I intended to write this post with parts 1 and 2 but baby #5 (or #3 depending on who's counting) arrived. Mom and baby are healthy. Mom and dad are sleep deprived. I made three retirement contribution changes recently. Two in one direction and a third in the opposite direction because I'm a walking contradiction. … Continue reading Money Moves (Part 3)

This is what happens to your nice cash flow graphs when you buy a new car. 6 months prior we had put $500 down on a 2023 Honda Odyssey minivan. There wasn't much for new cars on the dealer lot. We could've bought a used Odyssey for almost the same $43,000 (before taxes and fees) … Continue reading Money Moves (Part 2)

In early August, I opened a checking and savings account at SoFI. I also closed a checking and savings account to keep things account neutral. I fell for a $300 welcome bonus for moving my paycheck direct deposit and $25 referral bonus. SoFI checked most of the boxes I need from a bank: No fees2.50% … Continue reading Money Moves (Part 1)

It has been a rather hectic month in the Mr. & Mrs. Dress Pockets household from a work/life balance perspective. Recovering from Covid, my boss asked me to step up and take on a bunch of additional work for the sudden departure of a colleague. Meh. Ok. I guess. In exchange, I asked for a … Continue reading Career Goals

While inflation in food, energy, and housing costs are kicking most people in the ass, there is one small inflation silver lining for super savers: the 2023 HSA/401k/IRA contribution limits are projected to increase by record amounts. Plan2022 limit2023 limitIncreaseHSA individual (self coverage only)$3,650$3,850+$200HSA family (2 or more covered)$7,300$7,750+$450401k/403b/457b employee contributions$20,500$22,500 *Projected*+$2,000IRA$6,000$6,500 *Projected*+$500*For reference see … Continue reading Inflation for the Win

A few years back I opened custodial UTMA accounts for each of the children and made birthday and Christmas gift deposits. Mrs. Dress Pockets and I were dabbling with minimalism and buying plastic toys in excess didn't seem like something we wanted to endorse. For the older two children I stumbled across Stockpile which provides … Continue reading Swing and a Miss

From the Motorola pager I had for no good reason in high school to the new iPhone *I needed* every year as a young adult, I've always had a soft spot in my heart (and checkbook) for wireless devices and services. Obsessing over new wireless technologies and coverage maps consumed untold hours of my time. … Continue reading Can you hear me now?

Here is a glimpse at the Google Sheets magic that drives the pie charts in the blog sidebar. At the end of each month, I update the account balances in a dozen cells. The pie charts are dynamically updated and exported with html snippets to the blog. About the only trick to remember is that … Continue reading Amateur Spreadsheet Jockey

The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has. Will Rogers I have been doing tax returns a long time. The file cabinet says one of the first handwritten tax returns I compiled with my dad's help was 1991 which would place me in 8th and 9th grade. I … Continue reading Tax Day

Turns out Mrs. Dress Pockets and I have 7 checking accounts. Seems a bit excessive doesn't it? One is a joint checking account between us where we have consolidated most of our monthly cash flow. One is a joint account I recently opened with eldest daughter. That still leaves 5 individual checking accounts: 2 for … Continue reading Spring Cleaning