Search found 170 matches

by Mirwen
Sat Mar 18, 2017 1:20 pm
Forum: Introduce Yourself
Topic: Mirwen is baaaack!
Replies: 3
Views: 1275

Mirwen is baaaack!

Mirwen is baaaack! I doubt any of you remember me, but I was pretty active in 2011-2012. Original Journal: http://forum.earlyretirementextreme.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1260&hilit=mirwen+journal I'll give you a brief synopsis I started my ERE journey in 2011 as a new SAHM living on ~$3000/mont...
by Mirwen
Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:43 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Mirwen's Journal
Replies: 51
Views: 7316

<t>Update January 2013<br/> I haven't checked in for a while, so it's time for an update. This past month has been my best month yet. Total spending was only $1655. Vincent did attend daycare for about 5 months, but we ended that in November. He liked daycare very much, but he was ill (from various ...
by Mirwen
Wed Aug 08, 2012 6:50 am
Forum: Friends, Family, Relationships, and Community Questions
Topic: Do you have kids or plan to ?
Replies: 108
Views: 27815

<t>I had a child for a few reasons. First, I feel that I need some family. Before the baby I have my mother and my husband. That's it. If my husband pre-deceases me, I will have no family living in my old age. That's a bit hard for me to take. So I have a child now and I hope that he will be a comfo...
by Mirwen
Fri Aug 03, 2012 3:31 am
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: A limited number of life goals
Replies: 50
Views: 6505

my main priorities are:
1. freedom of choice (free time, job choice, expression, financial, etc.)
2. the quest for new knowledge and experiences
3. family

by Mirwen
Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:14 am
Forum: Inspiration
Topic: EMH
Replies: 10
Views: 1493

Did anyone else think "Emergency Medical Hologram" when he said EMH?

by Mirwen
Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:56 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Mirwen's Journal
Replies: 51
Views: 7316

<t>Rent: $580<br/> <br/> Home Improvement: $191 (tile)<br/> <br/> Groceries (Food): $295<br/> <br/> Groceries (Non- Food) : $99<br/> <br/> Alcohol: $48<br/> <br/> Fast Food: $10<br/> <br/> Utilities: $303<br/> <br/> Auto: $267<br/> <br/> Daycare $250<br/> <br/> Shopping $98<br/> <br/> Entertainment:...
by Mirwen
Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:23 am
Forum: Money and Investment Questions
Topic: Gambling anyone ??
Replies: 13
Views: 1675

<t>I live in Vegas and personally know professional gamblers. Generally they are poker and blackjack players. One guy teaches at UNLV for fun (physics) because he's already retired in his 30s from gambling. Basically if you have excellent math skills, concentration, psychology, self control, and mem...
by Mirwen
Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:25 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: jennypenny's cooking journal
Replies: 24
Views: 5219

<t>I also make homemade fruit pops. I blend fresh strawberries and banana with frozen blueberries. My son loves them. <br/> I have a suggestion for Parmigiano-Reggiano. We substitute pecorino romano. Parmigiano-Reggiano is one of those controlled words, like port or bourbon. Only things from a speci...
by Mirwen
Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:08 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: How to save $25,000 in two hours.
Replies: 2
Views: 604

<r>I had one of those days were everything just seems to go wrong at once. In a single day I thought I may need major surgery and to pay for months of speech therapy for my son. The thought of paying for these overwhelmed me. <br/> The surgery I thought I needed was surgery to correct a prolapsed ut...
by Mirwen
Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:54 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Mirwen's Journal
Replies: 51
Views: 7316

<t>Housing: $580<br/> <br/> Home Improvement: $20<br/> <br/> Utilities: $275<br/> <br/> Transportation $197<br/> <br/> Food Groceries $268<br/> <br/> non-food groceries: $110<br/> <br/> alcohol: $81<br/> <br/> Fast food: $30<br/> <br/> Shopping $366<br/> <br/> ($285 of which was a workbench, garage ...
by Mirwen
Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:37 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Bargain hunt success stories
Replies: 6
Views: 915

<t>Today I did the round of thrift store and Craigslist, looking for odds and ends I needed. I got some really amazing finds and wanted to share. What great deals have you found lately?<br/> Wooden armchair for dining table (modern style)- $5<br/> <br/> Metal shelving unit $10<br/> <br/> Burley Solo...
by Mirwen
Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:21 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Is it a red flag for the assessed value of a building to be valued at $15k?
Replies: 4
Views: 786

<t>It really depends a lot on your local assessment rules. Around here they price primarily on square footage and age. So an old small building would assess low, regardless of condition. Also buildings here are assessed at 30% of value, so the real value is assumed to be at least 3x what is on the a...
by Mirwen
Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:06 am
Forum: Transportation Questions
Topic: Electric Bicycles
Replies: 1
Views: 946

<t>I've been working on getting my husband to ride the scooter instead of the car. I finally won! Today he rode the scooter and promptly crashed it. He's fine, but the Vespa isn't. I think I can put it back together, but I have no hope of him wanting to ride it again.<br/> However, he did express in...
by Mirwen
Sat Jun 16, 2012 4:53 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Bulk Brown Rice or Black Beans - Good Price?
Replies: 26
Views: 4661

My Costco charges $13.13 for a 25 lb bag of calrose brown rice. I think they have an organic non-gmo version that is about $0.70/ lb.

by Mirwen
Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:25 am
Forum: Money and Investment Questions
Topic: Portfolio creation / Asset allocation - help needed
Replies: 7
Views: 929

<t>If my asset allocation seem arbitrary, how does one create a portfolio that is not arbitrary?<br/> I guess I'm having a difficult time settling on an allocation because there seems to be no consensus or formula to follow. It all seems to be so subjective. Aside from having non-correlated assets, ...
by Mirwen
Sun Jun 10, 2012 6:23 pm
Forum: Money and Investment Questions
Topic: Portfolio creation / Asset allocation - help needed
Replies: 7
Views: 929

<t>It doesn't matter that PP returns 9% if the fees for a self managed account are 5% (of my current balance). I can't do it. I have to work with what I have.<br/> The name of the Diversified options fund is misleading - it has nothing to do with options, it means diversified choice. I'll rename it ...
by Mirwen
Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:35 pm
Forum: Money and Investment Questions
Topic: Portfolio creation / Asset allocation - help needed
Replies: 7
Views: 929

<t>I know many people here like the permanent portfolio, but I don't feel comfortable with that much in gold and bonds and I don't have many options within my 401k. I'm having trouble with creating an investment election within my 401k. I currently have about 6 mo salary invested and I continue to a...
by Mirwen
Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:01 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Mirwen's Journal
Replies: 51
Views: 7316

<t>Shopping Analysis July-May: <br/> 26% ($1656) Home Improvement<br/> <br/> 13% ($819) Clothing<br/> <br/> 12% ($797) Furniture (Mattress Set)<br/> <br/> 11% ($723) Kitchen<br/> <br/> 11% ($706) Household Items<br/> <br/> 10% ($650) Baby Stuff<br/> <br/> 9% ($608) Health and Beauty<br/> <br/> 5% ($...
by Mirwen
Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:08 pm
Forum: Philosophy and Lifestyle Questions
Topic: Depression and anxiety (warning, lots of stuff about me!)
Replies: 15
Views: 2305

<t>Yep, sounds like depression to me. If you are in school, check and see if you can get free help on campus. My school has both counselors and access to a psychiatrist should you need medicine - for free. <br/> Exercise is a good start, but you may need more. I have to take medication - probably fo...
by Mirwen
Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:01 pm
Forum: Money and Investment Questions
Topic: Optimal use of HSA
Replies: 6
Views: 1134

<t>I pay for everything out of my HSA. However, according to the rules, you can reimburse yourself from the HSA at any time for expenses incurred while you had the HSA, whether or not it was funded at the time. So, if you don't know what you want to do, pay out of pocket and save the receipt. You ca...