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A Year of Giving (More!)

sharing a bowl of tomatoes

This post is all about my plan to donate more freely and with maximum intention in the new year (2017). Ultimately, I hope to get a few readers to join me in the cause. That is why I below I am offering the chance to more or less match your donation when you join me. I am hoping this focused charity will inspire you to give more freely in other aspects of your life, not only monetarily, but other benefits to your community. So if you are feeling extra generous today, keep reading and please leave a comment on your way out. 🙂 Continue reading “A Year of Giving (More!)”

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Monthly Expense Report, March 2017

monthly_expense_report_march_2017_header

A three paycheck month,  a big spending month, a look back at my spending for March: time for a fresh Monthly Expense Report! 🙂

I can’t say I did very well this month keeping expenses inline; so somehow I turned what should have been an amazing saving period with three paychecks into a consuming extravaganza! Let’s get a quick review of the numbers and then dive into a few details.

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Sunday Shorts 09: Housing

sunday-shorts-architecture

First Sunday Shorts post of 2017 (in mid-March!) and it’s time for a little change in format. I’ve historically made these filler posts as a way to share interesting articles or things from my week(s) passed. Not much cohesion, or really much to cling on to. But, for this year I’d like to constrain each post with a theme. So for this post I’ve collected a number of inspiring, interesting and intriguing items; all of them related in some way to housing, specifically the offbeat.

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2017: Yearly Goals

2017 yearly goals - mountain flowers

Only a few days left in January to get this in electronic writing. Because once it’s in writing only then do I become accountable for following through. So now that 2016 has wrapped us nicely, bringing much excitement, it’s time to focus on 2017. And what better to keep edging forward then to set some grandiose expectations of what the year will offer us.

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Monthly Expense Report, November 2016

scenic view

Continuing the vacation photos. It helps that I enjoy looking at them and remembering that great trip! It’s almost lining up perfectly that by the time this household is ready to be FI, that we will be planning our next major vacation. Almost as if, we could leave our jobs (and maybe our house) behind for more than a few weeks. Maybe a few months of nomad style!

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I Over Contributed to My 401(k)!

over contributed 401k - farm fields

Summary: When switching companies it is the employee’s responsibility to ensure 401(k) deferrals do not exceed federal limits. When an amount in excess of the limit makes it into your retirement account, it is critical you act quickly. Talk with your HR rep. AND your 401(k) plan administrator to get the excess deferral returned to you. Failing to do so can result in double-taxation. You will need to report this on your taxes, the details of those requirements are below.

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Sunday Shorts 08

painted sheep

Oh yes, that beautiful winter weather is here! Yesterday the weather was sunny, breezy and at best 20° F. Layered up, I made the half-mile walk to the library to drop off some books and renew a few others. I of course took the opportunity to warm up before heading home. But, every minute of that trip was GREAT! It only got better later as the dog and I took a long stroll. Whenever it’s this cold, even without snow, the whole world is just quieter. Then when you get home it’s toasty and you feel so refreshed. I can’t wait to go out again today!

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Monthly Expense Report, October 2016

That’s no money tree. Nope, that squat white birch is a resilient resident of the slopes surrounding one of the world’s most active volcanoes… and I got to meet it! October was a wild month, primarily spending time overseas in distant lands being amazed, tired, and a bit out of place. And I finally have some decent pictures of my own to share on the site! 🙂

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Sunday Shorts 06

I swear this blog is not about horses. Apparently they are just really photogenic. I was just driving back from the shops when a horse (plus rider) were crossing the street. I don’t really live in a rural area, but this is not too uncommon for me. Back growing up there was a barn a few houses away with two horses. I would walk by them twice a day to catch the bus. Usually feed them some grass on the walk home. Random train of thought for the afternoon.

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