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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

American Express Gold - Redeemed Points

January 17th, 2012 at 08:33 pm

AmEx Gold - will be glad to be rid of it.

I had signed up for it to alert me when my points posted. It instead alerted me to tell me that my point balance was -0-. It just sends one e-mail per month, it looks like.

So saw a blogger mentioned getting the card, so thought I better check one last time (card month closed around the 15th?) and was expecting to send an e-mail asking for my points.

The points were there. Finally!!

So I go to redeem them and it takes me to a screen that says "rewards are 20% off." Woohoo! But then I dig deeper and these were not the rewards I had planned on. In fact, they were twice as expensive. & no B&N or Kohls gift cards as planned.

At this point I am getting really peeved, but figuring there must be some other rewards too. Either that or they just held onto my points until they could update their system and take away all the rewards I was planning to get.

I was about to give up since I know I looked up that B&N card with dh last week - figured maybe he could help me find it. When, finally I found all the gift cards I wanted. THOSE weren't on sale, but they cost half as much. Rolleyes Sneaky sneaky sneaky, American Express.

I redeemed my rewards, and then it asked me for the security code on the credit card, to verfiy my identity. Good Lord! Called dh, and I luckily knew where it was and he was home to give me the number.

So, the deed is done. But could they make it any harder?

Good thing is I should receive in 3 days. I redeemed for $100 B&N (for new nook), and $150 Kohls (for clothing). & $10 Old Navy. Their $10 cards were slim pickings, so I just chose that because I think my friend likes Old Navy. I am sure I can find someone who does.

It's not all over and done yet. I need to receive my gift cards and then I have to close the AmEx. & then I shall be done!

By next week I should have all my rewards in hand and all those pesky credit cards closed. Woohoo. I'll post a final tally when I get to it (2011 credit card rewards earned/redeemed: $4000+).

Posted in Just Thinking, Credit Card & Bank Rewards | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “American Express Gold - Redeemed Points”

Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
January 17th, 2012 at 09:51 pm 1326837068
1326837068

It was because of your example that I finally got in on some of the CC rewards in the late fall. I got two of them, and I'm really pleased. Thanks for brings these to our attention.

Do you get any of these CC bonus offers by mail? For years I have opted out of CC mail solicitations, but if that is a good way to get "recruited" to them, I'll opt back in.
Looking Forward Says:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:06 pm 1326841592
1326841592

Thanks for the heads-up. When it comes time to redeem AmEx I'll be ready.
MonkeyMama Says:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:54 pm 1326844497
1326844497

@Joan - the best credit card reward offers come direct mail. Well, if you have a good credit score and they REALLY want you - they tend to offer lower purchase minimums and more rewards than the mass marketed deals.

@LF - yeah, don't buy the $100 Wal Mart gift cards for 20,000 points. The gift cards I redeemed were more plentiful in choice and 10,000 points per $100. Of course, I had looked at the rewards a few times before I was able to redeem them, so knew something was really *off*. Had been expecting $250.
FrugalTexan75 Says:
January 18th, 2012 at 06:01 am 1326866484
1326866484

Hope you enjoy your new Nook

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Over Prepare, Then Go With The Flow

American Express Gold - Redeemed Points

4 Responses to “American Express Gold - Redeemed Points”

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