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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

Lunch Update

June 11th, 2010 at 06:48 pm

Current Tally:

Lunch In: 8
Lunch Out: 1

Friday
---------
Breakfast - apple sauce, water
Lunch - salad, chicken nuggets, soda
snacks - TBD

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Today I brought in a salad for lunch. Grabbed some chicken nuggets (from freezer) for some protein.

Dh bought some frozen pizzas on sale, so I brought them in today, to store in the freezer.

I will have to run to the store to stock up on soda. I think I have one more can left. I have settled on the 8-oz cans. Regular cans are just way too much, and I can't control myself with the 2 liters. So it's my little treat. This weekend, I will to stock up for the rest of the month.

Anyway, back to the salad. I made up a big lettuce, red cabbage, carrot salad. This one didn't keep so well in the fridge - not the lettuce anyway. Last night, I shredded more cabbage and carrots, and stored that in a bowl in the fridge. I tore off some lettuce from the remaining head of lettuce, for dinner last night, and lunch today. That seems to be working well. I also keep chopped green onions separate, to sprinkle on top.

SO, today I went for lettuce, cabbage, carrots, green onions, and some spinach dh had leftover from cooking.

I actually didn't bring any dressing - thought I may find some in the fridge (like fast food salad dressing). I found some but wasn't sure how old it was so, took a bit of someone's "Creamy Cesear" dressing. Okay, now I am hooked! I will buy my own to keep in the fridge. I justified it because I have BBQ sauce and all sorts of stuff I don't care if people use sparingly (will take forever for me to get through, alone). So, it was a good way to find a new flavor. Yummy! I will find out whose dressing it is and make sure they know they can have my BBQ sauce, or salad dressing, any time. Wink

I sometimes bring things in little plastic tupperware type containers (dressing or sauce). But, lately, more and more, I just bring in a big bottle and keep it at work - it's easier that way. Less to pack and deal with. Though I don't want to be too much of a fridge hog, either... So, BBQ sauce and salad dressing, + a couple of cold sodas, is probably good.

Posted in Just Thinking, What We Eat | 2 Comments »

2 Responses to “Lunch Update”

HouseHopeful Says:
June 11th, 2010 at 10:57 pm 1276297038
1276297038

Yumm to creamy ceasar! Ken's makes a one in thier Healthy Options line that I really like. Glad you're doing so well with the lunch challange!
whitestripe Says:
June 15th, 2010 at 01:26 am 1276565217
1276565217

DF and I make our own salad dressings and keep them in jars in the fridge - if they have oil in them they last a while, if the oil forms a top coat. our dressings are pretty basic though: 1 part balsamic, 4 parts olive oil, chopped fresh herbs & salt & pepper - or replace the balsamic with lemon or lime juice. Usually lasts about a week or so.

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

Lunch Update

2 Responses to “Lunch Update”

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