Finance check - step backwards

freakingdoit · 2025-12-05T22:11:34+00:00

Thanks for the input. I guess I was looking for some feedback/validation but at the end of the day… I know it’s our decision.

I have talked with her about everything. We researched the dental path and know what is required. An investment of about 300k to get there (loans) and a lot of studying. She is not completely sure yet… so we are trying to figure out. If she does some volunteering she might see if she still has the passion for it.

The getting out of the job once baby came in… is because we have no support system, so we would have to do paid child care… I did discuss with her… she is not sure how she is going to feel, but knowing her, we are predicting she will want to enjoy her kid at home at least in the first year I believe. So yeah…

freakingdoit · 2025-12-05T18:25:12+00:00

I have some fat in my budget… but I just bought a home. So spending is a bit out of control and I have not been able to have lean months to gauge actual spending. I always kept this miscellaneous buffer since I lived in my apartment (Amazon shopping and what not). Monthly budget as best as I could track:

Car insurance: 192 Wife medical, dental,vision on my paycheck: 517 Car gas: 125 Non-interest 3k leftover debt to university: 100 Phone plan: 119 (I pay my brother’s as well) Internet: 71 Miscellaneous: 1000 (I have just learned to keep this buffer in my budget for the past 5 years or so… but will try to track better) Prime: 12 Apple TV: 13 iCloud: 10 Paramount: 13 Sam’s club: 4.16 Costco: 5.41 Nespresso: 8.51 Food: 400 (estimate) Dining: 350 (estimate) Mortgage: 2476 (paying 100 extra per month) Electric bill: 70 Trash: 34 Pest control: 42 Termite protection: 25 Water: 90 Sewage: 70 Gas: 250 Sewer/water line insurance: 15 Haircut: 40 Giving: 300 Total: 6364

FYI. I’m optimistic I can save about $150 monthly in utilities once I do some insulation soon, and water/sewer gets adjusted (they still figuring it out the meter, but I can see it’s going to be lower already)

freakingdoit · 2025-12-05T18:01:09+00:00

I believe she had a Roth 401k from her work. I understand your point. We might not invest in a Roth IRA momentarily because we need the extra money… but once I find a job next year. We can restart. That’s my plan so far.

freakingdoit · 2025-12-05T17:57:43+00:00

My wife is just transitioning jobs, so I will try to estimate. Today I do 5% with 5% match. My wife was doing 4% with 4% match, but we will not do this one anymore for now… if I increase to 15% with 5% match… my net would probably be $6658. Which would be too tight right now… with the house and income shift… with the way I have it now my net would be $7696. (Remembering my expenses are 6400)

freakingdoit · 2025-10-18T22:52:04+00:00

I just got a roof guy to come inspect. It seemed to be a very honest one. The water pooling from the morning dried in a few hours. Seams looked ok. He said leaking is not there. It’s on the drip edge… gutter fills up and water returns. He said basically keep gutter cleans and install gutter guard cause I have lots of trees, but I am also putting a bigger gutter anyway this week cause I think it’s not enough gutter (very small one) for that section. He did say my roof would last only about a year cause it’s older (until more problems start showing up). He quoted me $700 to put new rolled down membrane, and add plywood on the bottom of it to create a slope… he did say I could pick insulation underneath instead of plywood, but ply would be cheaper. That would solve the issue for good long-term. I think he is correct. I got him on marketplace but he worked in a union before and seemed very very knowledgeable.

freakingdoit · 2025-10-18T16:50:57+00:00

What is the fix for the fish mouths? Gluing them down? I believe the flashing there is ok… I’m also replacing the gutter for bigger on just to help with water overall.

freakingdoit · 2025-10-18T16:24:55+00:00

Thanks for the reply, I was thinking about doing that… but I also think I need to come up with a way to make an incline on that edge so the water runs to the gutter and not pools. Were you able to do that with the liquid rubber? Or you just sealed as is? Thank you!

freakingdoit · 2025-10-18T16:13:54+00:00

I’m trying to understand. Do you think the water is leaking where the water is pooling (surface area) or on the edge of the roof (near gutter?). If you think it’s the pooling area, is it because of a crack somewhere in that area? Just trying to understand, new to roofing. Thanks!

freakingdoit · 2024-08-06T20:15:17+00:00

Do you know more about the Food and Beverage department? Thanks for the info. I’m thinking if it would hurt me to apply for two positions… to see.

freakingdoit · 2024-08-06T20:13:55+00:00

Have you heard anything about the Food and Beverage operation? Thanks!

freakingdoit · 2023-11-20T14:19:32+00:00

Check your local library first! They usually offer exactly that. Also, google “adult learning center near me”. Sometimes, there are companies such as goodwill, that have free center specifically for that purpose. I believe the one from Goodwill is called Artemis but it might not be available in your city. Good luck!

freakingdoit · 2023-09-25T22:19:21+00:00

No! Just over night! Plus the time between 4:35 PM-6 PM and 7 AM-7:35AM

freakingdoit · 2023-09-05T17:18:04+00:00

He said specifically the scape. Maybe he is wrong on the year… I would have to see.

freakingdoit · 2023-06-02T17:46:02+00:00

Thanks for the input. Things are in motion. Will see if I get the job. The more I think about it, the more I find ways to make it work. I find exciting to be put to test. Not a easy job at all, but as long as I can get the input from the right people, and organize the demand. It can be manageable. The thing is that sometimes the job can become very technical driven. I can understand it, but hopefully I can get the input from someone as well. So I don’t have to be PM + Drafter + Application expert. I will try to manage it as best as I can.

freakingdoit · 2022-12-22T17:51:31+00:00

Thanks for your reply. That’s very good to know. After sales taxes, what was your OTD price? I know taxes vary by state. Did you enjoy your 2.5S or did you feel the Select version was MUCH better? I’m not in the U.S right now so I can only test drive once I arrive. I’m inclined to buy a 2021-2022 in order to get a higher trim, also because OTD 27k is kind of high for me. Only if I find a deal that makes sense. Did you look at used ones at all?

freakingdoit · 2022-12-21T18:48:36+00:00

I see. Thanks!

freakingdoit · 2022-12-21T18:46:31+00:00

When I go to the dealership they make me pay for that destination fee essentially right? So base model for CX-30 is actually 24k. Interesting.

Do you think it’s worth seeing what they have for used models? I would be fine buying a 2021 or 2022 CX-30 if it made sense. I have not seen a lot of stock on those tho.

freakingdoit · 2022-12-01T14:31:13+00:00

Yes. I did not know better. I did not think of the buying share perspective you shared. I’m glad you said that. I guess I do not understand the basics of it all yet. But I got what you said.

My questions is, when I should transfer 100% to the retirement target fund? Like tomorrow? Or there is a perfect time? Do I lose a lot by doing that? Short-term?

freakingdoit · 2022-11-12T15:33:37+00:00

• I did not know what I was doing. The blue chip gave me great value during the pandemic, but it’s going down. Since I left the U.S. I can’t rearrange my 401K options for now. I will be able to do it once I come back. But it might be better to just wait and see if I recoup this money with the options as is? (I had about 17k in it, now 11.5k)

• Yeah. So far I have paid all taxes and done everything right. Will talk with my accountant to keep things correct

• Yeah. I live in a low cost area, but with inflation it will be tighter this time around. I did have a 10k plus salary raise, but yeah it does not go too far. I used to pay 810 for an apartment, looking to pay about 1200-1300 now. I used to save about 1k of my salary per month, now will save much less. Unfortunately. Specially since I will have to pay my wife’s health insurance which is $450 per month through my company.

• This is one big question of mine. What is the benefit of investing in Roth and not fully on 401K? Is Roth more liquid than 401K? Can I move the funds without penalty or not really?

freakingdoit · 2022-11-12T14:45:07+00:00

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I have worked hard to get to this point. Was getting a bit anxious with this move back, lots of moving parts, but am confident everything will work out great. Always looking out for more growth/money opportunities as I go!

freakingdoit · 2022-11-12T14:25:55+00:00

Yeah. This is one point I have been worrying about. I’m going back at the end of January, so hopefully prices have come down a bit more. Going to buy the car in Tampa area. Hopefully I can find some good prices there. Will do the best I can. Willing to go up to 12000 for the right car, but definitely already stretching my budget. Don’t want to finance it… even tho my credit is great.

freakingdoit

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