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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.

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

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.

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

**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

I'm Home!

January 13th, 2011 at 10:10 pm

I think my Doctor lied to me! He told me many times patients go home the same day. I don't think I could have done better but got stuck in the hospital overnight. I told dh I found it hard to believe I could have done any better and released early.

Anyway, thankfully I am home and I can actually rest now!

Surgery went very well. Definitely the best anesthesia experience I have had.

I haven't had any pain meds since they gave me morphine when I first woke up (had a mad headache) and I Feel GREAT! So I expect recovery to be pretty quick. I did have a drain tube which was pretty uncomfortable, so am glad to be free of it. Doctor took it out today and released me. Phew!

That said, the nurses were very responsive to me (best hospital experience we have ever had) and dh bought me some really good ear plugs yesterday. Not that they didn't wake me up every hour all night, but I got more rest than I could have otherwise. Thank you earplugs!

Biopsy during surgery was inconclusive, as expected. So I get to keep half my thyroid for now. Did not find anything bad. Get more biopsy results in a month. I think this was the best outcome we could expect. The doctor did not expect anything conclusive during surgery due to the type of mass it was. At least he didn't tell me it looked horrible, had spread, and/or decided to take the whole thing.

It's good to be home!

Posted in Just Thinking | 21 Comments »

21 Responses to “I'm Home!”

Ideas Says:
January 13th, 2011 at 10:17 pm 1294957045
1294957045

Glad to hear you are home resting.
Homebody Says:
January 13th, 2011 at 10:17 pm 1294957056
1294957056

So glad to hear you did well, nurses were good, anesthesia good, etc. Now the wait game. Hang in there.
creditcardfree Says:
January 13th, 2011 at 10:23 pm 1294957396
1294957396

Glad to hear it was a good experience as those things go! Rest. Rest. Rest!!
scottish girl Says:
January 13th, 2011 at 11:03 pm 1294959832
1294959832

That's great! Get plenty of rest now.
laura Says:
January 13th, 2011 at 11:14 pm 1294960459
1294960459

BEST NEWS OF THE DAY (see my last post). Go take care of yourself!!
Petunia 100 Says:
January 13th, 2011 at 11:19 pm 1294960762
1294960762

Awesome! I hope hubby is pampering you shamelessly.
patientsaver Says:
January 13th, 2011 at 11:51 pm 1294962712
1294962712

That's great, MM. Welcome home, and speedy recovery.
rob62521 Says:
January 14th, 2011 at 12:27 am 1294964869
1294964869

Welcome home and hope you are back to 100% soon.
Looking Forward Says:
January 14th, 2011 at 12:57 am 1294966645
1294966645

Glad to read all's well. Take care!
Swimgirl Says:
January 14th, 2011 at 01:31 am 1294968685
1294968685

Excellent! So glad you are home and feeling well!
Savings Queen Says:
January 14th, 2011 at 01:46 am 1294969561
1294969561

Monkey Mama, I am glad it went so well. Here is my one best, greatest, most fabulous tip from my friend Ann who had her thyroid removed. It is three (or so) later and she has NO scar....I mean none. I asked her about it recently and she said a nurse at the hospital recommended that she put EMU oil on the scar. Truly, you can't even tell there is a scar now.
LuckyRobin Says:
January 14th, 2011 at 02:52 am 1294973563
1294973563

I'm glad you made it through surgery so well.
PNW Mom Says:
January 14th, 2011 at 03:14 am 1294974881
1294974881

Glad to hear all went well....wishing you a speedy recovery!
Thrifty Ray Says:
January 14th, 2011 at 03:42 am 1294976574
1294976574

Welcome home. Now, REST and give yourself plenty of time to heal. Hope everything turns out good. Hugs
FrugalTexan75 Says:
January 14th, 2011 at 05:40 am 1294983630
1294983630

Yay! I'm glad to hear it went so well.
ceejay74 Says:
January 14th, 2011 at 05:44 am 1294983845
1294983845

So great to hear from you so soon!!
HouseHopeful Says:
January 16th, 2011 at 05:44 pm 1295199877
1295199877

Wow, that sounds exactly like my experience! Right down to the drain, boy I hated that! I wish you a speedy recovery & just remember, you will be a different kind of tired in a few days as your thyroid begins to work differently to make up for the loss of the 1/2. I overexerted myself to soon, so listen to the doc!
My English Castle Says:
January 16th, 2011 at 09:04 pm 1295211872
1295211872

Glad you're home and glad it went so well! Bet the monkeys were glad to see you!
Ima saver Says:
January 18th, 2011 at 03:34 pm 1295364887
1295364887

Welcome home, Monkey Mama!
miclason Says:
January 18th, 2011 at 10:52 pm 1295391148
1295391148

Yay for good hospital experiences! Get as much rest as possible!
Analise Says:
February 9th, 2011 at 04:37 am 1297226224
1297226224

I'm catching up on your blog (one of my favorites) after being gone almost two months. It's good to hear all went well with your surgery and that you are recuperating nicely.

I also have a thyroid nodule that may have to be removed this year... not sure I can bounce back the way you have done, though.

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

I'm Home!

21 Responses to “I'm Home!”

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