ROTH IRA

I did something bad...I withdraw my contributions from my ROTH IRA

May 15, 2019



Yup, you read that post title right!

I withdrew my contributions from my ROTH IRA. I still kept money in there that were money earned. I made sure I would not be taxed. Why would I even do that? Don't I care about my retirement? Worst yet, I'm 31 and I'm missing on compound interest.

Here's my attitude about Roth IRA. First things first! The reason I withdrew my retirement because when I did my paycheck calculation. I would not have enough money to spend on gas and food, and put extra debt payment towards one of my creditors and loans. Since I only owe about $13,000 on my car as of May (didn't make a payment for May yet). I'm thinking I can wipe that payment out with my Roth IRA, and my unemployment check that I missed in the first few months. That would free more about up since my car payment is high as well. 

The reason I don't want to put towards my credit card, it's not going to help much to free a large amount of money like my car payment which is $523, but I've been paying $600 every month. After I've done my analysis, I strongly believe the result is going to help me have at least $900 free money every month to do what I need with it after I take out for food and gas, pay for utilities. etc.

As for Roth IRA, I'm going to contribute what I can when I get my paycheck. It can be a $1 to $10 so I don't miss it much. Even though Roth IRA is great, especially Target Retirement, you can actually LOSE ALL YOUR MONEY, as well. Also, my attitude towards money is there is MORE THAN ONE WAY of making money. It doesn't have to just be retirement only. It's great to have multiple incomes helping you to secure your retirement. 

I'm not worried because I know will rebuild my retirement. My work offers HSA. So I will be contributing to that as well ($20). 

I'm working towards developing my art skills to draw so I can sell digital prints. I just need to start practicing. I know I will once I relocate so I have more time to stay focus. LOL especially since I will cut down my social life by 5%. Also, I'm going to have real estate investment as well. 

Speaking of real estate investment, I'm going have to figure out where I'm going to rent once I relocate and how I'm going to pay my mortgage while paying for rent. I probably will have to share a room and that the rent includes utilities. 

What am I'm going to do with my furkid? My mom wants to take of my furkid. She wants me to stay focus since I just got a job after being laid off since beginning of New Year's. I'm very grateful for my mom. Of course, I'll be paying her monthly for her time and extra stuff for my furkid.

Having my furkid made me want to get rid of my debt faster because I want to keep him for the rest of his life. Don't want to be a pet owner who failed to keep their pet due to financial hardships.

I just know that once I start working and start relocating, my life is going to change for the better. LOL I probably will lose a lot of weight due to me cutting down a lot to save money to put towards debt and emergency. LOL Rice and beans and sandwiches! 


Work

FINALLY! I GOT THE CONTRACT OFFER!

May 14, 2019


I can't believe it! I got the contract offer!

I know what I'm going to do with my money once I start working.

I know my debt ratio to income is very high! I'm not sure how I'm going to save every month while paying off debt!

I just hope I will continue to have a long term work!

It would be amazing if I become a permanent employee and a large raise! :) A girl can dream right?

Drink Recipe

Panera Bread - Passionfruit Green Tea

May 11, 2019


Hello World! 

Anyone addicted to drinking Panera Bread's Passionfruit Green Tea?

I know I am!

I've been looking for the recipe for this drink. I seriously think they do not use papaya in their drink. 

I'm able to get the color right. However, I haven't got the taste right at all. It's been a while I had Panera Bread's Passionfruit Green Tea. I got 3 bottles so I can do a taste test to see how close I am getting the right ingredients. To my surprise, it's not that sweet like I remembered. 

Anyway, I've been having fun trying to figure out the recipe. LOL My kitchen looks like a chemistry lab! 

I know I will figure the drink out! In the mean time, I made a drink that I thought it tasted good.

  • Fill the handy pot with water (half of it). 
  • Boil it. Once it is boil, add the green tea. Then once green tea is done boiling. Add the passion fruit guava.
  • Then add 2 spoons of Crystal Light Tropical Coconut.
  • Then add 2 spoons of white sugar. 
  • Stir and let it cool.
  • Drink and enjoy!

:) I love my tea sweet. Give it a shot! I will definitely post once I figure out the ingredients. 

Please note I got mine from Stop and Shop. :) If you're lazy like me, you can order them on Amazon. Unfortunately, I didn't see Salada Passionfruit Guava tea on there. 



Planner and Ledger

Inexpensive Planner and Zero Based Budget Ledger

May 10, 2019


I've been seeing people on Instagram getting these $50 planners that I wanted and love to have! Thinking about it, I was like that's too expensive for me to get for a planner. So I looked for an alternative planner. I came across this planner at Marshall's when I was shopping yesterday!

I'm sooooo happy about this planner (July 2019 - Dec 2020)! I love the way the full and weekly calendar are formatted! Also, it comes with lots of stickers just like those expensive planners! I got it for like $10!  Also, the planners and tabs are colorful!

My little aquamarine book I got at Marshall's long time ago. These are sold at Barnes and Nobles as well. I got them really cheap long time ago. This is for me to do my zero based budget for every pay check I get, what I hope to achieve in the month, and meal plans.

So, today I used the planner to list my debts.


Gosh, I love it so much! :) I'm going to start using July Full Calendar to list my pay due dates!

I can't believe I am sending $4,000 every month to pay for debts and fixed expenses! Not going to sure how I'm going to handle additional expenses when I relocate to rent!

:) I'm pretty I will know how I'm going to handle paying off my debts and save. I mean I made it this far, right?

If anyone reading my blog, thank you! Please feel free to comment!




Life Lessons

Future Contract Work

May 10, 2019


I got a phone call yesterday from my recruiter regarding my future contract work.

I'm so excited to work for the client. Right now, I'm just waiting whether or not they will accept the amount I asked for for relocation after my two months training in my home state.

I'm praying that they will!

Yesterday, I went to Marshall's to buy a cute notebook to write my notes during trainings and meetings. Also, I bought a 2020 Planner (Aug 2019 - Dec 2020) to keep track of my meetings and deadlines from work. I'm definitely going to work harder and smarter when I start working again.

What I learned from being laidoff is that everything is going to be okay. Most importantly, make sure you have a large emergency savings for 6 months. Better yet, a year since shit happens if you have a furkid or something breaks in the house or car.  Oh another important thing, it's okay to say no to friends. They will probably give you an attitude or whatever that makes you feel guilty. But you know what? Don't fight them how they are reacting. You do you as long you are not causing drama or harm, you're still a good friend and you realize which friends are more ambitious or goal-oriented to achieve their dreams.

:) I know my social life is going to be 5% to 0%. Do I care about going out like I used to? Not really because I feel like I can cook better and I avoid tipping by percentage. I understand the point of tipping, but tipping based on percentage is just too much when you are trying to budget. I rarely go out to eat or go watch movies. I try to cut it down to every few months or years.

My mindset since I've been laidoff is to stay home to cook delicious foods and watch movies on Amazon Prime and Hulu.

I will go out for shopping or Starbucks to do work and browse the Barnes and Nobles just for fun. :) Good thing the library is still around since they do sell books as well!

As friends in real life? I'll have them but I'll be the friend who focuses on her goals and will be there for her friend to hangout during the day instead of at night. Maybe I'll hangout once in a while at night to socialize but not every weekend.

I guess this is what being 31 when you realize what's more important to you and who you really are.

Can I just say, I can't wait to start working again? I know what I'm going to do with the money when I start working again.

Cash Envelopes

Cash Envelopes - 5/10/19

May 10, 2019


Gosh! I love my cute envelopes that I bought on Etsy by Emmelli Designs. Love the colors and the Gold labels! :)

So I'm trying really hard to use my cash and having self-control. It's difficult when you're so used to using the plastic cards all the time.

I'm used to having Friday be my pay day even though I've been unemployed and using my emergency savings. :) I'm just waiting for my contract offer. I really do hope they agree to what I would want to be paid after relocation! Pray for me everything goes smoothly!

Groceries - $120 <-- Food and Household Items. Household Items are expensive when you try to buy a lot of toilet papers and towel papers, and detergents.

Miscellaneous - $40 <-- Gas and for my Pup.

The other envelopes, I'm not going to put any money in it until I receive my first paycheck from my future contract.

I started the 52 Weeks Savings ($1378) challenge. These are where I will put my left over cash changes while the coins will be put in the container. This is just for my emergency in case my cards aren't working or stolen and to develop a habit of saving cash and not spend.





Coins

Put your coins in the container! :)

May 09, 2019


I'm surprised how many coins that I had laying around.

An instagrammer asked me what I was going to do once I have all my coins saved up.

I'm definitely going to use it for a weekend getaway to stay in a hotel and enjoy my weekend to eat delicious food and enjoy my own company and meeting new people.

As much as I love to travel around the world, it is expensive especially there are the things I want to do and that I like nice, comfy things.

I feel the weekend is precious to me since I'm always working and studying during the week. I'm also studying on the weekend. When I said study, it's improving my computer skills for my career and improving my drawing skills so I can be an artist selling her cute drawings.

Can't wait to see how much I'm going to get! This motivates me to keep on using cash instead of my debit card or credit card. There are times I want to use my debit card for purchases because the cashier usually don't give me the right change because they think I'm not paying attention when I am.

This reminds me, when you are giving cash to the cashier, make sure you say the amount you're giving loudly so they are aware you know what you are giving them and count it before you leave. No shame for not trusting the cashier.