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Apr 16, 2012    |       21 comments

Investments…part 1

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I forgot to look at my 401K while I was at work today so these numbers are just some random investments I have from rollover accounts from a prior employer.  I’m very comfortable with the growth and management of the amount in mutual funds.  The $8,812.43 is sitting in cash for the moment with an investment group that I have moved my money out of.  I had a good contact there but he left the industry for health reasons I believe and the person my accounts passed to just didn’t impress me.  So I transferred the bulk (the $18K) and then hit some road bumps on the remainder.  I have such limited knowledge on this stuff but I’m doing research and trying to learn.  I’ve got to call and move that money sitting in cash this week!  The other moves were made at the beginning of this year.  I moved my money to USAA which has a great reputation and performance history.

The 529 College Fund is for my two children.  They each have 75 hours of an undergraduate degree paid for due to their father’s military service (a perk of being a Texas veteran that served during wartime) but we aren’t putting all of our eggs in that basket.  My ex and I were on a pretty regular deposit schedule until the divorce.  It isn’t that we agreed to stop investing…we just didn’t cover it like we should have when we divorced.   The oldest (12 years old) knows how to log on and check the balance AND has made a few deposits of birthday money and such.  I want to get on some sort of schedule again.  Oh and their paternal grandparents are very generous (read: too generous) with birthday and holiday dollar amounts and I’ve asked that they consider depositing a portion of that directly into the 529 but…since it was my idea, apparently it was a bad one!  LOL!  So, I’ve recently put my energy into teaching the kids about how to split up that $ and put some away.  That’s better anyway.

Tomorrow I will provide our current 401K balances.  If I am not mistaken…we figured out a few months back that together we have $80,000 total (that is the below AND the 401K accounts).  I am not currently adding to the below accounts but I am putting 8% (4% with a match) in my 401K.

 

$18,818.55 in Mutual Funds

$8,812.43 that I need to move from its current location.

$10,481.22 529 College Fund

$1,000.00 in an IRA

Apr 15, 2012    |       10 comments

Investment Information

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In the coming days I plan on sharing the details of what we have in savings via investments/401K/529 plan/etc. in an attempt to continuing expanding your view of my world.  I know there will be much for me to learn about this part of things and I don’t see the investments as directly relating to the debt reduction–but a complete picture is helpful for all of us I think.

It was a good weekend for spending.  I cut the grocery budget yet again and spent $80 on what should cover us for TWO weeks!  I really worked the ads and coupons today and it took entirely too long (that has to improve with time I am guessing…) but I saved so much money the time is worth it!  Actually, I took a little quiet time in the process too by sitting at a local coffeeshop with my cup of coffee and clipping coupons.  And I’m a cheap coffee date—Americano please…nothing fancy.  It was nice me time actually.  Thankfully the little one is happy to help with cutting coupons still—a HUGE help.

I have also made a dent in the gas budget–even with the climbing prices.  This is just taking a little extra time to think things out but so far I’ve shaved off about $20 a week.

I caught myself at the store tonight having a moment like I’m sure many of you had when you first read my blog.  A man in front of me at Walgreens was using a small handheld basket and only had one…although it was full.  As I watched the cashier ring up his purchases there were several items that I KNEW there were easily accessible, good coupons for and had to bite my tongue when the cashier gave him his total….and no mention of coupons was made!  His total was $41.73!  For a handheld basket full of just grocery itmes!  My how times have changed!  I used to be that person–using Walgreens as a regular grocery store thinking nothing of the extra I was paying for the convenience!  I am pretty outspoken but I did not feel comfortable gently telling this older fellow how much he could have saved—just didn’t feel right at the time–but all the way home I was laughing at the irony!  Maybe I am optimistic but I already cannot imagine going back to such reckless spending.

 

 

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