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About Me:

Monkey Mama

Just a 47-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.

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
...($156 @ 6/30/24)
...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
MM YEAR 5

DL YEAR 1 ✔
DL YEAR 2
DL YEAR 3

[ ]$10,000 to savings
...($7,121 @ 8/31/24)
...$1,000/month, plus interest
...Topping off with snowballs

[ ]$7,500 to investments
...($3,691 @ 8/31/24)
...~~$350~~ $400/month, plus snowflakes
(Snowflakes: credit card rewards and dividends)
...Topping off with snowballs
...Note: Bumped up to $400 9/1, re: reduced food expenses

[ ]$2,025 to mortgage
...($0 @ 8/31/24)
...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% @ 8/31/24)
...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 @ 8/31/24)
...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>
2023: +$ 90,000
TOTAL: +$570,000

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

Art Classes

September 16th, 2010 at 01:58 pm

Well, LM finally expressed an interest in something. He is obviously musical and artistic.

His school actually has a dedicated art teacher. I am surprised he isn't really taking to it so much, but I am sure he will as they do more drawings and such. (They started out the year with sculpture, which he didn't seem to enjoy?)

So, they had a sales pitch for a private after school program. Dh told him the usual "hell no." But I said, "Wait a minute - it's not like BM who has 5 things going on and then wants to do the Mad Science after school, which cost an arm and a leg."

I figured if he is showing interest in something, it is fair to oblige.

Of course, the cost is $14 per class. (choke choke). No discount for more classes. Rolleyes

I keep hearing all about this new childrens' art studio downtown. I am sure it is quite nice, and figured that might be more economical. Um, no? $16 per one visit. It's only $8 per person, but LM can't take himself. The KidzArt program would be cheaper and more convenient, then.

The city actually has no art classes. They used to have a kid art class that one of the kids was enrolled in. Maybe it was LM. That was a long time ago - nothing right now.

I will be keeping my eyes out for more frugal alternatives for some creative outlets for LM. I may sign him up for the Kidzart just to see how he likes it. But for the most part, seems overpriced. BM did Mad Science for one term and though he enjoyed it, we weren't very impressed. That we can do at home. We just don't feel we have much to offer as far as artistic guidance. Maybe we could find some free stuff online. It seems what he liked was being instructed how to draw a particular thing, and he does do quite well. Better than I could (which isn't saying much!) Maybe we can find that kind of stuff online.

He's 5 - so not a lot of other options at the moment.

All I can think about in this economy, is who pays for this stuff?? I am tired of seeing people who can't afford their mortgages with $100+ gym memberships and apparently spending $16 for every art visit. (All my REALLY broke friends have told me all about this art place. I just can't stomach the price!)

Posted in Just Thinking | 9 Comments »

9 Responses to “Art Classes”

momcents Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 02:12 pm 1284646354
1284646354

I don't want to tell you how much I pay per hour for the privilage of having an Irish dance expert coming from Ireland to abuse my children and improve their technique so they will qualify for worlds!
MonkeyMama Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 03:09 pm 1284649783
1284649783

I think a dance expert is different than an art franchise. I don't mind paying for a skill, if I have the money. But this is just for minimum waged people to teach a class.

In regards to this art space, it is supposed to be just a cool art space. Okay, so if I go 4 times, that is $64. I am considering making an art space for him in my house. For $64, it would be pretty grand!
Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 03:50 pm 1284652245
1284652245

MM, I'm starting to think that the extras for children are about the last thing to go in many a family's budget. It seems nuts to me, too, even though I really value many of those activities.
momcents Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 04:08 pm 1284653300
1284653300

I would think that by using coupons found online for Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Joanne Fabrics you could really stretch your art studio money. My kids LOVE the canvases that you can purchase for $3 and they all make wonderful self-portraits! You could probably even find a pottery kit at craigslist (we liked that after getting tired of play dough).
PrincessPerky Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 06:00 pm 1284660044
1284660044

My daughter is in an art class with less than 10 students, 30 for three months of weekly classes.

I'll let you know if it was worth it at the end when I get to see the finished stuff.
pretty cheap jewelry Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 07:27 pm 1284665223
1284665223

at 5 years old, keep your expectations realistic to what an art program is going to achieve. Exposing a little kid to many artistic endeavors (yes INCLUDING dance and music) is definitely a benefit. Let him get messy with clay, paint, glue, scissors, and on. But it may be years before he gravitates toward a specific type of work. (Heck some adult part-time artists I know still aren't sure what they want to do).

So maybe give it a try, but keep an eye out, there are lots of art opportunities. My sister gives ad hoc knitting classes at a weekly organic food market ($10 for an hour, you keep the yarn and leave the needles). Ask around, art types are starving too and probably are happy to provide inexpensive and less structured instruction. Especially for a 5 year old.
MonkeyMama Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 08:16 pm 1284668173
1284668173

PCJ - Good advice. Everything around here is geared to the high cost end - not sure the quality is even worth it - lots of franchises. Maybe I just have to dig a little bit more.

BM LOVES the art classes at school, so I am hoping LM warms up. At least I know he is getting age appropriate art instruction.
miclason Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 09:18 pm 1284671916
1284671916

do the art museum or the library offer classes? Our museum of modern art offers classes every Saturday, and the price is waaaaay cheaper than "private" art studios.
MonkeyMama Says:
September 17th, 2010 at 09:51 pm 1284760278
1284760278

Miclason - I don't see anything, but will keep an eye out. (I saw some sky high art classes at some less known galleries, but the main art museum in town is closed for a while, so I will have to remember to keep an eye out when they re-open).

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Art Classes

9 Responses to “Art Classes”

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