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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.

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

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

I didn't get the memo

February 15th, 2014 at 05:13 pm

I was kind of surprised BM's 5th grade class did do the Valentines party thing. I am presuming this is the last year for him, though lord knows.

OMG - you should see the candy haul he got. I guess most parents decided the kids are getting kind of old for this, so just sent copious amounts of candy in lieu of cheesy little V-Day cards.

Or do you think it was just their last hoorah and so they went all out for these kids??

Or is BM just that popular with the ladies?? LOL. (Actually, impossible - his class is literally 75% boy, which is crazy. Something in the water that year).

LM's third grade class was far more mellow.

Anyway, I usually buy V-Day cards on Feb. 15th every year. IT can be hit and miss. They had the cutest Angry Birds cards, so I picked up two boxes today. & some candy for myself, 50% off. I think this is probably the last year?? I've got one box at home still. If we have extras, we can donate later, or find someone who can use them.

Other than that, not a holiday that we celebrate. *shrugs* (I don't think we celebrate many holidays, period. Many seem fairly manufactured, to get you to spend money. & other than that, the crowds aren't too appealing).

I heard on the radio that average person spends $100-ish on Valentines Day? I think $138 or something for men; $75 for women.

???

Nothing in my frame of reference (among friends, past boyfriends, family, anyone).

My co-worker? Her husband sent her a boquet yesterday. Which I don't think he has ever done before, and didn't think a lot of it. But then she was telling me how she bought a V-Day outfit (for work - whatever she was wearing yesterday). & then they were going out to dinner.

I guess that is how it adds up! (Seriously, before discussing and witnessing all this, I would have no idea how anyone spends that much money on V-Day. Now I know!).

Posted in Just Thinking | 8 Comments »

8 Responses to “I didn't get the memo”

FrugalTexan75 Says:
February 15th, 2014 at 07:15 pm 1392491725
1392491725

I haven't had many Valentine's where I was dating someone - in fact, I think this may be the second time its happened. I spent $5 on fiverr to make a special song for NE. I don't know what his plans are --- he told me that since I'd be coming up to NE this weekend (21st) that will be our v-day.
PatientSaver Says:
February 15th, 2014 at 09:26 pm 1392499601
1392499601

I remember having found a really nice book that I thought would make the perfect valentine's gift. It was a book with lots of b/w photos and stories about old married couples in their 70s, 80s and 90s and they were interviewed about how they stayed happy and together all those years.

It seemed very romantic to me; in fact, I gave that book to more than one boyfriend!
MonkeyMama Says:
February 15th, 2014 at 10:20 pm 1392502812
1392502812

How sweet - I love old (HAPPY) married couples.
Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
February 16th, 2014 at 12:03 am 1392508990
1392508990

As of this year, there is no Valentines Day in our schools. They have changed it to Friendship Day. Tokens of friendship, but not Valentine cards are encouraged. One class drew names and bought gifts of $2 or less value, and wrote their giftee a letter about why they are appreciated as a friend. A few Valentine cards did sneak through though. But stocking up on day after card sales might not be a good idea anymore, here at least.
ceejay74 Says:
February 16th, 2014 at 02:41 am 1392518498
1392518498

Usually we try to do something or buy something for this day, but since we had so many other things going on before and after V-Day, the grownups in my family ignored it. I bought candy rings for AA's daycare chums (less than $10) and a gift each for AA and SL (about $5 total). My parents sent a package that, randomly, contained about a dozen little stuffed turtles, so I let AA bring those in to give her daycare as well.

Last year she had a whole bag of swag from all the different kids. This year I was actually at daycare when they handed out treats, and only AA and one other kid had brought treats for the whole class. I actually think it's kind of cool to see parents taking a year off from it, vs. feeling like everyone is trying to one-up each other. I didn't even put AA's name on the treats, so the other parents will prob. think they came from the teacher. And I'm fine with that! It took zero effort on my part to put the gifts together.
scfr Says:
February 16th, 2014 at 04:27 am 1392524836
1392524836

My neighbor mentioned that she was blown away after sending her 1st grade son off with small valentines for all his classmates and a "normal" size decorated box when he came home with his box overflowing with all kinds of gifts like little tubs of Play-Doh, etc.

California + Texas = national trend? (They are the 2 most populous states after all)
Looking Forward Says:
February 16th, 2014 at 08:28 pm 1392582524
1392582524

Zero card exchange here! DD I guess is too old now.
DS's preschool phased out card giving mostly because it's such a waste of paper (& parent time). The teachers talked with the kids all week about doing caring *actions* for others. I love that!
rob62521 Says:
February 16th, 2014 at 09:34 pm 1392586466
1392586466

That is a lot of money for Valentine's day...we exchanged cards. No flowers, candy, or gifts.

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I didn't get the memo

8 Responses to “I didn't get the memo”

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