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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

$500 & CSA

August 6th, 2008 at 02:20 pm

The latest quote to replace dh's computer: $500.

We'll see...

He did run to Fry's last night and picked up a Processor on sale. He grabbed it though he didn't know much about it - was a good deal. Figure he could return it if need be.

Anyway, looked it up and it was a little higher up than he had been planning to buy (Same price) BUT the reviews said the plus was that it was a low-energy usage component. Big Grin

Maybe we'll save electricity too!

Will have lucked into that one...

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Dh also said the funniest thing to me yesterday. He said, "I don't think there's hardly anything else I want."

I kind of laughed at him and teased him, which he didn't like. But whatevah. I am not convinced.

The thing about dh is it is true - he doesn't really have many material possessions. BUT the stuff he happens to like is technology. Which is ever changing and improving.

So in the same breath he did tell me he wanted to get a HD camera.

So yeah, he has everything he wants, but he wants to upgrade everything too.

Not entirely convinced. Wink

But I'd be happy for him to prove me wrong!

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Well, I actually signed up for a CSA - buying directly from a "local" farm. I say "local," because for all the farms in our backyard (we can literally walk to a few), the only CSA programs I found were a couple of hours away.

But this one delivers to our front door, and today is our first delivery.

Also, they have quite a few farm tours throughout the year, which I know the kids would LOVE.

It's not the best deal ever, but it is certainly not a cost-saving move. It is to try something new and to improve our diet. It will be $29 per delivery for about 10 pounds organic fruits/veggies per delivery.

So we are starting every other week to give it a whirl.

They have a package that is more fruit which I think would fit us more, but dh wanted to get the even fruit/veggie mix. We'll see... We can always change to the fruit if we find we don't use it enough.

Today we should get tomatoes, eggplant, grapes, squash, peaches, cucumbers, pears and peppers.

We don't eat a lot of eggplant or squash (or peaches for that matter). So we will have to try some new recipes. But I am all in. I will be eating some peaches this week, for sure.

I am terrible with eating fruits/veggies but I hear the stuff straight from the farm is just so divine. I will make an effort. Whatever dh cooks up with the eggplant or squash, I will eat.

Financially we are essentially trading in our diaper service for fresh produce service. The part of our budget that is more of an ecological statement, I guess. The part that says we will pay a little more to leave diapers out of the landfill or to support a local farm. (& yeah, the convenience is nice too).

Posted in Just Thinking | 6 Comments »

6 Responses to “$500 & CSA”

Swimgirl Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 02:36 pm 1218033374
1218033374

Go to epicurious.com and try the Summer Squash Sloppy Joes. I used tons of zucchini with that recipe. You could even make it up and freeze it. I grated the carrots and zucchini and used smoked paprika. Yum.
ceejay74 Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 02:51 pm 1218034306
1218034306

I think when my CSA gets to eggplants this year, I'm going to try oven-roasting and making into babaganoush...I love our CSA! The only thing is, plan your menus to use the produce within 3 or 4 days unless it's something tough like garlic or carrots. The more delicate stuff is picked ripe and not packed full of chemicals, so it doesn't last long. We've been better this year than last, but we've had to throw a couple of items away because we didn't use them fast enough. SO worth the money and effort though!
zetta Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 04:32 pm 1218040378
1218040378

I've just discovered Debbie Meyers bags -- they absorb ethylene gas produced as food ripens, and which helps the food keep longer. They really work -- I put some bananas in the bag and left some on the counter, and the ones in the bag stayed good for several more days. Also worked great with artisan-style bread, which I love. Usually it goes stale within 2 days, in the bag it lasted about 5.

I've toyed with joining a CSA here, but find it a challenge to eat the veggies we currently buy before they go bad.
monkeymama Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 04:51 pm 1218041505
1218041505

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Delivery was there in the a.m. when dh got the paper. I am eating peaches and grapes for breakfast. Yummy. (Everyone in my office is like - who is that person? Monkey Mama eating FRUIT?)

I am trying. It's good. Not so sure on the veggies yet... We eat a lot of garlic, onions, peppers, etc. Will be interesting to mix it up a bit. Eggplant and squash is definitely on the menu tonight.

I could see switching to the smaller box option ($20/box).
boomeyers Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 05:19 pm 1218043148
1218043148

Wow! It delivers, how awesome!
monkeymama Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 05:52 pm 1218045160
1218045160

Okay, I don't have a huge frame of reference, but these grapes are GOOD! They are small, but REALLY crisp.

There may be something to this.
I think I am glad I live in grape country.

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$500 & CSA

6 Responses to “$500 & CSA”

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