- Fully funded my Roth IRA
- $1,025 in my Travel Fund (I'm even over by $25. Sweet!).
So that leaves me with my Computer Fund and Unemployment Fund goals to reach.
Updates!
I've reached two of my financial goals today:
So that leaves me with my Computer Fund and Unemployment Fund goals to reach.
So that leaves me with my Computer Fund and Unemployment Fund goals to reach.
If I Ever Get Married...
I'll be honest with you all, the older I get, the less inclined I am towards marriage. Personally, from a contractual standpoint it seems like a raw deal for most women, especially if we decided to have kids and stay home with them. And don't even get me started on divorce.
No, I'm not really sold on the whole marriage thing. I enjoy my single life. I have the love and companionship of family and friends, and date happily. As a matter of fact I'm finding myself in the early stages of a relationship. I'm very happy with my job and really making progress with my finances. Why would I want to mess all this up? ;-D
Marriage isn't for everyone, and it doesn't make me a "commitment-phobe" if it's not my bag. If for some reason I find myself serious looking marriage in it's beady little eyes, I will make sure a few things happen:
1. There will be pre-marriage counseling. I've asked around, and one of the things that I've learned is that whatever issues you have now that you're successfully keeping hidden will come out full blast in a marriage. Best to get these things out now.
2. There will be pre-marriage meeting(s) with a financial counselor. I refuse to get into a contract (And let's be real, marriage is a contract) with someone without putting our financial lives in front of each other. I'm talking FICO scores, credit reports, tax filings, savings/checking/retirement accounts, everything. I believe being on the same fiscal page is crucial component for a successful marriage. Clearly we would have worked out our financial philosophies before this point, but I believe pulling out all the paperwork in front of a third party is a good idea.
3. Speaking of third parties, there will be a pre-nuptial agreement. I'm not rich. Like, at ALL. However there are some things, like my financial well being, that I want protected should the marriage end. I don't believe pre-nups are just for rich people, I think they are a good idea for everyone, especially if you are marrying someone with dubious credit history or not-so-great with money. Another tip? We'll have separate lawyers going over our arrangement. Hey, Suze thinks it's a great idea, so I'm going with it. Bankrate.com has some good info too.
4. I'm not changing my name, but my future spouse is free to take on mine if he chooses. I love my name. I've been with this name for 30+ years, it's part of my identity. Plus I don't want to go through the hassle of paperwork to change it.
While I've held the above beliefs for several years now, I was inspired to post them after reading about that woman Tricia from NYC over at Ginger's spot. Tricia married this rich cat but didn't pay attention to the pre-nup she signed. Now he's being shady and she's kinda screwed. It's actually somewhat painful for me to watch but it reminded me of the diligence people, especially women and doubly so if they believe they will have children, must exercise before entering a contract, especially marriage.
No, I'm not really sold on the whole marriage thing. I enjoy my single life. I have the love and companionship of family and friends, and date happily. As a matter of fact I'm finding myself in the early stages of a relationship. I'm very happy with my job and really making progress with my finances. Why would I want to mess all this up? ;-D
Marriage isn't for everyone, and it doesn't make me a "commitment-phobe" if it's not my bag. If for some reason I find myself serious looking marriage in it's beady little eyes, I will make sure a few things happen:
1. There will be pre-marriage counseling. I've asked around, and one of the things that I've learned is that whatever issues you have now that you're successfully keeping hidden will come out full blast in a marriage. Best to get these things out now.
2. There will be pre-marriage meeting(s) with a financial counselor. I refuse to get into a contract (And let's be real, marriage is a contract) with someone without putting our financial lives in front of each other. I'm talking FICO scores, credit reports, tax filings, savings/checking/retirement accounts, everything. I believe being on the same fiscal page is crucial component for a successful marriage. Clearly we would have worked out our financial philosophies before this point, but I believe pulling out all the paperwork in front of a third party is a good idea.
3. Speaking of third parties, there will be a pre-nuptial agreement. I'm not rich. Like, at ALL. However there are some things, like my financial well being, that I want protected should the marriage end. I don't believe pre-nups are just for rich people, I think they are a good idea for everyone, especially if you are marrying someone with dubious credit history or not-so-great with money. Another tip? We'll have separate lawyers going over our arrangement. Hey, Suze thinks it's a great idea, so I'm going with it. Bankrate.com has some good info too.
4. I'm not changing my name, but my future spouse is free to take on mine if he chooses. I love my name. I've been with this name for 30+ years, it's part of my identity. Plus I don't want to go through the hassle of paperwork to change it.
While I've held the above beliefs for several years now, I was inspired to post them after reading about that woman Tricia from NYC over at Ginger's spot. Tricia married this rich cat but didn't pay attention to the pre-nup she signed. Now he's being shady and she's kinda screwed. It's actually somewhat painful for me to watch but it reminded me of the diligence people, especially women and doubly so if they believe they will have children, must exercise before entering a contract, especially marriage.
Net Worth for March 2008
- Bottom Line: It's about 3.5% above last month. Huzzah.
- Instead of my 401k being -14.1%, it is now -9%. That goodness for small favors. I guess.
- I have about $982.83 in credit card purchases. This is mainly from getting ready for a week-long business trip, annual check-up for my pet, and a couple work-related purchases that went on my card that will be I can be reimbursed for. There were lots of purchases that I made that were unnecessary and I don't feel good about that. As a matter of fact, while I was out of town, all I could think about was my willy-nilly spending. I can pay off the card fairly easily, I just don't like that I put myself in that position in the first place. That money could have been used for saving instead of paying for something silly. Meh.
- The next couple of days are going to be spent catching up with stuff at the office, and submitting my expense report ASAP. While I have a corporate card, the employee is stuck fronting the company with money out-of-pocket until we are reimbursed. And if there is a finance fee, we have to pay for that. Too bad, too sad. Again, meh.
Roth IRA Migration Complete!
All the funds from my previous bank have been moved over to my new Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund. I also added $3,000 towards my 2008 contribution.
On a different note, I wonder if Chase notices how much my money is leaving them. This time last year, I was carrying about $8,000 of debt on their credit card, had my Roth with them, and pay check direct deposited into a checking account with them. Now, that credit card is long paid off and inactive, the Roth is gone, and I only have a small amount, $30 per pay check, deposited into that checking account. I'm sure they don't give a damn, but it's still interesting to me when I step back and take a look.
On a different note, I wonder if Chase notices how much my money is leaving them. This time last year, I was carrying about $8,000 of debt on their credit card, had my Roth with them, and pay check direct deposited into a checking account with them. Now, that credit card is long paid off and inactive, the Roth is gone, and I only have a small amount, $30 per pay check, deposited into that checking account. I'm sure they don't give a damn, but it's still interesting to me when I step back and take a look.
Is something rotten in the state of Denmark?
The YTD return on my 401k is -14.1%.
A small part of that is because in the beginning of the year, I followed advice for my employer's online broker thingie (Morningstar) to rebalance my 401k. I have a strong stomach for this market, and the -14.1% doesn't bother me. I just hope that my mix is really diverse enough. Meh.
A small part of that is because in the beginning of the year, I followed advice for my employer's online broker thingie (Morningstar) to rebalance my 401k. I have a strong stomach for this market, and the -14.1% doesn't bother me. I just hope that my mix is really diverse enough. Meh.
You know what? It's ok not to ask for a credit report from someone you're just having sex with
I mean, seriously.
Someone over at gradgirl's crib opines:
"It is interesting that people are willing to sexually hookup with a stranger but would not even think about talking about their credit report. Why? They feel the credit report is far too intimate."
I have a better answer: Because it's a hook up. I would believe details on sexual history as well as current STD/STI results would be far more appropriate than wondering if your booty call is contributing to the max to their 401k. Simply put, their financial choices has very little effect on you. It's not until the relationship crosses over into something more long-term that I would say a discussion on financial fitness is in order.
Then again, maybe I'm just stuck-on-stupid.
Someone over at gradgirl's crib opines:
"It is interesting that people are willing to sexually hookup with a stranger but would not even think about talking about their credit report. Why? They feel the credit report is far too intimate."
I have a better answer: Because it's a hook up. I would believe details on sexual history as well as current STD/STI results would be far more appropriate than wondering if your booty call is contributing to the max to their 401k. Simply put, their financial choices has very little effect on you. It's not until the relationship crosses over into something more long-term that I would say a discussion on financial fitness is in order.
Then again, maybe I'm just stuck-on-stupid.
Bear Stearns to accept "emergency funding"
Clutch the pearls Margaret, the bluebloods are on welfare.
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