New(ish) cat in my yard

 

I like cats.

A few years ago, I helped someone from the West Seattle Time Bank move boxes from their basement to their yard sale, and she insisted I take something in reward. This cat called to me, of course, but it has taken years for it to find its spot.

Simple Cotton T-Shirt and Me

I'm taking at least 1 picture of myself a month, as a way of accepting and enjoying my continuing growth beyond my mental age of about 23. 

 In this image I am thinking, after getting all sweaty at the Y, that I like my simple cotton t-shirt better than my fancy synthetic wicking sleeveless jersey, if only because these sleeves are useful for mopping sweat off my rapidly expanding forehead! 

(Are you ready to photo your monthly progress?)

Thanks, Pete!

My first full-time job in the private sector was in the 1980s, as a computer programmer for Coleco Industries of West Hartford, Connecticut - the Cabbage Patch Kids company. Our systems analyst’s name was Pete, and our senior programmer was also named Pete. I don’t think I was hired just because my name is not Pete, but it may have helped.

Every year we got forms to fill out concerning how much of our pay to put into a defined contribution retirement plan. One of the Petes asked me how much I was putting in. I said, “I'm gonna put that off for another year. Right now, I’m just making expenses but I’m sure I’ll get a raise next year and I’ll save most of that.”

“Randy, that will never happen. Your lifestyle will always rise to match your paycheck,” said one of the Petes. “When you get a bigger paycheck, you’ll find more to spend it on.”

I bristled inside. I knew in my heart that I had all the virtues and was a mountain of self-discipline. I definitely would save prudently when the time came … just not now.

Pete quietly said, “They match your contribution. 100% match for the first 3%.”

That got my attention. Free money got my attention. I signed up for the max.

Years went by. I got raises, but Pete was right: my lifestyle expanded to fit my paycheck. There was always an opportunity, a need, or just a chance to enjoy life a little that coincidentally fit the amount of money I had saved at the credit union. That mountain of self-discipline was a comforting illusion, good for my ego but not so good for my savings.

Then came the housing industry collapse around 2008. This was a tragedy for millions or maybe tens of millions who lost everything, but for me it was an opportunity to stop paying rent and start paying a mortgage - therefore building equity. I had not been willing to risk my retirement savings on the theory that housing prices would keep climbing - I knew from experience it ain’t necessarily so - but buying into a depressed market was attractive.

And … it was possible only because of that 3% every paycheck going into an account.

(The full story is more complicated due to employer changes, but just roll with it, ok?)

I pulled out enough for down payment, paid taxes and penalties, and moved into the house I live in today. After refinancing during the 2020 collapse, I am now paying less for my 4-bedroom house than I would pay to rent a 1-bedroom apartment 3 blocks from here.

The lesson I’d like to pass on is not that you should hope for financial collapse. That is a bad plan for many reasons.

I feel that waiting until you make enough money to start saving is not going to happen. There will always be something else to spend on - especially if you have kids or other responsibilities.

What might work is to take that money out of your paycheck before you see it, and adjust your lifestyle to what you got left. Nothing in life is certain, but this worked for me and might work for you.

I appreciate that too many people are working too many hours for too little pay to get by, and I don't have an answer for that. But if you can put that 3% away before it hits your paycheck ... and especially if you have employer match ... it might pay off for you as it did for me.

I have lost track of most of my Coleco buddies, but I owe them this: Thank you, Pete, wherever you are. And whichever one you were!

Blooming today what?!?

 

Jim O'Grady replied to this photo with "Camellias are early bloomers, but seem to be even earlier this season."

IYKYK: Button Jar

When I was a kid, families always had these. When shirts and things need repair, a button from the button jar is cheaper and faster to get than one from the store. It's probably a Depression-era/WW2-era practice from my mom, but who knows?

Even today, when I decommission a shirt because it's worn out, I habitually scissor off the buttons into a jar and every 10 years or so give the jar to someone who I hope has a use for its contents. Is this reasonable? who cares!

My friends on Facebook responded to this photo with more than 20 comments; people like to talk about things like this and have many memories.