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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."}

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

My Pages

Going to Vegas!

August 1st, 2007 at 11:45 pm

Oh - I almost forgot!!!

We're going to Vegas. Big Grin

Vegas is the epitome of cheap vacation for us. Hardly paid more than $50 to fly or more than $30/night. Just the land of cheap vacation, and helps to live close enough to drive too. Though I am not sure I have ever had to myself with airfare deals.

Anyway, we went to one of those timeshare presentations one time in Vegas and it was just like, whatever. We were staying at the Hilton for $30/night (no real special promo - just the rate for that time) and we are just like WHY would we pay $15k for a timeshare when the Hilton is $30/night. ????? Timeshare in Vegas? Ha! Whose bright idea was that? Oh I guess they sucker people in anywhere, but obviously the whole thing was ENTIRELY lost on us. They begged us to take the thing for like $5k but in the end we walked away with $50 in poker chips. Big Grin I remember we both walked off thinking who would buy a timeshare in Vegas? Just doesn't make sense. You go for the casinos (or at least somewhere on the strip!) and you can get pretty cheap/nice accomodations pretty easily.

Anyway, yesterday I was listening to the radio and was just half-listening but was getting all sucked in by the anemities at this fancy resort in Vegas. They said first few callers would get 3 free nights. I figure odds were slim OR there'd be a huge catch, but what the hell. I have to say very weird and out of character for me.

So I called and immediately found out the catch - the place is a timeshare. LOL. But I listened to the spiel and for a $100 deposit we can go any time in the next few months.

I honestly thought though we would get to stay at this resort and this is where I was fooled. IT was "a major hotel/casino on the strip" as the e-mail states. Well darn. I did get a little fooled.

But when they said it was a timeshare I was relieved - well I KNOW what the catch is!!!!!

The deposit is refundable once we sit through their stupid presentation. I will be interested to report how low they beg us to take this one for. It's Vegas, they can't be getting many bites...

Plus our schedule is pretty flexible so since we can go any time pretty much I figured what the hell. If this was mid-tax-season I'd feel different. I guess we'll see how easy it is to get a weekend date, but we'll roll with it.

Anyway, I probably would have not done it, but it was Vegas and I figured ifnothing else we could drive. Not like it has to be expensive. What's wrong with 3 free nights??? They help pay for travel too... I have quite a few months to find an airfare deal too - which I just might! I think we'll aim for December...

I am excited!

I told dh I bet a million bucks were staying at the Saraha. We usually stay there because it is CHEAP!!!! (Sometimes even Motel 6). So anyway, if we stay anywhere else it will probably be a step up. Low expectations and these things are a steal - hehe!!!!

Posted in Just Thinking | 9 Comments »

9 Responses to “Going to Vegas!”

Kikee Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 01:27 am 1186018046
1186018046

Is is/was it for Tahiti Village?

I have heard that commercial on local radio for close to a year.
Broken Arrow Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 02:50 am 1186023016
1186023016

Wait. What?

Vegas is that cheap? I didn't know that. And it takes only about $50 to fly out there? How come they're so cheap?

Also, I hear they have awesome buffets there. Is that true?
Do tell!
boomeyers Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 04:25 am 1186028709
1186028709

Yes, I have seen the commercials on tv for the Tahiti Village, Allen somebody or other that used to be on the family comedy show with Kirk Cameron tells you to call and get a free stay (for couples only). They make it seem all fun and romantic, but it is for couples only so that they have BOTH of you there. It looks like a cool place on TV. Will be nice to have you go do our "research" for us!
koppur Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:32 am 1186054374
1186054374

Wow, wish our trip was that cheap. We're going for 5 days in Noember, and the cheapest airflight we can find is...$400 RT EACH PERSON!! Yup, we're looking a about $800 on airfare alone.... >
disneysteve Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 01:47 pm 1186062478
1186062478

Have a great time. I love Vegas. And I hear they now have a partial smoking ban in effect so that will make it even nicer as smoking was really the only thing about Vegas that we couldn't stand.
monkeymama Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 01:52 pm 1186062754
1186062754

Oh sorry - I had a typo - rooms $30/night (not $10!)

BA - well I think it helps I live a day's drive from VEgas. Patience and detective work will prove me a deal. I'll let you know what I find. Part of the catch of a good airfare deal is being flexible with times though, so I figure odds are we are driving. We'll probably have to set dates before we find a good airfare deal. & cheap airfare has been much harder to find of late.

OMG - yes Tahiti Village. The funny thing is they made no mention that it was a romantic getaway on the commercial so that was kind of a surprise. Bonus. Yeah, I'll let you know. I am still wary. I listen to the radio all the time and probably usually just ignore that commercial. Something yesterday really wanted me to take it up - I have no idea why. I am surprised dh didn't kill me. He is a little excited. He said oh he's sure it is fine - his parents do those timeshare things all the time. (I am thinking yeah and every time they are suckered into buying more crap. I had asked Jeffrey if there was a way to not claim those stupid things in inheritance - and there is - phew. MIL keeps telling us she wants to give us their timeshares. Um, no thanks!). Don't worry - hell will freeze over before we buy those things. It amazes me sometimes who they suck in. But eh, they will be really annoyed with us. I can imagine they have been promoting heavily though. Like I said, someone did not do their homework before putting a timeshare in Vegas. Not really very marketable.
monkeymama Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 01:52 pm 1186062769
1186062769

Oh sorry - I had a typo - rooms $30/night (not $10!)

BA - well I think it helps I live a day's drive from VEgas. Patience and detective work will prove me a deal. I'll let you know what I find. Part of the catch of a good airfare deal is being flexible with times though, so I figure odds are we are driving. We'll probably have to set dates before we find a good airfare deal. & cheap airfare has been much harder to find of late. In college I would share a room with friends and was like the only cool vacation I could afford. Pay $20 for my share of a room for a couple of nights, find that cheap airfare, etc. There are awesome buffets but I haven't really found a way to save money on the food. I will get some tips before we go. The awesome buffet I remember was $20/person and we will definitely splurge on that one. I am salivating at the thought already...

OMG - yes Tahiti Village. The funny thing is they made no mention that it was a romantic getaway on the commercial so that was kind of a surprise. Bonus. Yeah, I'll let you know. I am still wary. I listen to the radio all the time and probably usually just ignore that commercial. Something yesterday really wanted me to take it up - I have no idea why. I am surprised dh didn't kill me. He is a little excited. He said oh he's sure it is fine - his parents do those timeshare things all the time. (I am thinking yeah and every time they are suckered into buying more crap. I had asked Jeffrey if there was a way to not claim those stupid things in inheritance - and there is - phew. MIL keeps telling us she wants to give us their timeshares. Um, no thanks!). Don't worry - hell will freeze over before we buy those things. It amazes me sometimes who they suck in. But eh, they will be really annoyed with us. I can imagine they have been promoting heavily though. Like I said, someone did not do their homework before putting a timeshare in Vegas. Not really very marketable.

Well I'll keep you updated.
monkeymama Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 02:33 pm 1186065189
1186065189

Oh yeah - without any effort we can fly to Vegas $200 RT. With a little effort maybe closer to $150. each. It's just being closer and close to many major airports to choose from.

But then again it will be way cheaper to drive. I am keeping my eye out for a Southwest deal. They have really good deals pop up once in a while - like $30 each way or $60 each way. We'll see... I am not paying $200/each to fly. I rather drive. But I will keep my eyes peeled for a Southwest special.
monkeymama Says:
August 2nd, 2007 at 09:49 pm 1186091359
1186091359

Got the Hilton. Nice hotel but a little off the beaten path - I know they are paying pennies for it (as we have in the past). But overall I am happy we got a better hotel than we would have generally paid for. So far so good.

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

Going to Vegas!

9 Responses to “Going to Vegas!”

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