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About Me:

Monkey Mama

Just a 49-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. We've always saved 100% of MH's income, but we are starting to dial that down a bit in 2023-2025.

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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2026 Goals

[ ]Small monthly Charitable Contribution
...($32 @ 2/28/26)
...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.
...#3 I don't understand why I would find student loan interest rates to be useful, as a middle class person with a high credit score. Would do better to borrow money from anywhere else. I think point #2 is more my 'hells no' reason, but this is my 'I don't get it' reason.

DL YEAR 1 ✔
DL YEAR 2 ✔
DL YEAR 3 ✔
DL YEAR 4
DL Teaching Credential

MM YEARS 1-5 ✔

[ ]$10,000 to savings
...(-$3,880** @ 5/31/26)
...$1,000/month, plus interest
...Topping off with snowballs
**Yes, that's a negative! 2026 started out rough, with some large emergency expenses.

[ ]$7,500 to investments
...($1,740 @ 5/31/26)
...$300/month, plus snowflakes
(Snowflakes: credit card rewards and dividends)
...Topping off with snowballs

[ ]$1,500 to mortgage
...($0 @ 5/31/26)
...Topping off with snowballs and/or excess cash
...Keeps us on track with $10K principal paydown per year

Taxable Investing/Saving rate is 14%.

[/]9% of household income to work retirement plans
...(9% @ 5/31/26)
...This is the minimum for the match; I'd otherwise rather fund IRAs.

[ ]$0 to IRAs 2026
**STRETCH GOAL $17,200 (MAX)**
...($0 @ 5/31/26)
...This seems pointless, other than the 'unexpected money' factor.
...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 2025 taxes. In addition to that, can make a more informed decision based on our financial and tax situation for the entire year.

Total investing/savings rate is 23%. Making progress on dialing this down from 30%.

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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**

As of 2026, our primary goal is just to contribute enough to retirement to receive employer match (9%).

~~Have decided to pretty much stay the course. Keep saving 20%+ to retirement. This means taking 401K match & maxing out IRAs.~~

Pre Financial Independence:

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.

Post Financial Independence:

I wish I could contribute 0% to retirement (age 50+). But that free company match... Just to be clear why we are dipping below that magic 10% number at this point in our lives. We are done saving for retirement and are letting the investments (and employer contributions) do the hard work.

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Debt: $65,000 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.

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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>
2023: +$ 90,000
2024: +$ 95,000
2025: +$120,000
TOTAL: +$785,000

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

Annual Financial Goals

2014 Goals

**Financial**

[ ]$15,950 to IRAs (20% of income)
....To finish 2013 and to Max Out 2014

[ ]$6,800 to Savings (12% of income)
....The usual $5k per year, plus save $1,800 net raise
....Plan to bulk up savings also with credit card rewards and other snowflakes, in addition to goal amount.

[ ]$1,000 Extra to mortgage
....This $1k will have to come from credit card rewards and other snowflakes.

[ ]To increase net worth by $42k (or 70% expenses)

[ ]Net Worth Past $500,000 - Current "Big Picture" Goal
...Possibly doable in 2013, but at whim of the markets

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2013 Goals

[/]$11,000 to IRAs (13% of income)
....Funded $6,000
....Will Finish Funding 2014; too many emergencies in 2013
[X]$10,000 to Savings (12% of income)
....The usual $5k per year + $5k for China
....We saved the money but ended up redirecting China money to home repairs.
[ ]$4,000 Extra to mortgage
....This $4k will have to come from unexpected windfalls. $4k achieves the goal of "more principle than interest" but is of low priority.
....Only made it to $950. Redirected the rest to home repairs, medical, vet bills, etc. What a Year!!

[X]To have more cash/mutual funds than debt (mortgage)
...Goal Met as of 3/15/13!

[X]To increase net worth by $30k (or 50% expenses)
...(Up $125,000 at 12/31/13)

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2012 Goals

[X]$13,000 to IRAs (15% of income)
....includes $3k made up for the year 2011. 2012 maxed out 2012.
....Thank you to a good overtime earnings year (helped to not have a January surgery this year!! Also, no large medical bills this year).
[X]$5,000 to Savings (6% of income)
....We were able to save far more than $5k, but we also had a LOT of expenditures, so will mark off that we have $5k more cash than we did on January 1. My primary goal is to save $415/month from income to this goal; secondarily is to be +$5k in cash at the end of the year. Both were done.
[/]$3325 Extra to Mortgage (to pay more principal than interest, on new loan)
....$2875 extra paid, decided to shift goals and priorities; not a budget fail
....Some from Grandma, some from overtime, some from credit card rewards (another banner credit card reward year!!)

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2011 Goals

[X]$10,000 to IRAs
....(12/31/11 Total Saved: $11,550)
....Thank you tax refund, for exceeding this goal!
[X]$8,000 to Savings
....(12/30/11 Total Saved: $8,039)
[X]$600 extra to Mortgage
[X]Mortgage Balance $199,999 by 12/31/11 (revised goal; feels doable)
....(12/31/11 Bal: $199,998)
....Paid $2822 EXTRA
....Thank you credit card rewards and payroll tax holiday!

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

Annual Financial Goals