilities are due around the 29th for the most part, I usually pay it before I get my paycheck on the 16th. So I have a lot of room for float. I am just trying to stick to budget so I don't have to do the float dance... Feels good. We did a lot of the float dance on maternity leave. Drove me batty to get a disablility check every 2 weeks, hard to plan around that as bills are due monthly, so we paid things when due, and sometimes past due. I know most of our vendors do not care when things are late - as long as the mortgage and credit card is paid on time. The utilities a week late? No one cares. But the homeowners dues have to be paid on time orelse they charge a fee. I think they are all I Can think of besides the credit card and mortgage, oh and cell phone, to pay early and make sure they arrive well on time. Oh well, lately I have only been floating my personal loan and the preschool dues - paying after the first sometimes. But I Am trying to avoid that going forward.

I know I will receive christmas money at least to cover that $20 shortfall. PHEW! & if we get less for the wii. I just included expected full sales price + shipping as the expenses I will throw on the card as part of the december budget. Probably $50 in ebay/paypal fees and shipping. But put off another month.

I am really hoping for more christmas money to put in the bank too - I would still really like to get to $6k in the e-fund. But we'll see. If nothing else I will have earned $300 from my freelance work - it just might not get there until january. So overall it looks like we made it. Though anything can happen in the next 26 days, eh?

I got the gas bill - only $45 and we used the heat a lot the last couple of weeks. Woohoo. Don't expect the electric to be much more than $15. So $60 total - well under budget too - will help whittle down the utility estimate I had for december. If we go under budget this month we will have some money to put aside to the e-fund 1/1. Close enough.

BEfore coming to savingadvice.com, I Was trying to save $300/month for property taxes and insurance and stuff, and failing miserably.

Since coming here around septmber I budgeted $600/month. Since I had all the money set aside for the year (lord knows from where), I took that money for 2 months to pay the estate attorney to get our affairs in order. It is amazing to me that all else being equal we saved $1200 in 2 months. Make that $1900 if you include the $700 or so we saved on top of that.

I have reworked my budget for all the expenses of turning 30 (ack - it is not pretty either). & have my short-term savings up to $800/month to cover all the insurances and stuff. *sigh* I think I can do it. But I do not foresee room for much else. When I look at all the cash gifts, bonuses, selling items, working extra, windfalls, etc. I know that we can maybe squeeze $8k for savings. IT would have to be a really good year and little unexpected. But it is possible. I have not even accounted for when I pay off the loan I can save another $200/month + I will save any raise. For that reason it may be more doable than I realize. Even if I do not save a dime in cash - there is a full retirement contribution right there - WOW.

When I get my raise amount I will formulate my goals for 2007. For now I have a general idea, assuming no raise. How big my raise will determine how big my goals!

At least Christmas is not bankrupting me. I whittled it down within the monthly budget. No biggie - phew. & thank you crazy impatient people who can not wait for a wii and must have one NOW. You financed my FIL's fancy christmas gift. HE thanks you too. Wink




I got the perfect Gift!

December 4th, 2006 at 01:22 am

I had been meaning to post this, because a board like this can appreciate this.

This year has been tight and we decided to forego birthday and christmas gifts for ourselves as a result. No biggie. We usually don't do that much for each other. We tend to buy what we want when we want it to some extent, and don't make a big deal about birthdays.

I felt funny yesterday because I went to a party yesterday and everyone kept asking if I got anything nice. I'm like, uh, I didn't get anything really. Just caught offguard I guess. To curb the ackward silence, I did remember I got a cruise and that is a pretty fancy - just not going until June (thank you Mother-in-law). So I could play along. From looks of uncomprehension and disbelief at no gift to jealousy at my cruise. It was kind of funny, but at the same time, I Should have just said I didn't need anything. I gave in to peer pressure. Sounded like they wanted to hear of fancy gifts and I remembered one. Oh well.

BUT I have to say as I ran off to work Friday dh handed me 30 wheat thins, 30 raisins and 30 red-hot candies. All wrapped up in plastic bags with silver twist ties. That was my gift. I Almost cried then and there I thought it was so sweet. That is why I love him though, he is a creative guy. I'll take it over an expensive gift any day. Frankly, whatever gift I get comes from my paycheck and I just didn't want any more bills - hehe. & dh *got it*. So I thought. In the evening he gave me another gift - him and the kids had drawn me 30 pictures - it is the cutest thing ever. I have to frame it or something.

On the flip side, dh has been driving me nuts ALL weekend. We were going to go on a pretty nice weekend away this weekend - he booked a hotel for $250. UNHEARD of for us. IT was going to be a fancy celebration - staying somewhere we have been meaning to for years, but always sidetracked. I had forgotten I had committed to host this party at our Community Clubhouse MONTHS ago and when I realized I backed out of our weekend - it could wait. Since then dh went budget crazy and said there was no way I Deserved a present so nice. I was a little peeved because I took him to Vegas for his birthday -a complete surprise. I Was a little annoyed that I would get nothing in return for my 30th birthday. But as the date approached I Cared less and less. Plus I just told him he owes me, when we have the means. I am a patient person.

So all weekend he has been bitter and in a funk and back to blaming this party for ruining all of his plans. My Word! It matters little since it sounds like he was dead set against it due to budget reasons anyway. But this weekend it is all my fault I ruined his ability to give me a super fancy gift. I chose this party ( a prior commitment) over him, blahblahblah. I keep saying it is my birthday and I Am happy, so DROP IT!!!!!! Apparently he wants a weekend away - I get it. But if I Am happy what is he freaking out about. I am very happy we didn't spend a lot of money on me.

I tried the angle that if it wasn't for me marrying him, I Wouldn't be getting a cruise for his mom and I Think that is the most super awesome gift ever. He says that shouldn't count because I have to wait so long. Whatever. He is driving me batty. I could care less if I celebrated today or in June - whatever. I rather cruise in June - for sure - weather will be a lot nicer - LOL. Wink

I thought he *got it* with the wheat thins and all, but guess not.

I think he is feeling bad he does not work and can not provide me a nice gift of his means. I just wish he would stop griping about it and let me actually enjoy my birthday weekend - hehe.

Well he did good, just wish he could see for himself that he did GOOD.

Bills bills bills today...

December 3rd, 2006 at 10:48 pm

This is what I get in the mail today:

Disability Insurance - $200
Due Jan. 1

I did not foresee that one was due in january since I purchased it originally in april. Guess I only paid for partial year? From $100 to $200. Yes, most of the increase was due to turning 30. Ack!!!!

My $200 surprise.

Then I got the $375 or so bills for our increased home insurance - Due Jan. 1. Ready for that one - phew.

December is not pretty in the least.

I've been really lazy but have renewed commitment to clean house this weekend. A few baby items to sell on craigslist, the wii on ebay, and a few things to freecycle. I just told dh I Would clean up everything tonight and start posting. Need it sooner rather than later.

& I am off right this second to help my neighbor with her quickbooks again. More money too- helps. Phew.

Updated Christmas Budget

December 3rd, 2006 at 03:56 pm

Now that I have it in front of me!
Christmas Budget
Budget vs. Actual
Gift to In-Laws 100 200 X **Zoo membership & DVD-R
Gift for Boss 50 45
Toddler 30 40 X Child Mp3 player
Baby 30 50 X Kitchen set (used)
Christmas Outfit - 3yo 0 0 X
C-mas Outfit - baby 0(hand-me-downs!!) 0 0 X
Donations 0 (scratch $200) 0 0 X
Mom (+ birthday) 20 20 X
Donation in her name 20 20 X 10/15/06 - HSSC
Dad (+ birthday) 20 20 X
Dh/me (for each other) 0 0 X
(includes birthdays)
Gardener 20 20 X
Preschool Teacher 20 100 X Cash gift she had surgery & closed for 2 months
Sister 10 15 X
Niece 15 17 X
Christmas Cards (Scratch $50) 0 0 X
Potlucks/Gft Exchangs 65 75 X Work Dinner? + $20 gift exchange - g.c. because I have NO IDEA what to get this person.
Other Giving 0 0

TOTALS 400 - Budget 597 - Actual

I am still not sure if we have to pay for work dinner. Boss took the bill friday and said we would settle up later. I still have a hard time believing he won't pay in the end. As dh said he wanted us to think we would pay so we didn't go overboard - Wink I did not budget for dinner originally - we usually do potlucks so this caught me off. This is why I had an 'other' category that dh did not like and made me slash - LOL. I was RIGHT!!

$100 over budget for dh's parents - financed by wii sale.

$80 over for preschool teacher - but she will have no income for 2 months, is super awesome, and we saved $500 in prechool tuition since closed through end of the year. Least we could do.

So besides those 3 tidbits we were right on.

HEre is to an even less costly 2007 Chsritmas. Wink

Oh yeah and I know it is not OVER yet - LOL. Something else may come up - still 3+ weeks, eh??? But overall I think I am DONE!

HELP!!!! Now can someone tell me how to put a snapshot from excel in my blog. I would love to know how!!!



Retirement Conundrums

December 2nd, 2006 at 06:35 pm

I have been thinking about retirement a lot lately.

I wanted to pay down my mortgage faster, first. & build more cash too.

But lately I have been thinking that it seems retirement money is pretty protected money. IT is golden. Tax savings vehicle, protected in all/most instances from bankruptcy, creditors, lawsuits, etc. Isn't it? Pay down your house and get sued, it could be gone. I have been thinking that perhaps we should make retirement savings our #1 priority. If we save less cash in the meantime, the retirement money could bail us out too. IT is so golden.

I think overall I will focus on a little of everything - just not put all of my eggs in one basket. That is all I am really opposed to.

I have also been thinking about this a lot in terms of return. Our mortgage is 5.75% interest and I believe with tax breaks it really amounts to 4%. Locked in forever... Before I looked at our cash and thought I have $5k making not that much more. I'd rather pay down the mortgage. BUT looking at my retirement I can easily have $200k in 10 years earning a far better return than my mortgage costs. From that regard it does make sense to focus on retirement money.

In the grand scheme of things nothing much has changed in my plan except once I get up to $15k or so in the e-fund, hopefully in the next year, we are going to focus on maxing out our retirement vs. just saving. I am a safe person and I like cash. But I think this is a good plan. We can still continue to add to the e-fund, small amounts, but contribute considerably more to retirement.

At most now we can save is $10k or so a year - and that would take a miracle - hehe. Maybe most of it to ROTHS and a little to the e-fund. Like $8k vs. $2k. But forget the mortgage 'til we have substantially more income. Maybe we can fully fund the retirement at $8k - wow!!

For now I would like to pay an extra $150/month mortgage if I can, but probably not unless I can also max out retirement. I guess if I can make that my rule - retirement first and then extra mortgage payments, it is not bad. We weren't going to considerably pay down the mortgage until dh got a job, but at that point we will probably be saving WAY more than the most we can contribute into retirement vehicles. At that point we will just be spreading out among all 3 - retirement, savings/investments, mortgage.

Since we have a lot less to work with today, retirement trumps the mortgage by a mile. With my renewed thinking. I am also considering putting off the final payment on my personal loan to next December instead of June. The interest rate is 3% I believe. We can save so much if I don't pay it off early as intended. December would still be 6 months early, but easier to swing, and we would have built up some nice cash too.

I am rethinking my "run out and pay off all the debt" stance. & even moreso my need to hoarde cash. Getting smarter I guess. Wink

My parents taught me about living within my means and avoid debt, which has served me well, but little wisdom in regards to retirement and investing. I am not sure if I would have realized all this without this website. Wow! Nothing is black and white - that is for sure.

No matter what I will not put ALL my eggs in one basket. But I will start putting a lot more eggs in my retirement basket - that is for sure...



Christmas Update

December 1st, 2006 at 09:07 pm

I don't have my budget in front of me but we budgeted about $300 for Christmas. I think it will be closer to $430, but that is okay.

Done:
Everyone's gifts but dh's dad. Stocking stuffers done. Skipping christmas cards this year.

$200 spent ($100 in oct & $100 in nov).

This month:
work gift exchange - $20
work dinner - $50
boss gift - $45
(yeah work is pricey but it pays all my bills so I deal. I'll get a bonus to pay for it all - just about - LOL).
Gardener - $20

Total left = $135

+$200 spent = $335.

That is right about budget BUT dh wants to get a super nice gift for his dad - $130 is the best deal he found - a DVD recorder or something. Since his parents took us to HAwaii and gave us $3k this year, um yeah, he deserves it.

$335 + $130 = $465.

We are over around $100 or so with the gift - I am ballparking because I forget the exact budget. BUT that is how much he will make on his wii. The Wiis are selling well. We can be greedy and try to gouge the last minute christmas shoppers, but I think it would be good to sell it this weekend and get a pretty sure $100 profit.

$465 christmas = Gifts for preschool teacher, gardener, co-worker, boss, niece, sister... for the kids, great-grandma, my parents (includes birthdays) $200 of it on dh's parents (includes 1 birthday).

Yup, we did well. I don't expect much more expense this year. We'll see what happens. We have 2 christmas parties this weekend (no gift exchanges for once - phew). & most of our christmas will be done. Until the big day I guess. I don't even have that much left to wrap.

We went over on the kids budget. Budgeted $30 each and spent $90 total - $40 & $50. Oh well. We did stick to the "1 gift" rule. Thus far. IT was an improvement. When I evaluate our christmas bounty I Am sure we will send some of it to charity too. Dh slashed it out of the budget, but I think we will have some room. IF he sells his Wii anyway! IF we give some money probably make it a round $500 TOTAL spent on Christmas. We will go through and donate items throughout the house too. I think we have a LOT of toys to donate this year. Phew.

$500 spread over 4 months (some of it I don't have to pay until january) is not bad. An easy christmas.

Dh and I did not get each other gifts but we are cool with that. We don't need anything. But more cash in the e-fund anyway - we can both agree on that!!

I habe no idea what we spent last year but we bought each other a laptop for $800. A good purchase overall - he uses for business and it makes my life 1000 times easier. But that was way above out current budget even. I Was buying $30 gifts easy for everyone - birthday AND christmas. This year we stuck to more $15 gifts. We didn't buy less stuff, just found better deals. I Am really pleased. For whatever reason, I always shop frugal for myself and shop completely opposite for others. IT was pretty rewardinf to have a $15 budget for my niece and for to find 2 of the cutest outfits on clearance and a tiara and a little wand for $1 each. Right on budget and at face value I bought her more than usual spending 1/2 as much. Found my mom and sister some really nice gifts on ebay. Cheap cheap cheap. I have changed my outlook on gift giving. I think it will save us a lot of money next year. & the Dollar Store is more of a treasure than I ever realized. Piles of books and cars and toys for the stockings. I went a little overboard - hehe. But the kid made out well for $10 or so. But I also learned I can spend $5 on a kids birthday and still look generous.

I have no idea why I would be scared to be a frugal shopper for others. Looking back it seems pretty silly. I am officially REFORMED.

Stats /Budgets/Diapers/Birthdays

December 1st, 2006 at 03:41 pm

Well I update my stats to the right - including my age!!!! Oh my. So far 30 just means insane health premiums to me - hehe. Otherwise I feel way older than my age so it doesn't really bother me - I don't feel older anyway - hehe. I guess the downside is it takes some of the shock value out of my age. Lately everyone is shocked how young I am. Most of the people I identify with are in their late 30s/40s I guess.

Retirement went up a few hundred with market gains - a great month. & added some employer match. I am not going to add any more cash this year, the e-fund suffers. But dang it is sure tempting to add a thousand next month or so and see if I can get to the big $50k!!!! It will have to wait a few months to get there... & if the market takes a turn, who knows how long I guess...

I have $100 cash to deposit so I will put it in the e-fund. I might use some of that money to pay the estate lawyer, but with that whole pay yourself first thing I figure I would just put it in. & we should make some cash this month to cover the rest of the attorney. Deposited $200 this month and earned $25 interest. Just $300 in December to reach our 2006 goal - easy if we sell the wii!!! & christmas windfalls. Leaves $350 in the slush fund for our insurance changes. $40 cash in our pockets too.

Glanced at the budget and pretty good overall. Clothing for kids was a little over budget but that is a more x dollars per year item, and I don't expect to buy them any clothes in December so should be fine. I spend $100 on them like twice a year and I think i budgeted $600 clothes for us all. My stuff came out of birthday money. I could have saved it but oh well. For now I tell myself I have less reason to spend money the next few months - I got a lot this last month or 2.

Our groceries were about $100 over budget and even gas, though under budget, was higher than it should be. Oh well. Groceries are my enemy right now - still working on it. To me it is such a big chunk and the easiest place to shave some expenses. But the grocery budget does not seem to want to cooperate. Oh well, with thanksgiving and all the money our parents gave us for it I guess we were right on budget if you consider that.

Our utilities were WAY low this month - mostly how we squeezed out the $200 I would guess.

I have a misc. column ($150/month)on my budget and this month that pretty much went to our San Francisco trip. Probably $50 of that went to the e-fund. We didn't really buy anything else in this column for the month. Figured I would share because the misc. category can be used for anything and varies widely month to month. Starting january we are going to convert that to an allowance category - probably split it 3 ways - me, dh, and family. We'll see how that works out. Complicated bookkeeping. Probably open a new high-yield account with low minimum, put it all in, and track by category. We'll see how it goes. I think it would be good for the allowance fund to earn interest since dh plans to save his for a big purchase.

Well if I receive more birthday money (probably won't) I will put that to the e-fund too. We'll see!

Oh yeah - almost forgot. Dh's family over for Thanksgiving - put a 10-month-old on the potty?????? Everyone else's jaw is agape. Dh is always saying they are a little weird, and um yeah. LOL. I am just looking at my 17-month-old appalled at what they are doing to their baby.

So yesterday Little Monkey asks for the potty. Um yeah. He did and he liked it. This is super cool because #1 - I Don't like those little potty seats and Bih Monkey never used them. We have an insert for the big potty. So I plopped Little Monkey on the potty and it didn't scare him. He lOVED it. He would not let me take him off for 5 minutes. I slapped a diaper on him and he promptly peed. Oh well, a start. LOL. I think this is super cool because this is interest way earlier than his brother had (no doubt due to his fascintaion with big bro's potty habits). & maybe sometime next year we can cut budgets out of the diapers. Perhaps. IF so I am putting that money to orthodontia fund. For sure!!!! As for dh's family, maybe they are onto something. HEhe. Big Monkey was 18 months from first interest to fully trained, but we had a baby in between and just didn't even bother with potty training. Figure it would be a worthless cause as I heard so many stories about reverting. All signs are good that this one will train early. As they say they will with those clothe diapers. Didn't go so well the first time but Big Monkey would wear a wet diaper all day without a complaint and Little Monkey FREAKS out. We have to put him in super disposables at night orelse he wakes up upset when he is wet. So I think for that reason and the whole big bro thing he will be out of diapers around 2. I can hope anyway - the budget would like that!!


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