One of my English teacher buddies said it's like a cheaper Great Gatsby and I added but with likeable characters.

I did like Katey, although I feel like he could have done more with her childhood -- and sort of implied he would at the beginning. Wallace's death was sad -- I really liked him.

I wanted to know more about her in general -- I think all of my issues with the book would have been solved by taking it out of the first person.

That's how you made less, right? Are 401K contributions pre-tax? Now I forget

No, I actually made less total (only about $500 less) before taxes/etc, because in 2012 I got a signing bonus for my new job. I hadn't realized it was enough to make up the difference between my old job and the new one! But I also had a much small AGI overall because of how much (pre-tax) I put in my 401k. I didn't start putting money in my 401k until maybe 25? And was only putting the matching (3% or whatever) until recently--last year I bumped it up to 12% of my salary (figuring plus 3% matched by company is 15!). I worry I will want to retire and not have any money to do it with. Figuring social security will be bust by that age (plus they keep upping when I could get it--I don't want to work until 70!)

Thanks for reminding me to contribute to my Roth IRA, Natter.

See, and that's something I have never done, make an IRA! I feel like for all that I'm OK at not spending more than I make, I'm actually really bad at the whole money thing in general.

I failed at contributing to a 401k for most of my 20s. I did contract work for a while and I don't think it was an option, so I think I ignored it when I finally was given the option because I didn't really know what to do.

Oh, younger self. Why.

These days, I built up my emergency savings account and started doing a small monthly contribution, I max out my generous 401k match and contribution limit, and I max out my Roth IRA contribution limit. Because I can right now and I have a lot of catching up to do.

I know there's more investing I could do, but I don't like a lot of risk. I don't even like gambling in Vegas.

Oh, younger self. Why.

Amen. I also feel like if I were a real adult I would have a will, and visit like, a financial planner or something. But I will take "doing my taxes in January".

Oh, jeez. I'm still waiting on one of my W-2s, and I haven't even made a household budget yet. Money, bah.

ION, I totally dressed wrong today. I went for a walk and wore my coat: too hot. Still on the warm side sitting in the office after my walk (without my coat) so I thought I'd eat lunch outside without my coat. Too cold.

I'm still waiting on one of my W-2s

Yeah, I'm still waiting on a 1099; are those on the same January 31 deadline as W-2s?

My problem with retirement is that it feels like I have SO MUCH money saved, but yeah, no. I've been increasing my contribution with my salary, though, so I guess it'll all work out.

Yeah, and I guess part of it is also somehow the fact that I've been saving for 10 years but still have THIRTY to go doesn't really hit me. Like, if I keep saving like I have been the past year (rather than the eight or nine years before that), I'll have plenty. Because 30 years is a long-ass time (OMG how can I work 30 more years??)

Oh yeah, also that -- good news/bad news, I am not yet halfway through my career!