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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

Rain Rain Go Away...

February 9th, 2010 at 04:29 pm

More rain here. Though overall, looks like our nice sunny weather is starting to return. I saw lots of sun in the forecast. Thank goodness!

We do need rain, but considering how full all the rivers and resorviors are, well, we don't need it all at once!

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

I got an e-mail from another parent with a list of names of children in BM's classroom and a reminder to give everyone a valentine card. Ugh! Just what I need.

Funny thing is when I got home, MIL told me that I had already bought some. "Huh?" BM and dh both told her. I saw them sitting out later and realized what they were talking about. We had bought the really flashy ones on sale after Valentines, last year. I forgot, but BM remembered? Just, funny.

So, the kids are set. Grandma can help them put them together tomorrow.

AND, I suppose I should go stock up on some more after Valentines Day, again.

More, making it look like I spent a fortune when I didn't...

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

Funny conversation on the radio about Valnetine's Day. A debate how all women really want flowers and gifts and are lying if they say they don't. Hell, V-Day could have come and went without me noticing, but for the kids.

I think the thing for me, is that it is nice when dh surprises me with a gift, yes. Which is kind of why I am not into the "giving a gift" to each other every flipping holiday. It's nicer when it's just a random surprise. Those are nice. But feeling obligated to "buy something" 12 times a year is just ridiculous. We aren't big consumers, so it just isn't our thing.

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This week is an easy no-spend week. Gased up the cars and stocked up on food and cooked over the weekend. SO, I don't foresee any spending for another week. Even the V-Day cards are taken care of...

I haven't had the urge to eat out, one little teeny tiny bit. I think with all the frozen meals given to us, we just have such a wide variety of food to choose from at home. More than usual. Coupled with the fact that dh is mostly bed ridden still... I suppose I could get the urge to take the kids out, but I have been working so much, I rather spend some time with dh then ditch him for some greasy food.

Since MIL has refused to cook anything we have ingredients for (I Don't quite get), I did end up cooking everything up this weekend. I am exhausted, but still appreciate her help, regardless. Some things have been a little frustrating, but it's hard to complain about someone who has dropped everything for 3 weeks to take care of dh and the kids. Anyway, dh seems to have perked up a bit to have some "Real food." The good home cooking he is used to! Which I suppose is the other thing - dh rather have a nice 15-minute meal at home than some take out. IT's not really that inconvenient. In the end I only spent about 2 hours cooking (4 meals) this weekend. I am just trying to get dh well - so eating in 100%, it is.

I suppose if dh returns to work that we will be more likely to employ this method - to cook all the meals for the week on Sunday night. I was able to squeeze it all in the fridge. A couple of hours of cooking was no biggie. We could certainly all chip in when dh is well, too. (& in the end, most of the stuff we cook is pretty easy and fast). I just often wonder how committed we will be to home cooking if we both worked. I am starting to think it's not that big of a deal - has become habit over the last decade.

I am exhausted, indeed, but I am playing much more "single mom" than "2-income household" with dh unable to help with anything.

Posted in Just Thinking | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “Rain Rain Go Away...”

frugaltexan75 Says:
February 9th, 2010 at 06:42 pm 1265740963
1265740963

I could live without Valentine's Day personally. With the exception of the candy sales after VD ...
sweetmama Says:
February 9th, 2010 at 06:54 pm 1265741642
1265741642

I don't care about Valentine's Day either. My DH can 'spoil' me any day(s) of the year! I think it's more special if you suprise someone rather than 'having' to do it because of a date on the calander.
Good job with the cooking! What did you make?
dmontngrey Says:
February 9th, 2010 at 07:03 pm 1265742191
1265742191

I despise any "obligatory" gift giving and this is well known by the folks around me! DH is quite content with not being required to by gifts for certain occasions. Takes some stress off him as well.
whitestripe Says:
February 9th, 2010 at 07:20 pm 1265743238
1265743238

wow, do you REALLY have to buy a card for every child??? that's insane!
monkeymama Says:
February 9th, 2010 at 07:35 pm 1265744119
1265744119

No - you don't have to. But I suppose it is recommended. You know, politically correct and all. (So no one feels left out). I wouldn't be too scared to bow out personally, but the kids like it.

Reminds me - the kids probably want to send some Valentines to kids outside their class. They both are popular with the girls - oy vey! There are no girls in BM's grade (maybe 20% girls? It's really weird) and so he suddenly has a bunch of Kindergarten girlfriends. More to choose from I suppose. Well, good thing we have more valentines than we need. They come in packs of 30...

SWEETMAMA - I made chili, mac & cheese with artichokes and spinach, meatloaf, and then I decided to make burritos (simple but lots of leftovers). These are all pretty simple, but awesome tasting recipes. We still have meatball soup that maybe his mom will make. It's pretty much just a bunch of frozen veggies, pasta and tomato sauce. Dh did good with the "Easy" & "non-perishable" choices - he bought all the ingredients before his surgery. Actually, he told me the soup was easiest, so I may end up making it some weeknight.

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

Rain Rain Go Away...

5 Responses to “Rain Rain Go Away...”

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