https://merch.savingadvice.com Where I am now is not where I want to be. So this is my journey from here to there. info@savingadvice.com Not So Mighty Merch en-us https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/11/17/dave-ramseys-investment-advice_55168/ I was thinking about Dave Ramsey and specifically his investment advice. He recommends investing in good quality mutual funds (5+ year track record). He also talks about A shares and paying the front end load.<br /> <br /> The reason I believe he deals with front end loads is because he advises... Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:08:48 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/11/09/goals-review-october_54955/ I was thinking about an incidence that occurred a few years back. I was at a kind of holiday type party at one of my wife's friend's house. We are both about the same age and same stage in life. At the time, our finances were interchangeable. Be both had credit card debt, mortgage,... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:56:14 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/10/07/need-for-rebalancing_54144/ I thought I would follow up on a point I made yesterday concerning rebalancing. Everyone understands the reason for diversification and dollar cost averaging. Basically, don't put all your eggs in one basket and no one can market time.<br /> <br /> Think of it this way. Over the past 2 years... Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:51:10 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/10/06/goals-review-september_54114/ It's been awhile since I last updated in August. I am still updating my sidebar. I have maxed my 401 (k) contributions for the year. <br /> <br /> I also rebalanced by portfolio. I do this twice a year (March and September). The theory is that I sell my winning sectors and asset class and... Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:47:12 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/08/05/goals-review-july_52743/ I am still getting use to the new mortgage. I am not use to seeing the large principal amounts that are being paid. This month, $1,382 went to principal. That's about 3 times the principal I was paying before.<br /> <br /> Since I am paying more in interest then principal, it feels like I... Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:50:02 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/07/17/mid-july-update_52393/ What a month. We have started buying new furniture for the house and some small renovations (crown molding, lights, paint, etc.). It has been pricier then I thought, but we are not going into credit card debt or taking out a home equity loan. We are basically just cash flowing... Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:32:04 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/07/01/goals-review-june_52102/ So I made my first payment on my new mortgage. I was used to putting $480 to principle a month. This month I put $1,376 towards principle. It was actually $50 more then the interest payment. Just think that I am now paying more principle then interest. What a great feeling.<br /> <br /> I... Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:51:44 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/06/16/mid-june-update_51761/ July 1st is the first payment to my new mortgage. And for once, I am excited. It seems kind of weird. Some of you may be dreading pay your bills because you don't have a budget (or one that works) or you and your spouse aren't functioning as a team.<br /> <br /> I like getting my paycheck... Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:10:43 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/05/29/goals-review-may_51334/ What a month!! The big thing I accomplished this month was the refi. The net of the refi is that I will pay it off 11 years early, I will be putting $1,000 more towards principal a month, and it costs me less then $700. If you have a good credit score, equity in the house, and a... Fri, 29 May 2009 13:57:30 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/05/13/mid-may-update_51002/ Wow!!! What a month so far. Things are finally calming down. I had a few interviews in New York and California. At the end of the day, I like where I am currently and where I am heading at the moment. <br /> <br /> By paying off all my consumer debt and medical and having an emergency fund,... Wed, 13 May 2009 17:40:27 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/04/30/goals-review-april_50662/ It has been a busy first third of the year. <br /> <br /> So, basically, I have completed my emergency fund for the moment. It is currently 4-5 months in size. My wife had competing goals furniture and an emergency fund of eight months. The compromise was that we would bring it up to 4-5... Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:20:55 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/04/10/long-time_50201/ <br /> Well, it's been a long time since I wrote on this blog. At work, I am still at 80% of the hours I was working last year. I am currently debt free except for the house and am still tracking and updating my goals.<br /> <br /> For those of you struggling with debt trying to get out, remember... Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:33:30 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/02/17/mid-february-update_48553/ Wow. I have been away form the site for the last few weeks. My hours have been cut here at work so I have been putting the resume and cover letter together. I have also been doing a lot of networking. <br /> <br /> More just setting myself up for Q3 or Q4. I have a non-compete that ends... Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:38:34 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/02/04/goals-review-january_48139/ So at work, they brought all of the consultants into a room. I was thinking "this ain't going to be good." I hear from my friends who got laid off from State Street, Lehman, Fidelity, etc. So I figured they were going to prep us with the first round of layoffs.<br /> <br /> I actually wasn't... Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:11:46 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/01/20/thank-everyone-_47571/ I want to thank everyone for the kind words the other day. The purpose of the blog entry was for me to just kind of look back in the road and revisit where I was and where I am going. The second part was maybe to offer people who are traveling down the same path the opportunity to... Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:57:00 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/01/16/my-tale-over-the-last-year_47444/ So I went back and starting reading some of my old entries. I like to think of where I was and how I got to where I am now. That got me to thinking about how my attitude and general outlook has changed on things.<br /> <br /> October 2007 – The breaking point.<br /> <br /> Prior to October of 2007,... Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:17:51 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/01/12/mid-january-update_47269/ First mid month update for 2009. <br /> <br /> I have a lot of goals on the left and there are 2 basic approaches I could take – the shot gun approach or the laser approach. Most of us don't have enough financial leeway to accomplish all of our goals at the same time. The shotgun approach... Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:28:41 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2009/01/05/a-budget-is-different-every-month_46956/ I was thinking about this the other day. And I was thinking "is this really true?" So, I started going through my old budgets. <br /> <br /> My big fixed costs were the same from month to month (mortgage and health insurance). Even my variable costs were similar (like food). <br /> <br /> But the... Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:32:27 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2008/12/29/2008-year-in-review_46623/ This may be a little early but I just got my last paycheck for 2008. It's been a little over a year that I have been on this site. The thing I find most interesting about this site is the helpful comments, the encouragement, and thoughtful alternative. Even if you disagree with... Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:31:40 PST Not So Mighty Merch https://merch.savingadvice.com/2008/12/19/freedom-oh-freedom_46312/ Mirror: People walkin' around everyday<br /> Playin' games and takin' scores<br /> Tryin' to make other people lose their minds<br /> Well be careful you don't lose yours!<br /> <br /> Me: Huh?!?<br /> <br /> Mirror: Oh freedom (freedom)<br /> freedom (freedom)<br /> Oh freedom<br /> Yeah freedom (yeah)<br /> <br /> Oh freedom (freedom)<br /> freedom... Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:05:17 PST Not So Mighty Merch