Women in Red Savers 2016

[sealy]

update


sealy  12/12/16  $4,500 goal $15,000

[tobinikui]

Account	Goal	Saved	Remaining	Paid Off / % Paid
Taxes	$500.00	$500.00	0	100%
DS	$500.24	$500.24	0	100%
Random	$600.00	$600.00	0	100%
DSD	$400.00	$400.00	0	100%
Christmas	$1,469.53	0	0	0
DD	$2,200.13	$400.13	$1,800.00	18.2%
ER Fund	$12,469.53	$1,257.75	$11,211.78	10.1%
Insurances	$500.00	$500.00	0	100%
Total	$17,169.90	$4,158.12	$13,011.78	24.2%

Slowly, but surely, we are getting there again! Neither of the two remaining funds will be filled this year, that's for sure, but I am happy we've gotten this far! I gave up on the Christmas fund for this year, and rolled the amount I wanted to save there into the ER fund, so the totals won't actually add up (it totals properly if you don't add in the Christmas fund though). The ER fund is an on-going multi-year goal anyway, so I'm okay with that. I do plan on filling my DD's fund no later than when we receive our tax refund in the spring. With my unexpectedly lower income for 2016, our charitable donations, and now two dependents, I anticipate a decent sized refund, so hopefully, that will finish out the savings for that fund. I hope to finish the rest of the ER fund by the end of 2017, but of course, time will tell!

2016 has been a difficult year for our family, and many of our friends. Recent events have put life into perspective for me. Hug your loved ones. Reach out to your friends you keep meaning to call. Nothing is guaranteed.

Tobinikui: $4,158.12 on 12/13/2016 (Goal: $17,169.90)

[azucena]

Nov 4, 2016 7:00:09 GMT -5 azucena said:

Oct 21, 2016 8:10:44 GMT -5 azucena said:

I haven't posted in a while - got busy, but have kept saving.

11/7 daycare reimbursement of $148 for total of $47,708
11/18 paycheck transfer of $100 for total of $47,808
12/16 withdrawal of $223 to pay property tax for total of $47,585

I just submitted my final daycare reimbursement for the year for $686.  I will also receive a third Dec paycheck on 12/30 which will be about $900 higher because there are no insurance deductions and will also have maxed out my 401k.  This is HUGE first for my family.

[azucena]

Along with maxing 401k, we were able to save about 10% of our gross income. Including some savings accounts for the kids, this equates to about $13k.

We should come within a couple hundred dollars of meeting our goal of $50k.  All along I've felt that this was really a stretch goal so this makes me very proud.  I have been so blessed to have a great paying career which definitely benefits our ability to save.  I'm extremely proud that as my salary has grown significantly we've been very conscious of not increasing our lifestyle too much.  This shows up in a concrete way in what I am able to siphon off into savings each pay period.

2017 goals

- Jan meet with real estate agent to get an idea of what our house is worth.  We owe $130k and I'm hoping to get at least $150k which should allow us to clear about $13k after commission.  Adding this to our $50k savings gives us roughly $60k for our down payment and puts us in a $275-300k home.

- continue saving thru March, particularly hoarding any tax refund (est couple hundred) and my bonus.  Usually I have a better idea of what the bonus will be but this year I feel particularly in the dark.

- list our house in March and start looking for a new home

- spend the rest of the year paying off about $8k in student loans ($150/m) and $8k ($250/m) in car loan both at 4% interest

Interest rates finally going up really makes me irritated right as I'm ready to buy

[sealy]

sealy (savings) 12/16/16 $4,500 goal $15,000

[forwardwego]

UPDATE 12/16/2016 $21877 (goal $24977)

2016 FUND	Present	Goal	% Met	$$ Needed
Homestead EF *	2000	2000	100
Vehicle XF	1500	1500	100
Medical XF	1500	1500	100
Retirement Bridge	6900	10000	69	3100
SL Payoff	5000	5000	100
DD Wedding Pt 1	2000	2000	100
Rusty J Boxer Pt 1	1000	1000	100
Garage Door	1500	1500	100
Weekly Challenge	477	477	100
TOTALS	21877	24977	87	3100

* Actual EF balance is going to be jumping around for awhile:
2000, 1200, 600, 700, 740, 800, 1000

last update for 2016, happy to achieve 87.6%  

[sealy]

you are doing great forward.

[seriousthistime]

	Goal	Added	12/18/2016	% Saved
Travel	$1,500	$120	$2,574	171.6%
Moving fund	$1,500	$0	$1,616	107.7%
Weekly Savings	$2,078	$356	$2,150	103.5%
Total	$5,078	$476	$6,340	124.9%

Seriousthistime, $6,340, 12/18/2016 (Goal $5,078)


I now have my bunch of  .


I'll be sitting down today to start thinking about my goals for 2017. 

[tobinikui]

Are we starting a new 2017 thread, or continuing on with this one?
Looking forward to seeing ongoing progress in the New Year!

[Jaguar]

Dec 21, 2016 11:54:11 GMT -5 tobinikui said:

Are we starting a new 2017 thread, or continuing on with this one?
Looking forward to seeing ongoing progress in the New Year!

We will start a new thread for the new year, like we have always done.

[TheHaitian]

TheHaitian : 12/23/16 ----> $49,426.80 / $41,500.00

Last post of the year on the Savers Thread... I was able to hit 3 of the 4 goals. Having been fired/laid off twice this year, that made it somewhat impossible to max my 401k account, also that the new job had a 90 day grace period before I could contribute anything. So between unemployment and wait time that was almost 6 months no contributions.

Looking back at the year I am really sad at all the money spent but then I look on the other side of it I am grateful and thankful that we were in a position to have the funds available to us to cover the months I was unemployed, the move, the purchase of a way more expensive house, the IVF treatment (somewhat) and the medical bills throughout this pregnancy.

So it is a mixture of sadness knowing that 23k is gone (actually the total is more like ~60k considering the taxable account we closed to weather the storm) but thankful because it could have been way worse... How do I explain that feeling?

Account	Account Goal	Account Balance	Spent Money	Total Saved	Difference	% Goal
Savings	14,500.00	2,000.00	23,000.00	25,000.00	(10,500.00)	172.41%
C - Retirement	18,000.00	10,229.00	0.00	10,229.00	7,771.00	56.83%
S - Retirement	7,500.00	11,597.80	0.00	11,597.80	(4,097.80)	154.64%
HSA Account	1,500.00	2,600.00	0.00	2,600.00	(1,100.00)	173.33%
TOTAL	41,500.00	26,426.80	23,000.00	49,426.80	(7,926.80)	119.10%

I am keeping the same goals I set forth before when it comes to savings 2017. Next year the goal ultimately is to just survive : new baby, maternity leave, etc. My wife retirement might be lower or higher depending on if they continue taking her contributions out while on maternity leave (could not confirm it or not).

While it would be nice to hit or surpass the 40k goal... the GOAL is SURVIVE! I am not opposed to reducing or cutting my 401k contributions if need be or saving $0.00 as long as we make it!

Talking of 2017 here are my goals below. I lowered the savings goals compared to last year because with a new baby we might want to loosen the strings a bit and also feel out the new expenses that comes with a baby. My wife retirement contributions is also lowered since she will be on maternity leave for half the year...

Hopefully next year the Spent Money will remain at $0.00 which is the goal!

Account	Account Goal	Account Balance	Spent Money	Total Saved	Difference	% Goal
Savings	9,250.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	9,250.00	0.00%
C - Retirement	18,000.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	18,000.00	0.00%
S - Retirement	6,000.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	6,000.00	0.00%
HSA Account	6,750.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	6,750.00	0.00%
TOTAL	40,000.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	40,000.00	0.00%

[naughtybear]

I don't know how to do these things so I cut and pasted Haitians, hope you don't mind hon.

[TheHaitian]

Dec 24, 2016 16:22:40 GMT -5 naughtybear said:

I don't know how to do these things so I cut and pasted Haitians, hope you don't mind hon.

Feel free, I do not mind at all

[TheHaitian]

Quick changes to my Goals. My wife and I each get a $100 allowance every 2 weeks to spend on what we want. I plan on saving mine to have as a down payment on a car... the one car family thing is working for now but eventually I think we will need a second car. So might as well start getting ready for that!

Account	Account Goal	Account Balance	Spent Money	Total Saved	Difference	% Goal
Savings	9,250.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	9,250.00	0.00%
Car Fund	2,500.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	2,500.00	0.00%
C - Retirement	18,000.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	18,000.00	0.00%
S - Retirement	6,000.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	6,000.00	0.00%
HSA Account	6,750.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	6,750.00	0.00%
TOTAL	42,500.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	42,500.00	0.00%

[movinonup]

movinonup 12/27/2016 $10,900.44 (Goal $24,829.61)

	Saved	Goal	% Saved	Periods Completed
Monthly Challenge	$780.00	$780.00	100%	12/12
Weekly Challenge	$1,243.00	$1,378.00	90.203%	46/52
Daily Challenge	$222.02	$671.61	33.058%	112/366
Skiing	$3,405.42	$2,000.00	170.271%
House Addition	$5,250.00	$20,000.00	26.250%
Total	$10,900.44	$24,829.61	43.901%

Last update for the year.  Not bad.  I set a ridiculous goal for myself with regards to the House Addition.  I also put away $20,659.30 in my retirement accouunts.  There may be one more Roth IRA contribution before the end of the year.  For next year, I will increase my Skiing goal by $500 and keep all other goals the same.   

-movinonup

[Saving4Norway]

Fund	2016 Goals	Last Month	This Month	% Met	Roses
Demark Trip	2000	2000	2000	100%	Nov
Vehicles	1000	1000	1000	100%	Oct
Gifts&Donations	2500	2500	2500	100%	Aug
MC Trips	3000	3000	3000	100%	June
Santiago 2019	2000	500	2000	100%	December
Home Improvement	4500	4500	4500	100%	Oct
Cultural	2000	2000	2000	100%	March
Vacay Prop	1000	1000	1000	100%	April
Sisu	500	500	500	100%	February
Christmas & PS	500	500	500	100%	Aug
Quilting	500	500	500	100%	Oct
Seabrook	500	500	500	100%	April
TOTAL	20000	18500	20000	100%

Saving4Norway 12/10/16 $20,000 (Goal $20,000)

[Saving4Norway]

Thankful that the 2016 Saving Year is over with. I just squeaked by to meet my goal. Fortunately no major financial hits occurred this year - the blown engine of 2015 was big enough for 2 years!

I'll keep up with my ongoing savings strategy for the first few months of 2017 until I find out if I have won a scholarship to an international summer school program at the University of Oslo. If win the scholarship I'll need to save a few thousand for the airfare and cost of living expenses. On one hand it's only 6 weeks long, but on the other hand, it's the most expensive country to live in. If I don't get the scholarship, I'll still do all my usual summer travel which of course will still require a fair amount of saving.

Happy New Year to you all!

[azucena]

11/30 withdrawal of $423 to pay property tax for total of $47,385
12/24 paycheck deposit of $203 for total of $47,588
12/27 daycare reimbursement of $686 for total of $48,273
12/30 paycheck reimbursement of $500 for total of $48,873

Husband way overspent on Christmas so we will not quite make our goal anyway.  He got giddy with the "extra" paycheck coming at the end of Dec.  Clearly we are not on the same page

[forwardwego]

azucena try this?:
Dear DH, 
That was so generous of you to gift give so freely.
BTW you owe our house down payment fund $1127.  
Love,
azucena


ETA: You have had a strong and solid savings this year toward your future home. An occasional splurge can help keep things balanced. 

[forwardwego]

Thinking out loud...
Goals (under construction) 1/1/2017 $32000

2017 FUND	Present	Goal	% Met	$$ Needed
EF Bridge	5000	10000	50	5000
Vehicle XF	500	1500	33	1000
Medical XF	500	1500	33	1000
Rental Margin	1005	10000	10	8995
DD invest gift	3600	5000	72	1400
Rusty J Boxer Pt 2	1510	2000	75	490
Weekly Challenge*	50	2000	2	1950
TOTALS	12165	32000	38	19835

*$50 base + (sum of $12 thru $63) = $2000

[azucena]

Dec 30, 2016 10:13:40 GMT -5 forwardwego said:

azucena try this?:
Dear DH, 
That was so generous of you to gift give so freely.
BTW you owe our house down payment fund $1127.  
Love,
azucena


ETA: You have had a strong and solid savings this year toward your future home. An occasional splurge can help keep things balanced. 

If only it were that simple. He's a preschool teacher and makes $20k/yr.  Being able to max my 401k this year served to really drive home the disparity in our incomes and has been a real hit to his male ego.  It's definitely a sore spot so I tread carefully. I can't help it that teachers are WAY underpaid. He's also kind of irritated that we haven't really increased our standard of living as my income as increased. That's how he justifies the Christmas splurge.  A new house and slightly increased mortgage payment (from $1200 now to potentially $1400) will be a step up. The disparity is going to get worse because I should be up for a promotion in 2018 with a decent raise and much higher bonus potential. Maybe I should start a thread on that topic on the main board. Definitely first world problems though so I shouldn't complain too much. Just can't talk about it much in real life.

[forwardwego]

azucena, thank you for filling in the picture, and yes it would be nice if it were simple. In our household we have that a little bit. DH's income is 40% of our total to my 60%. That is base pay. Since I have OT and he does not, it becomes 38/62. Our difference doesn't seem to bother my DH, but I think it would at the level of difference that you seem to be describing. (And you know you can talk about it here.)

[dee27]

I made more money than DH until 5 years before I officially retired. Our paychecks went into a common pot, and we rarely fought about money issues. Enough of my gross paycheck was allocated to retirement and savings to keep me on goal. In retirement my monthly pension is double that of DH's SS, our checks still go into a common pot, but 22% of my net check is put into savings.

[azucena]

I make 5 times his income and that is something we have both known would happen based on our chosen career paths even before we got married 16 yrs ago. Doesn't seem to make it any easier for him. He has options and could make a bit more moving out of the classroom and into management but he's not interested.
We are common potters and have worked out a system where he gets some blow money that he doesn't have to account for and we've increased that quite a bit this yr. It's a reasonable amt but not huge. I was mostly just venting because like I said I can't talk about it at all in real life. We will see how good we can stick to the budget in jan. Planning to meet with a realtor Feb 1.

[sealy]

update
I reached a milestone.

sealy 12/12/16 $5,000 goal $15,000

I hope I can hold on to it. My nephew passed away last night. I want to go back home to Alabama. I also want to win my race. I've been trying to be debt free since 2003. I've been here since 2008. I still have two CCs and a mortgage.

[Jaguar]

sealy, so sorry, my condolences.

[sealy]

Thank you Jaguar.

[forwardwego]

Dear, dear Sealy,
I am so sorry for your family's loss of your nephew, and for the heartache. 

[TheHaitian]

Dec 30, 2016 17:23:35 GMT -5 azucena said:

I make 5 times his income and that is something we have both known would happen based on our chosen career paths even before we got married 16 yrs ago. Doesn't seem to make it any easier for him. He has options and could make a bit more moving out of the classroom and into management but he's not interested.
We are common potters and have worked out a system where he gets some blow money that he doesn't have to account for and we've increased that quite a bit this yr. It's a reasonable amt but not huge. I was mostly just venting because like I said I can't talk about it at all in real life. We will see how good we can stick to the budget in jan. Planning to meet with a realtor Feb 1.

I know we have talked about it a bit but I still don't get it. I would be so thrilled if my wife made 5 times what I made, heck that was the plan 13 years ago with her becoming a doctor and it just did not pan out.

Her increasing her potential income is #1 driver for us moving to DC this way she can push her career even further...

I guess as common potters I see anyone advancement as a family is a win in our column.

Ex: if she gets another job offer like the last one she turned down when she gets off maternity leave the first thing I will do is increase her 401k contributions from ~11k this year to maxing it. Win for us as a family!

ETA : congrats on your upcoming promotion and bonus! God knows you have worked your ass off and earned it

[TheHaitian]

Dec 31, 2016 14:26:57 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

sealy, so sorry, my condolences.

X 2

Sorry for your loss