But not too bad...

I think I might not have to work this weekend after all. This is CRUNCH Time for us, but with technology, every year seems to get a little easier. We also have a very good new employee now. Here's to hoping he sticks around! Last year I remember working a lot on the weekend or 2 around Christmas. This year, just more caught up. Phew!

Next week will be CRAZY though. I will probably have to work until 5:00 on 12/31 (deadline/last minute stuff), but we have a concert to go to in San Francisco (2+ hour drive on a good day) and our babysitters are in San Jose (2 hours away from here; less than 1 hour from SF). Which was a fine plan. The problem is we have to drive over the Bay Bridge, to get to the City from here, and the span of the bridge takes an hour in traffic. So we usually prefer to drive up from San Jose anyway. It's more pleasant. So why the plan was fine. I've driven to SF from SJ on New Years many occassions - really not so bad. BUT, since I have to work, dh may meet his mom half way and we will have to brave the bridge. Lord knows how/when we will get the kids back. I dread the whole thing. IF I had the day off and could nap in the afternoon, it would be fine. But I think it might take 4 hours to drive there and not sure I can stay awake past 10pm.

I think we are seeing Primus and Zappa Jr. I don't even know. It's a dh thing.

At least I can probably nap in the car. During the LONG drive.

& dh just informed me he wanted to get there at 8:00. Yeah, good luck darling!

We'll be at the whim of my clients. Lord knows they all want to be out by 3, so here's to hoping I can get out at 3 too. !!!!

Something fun shouldn't be so stressful.

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Sunday we did go to San Jose and did the family gift exchange.

Most of the family has toned it down A LOT. IT was probably a more modest year than past years. BUT grandma of course, got the kids a bajillion presents.

I mentioned briefly the drama of her inviting herself over for Christmas. I remembered then (Sunday) that she had done the same last year AND brought more gifts on Christmas Day. I wish I had remembered. Next year if she must invite herself over (she will) I think it is fair to say she can come if she brings NO gifts. It's ridiculous and also she is such a gift hog that dh and I, or my parents, can never get them anything. We have a few things for them for Christmas, but what does it matter of MIL invites herself over with a fresh bag of gifts??? Gift hog - spoils the fun for everyone else.

I expected it would be more toned down with their financial situation, but what do I know. I know better. There was going to be no toning down. Of course.

& get this? Lots of very nice gifts for the kids. Like 8 gifts each. BUT she then bought a ton of dollar store gifts to round it out. Like 8 gifts each wasn't enough. ????????????????????????? We have a few things to donate because they were things we already owned (From the Dollar Store).

I realized it was a quantity more than a quality thing. SO yes, nice she toned it down. But yeah, could have done without the dollar store gifts. We have told her a million times we'd prefer the kids not get a bajillion presents. You see how it has worked out.

Anyway, all in all, it was slightly toned down. So I guess I just have to be grateful for that.

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Today I am working a short day. Since I am feeling caught up. Yay!!!!!

Tomorrow we have the morning to ourselves. My parents are coming over for lunch (pizza) and dh's parents are coming over in the afternoon. He is making soup and salad for dinner. I am making fudge and cake.

Just looking forward to a relaxing day with the fam.

I cleaned up the house a wee bit last night (like scrubbed the guest toilet) but that's it. It's been crazy and I told dh I Was not cleaning the house for his mom today and tomorrow. My parents could care less. So, she can invite herself over, I just don't want to hear about the house. Some of us are busy. The toilet is gleaming. What else do you want?

So yeah, it will be a short day at work, and tomorrow should be nice. I guess I will be making a cake and fudge, but yummy yummy yum!

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In regards to my last post, I am adding up the numbers and I can not believe it. Our savings is getting back to our DINK savings level. Our immediate pre-kid savings level.

How the heck did that happen?

Oh, it's not exactly apples to oranges. Our income is lower, but so are our taxes. Our expenses are WAY higher. (This is just all savings, even short-term, but we NEED a lot more short-term savings). We have way more medical/dental expenses, for one.

& our immediate pre-kid years were not our BEST savings years. Dh was on reduced work schedule, we weren't doing our token 10% to retirement because I had no retirement plan when I started this job.

& inflation would probably up the ball a few hundred dollars a month.

BUT, it is what it is. We are getting pretty darn close to DINK savings level. That is something to celebrate!

IT looks like a pretty decent goal will be met for 2009 though. 15% gross income to retirement. We have ALWAYS put away about 12%. Even as DINKs. So, I am pretty excited about this. All possible due to refi. Thank you low interest rates!!!!!!!! IT's interesting to exceed something on a DINK financial level.

& even our token 12% was not much at all the last few years - we had some pretty low income years. So a lot of years we put away $5k. Hopefully, this year will be $12k. Though our expenses are largely the same as they ever were. It's kind of sweet how that works out. Our standard of living has not increased that much, but if we continue to save 15% gross, no matter what the raise, it can add up pretty quickly.

I think going forward, 15% to retirement will be our goal, until we get our cash savings up to snuff. My roundabout goal is 10% gross to cash savings. I think we will make that goal in 2010. I think I may add this to my side bar so I don't forget!

ETA: Yeah - I put all my goals on the side bar. I removed my separate Goal page link. I think I like this format - simple and clear.

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Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! & all that jazz...