Okay, first I admit I Am shamelessly copying TinaP! So please forgive me.

But I have awesome news. I have always said I have wanted to write a book someday, and lately fancy what it would be like to be the next Suze Orman or Laura Rowley. But I figured I am busy with kids and a career and that is something I will get to in a decade or 2 or 3 when I am a little older and wiser, have more life experience behind me, and more time too. I kind of fancy semi-retiring early and writing or something, just not at the top of my list right now. At least not until my husband brings home some bacon so I Can relax a little more.

BUT I popped onto the blogs a few days ago and saw a comment in someone's blog that SA was looking for some contributing writers - a paid gig at that. I think I Would have been excited regardless paid or not, but committing the time and the effort, I think it would have to be paid to really justify, particularly in the middle of busy tax season.

Anyway, I saw Jeffrey had picked some new writers and figured I most defintitely hadn't gotten the job. I Was actually surprised how disappointed I was. I must be crazy - it is so busy over here. But yes, disappointed - I am a perfectionist. I must have it all - LOL.

Anyway, I had just jumped the gun a bit much. Today I got invited to be a contributing write - woohoo - I am so excited. On a trial basis to start. So I need your help!

I was just reading Tina's blog and I really thought she had an excellent idea to ask for article ideas. So I just had to ask too, what kind of articles would you like to see? Taxes and all that is most definitely my forte. So I am kind of curious what it is about taxes that demystifies you??? What have you always wondered? What have you been unable to find the answers to? Just let me know, it will help me.

Thanks so much.

Oh yeah and my hubby is the BEST!!!!!! I know this is going to be more work on him, watching the kids so I have some time to write (after watching them ALL day and such), and I know he may come to resent this whole thing. BUT he was 100% just happy for me. He's so swell. On the other hand, I tend to waste a lot of time on the blogs and forums so it kind of feels good to convert that into such a productive venture. & I apologize if it keeps me from my blog...

& I will have some money to add to my challenge too - so excited.

Oh yeah and if you promise not to roll your eyes at me - I have been kind of looking at all this *secret* talk thinking it sounds a little like my life philosophy but WAY overly simplified. but reading all about it the other day I thought - fine - I Am going to put it out there that I want to be a writer - that I can have this wonderful side career and blab about personal finance all day. I must admit the immediate results are downright creepy. Though I do feel now the ball is in my court and I must prove myself worthy now. I don't believe for a second that good things will come to me without a little effort on my part too. So I am not sure I am a Secret convert yet. But well, it is a little weird...

Really though, I am absolutely in love with this place and feel very honored to be given a chance...

Okay - so what do YOU want to know about taxes?

One thing I am curious about is how well people really understand their payroll taxes. On one hand it seems so basic to me but on the other hand I get the feeling few people really understand where that big chunk of their paycheck goes. Am I underestimating you all? I would like to write an article on that.

Oh I am feeling in such a good mood because the weather is nice. I was too sick to venture out but late yesterday afternoon dh took the kids to the park - they had a blast. Daylight savings starts early this year and I am stoked. Love coming home and having time to go outside, get a walk in, play with the kids, get fresh air, etc. So am in a good mood with the weather!!!!

I am feeling better today - will brave work.

The budget is interesting this month. I did notice the grocery and gas bill were insanely low - dh hasn't refilled his gas tank in ages. So we were talking last night and he said he hadn't been to the grocery store in a long while because everyone had been too sick to eat (primarily kids who eat way more than us it seems). & also that he hadn't been driving for his film work, all done, so he mentioned he didn't remember the last time he got gas. Plus with sickness I haven't been driving to work or preschool either. I think all of this will help offset some of the medical expenses.

For whatever reason we were also discussing dh's movie - premieres in just a couple of weeks!! & the money he may (odds are slim - but possible) he may make. I guess I was in a generous mood because I told him no matter how much he got we should just reinvest in future movies. I started thinking about all the gas/car expenses we had since he was actually driving his car a lot more, possible daycare expenditures so he could have more flexibility (LM is getting old enough), etc., moreso than the few thousand I assumed he'd want to upgrade his equipment. We were even discussing it as a film fund but could double as an emergency fund as well, obviously a true emergency would come over his film stuff. So something to think about. No matter what we do I will demand a slice for myself and for the e-fund. But if 99% goes back to him moving forward on his career I am fine with that all the same. I think it is just bad overall to get ini the mindset this money is his is why I would at least demand a little for myself and the e-fund. Hehe. I think it is a dangerous mindset to get into. But overall the hope would be to help him generate more income to come back to the family, and that is a worthy goal!

GMAC bank just sent me checks. My new MMA. Too bad since that was s'posed to be my e-fund, separate it out, make it easy. Gah. I know I do not have to use them but I am thinking if I move my short-term savings over there too it will earn higher interest and I can write checks for insurance and property taxes directly from it, avoiding a lot of transfers. I'll think about it. MAkes sense, just makes it a little harder to track. I was enjoying the balance in that one account equaling the balance in my e-fund. But with the interest might be smart - have $2200 in short-term savings today. IT is earning 0.4% less in the meantime or something and gets drained out twice a year so I don't know...

Well that is all the money stuff thinking of today. I actually have not much more than work on my mind really. I am going back to a landslide. Hope I feel up to a full day...

ETA: Oh I just had to add what a BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!!! It has hardly rained all winter but it did all last week (rain = snow in the peaks), and then this week "spring" has been settling in. So my drive to work I saw beautiful snow-capped mountains (sierra nevada) in the background, against a brilliant blue sky. It is just gorgeous out there.

I can't imagine how I would feel in an area with real seasons. Califorina is just so moderate overall there isn't a huge difference in the seasons. I actually find Sacramento a little refreshing, we get more beautiful colors in the fall, a little closer to the snow-capped mountains in the winter. But still overall not a huge difference in the landscape season to season. But with the heavy snow/rain followed by such nice weather, it is just absolutely gorgeous here today. Too bad I am locked up inside under a pile of tax returns - LOL. I heard it was going to rain or something too but doesn't look like it.

The stomach bug.

It turned out the laryngitis thing I had came from work. 1 lady got it and gave it to EVERYONE!!!! Blech.

Kids are well on the mend from the stomach bug and dh and I well on the med from the throat thing. But last night I felt completely useless at work and when I got home had NO appetite. I worried aloud this might be a sign of the bug. & then I woke up to it. So far it is just the diahrrea but I am pretty much scared to eat anything. There is hardly anything I dislike more than vomiting. & after being pregnant and having horrendous morning sickness twice, I think I have had my fair share this life. LOL. You think I would be grateful that if I am sick it won't last months, but not really, I am just terrified of the idea of throwing up. Of being nauseous. Plus the thought of saltines and ginger ale makes me want to puke - I just equate them with very bad times. LOL. I will never sip ginger ale again probably.

Anyway, I have renewed respect for BM. He messed his pants a number of times this last week and probably TMI but I ran to the bathroom about 5 times in the last 1/2 hour. I am looking at BM quite impressed he made it to the potty as many times as he did. He hasn't been potty trained that long.

Blech.

I went and I talked to my boss last Monday about all the sickness. I hadn't wanted to because I didn't want to sound whiny, but I wanted to give him a heads up. Feels like there is always something lately. Anyway, he made it abundantly clear he did not care if I was out 2 weeks with this bug as long as NO ONE else got it. LOL. & I don't blame him, the laryngitis thing has hit us hard at the office. I think I will take today and tomorrow off, rest up, try to nick this in the bud, and pray dh doesn't get it too. & praying I have it a little more mild and won't have to hover over a toilet all week. Blech. LM was out both ends for almost 24 hours and LM puked once and that was it. So I will go for something more like that please.

It's been so crazy I haven't updated my Quicken or anything. Been waiting to make a deposit to pay the rest of the month's bills. Should probably get it all ready and ask dh to run it to the bank for me before I collapse. Then when I am feeling better I will have money to pay bills. I need to go rest...

In the meantime my overtime is so out the window. Dh asked me yesterday if I had to work too long today. I said well, um, I could work ALL weekend and not make 40 hours, I missed 2 days work. & he says you only missed 2? LOL. If he thought I missed more than 2 how does he think I would not have 2 days+ to catch up. Oy vey. I hope I can make some progress next week. Luckily I had no tax appointments next week. I have a lot of work to get done, but as long as I am on the mend by my tax appointments I guess this won't wreak too much havoc.

Yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day!!!! Too bad I can't enjoy this nice weather...

Not good over here - leaving early from work - sick kids. More doctor appointments and copays, perhaps more daycare. Ugh!!! Mostly though worried about my son. He is going to the doc in a bit, may need IV, just can't keep anything down. Just came on suddenly last night. & I am at work a nervous wreck. Dh does great with the kids, but he really lacks that mommy instinct. No matter who spends the lion share of the time with the kids it is something I have, and something he seems clueless about sometimes. So days like these with a fastly declining child, I do not like to work on days like these. I am going home to watch the little one so dh can take BM to the doc and have all his arms free for the gunk that is pouring out both ends. Hope he doesn't make too much mess in the car - poor guy... I am sure he wouldn't be fond of an IV, but I would feel better... Actually, it remains to be seen, he thought getting blood drawn was fascinating. LOL. I am sure he will be fine, but worried all the same... Well the best part is I wouldn't be there to see any needles. I am a big wuss when it comes to shots and needles on my kids - I just can't handle it - dh is good for that stuff... We made an agreement after I suffered through my eldest's first shots that I would just be too busy to break free from work on those shot days -

Anyway, before I head out I did want to share all the articles I got in my inbox today - interesting stuff. BTW I e-filed yesterday - woohoo!!!!!

TAX
Special Section: Your Taxes
Surviving an audit, the IRS deducts deductions, tips on pleasing Uncle Sam
and more.

http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2007/02/10/business/yourtaxes...

Five Steps to Hiring a Tax Pro
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2007/02/taxpro.ht...

I hope the rain lets up because I decided today I just need a good walk in the fresh air. I have been so tense.

The news is not good with dh. HE went in Thursday, checked his ears (he has sudden hearing loss), said he looked fine and sent him for testing. He went yesterday and they said his hearing is only at 60% in one ear (moderate hearing loss). They were really fast to book these 2 appointments ($50 each by the way) but his next one is not until next Wednesday, to see a specialist about his ear now that they know how significant the damage is.

Part of the reason they made the appointment later I guess is it just may "go away" - odds are it might in a few days. Well I sure HOPE so. The vertigo just went away (related) and we could hope the same. BUT they said there is a chance the hearing damage is permanent. So dh is very bummed about it. I told him last night to just thing positive. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. It is not even just hearing loss, he has a ringing in his ears which is driving him crazy, though getting used to it I guess.

Doctors all said most likely virus, pretty much is nothing serious (liek a tumor or anything) but who knows, further testing, lots more $50 copays - he already has a follow up hearing test scheduled as well.

I know he was feeling really bad about all the doctor visits and I told him really as long as he doesn't get hospitalized I am okay. Though I guess with no cause, surgery and hospitalization hasn't been ruled out, but appears unlikely at the moment. We don't pay too much out of pocket until the overnight stays hit - $500/night. So I can deal with all these $50 here and there. I told dh not to pay any attention to me because I set very high goals this year and I am all stressed they are not being met due to all these emergencies. But all the same we are well prepared and it isn't that big a deal.

I was really bummed because I Decided we needed our $200 tax refund for doctor bills and such. IT isn't much but I had really wanted to save everything extra. So I am bummed but we are still saving a good $1k/month more than we were last year so I am just insane really. LOL. I told dh not to let me stress him out.

As if things could not get worse, yesterday dh drove the kids to my work so he could go to his hearing test. Kids were napping so we switched cars and I drove them home. Not used to parking on the other side I pulled in and thought, hmmm, I should have swung more to the right, but oh well, should be room. So I get in the van today, which dh had to pull far over to the left against the wall and was paying no attention. BAcked out and slammed the side mirror (which is very wide) on the side of the garage. Smashed it. I about started crying then and there. More dollar signs. IT is just ridiculous. Dh reattached it and it seems to work. Luckily it gave way easily and has some missing chunks of plastic, but overall still functional. I put some black electrical tape in my car in case it started falling apart - LOL. IT seems okay and not sure if it is worth fixing, since it works and all, survived the freeway. The electronics still work. But I feel like an IDIOT!!!! They are the mirrors you can pull inward to since they take up so much space and I am thinking maybe I will just fold them in when I pull in the garage from now on. LOL. I don't know. Luckily that is why they gavce way so easily and did not completely obliterate it. The only problem really was that the car was not where I usually put it and I was on auto pilot. Just stupid...

So February is turning out a lot like January. Doctor visits, missed work, extra daycare, car expenses. STUPID car expenses. I don't even think I admitted that in the end dh's car had NO problems but they charged us like $100 for their time and everything. USeless $100 spent. & now maybe a side mirror to replace. Bah!

Anyway, I am working all day today and tomorrow I will probably come in and file our tax return so we can get our refund. We need it for the bills this month, we just do. May work for a couple of hours too.

My parents just came back from my grandpa's funeral too. They are having a hard time. Work is insane. I am just stressed...

http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/070208/21029.html?.v=1&.pf=real-est...

Interesting article and applies to a lot of what is going on in California.

I guess we already made the move with no equity and that was a pretty sweet move. I can imagine with our equity it would be even sweeter. Where where where is the neverending question.

Brings up a good point of salaries not always being parallel to housing costs.

Also brings up the point that home equity is mostly tax-free money. I am well aware in a state where if I won $1 mil I would only get to keep half of it, that that equity money is extra lucrative from a tax standpoint.

I would do it again - move somewhere cheaper. Odds are we will sometime again. Now is just not the time for us. Today we stand that we are happy with our home, our job, our friends, our locale, our proximity to family. So even with $400k tax-free equity, it just isn't that lucrative, and having seen the equity rise and fall I am not too attached. But I wouldn't be surprised is we reach a point in our life where we are ready to move. We kind of left it as something to discuss when my boss retires. See what my options are, where we stand, how well we could be if we moved, where our family is as they all are itching to spread out anwyay, etc. But in the meantime the talks are off the table, we are happy and staying. But I know it will come up again down the road.

Well first - zetta - just had to say your calculator was annoying me. LOL. Actually I Was really excited to see it but it annoyed me so I Decided to do my own. I imagine it will be a project - hehe. But one I will enjoy. I am going to play with the numbers. I don't have much to prepay my mortgage today so I got time to figure it out. I agree with you and I do need something concrete to show me how much better off 1 choice is over another, etc. So I will work on it.

Well today is another $75 down the drain. Dh had a ringing in his ear last night so called the doc last night told him to come in today. $50 copay. To basically see a doctor who said everything was fine and is scheduling him for a hearing test to see if they can narrow down what the prblem could be. It is probably related to his vertigo last month and could just be an infection or virus still. who knows, not much answers.

Since I was going to have to leave work to help wrangle the kids and I was also unable to watch BM today so LM Could go to toddler class, I thought maybe I Would try daycare today. She had an opening so the whole thing ended up $75 for the day - doctor and daycare. At least LM got to go to his toddler class which we already paid for.

Doctor bills, doctor bills, doctor bills. So far we are still coming in miles ahead than if we had paid the super giant premiums on full coverage. We would be paying $25 co-pays on top of that and we would be saving about squat. So far I Am pleased overall with our choice, though the year is young...

Now ask me the last time dh went to the doctor. Gheesh. I am so glad we did not switch to HDHP. I don't think we could have afforded all this... The bills would be sky high every single visit. & this is why - I knew the second we swithced someone would need lots of doctor visits...

I feel really bad for dh though. HE has a constant ringing in his ear and can't hear very well out of it. I hope they can look at it before the weekend.

Forgot to mention, dh mentioned BM's 4T pants were too tight AND too short. Oy vey. The kid is only 3. So I won an ebay auction last night - 4 pairs brand new pants for $20. I'll add it to my list of items purchased this year. I am getting behind on my spending log. I should just keep it on paper since I have had a harder time logging on here - will have to catch up. The only reason I spent so much really was because I was bidding on 2 lots of clothes and I wanted to win both and combine shipping. But I lost - oh well. I could probably find the same at the thrift shop for $15 easy (or on sale even), but I figured I saved time and gas so $20 ain't bad. $8 for the pants - but $12 for the shipping... I am sad I lost the other lot too. I think I could have won but I was too busy trying to win both at once - I should have had dh get on another computer and bit on that one - LOL. Live and learn.

Accounting Students Made a Profitable Choice

http://accounting.smartpros.com/x56501.xml

Yes we did. LOL. Well I have already alluded to this many times. Starting pay in the industry has doubled in the last few years. Plus desparation for accountants means more bargaining power, more flex time, more working from home, etc. I know I have it good. What I have gotten out of this career is I can work a hell of a lot less for a decent wage - and that is nice. No matter what the pay I Was going to do it, but how hard I have to work is pretty relative to how the profession is going. I like the idea that I may be able to work part-time in the near future and bring in a wage to support my family rather well. On the flip side, we need more bodies. So I don't have to work too much. LOL. I can technically work 35-hour weeks all summer BUT not if I have to much work to do. Bummer...

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/31/ten-ways-to-accele...

Just a really good article/blog.

& finally:

http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2006/10/how_to_compute_.html

I found this one when trying to get a grasp on how much my net worth should grow on an annual basis. I know in the past I have been really stuck on how much cash we have and our house because it took so much blood, sweat, tears... But going forward I maybe can only save $10k/year or something, but when I look at the big picture like I Said yesterday, I think our net worth should go up $35k next year. Is this good or bad. I don't know. I think it is good, but looking for some general rles of thumb, some way to measure progress, etc. I think this will help me look at the big picture too and stay motivated, tracking net worth. The article above does a good job.

The jist is that you:

"Take your age and divide by 166. Then subtract fifteen hundredths (0.15). Finally, multiply the result by your age. The resulting number should be between zero and twenty. That number is how many times your current annual income you should be worth."

The article takes it a step above and says if your income is more than your expenses ( which it should be, right?) you can use your annual expenses instead of your income.

Article points out that it grows faster over time. By 30 you need to be at a 1, but then once you hit 40, you need to increase by 1 every 2 years.

Here's a graph of that calc. by age:

Age, Annual Spending Saved

30, 1
35, 2
38, 3
42, 4
44, 5
47, 6
49, 7
51, 8
53, 9
55, 10
57, 11
59, 12
61, 13
63, 14
64, 15
66, 16
68, 17
69, 18
70, 19
72, 20

For this I completely took the house out of the equation. It has a good year of salary/expenses cash sunk into it which I usually count at the least. But this calc is geared towards retirement. So if we retire in our house, where does that leave us. I am not counting it in my net worth. If I did we'd already be at a 7, or about 20 years ahead.

Take out the house and the mortgage, and puts us at a good 1 for age 30. Well okay then, I can hang. I am super stoked with this equation because I have been feeling like we could pretty easily move our net worth up 1 point in 2 years. On 1 income!!!! I guess that is a good place to be.

I really like that this calculation uses expenses instead of income. BEcause when playing with the #s, I tried to factor a 2nd income down the road. But it really makes it that much harder to save that entire income. Since that 2nd income has always been savings and gravy, it shouldn't really count towards this calculation because our living expenses should always be FAR less. If not, well that is another problem. When I factor that whole thing though we move miles ahead. In the next 10 years or so I guess we will move from 1 to 7 and this will put us where we should be in 20 years. & then if dh got a job at that point, then we skyrocket ahead even faster.

I still really really really do not see setting sights on retirement until 55 at the least, maybe later. But I think that is more the planner in me. I want to do so well, but I know any of many things can slow us down, so I don't want to get too ahead of myself. Even though we may be 10-20 years ahead, very quickly, I don't know if that will mean we will feel like we are ready to retire early. Plus I like working anyhow - LOL. But maybe we could work part-time as we age, etc. Maybe if something catastrophic happens we will be well prepared. Maybe if both boys want to go to med school, we can help. It should leave a lot of options.

I think our net worth will hit $1 mil by 40 - and that is counting our house. I Still haven't ruled out moving out of state to retire super young (or at least work a hell of a lot less...)

Anyway, ironically, the best thing this does for me is help me to set goals in a way that really moves us forward. This is ironic because the person who posted this blog completely discounted the point in the article that said a measure of wealth is having money in the bank to pay the mortgage but not paying it - wisely leveraging debt. I know this to be so true, and yet I still want to pay that sucker down in the next 15 years. I Want to put a big chunk to it. Looking at the net worth big picture I think I can talk myself into investing more money and watching it grow, and knowing I Can even more quickly invest that money and have enough in the bank to pay the mortgage, much faster than it would take me to pay the mortgage. & that is far smarter. HEck sometimes I wish I had a bigger mortgage when I look at it that way. LOL. I truly do. But overall I think tracking my net worth will help me more realistically move ahead financially, and not get stuck on 1 thing, on savings or debt, etc. I can really look hard at where we are at and what we need to do to move our net worth forward faster. & it will help me control my urge to pay down low-interest debt.

Well to truly motivate me I am going to look at the big picture without the house - as I aim for retirement goals and such. However, on an ongoing tracking basis I am still going to count payments to the mortgage because it motivates me. Heck this year i am going to knock $4k off that sucker just making the mandatory payment, rounded up to an even round number. I need the motivation for now.

Well looking at my weather thing it is indeed raining and it is probably 52 degrees outside. Probably lowest it got all night. When I woke up the house was sitting at 68 - woohoo. I am looking forward to my next heat bill.

Still no electric bill in sight. Maybe our usage was so low it was just not worth billing - hehe. I doubt it - they fell asleep over there or something - just weird. Too busy to call and ask where my bill is - but maybe if I don't get January's bill in the next week or 2. Since the bill is in the $20 range I am not too worried - not screwing up my budget too much or anything - just annoying me! Since I pay electronically I could always shoot them $20, hmmmmmm. Probably would just create more confusion. Well no december bill, we'll see what happens to january. I haven't received the electronic bill and I logged into their website over the weekend and there was no new invoices.

That reminds me though, we have a city-owned electric company and they came out to my office yesterday and I could overhear them telling my boss that they would replace ALL of the lightbulbs in the buildings for free, and something else, some term I was not familiar with - some part of the light fixtures I guess, AND it would save us $1k/year on our electric bill. I have no doubt that is true since we pretty much don't pay for electricity in our house - certainly hardly the lights. Our electric bill - the usage portion generally hovers around $15/month and we cook and do laundry every day, etc. But these light bulbs are just the BEST ever. Plus t.v.s and computers on all day, etc. We certainly do not pay for the light bulbs - pennies it seems.

Anyway, they are just trying to get businesses to cut down their consumption. I already give my electric company 10 kudos, but let's make it 20 judos after that - LOL. I Am just so impressed. They are trying to work out the logistics because they want to wait until after tax season, but it's like if they don't do it now they might have to wait until next year. They have budgeted so much to upgrade businesses, and the money may run out soon. So we'll see if we get new lightbulbs or what.

I am excited though.

We actually moved to recycling all of our paper a few months back and our dumpster is now merely for recycling, I love to bring over all my big boxes I can't get rid of - into the recycle dumpster.

& we are moving on storing everything electronically instead of on paper.

IT feels good to see these measures at work. You don't know how appalled I Was when I started my first accounting job and how much paper is wasted. moving to all electronic storage of files will make big strides in helping the environment...

I think this is why I hate shopping.

When I Was clothes shopping yesterday I perused the purses because my old cheapie is falling apart and needs replacing - has been for a while (as about everything I own - frugal to a detriment - though even moreso just because I hate shopping!).

I then spotted some big purses and was pondering that I really could use one for like a diaper bag. Since I had this really cute fashionable diaper bag from ebay, but the thing is so cheap just worn to shreds even though I rarely use it - just after 2 years. IT is trashed - given up the ghost. Even the 3.5yo who has been potty trained for 6 months, I always take pants and underwear just in case, so I could probably use a bulkier bag for a while for the kids. So I am perusing some of the bigger bags thinking about it when I spotted the wallets. I Won't even tell you how old my wallet is and how thrashed it is - just pathetic.

& so it goes. I already had a list in my head from christmas that I could really use a new backback and a new makeup bag - but I Wanted to pick them out myself - so they are on my list.

My list is getting longer...

I didn't buy anything because I would have been there all day - LOL. I had other stuff to do. But need to go purse shopping another day I guess. I REALLY like the diaper bag I had but I don't know if it is worth $20 on such a crappy product - maybe I will try another brand or style - will peruse ebay I guess.

Well if I go into work today, and remember, I have a couple of awesome recipes to post. We have been eating good over here – a couple of simple recipes overall that are not Taste of Home – but divine from a cookbook I have. A citrus chicken recipe (about the best chicken I ever have had) and a meatloaf recipe – with a bit of spice – horseradish and chili sauce – we love it.

I also updated the budget and will post it later – computer problems for now. I keep all our quicken data and financial stuff on a separate removable hard drive in the house so that data is not kept on our laptop – or on any of the computers with the Quicken program – just theft prevention. But the laptop has been giving me problems so I Can't access it. I got up early and looked at the budget variances for january but now the kids are awake so I am relegated to the laptop. They are watching Calilou for now and eating breakfast – LM is in heaven. I swear if I had a dollar for every time he said Calilou! LOL.

He had a horrid horrid night friday night but thankfully he slept last night. I am exhausted though. Kids are both a little sick – sniffly and coughs. Poor boys. Probably didn't help with sleep.

But yeah I have to go into work for a couple of hours at least. Just a mountain of work to dig through – will make the week more bearable. It was nice taking a break yesterday though – indeed.

Weather looks like it may be quite pleasant today and I am ready to get out of the house!!! I am so done with winter. Maybe tonight we can walk to the park or something – before dark – we'll see how it turns out – I see the sun so it is a good sign – woohoo. I hears 70s today – I am in heaven...

Well for whatever reason I am little miss travel agent. I think I need to learn some new tricks though. When I was in college and no one had heard of cheap tickets I flew to Vegas fro $60 and New York for $150. I did a lot more travel then (flexibility helped) but never spent much. Anyway, so everyone calls me when they need tickets. I apparently still have the touch because I will always find a better deal than joe blow average, but I think I need some new tricks. The discount sited are just so the norm any more, they aren't the best deals – I can't imagine finding a $150 ticket to NY either post-9/11. I don't know how much is just the industry changed or the travel secrets have evolved. But last summer MIL wanted to treat us all to Hawaii but she was absolutely driving us batty because it should be an easy direct flight but she was looking at cheap flights on dicount carriers (which I saw REALLY bad things about – delays and such – I can't even remember what it was – some terrible airline I have never heard of before or since) AND she wanted a layover in LA Ridiculous. With an infant we were like, well, can we please skip the layover at least – we will pay the difference. She was being real stubborn so I finally decided to take matetrs in my own hand – she insiste on paying for it all, yet being cheap. Sure fine, I understand when you are buying 7 airline tickets you want to be cheap, but just let us HELP already so we don't have a completely miserable flight. So I started looking at all the airports in the area, including ours, and found a sweet deal for about $400/person from Sacramento. She was quite pleased but I had heard to check directly with the airlines for discounts so we did and I think we ended up paying closer to $350/person. Plus it was sweet because they had to all drive up here and we just had a 5-minute drive to the airport ourselves. Can't beat that.

Anyway, I was so pleased dh and I have had it in our mind maybe we will take a trip to Hawaii in the near future – that is not bad airfare – it costs me more to fly to Kansas – LOL.

So anyway, last night my dad called for help re: tickets for the funeral in Kansas next week. They couldn't find anything below $700. I thought I had heard about bereavement fares being a thing of the past but I did tell him whatetever I found – I would call the airline directly for a discount if I was him. I couldn't fund much below $800 – cheatickets wasn't helping. But I pulled up qixo.com which is a more tedious search but I finally found if they flew from San Francisco and had 2 stops on the way back it was $600. They also had to leave later in the day and come back earlier in the day, not maximizing their time. Since they had already found $700 I figured they would stick with that. But I shouldn't underestimate my dad – mr. Frugal pants. He insisted he would take it – LOL. I am not sure how my mom felt about that. I imagine she was not too happy – they can easily afford another $100/each, and she does not fly well. So he called me later and told me called United directly and got a $500 bereavement fare – only 1 layover each way. So I guess my info was wrong – bereavement fares are still around. I can just imagine the argument ensuing over there if not for that - let's spend 10 less hours in kansas and take a 3-legged flight on the way back to save $200 total even though I make a very decent six-figure salary and have no debts or obligations whatsoever. Ah, some things will never change - LOL.

No Plans here for Valentines Day, or Superbowl for that matter. You know we tried to have a big superbowl party last year – since we have such a giant screen and all. We found most everyone had their Superbowl traditions already – we find it hard to get in on it – LOL. I am sure this year we could have had a big family turnout at least, but caught me off-guard/last-minute. Will have to try next year I guess. Valentines Day – we try to just do special things throughout the year rather than being relegated to the silly holidays. I am sure Valentines will pass by without a thought between the 2 of us, and we will be happy with that! We celebrate our anniversary much more heavily, we find that far more important I guess.

Had to share this, too cute. My little 3-year-old is quite the reader, he has actually been reading for a long time, and obsession with books since infanthood. It is funny how something like that can be so ingrained from such a young age since the difference between him and the little one is so obviously night and day. The little one is not on the path to pickin up reading in the next year, so be it. THe big one pretty much taught himself. I know no one believes me and imagines I make the kids sit in the corner and read flashcards all day, but that is not the way it is at all. The kid is obsessed with books, and by reading a million books to him every day since he was a baby taught, and encouraging his fascination with the alphabet by teaching him the letters and sounds, reading just came naturally to him. As for Little Monkey, I think we are kind of relieved he gets bored of books a little more easily, since the big one would demand we read hours and hours and hours on end to him. Well he still does, at this age still prefers to be read to, of course. But at this age at least they are a little more interesting to us - LOL.

But the kids' favorite little t.v. show is Calilou, a really sweet cartoon on Public Television about the adventures of a 4yo boy. I understand why BM loves this show, because he can REALLY identify with him - the kids has a little sibling and a cat, and goes to preschool and parallels his life so much. The funny thing is LM is totally obsessed with this show too and I have no idea why. All day long, "Calilou, Calilou, Calilou." Dh said he talks more about Calilou than "mommy" all day though he babbles about us both a lot I guess - LOL. Anyway, Calilou just got his own library card in the last episode they watched and dh and I felt so silly we never thought of that!!!! Today I went to take BM to the libray while LM was at Toddler Class with daddy, as the usual drill. BUT today he got his own library card. He was so excited, got a little "Today I got my first Library Card" sticker, and was really charming all the librarians. IT was cute too because he ran over to the machine to check out a book too, after he got his card, but before he picked a book. Just could not wait. He was extra lucky because when daddy came to get him he grabbed a Bob the Builder DVD for him to check out too so he could show daddy how his new card worked.

& that is how you make a kid's day without paying a dime. Hehe.

& I still feel so dumb for not thinking of that myself! Kudos to Calilou...

In other news found this article rather interesting. (below). Kind of brings on the debate if you should finance school or not. Probably overall there is some middle ground. Article said also 1st-generation college goers tend to pay cash. My father was 1st generation and paid his way by working darn hard. My parents helped me a bit but expected me to work hard too. Financing was never considered an option. & thinking about it I see why. As the first generation in his family to go to college, knew nothing about financing options available, etc. So I think that is an interesting point. HAving made my way through school working hard and owing no debts I think people are too quick to write off working as an option overall, because it interferes with studies. There has nothing that his taught me more or served me better in my life than working so hard and learning how to balance my responsibilities. I worked mostly full-time through college and had all As. Come on, it is not impossible. On the flip side, if you are working to the bone and your studies are REALLY suffering, then sure, of course, take out a loan, do what you need to do. I just think the prevailing attitude to put it off, and off and off and off is not helpful financially. The people I went to college with who ran up the huge debts wanted to live a certain lifestyle. I Was living with roommates and eating Top Ramen, driving my 20-year-old Toyota - the difference night and day with many I Went to school who were so "whoa is me - I have to pay my own way - so I run up tons of debt rather than figure out how to really afford to live." I remember one friend who I actually worked with after school who lost a father and was always high and might he had to run up debt and do it himself, like us 18-year-olds just had mommy and daddy paying our way. Us 18-year-olds would just roll our eyes and humor him - whatever, plenty of us who were barely scraping by but doing what we needed to get out without running debts. Well there goes my college debt rant - LOL.

I think the downside this points out though is an all or nothing approach. I could see with skyrocketing state college costs that my kids will likely need help or a little financing. I Can not imagine them needing 100k for college or anything like that, but a few thousand here and there to help isn't the worst either I am sure. As long as it is taken on with great thought and effort to pay it off quickly. I think that is the problem with the system, people are taking on great debts without even considering if they will really finish their degree, considering they have picked the right degree, etc. IF people took on a cash attitude I think they would at least tread more carefully. I would rather the kids take on small laons and figure it out themselves than finance their college though. From the experiences my family has faced, I Think that would serve them best. But no matter how you slice it with parents to cathc them when they fall and grandparents to spoil them, I don't know how it all will really turn out. Dh had his college completely paid for, was not kicked out of his house at 18, etc. & he turned out okay. I hang on to that hope - I just don't want to spoil my kids. But I don't want them to struggle too much either - is a fine line.

"Most Latino students spurn college loans
Educators fear that a tendency to work their way through school can hurt
them academically."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-latino31jan31,0,1961...

I am formulating my submission for a money saving tip. I decided to focus on negotiating prices on goods and services. Mostly because it is not the kind of everyday tip I expect all the other CPAs to answer, looking for an edge (See my last post if I lost you. ) & because it is pretty simple and you know people would in general be game over other tips like save money and only pay cash - no one wants to do that - LOL.

Anyway, so I was wondering what you all have negotiated the price on? Just to get more ideas than the obvious (though I know the obvious to me is not the obvious to everyone).

Yeah I could say come here and hang out and this is the best advice, but the whole point is to get mroe concrete tips. I want to win some publicity so I can THEN say come over here if you really wants lots of tips.

Changine gears -

What is with these water and sewer bills? - my word! Just saw 2 blogs re: high costs. I was shocked when we moved to Sacramento. Back home water was metered (remember many years of drought and conservation too). In our condo I am not sure we were even billed - think it was included in association fee. But I rented a house before, metered water, trash and water was about $10/month each (3 people). IT wasn't even in my budget - didn't sweat it even on my minumum wage. The house we rented was fairly large (hell of a lot cheaper than an apartmnet).

Then we moved here, no metered water, our water/sewer/trash bill is all one - I would have to study it to see what was what I guess. But we have the smallest trash can possible (which we only really need to set out once a month or something). & yet our bill runs $100/month. Far more than our average elctricity and gas bill.

Oh well, they are moving to metered water which is good overall, but really annoys me all the same. Wouldn't be surprised if we were charged even more. But at least we could then control the costs. IT just annoys me on some levle because I lived alone in this house for a year - dh and I For 1 year with no kids. We certainly paid MORE than our fair share as bill is priced on size of house. & now that they meter it - well we do loads of diapers in the wash every day, etc., etc. 4 people in the house, etc. Can I get a rebate for the years we didn't use the water???

But overall yeah I really look forward to metering. Then we can work on cutting that bill. I think overall living in a newer neighborhood with modern plumbing and low-flow toilets, and more efficient appliances, overall I think our bills will be lower. The only thing I Am really concerned is the yard and watering - where I know we can REALLY cut back. With the stupid association there is only so much we can do in the front, but I do want to seriously look into desert landscaping in place of the back lawn, or astro turf, as a friend has. I Still kick myself for not thinking of it sooner. The lawn is overrated - our little square patch that needs SO much water in the 100-degree+ summers. I can do without. & metered water might be the kick in the butt that I need.

But I digress...

Okay - so what have you negotiated down? Top of my mind = cell phone bills, dental bills (pay cash/if no insurance), cc fees, cc interest rates, furniture, cars, mechanics, gardeners, items bought off Craigslist.

Well dh called me around 3 and said the mechanic called and nothing is wrong with his brakes. then 2 or 3 people told me the same thing happened to them and something was wrong. But they couldn't remember what. One of them said it was a "hole in a thingie or something." Yeah that really helps me. GREAT!

So overall I mostly feel crazy though - LOL.

They said they will check it again in the morning - when the car is not warmed up. We'll see - we decided he needed an oil change so we could pay them for their time I guess.

Frankly I rather be crazy than have a repair bill or brake problems.

In other news just got this in my e-mail:

"As part of the Feed the Pig financial literacy effort, we are looking to find the best savings tip that young CPAs can offer to those in their age group. Give us your best savings solution. It can focus on ways to save, how to spend less than you earn, or how to get on the right fiscal track. Whatever you believe can help Americans on the road to financial literacy. The "Top Tips" that we receive will be judged and winning responses will be featured in a press release sent to national media. The names of those who submitted winning responses will be published on the AICPA's Young CPA Network's site.

Hmmmmm, I have LOTS of great advice to save money. But the BEST? will have to ponder...

I think the best advice I can offer is to not live up to your means/save raises. I will have to come up with a submission. Like the most money I ever saved was when I graduated college and lived like I was still a starving student though I got paid 3 times as much.

My problem is everything I can think of sounds so obvious. Well, if they pick me and feature me or anything I will definitely give a shout out to this website!

Well I am glad I significantly racheted down my state withholding, asked my boss.

Just finished up my taxes overall and getting $200 net back - woohoo. Originally estimated $200 due so I am happy as a clam.

I had a $20k ROTH conversion that I paid nothing in for, for state, and I still am getting $875 back. (overwithheld MUCH???) I owe about $675 for Federal - I paid Fed for the conversion, but the conversion pushed my income too high and I missed a lot of my medical deductions. So it brought my taxes up even more, etc. I don't mind owing a little so I didn't care. But $200 back, net, is sweet. Will probably file in the next couple of weeks, get my state refunds, and then when I get it, just pay the fed. In the bank it would earn me $4/month. Eh, rather get that tax bill out of my hair!!

Last year my taxable income was around $50k with my maternity leave. Some untaxed disability, some taxed, lots of unpaid time from work, etc.

This year was about 90k with the ROTH conversion and my first full year since my fat raise in 2005. That is pretty sweet.

Either way still well in the 15% tax bracket thinks to the insane cost of housing and health insurance over here, makes a nice tax break at least. Kids help too (though can I reiterate they cost 10 times as much as the tax break? LOL. Still don't get that logic - more kids for more tax breaks - blech - gotta be crazy. )

This year I expect to pull in $80k with all of our various efforts to make money. The last few years have been in the $40k-$50k range for the most part so it should be pretty sweet. All the same, there is no way in heck I want to get used to that kind of money - I think that is dangerous. I am trying hard to save save save.

I reconsidered how much our net worth should increase this year, considering payment of car and payments on the mortgage. With that and our investments performing average, I expect around $30k increase. $10k savings, $5k investment returns, $8k profit sharing, $3k car paid off, $5k mortgage principal. I had missed that $8k before (car and mortgage principle), but you can't discount that - woohoo.

Yesterday was not fun.

Maybe it was fate but I Was too busy to pick up BM and I worked until 6:30. Unusually late because my office is in such a bad area and I do not generally like to leave after dark.

So dh picked him up around 5 Thank God. Well, around 6:45 I was tooling along the freeway towards the fast lane and I start noticing a noise. Mostly in my subconscious for a minute and then I started thinking, "What is that?" I don't know if flat tires were more at the front of my mind since I just had one!!! But I thought, sounds like I got a flat. Luckily I had past generally the bad area between work and home, and was at an exit I could take to get to my house - just a mile or 2 away. I am not sure if I intended to pull over or go stop at the gas station first (probably) to fill the tire, but I crossed about 4 lanes of traffic to exit and that was about it - tire blew, could barely hobble it off the road.

How could I have the WORST luck to have 2 flat tires in the course of a couple of weeks. & yet I felt so incredibly lucky I had just enough time to get OFF the freeway. I Was talking to my mom later and she was like, if you have to, you can always drive a flat home. LOL. YEah try driving on a rim - was not going to happen.

Anyway, called AAA and they seemed all concerned I Was on the freeway - they would be there lightning speed. YEah whatever. LOL. I Was relieved to see it wasn't the used tire I just bought. Another perfectly beautiful good tire gone. Frustrated because with my recent flat I had checked all the tires, they all were great. In the end we found a giant bolt in the tire, must have run over it on the freeway or before I got on. I Was frustrated because I told dh that I should probably check my tires before I get in the car any more. & yet I was all alone in a bad area leaving at night with hardly any lights, like I could have even checked anyway. I was actually very concerned about a suspicious car hanging around, the last thought was to check tires. I am ALSO super duper frustrated because my last car attracted nails and bolts like a magnet (my cars before - same commute and all - NVER a flat). & this car coming up on a year had served me well. But one day in January, one day I wondered aloud to a co-worker that my van does not have this constant flat problem. & wham - now it does. I obviously did NOT knock on wood. Gah!!!!

Constant flat or no this is the first time I have had a blow out. & this is the 2nd time, in one month, and ever in my life, I have had a tire in shreds, not just a little nail hole. This van is cursed. Bah! I will seriously go back and read reviews on the original tires. Might be worth replacing the other 2 and getting better tires - not sure what the deal is. Or would any tire protect fromt hese bolts I keep running over? - lord knows from where.

Anyway, dh is my hero. I called AAA and chatted on the phone with dh for a while. HE offered to come exhange places with me since I had worked all day, had to pee, was hungry, etc. LOL. I Said no, didn't want the kids on the side of the freeway. But after about 1/2 hour and no tow truck in sight, I Said okay, please just come GET me!!!! LOL. OF course I Watch all that true crime stuff and always the girls alone on the side of the road getting raped and murdered. Either way I just wanted off the freeway.

So he came and rescued me.

I noticed his car needed gas so stopped on the way home.

I swear he got home like 1 minute after me, after my gas stop. Said the tow truck guy braved changing a driver-side tire with all the cars racing past - *shudders* - and he was off pretty quickly. Guess I could have waited 5 more minutes - figures.

Oh well, that is my swell dh. HE is going to go get me another used tire today too.

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/moneyhappy/22594

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/moneymatters/20375

My 2 favorite gals. Nothing much new, more of the same.

I woke up early and felt motivated today. I have been planning for a LONG time to formulate an article for the Dollar Stretcher on being a 1-income family. & right now I feel motivated and will give it a start. Hasn't been a new one in that category for a couple of months so we'll see. Maybe will motivate me to write more articles.

I have 2 things to focus on. One is planning from the getgo, which can only help people already with kids so much. But I still think it is important - to plan ahead best you can. GOod advice for people thinking ahead I guess. But even more importantly, to be flexible. Be open to doing things a little different than the norm, if it will work out better for you. Not a greater example than having the father stay home with the kids- how how weird is that? I know quite a few people who have considered the option, that it would work for them, but were just too scared to take the plunge to do things different, falling to the pressure of family and society. I also know plenty of people who make 1-income living work by constantly thinking outside the box. IT is a big key in figuring it out for many.

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200...

Interesting article in the paper today - brings up an interesting discussion.

Jist of it is that Online Retirement Calculators on the websites of some investment firms like Fidelity & Vanguard, overestimate how much you need to save so you invest more with them of course.

My first thought was, well, yeah, and they exaggerate how well their funds do all the time too - gotta be a wash, right?

Secondly, as stated in the article, with the push to get people in this country to save, the last thing we need is to tell people they are saving too much.

Thirdly, for the savers out there. We rather err on saving far too much. IT is really pretty impossible for us to figure out how much we need in retirement. Life happens. I think the closer we get the better idea we'll have. In the meantime, heck yes, we will aim in saving too much. Of course. I Can think of far worse things...

But overall an interesting point I guess.

The article also said Americans are not so bad off - they are saving and are prepared for retirement. Pffffft. On what world? LOL. I could argue that one until the cows come home, but whatever. My only real peeve with the article.

Overall, figured could spark some interesting discussion.

Aw, today overall has been productive. A little stressed because I had 2 clients left to do a W-2 & 1099 push on - big deadline Jan. 31 - Wednesday. Figured I'd knock out 1 today and save the big one for monday & Tuesday.

Then I spun my wheels all day - I would not even know where to begin, but client under-withheld taxes last quarter, made them up this quarter, but our software and theirs treated it differently - BLAH! I am probably one of the smartest in the office - that is the sad thing. But I just could not figure it out - the time crunch I Felt did not help - oy vey. All my reports and W-2s and all that tied, but the books are off and I Can not wrap my brain around why. On the plus side my manager is really weird and is a crazy workaholic. HE is all caught up but decided to work all weekend just because. Weird, but good for me - LOL. I'll probably go in the morning and hand it over and let him figure out - he has time. Go in tidy up, hand it over, do some 1099s. So I Can focus on the big one for 2 days. Wasn't intending to work SUnday but oh well. Told dh hopefully this will be the last Sunday for a while. I don't mind working a few hours on a saturday and a sunday - long as I have the afternoon off. Dh worked on his movie in the afternoon and I actually made some good progress on the house - phew. I also told dh I Was taking over laundry duty. He can do his, kids, and the diapers. But I have had enough. He refuses to use dryer sheets and a year of this has been okay - I always sneak them in when I do laundry. Maybe because I have been too busy and unable to sneak them in lately because all of my clothes are crazy static cling. I Wash my work clothes myself and that is about it. I am SO fed up - I was literally screaming at him about it last week because my hair brush and comb and all my sweater had static cling, my hair keeps standing on end. I have this spray stuff but it is aerosal and smells SO awful and I have had to spray it in my hair everyday just to get it to calm down.

Anyway, the last straw is my lazy clothes are all sticking to me and last night with the lights off I kept seeing sparks in my son's bed - between his blankets and jammies - oy vey. The static electricity is insanity.

The towels are also feeling really rough and crappy without the dryer sheets so today I did 2 loads of towels and dish towels - put them in hot water and 2 dryer sheets each load. THey still feel like crap. I am fed up. LOL. I Am probably going to have to do another load of perfectly good static-y clothes. Blah. I told dh I would put a laundry basket out - all my clothes and all the towels - I will do it myself. I have just had it up to here - I am so frustrated!!!

How in the heck do you get static cling out of a hairbrush? IT just won't GET OUT!!!!!!

Well I have a simple solution - dryer sheets - LOL. But dh won't allow me that luxury. He is really driving me insane over here. Poor kids stuck with static clothes I guess.

http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=27664

Not much time today so leaving another imspirational post. A comment on my last post reminded me of this article. I found the whole thing quite fascinating.

I know too many people who say "I can't" so they are always miserable. & the ones who say "I can" have done some amazing things. This article digs deeper about how something as simple as your attitude can change your life.

I think the subject of luck has come up time and time again in the forums as well. I guess it is timely with some of the jealousy issues as well. It kind of goes hand in hand if you are always worried about everyone else and that is your measure, how will you ever truly be happy? Start worrying less about everyone else and more about yourself. The results in your life can be huge. Stop comparing yourself to everyone else and go make your own luck!

Just reading an interesting article. Overall not enough time today to hang out - I am running late. But I will leave you with this:

http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=31759

I am so wound up with work I almost totally forgot. I might be writing a movie script!!!!!

Dh had our date night and had a long talk. He is wrapping up this last movie, a friend of his wrote and produced. He has another friend who writes scripts. HE has been trying to get them to write a script for him. Dh has many wonderful ideas (very creative) & they seem to like his ideas, think he has something to work with. BUT of course they are too busy with their own stuff and their own writing to write a script for him.

So I might just be crazy and said why don't *I* write it? I love writing but I Am lost on inspiration. Actually I am more of a technical/essay writer. I am not sure if screenplay would be my speed at all!!! But I wouldn't know unless I try! Dh has plenty of inspiration and ideas, just not the patience to write it all down and get mired in the details. So I don't know if this is crazy or will even work, but I think we'll give it a try.

I told dh there was no way I could even consider it during tax season, but we can get started in May. I also felt better because digging deeper he said both his friends had encouraged him for a rough draft or a start. I think they will be better at the nuances and the final tweaking, but I Can at least help him get a start. But we decided to maybe get some books on screenwriting and try to formulate a plan for May. We decided we would probably need to stick to a schedule, which will be hard, but the only way it will ever get accomplished. Set aside some time. He actually told me too he had already downloaded some free screenplay software which helps you organize ideas, develop characters, etc., so I guess I will start playing with it.

Oh well, wish me luck. We have joked about this in the past and frankly he is all into wild out there stuff I am not sure I can really get behind. I know his one idea is about zombies (lovely) and the other one about a guy with a detached head or something - LOL. I forget - something to do with a head. But oh well. I rather write about cute little kittens and cotton candy - LOL. Or finance. But I will try to dig into dh's head and see what I Can come up with. I think this is the only way his movies will ever make it to the next step - he has got to come up with some kind of script!

All in all it is kind of exciting - because he has the crew now to help him get a movie made if he had the will to push it to the next level. I remember thinking him making a movie was just some distant fantasy that would never be realized. But it is really exciting seeing it come closer to fruition. Of course now it all depends on me huh. We'll see if we can pull it together. Sounds pretty overwhelming I guess... A whole movie script, huh? I'll try.

I heard I could get a verizon discount both through Cookie Lee & through my Professional Society.

so I checked out both.

Our plan is so old and cheap that the discounts will not apply - bummer.

But I discussed it with dh. For another $10/month (this is with discount) we could get 700 peak minutes vs. 300. BUT we would lose out grandfathered off-peak after 8pm (Would switch to 9pm).

We decided since our primary reason for cell phones was emergency and free long distance on nights and weekends, that it would not make any sense to switch. Our budget is too tight for the unnecessary extra $10/month regardless of the peak/off-peak time.

I did tell dh that I just realized our contracts expire soon and maybe we should shop around again. He was not very game. I think we realized that Verizon is the best for us (last time we shopped around in 2005) and that no new plan will ever compare to our old one because it is just so old. It serves its purpose fine. & if we use it for its purpose it more than suffices!

Also to drop the land line and get sufficient minutes, it would cost more in the end. Just doesn't make any sense.

Oh well, I tried.

MIL was coming up to watch kids today and just called and said they were having sewage issues at their cabin (ick) and so wanted to pick up the kids and drive up (it is 1 hour from us - 3 hours from them), and keep them overnight!!!! Woohoo. (Though we are thinking good luck finding a plumber after this freeze and all!).

The little one might get to see snow for the first time and we might miss it but oh well. I REFUSED to let them take Big Monkey to the snow without me - made them wait until after tax season - May 2004 - still lots of snow luckily - LOL. Now I am like - whatever. Sad how we do that to the younger ones. IT isn't as pressing to me any more to be there. We were pondering with the freeze there must have been snow up there, but maybe not without much rain and storms overall. But they probably won't have to drive far to find it - if nothing else the cold must have kept any prior snow from melting...

This is the beauty of where we live - 1 hour drive from wilderness, from snow-capped mountains, or an hour the other way for a good beach. Or 1 hour from the BIG city. 'Tis the life!

I still plan to work a good chunk today and a bit tomorrow before the kids come home. But that's fine. Frankly we usually don't know what to do with ourselves with all the peace and quiet and no responsibility - hehe. I will still find hours and hours to enjoy with dh and relax a little!

In other woohoo news - dh's movie is set to premier locally in March!!!!! Dh also was invited to a volunteer dinner in February (volunteers at the public television station - used to run cameras - now they are more strict and he just does teleprompting primarily). I found out recently Big Monkey's daycare will do night sitting on occassion (Week nights, they donate the money to a family in Africa). So we will have to save pennies for that. You don't know how nice it will be to drop off the kids somewhere safe, not family, and not have to owe the favor back - LOL. We haven't talked price yet, I am sure it is reasonable, we may have to take out of our allowances though - the only way I Really see swinging it. We'll see I guess. We have our family for the weekends (they live 2 hours away), so works out I guess.

But yes, movie premiere. I think 2 things. 1 - dh does not expect a lot from this movie. BUT 2 - he thinks they learned a lot and there is a lot of potenital there. Already planning to shoot the 2nd one later this year. I just pray we can work it out this year without paying a lot of childcare. It is something to consider. If he can put his all into a movie and make something of it, it may be worth it, we'd have the money. I just don't know if this is something worthy to sink money in for now - probably better sent to savings at the least. THe last movie he helped substantially without paying a dime for childcare. Hopefully this year we can work it out. The following year will be less of an issue with only 1 kid in preschool (which I already pay now) and 1 in kindergarten not needing care a few hours every day. We'll see I guess.

On the flip side he just went to a red carpet premiere for a movie that sold and he said it was aWFUL. & the rumor was they got paid $400k for the NEXT movie. So they are trying to sell theirs and get funding for the next one. We'll see I guess. Send good vibes for their movie! The premiere is just the first step. THey are going to work on selling it or getting it in some festivals I guess (with the end goal to sell it!!!). After seeing the kind of crap that sold well he is feeling more optimisitic I guess!

I am not holding my breath on this particular movie, but I Am pleased with the opportunities that are presenting themselves as a result of the work he has done and the contacts he has made. One day I hope this hobby pays money. That would be about the best thing I can imagine. When childcare is no longer an issue it looks it will. For now has been restricted him for a bit. But everyone is getting paid gigs and keeping him in mind - so that is good!!!! Even if he doesn't make it big if one of his contacts does - it could be big for him. Frankly I just want a little retirement money is all though - doesn't have to be much!

Frugality is about setting priorities, not deprivation. Well, at least it is to me.

I just posted a little bit about the philosophy of Suze Orman & Laura Rowley and I guess that is really what it comes down too. I Think you have to have a strong sense of self to be successful financially. Maybe you don't HAVE to, but it sure helps.

I think the best thing my parents ever taught me, which reaches into every aspect of my life, is just to be myself and not worry about other people. I think to many that is the biggest first step in figuring out how to budget and live within your means. Not falling for all the marketing out there, buying things to look cool and please your friends, keeping up with the joneses. & trying to find satisfaction with yourlife outside of material things - I guess that is a big one too. I think a big way my parents taught me this was they were never afraid to be different. & they also never gave into a fad. I remember I thought I Was going to die if I did not get a Cabbage PAtch Doll. My parents never caved. I thought they were horrible because we shopped at Kmart. But my parents gave me a good life and even spoiled me on occassion. But the most important thing I think is they wouldn't give in when I had an impulse and wanted something because of outside influences. I hope I Can be strong enough to say no to my kids the same way because I feel it has served me very well in life.

& once you know what you really want for yourself, set a path and goals to get there. You have to look carefully, and be patient. Because if you can't have it all now, maybe you can down the road - years/decades down the road if you are patient. OR maybe there is something you can never have, you have to seriously list what you want out of your life and how you are going to get there. IF you have too many goals, some will have to be sacrificed. But the upside is only those most important to you will be what you work toward, and what you spend money on. IT is easy to say no to the things that don't matter once you really look hard and see what really matters and doesn't.

Dh and I Were discussing it the other night - we realize we don't put a lot of weight on 2 things - fleeting pleasures (vacations and experiences) or small material things - we are more likely to save for bigger things. To many it really creates the illusion that we are extremely wealthy. Looking at face value at our posessions.

What we have and value:

**A nice house (housing may be expensive but renting is far more expensive and would never get us ahead. Our utilities are dirt cheap and maintenance is low as long as the house is newer. By the time it starts needing more repairs we'll have the cash).

**Reliable Cars - as long as they are reliable and don't have a lot of upkeep they will do.

**Fancy Electronic Toys (computers, games, theatre room. We shop for quality and value, and don't turn our noses up at used. We'll think outside the box for a deal. Dh's theatre room has a nice projector - where it matters - and everything else is not fancy. A big screen t.v. would cost more but we have a 10-foot screen. HE has free HDTV through his computer - projects it in there. HEll of a lot cheaper and nicer than an HDTV thank you). We don't spend much on replacing things or repairs - we shop carefully to avoid these.

**Comfort (electricity will not be set lower than 68 - thanks - LOL).

**Convenience

**Cash in the bank

**Preparing for retirement

**working less and spending more time with the kids

**making less and enjoying our job

**Having a pet

**A weekend away or a nice camping trip

**Not relying on 2 incomes

**Decent HEalth Insurance (believe me I pay well for this! To avoid big insane bills, best we can anyway.)

**Not having debt

What we do NOT value:

**New/Fancy Cars
**A house we can not afford to upkeep
**Electronics - what everyone else has, brand names, etc.
**Home decorating/new furniture
**Being too good to buy used
**Eating out a lot
**Going out a lot
**beauty products & treatments
**fads
**most consumer goods
**fancy vacations
**brand names
**appearances


& so it goes. By not spending a lot of money (or maybe none) on the things we don't value, we have that much more money for things we value.

We put our all into getting a house so that we could stay out in California and not drown in rents and be the ones saying we will never afford a home. & we made it.

I know our theatre room drops jaws. The sound and the picture is FANCY. Never mind the surround sound and DVD player are ancient as dh bought them in college and never replaced. That we got the theatre seating dirt cheap at a going out of business sale. That the decor consists entirely of painted walls and a screen we framed with felt. The room is not going to be featured in a magazine or considered fancy in the least, but the movie screen will blow you away and that is what is important. When the lights are off who cares - LOL.

By simply buying newer and fancier cars there is no way we would have money for a house or a theatre room. So we sacrificed where it didn't matter as much to us. IF we both bought $20k cars, there would go 90% of the down payment on our house. A couple of thousand dollars for a fancy projector is nothing when you don't spend your money on any of the latest electronic gadgets, don't have a car payment, when you just don't buy other stuff.

Oh yeah the reason we were talking about it too is we seem to go in cycles. We will go years with living very tight as we aim for a goal, and then we might let loose and go crazy for a year. The crazy year would be 2005. We were just saying though, you know we could have gone crazy and blew through all our money on nights out and vacations and stuff that would carry no further value to us today. Instead we have a nice new washer/dryer, a laptop which has been heaven on earth for me - I can work while watching the kids or without locking myself away in another room - sometimes I have mindless work to do in the evenings - I do it while I hang out with the family - couldn't without the laptop. We have preschool which is good for everyone in the house, and a gardener which saves SO many headaches. SO we went crazy - we don't regret any of our purchases. Dh has his theatre room, we have 2 decent cars that should last a LONG time. We were saying "so what?" if we have to cut back for a few years as we re-evaluate and put extra money into retirement and as we build back up our cash. At least we didn't blow our money on stuff that we didn't value, that is gone. So we can enjoy what we have for years to come. IT was just interesting as we looked at it that way.

We may NEVER have the money to go on a fancy vacation, to buy NEW furniture, or to eat out more. Some parts of my budget are still as tight as they were as a kid in college making minimum wage. Oh well. There is luckily plenty there for all that we value.

We could value retirement even more and sacrifice some of the fun and fancy things - no doubt. But I think we found a nice balance. I Think too since I love my job I am not in a huge hurry to retire - makes all the difference!

& that is what truly matters.

I am sure everyone's values and non-values will read a little different, and that is fine by me - I don't expect everyone to value what we value. Any mix is fine as long as it is attainable and makes you happy! I think it just gets extra hard with the "keeping up with the joneses" mentality because then way too many "things" flood your "value" list - so many that most of us will never realistically afford. & so goes the debt cycle.

I actually have a rather substantial list (well we both do) of material things we think we might like - and they do tend to be big. But since they don't fit in our overall plans for now they are just on the back burner for now. But I Won't cry about it. We have plenty and I know more things won't make us happier. Why I Am happy to set many things aside... They are at the back of our minds maybe one day when the mortgage is paid and our retirement is set, things we would consider. Then we would value experiences and fancy vacations more. But for now they don't fit with our financial picture and our goals and I think we will live just fine without.

Good article today from Laura Rowley:

http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/moneyhappy/21840


I love Suze ORman & Laura Rowley. My little obsessions before finding savingadvice.com and getting all obsessed over here - LOL.

They are both very similar in they get past the basics of finance and into more interestingly the psychology of our savings and spending habits. Very interesting. I love watching Suze because no doubt she is like a psychic. Just tell a little blurb about your problem and she can read deeper into the underlying problems - can usually hit the nail on the head pretty fast too.

Plus there isn't really nothing going to make me more warm and fuzzy and see how well we are doing financially compared to most the callers. IT is definitely a selfish thing too. Well that and I have learned A LOT. When I First tuned into her show she was telling people to get credit cards. I Said - huh? BEing raised with the motto "debt is bad so avoid it all costs" it has been hard for me to wrap my brain around. I worked a deal with my parents and lent $5k for them with 3% interest last year. Ever since I watched Suze I have rethought that decision. I could have had 0% credit card, because I have the discipline and the money in the bank to pay it off. Woulda coulda shoulda. Suze started me on my path of rethinking paying all the debt first. It hasn't necessarily served us well to be so anti-debt. It has, but I now see that not only you should avoid it, but better yet use it to your advantage. & so I am learning.

But I really enjoy Laura Rowley's columns too, just into the deeper digging of how money affects us beyond the wealth it brings us, etc. I started reading her columns thinking more "amen sister" as we have very similar philosophies on money. But she always has some interesting light to shed about personal finance too.

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/money/abox/article_1548...

YEs, we have been telling all of our clients to take pictures of everything they donate. Not to submit to the IRS, but to keep with your records, to prove in audit what you donated. IT is the best bet, a good rule going forward, to take picture of everything. I have a pile of nice stuff for Goodwill that I haven't dropped off yet because I want to take a good picture of it (Want my write-off!).

The article did not mention though that small cash donations will require receips starting Jan. 1 (primarily affecting church collection plate donations). So FYI on that one too:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/religion/chi-07010...

Jan. 17 - $ 00.00 ????
Jan. 16 - $ 37.00 Gas
Jan. 15 - $115.00 Replace Tire & Groceries
Week 2 total: $278.05
Week 1 total: $374.24

**2 no spend days**

Items bought new in 2007:
Nintendo DS accessories (2) (dh)
Underwear(dh)
Packing Tape
Bubble envelope
Shipping Labels

Items bought used in 2007:
Tire for Car

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

Cars are gassed and groceries replenished, family is healthy and well. Maybe we will come up on some no-spend days, eh???

I am actually having a pretty luxurious weekend! Dinner out and movies Friday, better yet without kids!!!! Going to our favorite Indian Restaurant - Gaylords. We used to go to this wonderful cheapie place and they went out of business last year. I would have taken back all the coupons if I had known - we ate there 2 for 1 every so often, plus good lunch buffet. But we also are in love with this big Fancy restaurant in the Bay Area - Gaylords by Fisherman's Wharf. The budget rarely allows such fine dining, but the head chef apparently moved to the Sacramento area and opened one up here (there is a Gaylords in Australia and Japan too I believe - quite a chain). Anyway, but WE in lowly old Sacramento get the HEAD CHEF. Oh, it is DIVINE. I think the last time we went was June. I remember we went then. We have to go a little more often and keep them in business I think!

It is the same old story- everyone sick of Bay Area prices spreading out. Sacramento is feeling more like home every day to us. Though we really do need more Indian restaurants here please. We used to be able to walk to a little affordable Indian place from our condo back home. Miss that indeed.

Well, Monday we are going to the Kings game (basketball). I am not a big sports fan, but a game is always fun. A friend took me once back in the year we moved. Taking my mom and she is so EXCITED. My boss gave me tickets - we have pretty good seats. have actually tried and tried to get playoff tickets every year to no avail. So it's been a while.

So I actually have a pretty luxurious weekend planned. I have been to 1 Kings game and I Told dh since the game is free and all, I had to get NACHOS. HE was teasing me like - about how he hears everyone goes for the nachos. Well yeah, what's the point otherwise? LOL!!!

ETA: Phew - the ICE is officially gone today. Woohoo!!!!! Hopefully it stays away.
You don't how happy I was to see running in water in the gutters today instead of ICE!

When I pulled into work yesterday and had to park on ice and slip around in my high heels I decided I better start checking the weather. I had no idea we were still having a freeze. LOL.

So I looked last night - more ice.

Then I look today to see what I Could expect tomorrow.

Well tonight there will be FREEZING RAIN. Huh????? LOL.

I actually had quite a few friends who moved up to Oregon and they were talking about freezing rain a while back - if not for that probably would have never even heard of it.

http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_causes_freezing_rain.htm

You do not know how close we came to cashing out our house and moving to ORegon last year. After a week of this I am done - I don't care how rich we would be - we are never leaving California. I Would absolutely die.

Enough with the ice already!!!!!

Today is extra brutal because I had 2 client meetings (very unusual - I usually only see clients in spring). I ransacked my wardrobe trying to figure out what to wear. I finally decided a light sweater under a spring dress, with my jacket that won't button. Maybe a little silly with the sweater peeking out but I don't care. I also brought a knitted blanket to cover my lap the rest of the day while I Work at my desk. So far so good.

So I went out to clients and ran some errands and I am totally out of gas. The running from the car to the buildings is not a biggie, but standing outside and pumping gas in a spring dress is absolutely insane. But that is what I Will do tonight - hehe. I might go home and get a big jacket and some warm clothes first - if I Can make it home. I Was trying to think back why my car was out of gas - felt like it shouldn't be sitting in the garage with a flat for days. Then I remembered I Was driving dfh and kids all over tarnation last week while he was ill. That would explain it!

My favorite is that freezing rain is "tonight" but I Can't see what time anywhere. I assume it would be fine around 6pm or when I leave work. Oy vey. If it was going to be earlier than middle of the night you think they would shut down the roads - people here haven't a clue how to drive in this weather. Well I keep checking the weather and radio I guess... GOing on day 5 of FREEZING. Brrrr....

Oh I know it could be way worse but this is HUGE out here... It is crazy!! Everyone is in a tizzy...

Jan. 11 - $59.00 Daycare & Toddler Class
Jan. 10 - $77.00 Health copay, drugs, fast food
Jan. 9 - $00.00
Jan. 8 - $16.30 Groceries
Week 1 total: $374.24

**2 no spend days**

Items bought new in 2007:
Nintendo DS accessories (2) (dh)
Underwear(dh)

Items bought used in 2007:
Nada

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

For whatever reason I am in a good mood which is good because this has been a REALLY crappy week. The funny thing is I remember last year starting out REALLY crappy. Luckily it improved greatly, I remember it being a pretty good year overall, but it seems to be the same phenomenom.

Today was a very spendy day and tomorrow isn't looking better. $50 to go to the doc, some vertigo medication, and about $12 for Carls Jr. Dinner. & oh my gosh!!!!! I don't remember the last time I bought a soda at a fast food place, but I wanted fries and the meal was really cheap so I figured I'd just get the meal - cheaper than just getting the fries too. So they gave me this big huge monster soda. I put in the straw and it got swallowed up by the cup - LOL. Then I realized they had given me a super long straw for that one. I drank about 1/3 of the soda (too much) and tossed the rest. Dh's reaction when he saw it was pretty funny too. He is like what in the heck is THAT? It could feed a small village... But I got the jalapeno burger and it was REALLY good. Got my veggies...

When I got home I realized I had a flat tire though - going along with the whole crappy week thing. The worst is my last car was in a constant state of flat tire and I was just discussing flat tires with my co-worker, must have been Monday. & of course I open my big mouth - oh yeah my Saturn attracted flat tires and I haven't had any since getting rid of it - phew. Could I have jinxed myself any better??? I don't even know how long it has been flat. That is the worst. To make a very long story short I think I will call AAA Friday to come change the tire ("free") and have dh either get it plugged or get a new used tire at the cheapo place- depends how bad off it is - I have no idea. But it seemed to be sudden, so I am thinking maybe the tire is shot. A plug would maybe be $10, used tire maybe $50. Nothing huge either way, but still a PITA. I was going to change the tire myself but dh talked me out of it. I feel kind of silly calling AAA to my house but dh said he had done it before to change his tire - LOL. What the heck - might as well get my money's worth from AAA. I haven't used them in 5 years.

The other expensive thing this week is preschool. IT is already expensive but Big Monkey will probably go Thursday & Friday to cut dh some slack and she even had an opening for Little Monkey Friday. I don't know how necessary it is, but if dh could rest a little more would be great to do a trial run. Certainly when he turns 2 he can go in on a drop-in basis for emergencies and dh being sick and such. I think to some extent we will have to evaluate the cost-benefit for those times dh is sick for 1 day. But it would probably be good for him and for us, and nice to have more options. Ah, it is nice when they get older. Well we'll see how it goes. If he is miserable I Won't put him through that. HE is funny because he is shy but some places he just feels "at home" right away. So when we picked the big one up Monday he looked terrified and freaked out when the teacher, frankly the nicest lady I have ever met in my life, said "hi." He just started bawling. "Okay," I think, "not good!". So today we pick up big Monkey and he acts like he owns the place. So if he is in that kind of mood friday he will probably have a blast. IF not, I will save some money I guess and turn around and take him home. I guess my spending (& ability to work) friday will come down to the mood of a toddler. So be it!

Oh yeah but my mom who is having back problems insisted she will drive 2 hours to watch the kids tomorrow. She is crazy! So at least I get some free babysitting tomorrow (told her I'd send the older one off to make it easier on her) and a few hours in at work - phew. Though I am not holding my breath, as she may rethink this idea in the morning. But man, what would we do without family!!!