Lux Living Frugalis

Quickie-lite Blurbettes!!



blurb 1)Scaled Hubster's 401-K contributions back to only get the matching and the rest that we've been putting there will now go into his Roth IRA. He was convinced when we started that we couldn't even put back 1%!!! Slowly over time I inched us up to 10% but we only need 6% to get all matching funds. He's now convinced that we can save on our income!!


blurb 2)Hubster has agreed to let me take what's needed (about $3700)from savings to round him up to the complete $5000 IRA contributions he can make for 2006! YEAAAAAAAAAA DOGGIES!!! The man is finally coming around. It will have to go into conservative investments for him as he is so near to retirement, but at least we'll have met the yearly contribution...and then we are on to seeing what all we can do for 2007 contributions. The above change in the 401-K contributions will help.

blurb 3)Showing him the monthly statements that his money is now growing instead of just stagnating has been helpful. And for all of you out there who are dealing with spouses who are not yet on board, keep rowing, sooner or later you're bound to hit some smoother waters. The Hubster is finally beginning to realize he has to put his money out to Hard Labor before it can come back to knock on his door!

blurb 4)Adding $1.02 in change to the $20 Challenge to get the April party started.

I'm inching my automatic contributions to my separate 'Bank Run' Retirement account up a little bit at a time.

This month we went from 42.00 to 43.00. Not a large increase but this is how I make it less painful. We'll see how this month goes as I started the Ameritrade Suze Orman dealybop and it may tax my little income beyond strain.

You know like those lycra shorts that just because we can get in them doesn't mean we should trot on down to the Walmart store in and scare the local population. KWIM???

I may have to scale this back again, but we'll see. Let's just keep our fingers crossed hoping that seam doesn't rrrriiiipppppppp!!!

No, $1.00 doesn't stretch me too thin, but the extra $50 over to Ameritrade might!

I plan to go this afternoon to the Antique Mall and pick up my March check and see if there is good news there or not. Sales have been off here since the first of the year because of all the bad weather we had and then since I was sick I didn't get to go restock/reorganize but maybe once or twice since the end of the year and I usually go once a week. Hopefully I'm now up to snuff health wise so that I can work it the way it deserves and thusly increasing my income from it.

Anyway, posted income of $3.67 interest income on that little growing account over on the right for March. When this reaches $1000, I'll be popping it off somewhere - likely into a CD, t-bill or to buy a tax lien certificate or some such thing. This is my 'different retirement basket' than my Roth IRA.

Updated mortgage balance today to $22,443.24 w/expected payoff of August 2012.

Spinning Wheels



Okay, life has been revolving on without me and rather sucky over here with the crappy recurring blue-funk 'lost my voice' cold/virus/whatever that we kept passing back around and around at my house. To update the info over on the right...

Paid another $419 on the house - 353.96 normal payment and 65.04 in extra principal. I will update the new balances later.

In Piggy for $20 Challenge for the month is: $23.10 - that is now going into my Roth IRA instead of to the mortgage as I was doing in the past. And speaking of the ol' Roth it finally made it's way from ING over to Fidelity.

Lawseeeeeee, but those folks sho' do take their own little sweet time getting this stuff done. You may not remember but I made my first inquiry into doing this in late DECEMBER folks and it just made it to Fidelity this past week! Sheeesh!!!

We mailed all the paperwork in one envelope for the entire family's Roth IRA accounts over to Fidelity on the same day back in early January I believe. In February I had to mail it again since because true to everyone's predictions of course it must of got lost over at ING!

Hubster's got moved about 3 weeks ago. Mine went early in the past week. CashHappy & Frugal's had to have paperwork mailed a THIRD time!!! I've had to call several times as well.

CashHappySon's made it over yesterday.


And get this -- FrugalSon's is still sitting in ING!


Another call to Fidelity yesterday and hopefully things are moving again. It be enough to make a body pull the very hairs out of their head! Nothing like feeling you are spinning your wheels, heh? THIS is how 'banks/brokerages' act when you want to move your money OUT - but don't YOU dare be late making a payment! GRRRRR and ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!

So far in my Roth at Fidelity I've gone w/FFNOX and FAGIX. I'm still deciding where else to go.

For March to my ADDITIONAL retirement savings goes the bank run money which evened out to a nice $10.11 in change & my regular $42.00 contribution this month. Nothing too exciting.

Of other QUICK news I did read Suze Orman's new book in March and started my $50 account at Ameritrade. We'll see how it goes. Depending on income this may set me back in my keeping up the $42 autodraft on the BankRun monies. I'm hoping that there is enough coming in to do both.

Besides being sick for most of it and as March was a rather long month following the shorter days for earnings of February let us just say that I've had quite a few days of No Spending during March. AND, that I've gotten quite creative in stretching out the pantry goods for meals.

Only one more day till I spend money again! YEEHAH!!! My refrigerator will be grateful for something to cool off! And my crew is getting ready for some 'fresher' foods.

(Do not worry - there was plenty to eat and plenty of money here that I could have gone and spent I am just working very hard to keep w/the YNAB philosophy of only spending last month's earnings in the next month.) Sticking with a budget is more difficult some months than others!

According To Ben, You Follow THE RULES

There! I said it!!

I love to read Ben Stein. He appears to be a very wise man who is also pretty money savvy!

Here's an article of his for all of those you like Broken Arrow and I who are STILL wondering what we want to be when we grow up...

According to Ben, all we have to do is follow the rules and...

Avoid Ruining Our Life!

Who knew!!

Money's Tight and You Need to Eat??


...then here's a little inspiration!!

Hungry Much?

http://hungryforamonth.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_hungryforam...

Hungry Much?

This blogger reminds me much of our own dear LRJohnson!!

All I can say is WOW!!

PTR Survey Site




Wanted to tell you about the PTR site that AutumnxButterfly mentioned over on Ima's blog. They say that they'll pay us to read e-mail, visit web sites, etc..

It's free to join and easy to sign up! CLICK THIS REFERRAL LINK TO VISIT:

TinklyCash.com

Thanks AutumnxButterfly!! I'm looking forward to getting into these PTR & survey sites and adding the money to my $20 Challenge. I really appreciate the partnership atmosphere here at SavingAdvice.com!

It's Mrs. Wilson's fault

If we pay an additional $64.50ish a month between now and August 2012 we will pay off our mortgage right at the same time The Hubster is slated for retirement.

The figures below do not include today's payment that I just made of $419.00, which was actually a nice rounded up figure of $65.04 + 353.96 to come out an even 419.00.



Countrywide's little accelerating payments calculator came up with this future forecast:


Scheduled Monthly Payment: $353.96
Total Additional Payments: $4,264.02
Total Interest Payments Without Pre-Payment: $5,721.46
Total Interest Payments With Pre-Payment: $4,601.53
Interest Saved: $1,119.93
Total Reduction in Term: 1 Year(s) 9 Month(s)

I'll be charting an updated mortgage balance tomorrow when today's payment posts - I'm expecting it to be in the 22,798.00 range.

~~THE CHANGE IN PLANS~~
I have decided that we will pay the extra 65ish a month, but won't be paying any additional down on the mortgage, thus making a change in my $20 Challenge.

Our joint budget (house budget) will be making the additional payment 65ish (early payoff right at retirement) and I'll be taking my $20 Challenge money and putting it directly into my Roth IRA instead of on the mortgage.

Thanks to everyone here for finally convincing me that it is the better option for our financial bottom line.

This is a compromise of sorts, as we could just take the 65ish and put it into retirement as well, but gosheedagnabit, I LIKE the idea of entering retirement with our home paid for.

The Bank Run Challenge $$'s will still go into my Extra Retirement Savings which will be invested outside of the Roth.

Last night finishing up February's books, I found I had $2.48 in change in my wallet. Taking it to the February challenge, as I was too sickly with the snizzles & snuffles yesterday to give a big rat's fanny...

...just shuffled off to bed in my furry houseslippers and flannel nightie w/the tissues sticking out 'my pockets! Here's hoping today is a better health day. Not to worry though, I'm wrestling with it!!





$20 CHALLENGE

$33.46 balance
+02.48 change pocket
______
$35.94 Feb Total

2007 Challenge $89.87
Cumulative Total $215.98

In other February news I was able to plow an additional $650.00 into my Roth IRA during the downturn in the market.

Bought on sale! YIPPEE.

This was extra sitting in my checking that wasn't really planned for anything else, so was tickled to have a bit to put in while things were selling at a discount. Only wish it were more. This amount is over and above my regular Roth IRA contribution.

Yesterday was a no spend day for me, but the house budget bought Arby's since the cook was sick last night.

HONK! HONK! BARK! SNIZZLE, and SNIFF! My, my, isn't THAT attractive? NOT!!

Thank God for Puff's Plus w/Aloe Vera and a very loving Hubster who takes care of Dr. Mom when she is sick!

Corporate Sponsors Update

It's been awhile and there are some nice samples that I've been sent that need to be appreciated:

From Proctor & Gamble is a very nicely sized large sample of Tide Coldwater!

From Unilever is a three pack of Sunsilk Anti-Flat Shampoo, Conditioner and Weightless Volumizing Creme.

From Gillette is a nice sample of Soft & Dri ClearGlide Powder Soft Anti-perspirant.

The Frugalis Family gives a loud shout of thank you to our generous corporate sponsors! Thank Ye! Thank Ye!!

2/24/07 Bank Run - Monthly Recap

Today's bank run was $3.33.

February 2007 monthly recap:

2/1 42.00 autodraft
2/3 $3.50
2/13 2.58
2/21 1.92
2/23 2.17
2/24 3.33

That should wrap up February on the deposit side...for a total of $55.50 extra into my personal retirement account. News of interest posted will come later, but should fall somewhere in the 3.30-3.60 range. Current balance is $835.57.

Of note is that today is the first time I didn't go myself but sent CashHappySon driving alone to make my deposit for me. Today is a Total Pajama Day for me! And will also be a No Spend Day.

I did spend a bit of time online requesting some new/old financial books from the public library to be delivered & held for me at my local branch. Will try to review them here if I catch the time & motivation both grooving on the same day.

Yesterday was a No Spender as well.

Washing My Wallet

I have a wallet that is made of cloth - I love it as it's huge and I can carry two checkbooks in it and loads more stuff. Anyway after listening to all the germy purse scare stuff this past week I was glancing at my black wallet and it was filthy. I mean when your black stuff is so dirty that you can see the dirt it's time to give a rinse, eh?

During the cleanout there falls out an extra $20 stuck back in all the folded up papers (my mad money I suppose). I'm taking it to the challenge. WA WA WA!!!

HEY - What do you mean it looks a little clunky??




$20 CHALLENGE
$13.46 balance
+20.00 walletwasheteria wa wa
______
$33.46 Feb MTD

2007 Challenge 87.39
Cumulative Total $213.50

HELLOOOOOOO SPRINGTIME!!



Good news is that I was able to turn off the heater today and open the windows and patio doors for some nice cross ventilation. It feels great when those fresh breezes come wafting through to help clear out the winter stuffiness!

When I left the house awhile a go I saw that I have two daffodils that are bloomed out by my driveway! HELLOOOOOO SPRINGTIME!!

Daffodils are always a Happy Sign!

Of financial note I spent $31.02 yesterday at the scratch n' dent and got some great buys - Catsup at 25 cents a bottle, crackers 50 cents a box, BBQ sauce 50 cents a bottle, syrup 35 cents a bottle, sausage 99 cents a roll, etc. Came home with five HEAVY sacks of groceries.

Blurbette Lite



Just a quick Blurbette Lite...

$20 CHALLENGE
13.26 balance
+0.20 jumped on my desk
_____
13.46 Feb MTD

Today saw eight books added to my Amazon account as available for sale.

How To Get A Clear Financial Picture
by James Geary



In his book

The Seven Stages of Money Maturity: Understanding the Spirit and Value of Money in Your Life, George Kinder relates an anecdote about Mullah Nazrudin, an ancient Persian sage and storyteller. Nazrudin walks into a bank to cash a check and the teller asks him to produce some identification. So he pulls out a...


Read more...

http://www.cfp.net/enewsletter/Feb2007.html#1

from: It's Your Turn, CFP Board eNewsletter, February 2007

*I'm still having trouble over at the forums getting to read. ACKKKK!!

Tax Efficient Mutual Fund Placement For Maximum Return




a useful article:

Maximum Returns: Tax Efficient

Piggy Is Golden!



This Year of the Fire Pig is really paying off! CashHappySon donates again.

Happy Happy PIG!! Can't wait til he starts getting rid of those golden George's!!

$20 CHALLENGE
$12.86 balance
+00.40 golden donation
______
$13.26 Feb MTD

2007 Challenge $67.19
Cumulative Total $193.30

Saturday's Ritual Bank Run



Took $1.92 from my leftover's on my allowance to the bank. Then I moved it to Emigrant. While I'm at the bank I get out the money for next week's allowance.

Would this work for everyone? ehh, probably not, but this way I have it available to spend during the week if I want, but if not, then off it goes to my extra retirement savings.

February Bank Runs
$42.00 2/1/07 autodraft
+06.08 previous Feb runs
+01.92 2/17/07 run
______
$50.00 Feb MTD bank runs

Cumulative Total $830.07

Year of the Fire Pig


Photocredit: atypyk

Well time is passing us by and it is the Chinese Year of the Fire Pig!!

Gotta set Piggy on Fire!! Time is Money!

CashHappySon gave me $2.29 in change to go to Piggy!! We're burning daylight over here!

$20 CHALLENGE

10.57 balance
+2.29 burning Pig
_____
12.86 Feb MTD

2007 Challenge $66.79
Cumulative Total $192.90

Of financial quicky note is that FrugalSon got a call yesterday from a place he put in his application for full time work. He wasn't home as he was at work (part-time job) and the lady did promise to call back next week to try to set up another time to interview him. Fingers crossed!

Pinky Wheel Driving



Cleaning out the wallet and adding $2.67 to the $20 Challenge monies.

$20 CHALLENGE
$07.90 balance
+02.67 addition
______
$10.57 Feb MTD

2007 Challenge $64.50
Cumulative Total $190.61

Spent $1.36 cash on Saturday getting CashHappySon a house-key to go on his new car keyring. He's 18, I guess it's time he finally has a key to the house!

Ha!

Some of you may find that odd, but since we homeschooled there just really hasn't been an occasion when one of us wasn't either already here or with the boys when they were going and coming from the house.

Of note is that the backup lights don't work on HiHoSilver Tanklilator and he'll have to be getting that fixed. The oil hasn't been changed since 2002 and since that oil change sticker is on the window there has been only about 500 miles put on the car. And, we put about 50 of those on there this past weekend bringing it home & around town on the backroads to let CashHappy get used to the monster sizing!

In addition to getting the backup lights fixed, an oil change and lube job is also in order The Hubster says.

This car was supposedly only driven to the grocery store...WELL, they either didn't shop often or the store was just next door or barely down the street!

A dream to drive - you know the kind, you barely need to touch the wheel w/a pinky. No, of course, I didn't let CashHappy see me driving that way Officer!

HiHoSilver Tankilator Limousine



PhotoCredit: Not his car, but one off the internet that looks just like it.


Took CashHappySon on Friday to buy him a different car - his old car, his starter car, has some upcoming issues so it is soon to be out of the picture.

Hubster works with a guy who's f-i-l owns a used car lot in a little town north of us...and we've had him w/his ear to the ground for us. On Friday he called w/a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis, garage-kept, 18,000 mile beaut!

After CashHappy got off work on Friday we ran up there and bought it. Hubster wanted it if CashHappy didn't. Thought we might have a 'SMACKDOWN' wrestling match over it. This car is a huge vehicle, but oh in such spiffy shape! He was able to pay cash for it - with a short-term loan from Mom & Dad, until his money returns from Emigrant.

He's excited. I didn't really think he'd want it because of it's size and age, but he loves it. It is silver and has really nice burgandy velvet interior. Very nice. The guy who owned it had broken his back and needed cash for medical purposes. So sad.

We've had to go out driving ALOT this weekend in it for CashHappy to get used to the MUCH bigger size than his little Ford Tempo. We had a guy look at the Tempo yesterday afternoon. Not our norm to buy one before selling the old, but this one was too good a deal to pass up.

Of course, we had to go let 'THE girl' see it. He calls it a limousine - and he's looking forward to driving her to the prom in it. Something like 'Go B.I.G. or go home!'

HiHoSilver Away!!

EEK! There are now FIVE cars sitting in my driveway!! ZOWSERS! At least they're all paid for! My poor neighbors, at least none of them are up on blocks!!

Weekly Bank Run



Took $2.58 on a bank run! Take THAT, my lil'turtle dove!! A dove was flying alongside the car racing us for part of the way!

45.50 balance
+2.58 2/10/07 run
_____
48.08 Feb MTD


Cumulative Total $828.15

Tag You're It!!



I've got $5.00 extra leftover from paying for my truck tag in my Truck Tag Escrow Account.

"Taking it to the challenge!" ~~L.L.Frugalis

Yes, I could leave it in there as a head-start for next year, but I'm consistent w/my budgeting so I feel confident that next year the money will also be sitting there waiting to pop on the next tag due date. KNOCK WOOD!!

Here's to putting back for known expenses!!

$20 CHALLENGE
$02.90 balance
+05.00 tag
______
$07.90 Feb MTD

2007 Challenge $61.83
Cumulative Total $187.94

Tidy Up


Photocredit: LuxLivingFrugalis (that's my Mom as a little girl holding her dolly in the picture to the right.)


Tidying up the change purse and wallet and find $2.35 to take to the challenge.

$20 CHALLENGE
$00.55 balance
+02.35 tidy up
______
$02.90 Feb MTD

2007 Challenge $56.83
Cumulative Total $182.94

Up .03 Cents



$20 CHALLENGE
$00.52 balance
+00.03 clean up keyboard
______
$00.55 Feb MTD

2006 Challenge 126.11
2007 Challenge 54.48
______________________
Cumulative Total $180.59

I think these 3 cents came from CashHappy, all I know is they are annoying me sitting on my keyboard and falling off when I get to typing too excitedly...we then have flying pennies!

Charting The Bank Run Money



This is an effort to chart the money that is in my Additional Retirement Savings that I add my Bank Run Challenge monies into.

2005
04/dep 05.00 int .00 bal 05.00
05/dep 37.22 int .06 bal 42.28
06/dep 45.05 int .15 bal 87.48
07/dep 41.80 int .30 bal 129.58
08/dep 00.00 int .37 bal 129.95
09/dep 01.25 int .39 bal 131.59
10/dep 06.64 int .46 bal 138.69
11/dep 36.00 int .45 bal 175.14
12/dep 55.99 int .66 bal 231.79

2006
01/dep 36.00 int .84 bal 268.63
02/dep 24.00 int .87 bal 293.50*
03/dep 125.80 int 1.24 bal 420.54
04/dep 39.46 int 1.61 bal 461.61
05/dep 48.61 int 1.89 bal 512.11
06/dep 96.00 int 1.58 bal 434.69**
07/dep 36.00 int 1.93 bal 472.62
08/dep 36.00 int 2.14 bal 510.76***
09/dep 46.02 int 2.25 bal 558.03****
10/dep 52.08 int 2.52 bal 612.63
11/dep 46.96 int 2.64 bal 662.23
12/dep 69.59 int 3.02 bal 734.84

2007
01/dep 42.00 int 3.23 bal 780.07
02/dep 45.50 MTD


Bank Runs Cumulative Total $825.57

KEY:
*started $36.00 autodraft
**withdrew $175.00 to get started w/ YNAB.com
***joined SA.com & increased autodraft to $42.00
****used $1.00 to start an additional Emigrant savings account

Hopefully making this a separate entry w/more spaces will make it more useful to read. Once the total reaches $1000.00 I'll be taking it out into the world to invest for my old age.

Week 5 Bank Run


Photo Credit: Worth1000.com

Took $3.50 to the bank in my Bank Run Challenge. I've been off of this for awhile as all of the remodeling and snow and ice has slowed me down.

01/07 .00 total (autodrafted 42.00)
02/07 3.50 MTD + 42.00 autodraft

Bank Run Challenge
2006 Total $32.98 (after joing SA.com)
2007 YTD $3.50
Cumulative Total $36.48

This extra (different than the $20 Challenge) is in addition to my regular retirement allocation and goes towards investments outside of the traditional retirement investment vehicles.

Right now this money sits in Emigrant piling up - when I get to the $1000 mark it will go out further into the world in some investment or another...depends upon the financial signs of the times prevelant at that moment.

For you newbies, this is money saved out of my spending allowance. Money I was able to conserve by having those No Spend Days. The thing is to have it available to spend if I need it, but if not, then off it goes towards my future. It's usually taken to the bank on Saturday and then moved immediately to an online bank where it can earn higher interest.

To Work, My Pretty Slaves!!

(edited to add): I am updating the Bank Run Challenge portion over on the right as it never did reflect truly how the Bank Run works out for me. I've been doing this since April of 2005 long before joining the Saving Advice.com community. At some point during the game I decided to add automatic drafts for a portion of this and that is the monies that wasn't being reflected here on the site.)

What I would like newbies to pay attention to is the number in the middle -- the interest being earned while we sleep. It keeps growing/compounding because it is compouding upon itself. No, these aren't any big numbers YET, but you'll notice that they do get bigger each month. All together that is $28.60 that Hubster and I did not have to earn by working.

Exceptions to it increasing are when I took money out for a good cause (stop the paycheck to paycheck cylce w/You Need A Budget.com) and when interest rates dropped back a bit.

Little bits added to more little bits does begin to take off! This money is above and beyond what the house budget contributes towards me having a decent old age and was previously being frittered away!

~~!!Let's Get This Party Started!!~~



CashHappySon gave me .44 for helping him buy an MP3 player online last night. Mom as Shopper fees are indeed helping me w/my challenge - however, I do think I need to increase my rates!

Cleaning out the change purse netted me an additional .08 cents for the $20 Challenge.

$20 CHALLENGE
$00.00 February beginning balance
+00.44 shop fees
+00.08 tidy wallet
______
$00.52 Feb MTD

2007 Challenge $54.45
Cumulative Total $180.56

Also updating the mortgage balance over to the right to $23,023.85 as yesterday's payment posted.

Frugalis Family Rose To The Occasion



This morning was time to count Piggy to see if the Frugalis Family was able to rise to the occasion and meet my UNSPOKEN goal for the month of January and I'm happy to say that we did!

The mystery man also included a bit extra this month to the tune of $1.03 that nobody at the house will claim putting in there.

To reiterate, this challenge money is currently going towards extra principal paydown on our mortgage. Traditional payments are 353.96 and 60.11 is what the family budget has to pay extra a month in order to have it paid off by the time Hubster retires and then this month I was able to add an additional $53.93 to the payment as well from the challenge, making our mortgage payment $468.00 today.

353.96 mortgage payment
+60.11 extra principal payment
+53.93 Challenge money to xtra princ. payment
______
468.00 payment

I paid it online just a minute ago and will update the amounts over to the right later after it posts.

Updating the...

$20 CHALLENGE
$52.90 balance
+01.03 mystery donation
______
$53.93 January total

2007 Total $53.93
Cumulative Total $180.04

The unspoken goal challenge is still on for February!! Wish me luck!!

(I found it compelling that in just one month's time with just a bit of EXTRA concentrating that I was able to almost DOUBLE the amount I was able to save in five months last year!! ..but NO, that wasn't the unspoken challenge! More to be revealed later.)

Suit Up And Head For The Exit!!



Among other things my folks got me a gift card to JC Penney's for Christmas. FrugalSon and I took off this afternoon and made it into the big city and hit the store. I've been reading my Missus Smarty Pants stuff...

http://missussmartypants.com/

...and trying to follow along on some of her advice. I determined before I went what I NEEDED and went and got that.

And if I think I may re-enter the corporate world anytime soon what I needed was a plain solid black blazer. As luck would have it JCP's was having a nice sale and I was able to get the suit skirt to match. Ta-Da!! Done! I only had to add a few CASH dollars to the gift card to get both pieces so I'm tickled with the purchase.

Just got off the phone with the Mother Figure to let her know what I was able to get and to thank her! YEAH MOM!!

Of course I did take a small gander at a few other trendy things but was easily able to leave them behind. In, suited up and then we hit the exit - time in store 15 minutes tops!