Wow, I have been WAAAY out of focus when it comes to personal finance. I have not done my budget for this month, I have not paid a penny towards my debt, and I have not even considered eBaying either one of my children… What an odd month. I think that Christmas, the party for my mom, and turning 31 all within the span of 3 weeks has really, really gotten to me. Plus, I am REALLY focusing on my diet, cooking 3 or 4 meals a day, counting points, exercising. So, while I give myself a PF “D” for this month, I give myself a Life Improvement grade of “B+”. So, time to strap up! I have spent today and yesterday cleaning up my offices (one at work, the other at home) and cleaning out our storage “barn” at home. I am clear headed, my desk is clear of work, and I am ready to ATTACK life from all angles. This year, I will be wiser with my money than I have every been, more focused on my health than ever before, and more “intentional” with the words I say to my wife and children. Goals, goals, goals… They mean NOTHING without dedication. So, now I have my goals, my dedication, and I am off to the races. First thing, new budget for the year! I’ll have that up by tomorrow evening. Second, find some junk to eBay. Third, write wife a big thank-you note for being so special. And last, spend an afternoon with each of the kids, alone, to let them do whatever they want and give Mom a break!

• 0 Comments

Hey, thanks to anonymous for the “wake up call” concerning my last post. I was hasty in opening the Roth with Sharebuilder, and have changed my plan to “basic” which has no monthly fee, and only costs 4 dollars a trade. Now, here is the trick. Sharebuilder only charges their annual fee once a year, in January or July, depending on when you open your account. Well, as long as you switch your plan from “basic” to “standard” in the month of July, you can avoid the annual fee of 25 dollars. So, I am going to save up my annual Roth investment in my ING account, then transfer my annual amount to my Sharebuilder account in May, then switch my plan to “standard”, pay the 12.00 monthly fee, and buy my 1 to 6 ETF’s. Then, in July, I will switch BACK to basic, and not touch my money for the rest of the year. That is the plan so far, to just research, research, research, and buy the ETF’s that I want for this first year. So, my total fees for my 2006 Roth IRA will be 12.00 bucks. I have no idea if this is a good idea, but it is what I am planning to do. (In reality, my “goal” for this year is to invest a total of 8000 dollars for my account and for my wife’s account). In all candor, I just opened the roth with Sharebuilder on a whim, without thoroughly researching it, or other options. I didn’t even realize that I couldn’t purchase mutual funds! I am a dork! I have spent SO LONG focused on getting debt free, that I have “zoned out” when it comes to learning about investing.

NO MORE! I will educate myself, and I will learn how to do this stuff…

Comments are MORE than welcome…Peace out…

• 0 Comments

I bit the bullet, and set-up my Roth IRA. I am using Sharebuilder. They offer a pretty decent plan, the standard plan, of 12 bucks a month for 6 trades, and no extra fees. I will use this year to learn about the market, and will put 50 percent of my money in “safe” investments, and the other 50 percent in “risky” stuff. I also have a 403(b) for retirement, and I send 150 bucks a month to it. This year I will focus on building up cash reserves, and beginning to understand the stock market and investment. I am a novice, and will probably make many mistakes. No big deal. I will take what I learn, and will use it for the rest of my life.

• 0 Comments

I had my second weigh-in tonight at weight watchers, and I was down 3.4 pounds. That makes a total of 13.8 pounds lost, or more than 20 percent of my goal! 2 weeks in, and I am seeing some great results. I have not cheated on my diet, and I feel confident that I am going to succeed. As for debt re-payment, I will not receive a pay check until the end of January, so everything is on hold. No big deal. I also opened a brand new Roth IRA for myself, and will probably open one for my wife in June, after mine is fully funded. We shall see.

• 0 Comments

Wow, lot’s of emails and comments about the grocery stuff! You guys must love to eat! Hehe…
Dork!

Anyway, a couple of points. I don’t really know how much money I save, but it is considerable. First, we hardly ever eat out anymore, and then only on special occasions. Second, we have a very limited brand loyalty. We buy the Kroger brand of almost everything, save soups, spaghetti sauces, and a few other things. Heck, I even like their razors, better than Bic or Gillette. As for storing the stuff, very few items take up a ton of space. Paper goods, like toilet paper and paper towels, require plenty of room, as do cereals and crackers, etc. But a decent supply of can goods, say 25 to 50 cans of green beans, will fit into most cabinets. Also, think outside the box for storage. You can place non-perishables under a bed, or in a hall closet, and then get them when you need them.
Now, there are some items that I always purchase fresh, even though you could freeze them and use them later. These include bread and milk. I just do not like the taste of thawed bread or milk. Yuck!
I’ll post my first shopping results in a bit, so ya’ll come back now, ya here?!?…
Nerd!

• 0 Comments