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Halloween & VG Admiral Shares

October 8th, 2010 at 04:30 pm

The kids are set for Halloween. I am not crafty at all. Usually we just buy BM a costume, give LM a hand-me-down, or request that they both wear some past year costume.

The kids wanted to be Mario/Luigi this year, so I just bought them new costumes. Was about $70 for the both, with shipping, but I had a $20 rebate I applied to that. I could have gotten some really dumbed down costumes for about $20/each (but then I'd have to buy the red/green shirts too, etc., etc.). So, I just got the deluxe costumes that came with everything. They were very cute. They even come with inflatable little tummies - LOL. I bought on the large side so they could wear more years.

MIL kept insisting she must hem the pants on LM's costume. Rolleyes I told her it was fine, we could tuck the pant leg in his socks. Since he grows a mile a minute, I just didn't see the point. (I haven't looked at the costume since we got back and won't be surprised if it's been hemmed!)

BM's costume fit better than expected. I didn't buy big enough, I guess, to last very long. Well, LM has many more years of Luigi ahead of him, then.

Anyway, the kids are happy. I only spoil them like this once in a blue moon (this may be the first time?). LAst year, BM was content with some cheap dracula costume at the drug store, and LM Was content with his choice from the hand-me-down/old costume pile. Plus, I imagine they will wear these costumes another year, the both of them, at least.

I REALLY need to go through the old costumes this weekend and see what we can sell. I think there are a couple that are too small - will have dh list on Craigslist. This will help whittle down the cost for this year.

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I saw this post on MyMoneyBlog:

Text is http://www.mymoneyblog.com/vanguard-lowers-minimum-balance-requirements-for-mutual-fund-admiral-shares.html and Link is
http://www.mymoneyblog.com/vanguard-lowers-minimum-balance-r...

Admiral shares mean lower expense ratios. The new minimum is $10k for a couple of funds we already have.

I checked because I thought it was possible we had $10k in one fund, but we didn't (more like $6500).

BUT, it is interesting because I am still waiting on my profit sharing rollover. I hadn't decided what to do with it. Now I am thinking of going with the simple allocation I have for dh - Total Stock Market & Total Int'l Funds. The expense ratio is roughly half for the admiral shares.

In fact, I may just put dh's money into a Target fund (I have always kept his more simple) and I may just do a lazy type portfolio with those and some sort of bond fund, for my own money.

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10/15 is the big tax deadline. My boss needed some help with the tax software yesterday - he was filing our profit sharing plan's information return.

I hadn't thought about it, but I hadn't got a statement of the 2009 performance yet. I estimated some returns in Quicken - don't remember what percent I used. I am hoping today that I get my updated statement. Seems to me if he had enough info to file the return, he can give us our balances. I usually get them some time around 10/15. So I am hoping I get that today.

He told us in January to get ready to roll the money over, since he was closing the plan. Maybe he will get that rolling soon, too, while top of mind. I am upset to lose the benefits, but am looking forward to managing my own money. The plan cost a fair amount (administrative fees, brokers, etc., etc.), and these admiral shares will be much cheaper!!! Anyway, I opened a non-ROTH IRA to roll the money into - probably around March. Just waiting waiting waiting. But the timing of this Admiral share thing may work out then. Because really, I have been kind of paralyzed by choice. I chose a Vanguard IRA, but no idea what to do from there. I've got $1k here and $5k there, and dh's IRA might be up to about $20k. So this will be a big chunk of money to manage (I expect it to be about $45k).

9 Responses to “Halloween & VG Admiral Shares”

  1. pretty cheap jewelry Says:
    1286552266

    ack! that's alot for costumes! my 10 yo wanted to be a pirate so we thrifted for a peasant blouse and black pants but found a commercial costume for $15 (at the thrift). I thought this was pretty high, but got it because there would be no more costs for details.

    my 12 yo was a waiter last year! FUNNY, just a nice navy blazer, dark pants, and a pure white towel over his arm. He collected candy in a big plastic water pitcher! Folks KNEW what he was Big Grin

  2. SnoopyCool Says:
    1286552755

    Ah, gotta love Halloween. We're doing Ghostbusters and Vampires this year (not the sparkly kind). I wish they'd agree to the same theme at least once. LOL

  3. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1286553489

    As the kids get older, they might want to make/assemble their own costumes. The creativity and planning are all part of the anticipatory joy in Halloween. Wink

  4. Broken Arrow Says:
    1286553535

    Hehe Mario and Luigi eh? Brilliant.

  5. LittleGopher Says:
    1286558433

    I'm sure your boys wouldn't want to hear this, but their costumes sound adorable!

  6. MonkeyMama Says:
    1286559729

    LG - LOL. It's funny because last year they were really into the gory/scary stuff. Subconsciously, probably why I ran with it. Got to get the cute years when I can.

  7. Petunia Says:
    1286562541

    I should read my emails from VG more often. . .

  8. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1286575063

    The costumes sound too cute! I hope you are able to get multiple years out of them. If not, Mario and Luigi will never be old hat, so will be good for resale. Smile

  9. rob62521 Says:
    1286635204

    Be sure to take pix of those kids in the adorable costumes...and isn't the reason we save money so we have a little extra to enjoy a few pleasures in life?

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