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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

NOT Impressed - School Photographers

May 11th, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Gotta love this.

I am sure for many of you this is not new.

Our school did spring pictures and we did not order any. So we get a package of pictures of our son, and a bill for $50. Oh, that or return them if you don't want them.

SERIOUSLY???

Okay, dh puts up with little crap and usually I am like, whatever. But this just REALLY pissed me off.

We discussed complaning to the school and shredding the pictures. Like hell I Would take my time to return them and play their little game.

Anyway, this happened right before we left Friday so we were griping to our parents (one who is a teacher) and they were like, "Oh no - you HAVE to return them. It's standard practice." Seriously? I was completely floored that this is "standard practice."

Against our better judgement we just returned them today. So the company can shred them. Gee, great. Knowing that just about every photograph company does this changes things a bit, I guess. The thought hadn't crossed my mind. (Though I assure you I wouldn't lose any sleep if they didn't get returned for any reason).

Then out of curiosity I did some poking around online. I came across this discussion, which I think summed it up pretty well:

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id...

Isn't amazing how many people FALL for this? Who feel guilty and send money for things they never ordered (because they lost it, etc.)? Can you imagine what kind of world this would be if this were really a LEGAL practice? If all businesses this this?? IT's not LEGAL!

We will still complain.

I kind of regret sending them back. I assume they will just get shredded though. Now that I think about it why do I want pictures of my kids out there, etc.???

& it amazes me that people believe they are morally obligated to pay for pictures they did not order.

You have a moral obligation not to "steal" the photos - like scanning them and returning them - for sure.

But paying for an unsolicited service? I don't think so.

I had to share because it saddens me how many people fall for this stuff. Ugh! IF they really want the pictures, is one thing. But paying out of guilt for something you didn't order? They really do prey on uninformed consumers.

BTW, the pictures were crappy!

If they want to send proofs and an order form, that would be fine with me. But this is just really crappy if you ask me.

I thought you had to watch out for credit card companies and used car salesmen. I guess I'll add school photographers to the list.

Posted in Just Thinking | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “NOT Impressed - School Photographers”

MICLASON Says:
May 11th, 2009 at 10:58 pm 1242082734
1242082734

At school they send you the proofs (clearly marked PROOFS just below the chin, so even if you scanned it, your photos would be ruined), and from these you may choose and send the $$$ IF you want any.
NJDebbie Says:
May 12th, 2009 at 12:37 am 1242088622
1242088622

I must confessed, I bought my son's spring portraits like that. He looked so cute!!! I totally hear you and I'm sure that they make a ton of money using this business practice.
princessperky Says:
May 12th, 2009 at 03:29 pm 1242142182
1242142182

I would complain quite a bit, to the teachers, the administrators of the school and whoever else you find.

The school makes a profit on every package sold, so they want those cute faces going home to convince folk to pay up.

Quite frankly I find it irresponsible of the govt to support the practice. Our tax dollars paid for the teacher to sort out the pictures, send them home, and deal with the returns. (not to mention the 'class time' spent in line waiting for a turn to get photographed)
north georgia gal Says:
May 12th, 2009 at 03:51 pm 1242143508
1242143508

Our school used to do this...Now they mail the order forms to you ahead of time and you have to prepay! I don't know which is worse! We might end up with pictures that are horrible and then have to go through the hassle of returning them!
Valerie Says:
May 13th, 2009 at 06:58 am 1242197936
1242197936

i wouldn't pay and would do the same thing. send them back...with a "note".

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

NOT Impressed - School Photographers

5 Responses to “NOT Impressed - School Photographers”

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