Financial Goals for the New Year

As long as I am at work without much work to do, I am going to jot down some new financial goals as you all should do for the New Year.  Currently, my financial thoughts are on retirement.

Why just retirement? 

Well, I have a pretty good job right now and hope that things stay that way.  Thus, I make enough money now to support my living habits.  I am concerned with down the road, when I am older and not working.  What will I do then when I do not have an income which I will live off every month?

So, the experts say that you should set aside about 6 months living expenses in case the worst happens.  In my case, that would be losing my job.  Ok, I will do that. 

Next, 401k.  Ok, I am good with that as I max it out as much as possible.  This will set me up pretty well for the older years.  But, as I was reading what is a Roth IRA, I realized that there is one more step I can take this year.  Open up a Roth IRA account.

Apparently, this is just like a 401k in that I get to realize the value of compounding money.  However, I pay tax on the money going in but do not pay tax on the money coming out.  Thus, when I am older, I will not have to worry about paying taxes on this money. 

And that my friends sounds great!

I'll be a rich old broad...now I got to get healthy so I will actually be alive when the time comes to spend that money!

Cooking Filet Mignon for New Years

Today is New Year's Eve day and I am stuck at work.  Bah-humbug!  So, I am doing some research about how long to cook Filet Mignon as this will be the meal that I am preparing for a dinner party tonight.

Normally, on New Years I go out and kick it all night long at the bars.  However, times have changed.  Things get that way when you have a boyfriend which I happen to have this year.

So, tonight will be more of a couples night and I am responsible for the dinner.  I have read a good bit about grilling filet mignon because I want tonight to be great.  I don't want to have 8 people over to my house and present a dinner that sucks!   Am I right?

The different apparently with Filet Mignon is the tenderness.  Filets are much more tender than something such as a New York Steak.  A New York Steak can be tossed around and cooked without consideration of the tenderness of the meat. 

With Filets, this is not the case.  I have learned three keys:  cook at room temperature, cook about 5 minutes on each side, and choose the Filets wisely.

Oh, and pick some great red wine.  That way, if the Filet is no good, we'll have had a lot to drink and nobody will know :)

Cheers all and Happy New Year!!!

Off to the Dance Club Tonight

The co-workers just solicited my company tonight for a fun work function.  They know that I am always up for a good bar.  But this is different, very different.

They want to go to a dance club and I am frickin' clueless on the dance floor.  Seriously, I not only do not look normal.  I look, in fact, tragic and, no matter, how much I drink nothing seems to help.

However, what am I gonna do.  They cornered me and I committed before I knew what we were doing.  Apparently,we are going somewhere where grinding dance is really popular.  This is that sex dance where people get all up on each other when they are dancing.  I suppose I could grind, why not? 

My Tales from the Dance Floor may not be as tragic as some other people's :)  Most dance forms elude me.  But, here I am at work, and viewing this videos on how to grind dance and I think that it is totally doable.  You just feel the music and start moving your hips and you are there.  All good right.

We'll see tonight. 

I'll report the results back later :)

How To Reduce My Insurance Costs

Ok, well this will be my first blog post as I now am feeling inspired to write. 

I have just changed my sales job and am now working for myself.  Unfortunately, I am now realizing all of the costs that come with working for yourself.

This post is a good example.  Previously, when I would goof around on the Internet at work, I would still be paid. Now though, I am working for myself and the only money that I get is the money that I generate.  I will have to now modify my Internet fun time but I do like it and, of course, happiness has no price.  (Maybe I should write Mastercard commercials.)

One of the costs that I have quickly realized that is associated with "going on your own" is insurance...protection, protecting yourself against all the things that could happen.  I will search for health insurance later, but now I am On the Hunt for Insurance for my car. 

At my old job, I did not care because they covered everything--it was a company car.  I did not realized the steep auto fees that I would pay when I went out on my own. 

Anyway, I suppose that is the cost of freedom.  As I search for low rate car insurance, I am reminded of those stupid Geiko ads that I see on TV...I see these ads ALL THE TIME.  They must be spend a heck of a fortune to run these things so I can I save money with them? 

My goal will be monthly insurance for under $100 to insure myself and the driver of the other vehicle.  I also want quality because I have heard of people paying and then when the time comes, their company won't cover them. 

In all of my investigation, one name keeps returning:  Progressive.  They seem to be the company that offers the best rates and has the best insurance rating by their customers, which is over overall great important. 

Thus, I will probably go with Progressive and I will deliver a personal report after my first year contract to tell you about their services!