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Archive for December, 2012

Nest Egg Projections

January 1st, 2013 at 12:35 am

So here is a little thing I like to do at the end of the year. I take my retirement savings and project what they will be when I am 65 and 67. (My SS full-retirement age is 67. If it is possible, I will retire at 65.) I assume different average rates of return and see what I will have if I keep saving at my current rate, and if I stop saving.

Here are the results for my tax-deferred accounts:




And here are the results for my Roth:



What these tell me is that if I continue at my current savings rate and enjoy 7% returns, I will hit my targets of 600k tax-deferred and 150k Roth. If I don't earn 7%, or if I don't keep saving at my current rate, I will fall short.

My current savings rate is 2.4k into my Simple plus 1.4k of company match, and 3k into my Roth.

December 2012 Net Worth

December 31st, 2012 at 11:40 pm

Cash is up. Smile
Debt is down. Smile
Investments are up. Smile
Home Zestimate is up. Smile

Mortgage Amortization 2012

December 31st, 2012 at 11:14 pm

I've made 5 payments to my new mortgage already. This table shows how the payments broke down in 2012.




Not terribly exciting. Just think, only 355 more payments to go.

Budget Adjustments for 2013

December 31st, 2012 at 11:07 pm

* The payroll tax holiday is over.
* My credit card debt is gone.
* My grocery budget is not high enough.
* I need a line item for Emergency Fund.
* I need a line item for Vacation Fund.

All of this adds up to budget adjustments. Here is my new monthly budget:

December 2012 Budget Report

December 31st, 2012 at 10:48 pm

Looking Over December's Spending

December 29th, 2012 at 08:58 pm

I worked on updating my budget spreadsheet this morning, tallying all transactions and entering them into their respective categories. Spending is OK, I am over on "Groceries" and "Everything Else" because of holiday gifts and edible treats, but of course my bonus was extra income and paid for the lion's share of the extra spending. I will wait for the month to be over to post my budget report.

My checking account balance is ending the month lower than usual, and I realize why that is. I have started using my WF Visa for most things, and transferring money to pay in full within a day or two. So, instead of paying November's charges in December, I have paid the bulk of December's charges in December. I like it! Smile My Chase Freedom bill next month will be $47.30. My AmEx bill next month will be $152.39. There won't be a WF Visa bill, the balance is $0.

The AmEx bill represents 2 tanks of gas and groceries at my "on occasion" grocery store (not my regular grocery store). So, it is looking as though I will not be applying for the Preferred Card ($75 annual fee, 6% cash back on groceries, 3% cash back on gas). Not being able to use it at my regular grocery store is a deal killer.

From Jan 1 - Mar 31, gasoline is one of the bonus categories for Chase Freedom. So, I won't be using AmEx much at all for 3 months.

It looks as though I will have enough reward points on WF Visa by mid January (when the statement closes) to redeem for a $25 credit to my mortgage. I know from past experience they will hold it until Feb 1 then apply it. So, it looks like my first mortgage chip on my new mortgage is about 6 weeks away.





Wallet Sweep

December 28th, 2012 at 09:07 pm

Today is payday, so it is time for another wallet sweep. At lunch, I did my banking and deposited $27 from last payday's allowance, which I have already sent off to E Fund.

Little by little, my cash accounts are getting a bit fatter. Smile

Odds And Ends

December 28th, 2012 at 03:39 am

Well, Christmas was so nice this year. I had both of my children sleeping at my house on Christmas Eve, something which hasn't happened in years. Smile We went to see Les Miserables in the afternoon. They did a wonderful job.

Then it was back to work for 3 days, which as always this time of year is hectic. Just one more work day and then another 4 day weekend. Yay!

In addition to the generous bonus from my boss and the cash "tip" from a client, a client who owns a food distribution company gave me a nice box of meat. Steakhouse quality steaks and tri-tip. Mmmmm, we've really been enjoying them.

I received an e-mail yesterday from our local independent theater offering me free tickets to a documentary about global warming entitled "Chasing Ice". It looks interesting and the price is certainly right. J and I are going to see it tomorrow night.

I received an e-mail today from HauserNet (decoy mail company). They are switching from mailed paper checks to PayPal. They are also changing their payment policy. Instead of paying out once per quarter with a $10 minimum, they will be paying out once per month with no minimum. So, that is a nice change.

Received Xmas Card

December 19th, 2012 at 03:20 am

I think this is the 4th year in a row that a certain client has sent me a Xmas card with a nice hand-written note and a crisp $100 bill. It is so nice of him. Smile

Off to E Fund with the $100. It is nice to see those numbers getting a little larger.

With my Roth contribution this month, it puts me at 3k contributed for the year. 3k per year is my goal. I wouldn't mind exceeding it, but I am glad to have hit it. I think between now and April 15th, I will contribute 1k to my traditional for 2012 and save a bit on my tax bill.

I received my 1600 thread count sheets from No More Rack too. They are soft but thin. I am not entirely certain they were worth $31. I haven't slept on them yet.

Money In, Money Out, A Funeral

December 16th, 2012 at 04:55 pm

I had a plumber visit on Thursday to fix my garbage disposal. He will bill me, so I don't know what it cost yet. I have used him before, he is an honest man so I am confident the bill will be fair.

Friday was payday. I sent $820 off to CurveBall! My budgeted $420 plus $400 from my bonus. I did a wallet sweep and sent $10 to E Fund.

We are half-way through the month, and my spending is all on track.

In non-financial news, our receptionist/secretary's mother died last week. The funeral was yesterday. Tomorrow would have been her 50th birthday. She'd been fighting cancer for 3.5 years. Frown

The Dullest Blog

December 13th, 2012 at 04:40 pm

I saw this reference to a dull blog on another blog I read. I thought "oh gosh, I hope he isn't talking about me".

This is so funny, I thought I would share.

Text is www.dullestblog.com and Link is
www.dullestblog.com

Consumer Debt Free

December 11th, 2012 at 11:42 pm

Look over to the left on my sidebar. What do you see? Well, you don't see any credit card debt, because I logged on to bill pay and sent Citi MC $1,400.00.

It's been about 2.5 years I think, but I am consumer debt free once again! No credit card debt, no car loans, no student loans, NADA. Yay!!

Now the hard part: staying that way. Big Grin

Next I need to rebuild my cash savings. This will be my focus as we move into the new year.

Last night when I saw my mom, she gave me a check for $72. This pays for her cell bill for 1 year. I would pay for her cell anyway, but I appreciate the money. I tucked it into E Fund.

We had a nice dinner. Smile

Generous Xmas Bonus

December 10th, 2012 at 12:02 am

We had our company Christmas dinner last night. Along with a nice meal and a fun time, I received a check for 2k. Smile

What will I do with these riches? The first 1.3k is going to Citi MC. Along with my budgeted $100 December payment, that is the end of my credit card debt! Yay!! I will give $150 to each of my kiddos, and the final $400 will go to savings.

Tomorrow is my mom's 80th birthday. One of my nieces came to visit for a few days, along with her husband and 2 small children. I went to my mom's Friday night to visit. My brother showed up yesterday morning, so back I went to mom's. We had a cake and sang happy bday. Tomorrow night on her actual birthday, I will pick mom up and take her to her favorite restaurant, The Elephant Bar.

My brother has a timeshare, and plans to go to Mexico next summer. My mother wants to go. This means she wants me to go. I don't know that I can swing it. But I want to go, I don't want to be her excuse for not going. My brother says we can rent a 2 bedroom condo for 2 weeks for $773. That is inexpensive, but of course there is still airfare, meals, and a rental car. I told mom I will see what I can do, but that I don't know. I have always wanted to see some Mayan or Aztec ruins in Mexico. I also have nothing against the beach. Smile

BF has been working with a realtor towards getting his mom's house sold. They plan to list in the spring.

Christmas Plans

December 2nd, 2012 at 05:37 pm

We don't do a lot of gift giving in my family amongst adults. Now that both of my kids are pretty much grown, they aren't into the "magic" of wrapped presents under the tree.

So, I will give each of my kids $150. I will fill stockings with candy for my kids and my son-in-law too. I picked up a small gift for my daughter the other day, 2 pair of cute slipper-type socks with cats on them. (She loves cats). I may or may not buy similar small gifts for my son and son-in-law. BF and I have agreed to not exchange gifts.

A few months ago, son and I heard some reference to "It's a Wonderful Life" and it went right over son's head. It was then I realized, he has never seen it! Our local old-timey independent movie theatre and live event venue will be showing the film on Dec 22nd. I think that will be an awesome way for son to see this classic for the first time.

My daughter and son-in-law will spend the night here on Christmas Eve. My son will be with his Dad most of the day (since Christmas falls on a Tuesday), but will be here Christmas night. I think I will make my "chicken and italian beans" recipe which is an old favorite. (Chicken breasts cooked with italian beans, tomatoes, and garlic). I usually serve it with ranch mashed potatoes and french bread.

The newest movie version of Les Miserables will be in theatres Christmas day. The previews look fabulous! I intend to treat everyone to that, but possibly not on Christmas day. Les Miserables is one of the plays I have taken my daughter to see in San Francisco during her teen years. We were both completely "wowed" by the production. I can hardly wait to see this movie.

November 2012 Net Worth

December 1st, 2012 at 07:16 pm

Debt is down. Smile
Cash is up. Smile
Investments are up.Smile
Home Zestimate is up. Smile