Women in Red SAVERS 2019

[forwardwego]

Interesting incident and sad sign of the times....


Today DH withdrew money from the bank's ATM (the one on their property) and it included a counterfeit $20.
Prior to that he had no 20's on him so we know it was one from the bank. When he paid for lunch the cashier caught it. He went directly back to the bank. The teller told him they needed him to fill out paperwork AND that he would be out $20. The floor manager intervened, he got reimbursed $20. I've been reading and learned that the ATM's at actual bank branches load their machines with money directly from the Federal Reserve. So this counterfeit bill was good enough to get through their detection systems. Here's a good article on the matter: Bank ATM Counterfeit.
A friend in banking said that usually the innocent customer loses their money. Luckily the floor manager recognized DH as a longstanding customer and recognized the truth when she heard it.
 

[debthaven]

Goal for Spending
Debthaven 1,112.50€ 19 July 2019 (1,713€)

Goal for Keeping
Debthaven 10,000€ 19 July 2019 (10,000€)

The spending is for 7 nights of hotels that *I* am paying for during this summer's road trip. I am "gifting" 4 nights to DH (Yellowstone), and 3 nights to DH + DS1/DGD (San Juan Islands). DH paid for our flights.

DH and I are travelling with DH's childhood friend, then alone, then with DS1/DGS + my sister, then picking up DDIL (she has a new job so she's joining us later). I still have to work out the total cost, as well as each family's share. My numbers may change but I needed to start somewhere.

Job 2 messed up and didn't pay me in June for my extra work in May. I did a lot of extra work in June/early July too, so I should be getting a very nice paycheck in July. Some of it is already spent since I was expecting that money in June.

FYI, I have 2 teaching jobs. Both pay me once a month, as is usual in France. Also, DH and I have yours/mine/our accounts. I am only tracking mine.

I'm very happy to finally be back!

[nikiz628]

H received his first paycheck at his new job today, which means.... we survived the job transition (and the weeks of no pay) without touching our savings!!!! 



I will pat myself on the back for figuring out how to make it work and for pulling it off.... I will also be rewarding myself with a milkshake later  just because! 

[debthaven]

Hurray nikiz628 !!! So very happy for you! You did everything you could to make that happen, and you did it!

I amended the numbers on my previous post ... I FINALLY added everything up today, AND then remembered that I prepaid one of those 3 nights in the San Juan Islands! 

 

[paynointerest]

Jul 19, 2019 14:19:59 GMT -5 nikiz628 said:

H received his first paycheck at his new job today, which means.... we survived the job transition (and the weeks of no pay) without touching our savings!!!! 



I will pat myself on the back for figuring out how to make it work and for pulling it off.... I will also be rewarding myself with a milkshake later  just because! 

  Congratulations!

[paynointerest]

Update! July 20, 2019

Pay-no-interest: $45,500 (Goal: $55,900.00)

	Goal	Saved	% of goal	Amt spent
My 403b	$19,000	$15,000	79%
457b	$9,000	$500	5%
Savings Acct	$3,000	$3000	100%
Taxable Invest Acct	$5,000	$4,700	94%
Property/Income Taxes #1	$4,200	$5,200	124%	$5,200
Property/Income Taxes #2	$8,500	$8,500	100%
DH 403b	$7,200	$3,600	50%
Total	$55,900	$45,500	81%

I added a little more money to my taxable investment account. 

[Saving4Norway]

Jul 19, 2019 3:41:21 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Goal for Spending
Debthaven 1,112.50€ 19 July 2019 (1,713€)

Goal for Keeping
Debthaven 10,000€ 19 July 2019 (10,000€)

The spending is for 7 nights of hotels that *I* am paying for during this summer's road trip. I am "gifting" 4 nights to DH (Yellowstone), and 3 nights to DH + DS1/DGD (San Juan Islands). DH paid for my flights.

DH and I are travelling with DH's childhood friend, then alone, then with DS1/DGS + my sister, then picking up DDIL (she has a new job so she's joining us later). I still have to work out the total cost, as well as each family's share. My numbers may change but I needed to start somewhere.

Job 2 messed up and didn't pay me in June for my extra work in May. I did a lot of extra work in June/early July too, so I should be getting a very nice paycheck in July. Some of it is already spent since I was expecting that money in June.

FYI, I have 2 teaching jobs. Both pay me once a month, as is usual in France. Also, DH and I have yours/mine/our accounts. I am only tracking mine.

I'm very happy to finally be back!

The San Juan Islands in Washington state?!?!? That's MY neck of the woods!!

[steph08]

Hey all! It's been a long time. Last year I moved from the Savings thread to WIR to focus on paying off some bills, and with my last payment to DH's student loan scheduled for Friday, I am ready to jump back into saving!

So, 1. Hi! 2. How much do you all keep in your emergency fund? Do you focus on a set amount? $1k? $5k? $10k? Or do you base it off living expenses (most things I've read say either three and six months). I was planning to focus on getting my emergency fund to $15k - which is right in between three months of expenses and three months of paychecks/four months of expenses. Thoughts? I really don't want a bunch of money earning less than 1%, so I was going to go for $15k and then adjust retirement/529s/IRAs as necessary. 

[debthaven]

I think anywhere from 10-15K is great. You both work, plus you've just paid off a bunch of debt. That frees up money to cash flow most "minor" emergencies.

Or you could initially aim for 10K, then split the "extra" money between getting to 15K and paying off the truck (since I know that's still a goal)?

[steph08]

Jul 23, 2019 16:56:56 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I think anywhere from 10-15K is great. You both work, plus you've just paid off a bunch of debt. That frees up money to cash flow most "minor" emergencies.

Or you could initially aim for 10K, then split the "extra" money between getting to 15K and paying off the truck (since I know that's still a goal)?

It is a goal, but the truck's interest rate is 2.49%, so I'm in no hurry. I am thinking about adding an extra $80-100/month to the truck payment to shave a few months off but not do anything crazy since it's so low. Good point!

I think my initial goal will be a 10k emergency fund, then replenishing my kids' 529s (I stopped contributions to speed up debt repayment), then increasing the emergency fund to 15k. 

[nikiz628]

Jul 23, 2019 13:55:12 GMT -5 steph08 said:

Hey all! It's been a long time. Last year I moved from the Savings thread to WIR to focus on paying off some bills, and with my last payment to DH's student loan scheduled for Friday, I am ready to jump back into saving!

So, 1. Hi! 2. How much do you all keep in your emergency fund? Do you focus on a set amount? $1k? $5k? $10k? Or do you base it off living expenses (most things I've read say either three and six months). I was planning to focus on getting my emergency fund to $15k - which is right in between three months of expenses and three months of paychecks/four months of expenses. Thoughts? I really don't want a bunch of money earning less than 1%, so I was going to go for $15k and then adjust retirement/529s/IRAs as necessary. 

Our goal is to get 6 months of living expenses in ours. We aren't even close but we are baby steps closer every month. 

[shanendoah]

debthaven & Saving4Norway - I missed the San Juan Islands the first time. If we're talking WA state, that's my neck of the woods, too. (One of my favorite "toursity" things to do is to just take a ferry out to the islands and then come back.)

steph08 - Welcome back! I don't necessarily have a set amount for the EF. I have general savings - meant to cover emergency stuff as well as some general stuff, and then a couple pots of money for specific purposes. In the case of a true emergency, all pots of money can be raided.

[debthaven]

Yes shanendoah and Saving4Norway , it's the San Juan Islands in WA.   We are spending less time in each place than I'd have liked, but DS1 planned this trip, we're just along for the ride (and free babysitting lol). I REALLY want to go to Vancouver Island but we're there for less than 48h, so I'm not sure it will happen.

That sounds like a great plan steph08 ! I know the interest rate on the truck is very low, but it's also your biggest monthly payment (of what you've listed on WIR of course). I think putting a bit extra towards it if you can is a great solution. 

ETA: Since I read the WIRR thread, I'm sure you will have more great freelancing months in the future, and be able to contribute more to whichever goal is your priority at that point, whether it's the EF, the 529s or the truck. I think you're doing great, like so many of the people on this thread!

[snapdragon]

Jul 24, 2019 18:53:42 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Yes shanendoah and Saving4Norway , it's the San Juan Islands in WA.   We are spending less time in each place than I'd have liked, but DS1 planned this trip, we're just along for the ride (and free babysitting lol). I REALLY want to go to Vancouver Island but we're there for less than 48h, so I'm not sure it will happen.

That sounds like a great plan steph08 ! I know the interest rate on the truck is very low, but it's also your biggest monthly payment (of what you've listed on WIR of course). I think putting a bit extra towards it if you can is a great solution. 

ETA: Since I read the WIRR thread, I'm sure you will have more great freelancing months in the future, and be able to contribute more to whichever goal is your priority at that point, whether it's the EF, the 529s or the truck. I think you're doing great, like so many of the people on this thread!

Enjoy the San Juans! My senior trip after HS was being on a 20 foot boat with my friend's family for 9 days. I was the official cook. When you can cook on a burner in rough seas inside a tiny cabin you can basically cook anywhere. I seriously enjoyed that trip to the San Juans.  

[debthaven]

Wow snapdragon that sounds amazing!

[azucena]

Jul 12, 2019 15:20:07 GMT -5 azucena said:

Payday update, and I guess I missed last payday update for a total increase of $2935.

Feels like funding a Roth for myself is the next step, so I'll look into what a minimum deposit needs to be and make sure we still qualify for Roth this year.  We must be getting close to the income max.  That should be the last part of "fully" funding retirement and will make me feel good about saving early and often.  I'm about halfway there already.

Then, I think I'll split the monthly extra 3 ways mortgage paydown, kids' savings, and spending (includes housekeeper and some minor house projects).  When we need to replace the Highlander, we'll just build savings back up in the months after.

Azucena 7/12/19 $16,566 of $25,000 goal (66%)

Payday update and last update for July deposited $1625.  Beginning of August savings will be light with vacation ($1000 road trip thru MI) and first school tuition due ($1050/month), but hey I made it past back to school shopping this week with about $100/each for DD10 and DD6.  I bought their uniforms on clearance in May, so that's also finished.

Azucena 7/26/19 $18,191 of $25,000 goal (73%)

[debthaven]

Update!

Goal for Spending

Debthaven 1,400€ 19 July 2019 (1,713€)

Goal for Keeping

Debthaven 10,000€ 19 July 2019 (10,000€)

I got paid by Job 1 so I transferred the cost of most of another hotel night. (Job 1 is my main job but exceptionally it's the smaller paycheck this month.)

[seriousthistime]

Update

Account Name	Goal	Start	Amount Saved 7/27/19	Amt. Saved %	Roses
Gifts	$2,300	$335	$1,939	84.3%
Property Tax	$5,000	$2,984	$5,004	100.0%
Survival Fund	$6,000	$26	$2,244	37.4%
Household/Misc	$2,500	$1,075	$1,399	56.0%
Pet Care	$600	$130	$601	100.0%
Weekly Savings	$2,600	$0	$1,506	57.9%
Mortgage Cushion	$12,000	$4,200	$7,198	60.0%
Car Fund	$6,000	$0	$3,103	48.4%
Travel	$5,000	$0	$1,002	20.0%
Total	$42,000	$8,750	$23,996	57.1%

Seriousthistime, $23,996 7/27/19 (Goal $42,000)   


Weekly Savings Tracker: 

Week 31	Week 32	Week 33	Week 34	Week 35	Week 36
Week 37	Week 38	Week 39	Week 40	Week 41	Week 42
Week 43	Week 44	Week 45	Week 46	Week 47	Week 48
Week 49	Week 50	Week 51	Week 52

Maybe it's the heat, but I actually felt the need to plump up the Survival Fund rather than top off the Gifts category. 

I hope to have another update later this week.  

[paynointerest]

Update! July 29, 2019

Pay-no-interest: $46,600 (Goal: $55,900.00)

	Goal	Saved	% of goal	Amt spent
My 403b	$19,000	$19,000	100%
457b	$9,000	$1,700	19%
Savings Acct	$3,000	$3000	100%
Taxable Invest Acct	$5,000	$5,000	100%
Property/Income Taxes #1	$4,200	$5,200	124%	$5,200
Property/Income Taxes #2	$8,500	$8,500	100%
DH 403b	$7,200	$4,200	58%
Total	$55,900	$46,600	83%

I get paid at the end of each month and I now have access to the details of my paycheck that has my retirement contributions for July.  I updated my spreadsheets.  I'm happy to say that I've met the goal to max out my 403b and taxable investment account this month.

I'm now going to contribute more money to my 457b account so I can meet that goal.

Happy Monday and last week of July to everyone!

[shanendoah]

shanendoah [Q3] $340 7/29/2019 (Goal: $2,020 9/30/2019)
[Q2]: $3,010 6/25/2019 (Goal: $3,020 6/30/2019)
[Q1]: $8,994 3/26/2019 (Goal: $300 3/31/2019)

Roommate got a job. She started working last week. Her first pay day is August 9, so there should be 4 paychecks for her this quarter. We made the decision to charge her $500/month - $400 in shared groceries and bills (the expenses that actually go up with her presence) and $100 in rent. In addition, we have loaned her $600+, so there will be paying that back, too. This means I should make my savings goal this period and still get everything paid appropriately.

She's decided that at least to start, she is going to have her paycheck split 50/50 between her account and our account. That will cover rent and paying us back. After that, any extra beyond bills and rent will go into a savings account I manage for her that will help her save for her next trip. It's money she can't access without having to actually ask me to move the money around, so it helps her really think about whether or not she wants to spend the money she really wants to save.

[forwardwego]

GOAL	AMOUNT	STARTING	$$ TO DATE	% OF GOAL	$$ TO GO
JPPCU CUSHION	2000	350	1660	82	340
DD IRA	3000	1000	1600	53	1400
RENTAL MARGIN	12000	10700	6530	54	5470
PERIODIC EXPENSE	5000	1800	3620	72	1380
CASH STASH	2000	300	1270	63	730
TOTAL	24000	14150	14680	61	9320

UPDATE 7/29/2019 $14680 (begin $14150; goal $24,000) beginning amount corrected

building a little momentum, brought in a couple hundred extra $$ helping someone move. 

[finnime]

Goals for Spending

Goal	Goal Amount	Saved	Spent	Percent Saved
House	10,000	6260	3100	52.17%
Car	2,500	0	0
Dog	500	0	0
Medical	1500	500	0	33%
Gifts/Misc	3,000	0	0
Travel	7,000	0	0
Total	24,500	6760	1000	22.92%

Finnime1 $6760 6/3/2019 ($24,500)

Goal for Keeping

Security	5,000	2750	55%
Total	5,000	2750	55%

finnime2 $2750 6/3/2019 ($5,000)

I didn't realize I hadn't updated since early June. Going to Maine for 2 weeks wiped out my memory, I guess. Not much change. I cash-flowed our vacation. Also spent $3100 on having a huge Norway maple taken down, some other work done, and three large stumps ground up. Going to blow the rest of the house savings, plus more, on having the front yard completely redone. The joys of home ownership.

[snapdragon]

Jul 25, 2019 13:42:33 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Wow snapdragon that sounds amazing!

There was a small grill attached to the back of the boat and the boat was one of those old build it yourself jobs that you could buy in the Sears catalog way back in the day. I know it took my friends g-pa about 4-5 years to build and a few years for her dad to get it back in shape.

The funny/interesting part of the whole thing is that I don't have a single picture of that trip. I remember we stopped at Roche Harbor, Deer Harbor, a island that was a state park with a amazing overlook that we had to climb/hike to get too and we also were at Friday Harbor for the last few days before coming back home. 

It was a really fun and enjoyable trip that taught me how to drive a boat but man, I am sure that I am rusty since it's been 20+ years. Besides the crabbing and cooking.

I really hope you have a great time and enjoy the different flavors of the islands.

[debthaven]

Update!

Goal for Spending
Debthaven 1,713€ 19 July 2019 (1,713€)

Goal for Keeping
Debthaven 10,000€ 19 July 2019 (10,000€)

Job 2 paid me so I put aside the money for the last hotel night.

But I'll be paid very little at the end of Aug, so I'm not sure how realistic my "goal for keeping" is.

[plugginaway22]

7/31/19 Update: Plugginaway22: $37,406 (goal $36,000)

Brick bank        8,000
On-line bank   
19,026
Credit Union   10,380

Total              $37,406


HSA balance $12,093

I passed my random goal for this year of adding $1000/month, mainly due to a couple of nice bonuses between DH and me.  Some things have come up at both of our jobs that make me want to hold onto every dollar.  At age 59, neither of us want to be starting a job search, but circumstances at both employers have me a bit worried.

Anyway, in August we have a long weekend at the beach and then a week out west to see DS, already planned. I did finally break down and replace my refrigerator; love it so far.  Summer is flying by!

[debthaven]

Congrats plugginaway22 ! Fabulous job!

[forwardwego]

Kudos plugginaway22 on achieving your  and passing the $1K/month goal! 


Nice goal setting debthaven , that's the map, and keeps us directed! And thank you for your involvement here...commenting and encouraging and sharing, an active thread is good for our group and individual momentum. 


I'm hoping to squeak in one more update before we get the July updates. Thanks in advance seriousthistime 

[Deleted]

Well, it just keeps getting worse.  Now a $7500 well repair bill on top of everything else.  Seriously, in the last 5 months my house flooded (that I had just recently finished off), all three vehicles had major repairs, my lawnmower broke down, then the "new" replacement one, then the well.  I am fighting very hard to not just curl up in a ball under my desk. 

The survival fund from this year (and last year) will be decimated.  I'm grateful it is there, but it's pretty scary how fast things can go from "I got this" to "I'm F****d"    I'll pull myself together eventually and have a plan, but for right now I'm just in panic mode. 

Fund	2019 Goal	Current	Needed	% Complete
401K	$19000	$12386	$6614	65.19%
2020 Roth	$7000	$2909	$4091	41.56%
Survival Fund	$6000	$6000	$0	100.00%
House Maint	$3000	$0	$3000	0.00%
College	$2400	$1600	$800	66.67%
Pr. High School	$1000	$1000	$0	100.00%
Vacation	$1000	$0	$1000	0.00%
Christmas	$600	$81	$519	13.50%
Total	$40,000	$23976	$16,024	59.94%

Minnesotapaintlady $23976/$40,000 7/31/2019

[trimatty471]

Jul 2, 2019 8:07:23 GMT -5 trimatty471 said:

trimatty 07/31/2019 $1,377.14 (Goal = $4,355.00)







 

2019	Goal	Current	Need	Complete
School Tax	1,956.00	1,077.14	878.86	55%
Move In	2,099.00	300.00	1,799.00	14%
Wellness	300.00	0.00	300.00	0.00%
Total	$4,355.00	$1,377.14	$2,977.86	32.00%

[snapdragon]

Jul 31, 2019 7:46:06 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Well, it just keeps getting worse.  Now a $7500 well repair bill on top of everything else.  Seriously, in the last 5 months my house flooded (that I had just recently finished off), all three vehicles had major repairs, my lawnmower broke down, then the "new" replacement one, then the well.  I am fighting very hard to not just curl up in a ball under my desk. 

The survival fund from this year (and last year) will be decimated.  I'm grateful it is there, but it's pretty scary how fast things can go from "I got this" to "I'm F****d"    I'll pull myself together eventually and have a plan, but for right now I'm just in panic mode. 

Fund	2019 Goal	Current	Needed	% Complete
401K	$19000	$12386	$6614	65.19%
2020 Roth	$7000	$2909	$4091	41.56%
Survival Fund	$6000	$6000	$0	100.00%
House Maint	$3000	$0	$3000	0.00%
College	$2400	$1600	$800	66.67%
Pr. High School	$1000	$1000	$0	100.00%
Vacation	$1000	$0	$1000	0.00%
Christmas	$600	$81	$519	13.50%
Total	$40,000	$23976	$16,024	59.94%

Minnesotapaintlady $23976/$40,000 7/31/2019

Sending you hugs -- It is really rough when it only take a few minutes to decimate something that took alot of time and perseverance to acquire.