Disqus - Latest Comments for Chief Family Officer

Re: My Grandmothers and the Cost of a Funeral

Chief Family Officer — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:49:58 -0000

I'm so sorry for your loss, Flexo. My grandmother isn't quite at hospice level yet, but she lives quite far away and her health has been declining steadily for several years. It's always in the back of my mind, how I would make those last minute travel arrangements if that call comes. My thoughts & prayers are with you and your family.

Re: Why I Will (Probably) Never Buy a Condominium

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:50:01 -0000

Flexo, I totally agree that there are many negatives to condo ownership. But my husband and I got lucky and we love our townhouse (which is technically a condo for insurance purposes). The biggest benefit is that we don't have to maintain a yard or pool, yet we have beautiful landscaping and a pool and jacuzzi just steps away. Security is also taken care of, along with some maintenance (such as annual termite inspections).

I say we got lucky, because we have fantastic neighbors on both sides who are nice and don't bother us one bit. And we got lucky because our management company is super responsive and very competent, which I've learned isn't the case everywhere. Also, our monthly HOA fees are very reasonable. We bought several years ago, so the combination of our mortgage payment and HOA fees is less than what we would be paying in rent for a comparable place. I haven't crunched the numbers but I'd bet that would be the case even if I factored in our condo and earthquake insurance policies.

Condo living might not be for everyone, but I wouldn't rule it out just yet if I were you. Unless you dream of maintaining a yard.

Re: Carnival of Personal Finance #157: Third Anniversary Edition

Chief Family Officer — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:32:40 -0000

Hi Flexo - Thank you for hosting and including my article. I can't believe it's already been three years for the carnival!

Re: 15 Families Hit Hard Recently: Time to Adjust Expectations?

Chief Family Officer — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:45:36 -0000

My favorite one is the doctor in Pacific Palisades where people tell him real estate prices can't go down. Isn't that illogical? People who couldn't really afford to buy in the area would have bought when mortgages were easy to come by, then they'll have to sell or end up in foreclosure, ergo prices have to come down. I would think prices are *more* likely to decrease in the Palisades than in a place less upscale, say Pasadena, where the people who can no longer afford the Palisades will head.

Re: It’s Official: New Job With a Raise and Promotion

Chief Family Officer — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:28:51 -0000

Congratulations! And happy birthday! Wow, that's fantastic - good luck in your new position!

Re: Personal Income Statement, February 2008 (Net Income: $11,731)

Chief Family Officer — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:09:05 -0000

Wow, it certainly looks like you could or are very close to being able to live off your business income only. Congratulations! That's a pretty fantastic option to have.

Re: The Carnival is Up!

Chief Family Officer — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:50:55 -0000

Thank you for the mention, Flexo! Alas, as I've just posted, the Experiment is already over!

Re: The New Emergency Fund: Five Components of an Emergency Plan

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:53:33 -0000

I like the idea of an Emergency PLAN. As interest rates have fallen, I've found myself contemplating a more aggressive plan. But I'm also quite conservative and risk-averse (it's my nature coupled with the fact that I have two young kids to look out for), so I'm hesitant to branch out past our banks savings right now. I'm thinking about all of the alternatives, though.

Re: Importance of Budgeting Relates to Financial Condition and Habits

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:31:01 -0000

I think you make some good points, Flexo. Our budget is pretty flexible, in that I'm not constantly checking to see that we didn't go "over budget." Rather, our budget helps me figure out how much we can afford to put into savings and put toward debt repayment each month, and how much of each month's income is spoken for by fixed bills. With those lump sums out of the way, what's left can be spent however we want, allowing us to live comfortably but not extravagantly, while still making big strides toward our financial goals.

Re: Full 2007 Goal Review: How Well Did I Meet My Goals?

Chief Family Officer — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:34:21 -0000

Congratulations, Flexo! You did great in 2007 - very inspiring. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish in 2008!

Re: Consumerism Commentary Honored in BESPy Awards

Chief Family Officer — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:15:54 -0000

Congratulations, Flexo!

Re: Early Morning Roundup: Old Maps

Chief Family Officer — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:56:21 -0000

I like your argument, Flexo - I think it's totally legit. I've already had the flu twice this season, so I totally buy the "imminent" argument. Thanks!

Re: Early Morning Roundup: Old Maps

Chief Family Officer — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:57:28 -0000

Flexo - Have they changed the rules on OTC stuff? I thought things like cold medicines could only be deducted if they are needed immediately.

Re: Do You Get Vaccinated Against Influenza?

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 23:01:15 -0000

I got my flu shot in September. I started getting them a couple of years ago when my oldest was a baby (I tried to get one when I was pregnant with him, but that was the year of the great shortage, when there were hundreds if not thousands of people lined up at drug stores and elderly people were dying from heatstroke here in Southern Cal while they were waiting in line). I get it because my kids get it and we're all so exposed to so many germs that it seems prudent to minimize all of our risk. My husband and I have still come down with a serious cold/flu each year since our oldest was born but maybe it would have been worse, who knows.

Re: Weekly Blog Roundup I, Report Cards Edition

Chief Family Officer — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:47:05 -0000

And that means you're mostly on your own this weekend, right? When I lived at home and my mom was doing a marathon grading/reporting session, I was pretty much not to other her - though my dad and I were expected to be available in case she needed something!

Re: Black Friday and Your Spending Habits

Chief Family Officer — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:10:26 -0000

I hate going to the mall when it's packed, but I was shocked to discover several years ago that if you hit the mall at 7:00 on Black Friday morning, it's actually not that crowded. (I understand that some stores like the big electronics stores are a different story.) I went mainly because my parents were visiting just for the weekend and my mom wanted to go shopping, so it seemed like a fun thing to do. You really can find amazingly good deals, but the usual rules of shopping apply (stick to your list and stick to your budget). We'll probably go again this year, but only because my kids wake up so early that we might as well since we have to get out of the house anyway. Whether I spend more or less depends on the deals I find (I stock up on gifts throughout the year, so if I find something that would be good for my stash, I'll buy it).

Re: $52,050.74: A Farewell to Student Loans

Chief Family Officer — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:35:55 -0000

Congratulations, Sasha! That's really awesome :D

Re: Sumo Lounge: Not Your Average Beanbag Chair

Chief Family Officer — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:26:46 -0000

Hmm, I think my toddler would love this. We have mostly IKEA furniture - the higher-end stuff that more expensive and it's held up really well (most of it is now 10+ years old and looks great). The funny thing is, my brother-in-law really looks up to my husband (who's four years older) and has almost exactly the same pieces. IKEA no longer sells a large wardrobe that we had, and we needed to move it out of the house to make room for our second child. My brother-in-law was sooooo happy to get it!

Re: Weekly Blog Roundup, Housewarming Edition

Chief Family Officer — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:31:22 -0000

Thanks for the mention, Flexo!

I completely agree on the toothbrush - my $120 Sonicare Elite was worth every penny (even though I couldn't use it for eight months while I was pregnant!).

Re: Weekly Blog Roundup, Catching Up Edition

Chief Family Officer — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:16:43 -0000

Enjoy the last day of your vacation and thanks a lot for the mention!

Re: The Carnivals are Up!

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:37:30 -0000

Thanks for the mention, Flexo!

Re: My Struggle: Spending on Food is Really About Motivation

Chief Family Officer — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:57:59 -0000

If it really is just a time thing (as opposed to you really like socializing with your friends/you like getting out of the building/you don't want anyone to pester you about saving money/you hate the taste of brought-lunches/etc.) then it's simply a matter of figuring out how to prepare 5 lunches in the least amount of time possible.

In addition to the great suggestions above, I highly recommend leftovers from the night before as the easiest, least-time-consuming method. Or bring sandwich fixings for the week to work and assemble your sandwich at your desk. Or organize your friends and do lunch potlucks - everyone brings a dish to share (just keep paper goods from Costco in one of your offices). You might also look into whether hitting the supermarket deli counter or salad bar on the way to work might be cheaper than where you currently buy your lunch. Finally, there's the "cook once, eat several meals" approach - make a large batch of pasta salad, soup, casserole, etc. and then take it for lunch for the week. Good luck!

Re: Student Loans Consolidated, Finally

Chief Family Officer — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 17:03:51 -0000

Even if you could earn more by investing, there's a lot to be said for being debt-free. Hopefully you'll be able to lower the interest rate even more with on-time payments - for example, one of my lenders lowered my interest rate by 1% after the first 12 payments were timely.

Re: IKEA is a Shopping Experience, But What About The Furniture?

Chief Family Officer — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 14:39:54 -0000

I have to say, we own our home and it was hardly a "first apartment" type situation, nor are we "newly married" at this point, but most of our furniture is from IKEA and it's not only held up fine, it looks great. I think the key is that we weren't afraid to spend money on the more expensive stuff they sell - it really is comparable to much higher-end furniture, you just have to put it together yourself. That said, our couch and arm chair are from a "real" furniture store, and although we bought our beds at IKEA, we bought the mattresses somewhere else!

Re: Be A Financial Advisor

Chief Family Officer — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:34:50 -0000

Hey Flexo,

I was looking at taking a course or two just for fun and discovered that UCLA offers CFP certification classes online - finish the program and you're eligible for the exam. Just thought you might be interested. Good luck with the new job!

Cathy

Re: Move Where Cost of Living Is Low

Chief Family Officer — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 12:38:56 -0000

I am defInitely one of the people who thinks living in a big city (Los Angeles) is worth the high cost of living :)

Re: Carnival of Personal Finance #22

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 01:52:43 -0000

Thanks for getting the Carnival up! :)

Re: Carnival of Personal Finance #19

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 00:30:55 -0000

Thanks so much for hosting a great carnival!

Re: site change

Chief Family Officer — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:53:34 -0000

I like it, but if you could possibly have a smaller header so more content would be above the fold, I think that would be a really good idea.

Re: guest post: working parents are not a bad thing

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:18:17 -0000

I just wanted to applaud Plonkee for a great post! I even posted a reaction to it on CFO - thanks for the food for thought! :D

Re: meeting my 2008 financial goals

Chief Family Officer — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:39:39 -0000

I just wanted to say that this was very fun to read!

Re: the double digit myth

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:51:09 -0000

I saw that analysis by Buffett as well and had the same reaction you describe: I might as well invest in CDs then.

Of course, I might just invest more in Berkshire. The very tiny portion of a Berkshire B share that I own is up over 15% in the last three months. :D

Re: Can I tolerate my son’s religious education?

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:03:07 -0000

Interesting topic, and one that my husband and I have discussed too. We tend to have pretty broad religious views ourselves, so we've decided that a little religious education from a sect that we aren't a part of would be okay as long as the core values are the same. For example, I would object to my kid learning that hitting someone is okay. But not if he's told, "Jesus teaches us not to hit other people." And we can discuss the nuances at home. I actually think some exposure to religion is a good thing, so that by itself doesn't bother me. I think that as long as you and your wife emphasize the values aspect, and teach your son that people have different beliefs, everything will be fine. Good luck!

Re: the newest problogger on the block

Chief Family Officer — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:14:13 -0000

Congratulations! And enjoy your problogging time! I guess I kind of did it while I was on maternity leave last year, but I was nowhere near as organized or top of things as you are. I'm sure your time will be incredibly productive and the seeds you sow will bear fruit long after you go back to your consulting gig :)

Re: linklings, no links edition

Chief Family Officer — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:43:42 -0000

Congratulations!!!

Re: death by a thousand cuts

Chief Family Officer — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:31:27 -0000

Thank you! You put into words what I've always felt about Donny Deutsch's program. I actually don't particularly enjoy it that much (too much non-substantive talking), but I think the concept is a good one, and you articulated why. Good point about wondering how it stays on the air, too.

Re: more or less a one year anniversary

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:27:48 -0000

Happy blogoversary! Wishing you even greater success in year 2 :)

Re: 5 signs your job sucks

Chief Family Officer — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:03:14 -0000

Hi Steve,

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry you're hating your job right now. I do hope things improve or that you're presented with an option you hadn't thought of or weren't expecting!

Regards,
Cathy

Re: I know I shouldn’t be happy to get laid off, but…

Chief Family Officer — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:06:38 -0000

I'd say that I'm sorry to hear your news, but somehow that doesn't seem appropriate. I do think that you're absolutely right about it being time to leave a job if you are miserable. I hope there are only great jobs in your future!

Re: the loss of a job and the reconstruction of identity

Chief Family Officer — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:39:25 -0000

You bring up an interesting point. I don't intend to remain a lawyer forever, not even til retirement age – but I have wondered how I'll feel when I can no longer tell people that I'm a lawyer. It's such an easy answer, and I have to admit that I don't mind the identity that people automatically attribute to me. While lawyers as a group have a bad reputation, most people react pretty well to meeting a lawyer in person. I think it will be very weird not having that instant layer of . . . credibility? respectability? whatever it is.

Re: Win An XBOX360 Elite And A Copy Of GTA4!

Chief Family Officer — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:57:15 -0000

I couldn't pass up a contest this good! I blogged about it at CFO Reviews.

Cathy's last blog post..Win a grocery makeover from Go Organic! for Earth Day

Re: What? The Safe Sippy is Finally Here? Let’s Give One Away!

Chief Family Officer — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:42:35 -0000

The Fresh Baby trays are great!

Re: How Would You Like to Win a YEAR of FREE Ice Cream??

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:35:11 -0000

My favorite flavor is cookie dough, although pralines & cream is a close second. Thank you for the giveaway!

Re: How Would You Like to Win a YEAR of FREE Ice Cream??

Chief Family Officer — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:26:47 -0000

I posted about the giveaway at Chief Family Officer.

Thanks again!

Re: DotSauce Christmas Tech Toys Giveaway

Chief Family Officer — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 22:17:16 -0000

I would like #9 :D

Re: Go Back2School with GoPicnic

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:38 -0000

Salami and cheese! I love it already :) Thank you for the giveaway

Re: Go Back2School with GoPicnic

Chief Family Officer — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:01:48 -0000

And I tweeted it here: http://twitter.com/CFOblog/status/3239370128

Re: Back To School {A $500 Giveaway!}

Chief Family Officer — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:50:43 -0000

My best tip is to use a slow cooker! It's so easy to make healthy meals in it, and takes the stress out of making dinner.