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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.

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

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

Another Game...

July 20th, 2008 at 04:12 pm

I guess we have been on a game kick, as we realize BM is quite adept at playing many of our favorite family games.

So my dad got all excited and brought out SET over the weekend. I know BM is rather smart for his age, but he kicked our butts. LOL. I looked at my dad and said, "I think this is a game where kids are better than adults." Indeed, it is.

But anyway, I think it is more rare and I wanted to share.

They do sell on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/SET-Enterprises-4098363-Game/dp/B00000...

A very nerdy/genius type friend showed us this game, probably when I was in high school.

My dad enjoys it so much he made a computer program of it. OF course, he said he would give us a copy, but we need a LARGE computer screen. Which we don't have.

I doubt it is something we'll see at the garage sales, but we'll keep an eye out. We may buy it new down the road.

But it is a really good thinking game for kids. & yes, they do quite well with it. I am even impressed they recommend for ages 6 and up. Seems like we have been playing so many games with both our kids that are recommended ages 7 & up. You just roll your eyes. The 4-year-old loves all these games... So SET is a little more realistic on the age level, but I think most 5-year-olds would enjoy it as well.

Oh. I also found an online version to try...

http://2n1.org/applets/set/

Posted in Just Thinking | 3 Comments »

3 Responses to “Another Game...”

aevans1206 Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 04:23 pm 1216570992
1216570992

It's a difficult/challenging game indeed, but young'ns love it!
frugaltexan75 Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 05:29 pm 1216574951
1216574951

I've never heard of it, but will have to check it out.

Growing up, my family was really big into games - especially board games and some card games (especially Rook). Two unusual games we had were Acquire (similar to Monopoly) and Twixt.

Playing games together as a family is such an awesome tradition, as well as a great way to teach many life long skills. Or also produce a great many laughs when one of the adults isn't exactly a great sport when losing badly in a game of Scrabble (i.e. My mom.)
debtfreeme Says:
July 21st, 2008 at 07:05 pm 1216667134
1216667134

i discovered this game while visiting my sister and har family. my niece is the queen and really good! I am horrible but it is still fun.

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Another Game...

3 Responses to “Another Game...”

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