July 28, 2010
I’m barely mentally unpacked from San Diego Comic Con, and I’m looking up another itinerary to go back down to SoCal. I haven’t been *home* since May but this is another quick round trip. Possibly even a same day trip.
In a couple months, we’ll be memorializing the passing of my dear friend’s beloved father. We lost him exactly midway between my birthday and his – we were four days apart and he always joked that I was four days older than him. Growing up, I hated my birthdays because they were always strangely lonely, now I don’t know how to feel about it.
Every year that passes and takes with it another loved one makes every memory and tradition that much more poignant.
I’m considering using my Southwest award tickets for this trip. Between the recent vacation spending, the purchase of tickets for next year’s vacation, the upcoming dental expenses for both my parents, it behooves me to stop bleeding cash.
July 11, 2010
With a few minor deviations, like having paid rent for July already, I’ve pulled together what should pretty accurately reflect my financial month of June. I keep wondering if I should continue to post these reports. They were always meant to keep me accountable and make it really easy to keep track of whether or not I’m making progress, but there’s the niggling thought that perhaps it comes off as bragging after you reach a certain point.
The seemingly “steady” creep up is just the aftereffects of the great push, also known as: $5K/5K challenge. Not a penny was from regular earnings, almost every cent of that is being spent on regular expenses.
There’s something that I’ll soon, in the spirit of full financial disclosure, share with you in a future post that has radically affected my finances recently.
In the meantime, however, there are things that have to change about the picture you see above.
One, there haven’t been any contributions in my retirement accounts since I started this job. That’s because, dear friends, I’ve been a slacker in the last two months and couldn’t decide what to do about that blasted 401(k) issue. I hate passing on free money vs. I’m not convinced the match (total of 4% to my 5%, I misread the literature before) is worth the extra fees.
Two, I’ve been paying all my parents’ expenses since leaving, but I keep wondering if there’s a way I can squeeze out a little more to give them a small cash allowance as well. Although they have my credit cards, I know there’s something disheartening about never having real money on hand. That may not be possible though, because point three is…
I’d like to have at least $1,000 saved just for their dental expenses. The moving fund is in ok shape, not enough for deposits, a move, and all that yet, but I also need another $1,000 for their dental. Their coverage is, frankly, crap.
I was going to keep going but this is going to turn into a wish list if I do. Best to stick with these for now.
July 23, 2009
It’s been nearly a week and I still haven’t mustered the courage to try and figure out how much this one’s going to cost.
On the way home from the airport, a huge chunk of asphalt or rock popped up from the right lane, and smashed into the lower right corner of my car. I was fairly certain that it mostly hit the bottom of my car, but as we drove on, I could hear an ominous whistling. Upon close inspection, the object did hit the bottom of my car which is already *ahem* damaged and still unrepaired, but even worse! It’s smashed the housing for my daytime running light. The bulb is fine, but the housing is completely destroyed.
Big. Fat. Sigh.
I’m not even going to deal with this until Comic-Con is over.
(still thinking about it, though….)
May 18, 2009
Finally home.
32 hours of this weekend were a bolus of driving and domesticity the likes of which will not be repeated for at least another month. Unless absolutely necessary.
BFF had her baby, and at two weeks and 9 lbs, he is the cutest dragon baby I’ve ever had the pleasure of cuddling. Opinions are divided as to whether it’s more of a dragon or dinosaur-like child, but I’m voting dragon. And Auntie Revanche drove 8 hours round trip to cook, clean, wash and fold for this child’s parents, so she’s entitled to a full vote!
After a 4 hours on the road Saturday, and a stop at the grocery store, I let the proud and sleep-deprived mommy get to changing yet another diaper while I rolled my sleeves up in their kitchen. They had their very own live cooking show, and her husband and our other friend were occasionally drafted as my sous chefs.
After almost four hours in the kitchen, I’m proud to say that Kevin’s Turkey Chili recipe [sans beans, plus multi-grain rice] was excellent. Likewise, his recipe for tilapia with pesto and roasted tomatoes was excellent and disappeared entirely. But the variation on the theme of Hainanese chicken and rice disappointed (me). We substituted a brown rice which was delicious, but I had to use deboned frozen chicken breast meat instead of a whole chicken, and probably used just a cup or two too much water when making the chicken stock. The rice was more moist than I prefer, but the chicken just wasn’t perfect.
Never mind, though. Having never made any of those recipes, two of three under pressure and in doubled quantities turning out well isn’t a terrible showing. [Clearly, I am no longer a perfectionist. Not after nearly 4 hours in the kitchen.] The point was to make decently cooked meals with enough leftovers for the Husband’s lunch and their dinners for at least a couple days. BFF is only just now able to get around a bit, so this should give her a chance to slowly ease into a more active routine.
Our visiting meant they were eating off real china for the first time in weeks since I was more than happy to deal with pots, pans, and dishes, three loads of laundry, and snapped 689 photos of baby.
I’d like to think we were exemplary house guests, for once. 😉
I split the cost of gas with Friend ($19), and paid for the groceries ($21). I got off lightly on the grocery front because they already had the frozen chicken and the turkey, so I only had to buy one protein of the three.
My reward was cuddling dragon baby during the movie after dinner, and darned if it wasn’t the most blissful two hours ever. He’s like a half puppy half baby right now the way he curls up in his sleep, and snuggles into your shoulder or neck. *sigh* Baby squeaks are irresistably darling. Can’t say I’d mind borrowing him once in a while if he stays this lovable. Though, I only think the crying is cute up to about a month old. Even the angry crying. After that, though, it’s a bit too loud.
April 30, 2009
| Retirement Savings |
Roth IRA: $4,031
401(a): $6,551
403(b): $14,390
Total: $ 24,972 (22,362)
|
| Emergency Savings |
Catastrophe: $ 29,352
Problem Cushion: $ 1,000
Total: $ 30,352 (29,721)
|
| Short Term Goals |
Car Maintenance: $1,068
Insurance: $2,539
Travel/Con: $401
Taxes: $3,365
Moving: $3,469
Total: $ 10,842 (8,633)
|
| Long Term Goals |
House Down Payment: $101
|
| Investment Loans |
Prosper-ish: $12,630
Personal Loan: $2,000
Savings Bond: $362 (current accrued value)
Total: $ 14,992 (15,992)
|
| Total Assets |
Illiquid: $ 24,972
Semi-Liquid: $14,992
Liquid: $30,352
Expense Acct: $9,960
Goals Savings: $10,842
Total: $ 91,118 (86,841)
|
| Debt and Liabilities |
Citi 2: $177
Chase: $650
Rent: $1,360
Total: $ 2,187 (1,786)
|
| Net Worth |
$ 88,931 (85,055)
|
Notes and nothings:
Continuing to stash cash in the emergency fund, which may as well be called the unemployment fund at this point, and in the retirement funds to “front load” for the rest of the year in case I’m unable to contribute.
Upcoming expenses: the auto insurance is due mid-May, and I’ll be responsible for paying the life insurance independently once I’ve separated from employer. I’m not terribly concerned, that account is relatively healthy for now. As long as I’m gainfully employed sooner rather than later ….
I spent a lot this month. On the bag which I’m still really enjoying (I haven’t had a “where’s my PHONE??” panic attack since getting it), and on a lot of small eating-out ventures. Small is usually about $5 or less, but they can add up, too. Not to worry, I’m still on the brown-bagging wagon. Oh, and there was the surprise bridesmaid dress.
Of late, there’s been a significant shift in my mentality towards spending and acquisition. First, I really just don’t want all that much stuff. Less isn’t more, it’s just less. And I much prefer that. Second, even though I won’t part with money unnecessarily, some things are worth spending on: travel, quality goods that serve their purpose well and with class. For years, I was willing to buy cheap, and relatively cheaply made clothes that were basically “good enough.” I just got sick of hunting for clothes that fit me and my budget so I settled. Now, good enough isn’t good enough. A serious purge of the closet is underway, and at some point, I’ll need to restock a few key pieces. And thanks to all the fashion advice in the PF world, I might actually be picking up some style points. Is this what growing up feels like? Maybe it’s just what getting older feels like.
[Full disclosure: I’m still happiest in a t-shirt/tank top and comfy pants. But if I want to be taken seriously IRL, webcomic tees are probably not the way to go.]
February 3, 2009
The truck sold. What’s next?
Well, I’m pretty sure that the sale price didn’t come close to breaking even against the amount of money I’ve expended on the truck payments since last July, I’m not even checking, but it did cover the lump pay-off sum of $2356, with some cash to spare.
The question is: what do I do with that “extra” money?
My first reaction was to kick that money over to pay off the family car. It’s just about the right amount to pay it off, and would remove one more loan from the family resources. (That car is currently my parents’ responsibility, and not under my name.) It would free up cash flow about 7 months earlier than expected.
My second reaction was to put it in the emergency fund because I’m neurotically squirreling money away.
My third reaction was to leave it in the expenses fund because that’s where the money came from in the first place, and I’m a BIG fan of paying myself back.
Lastly, there’s a hybrid option. I could give them some partial assistance monthly, depending on how much they need to break even between my mom’s (piddling) disability money and my dad’s erratic income. By my calculations, it appears that they should only be running short a hundred or so each month until April. At that time, another monthly obligation falls off the balance sheet, and they should be fine with regards to the few debts I don’t pay for them.
As much as my gut reaction is just to pay it all off, I don’t want to nip this budding sense of responsibility that my dad’s developing. I want to encourage him to work with me because I’m just not up for ANY more shenanigans.
Thoughts?
October 9, 2008
Savvy at $ out of 15 cents posed an interesting question: Could you survive on half your pay?
I’m almost always up for a challenge, but that one gave me pause, and made me sit back a little.
Do you think you could do it? What would you have to do to make that happen? Have you already done it (like FB)?
Single Ma’s discussion of unemployment and this question are right up my alley. Just this morning, I was wondering how much unemployment I might draw if politics go badly and our entire office is laid off/closed. This is a possibility and a colleague and I have been preparing for the worst for a few months now. (Hence my major push to beef up the defenses.)
If I were laid off? Apply for unemployment, devote myself to applying for jobs full-time, try taking on freelance work to supplement the emergency fund. I’ve already cut out just about all splurges so that option is constantly exercised.
If nothing else, being aware of the possibility/employment environment is highly critical. I know someone who didn’t read the signs in her place of employ and bought herself a new car when her old one died recently. She’s been struggling with her mortgage, and was suddenly let go last week. Really rough.
