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About Me:

Monkey Mama

Just a 46-year-old mom of 2 in Northern California. My kids are Monkey Monkey(MM) and Drama Llama (DL). I am married to Monkey Hubby (MH).

We were a one-income family for 13 years. In late 2015 my spouse returned to work (minimum wage/part-time/seasonal). Something recent on his resume just buys us more options for the long run. The main benefit of this job is that he just works while the kids are in school. As always, we are saving 100% of his income.

{2023 Update: I expect that MH will retire from this job when kids are done with college and/or home is paid off. I think he likes the idea of finding more interesting or full-time work, with kids both adults now. But practically, might just stick out the *good* and very flexible job as long as possible. The very part-time job is allowing him to pursue his film passions. We are only about 5-ish years away from financial independence. Would be very different if we "needed" the money or he thought he might have decades of working years ahead of him.}

We saved a lot while we were very young and also moved to a lower cost-of-living area, to make life much simpler. We still live in California though (in one of the most expensive regions of the U.S.). *Simple* and *inexpensive* is relative.

Likewise, we have never had debt aside from our mortgage.** My blog is a testament to how much simpler life is without debt; how we have that much more money to both save and enjoy!

**Caveat: I have no problem whatsoever with credit cards paid off monthly, or low-risk credit arbitrage (for example, 0%-interest debt while earning 5% on FDIC-insured cash). These are the kinds of debt we have had. Just not interested in high-interest debt, using debt to buy beyond means, and not interested in the hassle that comes with loans and payments. With age and means, the latter (hassle) is our biggest debt avoidance motivation.

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2024 Goals

[ ]Small monthly Charitable Contribution
...($35 @ 1/31/24)
...Trying to be more mindful about how the little amounts add up and are helpful.
...This is not an all inclusive list of charitable giving but it is a new habit I want to add in addition to other donations of time, goods and money

[ ]Pay cash for college
...This is so much a given, to me. But I realize not everyone can read my mind, and so will memorialize in my goal list.
...#1 We don't do Debt
...#2 The student loan system is a scammy and corrupt mess.
...Seriously, wouldn't touch these student loan servicers with a ten foot pole.
MM YEAR 1 ✔
MM YEAR 2 ✔
MM YEAR 3 ✔
MM YEAR 4

DL YEAR 1 ✔
DL YEAR 2

[ ]$10,000 to savings
...($4,529 @ 3/31/24)
...$1,000/month, plus interest
...Topping off with snowballs

[ ]$7,500 to investments
...($1,750 @ 4/30/24)
...$350/month, plus snowflakes
(Snowflakes: credit card rewards and dividends)
...Topping off with snowballs

[ ]$2,025 to mortgage
...($0 @ 4/30/24)
...Topping off with snowballs and/or excess cash
...Keeps us on track with $10K principal paydown per year

[/]9% of household income to work retirement plans
...(9% @ 3/31/24)
...This is the minimum for the match; I'd otherwise rather fund IRAs.
...Note: Total retirement savings rate is 20% (with IRAs)

Goal savings rate = 25% of gross salary, plus funding IRAs from other sources.

[ ]$14,000 to IRAs 2024 (MAX)
...($0 @ 4/30/24)
...Will fund with MH's income
...Will not fund until the year is over. This is for tax and planning reasons. I won't know what mix of Traditional/ROTH IRA we literally can contribute until we do our 2024 taxes. In addition to that, can make a more informed decision based on our financial and tax situation for the entire year.

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**Long-Term Goals**

[X]$500,000 in retirement accounts by age 45.

Current big picture goal:

[ ]$1 Mil in retirement accounts by age 52.

Stretch Goal: Achieve by age 50

Have decided to pretty much stay the course. Keep saving 20%+ to retirement. This means taking 401K match & maxing out IRAs.

NOTE: WE HAVE NEVER CONTRIBUTED LESS THAN 10% TO RETIREMENT. NO EXCEPTIONS.

If we can't achieve at least 10%, then something else has to give. I share because it's infinitely easier to save for retirement if you start early. Let the investments do the hard work for you.

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Debt: $85,000 mortgage
{Home Purchase Price $290,000}

Ongoing goal is to *never borrow money again.*

Took on a $230k mortgage in 2001 and have not added to that.

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Net Worth: Increase net worth by $600,000 in the next 10 years. This is my "financial independence" goal.

2017: +$ 70,000 (partial year)
2018: +$ 51,000
2019: +$105,000
2020: +$104,000
2021: +$215,000
2022: <$ 65,000>
2022: +$ 85,000
TOTAL: +$565,000

This is in line with prior goal, saving 100% of our expenses every year.

{Our expenses are far more consistent than our income. Also, helps to prevent "living up to income."}

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My Pages

Mervyn's Sale

June 6th, 2007 at 11:57 pm

I wanted to go swimsuit shopping before my trip in the neverending search (well I don't put a lot of time/effort into it - LOL) for the perfect swimsuit.

So on a whim I pull up the website today just to see if they have any products online. I have been REALLY pleased with MErvyn's clothes of late as my body is all weird. I have no idea why my overweight friends rave about Old Navy when I can't find anything over a size 10. Target is out - there clothes just suck - I longer put up with the quality. MArshalls/Ross is great but once you hit size 12 - good luck.

But last summer I went to Mervyns and fell in love. I hadn't been in a while - I guess with the convenience of Kohls. But everything seems to fit better and be a little cheaper at MErvyns. Though I have been preferring Kohls for quality - but it's not that far off.

So anyway, I pull up MErvyn's ad for my area and they are having a huge one day sale today only. Wow - what are the odds??? Plus on their sales ads they show really cute modest swim tops. Now you are talking!!!!!!!! The one I have now is like the best I can do but it is not the most flattering. I like the skorts as my lower 1/2 is the less flattering part, but the tops that go with those are always so unflattering. Like I said the suit I have is fine, but the top wouldn't be my first choice either. The thing is I am not that heavy. But my current swimsuit top has a very unflattering cut for my figure and it seems to squeeze out fat I didn't know I had because just too tight I guess - hehe. I just get fed up with swim suit shopping... IT shouldn't be that hard. I am not that big!!!!!! The good news is if I can find a nice modest top it will do. I have a couple of bottoms that I like.

So I am feeling a little optimistic. Wish me luck.

& while I am there oh I will have to scan the summer clothes and work clothes and all that too. IT never feels like I have enough. Wink But I have some allowance to burn through - woohoo.

Posted in Just Thinking | 1 Comments »

1 Responses to “Mervyn's Sale”

andrea Says:
July 7th, 2008 at 03:32 pm 1215444720
1215444720

Check out Shade Clothing for modest swim suits with great coverage! Plus use Personal Shopper Coupon Code and save 10% off your first order and 5% off each additional order!

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

Mervyn's Sale

1 Responses to “Mervyn's Sale”

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