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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.

-------------------------------

**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.

-------------------------------

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.

-------------------------

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

Busy Busy Busy

April 3rd, 2008 at 02:51 pm

Yeah, work is a little busy, but it isn't horrid.

But I hadn't been very posty, and I doubt I will be this week.

LM is going to see grandma Friday so dh and I could have some time. We were going to take a date night Saturday (arrange babysitting for BM).

But we decided to go to a Cirque show. Dh thought it was Cirque du Soleil. The price was cheap, and I pondered that. (Plus since when was dh into Cirque du Soleil???? LOL). But he was all excited to take BM.

I was shocked because he has been very grumpy about needing more alone time with me. So we make all these arrangements, and it turns into date night with BM? If it makes him happy.

Anyway, he handed me an article about it, so I looked closer and saw it wasn't Cirque de Soleil. It was Cirque Dreams - though the same kind of thing. But much more affordable.

I refuse to take the kids to BArnum & Bailey's (they way they treat their animals) and so I said, sure, whatever. It is very circus-y and I know BM will LOVE it. So he can't say we never took him to the circus!

I have to work most of Saturday and the show is in the evening. We may try to squeeze in a date in between, but I don't know. A hectic day.

Then we are going to the Bay Area for a festival Sunday. It will be all day. After which I have to pick up LM, to bring him home. Just a lot of running around...

There is nothing relaxing about this weekend. But it should be fun!

So yeah, just a long week...

Oh, I did go to the gym yesterday. I went once after being sick in February and was having trouble working out (low lung capacity still). So I gave up for a while. Then it's just been SO busy. But LM loves the daycare over there, so I took him last night for a treat. (I know, he was at school all day and nothing he rather do than go hang out in another daycare - he just loves everyone else's toys so much more than our own. LOL).

But anyway, I had a good workout and was in much better shape than I would have guessed. I would love to go to aerobics again, but I was scared to go without being in a little better shape. I think Saturday is too crazy to go to aerobics class, but maybe I will start it up again after April 15th...

The drive is a bit far, but the class is only $2.50 when I show up. I still have $15 credit anyway... Though there is a $7 aerobics class down the street. I have to break out the calculator and figure the gas savings. May be worth it in the long run. I think this is what has burned me out on the other class. I can swing Saturdays, but the traffic is pretty tedious on the weeknights... Though I notice it is WAY worse in the winter months. This is why I have barely been since October. I started the class last May and the traffic situation wasn't nearly so bad the first few months. So I will give it a whirl for the summer...

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “Busy Busy Busy”

debtfreeme Says:
April 3rd, 2008 at 04:59 pm 1207241977
1207241977

Have you ever thought of swapping some baby sitting nights with tax preparation for an individual? If the average cost of getting taxes for individuals is between 80-100 dollars (my experience as mine are easy and no hassels or lots of deductions) then that might get you three free evenings of baby sitting.

Something I would consider. I did a lot of baby sitting and now am looking for a way to turn that into some swapping for other things. I have no kids so I don't need someone to watch my kids but maybe there is something else I may need in the future (grass cutting or tree pruning when I buy a house or something along those lines.) I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for opportunities here in Sacramento.
monkeymama Says:
April 3rd, 2008 at 07:52 pm 1207252356
1207252356

No. No way. If I could gross $100 per tax return, sure. But I'd have to buy software and that is a lot of legal liability potential. I am not interested in preparing tax returns outside of the umbrella of my job, where I am covered for liabilities. Plus it is so busy at work I don't need more tax work. It's probably the last thing I would want to do. Blech. (IT's a very seasonal thing. Like if I could do some in the summer maybe, but who needs tax returns done in summer?)

Likewise, in the earlier years when babysitting budgets were merely a dream, we swapped babysitting with friends. But I hated it. I have no desire to do that any longer. I have no desire to be a SAHM and I find I enjoy watching other kids even less. Even though I love them and they are kids of friends. I just don't "do" kids. Have some cash, will buy some babysitting. I am pretty happy with our current arrangements. WE also get a LOT of free babysitting from family. I want to get some babysitting with no effort on my part. LOL.

That is a great idea though. BArtering is always a good way to save money... We've exchanged video work for legal fees in the past. !! I have a friend who is in graphic design and barters just about everything. I am sure many parents would appreciate free babysitting in exchange for a service!

I would teach piano for babysitting. Except the only thing is I am still quite particular who watches my kids. & the ones I Want to watch my kids don't need piano lessons. But it is an idea. You got me thinking, certainly. (I taught piano for a lot of years before graduating college).
debtfreeme Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 08:01 am 1207296112
1207296112

if you need piano students let me know! I always wanted to learn to play.
monkeymama Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 02:27 pm 1207319241
1207319241

Where do you live - north?south?east?west?

We live by the airport. We're trying to find more CLOSE babysitters, so was just curious. (Though I could just see my husband's reaction now - I found a potential babysitter online. Tough sell. )
debtfreeme Says:
April 5th, 2008 at 04:17 am 1207369054
1207369054

On Howe near Fair Oaks. I have create references, love kids, reading, playing, counting, singing and spending time with any other kids would make my nieces and nephews jealous.

My four year old niece thinks i am her personal play auntie and can't understand why i sometimes want to "play" (read talk) with the adults.

And if the kids are great no distance is to far!

best of luck with the search!

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

Busy Busy Busy

5 Responses to “Busy Busy Busy”

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