Search found 49 matches

by Detente
Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:26 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

June 2014 numbers [Monthly budget in brackets]

Student Loan [$137.00]: $137.00
Dentist [$170.00]: $170.00 (Just didn't pay it)
Condo Fee [$368.75]: $368.75
Child Fund [$25.00]: $25.00
Netflix [$8.40]: $7.99
Gym [$15.00]: $15.00
Sirius radio [$9.50]: $9.44
Gas (utility) [$14.00]: $11.25
Electricity ...
by Detente
Tue Jun 24, 2014 11:30 pm
Forum: Money and Investment Questions
Topic: Raid the 401(k)?
Replies: 5
Views: 1775

Re: Raid the 401(k)?

Thanks for the replies, all, and link, Dragline. Seems like something to avoid at all costs, except in the case of a true emergency (one that the withdrawal rules don't already allow an exception for).
by Detente
Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:41 pm
Forum: Money and Investment Questions
Topic: Raid the 401(k)?
Replies: 5
Views: 1775

Raid the 401(k)?

My first thread here. Apologies if this has been addressed elsewhere. My question is whether anyone has or has considered simply liquidating funds in tax-advantaged retirement accounts, accepting the penalties and tax hits (maybe a total of 50%?). Would you do so if it would immediately put you over ...
by Detente
Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:09 pm
Forum: Money and Investment Questions
Topic: Finally have a small nest egg...how to invest?
Replies: 25
Views: 8211

Re: Finally have a small nest egg...how to invest?

I also know very little about investing. I have been reading up on dividend growth investing and following a lot dividend growth investing blogs right now. It appeals to me because there seems to be a relatively small universe of companies to choose from that consistently increase their dividend ...
by Detente
Tue Jun 24, 2014 2:45 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

Ugh, I spent a couple of hours writing and editing a long post about talking a mental health day today from work and having a breakdown over the weekend; how I've always let work define me and overwhelm me; how I don't date because of the stress and shame I feel from work I don't enjoy; how I'm ...
by Detente
Sat Jun 14, 2014 1:31 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

This is the only place at this point where I keep any kind of journal at all. I have never kept up the discipline of maintaining a personal journal. At any rate, I want to record somewhere the reasons why I am taking the new job at my agency in the very likely event I end up hating that job as well ...
by Detente
Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:25 pm
Forum: Introduce Yourself
Topic: Hi Everyone. Thank you so much. Here's my story.
Replies: 17
Views: 8118

Re: Hi Everyone. Thank you so much. Here's my story.

Your story really struck a chord with me, too. Thanks for sharing.
by Detente
Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:19 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

May 2014 numbers [Monthly budget in brackets]

Student Loan [$137.00]: $137.00
Dentist [$170.00]: $0.00 (Just didn't pay it)
Condo Fee [$368.75]: $368.75
Child Fund [$25.00]: $25.00
Netflix [$8.40]: $7.99
Gym [$15.00]: $15.00
Sirius radio [$9.50]: $9.44
Gas (utility) [$14.00]: $11.25
Electricity ...
by Detente
Sat May 24, 2014 3:23 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

Thanks BlueNote! I interviewed last Friday. I think it went pretty well. It would actually be a lot more intense and stressful probably, but I would at least have my own workspace and a bit more privacy. Sad that that is what I'm looking for in a job these days.
by Detente
Sat May 10, 2014 10:12 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

April 2014 numbers [Monthly budget in brackets]

Student Loan [$137.00]: $137.00
Dentist [$170.00]: $170.00
Condo Fee [$368.75]: $368.75
Child Fund [$25.00]: $25.00
Netflix [$8.40]: $7.99
Gym [$15.00]: $15.00
Sirius radio [$9.50]: $9.44
Gas (utility) [$14.00]: $11.25
Electricity [$40.00]: $29.16 ...
by Detente
Sun Apr 06, 2014 11:22 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

I withdrew from consideration from the NYC job after interviewing for it, and was told I would have been selected. It was the right decision; I wasn't excited about the position at all. I didn't want to start off in a new role already unenthused.

Abbreviated monthly numbers so far in 2014 ...
by Detente
Sun Mar 02, 2014 12:11 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

Overall I'm in very rough shape right now. Work is awful. My day-to-day physical environment is punishing. I'm sharing a cubicle with a coworker, so no privacy. We're stuck in a corner, so no sunlight all day. A lot of people around us are loud. I have to truck up two floors to get filtered water ...
by Detente
Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:14 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

My 2014 budget calls for the following:

Estimated take-home pay: $60,303.72

Estimated expenses: $45,205.80 ($19,183.80 in monthly expenses and $26,022.00 in yearly expenses, with $14,750 of that toward more condo projects)

Estimated cash savings: $15,075.93

Estimated TSP contribution: $9,466.08 ...
by Detente
Fri Feb 28, 2014 5:17 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

Overall 2013 numbers:

Total take-home pay (salary, performance award, bank interest, freelance, tax return): $55,673.92

Total expenses: $45,008.72 ($18,535.77 in monthly expenses, and $26,473.00 in yearly/non-monthly expenses)

Total cash savings: $10,655.15

Total retirement account contribution ...
by Detente
Fri Feb 28, 2014 4:47 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

December 2013 numbers [Monthly budget in brackets]

Student Loan [$137.00]: $137.00

Condo Fee [$354.68]: $354.68

Child Fund [$25.00]: $25.00

Netflix [$8.40]: $7.99

Gym [$15.00]: $15.00

Sirius radio [$9.50]: $9.44

Gas (utility) [$14.00]: $11.25

Electricity [$40.00]: $19.36

Internet [$5.00 ...
by Detente
Mon Dec 16, 2013 11:38 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

Gilberto, thanks for reading and replying. And thanks for the congrats on the mortgage payoff. It serves as a reminder that I'm doing OK and have some security if nothing else.

On cooking, I think it's a skill I'd like to develop and experiment with, but these days it (and ironing, washing clothes ...
by Detente
Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:26 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: FI Fighter's Journal
Replies: 27
Views: 6540

Re: FI Fighter's Journal

Thanks for updating this. I recently subscribed to your blog as well. Inspring stuff.
by Detente
Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:09 am
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

Some quick thoughts/observations/updates:

- Work continues to be terrible. Uninspiring work, but busy and chaotic at the same time, plus the worst office environment I've ever been in (loud cubicle neighbors, cramped, no sunlight, dingy). It's wearing on me. I need to make a change next year ...
by Detente
Sat Dec 14, 2013 11:54 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

November numbers [Monthly budget in brackets]

Student Loan [$137.00]: $137.00

Condo Fee [$354.68]: $354.68

Child Fund [$25.00]: $25.00

Netflix [$8.40]: $7.99

Gym [$15.00]: $15.00

Sirius radio [$9.50]: $9.44

Gas (utility) [$14.00]: $11.25

Electricity [$40.00]: $29.89

Internet [$5.00]: $5.00 ...
by Detente
Sat Dec 14, 2013 11:47 pm
Forum: ERE Journals
Topic: Detente's journal
Replies: 40
Views: 9807

Re: Detente's journal

October numbers [Monthly budget in brackets]

Student Loan [$137.00]: $137.00

Condo Fee [$354.68]: $354.68

Child Fund [$25.00]: $25.00

Netflix [$8.40]: $7.99

Gym [$15.00]: $15.00

Sirius radio [$9.50]: $9.44

Gas (utility) [$14.00]: $11.25

Electricity [$40.00]: $29.12

Internet [$5.00]: $5.00 ...