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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
...($6,653 @ 4/30/24)
...$1,000/month, plus interest
...Topping off with snowballs

[ ]$7,500 to investments
...($2,220 @ 5/31/24)
...$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% @ 4/30/24)
...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.

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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: +$ 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

DL(17) Updates

July 8th, 2023 at 01:54 pm

Today is my last day with minor children. 🤯

This is bringing up a lot of chores that I need to tend to.

Lord knows if DL(17) will ever get paid. I don't know how much the city and state are exempt from some labor laws, and how much they are just flat out ignoring labor laws. Ugh. (MM worked for the state when he worked for the college. DL is currently working for the city).

I have been helping DL(17) work through a lot of (city) red tape.

Oh yeah, and the poor kid had a rough week. He's mostly been sick. If we realized he'd be down for so many days we would have picked him up. But it's moot at this point. He's wrapping up his last breakfast shift of the week and then will be able to come home for 48 hours. I hope that helps for getting him rested and well.

MH asked me yesterday, "Wait, do we have any birthday presents for him?" Meh. We've never been big on presents. (To the point I never would have thought about it.) MH is more big on presents, so something for him to figure out. But he later told me, "We are buying him a college laptop. That's his present." Fair enough. MIL already mailed him a gift, I think he has some graduation cash from my SIL (came in the mail), and MM(19) left him a gift of some sort. Probably something homemade. I am surprised he even bothered. & of course, will treat him to some good food while he is home. MH made some fresh salsa and bought some treats for him. & confirmed dinner plans with DL. Food is probably my love language. Not one much for material gifts, but DL will be fed very well.

MH already made salsa. I will probably make some cinnamon bread. I had been double batching it, but I might only have enough buttermilk left for one batch. With MM(19) gone, the one batch might last more than 5 seconds. Will find out.

Posted in Just Thinking | 2 Comments »

2 Responses to “DL(17) Updates”

Lots of ideas Says:
July 8th, 2023 at 05:16 pm 1688836602
1688836602

I have good luck substituting for buttermilk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 cup (less Tge tablespoon) whole milk.
If you have enough buttermilk for half of what you need, I think the results will be fine. Assuming you have actual milk of course. I think sour cream/ water in equal proportions would also work.
LivingAlmostLarge Says:
July 10th, 2023 at 05:25 am 1688966747
1688966747

Congrats on the milestone!

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DL(17) Updates

2 Responses to “DL(17) Updates”

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