The first quarter of 2010 is over… so it’s time to look back at my retirement levels and see the “big picture” of how my finances are doing.
401A Account:
Three Months ago
• 2.80% of my portfolio
• UP 5.89% since inception
• Worth $741.62/685.02 Gain +$56.60
NOW
• 3.08% of my portfolio (0.28% More of my portfolio)
• Up 10.41% since inception (Grew 4.52% in the last three months)
• Worth $866.40/$784.70 Gain +$81.70 (Difference of +$25.10)
Essentially this account is worth a slightly large part of my retirement portfolio… its grown 4.52% in the past three months, and I’ve made an additional $25.10… Not bad for a mandatory 401 at work. =) 100% of the contributions go to a target date 2040 mutual fund.
457 Account:
Three Months ago:
• 3.89% of my portfolio
• Worth $1,032.80
NOW
• 3.67% of my portfolio (-0.22 % of my portfolio)
• Worth $1,033.17 (Gain of $0.37)
Well, it gained a whopping $0.37. Since I can’t do anything with this money, my goal is for it to represent less and less of my portfolio: so a -.22% is a start… maybe by the end of the year it can be in the 2% range…
Roth IRA ING DIRECT:
Three Months ago:
• 9.68% of my portfolio
• Up 2.21% since inception
• Worth $2,267.56/2,500. Gain $67.56
NOW:
• 9.19% of my portfolio
• Up 3.432% since inception (1.22%)
• Worth $2,585.80/$2,500.00. Gain $85.80 (Difference of +$18.24)
Since this account is made up primarily of CD’s, I won’t lose money… but it won’t get spectacular gains either… I also didn’t make any contributions to the account over the first quarter so all I have is the small amount of interest accumulating. One CD came up for renewal… and since rates are shabby, I just stuck it into the savings account. No point locking that money in for a while at 1.10%... I’ll take the 1.00% APY in the savings account and hope for a rate increase soon. What will really hurt my CD account soon is in Sept… my $1,000.00 cd at 4.5% expires…. Sniff Sniff… (a reminder of better interest rate days)
Sharebuilder Roth IRA:
Three Months ago:
• 43.47% of my portfolio
• UP 1.97 since inception.
• Worth $11,532.06/11,500.00 Gain of +$32.06
NOW:
• 44.68% of my portfolio
• Up 2.66% from Inception (+0.69% change since inception)
• Worth $12,575.89/$12,250.00 Gain of +$325.89 (difference of $293.83)
Very nice! I’m finally beginning to see a profit on my accounts! I added a new target date mutual fund to play with for 2010… and I’ve continued to make contributions to my older mutual fund as well.
Over all what have I learned?
For me right now it seems like Target Date accounts are good if you regularly drop money into them. It’s my best performing account for the amount of money that is currently being invested in it. My Employer 401a account has made me 10.41% since inception, and did well for the quarter. (I like to gear things from the point of inception because you could lose a lot of money one year, have stellar gains the next quarter… and it can make your portfolio look better than it really does in the long run.)
Goals for 2nd quarter (April, May, and June)
• Try and get the 457 account below 3% of my portfolio…
• Continue $250 a month to Mutual funds ($100 target date, $150.00 ING Mutual fund)… I may get one Extra paycheck (its june or july) and my goal is to take $1,000.00 and buy Cd’s slowly with it. (Hopefully rates will go up!)
• Hopefully my 401a contributions aren’t cut when the budget cuts go through… I’d rather pay more for my pension right now then miss out on the upswing this account has the possibility of continuing…
• Continue doing my pension buy-back…. 32 more installment payments to go!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Retirement Perspectives
End of 2009 Balance: $26,529.33 | Current 2010 Balance: $28,144.17
Additional Contributions since 2009: $1,277.30.
Growth: $337.54 (2.126%)
My Goal is the leave the workforce on my 55th birthday, 11,364 Days from now...
401 Account: Approximately 3.08 % of my portfolio• Contributions: $784.40 (Employer Paid 1% of Salary)
• Worth $866.40
o Up 10.41% from inception, +$81.70
o Milestone 2040 makes up 100%
457 Account: Approximately 3.67% of my portfolio
• Discontinued Employer funded plan (interest = pennies)… I get it when I quit… can’t invest it… can’t do anything with it.
o Positive $1,033.17
ING DIRECT Roth IRA: Approximately 9.19% of my portfolio
• $2,500.00 Invested| Worth $2,585.80
o Up 3.432% from inception. Positive $85.80
o CD’s ranging from 1.65% to 4.5% ( $100 in savings @ 1.10%).
ShareBuilder Roth IRA Approximately 44.68% of my portfolio• $12,250 Invested | Worth $12,575.89
o up 2.66% since inception… Positive $325.89
o ING Strategic Allocation Moderate $12,071.61 | I have 1,414.24 Shares
o ARDVX 2040 $ 254.28 | 28.539 Shares
o Money Market Cash: $0.00
o Not deposited Contributions: $250.00
Excluding my Pension, my variable retirement accounts are worth $17,061.26. Of that I’ve only invested $14,750 of my money (the rest has been my employer). So technically I’ve made 15.66% If I compare all the “free money” and my contributions (Totals 16,567.87), my portfolio is UP 2.97% since inception.
Pension: Approximately 39.38% of my portfolio
If I quit tomorrow, I’d just have the cash in the account.
Total: $11,082.91
• I’m currently buying additional time in my retirement accounts from when I was 16-18 years of age (service prior to membership). It’s less than a year’s worth of service credit, but I’ll be paying $33.06 for 32 more installments.
My entire portfolio (if I cashed my pension out today) is worth $28,144.17
Additional Contributions since 2009: $1,277.30.
Growth: $337.54 (2.126%)
My Goal is the leave the workforce on my 55th birthday, 11,364 Days from now...
401 Account: Approximately 3.08 % of my portfolio• Contributions: $784.40 (Employer Paid 1% of Salary)
• Worth $866.40
o Up 10.41% from inception, +$81.70
o Milestone 2040 makes up 100%
457 Account: Approximately 3.67% of my portfolio
• Discontinued Employer funded plan (interest = pennies)… I get it when I quit… can’t invest it… can’t do anything with it.
o Positive $1,033.17
ING DIRECT Roth IRA: Approximately 9.19% of my portfolio
• $2,500.00 Invested| Worth $2,585.80
o Up 3.432% from inception. Positive $85.80
o CD’s ranging from 1.65% to 4.5% ( $100 in savings @ 1.10%).
ShareBuilder Roth IRA Approximately 44.68% of my portfolio• $12,250 Invested | Worth $12,575.89
o up 2.66% since inception… Positive $325.89
o ING Strategic Allocation Moderate $12,071.61 | I have 1,414.24 Shares
o ARDVX 2040 $ 254.28 | 28.539 Shares
o Money Market Cash: $0.00
o Not deposited Contributions: $250.00
Excluding my Pension, my variable retirement accounts are worth $17,061.26. Of that I’ve only invested $14,750 of my money (the rest has been my employer). So technically I’ve made 15.66% If I compare all the “free money” and my contributions (Totals 16,567.87), my portfolio is UP 2.97% since inception.
Pension: Approximately 39.38% of my portfolio
If I quit tomorrow, I’d just have the cash in the account.
Total: $11,082.91
• I’m currently buying additional time in my retirement accounts from when I was 16-18 years of age (service prior to membership). It’s less than a year’s worth of service credit, but I’ll be paying $33.06 for 32 more installments.
My entire portfolio (if I cashed my pension out today) is worth $28,144.17
Friday, March 26, 2010
WOW I SPENT WAYYYY TOO MUCH $$$$$ this month
Thank Goodness I found that extra $$$$ last month. Its all gone. lol I went on a shopping binge this month... stuff for my kitchen, stuff for me... Then i got additional money from work and decided to spend it too instead of save it ($50.00 in gas rebates from work). I haven't deposited the check yet, but it's earmarked to be spent next month on Mark Kay products because I'm out.
Some how everything worked out budget wise... and i didn't go into the red because of the $$$$$ i found from last month, so i was still able to put money in the EF, my savings funds, pay more for the mortgage, stick my retirement money away... and save a few dollars more then I budgetted for..... but i had to play some tricky balance line games.
I spent too much on groceries, so i evened it out with some extra $$$ leftover from my utilities...
I donated more to my charity (from the extra $$$$ from last month)... and then spent the rest on clothes.... (I dropped weight from the marathon, and i needed some new digs for my vacation... but instead of really buying things i needed--i bought some needs--- i went crazy with the wants too....)
Next month I really REALLY need to be more careful lol... but then again, i kind of don't regret this month... I'm a bit of a mess right now with my personal life... and while i've never been a retail therapy girl... it was nice to feel like a rebel and break some rules...
I'm suck an uber control freak that it was nice to just look at the budget once a week and just see what happened...
Which is sooooo not like me... I've been breaking a lot of stereotypes and personal barriers in 2010... i guess this is the year i do all the crazy stuff i never did before... (like a marathon... finally getting in shape... breaking up with BF... going on a road trip solo to meet my friend in Utah... living alone and dealing with those issues... taking on more projects at work... insisting on 2 weeks of vacation... and next week i'm telling my sister off--- but that's a whole other post.
Some how everything worked out budget wise... and i didn't go into the red because of the $$$$$ i found from last month, so i was still able to put money in the EF, my savings funds, pay more for the mortgage, stick my retirement money away... and save a few dollars more then I budgetted for..... but i had to play some tricky balance line games.
I spent too much on groceries, so i evened it out with some extra $$$ leftover from my utilities...
I donated more to my charity (from the extra $$$$ from last month)... and then spent the rest on clothes.... (I dropped weight from the marathon, and i needed some new digs for my vacation... but instead of really buying things i needed--i bought some needs--- i went crazy with the wants too....)
Next month I really REALLY need to be more careful lol... but then again, i kind of don't regret this month... I'm a bit of a mess right now with my personal life... and while i've never been a retail therapy girl... it was nice to feel like a rebel and break some rules...
I'm suck an uber control freak that it was nice to just look at the budget once a week and just see what happened...
Which is sooooo not like me... I've been breaking a lot of stereotypes and personal barriers in 2010... i guess this is the year i do all the crazy stuff i never did before... (like a marathon... finally getting in shape... breaking up with BF... going on a road trip solo to meet my friend in Utah... living alone and dealing with those issues... taking on more projects at work... insisting on 2 weeks of vacation... and next week i'm telling my sister off--- but that's a whole other post.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
refinance...
I got a call today from Wells Fargo... They wanted to try and get me to re-fi my mortgage with them... open a credit card... transfer debt to them.... and the whole nine yards...
I listened to the speeches from the guy (he was waaaaaayyy new I think because when I asked him my closing costs estimates he didn't know and said a few thousand....)
told him i had no debts and was actually waiting on my tax return from the feds to go ahead and pay off the loan balances with them and home depot... and when it came to my condo I told him I wasn't planning on staying forever so most likely, paying $3,000 to get .75 points lower then my current rate would not be financially sound as I'd be better off putting the $3,000 as a payment on my current mortgage since i already pay more then the minimum on that.
I think I shocked him due to my age and current understanding of my financial choices and all the options available.
Now if i find a company willing to reduce my rate and charge me no closing costs, then I'll consider the re-fi (basically the bank just wants the interest payments from the loan to go to them and not some other bank)... but right now I'm not even looking to re-fi
I listened to the speeches from the guy (he was waaaaaayyy new I think because when I asked him my closing costs estimates he didn't know and said a few thousand....)
told him i had no debts and was actually waiting on my tax return from the feds to go ahead and pay off the loan balances with them and home depot... and when it came to my condo I told him I wasn't planning on staying forever so most likely, paying $3,000 to get .75 points lower then my current rate would not be financially sound as I'd be better off putting the $3,000 as a payment on my current mortgage since i already pay more then the minimum on that.
I think I shocked him due to my age and current understanding of my financial choices and all the options available.
Now if i find a company willing to reduce my rate and charge me no closing costs, then I'll consider the re-fi (basically the bank just wants the interest payments from the loan to go to them and not some other bank)... but right now I'm not even looking to re-fi
Marathon...
I FINISHED!!!!! in 7 hours and 40 mins!!!! the goal of under 8 hours was reached!!!!!!
I'm currently down with the flu or some kind of bug that hit me today... so i feel like poo... but post marathon i had a few blisters and swore never to do it again... I went through one layer of my two layer socks!!!
Then i looked through the pictures... and started saying "maybe next year since I'll have more time to train...." and the next day I could move around... and the Tuesday after i biked a half hour and hit the stair master for 10 mins... and I'm basically back to normal... but I'm not going to walk or job till Sunday just to be sure... especially since I'm not under the weather (and my nose runs like Niagara Falls and my head wants to explode)
then i got an email about being a new "legacy runner" for the new route... so if I do it next year I'll walk jog it and try and finish in under 7 hours.... so well see. =)
My team is $22 short of raising the $2,500.00
DONATE HERE
but i made it and got my happy medal and everything.
I'm currently down with the flu or some kind of bug that hit me today... so i feel like poo... but post marathon i had a few blisters and swore never to do it again... I went through one layer of my two layer socks!!!
Then i looked through the pictures... and started saying "maybe next year since I'll have more time to train...." and the next day I could move around... and the Tuesday after i biked a half hour and hit the stair master for 10 mins... and I'm basically back to normal... but I'm not going to walk or job till Sunday just to be sure... especially since I'm not under the weather (and my nose runs like Niagara Falls and my head wants to explode)
then i got an email about being a new "legacy runner" for the new route... so if I do it next year I'll walk jog it and try and finish in under 7 hours.... so well see. =)
My team is $22 short of raising the $2,500.00
DONATE HERE
but i made it and got my happy medal and everything.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Retirement Perspectives
End of 2009 Balance: $26,529.33 | Current 2010 Balance: $27,793.70
Additional Contributions since 2009: $952.40
Growth: $311.97
My Goal is the leave the workforce on my 55th birthday, 11,371 Days from now...
401 Account: Approximately 3.06 % of my portfolio
• Contributions: $770.46 (Employer Paid 1% of Salary)
• Worth $849.89
o Up 10.30% from inception, +$79.43
o Milestone 2040 makes up 100%
457 Account: Approximately 3.72% of my portfolio
• Discontinued Employer funded plan (interest = pennies)… I get it when I quit… can’t invest it… can’t do anything with it.
o Positive $1,033.14
ING DIRECT Roth IRA: Approximately 9.31% of my portfolio• $2,500.00 Invested| Worth $2,585.39
o Up 3.43% from inception. Positive $85.39
o CD’s ranging from 1.65% to 4.5% ( $100 in savings @ 1.10%).
ShareBuilder Roth IRA Approximately 44.27% of my portfolio
• $12,000 Invested | Worth $12,303.03
o up 2.525% since inception… Positive $303.03
o ING Strategic Allocation Moderate $12,049.32 | I have 1,414.24 Shares
o ARDVX 2040 $ 253.71 | 28.539 Shares
o Money Market Cash: $0.00
o Not deposited Contributions: $0.00
Excluding my Pension, my variable retirement accounts are worth $16,771.45. Of that I’ve only invested $14,500 of my money (the rest has been my employer). So technically I’ve made 15.66% If I compare all the “free money” and my contributions (Totals 16,303.60), my portfolio is UP 2.86% since inception.
Pension: Approximately 39.66% of my portfolio
If I quit tomorrow, I’d just have the cash in the account.
Total: $11,022.25
• I’m currently buying additional time in my retirement accounts from when I was 16-18 years of age (service prior to membership). It’s less than a year’s worth of service credit, but I’ll be paying $33.06 for 33 more installments.
My entire portfolio (if I cashed my pension out today) is worth $27,793.70
Additional Contributions since 2009: $952.40
Growth: $311.97
My Goal is the leave the workforce on my 55th birthday, 11,371 Days from now...
401 Account: Approximately 3.06 % of my portfolio
• Contributions: $770.46 (Employer Paid 1% of Salary)
• Worth $849.89
o Up 10.30% from inception, +$79.43
o Milestone 2040 makes up 100%
457 Account: Approximately 3.72% of my portfolio
• Discontinued Employer funded plan (interest = pennies)… I get it when I quit… can’t invest it… can’t do anything with it.
o Positive $1,033.14
ING DIRECT Roth IRA: Approximately 9.31% of my portfolio• $2,500.00 Invested| Worth $2,585.39
o Up 3.43% from inception. Positive $85.39
o CD’s ranging from 1.65% to 4.5% ( $100 in savings @ 1.10%).
ShareBuilder Roth IRA Approximately 44.27% of my portfolio
• $12,000 Invested | Worth $12,303.03
o up 2.525% since inception… Positive $303.03
o ING Strategic Allocation Moderate $12,049.32 | I have 1,414.24 Shares
o ARDVX 2040 $ 253.71 | 28.539 Shares
o Money Market Cash: $0.00
o Not deposited Contributions: $0.00
Excluding my Pension, my variable retirement accounts are worth $16,771.45. Of that I’ve only invested $14,500 of my money (the rest has been my employer). So technically I’ve made 15.66% If I compare all the “free money” and my contributions (Totals 16,303.60), my portfolio is UP 2.86% since inception.
Pension: Approximately 39.66% of my portfolio
If I quit tomorrow, I’d just have the cash in the account.
Total: $11,022.25
• I’m currently buying additional time in my retirement accounts from when I was 16-18 years of age (service prior to membership). It’s less than a year’s worth of service credit, but I’ll be paying $33.06 for 33 more installments.
My entire portfolio (if I cashed my pension out today) is worth $27,793.70
Marathon: Less than 24 hours away
Less than 24 hours!!!!!!!
holy wow!!!!
My team has raised $1,985 for Child S.h.a.r.e. and were $515 from reaching our goal...
if you feel so inclined to donate, I won't stop you
Click Here To Donate!!
holy wow!!!!
My team has raised $1,985 for Child S.h.a.r.e. and were $515 from reaching our goal...
if you feel so inclined to donate, I won't stop you
Click Here To Donate!!
Monday, March 15, 2010
remember me freaking about my property taxes bill?
I got a notice in the mail from the county about my property value changing because I bought a new place and called them on it.
They told me my account should be refunded $276.11 ... Either to my escrow account (because the bank takes the money out of the account to pay the bill) or to me directly in a few weeks. So if I don't see a check in the mail in a few weeks, i'm to call the county back to make sure it was cut to my bank, and then call the bank to make sure those funds are deposited back into my escrow account... where I believe then that I can have the bank cut me the refunded check amount. =)
which means my tax bill for 2010 will be based on my condo being worth $120,000... not the $155,000 it was previously assessed at. Today I learned that in April when I make my property tax payment, its actually paying for 2009... and when they pull out money in Nov, that's for 2010.
which means... eventually my bill (the amount of money I have to put into my escrow account)should be reduced and my monthly condo costs should go down!!!!
yippie!!!
They told me my account should be refunded $276.11 ... Either to my escrow account (because the bank takes the money out of the account to pay the bill) or to me directly in a few weeks. So if I don't see a check in the mail in a few weeks, i'm to call the county back to make sure it was cut to my bank, and then call the bank to make sure those funds are deposited back into my escrow account... where I believe then that I can have the bank cut me the refunded check amount. =)
which means my tax bill for 2010 will be based on my condo being worth $120,000... not the $155,000 it was previously assessed at. Today I learned that in April when I make my property tax payment, its actually paying for 2009... and when they pull out money in Nov, that's for 2010.
which means... eventually my bill (the amount of money I have to put into my escrow account)should be reduced and my monthly condo costs should go down!!!!
yippie!!!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Work news
Without posting too much about the topic, next fiscal year at work is going to hurt.
There's a large deficit (not as bad as it could be) but enough that employees take home pay is going to be less... whether hour reductions, furlow days, benefit cuts, or paying more for pensions... take home pay will drop... that's for sure.
I'll post more when decisions are final (and how that effects everything) but we don't really know whats going to happen until May/June when the new budget gets approved.
So we get to sit and worry... and hope people retire...
There's a large deficit (not as bad as it could be) but enough that employees take home pay is going to be less... whether hour reductions, furlow days, benefit cuts, or paying more for pensions... take home pay will drop... that's for sure.
I'll post more when decisions are final (and how that effects everything) but we don't really know whats going to happen until May/June when the new budget gets approved.
So we get to sit and worry... and hope people retire...
Retirement Perspectives
End of 2009 Balance: $26,529.33 | Current 2010 Balance: $27,760.56
Additional Contributions since 2009: $952.40
Growth (minus additional contributions): $278.83
My Goal is the leave the workforce on my 55th birthday, 11,378 Days from now...
401 Account: Approximately 3.05 % of my portfolio
• Contributions: $770.46 (Employer Paid 1% of Salary)
• Worth $846.87
o Up 9.91% from inception, +$76.41
o Milestone 2040 makes up 100%
457 Account: Approximately 3.72% of my portfolio
• Discontinued Employer funded plan (interest = pennies)… I get it when I quit… can’t invest it… can’t do anything with it.
o Positive $1,033.12
ING DIRECT Roth IRA: Approximately 9.31% of my portfolio
• $2,500.00 Invested| Worth $2,585.00
o Up 3.4% from inception. Positive $85.00
o CD’s ranging from 1.65% to 4.5% ( $100 in savings @ 1.10%).
ShareBuilder Roth IRA Approximately 44.21% of my portfolio
• $12,000 Invested | Worth $12,273.32
o up 2.277% since inception… Positive $273.32
o ING Strategic Allocation Moderate $12,021.04 | I have 1,414.24 Shares
o ARDVX 2040 $ 252.28 | 28.539 Shares
o Money Market Cash: $0.00
o Not deposited Contributions: $0.00
Excluding my Pension, my variable retirement accounts are worth $16,738.31. Of that I’ve only invested $14,500 of my money (the rest has been my employer). So technically I’ve made 15.43% If I compare all the “free money” and my contributions (Totals 16,303.58), my portfolio is UP 2.66% since inception.
Pension: Approximately 39.70% of my portfolio
If I quit tomorrow, I’d just have the cash in the account.
Total: $11,022.25
• I’m currently buying additional time in my retirement accounts from when I was 16-18 years of age (service prior to membership). It’s less than a year’s worth of service credit, but I’ll be paying $33.06 for 33 more installments.
My entire portfolio (if I cashed my pension out today) is worth $27,760.56
Additional Contributions since 2009: $952.40
Growth (minus additional contributions): $278.83
My Goal is the leave the workforce on my 55th birthday, 11,378 Days from now...
401 Account: Approximately 3.05 % of my portfolio
• Contributions: $770.46 (Employer Paid 1% of Salary)
• Worth $846.87
o Up 9.91% from inception, +$76.41
o Milestone 2040 makes up 100%
457 Account: Approximately 3.72% of my portfolio
• Discontinued Employer funded plan (interest = pennies)… I get it when I quit… can’t invest it… can’t do anything with it.
o Positive $1,033.12
ING DIRECT Roth IRA: Approximately 9.31% of my portfolio
• $2,500.00 Invested| Worth $2,585.00
o Up 3.4% from inception. Positive $85.00
o CD’s ranging from 1.65% to 4.5% ( $100 in savings @ 1.10%).
ShareBuilder Roth IRA Approximately 44.21% of my portfolio
• $12,000 Invested | Worth $12,273.32
o up 2.277% since inception… Positive $273.32
o ING Strategic Allocation Moderate $12,021.04 | I have 1,414.24 Shares
o ARDVX 2040 $ 252.28 | 28.539 Shares
o Money Market Cash: $0.00
o Not deposited Contributions: $0.00
Excluding my Pension, my variable retirement accounts are worth $16,738.31. Of that I’ve only invested $14,500 of my money (the rest has been my employer). So technically I’ve made 15.43% If I compare all the “free money” and my contributions (Totals 16,303.58), my portfolio is UP 2.66% since inception.
Pension: Approximately 39.70% of my portfolio
If I quit tomorrow, I’d just have the cash in the account.
Total: $11,022.25
• I’m currently buying additional time in my retirement accounts from when I was 16-18 years of age (service prior to membership). It’s less than a year’s worth of service credit, but I’ll be paying $33.06 for 33 more installments.
My entire portfolio (if I cashed my pension out today) is worth $27,760.56
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Kiva Loan- March Mali!
I'm in Mali for March!!!
Location: Kadiolo Sikasso, Mali
Repayment Term: 8 months
Activity: Retail
Repayment Schedule: Monthly
Loan Use: Purchase of selling items
The eight members of the Siguikadi group are mainly married women, with in average 38years of age, two children and most of them live in polygamous families in Noumousso, a neighborhood of the city of Kadiolo, in Sikasso, the third administrative region of the Republic of Mali.
They joined the microfinance institution Soro Yiriwaso in order to meet their customers' needs. This is their fourth solidarity loan and they fully repaid the previous ones.
They sell shea butter and plastic bins.
With this new loan each of them is planning to buy 150 kg. of shea butter and four dozens of plastic bins.
They buy their supplies in the neighbor villages and at the big market in the city of Kadiolo.
They sell their products for cash in Kadiolo and at the market on fair days to a customer base of both men and women.
They expect to reach average monthly earnings of 35,750 FCFA each, of which part will go into savings and meeting family needs, and the remainder will be reinvested in their business. Their ambition is to become wholesalers.
CURRENT LOANS IN ACTION
Location: Makeni, Sierra Leone
Repayment Term: 12 months
Activity: Food Market
Repayment Schedule: Monthly
Loan Use: Buy palm-oil, rice, and oranges in wholesale quantities
Location: Tsetserleg, Arhangai, Mongolia
Repayment Term: 20 months
Activity: Butcher Shop
Repayment Schedule: Monthly
Loan Use: to purchase meat
LOANS PAID IN FULL:
Zenaida Daing
Farming, Sta. Josefa, Agusan Del Sur, Philippines
Elizabeth Aidoo
Food Market, Wiawso, Ghana
Mobateli Plus Group
Manufacturing, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Paz y Amor Group
Fruits & Vegetables, Dominican Republic
Dustmatov Eralboy
Livestock, Tajikistan
Seccelambras Group
Food Production/Sales, Peru
Rashidat Mumuni
Fish Selling, Nigeria
Karla Vanessa Montiel Barahona
Housing, Nicaragua
Eal Nub
Fish Selling, Cambodia
Atim Irene's Group
Medical Clinic, Uganda
Location: Kadiolo Sikasso, Mali
Repayment Term: 8 months
Activity: Retail
Repayment Schedule: Monthly
Loan Use: Purchase of selling items
The eight members of the Siguikadi group are mainly married women, with in average 38years of age, two children and most of them live in polygamous families in Noumousso, a neighborhood of the city of Kadiolo, in Sikasso, the third administrative region of the Republic of Mali.
They joined the microfinance institution Soro Yiriwaso in order to meet their customers' needs. This is their fourth solidarity loan and they fully repaid the previous ones.
They sell shea butter and plastic bins.
With this new loan each of them is planning to buy 150 kg. of shea butter and four dozens of plastic bins.
They buy their supplies in the neighbor villages and at the big market in the city of Kadiolo.
They sell their products for cash in Kadiolo and at the market on fair days to a customer base of both men and women.
They expect to reach average monthly earnings of 35,750 FCFA each, of which part will go into savings and meeting family needs, and the remainder will be reinvested in their business. Their ambition is to become wholesalers.
CURRENT LOANS IN ACTION
Location: Makeni, Sierra Leone
Repayment Term: 12 months
Activity: Food Market
Repayment Schedule: Monthly
Loan Use: Buy palm-oil, rice, and oranges in wholesale quantities
Location: Tsetserleg, Arhangai, Mongolia
Repayment Term: 20 months
Activity: Butcher Shop
Repayment Schedule: Monthly
Loan Use: to purchase meat
LOANS PAID IN FULL:
Zenaida Daing
Farming, Sta. Josefa, Agusan Del Sur, Philippines
Elizabeth Aidoo
Food Market, Wiawso, Ghana
Mobateli Plus Group
Manufacturing, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Paz y Amor Group
Fruits & Vegetables, Dominican Republic
Dustmatov Eralboy
Livestock, Tajikistan
Seccelambras Group
Food Production/Sales, Peru
Rashidat Mumuni
Fish Selling, Nigeria
Karla Vanessa Montiel Barahona
Housing, Nicaragua
Eal Nub
Fish Selling, Cambodia
Atim Irene's Group
Medical Clinic, Uganda
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Retirement Perspectives
End of 2009 Balance: $26,529.33 | Current 2010 Balance: $27,558.37
Additional Contributions since 2009: $876.62
Growth: $149.42
My Goal is the leave the workforce on my 55th birthday, 11,420 Days from now...
401 Account: Approximately 2.98 % of my portfolio
• Contributions: $756.22 (Employer Paid 1% of Salary)
• Worth $822.23
o Up 8.728% from inception, +$66.01
o Milestone 2040 makes up 100%
457 Account: Approximately 3.75% of my portfolio
• Discontinued Employer funded plan (interest = pennies)… I get it when I quit… can’t invest it… can’t do anything with it.
o Positive $1,033.09
ING DIRECT Roth IRA: Approximately 9.38% of my portfolio
• $2,500.00 Invested| Worth $2,584.44
o Up 3.3776% from inception. Positive $84.44
o CD’s ranging from 1.65% to 4.5% ( $100 in savings @ 1.10%).
ShareBuilder Roth IRA Approximately 44.12% of my portfolio
• $12,000 Invested | Worth $12,157.90
o up 1.3158% since inception… Positive $157.90
o ING Strategic Allocation Moderate $11,907.90 | I have 1,414.24 Shares
o ARDVX 2040 $ 250.00 | 28.539 Shares
o Money Market Cash: $0.00
o Not deposited Contributions: $0.00
Excluding my Pension, my variable retirement accounts are worth $16,597.66. Of that I’ve only invested $14,500 of my money (the rest has been my employer). So technically I’ve made 14.46% If I compare all the “free money” and my contributions (Totals 16,289.31), my portfolio is UP 1.89% since inception.
Pension: Approximately 39.77% of my portfolio
If I quit tomorrow, I’d just have the cash in the account.
Total: $10,960.71
• I’m currently buying additional time in my retirement accounts from when I was 16-18 years of age (service prior to membership). It’s less than a year’s worth of service credit, but I’ll be paying $33.06 for 34 more installments.
My entire portfolio (if I cashed my pension out today) is worth $27,558.37
Additional Contributions since 2009: $876.62
Growth: $149.42
My Goal is the leave the workforce on my 55th birthday, 11,420 Days from now...
401 Account: Approximately 2.98 % of my portfolio
• Contributions: $756.22 (Employer Paid 1% of Salary)
• Worth $822.23
o Up 8.728% from inception, +$66.01
o Milestone 2040 makes up 100%
457 Account: Approximately 3.75% of my portfolio
• Discontinued Employer funded plan (interest = pennies)… I get it when I quit… can’t invest it… can’t do anything with it.
o Positive $1,033.09
ING DIRECT Roth IRA: Approximately 9.38% of my portfolio
• $2,500.00 Invested| Worth $2,584.44
o Up 3.3776% from inception. Positive $84.44
o CD’s ranging from 1.65% to 4.5% ( $100 in savings @ 1.10%).
ShareBuilder Roth IRA Approximately 44.12% of my portfolio
• $12,000 Invested | Worth $12,157.90
o up 1.3158% since inception… Positive $157.90
o ING Strategic Allocation Moderate $11,907.90 | I have 1,414.24 Shares
o ARDVX 2040 $ 250.00 | 28.539 Shares
o Money Market Cash: $0.00
o Not deposited Contributions: $0.00
Excluding my Pension, my variable retirement accounts are worth $16,597.66. Of that I’ve only invested $14,500 of my money (the rest has been my employer). So technically I’ve made 14.46% If I compare all the “free money” and my contributions (Totals 16,289.31), my portfolio is UP 1.89% since inception.
Pension: Approximately 39.77% of my portfolio
If I quit tomorrow, I’d just have the cash in the account.
Total: $10,960.71
• I’m currently buying additional time in my retirement accounts from when I was 16-18 years of age (service prior to membership). It’s less than a year’s worth of service credit, but I’ll be paying $33.06 for 34 more installments.
My entire portfolio (if I cashed my pension out today) is worth $27,558.37
Boyfriend and I are on a break...
...
As of Monday
...
I just don't see us getting married anymore... and even though I care about him, I worry if i'm more in love with the idea of being in love... then actually in love with him...
So were taking some time apart to figure out what we really want, who we really are, and how or if we fit together.
...
I just feel i'm the glue that holds him together, me together, and our relationship together... and that's too much for one persons shoulders...
...
and I really want to be with the kind of man who will encourage me, walk beside me, and be my partner... and right now i'm not getting that... and I'm just realizing how distant i've been from God... I've had a few God moments over the past couple of months and its made me ache and miss the feeling i get when God hugs me...
....
Sometimes when your afraid to be alone, thats really the one thing you should embrace.
As of Monday
...
I just don't see us getting married anymore... and even though I care about him, I worry if i'm more in love with the idea of being in love... then actually in love with him...
So were taking some time apart to figure out what we really want, who we really are, and how or if we fit together.
...
I just feel i'm the glue that holds him together, me together, and our relationship together... and that's too much for one persons shoulders...
...
and I really want to be with the kind of man who will encourage me, walk beside me, and be my partner... and right now i'm not getting that... and I'm just realizing how distant i've been from God... I've had a few God moments over the past couple of months and its made me ache and miss the feeling i get when God hugs me...
....
Sometimes when your afraid to be alone, thats really the one thing you should embrace.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Feb Spending
Condo Expenses:
• Mortgage Interest $512.68
• Principle: $137.96
• Taxes: $125.00
• PMI: $52.74
• HOA: $250.00
Giving/Donations:
• LTG $260.00
• Child S.H.A.R.E $60.00
Auto Expenses:
• Gasoline $88.80
• DMV Renewal Fees $170.00
• SMOG Check $59.99
Utility Bills:
• Electricity: $18.63
• Cell phone: $58.14
• Internet: $47.62
Groceries:
• TOTAL: $396.19
o $200.00 Thank You Party
o $60.00 sister (she paid me..)
o So actually it was $136.19 for the most part
Piano Lessons:
• 2 lessons $40.00
Marathon:
• Registration Fee: $134.44
• Parking $17.00
• New Running Shoes: $92.38
House stuff:
• Toiletries, small V-day gift: $17.74
Eating Out:
• Rubios: $4.33
• Selmas: $10.00
• The Hat: $6.00
FUN:
• Big Lots – 2 blankets, and 2 small bathroom floor mats: $16.86
• Developing pictures: $15.17
Other:
• Turbo Tax: $66.90
Total Spent: $2,718.57
• Mortgage Interest $512.68
• Principle: $137.96
• Taxes: $125.00
• PMI: $52.74
• HOA: $250.00
Giving/Donations:
• LTG $260.00
• Child S.H.A.R.E $60.00
Auto Expenses:
• Gasoline $88.80
• DMV Renewal Fees $170.00
• SMOG Check $59.99
Utility Bills:
• Electricity: $18.63
• Cell phone: $58.14
• Internet: $47.62
Groceries:
• TOTAL: $396.19
o $200.00 Thank You Party
o $60.00 sister (she paid me..)
o So actually it was $136.19 for the most part
Piano Lessons:
• 2 lessons $40.00
Marathon:
• Registration Fee: $134.44
• Parking $17.00
• New Running Shoes: $92.38
House stuff:
• Toiletries, small V-day gift: $17.74
Eating Out:
• Rubios: $4.33
• Selmas: $10.00
• The Hat: $6.00
FUN:
• Big Lots – 2 blankets, and 2 small bathroom floor mats: $16.86
• Developing pictures: $15.17
Other:
• Turbo Tax: $66.90
Total Spent: $2,718.57
February-- How'd I do?
Financial $$$ & Personal Goals End of February Re-cap
Pay off non-mortgage Debt
• Pay off Tile Loan -> $4,000.00 FTH Tax Return
• Pay off Home Depot -> $4,000.00 FTH Tax Return
Tax Forms are going out today mailed and then I'll just be waiting for my check… stupid snail mail.
Lower Mortgage to under $115,000.00
• @ $117,023.74 (2,023.74 to go)
Principle Payments:
January $137.07 +$60.00 | February$137.96 + $60.00
Get emergency fund to $8,200.00 (left to add $1,000.00)
Emergency fund now sits at $7,200.00
January $100 |February $100|
Contribute $5,000.00 to Roth IRA ($4,500.00 left to add)
January $250.00 | February $250.00 |
Car Fund (Save $250.00) (left to add $144.44)
This month I added $51.20 since I only filled up the car twice. The savings account now has a balance of: $445.56
Increase Networth to $60,000.00
• @$50,912.00
This Month:
• I put $250 to the Roth IRA
• My employer 401a contributions: $28.48
• My Pension got a push: $123.08
• Paid down the mortgage this month by $197.96
• Saved some money into the car fund this month: $51.20
• One paycheck had a holiday on it that forced a normal day of work into Overtime (plus an hour or so) since the holidays fell on my days off… I got an additional $172.12… but didn’t get to save it with all the unexpected things that popped up this month…
• Got a credit on my Tile loan so that gave me $316.80 to save!
• I had to take $$$$ out of savings to pay for the LA Marathon ($134.44), my car tax ($170), I paid down my Home Depot loan to get it exactly at $4,000.00 (paid out $397.48 ---this was $$$ set aside in savings last year) …But I also had to buy new running shoes ($90!!!!) get may car SMOG ($60.00) and pay for food for my Thank you party ($200 ish but my friends more than earned it!).
Personal Goals:
GET IN SHAPE
I succeeded again in not eating any red meat this month (even with going to a BBQ House and a super bowl party). I lost a total of 6 lbs since January... and with training for the marathon I’m a lot less jiggley then before so some of the fat turned into muscle. I also take a yoga class on Wednesdays for free at work to help stretch me out… and some of my smaller clothes are starting to fit again… My black shorts are comfortable and they zip up!
In the land of portion control, I now use my food scale to measure out all the food I take with me to work so I get an accurate amount and serving. =)
Give More
• Kiva- I made one Kiva loan in January (Mongolia). And I deposited enough $$$ into the account to make one loan for February (Sierra Leon).
• Childshare – So far I’ve raise $630.00 on-line for the organization and I’ve been walking like mad to train! The CS Rep coming to my church went really well. I won $10 in a Super Bowl pool so I stuck that on the Child SHARE donation page. .. and put another $50.00 on there… and convinced another friend to join us and walk!
• LTG- =)
Track my spending
This will be its own post, but I kept track for the most part… It got a little hairy in the grocery arena because I started making lunches and breakfasts for my sister and I… and she was giving me $20.00 a week and while I tried to keep things separate… I have no clue… I lost some cash only receipts… and then there was my house warming party food I got at various stores so… yeah… it was messy… but I broke even. I only did lunches with her ¾ weeks cause of a conflict so I had $60.00 from her to offset… and I planned $200 for my party so it all worked out some how.
But other than taking $$$ out of savings to cover my Marathon Fee, with the overtime and some random money in my wallet (I never carry cash so I forgot it was in there) I sort of broke even this month.
Read One book a Month
I finished book 2: Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I received it for Christmas from my best buddy on the planet.
I GIVE IT: 4 Stars/5 Stars
It was a good read… but I wasn’t shocked by the tragedy that’s always associated with it. Normally I start breaking out the water works at certain parts… well at least with THE NOTEBOOK and A WALK TO REMEMBER… but it was still good and deserving of a spot in my bookshelf.
Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Song-Nicholas-Sparks/dp/0446547565
Pay off non-mortgage Debt
• Pay off Tile Loan -> $4,000.00 FTH Tax Return
• Pay off Home Depot -> $4,000.00 FTH Tax Return
Tax Forms are going out today mailed and then I'll just be waiting for my check… stupid snail mail.
Lower Mortgage to under $115,000.00
• @ $117,023.74 (2,023.74 to go)
Principle Payments:
January $137.07 +$60.00 | February$137.96 + $60.00
Get emergency fund to $8,200.00 (left to add $1,000.00)
Emergency fund now sits at $7,200.00
January $100 |February $100|
Contribute $5,000.00 to Roth IRA ($4,500.00 left to add)
January $250.00 | February $250.00 |
Car Fund (Save $250.00) (left to add $144.44)
This month I added $51.20 since I only filled up the car twice. The savings account now has a balance of: $445.56
Increase Networth to $60,000.00
• @$50,912.00
This Month:
• I put $250 to the Roth IRA
• My employer 401a contributions: $28.48
• My Pension got a push: $123.08
• Paid down the mortgage this month by $197.96
• Saved some money into the car fund this month: $51.20
• One paycheck had a holiday on it that forced a normal day of work into Overtime (plus an hour or so) since the holidays fell on my days off… I got an additional $172.12… but didn’t get to save it with all the unexpected things that popped up this month…
• Got a credit on my Tile loan so that gave me $316.80 to save!
• I had to take $$$$ out of savings to pay for the LA Marathon ($134.44), my car tax ($170), I paid down my Home Depot loan to get it exactly at $4,000.00 (paid out $397.48 ---this was $$$ set aside in savings last year) …But I also had to buy new running shoes ($90!!!!) get may car SMOG ($60.00) and pay for food for my Thank you party ($200 ish but my friends more than earned it!).
Personal Goals:
GET IN SHAPE
I succeeded again in not eating any red meat this month (even with going to a BBQ House and a super bowl party). I lost a total of 6 lbs since January... and with training for the marathon I’m a lot less jiggley then before so some of the fat turned into muscle. I also take a yoga class on Wednesdays for free at work to help stretch me out… and some of my smaller clothes are starting to fit again… My black shorts are comfortable and they zip up!
In the land of portion control, I now use my food scale to measure out all the food I take with me to work so I get an accurate amount and serving. =)
Give More
• Kiva- I made one Kiva loan in January (Mongolia). And I deposited enough $$$ into the account to make one loan for February (Sierra Leon).
• Childshare – So far I’ve raise $630.00 on-line for the organization and I’ve been walking like mad to train! The CS Rep coming to my church went really well. I won $10 in a Super Bowl pool so I stuck that on the Child SHARE donation page. .. and put another $50.00 on there… and convinced another friend to join us and walk!
• LTG- =)
Track my spending
This will be its own post, but I kept track for the most part… It got a little hairy in the grocery arena because I started making lunches and breakfasts for my sister and I… and she was giving me $20.00 a week and while I tried to keep things separate… I have no clue… I lost some cash only receipts… and then there was my house warming party food I got at various stores so… yeah… it was messy… but I broke even. I only did lunches with her ¾ weeks cause of a conflict so I had $60.00 from her to offset… and I planned $200 for my party so it all worked out some how.
But other than taking $$$ out of savings to cover my Marathon Fee, with the overtime and some random money in my wallet (I never carry cash so I forgot it was in there) I sort of broke even this month.
Read One book a Month
I finished book 2: Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I received it for Christmas from my best buddy on the planet.
I GIVE IT: 4 Stars/5 Stars
It was a good read… but I wasn’t shocked by the tragedy that’s always associated with it. Normally I start breaking out the water works at certain parts… well at least with THE NOTEBOOK and A WALK TO REMEMBER… but it was still good and deserving of a spot in my bookshelf.
Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Song-Nicholas-Sparks/dp/0446547565
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