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). **It's official. I got my profit sharing money transferred into my IRA. (Employer terminated plan this year).
The funds are on hold one week until the check clears.
Next Monday I will be allocating the amount a bit, once the funds clear.
I don't have enough time to research the dividend policies. I decided to just leave dh's portfolio as is until January 1, or whenever the dividends post for the year. Might as well make sure to get that (though maybe the dividend date passed and it doesn't matter). Just too much on my plate right now to look up for sure.
So, I will make my allocations on Monday and then do dh's the following Monday. Probably the plan.
**It is official that I have a surgeon. Dh and I met with the surgeon I initially met with (he told me nothing was wrong but sent me for an ultrasound just in case. So have only talked surgery over the phone).
The week has been stressful and crazy, and the whole thing sent me a little over the emotional edge. Nothing new or exciting, but it's all a little too much. All I can say is I was exhausted when it was said and done, and so though we ate out a ton this month already, we went out to dinner. I pigged out, had a great time with dh, and feel so much better.
2 more days of crazy before the weekend. I suppose the surgery will go back to the farthest thing from my mind for a few more weeks. Surgeon thinks I will get a surgery date in January.
Eh, I did find out the surgery will have to be at the old hospital (where I had my kids). I Was dreaming of private recovery rooms and pretty decor. But, oh well! Sounds like I will be in and out pretty fast. (I only had to stay 12 hours after giving birth - and that was too long!!!! So, I am not thrilled. Though it sounds like a 12-hour kind of thing. Something in that range. I suppose that is the best I can ask for a hospital stay).
**Dh and I stopped by the gym. It took about 5 minutes. Phew!!!! We pay $29/month for the 2 of us and it's something like $20/month for one person. The guy was trying to talk dh into staying for $15 per month. We were clearly not interested. It's like the dude hasn't been to the gym in over a year. He figured he may go more with the kids in school, but nope, he hasn't. It's long overdue to drop him from the plan.
So I asked the guy, "Can we just do one person for $15?" He's trying to tell us how one person is MORE expensive, which is just stupid. We weren't biting! He said, "Sure, we can do that."
When we left, I told dh I should have asked for $10/month! Probably could have haggled more, but it's relative. That was easy, and saves us $15/month.
We get to keep our lifetime childcare, too.
We didn't get any paperwork (but that dh cancelled), so I am wary until we get the next bill. Will see what it says. I will remember the guy who told me $15 though. 
WE also didn't ask how long the rate was good. Old rate was forever. That said, they seemed so desperate to keep dh that I figure I just threaten to quit next time they raise the rate. I learned they take what they can get.
It was so fast and easy and I didn't realize the paper he handed dh said nothing about the rate, until later. 
Will see how it all pans out.
So, official, official, official. What a day!
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I scrounged $95/month today, between that and my state tax reduction. Yay!
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My parents are not into little kids so much. MIL would raise them if she could. (Night and day!)
But, anyway, my parents agreed (surprisingly) to meet dh and pick up the kids today, and deliver them to MIL until Friday when we will take them home. MIL had to take someone to the airport or something.
SO, dh and I went out and my mom calls to say she decided to keep the kids. I said, "Did she decide that or is your mom MIA?" (BTW, his mom being MIA would be kind of weird). HE said, no, his mom kind of asked them to keep the kids tonight.
Well, that is weird, but we decided not to destroy a nice night with MIL drama. Will take my mom's word for it.
She called a couple of times to ask about their bedtime and stuff. She has NEVER offered to take the kids overnight. IT's just not her thing. I think it's cute though. I think the kids are getting old enough and self-sufficient enough. I am glad they get some special time with my parents. Our parents are just so different. Similar in many ways, and completely opposite in others!
So, I am delighted they all seem to be having so much fun.
Dh and I get two whole nights to ourselves. Life is good! (Will miss the kids, but am enjoying the peace and quiet, for sure!!!)
It's Official
December 22nd, 2010 at 03:17 am
December 22nd, 2010 at 03:55 am 1292990143
I had a question about your retirement plan. Since your work plan was terminated, does that mean you can only contribute the $5,000 each to an IRA? Is this a big deal for you? Or did I miss something, like maybe the work plan wasn't like a 401k.
I would be pretty mad if hubby lost his work plan, especially if we were stuck with lower contribution ceilings.
December 22nd, 2010 at 01:58 pm 1293026293
It is a big deal in the sense that my boss made large contributions and I no longer have that. This is why I settled for private health insurance. My boss put in 10% of my salary into the plan, for about 10 years before termination. This helped us justify the private health insurance (CPA plans really suck - he covers me - but it was sucky coverage and didn't include the fam anyway, which is the expensive part). Obviously, our savings progress has taken a huge hit with this. I didn't even put much into retirement last year since this all hit with dh's surgery and blindsided us a bit.
But it's really only a short term problem. My boss will retire soon, and this is just once step in the process. I'll be looking for another job and dh probably will too. I assume between the two of us, we can get at least one 401k. For now, I don't have any more to put to retirement. So, eh. (I never took it for granted and knew this day would come!)
December 22nd, 2010 at 02:02 pm 1293026547
Definitely a long term consideration - to find a 401k plan. Most CPA firms would have a retirement plan, so don't think it will be hard to find.
December 22nd, 2010 at 02:03 pm 1293026626
Definitely a long term consideration - to find a 401k plan. Most CPA firms would have a retirement plan, so don't think it will be hard to find.
Their health insurance plans may tend to suck, but they usually have retirement covered pretty well.
December 22nd, 2010 at 03:59 pm 1293033569
I wish retirement were easier for everyone. I don't even max out my IRA, because we've got so many other competing goals.
If my freelance income does rebound to 2008 levels, though, I'll consider opening a self-employed 401k or SEP-IRA or something. but right now, I don't make enough to make it worth it.
December 22nd, 2010 at 05:31 pm 1293039073
The first firm I worked for was a huge international company and their health insurance plan just sucked. IT cost about $10/month more just to keep my private insurance, so I did. Now I work for a sole proprietor with a handful of employees, but it's the same situation. I don't really pay much more (if anything more?) for the private insurance, and the coverage is far better. It is the same for my lawyer friends. Doctors are different, because they are in the medical industry and so get the benefits.
OF course, you may think my boss was overly generous with this retirement plan, but that's ALL about the taxes. & an easy way to cut pay when the economy sucks.