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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.

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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>
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

Grammar Question

June 17th, 2018 at 03:56 pm

I know this is completely random, but there are a lot of writers around here. Big Grin

Is this correct grammar?

The unlikely duo pursues their only lead.

MH got a note that this should be:
The unlikely duo pursue their only lead.

I am his unofficial editor, but looking this up is giving me a headache (especially because I only have a few minutes). I think that probably sounds right, but no one giving him notes is a grammar expert by any means. (I am more of a human spell checker).

TIA!

Posted in Just Thinking | 10 Comments »

10 Responses to “Grammar Question”

rob62521 Says:
June 17th, 2018 at 07:05 pm 1529262309
1529262309

Now you have me interested...

This is what I think and I am not a grammar expert...if we use the word in a sentence like this..."He and his friend make quite a duo." the "a' means it is singular so the note taker would be right. But personally, I think the way your husband wrote it sounds correct.

I look forward to seeing what everyone else has to say.
Buendia Says:
June 17th, 2018 at 07:13 pm 1529262817
1529262817

I agree with Rob62521... duo is actually singular in this case. So it's the duo pursues. I think of it like the word "family" or "flock" or another word that refers to a group of individuals. The individuals are plural but the group is singular. You wouldn't say "the family go to the store." It's clearly "the family goes to the store." Your husband is so totally right!
CB in the City Says:
June 17th, 2018 at 07:25 pm 1529263536
1529263536

I agree that in this sentence "duo" is singular. It's like "team" -- singular, even though referring to more than one person. But that means that "their" should be replaced by "its." "The unlikely duo pursues its only lead." I don't have any credentials other than being an English major, though! But I do know if there is a singular subject, the verb and any modifier has to be singular, too.
Laura S. Says:
June 17th, 2018 at 07:41 pm 1529264505
1529264505

https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/19/group-plural-vs-singular/

When the group is being considered as a whole, it can be treated as a single entity: “the group was ready to go on stage.” But when the individuality of its members is being emphasized, “group” is plural: “the group were in disagreement about where to go for dinner.”
Amber Says:
June 17th, 2018 at 08:59 pm 1529269186
1529269186

First option is my choice.
LuckyRobin Says:
June 17th, 2018 at 10:44 pm 1529275460
1529275460

You could download Grammerly and put your sentences through that. It's free.
crazyliblady Says:
June 17th, 2018 at 11:34 pm 1529278491
1529278491

Duo here is in the singular. So, it should be the "duo pursues...."
Jenn Says:
June 18th, 2018 at 02:23 am 1529288590
1529288590

CB is right.
PatientSaver Says:
June 18th, 2018 at 12:55 pm 1529326541
1529326541

Duo is what's known as a collective noun, like committee, family and staff. Duo can take the singular or plural form depending on whether the action being performed by the duo is done collectively or not. Looks like from your sentence they're doing it in concert, together, so it would take a singular verb, the unlikely duo pursues...
MonkeyMama Says:
June 22nd, 2018 at 03:23 am 1529637826
1529637826

Thanks everyone!

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Grammar Question

10 Responses to “Grammar Question”

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