Well, my goal was to save $6k this year, in more mid range savings (more long term, but not retirement).

I already surpassed $1k - woohoo. I was counting on overtime and stuff like that to fund much of it since I am only saving $250/month from my regular paycheck.

BUT I did get my state tax refund and I also just transferred over $300 to savings since we are in preschool limbo. So it's a good start!

If we were able to save at this level all along, that would be one thing. But we took a savings break for a few years with this whole one income thing. We only made half as much a couple of years in there; half what we are making this year. Difference is night and day. I feel like my stress level will decrease a notch when we hit $20k cash savings again. So close I can taste it. (Probably around $17k today? efund + ST + MT + MEdical savings)) Though honestly, $20k in 2000, pre-kids, was a whole other ballgame. It won't stretch nearly as far. So the sigh of relief when we make it will be very short lived. We live in a much more expensive world now (health insurance for the entire fam, orthodntist and dental expenses, on and on and on).

Anyway, we just re-insituted the mid-term savings fund last year. We have a ways to go.

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Dh finally agreed to take LM to the drop-in childcare place today. Phew. They have both been grumpy. Some reason dh thinks it is more for his sake than LM's. Puh-leez. LM needed some play time and a break from daddy I think. LOL. But anyway, those expenses can be carded and paid off next month. Woohoo.

Not sure how things will pan out in the long run, but for now, drop-in care will do. Same budget - $70/week. Buys about 9 hours, with no meals. More pricey, but not horrid.

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I got our natural gas bill and it was down $20 or about 20% over last year. What gives?

Weather has been very mild and gas rates also went down. I don't think I can take too much credit here! But it's nice.

Winter lasted like a minute here. What the heck? I usually hate winter. This was a piece of cake.

We actually got some rain this week which also warmed up the outside a bit. WHen I woke up yesterday the house was 66 (It was 68 when I went to bed). Today was 65. January is usually our coldest month; temp usually drops to 60 inside, over night. We are fast forwarding into warmer weather. No doubt on track for a low gas bill in february too.

PG&E also has some new feature where you can look at your gas usage by day. There are many days we show NO gas usage. Too little to register anyway. Weekends are worse - I turn up the heat more than the ice boys, do more laundry, bathe the kids more, etc., etc. But I have said many times, dh and I do not skimp on hot showers. I wish I knew what kind of hot water heater we have. IT just looks standard. I Can't help but wonder if our meter is broken. Then again, you can hear it fire up when someone takes a shower. Doesn't seem to use much gas most of the day otherwise. ??? I don't remember being sold an "on demand" water heater but it seems to function like one in many regards. It has an insulation blanket so I can't see what the heck the brand or model is. IT's just a giant mystery. If I knew what the heck it was I would tell you all to buy one!!! We only pay $10/month MAX for gas most of the year. I'd consider us hot water hogs when it comes to showers, though we are pretty conservative otherwise. (We wear are clothes more than once, don't wash much in hot water, etc., etc.)

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The snow in the mountains is calling to me. Weather was predicted snowy in Tahoe Saturday and clear and warm Sunday, so we were considering a snow trip. But today all I see is snow AND rain for the entire weekend, as of today. Blech. Will postpone for another time. Will have to keep an eye out for a nice sunny day. Not making that trek in snowy or icy weather, for sure.

Was also excited because I had the entire weekend off work. But I have plenty to do!

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My parents are visiting tomorrow so we may hit some bike shops up here. I may buy a bike. So excited!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I had 2 tax clients and they both seemed to be doing just fine. Banner years, really.

Then again, a few have canceled due to layoffs and such. & granted, these were the FIRST people. The early birds who tend to get the worm.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how tax season progresses.

Out of curiosity when I was preparing 1099s I added up receipts for the clients I work on (what my boss bills). For reference, my Corporate clients paid about $300k (very loosely) in 2008. Individual tax returns - my specific clients - about $15k.

Our individual clients are a necessary evil - not money makers - and I think we are kind of glad to see them thin out a bit. This year will definitely be thinner. IT just gets to be too much work because you are doing taxes for the owners of these corps, then you take on their kids, and then their grandkids, and all their neighbors. & ugh. We have pretty much stopped taking any new clients for many years, but we don't say no to referrals, and then you end up spending a lot of time on people who should be using Turbo Tax or H&R.

Anyway, I share because I said many times before taxes are not our bread and butter. Corporate taxes, yes. Individuals? Not so much... The numbers paint an interesting picture, huh?

I honestly think if we lost all those people we would do a happy dance. Those numbers were eye opening, even to me. You know, the rest of the work is very annual. But, individuals, you just got to cram them in Feb. & March. For an extra 5% revenue? Blech.

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Note: Reasons you may get a W-2 that does not reflect an employer funded HSA. Because employer fails to tell their accountant. O.M.G.

HSAs are a NIGHTMARE in Cali. I am reconciling client's December's bank statement and they have all these payments to a HSA plan for their employees. We did their W-2s like 4 weeks ago. Shoot me now.

They're a nightmare because Cali does not recognize HSAs and so it will be considered taxable compensation for Cali. It gives me a headache just thinking about it.