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Uncle Enzo posted:I doubled the (meager) amount in my retirement savings last year. I earned a 12.7% rate of return on the money I had in. I contributed enough to get the full match all year. I started and ended last year with zero in cc debt, with none in the meantime. Our student loans are down to 58,500 according to the chain on the wall. I got a substantial raise in December, a very small performance bonus, and my wife started working part time from home. Congrats! Also tell me more about this chain on the wall that tracks your debt.
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Feb 22, 2017 06:01
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pig slut lisa posted:Congrats! Also tell me more about this chain on the wall that tracks your debt. Thanks! We made a construction paper chain where each link represents $500 in student loan principal. Each link has the exact amount written on it so when our summed principal falls below that amount, we cut it and chuck it. It's divided by color into groups representing 10% of the initial amount owed. It only took like an hour to make and since we used nice pastel colors it actually looks pretty nice, if a bit low-class. We hung it off the living room wall with sticky hooks. It used to reach from one side of the house to the other, but now it's like 2 feet short of the front wall.
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Feb 22, 2017 14:36
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Uncle Enzo posted:Thanks! We made a construction paper chain where each link represents $500 in student loan principal. Each link has the exact amount written on it so when our summed principal falls below that amount, we cut it and chuck it. It's divided by color into groups representing 10% of the initial amount owed. It only took like an hour to make and since we used nice pastel colors it actually looks pretty nice, if a bit low-class. We hung it off the living room wall with sticky hooks. It used to reach from one side of the house to the other, but now it's like 2 feet short of the front wall. This sounds like an incredibly cool project!
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Feb 22, 2017 16:35
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Uncle Enzo posted:Thanks! We made a construction paper chain where each link represents $500 in student loan principal. Each link has the exact amount written on it so when our summed principal falls below that amount, we cut it and chuck it. It's divided by color into groups representing 10% of the initial amount owed. It only took like an hour to make and since we used nice pastel colors it actually looks pretty nice, if a bit low-class. We hung it off the living room wall with sticky hooks. It used to reach from one side of the house to the other, but now it's like 2 feet short of the front wall. That's awesome! I did something similar when I was coordinating a charitable campaign in my office a few years ago; we built the chain link by link as contributions came in.
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Feb 22, 2017 17:53
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Uncle Enzo posted:Thanks! We made a construction paper chain where each link represents $500 in student loan principal. Each link has the exact amount written on it so when our summed principal falls below that amount, we cut it and chuck it. It's divided by color into groups representing 10% of the initial amount owed. It only took like an hour to make and since we used nice pastel colors it actually looks pretty nice, if a bit low-class. We hung it off the living room wall with sticky hooks. It used to reach from one side of the house to the other, but now it's like 2 feet short of the front wall. That's a really great idea! What a cool way to have a visual demonstration of your hard work and progress.
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Feb 24, 2017 19:44
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5.4% raise and a 14.6% bonus. Good times!
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Feb 28, 2017 05:13
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spwrozek posted:5.4% raise and a 14.6% bonus. Good times! Congrats! Seems like a little bit of an odd time for a bonus...is it performance based or just good times at the firm or something else?
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Feb 28, 2017 05:30
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pig slut lisa posted:Congrats! Seems like a little bit of an odd time for a bonus...is it performance based or just good times at the firm or something else? It is just when my company does raises and bonuses. Raises always take effect 3/16 and the bonus is paid 3/11, 12, or 13 depending on which day is a weekend and such. They also put all of last years 401K match in last week. They told me my raise and bonus today though.
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Feb 28, 2017 05:44
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I'm finally buying equities to boost my retirement savings. It almost seems like a consumer splurge but buying various shares then the price drops 7-10% for a day is good. I'm also getting share offers with almost 5% discount and they're being issued just prior to ex-dividend dates. I'm liking buying discount shares but I'm disappointed in the stagnant performance of the NZX50. Overall things are a bit better.
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Feb 28, 2017 06:09
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spwrozek posted:It is just when my company does raises and bonuses. Raises always take effect 3/16 and the bonus is paid 3/11, 12, or 13 depending on which day is a weekend and such. They also put all of last years 401K match in last week. They told me my raise and bonus today though. I find mine out next week. I'm guessing 2.2% raise and 10.3% bonus. Wonder how far off I'll be.
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Feb 28, 2017 14:57
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This might technically belong in the YNAB thread but I think it's bigger than that so I wanted to post it here. I finally set up YNAB to budget my monthly expenses since I got annoyed at wondering why I wasn't saving as much money as I thought I should have been, and now my entire outlook on money is changing. My checking account balance is now useless to me, since all that matters is the allocations inside my budget. I've got things budgeted a year in advance from now and it feels great knowing that I'll have extreme stability when they come. It even inspired me to take a similar mindset to my side businesses and now I've got them buffered up months in advance. Can't wait to see what my finances look like in 6 months from now!
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Mar 7, 2017 16:43
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Got a an average bonus this year, but I ended up with a 4% raise rather than the usual 2-2.5% raise thanks to my boss going to bat for me after I put in a stellar year  FateFree posted:This might technically belong in the YNAB thread but I think it's bigger than that so I wanted to post it here. I finally set up YNAB to budget my monthly expenses since I got annoyed at wondering why I wasn't saving as much money as I thought I should have been, and now my entire outlook on money is changing. My checking account balance is now useless to me, since all that matters is the allocations inside my budget. I've got things budgeted a year in advance from now and it feels great knowing that I'll have extreme stability when they come. It even inspired me to take a similar mindset to my side businesses and now I've got them buffered up months in advance. Can't wait to see what my finances look like in 6 months from now! Congrats! It's an awesome feeling . I think the only regret I have about doing it is that I kick myself sometimes for not realizing it sooner.
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Mar 7, 2017 20:51
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Handsome Ralph posted:Congrats! It's an awesome feeling . I think the only regret I have about doing it is that I kick myself sometimes for not realizing it sooner. Yea, I've been a pretty good at living within my means for a while, but it wasn't until I started "spend to your budget, not your bank balance" that things really clicked for me. It's painfully obvious having a specific plan (in my case - rather detailed) for my money is the best way to manage it.
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Mar 8, 2017 00:42
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FateFree posted:it feels great knowing that I'll have extreme stability when they come. When who comes? The government and their black helicopters? 
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Mar 8, 2017 01:25
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Great news everyone, one space has just opened up in my goon bunker.
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Mar 8, 2017 01:29
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FateFree posted:Great news everyone, one space has just opened up in my goon bunker. Which episode of doomsday preppers? I want to check out this bunker.
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Mar 8, 2017 03:38
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Everyone in the BWM thread went on a rant about cellphone overpayments awhile ago so I decided to look into all my utilities and small monthly payments that I simply got used to paying: -Cancelled subscription to a guitar tab website I don't use anymore. I couldn't remember my login and it only auto-drafted a few bucks a month. I always figured I'd cancel it later. Now I feel like I pulled a leech off and can't figure out why I left it there. -Cancelled Hulu plus. I don't use it but maybe a few hours a month. Netflix is probably next. -Verizon Wireless. I need the extra coverage and great international plan for work. What I did do was get my bill knocked down. I paid off the small remaining balance of the smartphone I was unnecessarily financing and cancelled my device insurance. I have an old phone in a drawer and a good track record of taking care of my phones, plus gently caress paying monthly for insurance on a phone that still requires a deductible before replacement. It's a phone. Lastly, I got a cheaper data plan after spending too much for too much. -My internet bill. This is the biggest bonehead thing of all. I'm leasing a 70 dollar modem/router for 15 dollars a month. Fixed. The incredible thing is that aside from a few initial costs (phone payoff and router) of about 250 bucks, I'm going to be saving 1056 dollars a year.
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Mar 8, 2017 04:43
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Goddamn Rolo that was such a satisfying post. Congrats.
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Mar 8, 2017 19:35
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I need to replace my cable modem too, seriously. Paying $10 a month for it is stupid as hell.
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Mar 8, 2017 20:49
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Rolo posted:The incredible thing is that aside from a few initial costs (phone payoff and router) of about 250 bucks, I'm going to be saving 1056 dollars a year. The best conclusion I've read in a while. You can use that money for hookers and blow.
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Mar 9, 2017 04:32
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Multiplying any monthly expense by 12 is my favorite life-hack. Realizing how much you spend on something trivial in 1, 5, 10 years is incredible.
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Mar 9, 2017 21:52
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Finally started my house down payment fund with Ally! Only $1k to start  but my e-fund is complete, I'm maxing retirement/HSA and no more debt. So 2k will be going into this and some change into a taxable each month going forward.Unfortunately where I live, to get something livable but needing work it's going to be 3.5-4 years to save a down payment but I'm on my way!
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Apr 12, 2017 13:43
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Nail Rat posted:Finally started my house down payment fund with Ally! Only $1k to start Nice! Every little bit helps! My own bit of good news today is that I killed off my student loan today with my tax return. Only my credit card is left to go and then I'll be debt-free again!
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Apr 12, 2017 19:05
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Ugh I'm jealous. I'm going to work my rear end off to try and hit debt freedom at 35.
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Apr 13, 2017 14:34
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This is trivial, but today, finally, after months of reorganization, my wife and I finalized our separation from Wells Fargo as a financial institution.
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Apr 20, 2017 03:23
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EAT FASTER!!!!!! posted:This is trivial, but today, finally, after months of reorganization, my wife and I finalized our separation from Wells Fargo as a financial institution. congrats. gently caress Wells Fargo.
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Apr 20, 2017 03:30
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EAT FASTER!!!!!! posted:This is trivial, but today, finally, after months of reorganization, my wife and I finalized our separation from Wells Fargo as a financial institution. non-trivial when you add up all the fees & risks of fraud, and the aggregate inconveniences and costs of divorcing a financial institution 
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Apr 20, 2017 14:07
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BAE OF PIGS posted:congrats. gently caress Wells Fargo.
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Apr 20, 2017 15:46
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Dwight Eisenhower posted:non-trivial when you add up all the fees & risks of fraud, and the aggregate inconveniences and costs of divorcing a financial institution Also just not supporting a poo poo-tier banking institution. Sure, the loss of one couples' accounts isn't going to break them, but it's a good start. Voting with your wallet is the most impactful thing you can do. BAE OF PIGS posted:congrats. gently caress Wells Fargo.
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Apr 20, 2017 18:20
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I guess I voted with my wallet a different way. I'm trying to payoff my Wells Fargo mortgage many years early (targeting somewhere in the next two years), but I recently opened up a WF checking account to take advantage of the $250 sign-up bonus, and I know for sure they won't be making anywhere near that much money off of me through the life of this account.
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Apr 20, 2017 18:41
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Every time I get close to debt free the ghosts of my bad decisions come back to haunt me. It could take 2 years but eventually I'm going to be debt free. I just wish I knew what to do with my money once that happens.
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Apr 20, 2017 18:44
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vermin posted:I just wish I knew what to do with my money once that happens. Send it to: My Buddy Rolo PO Box 963 NY, NY 10108
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Apr 20, 2017 18:47
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I know about the whole scandal and all but is Wells Fargo really different now than say BoA? I assume they'll be under some pretty strict scrutiny. Too much of a pain to change my autopays.
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Apr 20, 2017 18:55
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potatoducks posted:I know about the whole scandal and all but is Wells Fargo really different now than say BoA? I assume they'll be under some pretty strict scrutiny. Too much of a pain to change my autopays. All the huge retail banks are scummy, even if you've personally never had a problem with them. If you want to do the "right" thing find a good local bank or credit union and support them with your business. "But my ATMs/Local Branches!" -- a) Nearly all credit unions are part of the Co-Op Network, which has one of the largest no-fee ATM networks in the country. For instance, nearly every 7-11 has a Co-Op ATM in it. Plus you can use branches of other Co-Op Network credit unions as if it were your own for most banking needs. Also many credit unions will reimburse out-of-network ATM fees (and often have low/no foreign transaction fees). b) It's 2017 what do you need so many ATMs or local branches for, grandpa? All that said, of course not all credit unions & local banks are great just because they are credit unions/local banks. But there are some great ones out there, both at the regional and national level. And they offer a lot of the same benefits and services of the mega retail banks like nice websites, free bill pay, apps with mobile deposit, Apple/Android pay, etc. without the mega bank bullshit. Plus you might actually earn some interest on your deposits rather than 0.01% APY. Guinness fucked around with this message at 19:14 on Apr 20, 2017 |
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Apr 20, 2017 19:02
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Care much less about doing the "right" thing than the easy thing. I used alliant for a few years. It was okay but didn't have mobile deposit at the time and had a super low limit on scanned deposits. It seems that has changed. Also, I couldn't find a way to withdraw large amounts of cash for things like going to Las Vegas. You guys never need to withdraw large amounts of cash for various reasons (Vegas, escort, drugs, gambling ring, buying a car on craigslist, etc)? If I can find a local credit union with a reasonable mobile deposit and decent interest, I guess that's reason enough to change. potatoducks fucked around with this message at 19:40 on Apr 20, 2017 |
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Apr 20, 2017 19:37
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Part of what made our decision so easy was the availability of a really great, high functioning local credit union.
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Apr 21, 2017 16:33
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Rolo posted:Send it to: Solid Stick Stickley reference, bro.
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Apr 24, 2017 16:33
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Nocheez posted:Solid Stick Stickley reference, bro. I tried out Aldi today in my new neighborhood. Switching from Harris Teeter (expensive southern grocery store) to Aldi cut my weekly grocery spending to about 40% of what it was.
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Apr 30, 2017 18:10
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Rolo posted:
I got about a week's worth of organic dairy and produce from Aldi yesterday morning for, like $31. That would have been double at Hy-Vee. Also, Aldi is loving LIT on Saturday mornings.
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Apr 30, 2017 21:17
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I went during just-after-church time. Never again. But yeah all my sandwich stuff, produce, eggs, meat, dairy and some frozen food for the week was 25 bucks. Insane. The nice old lady in front of me paid my cart fee because I didn't know how it worked. I told her I'd make sure to pay the kindness forward and it made her day 
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Apr 30, 2017 21:53
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