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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.

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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

Bread Outlet Run

February 6th, 2010 at 06:12 pm

Today was a Hallelujah day.

Since no work this weekend, I decided to run to aerobics early in the morning. Dh felt up to giving it a try. (& when I got home, still seemed okay - kids didn't push him too hard). Hallelujah!

Oh - was going to run to the store, but his mom offered. I said, "okay," since I was so tired, anyway. Didn't think twice about it. Came home to some weird hamburger buns! Ugh. In the end, they didn't taste so bad, but the kids whined the whole time, and then dh whined when she left. Oy vey.

SO, I told dh *I* would do all the grocery shopping from now on. LOL. I didn't think about it at the time - lord knows why. I already told you about her interesting grocery choices.

SO, I told dh I was going to run out and get some normal bread, since she bought the god awful sandwich bread again (not quite sure what it is - but it tastes terrible!).

& dh, being well rested, asked why I didn't just run to the bread store. Doh!

I suppose it works out that the bread store is by my aerobics class. I hadn't been there in ages, and I only stock up on the bread (& cookies and donuts) when I am working out.

They were clearing out some Holiday cookies, so grabbed some of those, and some donuts, for work. Seems to be a good compromise. I can eat one or 2 cookies or donuts, but don't get stuck with the whole thing. For a buck a piece, it creates much fellow employee goodwill. Big Grin

Of course, then I spotted the iced oatmeal cookies. YUM!

Then, got some tortillas for a buck, and some free bread. I am up to "2 free items" again.

So, was nice to get some "normal food," and I feel so much more relaxed having been able to go to aerobics/yoga. I snuck off to the gym once this week too (with the kids), so has been a good week. There is no gym daycare tomorrow, but may drop the kids off at the drop-in childcare place for a bit so that I can go to the gym. They better get used to it anyway.

I did so much walking at the hospital that I figure I really only had one week of NO EXERCISE. The week I was sick anyway. Phew... Feels good to get back into the swing of things - it really helps my stress level. Most people may hit the gym to lose weight or stay fit - but I do it to stay SANE!

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I am planning to cook 3-4 meals this weekend, so I better get cooking...

Posted in Just Thinking | 2 Comments »

2 Responses to “Bread Outlet Run”

creditcardfree Says:
February 6th, 2010 at 07:21 pm 1265484111
1265484111

I go to the gym for sanity as well. Take care!
frugaltexan75 Says:
February 7th, 2010 at 02:53 am 1265511228
1265511228

Sounds like you had a good haul at the bread store.

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

Bread Outlet Run

2 Responses to “Bread Outlet Run”

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