<< Back to all Blogs

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.

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

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."}

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

My Pages

Health Update

November 4th, 2009 at 04:11 pm

Dh seems to be fine, so phew.

His first doctor appointment didn't go so well. Doctor mentioned the word, "Stroke," though she really didn't have a clue. At that point it flipped me out a bit, considering my dad had a stroke this year, etc. I thought maybe I had been in complete denial. (Looking back, I think it just didn't seem to be that at all, so I logically ruled it out). But at the point I did think maybe I was in denial. She was stumped and actually called a neurologist at the hospital. He just said, "I'd need to see him." Since they weren't really sure if it was something serious at that point, they got him an appointment right away.

We went over to the big hospital, and I told dh I knew for a fact he was getting into a neurologist faster than my dad did, who had a much more major stroke. Didn't know if this was good or bad. But good to get answers.

In the end, no answers, but I did like the neurologist. He said his brain looked completely healthy, from initial examination, and he thinks it is just an inner ear thing, set off by a virus. Dh tends to get vertigo and hearing loss with colds, etc.

My pet peeve, you know, is making important decisions based on finances. Too often a doctor or nurse has muttered, "I would do this, but it's expensive, and I assume you can't afford it." Not said in those exact words, but pretty much. One nurse said, "Oh I see you have this plan and can't afford it." HUH???? I will afford anything for my health. It's just a bit of my pet peeve when it comes to car repairs and health visits.

ANYWAY, I didn't like the way this was going. Doctor said he could do further testing, "but it's expensive." This guy really wanted to piss me off, didn't he? We are talking about a loved one's brain! Who cares how much it cost for a flipping test?

But he did redeem himself. He made clear that he was confident that dh's brain was fine, and that he didn't want to put him through that at this point - not enough symptoms to justify it all. At least this is logical. (Next steps would be blood testing and MRI).

If dh does have further episodes, etc., then it is possible he will get an MRI. For now, everything seems fine, and the virus thing seems logical.

The neurologist was very "it's up to you," as was everyone else we talked to. They seemed a little sympathetic that his symptoms were a little freaky. I think it was like, "If you want a MRI.." "If you want drugs, if you want another appointment, whatever you need."

In the end he is better and we decided to drop it.

So I am relieved to say he seems fine. If his ear bothers him again we may pursue more of an ear specialist, but it's hard to do much at this point, now that he is 100% again.

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

I've not felt very well - but could just be stress. A billion germs seem to be flying round. We all seem to have a *touch of* everything, if that makes sense. Work is terribly slow, and by some miracle I barely used any sick days this year. So I am glad I can stay home and rest. (With the kids in preschool dh and I were constantly sick, but that seems to have passed. Phew!!! Last year wasn't so bad, but I had a nasty flu that knock me out almost 2 weeks. I will be proud to end this year with only a handful of sick days - assuming that is possible. Shouldn't get ahead of myself I guess, but we usually all get hit harder in the spring - more stress I guess with tax season and everything. Right now everything seems to be mild as we have low stress otherwise).

Posted in Just Thinking | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Health Update”

momcents Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 04:23 pm 1257351837
1257351837

Glad to hear that DH is better. Sounds very logical about a virus - my own DH is now 40 and has been plagued by ear infections when he is sick - he also gets the vertigo from fluid build up in the inner ear.

Take care.
creditcardfree Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 04:38 pm 1257352737
1257352737

I'm glad it's good news. I'm sure it helps to have the neurologist opinion that his brain looks great.

Don't rule out stress...it can mask itself into other symptoms.
Caoineag Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 04:41 pm 1257352872
1257352872

Oh I had nearly forgotten about how as a child I would be unable to lift my head due to vertigo from colds and flus. Yeck. Your DH has my sympathy. I am so glad that as I got older, that particular side effect from illness has completely subsided. Nothing quite like being home alone and unable to move because you can't lift your head without assistance.
John DeFlumeri Jr Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 08:54 pm 1257368072
1257368072

Does this make you think about all the changes in national healthcare?

I hope your child gets better fast.
Analise Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 09:40 pm 1257370809
1257370809

I've had vertigo attacks and they are horrible. Glad to hear your dh's problem does not seem to be serious.

Sometimes we put ourselves last... take care of yourself, too, monkeymama.
frugaltexan75 Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 10:49 pm 1257374999
1257374999

I'm glad to hear your DH is feeling better, and the doctor's visits helped to settle your worries.

Hope you get feeling better.
scfr Says:
November 17th, 2009 at 02:12 am 1258423932
1258423932

I'm just now getting caught up on the blogs (family visiting from overseas is off on a little road trip w/ DH) so I'm not sure what exactly happened with your husband, but I am very glad to hear all seems to be well.

(Note: If you were logged in, we could automatically fill in these fields for you.)

Name:	*
Email:	Will not be published.
	Subscribe: Notify me of additional comments to this entry.
URL:
Verification:	* Please spell out the number 4. [ Why? ]

vB Code: You can use these tags: [b] [i] [u] [url] [email]

Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

Health Update

7 Responses to “Health Update”

Leave a Reply