March MM Randoms

[mlkgls]

Anyone interested in a March MM randoms thread?

1. Petty Vent: I have damage from the February freeze and realize I was very fortunate in that it is likely minor all things considered, but I just want to be able to assess the damage, calculate the cost, close out the February budget, and move on. At this point, I think I’m just going to move all repair costs to March.

2. I found out I’m receiving an unexpected appreciation bonus which should help offset some of the costs of #1. I also have a mountain of birthday presents to buy this month so this is great timing!

[Covergirl82]

I got my annual incentive payout (which I am very thankful for) - the first one from the new job I started last year (and I wasn't eligible for an annual incentive in the previous job I'd had for the prior 10 years) - so that was pretty exciting. But most of the net amount will pay the Fed tax bill due to not having enough deducted in Fed taxes (apparently I did something wrong on my Fed W-4 last year), so that's a bummer. But silver lining is, I guess I have money to pay the tax bill now, and don't have to dip into savings.

ETA:  I have another one...I just got a 401k employer contribution deposited for the annual 3% contribution plus profit-sharing. The amount of that deposit was more than a whole year of employer match contributions plus annual employer contribution from my last employer. (And I get the regular employer match deposited every two weeks with my contribution.)  I'm so thankful! This job is definitely helping me get my retirement savings back on track.

[madringal]

1) we paid off my van this week, which means that for the first time in our 15 years of marriage we are debt free. Feels nice!

2) I am thinking of quitting my high paying, high stress job and going back to sales. Something way more flexible, probably comparable pay if I wanted it to be, but 100% commissions so on the months I want to chillout, I can. We don't need my pay, but I do enjoy working, so I think this is the best of both worlds.

[flygirl]

We just pulled the trigger on a home project and had to put down a hefty deposit-of coarse that had to be the same week our washer went out and H needing a crown.

[chpmnk1015]

my financial advisor mistakenly took out mine and DHs roth from out checking account last friday...It was just supposed to be DHs... I called him and he reversed it but the money is not back in account yet... lucky there was enough to cover in checking because i had just moved money over for a house project we are just about to pull the trigger on..

[just]

I've started to (drum roll please) INVEST! We've been maxing out our 401/403 and Roth for a couple of years with target year funds, but I got my parent's inheritance last year. It sat in Ally for a few months, then I moved 10k over to Vanguard and it sat there for a few months, and then this week I finally bought some ETFs! And I moved some more over too to try and invest more.

I'm still really nervous, but I'm smart, and I've researched it all to death, and ... it's time....but fuck it's scary.

[dr.girlfriend]

My husband officially ended his salary job (he was part-time after previously stepping down from full-time in June 2020) last week! He's 100% freelance now. I'm glad we did it in a staged way because he's already on my health insurance, etc., but it's still scary!

[aspentosh]

My H got an email that his clearance transfer is almost done, so that means he should be starting his new job soon. Today marks three months of no income so I will be very happy to put this chapter behind us, rebuild the little savings we had to use, and start a new budget.

[ellipses84]

I’m about to hit another big milestone in my retirement accounts!

Also, the part of the new stimulus plan to not tax UE is going to be a huge help for us! I was laid off for 5 months and DH was furloughed for 3, but even since going back he’s had some really slow months where he hasn’t worked much.

[sadlebred]

I'm consolidating accounts. I moved my ROTH from a higher cost provider to a low cost provider. It was a huge hassle, but it will be worth it. There isn't much in there & it's been sitting idle for years, but any savings for retirement helps.

[ohgillian]

This is a random, I guess. What are REIT? Does anyone here invest in those? I mean I know what it stands for, but what is it, and how do you invest in it? Via ETFs?

[cc111]

ohgillian, depending on different type of REITs, they invest in different area/markets of real estate. I have a REIT mutual fund through my 401K and surprisingly it has done well for 2021. I read that REITs are good for dividends (link). You'll have to check with your financial institution on what they have available to trade, but there are REITs ETFs and mutual funds. 

[ohgillian]

Mar 12, 2021 10:07:48 GMT -5 cc111 said:

ohgillian , depending on different type of REITs, they invest in different area/markets of real estate. I have a REIT mutual fund through my 401K and surprisingly it has done well for 2021. I read that REITs are good for dividends (link). You'll have to check with your financial institution on what they have available to trade, but there are REITs ETFs and mutual funds. 

Thank you so much. I was wanting to read more for learning so I appreciate the link. I have noticed that you are new and seem to know a lot; hope you stick around.  

[chpmnk1015]

last random for March.. I had 1 share of tiffany stock.. it was a gift for our paper anni- so it is framed.. in order to get the 131 it is worth, i need to send in all this paperwork and $50 check to cover "lost" certificate (i dont want to give it away and they wont take a copy, etc). So, today was the 2nd time everything was returned- except the check which they say was not in the envelope... ugh.. so, refilled out the paperwork for the 3rd time, wrote another check, and hoping 3rd time is the charm..

[ohgillian]

Mar 31, 2021 19:35:44 GMT -5 chpmnk1015 said:

last random for March.. I had 1 share of tiffany stock.. it was a gift for our paper anni- so it is framed.. in order to get the 131 it is worth, i need to send in all this paperwork and $50 check to cover "lost" certificate (i dont want to give it away and they wont take a copy, etc). So, today was the 2nd time everything was returned- except the check which they say was not in the envelope... ugh.. so, refilled out the paperwork for the 3rd time, wrote another check, and hoping 3rd time is the charm..

Yikes. Based on your experiences with it to date, I predict this will drag through the April randoms and into May before it's resolved. But I hope not!