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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
...($230 @ 8/31/24)
...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
MM YEAR 5

DL YEAR 1 ✔
DL YEAR 2 ✔
DL YEAR 3

[ ]$10,000 to savings
...($7,749 @ 10/31/24)
...$1,000/month, plus interest
...Topping off with snowballs

[ ]$7,500 to investments
...($4,786 @ 10/31/24)
...~~$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 @ 10/31/24)
...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% @ 10/31/24)
...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 @ 10/31/24)
...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.

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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

Free Treadmill

April 10th, 2011 at 05:40 pm

I'd eventually like to buy a nice treadmill and elliptical machine, and drop my gym membership. That's all I really use. That said, $15/month versus two nice pieces of equipment (don't want to buy crap) + two rambuctious children means this was not anywhere in my near term time horizon. Our gym is a steal.

In addition, my parents did buy a REALLY nice treadmill. I had my eye on it but figured it would be a while before they let it go.

The time came quickly. No one uses it but BM, so they offered it to me. They've maybe had it 2-3 years. (I initially thought they would tire of it in 5+ years).

I'll take it!

Will probably pick it up Easter weekend. Trading the kids for a treadmill (they are staying with the Grandmas a few days). IT won't be 100% free since we will have to drive the gas guzzler to pick it up. But all in all, a steal!

I have no idea where to put it. We have 3 TV-less rooms where it would fit. I may even have room in my bedroom (has a TV). But, I would be most likely to use it early in the a.m. while dh is asleep - so rules out the bedroom.

I think we will just put it in the main living area and see how it goes. Kind of an ugly space taker, but it seems to be the most useful spot. Will see how it goes. Second choice is a bedroom upstairs. I can close the door and not disturb anyone. It might end up in there in the end - just not TV watching while treadmilling. Anywhere downstairs may be too loud for the people sleeping upstairs - it's all open and the sound carries up. Will see...

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I am still back on forth on the screen door for our front door. I suppose I don't have to custom order it, but the big doors run $300-$500. A regular door could be had for $100-ish. I just find that really annoying! Add $200 just because it is a foor taller???

But as I am crossing off expensive things from my "saved for the future" list, it is becoming more tempting. I think we will just shop around and see what we can find. I don't think I will feel it is worth $400 or $500. IT will have to be the *perfect* door. So yeah, will look more seriously than we have in the past, but my expectations are low.

I need to find where to get a deal on these type doors. The prices I have seen are at the big box stores.

Posted in Just Thinking | 3 Comments »

3 Responses to “Free Treadmill”

FrugalTexan75 Says:
April 10th, 2011 at 07:15 pm 1302459326
1302459326

Too bad I can't send you my elliptical ... It is just sitting in the storage unit, and may be for another year or more ...

Nice deal on the treadmill.
LittleGopher Says:
April 10th, 2011 at 10:56 pm 1302472608
1302472608

Does your handyman have any construction connections? I know contractors that do handyman work in slow times, though not sure if that's the case with yours. A contractor may have access to discounted materials.
LuckyRobin Says:
April 11th, 2011 at 12:07 am 1302476851
1302476851

A lot of the modern treadmills have a place where you can safely place a laptop without fear of it falling off. Then you could stream something and not worry about having a TV in the room for something to watch while you work out. And of course you'd be able to use head phones, too, if you were worried about the noise factor.

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Monkey Mama*s Monkey Money Blog

Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

Free Treadmill

3 Responses to “Free Treadmill”

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