Ever since last night I've been feeling unaccountably anxious. I even had insomnia for part of the night. I wonder if that's a typical reaction of suddenly getting rid of a former source of anxiety that you'd gotten used to having around?
Or it could be this volunteer task I've taken on. I agreed to prepare and deliver meals 5 days this month to a local volunteer organization I admire. There needs to be enough for 20 people who will be canvassing neighborhoods and then coming back to the offices to eat.
I'm providing food today and tomorrow, plus Wednesday and Thursday of next week and Tuesday of the following week.
As I was shopping for ingredients on Monday, it occurred to me that the amount of food I'd be making would make it very difficult for one person to transport by bus. (AS had agreed to deliver for me.) So for today, our downstairs neighbor is going to hire a car or get an Uber and help her. Tomorrow I think I'll work from home and use a carshare to take it over there.
For the other three days, I'm thinking I'll ask if they can pick up the food. I wasn't thinking it through how bulky and heavy a big meal for 20 people would be.
So maybe that's why I'm nervous, all the logistics and planning being more than I counted on. Or maybe it's work; I've got a lot of projects in the air but not too much to work on this week, which might be making me antsy.
Anyway, whatever it is, I know it will pass. I just hate being uneasy; I have no appetite and don't feel very focused.
So, I'll talk about the rest of the windfall from my dad:
It came to just over $80,000(!). As posted earlier, I used about $38,000 to pay off my non-home debt, leaving $42,000. I'm donating 10% of it: $5000 to an environmental nonprofit in that area, and $1000 each for me, NT and AS to donate as we please. (I'm using some of my money to buy groceries for the meals mentioned above.) That leaves $34,000.
My tax guy said he would get back to me with calculations on what to send to the IRS, MN and WV. For now, I've earmarked $18,000 for taxes, but I realize that could change.
I've set aside $1,500 to consult with lawyer, accountant and insurance agent about the pros, cons and possible ramifications of selling part of the duplex to my friends. I may also submit a rough plan to convert our 2-car garage into an accessory dwelling unit. (I don't think we'll be approved because of small lot-to-home size ratio and not enough parking spots, but I'd like to at least try.)
That leaves about $15,000. If I don't need to send any more than I calculate to the federal and state revenue departments, I've decide to use it to speed up the renovations we want to do on our home. It would make us so happy to be able to make some of the desired changes this summer and fall.
Speaking of which, we walked our contractor around (the one who did such good, reasonably priced and speedy work on the condo) and showed him a bunch of the things on our wish list. He helped us prioritize our top few projects, and his main assistant will be coming over Thursday to present estimates on one or more of them.
(Maybe it's the feeling of rapid change -- finally getting to renovate after a year of being stuck -- that's making me feel queasy? No idea.)
Feeling uneasy
June 17th, 2015 at 07:22 pm
June 17th, 2015 at 07:34 pm 1434566045
June 17th, 2015 at 08:08 pm 1434568126
June 17th, 2015 at 08:40 pm 1434570057
Enjoy the freedom this financial windfall brings! I think the queasiness will pass as you transition to the new money mode.
June 17th, 2015 at 08:56 pm 1434571011
Congratulations! I hope your mind settles down to appreciate it soon!
June 17th, 2015 at 09:11 pm 1434571911
I think you are so used to fretting about consumer debt, your brain just hasn't gotten used to the idea that you can stop yet.
June 17th, 2015 at 09:34 pm 1434573266
June 17th, 2015 at 09:38 pm 1434573527
To answer the retirement question, yes! I have lots of plans. First off, 10% of AS's freelance income goes into an SEP, and I've finally caught up on that.
Then, I now have about a $2K per month surplus (varies with some variable expenses) not counting AS's income, which besides covering her retirement and taxes is for home improvements and fun. I want to use it to add as much to the Roths as I can, since I suspended our $450 per month for about a year. My goal (a bit ambitious) is to max it out for all of us. I know I'll max AS's for sure this year and then work on mine, hitting NT's last if I manage to max mine. For 2016, I'll put $1375 per month in the budget to make sure we do max it out from then on.
Also, if I max out the Roths this year (or starting in 2016 if I don't), I'm raising my and NT's 401(k) contributions to make them 10% including match.
If I manage to do all that in 2016 and find that I'm lagging on my goal, to reach $486,000 in retirement assets by 2019, then I'll consider bumping us all up to 12% on retirement contributions outside of Roths.
Once we look like we're comfortably on the way to the goal I set, I'll start setting money aside for the kids' future, add charitable contributions back in as a regular budget item, and maybe reintroduce housecleaning as a nice luxury if all that looks good.
June 18th, 2015 at 01:04 am 1434585854
June 18th, 2015 at 01:06 am 1434586013
June 18th, 2015 at 01:33 am 1434587610
June 18th, 2015 at 06:29 pm 1434648597
Congratulations on the money and getting some major debt wiped out. Whoot!!
June 18th, 2015 at 10:40 pm 1434663607
June 24th, 2015 at 01:16 am 1435104975