It’s a sad week in music . . .

It is not a happy time for this mama.

I’m a big fan of music, and it has been a sad week for three reasons.

1.  I live in North Carolina and Governor Pat McCrory signed a ridiculous anti-LGBT bill last month that is making our state look VERY bad.  Not only is it WRONG, STUPID and EMBARRASSING, but it is also costing the state millions of dollars in lost business.  We are losing hundreds of new jobs because of this bill.  Concerts like Boston and Pearl Jam have been canceled in protest. I have wanted to see these bands for 20 years and was finally able to afford tickets to see both.  I also had this cool custom T-shirt made for the Pearl Jam concert (see photo).  You can read more about Pat McCrory’s decision and the outcome here if you are curious.
2. I blew off The Embers concert tonight to catch up on work, do laundry and clean the house.  Guess what.  I did not do much of that.  I highly regret not going to the concert.  Life is too short not to make time for good music.
3. I got online and saw that Prince died.  What a SHOCK.  I am a big fan.  To me and millions of fans, he was really a musical genius.  He could play lead guitar like nobody’s business.  Obviously, Jimi Hendrix was his fashion and musical influence.  I love Jimi Hendrix’s music and style even though he died before I was born.  His music lives forever.  Just like Hendrix, Prince’s style was cool.  Always so cool.  His music will live forever too.

I do not have custody of my son this weekend and the weather is supposed to be nice so I’m going to the beach with a friend.  I need to get away and see some beauty.  In the meantime, I hope my Heart & Joan Jett concert does not get canceled and that nobody else dies this week.

RIP Prince.

The Millionairess Next Door?

“The Millionaire Next Door” is absolutely one of my most favorite books.  It was written in 1996 by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko.  Yes, I read it 20 years ago but I thought it was so smart that I’ve remembered the theories.

According to the calculations in the book, I’m supposed to have total accumulated wealth of $450k by now (I’m 51 years old — yes, an older mom — don’t judge me!).  I’ve almost got the $450k, but all that means is I am doing well for 1996!

I’m planning to work for 16 more years, but in reality I’m going to work until I’m disabled or demented or I just die.    I’ve got responsibilities.

First, I have a mortgage and fees = $12k per year.  Smartly (like the book advises), I bought a less expensive townhouse so I’m not overburdened with an expensive mortgage.

Second, I know I will have to pay for my son’s college in 8 years.  He’s a gifted student so he will probably get into a good university.  In-state schools are still insanely expensive at $40k per year if he lives on campus.  Poor little guy may just have to live at home and go to a local university.  Bummer for him.

Third, according to a Harvard Business Review article I just read, I need $400k just to pay medical expenses after I reach retirement age.   The ladies in my family live until their late 80’s – mid 90’s so I do believe that $400k estimate is correct in my case.

So, here is the math:

• I have $425k + should have $824k in wages after tax and 401k withheld over 16 years + should have $160k in additional 401k contributions by age 67 = $1.4M + stock earnings and interest.  I would be the Millionairess at age 67, except for these expenses . . .
• I’ll need a total of  $551k to cover remainder of mortgage, college and old age healthcare.  I’ll need $105k to pay for utilities, food and clothes over a 20 year span.
• Not counting the stock earnings & interest, that leaves me with $858k to pay for utilities, food and clothes over a 20 year span.
• If I stopped working at 67 and died at 87,    Looks like I’m set and can even buy a car or two.

Whew, if my math is right (which is unlikely), maybe I can retire at 67.  If it is not right, thank goodness I love my profession.

 

The Need for Perfect Conditions

Today, I had an appointment to get a new headshot for my company’s profile page.  The photo will also be added to lots of e-mail communications.  The pressure to get a good photo is so stressful!  I have to get my hair and makeup right, pick out the right suit, have the right pose and smile (show teeth or not?), etc.

I made the appointment for this afternoon when I don’t have custody of my son.  I figured that would help with my need for perfect conditions.  There would be no external stressors for me to deal with.  Well, that did not work out.  The weather is less than ideal.

Earlier today, I was watching a video of Stevie Nicks singing at an outdoor concert in drizzling rain.  Although the stage was covered, Stevie’s typically lustrous straight hair was a frizzy mess.   I started to get REALLY nervous.  No doubt I would end up with a frizzy haired photo since mine is long and naturally very wavy.

I called the studio and told them I had an emergency.  I HATE to lie, so I confessed that I am going to have some major hair issues.  The photographer just could not understand how important it is for me to come on a nice day!   I told him I would send him something via e-mail to show him what I will look like. I sent him the video of Stevie Nicks.  He called me after he watched a little of it and agreed that we needed to reschedule.

Thanks to Stevie Nicks for saving the day!

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

OMG, I crack myself up.  I got a text alert from my credit union today saying I had a 4 figure deposit today.  I wasn’t expecting a large deposit!  Wow, where did it come from?  Did I win some money I didn’t know about?   I already got my yearly bonus.

As you can imagine, I was elated to see the text alert!  I had to buy a dishwasher and added a stop flood valve to my water heater yesterday.  The large deposit couldn’t have come at a better time!

I was on a conference call at work when the text alert came in.  I was so distracted by it that I had to log into my credit union site immediately to see where it came from.  Duh, it was my tax refund from the IRS.  I completely forgot that my return was electronically submitted last week.

What a great day.  I feel like a flake for not figuring it out, but I’m a relieved and happy flake!