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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

This & That

January 17th, 2012 at 08:58 pm

While you all have been having cold weather, it's been record breaking sunny and warm here.

BUT, that sure changed the last few days. The COLD has definitely arrived.

Actually, it was hard to work Saturday because it was so sunny, warm and gorgeous outside. So Sunday I made the family go for a walk. I thought a hike might be perfect, but we were all a little too lazy to go anywhere but out our front door. For the best. We walked about 1/2 way around the lake, but once we turned around the COLD wind was blowing in our face. It was like we walked a good 1/2 mile or so before we realized how freaking cold it was. Guess the wind was pushing us along? We were going to let the kids play at the park a good hour, but changed our mind to about 10 minutes. BRRRRR. At least we got a nice walk in. It was about 50 degrees Sunday versus 70 degrees on Saturday. If I had known, I would have worked Sunday instead.

We've still got sun, but it was freezing this morning. It will be nice to get some rain. I think weather has been more on the normal side, but I just remember endless endless snow and rain the last 2 winters, so it's been weird. I know I usually have a winter setting on the lawn irrigation but I don't have the foggiest what it was since I haven't used in about 3 years. I have just been flipping it on once a week, and turning it off not wanting to leave it on during a freeze. My dad asked if I had been over-watering. HA! I said "under watering." Forgot what to do when it isn't raining all the time.

For summer I have the irrigation set to come on twice a day because it gets so hot. (Not every day, but maybe every other day). So this basically means for 3 years we have been watering twice a day or never. Nothing in between?

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It's official. It is IMPOSSIBLE to find shoes. I am so frustrated. I am returning all the shoes I bought last week. I kept one pair which I thought would be perfect, but they are too tight in the toes. I am keeping them in the hopes of stretching them out over time. It's all I got.

My problem is big/wide feet and apparently complete lack of "in styleness" of flats and low heels these days. This has been going on for years, but usually Payless has SOMETHING. All Payless has right now is really uncomfortable shoes. & maybe only one or two styles in a large wide. Rolleyes

I increased my price range significantly and still can't find anything, anywhere. So, not sure what to do.

The really high heels are the best I got (bought them a bit ago and they are comfy for what they are). I am giving these shoes a week, but they are killing my feet in the interim. I went back and read the reviews again, so don't think next size up will help.

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BM has been wishy washy about track. He didn't want to do it, but now he does want to do it. So I sent dh off with a check and an application last night. He came back with the check. Track is cancelled. It's a bummer for BM, but can't say we are upset. There are other options but they are all competitive. He is only 8. We are going to put that on the back burner for now. We are going to focus on tennis as a winter sport. Er, maybe spring. I had been thinking of doing lessons with him, but work is crazier than I thought it would be. So, will see. Maybe we can do tennis in May.

Not doing track will save us a LOT of gas and time. I will re-divert that $150 to other sports/activities for the kids. The cost was really the least of it. The traveling and time commitment was pretty intense.

Of course, the reason I signed him up is the kids LOVE to go to the track down the street. So we will probably do our own unofficial track practice. We've got a track, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and some walking trails and bike paths. I think I prefer "track when we feel like it" versus 3 hours a week on cold nights! We have plenty non-structured activities to keep us busy and fit.

Posted in Just Thinking | 8 Comments »

8 Responses to “This & That”

patientsaver Says:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:27 pm 1326842878
1326842878

People say all the time that you can "break in" shoes, but I have never thought that was the case. If they don't feel good when you first try them on, don't count on that changing. I've wasted a lot of money on shoes that way.

there's a store at the mall by my called comfort shoes. Don't know if it's a chain or not, but they specialize in wide shoes, and I've bought several pairs there I'm happy with.
Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
January 18th, 2012 at 01:34 am 1326850486
1326850486

Unfortunately, I would not know fashion if it hit me smack on the forehead, but I remember that K-Mart used to have a lot of wide dress shoes in stock. And that included black leather flats, which is one of my mainstays.
baselle Says:
January 18th, 2012 at 02:35 am 1326854122
1326854122

I know that I'm either lucky or gutsy or both, but I have been known to pick up a pair at the thrift store.
gattaca Says:
January 18th, 2012 at 04:31 am 1326861067
1326861067

Merrell makes some nice shoes and they tend to be on the wider side. They're pricey but I've found they're worth the extra $$. Dansko also has good shoes but sometimes hit or miss with comfort.
FrugalTexan75 Says:
January 18th, 2012 at 05:39 am 1326865143
1326865143

I hear you loud and clear on how frustrating shoe shopping can be! I'm like you - prefer flats or low heels. I also add in that I want a closed toe and heel - no pointed toes!!! Then of course the size 8 - 9 wide width .... Finding shoes that fit well AND that I like is miserable. I try to do it as rarely as possible.
Alliecat Says:
January 18th, 2012 at 12:10 pm 1326888644
1326888644

I stick with my danskos. I have worn them everyday for two years. They come in wide, tons of colors and look cute with jeans.
Alliecat Says:
January 18th, 2012 at 12:11 pm 1326888676
1326888676

I should also mention I have wide feet myself.
MonkeyMama Says:
January 18th, 2012 at 04:27 pm 1326904061
1326904061

@FT - I am size 9.5-10.5. Ugh! (Though I couldn't imagine what it's like to have any bigger feet than that - know it could be worse!)

But that reminds me why it's probably been extra hard for me in recent years - feet grow during pregnancy. I used to just be a plain old size 9 wide. Yeah, that may be a lot of my problem. I looked at zappos yesterday but everything my size was out of stock.

Of course, men's shoes is the obvious solution and what I sometimes do, but doesn't work for low heels or more feminine type work shoes.

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This & That

8 Responses to “This & That”

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