Just a 41-year-old mom of 2 in Northern California. My kids are Monkey Monkey(MM) and Drama Llama (DL). I am married to Monkey Hubby (MH).
We were a one-income family for 13 years. In late 2015 my spouse returned to work (minimum wage/part-time/seasonal). Something recent on his resume just buys us more options for the long run. The main benefit of this job is that he just works while the kids are in school. As always, we are saving 100% of his income.
We saved a lot while we were very young and also moved to a lower cost-of-living area, to make life much simpler. We still live in California though (in one of the most expensive regions of the U.S.). *Simple* and *inexpensive* is relative.
Likewise, we have never had debt aside from our mortgage.** My blog is a testament to how much simpler life is without debt; how we have that much more money to both save and enjoy!
**Caveat: I have no problem whatsoever with credit cards paid off monthly, or low-risk credit arbitrage (for example, 0%-interest debt while earning 5% on FDIC-insured cash). These are the kinds of debt we have had. Just not interested in high-interest debt, using debt to buy beyond means, and not interested in the hassle that comes with loans and payments. With age and means, the latter (hassle) is our biggest debt avoidance motivation.
In 2017 we are adding both our kids to our cell plan. This will add a whole $12 to our monthly cell bill, which was only $30/month for the two of us. Thank You TING!
BTW, Ting did also lower their rates, if you haven't checked the numbers recently.
...Not entirely sure how we will fund this. Because my salary decreased by $12,000 this year, this was the obvious thing to give. It will have to come from gifts, MH's income, my bonus, and/or shifting money from taxable investments. Funding our IRAs is always our first priority, but just will not be funded from my salary.
...$550/month, plus interest.
...This is the minimum for the match; I'd otherwise rather fund IRAs.
...In years past I had funded with OT, but am no longer working at a job with OT. This is a placeholder because we skipped 2018. If we have a windfall of any sort, I'd like to pay down $3,000 for 2018 and $3,000 for 2019. For now, this is our lowest financial priority (expect to fund some home improvements instead during 2019, and tend to other expensive cash flow items first).
In addition, we save 100% of MH's (net) income ~ most goes to 401k/taxes.
$500,000 in retirement accounts by age 45.
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.
Took on a $230k mortgage in 2001 and have not added to that.
Net Worth: Increase net worth by $600,000 in the next 10 years. This is my "financial independence" goal.
This is in line with prior goal, saving 100% of our expenses every year.
How To...
Home > Gas!!!!
Gas!!!!
I guess since I put dh on preschool duty so I could work more, I haven't needed gas so much. I finally went today and about fainted - OMG. $3.05/gallon for unleaded. Last time I filled up I thought it was $2.60 or something Yikes!
What a shocker.
A little bummed because my friend invites me to this festival in the Bay Area every year and it is always a saturday during tax season - no way. But this year I think I can make it. However, I have second thoughs looking at the gas pump today. blech. If we could take the BART, all the better, but this is somewhere in the southwest side of the Bay where public transport is much more scarce and expensive. Bummer.
Well, we'll see... I might just have to work anyway. Kind of looking forward to freedom, freedom from work, soon enough, only to be holed up in home because gas is so pricey... Figures. Gas this price in March scares the heck out of me. What will summer bring? Around here public transportation is for the most part prhobitively expensive. But if it gets worse in the summer, I will certainly evaluate once again...
This also means our trip to So Cal will no doubt be in dh's little Escort again. Well, I won't knock it, nice to have a car that gets 40mpg. But it is kind of ridiculous to get the van for big trips, and be too cost averse to use it. Should have held out for a hybrid or something. I Feel like an idiot using it as a commuter car with these prices. Dh is adverse to me driving his car but I think he better get over it - fast! His adversity means every mile I drive costs twice as much and I am the one that drives every day to work. Grrr...
Yes, drive that more efficient car! Me? I'm reminding myself to walk more often. Fortunately I live where that makes sense. Healthy, too!
As I was filling my tank this morning, the price changed from $2.28 p/gal. to $2.41 p/gal. I usually don't top it off...I did today since I got it at the lower price.
Why such a large increase all at once? Anyone know?
Gas here is $3.25 as of yesterday, eeks!
2.79 here. I hate to think of what it will be next week!
Thankful to be a telecommuter!
Note to self: Check gas prices!
No one seems to question why gas price increases like it did when crude oil is in the mid $50s. Last time we paid $3+ for gas, crude oil was in the mid $70.
Good point kimiko, I am always suspicious about this. I always notice they can get gas prices down right before elections and then they soar during the summer when everyone is driving around the country, very fishy indeed!
I just never pass a gas station. I Was thinking today because I took a different route and saw a few - ick. I usually only see gas prices when I go get gas. But yeah, I could keep up a little better - hehe.
It's because of the refinery fire a few weeks ago, I think this time it was in California. Even though it didn't effect the supply chain for about two weeks, gas prices shot up right away anyway. They always do. They always come down way slower when things are working again than the supply indicates as well. Just another way to take advantage of the customer. And when I say take advantage, I actually mean screw over, but I'm too polite to say that. Wait, no I'm not.
Anyone else ever notice that these refinery fires, explosions, spills, and accidents all seem to occur when prices have been semi-low for awhile? Never when they are already high. I don't think its my garden variety conspiracy theorist mind, either. It happens far too often.
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