February was our best net worth increase month by a very large margin.  In February, our net worth increased $28,622.684, to a total of $274,030.38 (click on spreadsheet below).

In February, my wife earned a $66,600.00 gross ($27,808.32 net) quarterly bonus!  This positively impacted every area of our balance sheet.  We contribution at total of $4,523.05 to our retirement accounts ($3,300 from her bonus) and saw them increase to $8,361.82.  We also contributed a total of $3,704.17 to her ESPP ($3,300 from her bonus), $1,150 to savings, $150 to our son’s 529 Plan, 10% of gross to our church tithe, and bought stock in our brokerage account.  In addition, we paid off our $12,098.89 auto loan.  Thanks to the huge blessing of my wife’s bonus, we passed three net worth milestones in one month (250K, 260K, & 270K)!  We’re 108.79% of our 2014 net worth goal ($251,900).  Now, we’ll shoot for hitting our 2015 net worth goal ($296,000) one year early.

Next Month
March looks like it is shaping up to be a pretty standard month.

In January, our net worth decreased $49.54, to a total of $245,407.70 (click on spreadsheet below).

In January, we began a 5% contribution to my wife’s 401(K) and 5% to her company ESPP.  We also began contributing $200/month to her H.S.A. account for our baby’s birth in May. 

In December, our net worth increased $4,000.17, to a total of $245,457.24 (click on spreadsheet below).

What Worked
In December, we contributed $818.88 to our retirement accounts and saw them increase $2,571.54to a total of $109,117.55.   We also contributed $275 to our son’s 529 Plan thanks to gifts for family.

Next Month
January begins a new year with new goals.  Stay tuned!

In November, we contributed $818.88 to our retirement accounts and saw them increase $1,018.43 to a total of $106,546.01.   We also contributed $150 to our son’s 529 Plan.

Next Month
December should be another good month and strong close to 2013.

 

Our net worth in October increased nicely again.  In October, our net worth increased $5,439.56, to a total of $239,359.04 (click on spreadsheet below).

In October, we contributed $1,228.32 to our retirement accounts and saw them increase $4,545.84 to a total of $105,527.58.   While we don’t track current market value of our home in the spreadsheet (we use the purchase price), comps in our area are selling for $100K+ more than our purchase price.

Our net worth in September showed good improvement.  In September, our net worth increased $6,882.47, to a total of $233,919.48 (click on spreadsheet below).

What Worked
September was such a blessing.  We found out that my wife is 4 weeks pregnant!  We are so happy to be having a second child.  We also passed the retirement savings milestone of $100,000 in total retirement assets!  September was my wife’s first full month at her new job, which she loves.  In September, we contributed $1,062.76 to our retirement accounts and saw them increase $5,802.02 to a total of $100,981.74.   We also tucked away a little more into our son’s 401(k).

What Didn’t Work
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Next Month
October should be another good month.  I receive a 3^rd “extra” check and no major expenses are planned.

We were doing well in August until the end of the month, then the wheels came off the cart.  In August, we saw our net worth decrease a $1,390.52, to a total of $227,037.01 (click on spreadsheet below).

What Worked
My wife began a new job this month making $97K annual salary plus an opportunity to earn $35K+ in bonus each year.  The company gives her $600/month auto allowance, a gas card, $100/month for home office, and 20K shares of stock each year.  This is a huge blessing to our family. 

What Didn’t Work
Sadly, all of our numbers fell this month.

Next Month
September will be my wife’s first full month with her new company.  Her large income should really help us towards our goals.

After a down month last month, in July we saw our net worth increase a whopping $6,412.78, to a total of $228,427.53 (click on spreadsheet below).

What Worked
My wife received an $891.92 employer match to her 401(k).   We contributed a total of $1,201.96 to our retirement accounts and saw them increase $5,951.17 to $97,009.73 total.  We refinanced our auto loan from a 6.5% to 2.29% loan.

What Didn’t Work
We continue to dip into our savings account.

Next Month
My wife may be starting a new job at the end of next month.  Stay tuned.

In June, our net worth decreased $2,582.98 from last month, to a total of $222,014.75 (click on spreadsheet below).

Next Month
July should be a pretty typical month.

We saw a good increase to our net worth in May.  Our net worth increased $4,037.71 from last month, to a total of $224,597.73 (click on spreadsheet below).

One benefit of my wife returning to work at her old company is that the benefits begin day one, including her 401(k) plan.  They match up to 6%, but we do not include that amount until it is vested.  So, we contributed a total of $1,707.17 to our retirement accounts and saw them increase a healthy $3,147.82 to $93,205.19 total.