(first off, you probably won't notice, but I added a new blogroll because google decided to ditch google reader. BOO!! I finally got an app so I would keep better track of blogs and now they're ditching the RSS feed. The good news is I'll be reading those private blogs more often now. yay! But if you're uncomfortable with me having a link please let me know. Thanks!)
So at the last benefit fair I went to I got to sit by the 401K guys for the company we were visiting. When I wasn't chatting with employees I tried to listen to the advice he was giving out and finally at the end of the day just point blank asked him what I should do with my money. And I decided to share that with you.
#1- contribute the maximum for matching to your company's 401K. If you have to put in 6% for them to match 3%, put in 6%. If it's 5% and they match 4%, put in 5%. Do that before anything else regardless of your income.
#2- create a liquid emergency savings account that will cover 3-4 months expenses. That means you sock cash away somewhere you can get to it fast-so not investments.
#3- save more for retirement. But my questions was, what's the advantage of a RothIRA over a 401k or is one better?
IF you want to purchase a home in the near future or save for kid's college, you want to open a RothIRA. You can contribute up to $5500/year and when the time comes to buy a home or pay for college, you can withdraw from the principal. Here's the part I that was new to me:
If you are in a low tax bracket, you want to do a RothIRA because you will not pay taxes later and you're not paying taxes already. A Roth is after tax contributions. So if you're like me and pay next to nothing in income taxes, you really want to put the rest of your retirement savings into a Roth. I had honestly never considered that.
If you make more money, then more contributions to the 401k may be the better option for you since those contributions are pretax dollars and will lower your taxable income. You do pay taxes later when you withdraw.
Now that I'm making some extra money and we'll actually have money to save, we've been trying to decide if we should pay off our rental property or contribute more to our 401K. Now we know we want to open a Roth.
I like this added perk of my job. Maybe this advice will help one of my readers too.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Hello Internet
I just wanted to say hi. There's nothing really profound to write about, I just felt like saying hi.
I worked for 9 hours today. Did I tell you I got a job? Well, I did. It's extremely part time and just perfect for homeschooling since when I do work I have funky hours and child care/ getting kids to school would be impossible. Not sure what I'll do with Munchkin starting kindergarten next year...
But I love my job! I go to benefit fairs and explain benefits to people. That's it. And I adore it. So I wanted to tell you how blessed and lucky I feel to have a way to pay for my medicine and save for braces for kiddos. Yay!
In other news, the school district decided that Jack isn't gifted enough. I had him tested to go to the local gifted magnet school, and even though his cognitive ability score was high, he is the king of silly math mistakes and didn't score high enough on the math. BUT I was also told they didn't accept any grade skippers (what!?) and they want him to re-apply next year. So even though he's averaging a B+ in fourth grade math right now, they want him to either repeat fourth grade math next year or move on to fifth grade math, only to do accelerated fourth grade math AGAIN the following year. So that's 3 years of fractions.
Umm, no thanks. I think we'll stick with homeschooling. Honestly, I'm relieved. It was nice to be able to tell my kid he is not, in fact, a genius and he does, in fact, have to work hard at school like everyone else. I think he was relived too. I have been trying to undo the genius complex his peers gave him for 2 years now.
I am playing around with a new curriculum and slowly falling in love with it. It's called the "Family School" and was created by a local private school. It includes religious education with history, science, literature, geography, art, and music and the days we do it we have wonderful discussions about the relationship of God to those topics. The spirit is in our home more and there is a greater level of learning than we have had previously. My girls also get to participate and I like that as well.
The down side? LOTS of printing. But I try to show as many things on the iPad as I can to cut down on those.
So if you are LDS and homeschooling or thinking about it, I would suggested checking out www.latterdaylearning.com.
Also, I planted spinach and chard! AND last year I planted parsnips that did absolutely nothing and are coming back strong this year! Hooray! I love spring!
I worked for 9 hours today. Did I tell you I got a job? Well, I did. It's extremely part time and just perfect for homeschooling since when I do work I have funky hours and child care/ getting kids to school would be impossible. Not sure what I'll do with Munchkin starting kindergarten next year...
But I love my job! I go to benefit fairs and explain benefits to people. That's it. And I adore it. So I wanted to tell you how blessed and lucky I feel to have a way to pay for my medicine and save for braces for kiddos. Yay!
In other news, the school district decided that Jack isn't gifted enough. I had him tested to go to the local gifted magnet school, and even though his cognitive ability score was high, he is the king of silly math mistakes and didn't score high enough on the math. BUT I was also told they didn't accept any grade skippers (what!?) and they want him to re-apply next year. So even though he's averaging a B+ in fourth grade math right now, they want him to either repeat fourth grade math next year or move on to fifth grade math, only to do accelerated fourth grade math AGAIN the following year. So that's 3 years of fractions.
Umm, no thanks. I think we'll stick with homeschooling. Honestly, I'm relieved. It was nice to be able to tell my kid he is not, in fact, a genius and he does, in fact, have to work hard at school like everyone else. I think he was relived too. I have been trying to undo the genius complex his peers gave him for 2 years now.
I am playing around with a new curriculum and slowly falling in love with it. It's called the "Family School" and was created by a local private school. It includes religious education with history, science, literature, geography, art, and music and the days we do it we have wonderful discussions about the relationship of God to those topics. The spirit is in our home more and there is a greater level of learning than we have had previously. My girls also get to participate and I like that as well.
The down side? LOTS of printing. But I try to show as many things on the iPad as I can to cut down on those.
So if you are LDS and homeschooling or thinking about it, I would suggested checking out www.latterdaylearning.com.
Also, I planted spinach and chard! AND last year I planted parsnips that did absolutely nothing and are coming back strong this year! Hooray! I love spring!
Friday, March 8, 2013
Good Week
This was a pretty good week. Tuesday was a day I wanted to pack up and bottle and tuck away because it was as close to perfect as a day can get. Chores were done cheerfully and accurately, homeschooling went well, I managed to have one on one time with all my kids...still some voice raising (but no yelling!), and bickering among the kids, but it still felt perfect.
I have never had a day like that and I know I doubt I ever will again. So I'm just going to lock it up and keep it.
Tumbleweed just came into my room sobbing because I won't give her more medicine and declared she hates me for the umpteenth time today. Now she is laying next to me trying to fall asleep. I have to admit that though I try to act like it doesn't phase me, it does sting a little to hear my two year old say she hates me.
I created a new routine/schedule and changed some curriculum and its been helping. I feel like I'm always tweaking things, trying to make things run more smoothly, when sometimes I wonder if I should just give in to the chaos. But this schedule is working because Im forcing myself to wake up with Igloo and get more of my housewife work done early. i am also assigning more work to the kids. Our mornings go more smoothly and I don't feel like I'm cramming as much.
We took a break from Singapore Math when Jack just was NOT getting decimals. We tried Switched On Schoolhouse which helped him understand why he's a poor math tester (more on that later) but it didn't help with the decimals really. It was just kind of odd and seemed to jump around a lot. So back to Singapore Math this week and he seems to be catching on. Sometimes you just need to give your brain a break, I think. Made me grateful for homeschooling and the flexibility it provides with that.
We've all gotten into My Little Pony lately. And I mean all of us. Igloo and Jack don't like to admit they like it, but always end up watching it with us when it's on. I waxed nostalgic and spent Wednesday watching 80s ponies and Strawberry Shortcake on YouTube. I love the Internet!!
Last night I stayed up with friends until 1:30am. Sometimes I just want to feel irresponsible and silly. I think that's part of being the primary president; it feels too serious a lot of the time with all the broken home kids I worry about. And then I come home and wish I had come home sooner because I miss putting my own kids to bed and then I don't need to stay out again for 6more months. Funny how that works, huh? I had to wake up at 5:30 to drop Igloo off at work though so now I'm exhausted. Tumbleweed is asleep and I am ready to join her.
I have never had a day like that and I know I doubt I ever will again. So I'm just going to lock it up and keep it.
Tumbleweed just came into my room sobbing because I won't give her more medicine and declared she hates me for the umpteenth time today. Now she is laying next to me trying to fall asleep. I have to admit that though I try to act like it doesn't phase me, it does sting a little to hear my two year old say she hates me.
I created a new routine/schedule and changed some curriculum and its been helping. I feel like I'm always tweaking things, trying to make things run more smoothly, when sometimes I wonder if I should just give in to the chaos. But this schedule is working because Im forcing myself to wake up with Igloo and get more of my housewife work done early. i am also assigning more work to the kids. Our mornings go more smoothly and I don't feel like I'm cramming as much.
We took a break from Singapore Math when Jack just was NOT getting decimals. We tried Switched On Schoolhouse which helped him understand why he's a poor math tester (more on that later) but it didn't help with the decimals really. It was just kind of odd and seemed to jump around a lot. So back to Singapore Math this week and he seems to be catching on. Sometimes you just need to give your brain a break, I think. Made me grateful for homeschooling and the flexibility it provides with that.
We've all gotten into My Little Pony lately. And I mean all of us. Igloo and Jack don't like to admit they like it, but always end up watching it with us when it's on. I waxed nostalgic and spent Wednesday watching 80s ponies and Strawberry Shortcake on YouTube. I love the Internet!!
Last night I stayed up with friends until 1:30am. Sometimes I just want to feel irresponsible and silly. I think that's part of being the primary president; it feels too serious a lot of the time with all the broken home kids I worry about. And then I come home and wish I had come home sooner because I miss putting my own kids to bed and then I don't need to stay out again for 6more months. Funny how that works, huh? I had to wake up at 5:30 to drop Igloo off at work though so now I'm exhausted. Tumbleweed is asleep and I am ready to join her.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Unfortunate Fortune
Most of the time, chickens make awesome pets. But when you can't help them, it's not so fun. Some of you may remember that one of my hens, Fortune, had an egg break inside her last summer. She was very lucky to have lived through it, but was weakened. She stopped laying but has been doing rather well this last month (we thought). On Saturday morning we found her lying in the run on her side. She wasn't moving but was still breathing. She looked like she had been there all night. I wrapped her in a towel. And brought her inside before the other hens started hurting her. I held her for an hour, expecting her to die. She didn't so we put her in a tote with fresh greens and seeds and gave her some water. She had both and seemed to perk up. Yesterday she was much more alert and I started to think she might actually get better.
Today was bad though. She wouldn't eat or drink and has spent the last eight hours in unresponsive sleep (chicken coma?). I suppose that means death and it makes me so sad.
It breaks my heart to see her like this but neither of us can bring ourselves to end her misery.
I guess I'm just glad she isn't dying in the cold and I could at least make her comfortable.
Poor thing.
Today was bad though. She wouldn't eat or drink and has spent the last eight hours in unresponsive sleep (chicken coma?). I suppose that means death and it makes me so sad.
It breaks my heart to see her like this but neither of us can bring ourselves to end her misery.
I guess I'm just glad she isn't dying in the cold and I could at least make her comfortable.
Poor thing.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Quitting Sugar
I'm changing my diet folks. Two years ago I became VERY addicted to sugar after Christmas and have not been able to quit it since. Over that time I have noticed erratic moods, insomnia, headaches, lethargy, foggy mind, and more. All things I made other excuses for: anxiety, depression, side effects of my pills, post concussion syndrome...there was a logical explanation for it all. After a recent flare (when my bladder feels like a UTI without having an infection), I decided enough is enough. I know my bladder is improving, but it isn't healing. I can't be on these pills the rest of my life and I am just plain sick of the pain!
There's still not much known about Interstitial Cystitis, but I try to keep up on the latest research. Diet is the biggest part of treating this disease. It's the first thing doctors have you do. No coffee, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus, soda, caffeine and more depending on your body. But I started wondering about sugar and processed foods. The Interstitial Cystitis Network recommends a diet as close to whole foods as you can get.
I came to the realization last month that sugar was having a significant effect on my moods. I NEEDED it to function. I was angry without it and I was erratic with it. I honestly felt like an alcoholic who couldn't function without the drug but wasn't the best person to be around with it. So I'm quitting!
So a week ago I started adding fresh veggie and fruit juice to my diet. Replacing one meal with juice, that's all. Just to ease into it a little. Then Sunday I went off processed anything. For six days my diet has consisted of fresh juice (like from a juicer), raw or steamed veggies and raw fruits, almond milk, nuts, and eggs from my chickens.
It. Is. So. Hard.
BUT it is also already making a difference. I am falling asleep before midnight (for the last 5 months it's been 2am for me) and able to wake up at 6am (unheard of!) I am yelling less and just seem overall more pleasant (though I still have my moments).
I wanted to blog about it but kept forgetting about Munchkin's birthday so I put it off. But here's the catch up.
Sunday: not too bad.
Monday: really missing all the candy leftover from birthday and valentines. I started noticing all the places I stash candy. I really have a problem, folks.
Tuesday: woke up at 4:30 with diarrhea and spend a good chunk of the day in the bathroom. Massive sugar withdrawal headache. Both symptoms improve with increased water consumption.
Wednesday: feeling a little better, but still sicky.
Thursday: Fell really good, but having a harder time resisting processed foods.
Friday (TODAY!): a bit stressed out and angry today, but considering the stressors and how I handled it, it really was a pretty decent day. Went to Sams club and had 3 people comment on how healthy my grocery cart was. Then I had to buy a pizza a coke for my husband AND walk past an incredible smelling bbq to raise funds for MS and nearly started crying. Seriously. It's getting harder and harder to be around the food my family is still eating (burritos and taquitos!) and be stuck with a salad.
I didn't weigh myself beforehand, but I can say I've lost 5 lbs since New Years (yay!) so that's a plus. I'm so bloated from asparagus and broccoli though that you can't tell. :) I plan on doing this for 2 weeks and then adding grains and cheese back in and maybe fish. Maybe not. I'm strongly considering becoming a (lacto-ovo) vegetarian again. I haven't been one since I became pregnant with my first child (9 years!) Not sure how hard/easy that will be with kids.
Are any of my readers vegetarian moms? Any advice?
There's still not much known about Interstitial Cystitis, but I try to keep up on the latest research. Diet is the biggest part of treating this disease. It's the first thing doctors have you do. No coffee, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus, soda, caffeine and more depending on your body. But I started wondering about sugar and processed foods. The Interstitial Cystitis Network recommends a diet as close to whole foods as you can get.
I came to the realization last month that sugar was having a significant effect on my moods. I NEEDED it to function. I was angry without it and I was erratic with it. I honestly felt like an alcoholic who couldn't function without the drug but wasn't the best person to be around with it. So I'm quitting!
So a week ago I started adding fresh veggie and fruit juice to my diet. Replacing one meal with juice, that's all. Just to ease into it a little. Then Sunday I went off processed anything. For six days my diet has consisted of fresh juice (like from a juicer), raw or steamed veggies and raw fruits, almond milk, nuts, and eggs from my chickens.
It. Is. So. Hard.
BUT it is also already making a difference. I am falling asleep before midnight (for the last 5 months it's been 2am for me) and able to wake up at 6am (unheard of!) I am yelling less and just seem overall more pleasant (though I still have my moments).
I wanted to blog about it but kept forgetting about Munchkin's birthday so I put it off. But here's the catch up.
Sunday: not too bad.
Monday: really missing all the candy leftover from birthday and valentines. I started noticing all the places I stash candy. I really have a problem, folks.
Tuesday: woke up at 4:30 with diarrhea and spend a good chunk of the day in the bathroom. Massive sugar withdrawal headache. Both symptoms improve with increased water consumption.
Wednesday: feeling a little better, but still sicky.
Thursday: Fell really good, but having a harder time resisting processed foods.
Friday (TODAY!): a bit stressed out and angry today, but considering the stressors and how I handled it, it really was a pretty decent day. Went to Sams club and had 3 people comment on how healthy my grocery cart was. Then I had to buy a pizza a coke for my husband AND walk past an incredible smelling bbq to raise funds for MS and nearly started crying. Seriously. It's getting harder and harder to be around the food my family is still eating (burritos and taquitos!) and be stuck with a salad.
I didn't weigh myself beforehand, but I can say I've lost 5 lbs since New Years (yay!) so that's a plus. I'm so bloated from asparagus and broccoli though that you can't tell. :) I plan on doing this for 2 weeks and then adding grains and cheese back in and maybe fish. Maybe not. I'm strongly considering becoming a (lacto-ovo) vegetarian again. I haven't been one since I became pregnant with my first child (9 years!) Not sure how hard/easy that will be with kids.
Are any of my readers vegetarian moms? Any advice?
Munchkin's Scaly Birthday
I am finally blogging about this awesome party. You guys, it was so much fun. She really loved it. Most of last year I was fairly confident she would want a dinosaur party. She LOVES dinosaurs and can look at pictures of them and name about 80%. It's nuts. Thank you Dinosaur Train.
But she surprised me at the last minute by requesting a bug and reptile party. If you've followed me a while you know of her love for bugs. She has recently become enthralled with reptiles as well. I'm really not sure what sparked it, but something happened in the fall and now snakes (and horses) are her favorite.
So we hired cirtters2go to come throw a party for my little herpephile. We considering hiring the local museum to bring their show, but they didn't combine bugs AND reptiles (and mammals) like critters and I really like the owner of critters. Okay, now for pictures!
So there you go! I love my little five year old. She has such a fun and unique personality and it's such a privilege to watch her grow up!
But she surprised me at the last minute by requesting a bug and reptile party. If you've followed me a while you know of her love for bugs. She has recently become enthralled with reptiles as well. I'm really not sure what sparked it, but something happened in the fall and now snakes (and horses) are her favorite.
So we hired cirtters2go to come throw a party for my little herpephile. We considering hiring the local museum to bring their show, but they didn't combine bugs AND reptiles (and mammals) like critters and I really like the owner of critters. Okay, now for pictures!
 |
| The food!! I worked so hard on this food. 5 year olds don't appreciate it,but the grownups do. |
 |
| mmm. worms in dirt. One of my favorites! |
 |
| Check out this adorable printable I found on Pinterest! Isn't it cute!!? |
 |
| Check out the 5. It's a snake! It took forever to find and needed some MSPaint skillz, but I thought it turned out great. |
 |
| petting a leopard gecko. |
 |
| The highlight of the day for her was holding this corn snake. Even though Critters2Go doesn't have a snake, she went out of her way to find one because she knew how much my daughter loved them. AWESOME customer service. |
 |
| All the kids liked watching and moving the hermit crabs. |
 |
| This is a chinchilla. I learned a lot about them, like you can't get their fur wet or it will get moldy. |
 |
| Hedgehog. Munchkin is so calm about bugs that when the hedgehog missed one of her (live) meal worms, Munchkin picked it right up and fed it to her. Awesome! |
 |
| Madagascar hissing cockroach. One of her favorite plastic bugs looks like this so it didn't bother her at all. |
 |
| Tumbleweed thinks globes make a good hat. |
 |
| This hug comes after opening her gift from Jack. He sewed her a bedside organizer all by himself and she thought it was pretty swell. |
 |
| Her aunt made this awesome Dr. Who shirt. It says, "exhilarate!" I love that both my brother's wives are Whovians! |
 |
| Her favorite gift? A $1 snake from Walmart from Jack. |
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Skating Party
Those who know me know that I don't do Valentines Day. But my kids love it (of course) so we decided to go to the homeschoolers Valentine's Day Skating Party today. We all had fun and I actually made a friend! Usually I go to these things and don't talk to anyone and no one talks to me. But I volunteered to help with the spelling bee and my son is super social so I'm starting to meet more homeschoolers from those kinds of things and it's nice.
I just wanted to share these pictures of my kids.
I love that they are best friends.
I've spent this evening baking cupcakes, decorating, and putting finishing touches on party things. Now I'm wired and can't sleep. Of course, I still forgot things so I'll have to do those after PE in the morning. I only do parties every 5 years and don't know how all you other moms can stand to do them any more frequently. I'm really excited though! Can't wait to post pictures!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)