automatic savings plans

Today's topic is automatic savings.  Besides paying off your debt - credit card, mortgage, and student loans being the top 3 forms - automating your saving is one of the easier ways to build a  bundle without having to stress about it.  At the moment, Bri and I have several going on:

10% extra to the mortgage (the invest it in the stock market argument has been debunked by...the stock market)

A few bucks to the Duke Energy Corp Direct Investment Plan (DRIP)

A few bucks to Vanguard Wellington fund (60/40 stock-bonds)

A few bucks to North Carolina's 529 plan

Every month, our dollars transfer automatically from our bank account to these above.  The monthly amount is relatively small, but a few years of this = hefty cash put away that we didn't have to think about.  

I am thinking about this today because while the economy and the stock market are both in the ***er at the moment, it isn't the end of the world just yet for most of us.  (Ponzi dupee's might be bagging groceries). 

The stress test results are supposed to be released next Monday (5.4), it should be interesting to see if there is a bunch of inside selling in the banking sector this week.

Looking forward to St Anthonys tomorrow, it is going to be warm but it's always good to see our Florida posse.

St Anthonys

We are both in St Pete for St Anthonys Triathlon on Sunday.  I've done the race 5 or 6 times now, and Bri grew up with the Meek and Mighty Tri.  Last year I skipped it as my motivation level was at about 2.  Bri is racing age group elite while I am racing age-group M35-39.  

Tassie and I had a nice 10 and a half hour drive down today.  Tassie did most of it while I listened to Bloomberg Radio, Howard Stern, and talked to myself in the mirror.  Tassie doesn't mind pulling down major road miles as long as she gets her kibbles and bits at the end of the road.

 Bri flew down in the PM after work, since my poor Bri has to work in an office with people who expect her to do office things.  We are working on that but that is a tale for another time.  So she flew in this evening.

Tomorrow is the Meek and Mighty Triathlon which is a bunch of newbies and kiddies checking out their wings on the same course as St Anthonys.

St Anthonys Triathlon

We're off to St. Petersburg for the St. Anthony's Triathlon on Sunday morning. Bri is racing, while I'll be on the sidelines cheering, jumping, and mumbling incoherently to anyone who listens. It's always a good time down there. We have several athletes racing, and both the pro and amateur elite waves should be a good competitive show. We're going to hit the Mad Dog party on Friday night then have dinner with our athletes on Saturday. I might go for a run or a swim at some point. I may have a couple beers at some point. I would babble a little more here but you see that it's pure nonsense.

Going to ride with the Inside-Out Thursday night group tonight.

Bri wants me to start reviewing all the different beers I try.
Rocky Mountain IPA (Fort Collins, CO): Two tongues up.
Breckenridge Brewery Avalanche: Tasty and refreshing.