My wife and I are 29 and 30 years old, and are putting our plans for retirement, a house, kids, coffee makers, and soccer game snacks, together now. If anyone has the time and interest to help a fellow fool, I will reveal the opportunity that as a couple we face over the next few years. I need help to understand if I am Foolish, or a fool.

Between us both, our pretax income is $174,000. We have minimal debt, and want a house in two years. Sounds like a trip down Pleasantville Road, huh? Not quite yet.... The only savings we have to speak of is 30,000 in a discount broker account from a 401K rollover from my last employer(which I am proud of doing before I ever found this website).

Here is what I am proposing to my wife for the short term investing "game" (She thinks I am a rookie and have no financial savy) that's making our financial discussions edgy.

Our Income 174,000
401K (maxed) + 2 Roths 14,000
Taxable Income 160,000
Taxes (State & Federal) 55,200
Other Expenses (rent/bills/debt 58,800
Net Investible Income 46,000

This is us in a nutshell. Except that second year Net investible income goes up due to the elimination of (credit card/ school loan/car) debt to $55,000.

My problem is I need to decide how to invest about 50K after-tax money per year to ensure a healthy start on our retirement and get a house in a couple years. My wife wants to put our money into the freezer to ensure I don't lose it! I really do resent that, because it would leave almost no room for the Ben and Jerry's.

I figured long-term stocks and the Vanguard fund for our retirement, and to save some money in cash towards a house.

Here's how I broke it down:

1. I have 50% slated for an ameritrade stock account (which will contain 6-8 rulebreaker stocks and the foolish four)

2. I have 10% allocated for an index fund (Vangaurd)

3. I have 40% slated for cash that can be applied to the purchase of a home (Cds/Bonds)in two-three years.

Tell me the truth, SHOULD I BE HAPPY WITH THIS SOLUTION???? I have spent many, many hours reviewing our situation (and plugging the problem into a countless sea of useless, mind-warping, spreadsheets) but would love to hear criticisms.

Thanks to any fool who made it this far in the post, massive kudos to anyone with advice for a nervous fool.

CD