Net Worth

September 2012 Net Worth Update (+5,243.86)

In September, our net worth increased $5,243.86 from last month, to a total of $188,261.27(click on spreadsheet below).  This puts us at 108.70% of our 2012 net worth goal of $173,200, which means we’re starting to make pretty good headway towards our 2013 net worth goal of $211,000.
What Worked
We contributed a total of $1,445.04 to our retirement accounts, and saw them increase $3,449.87 to $64,262.92 total.  We contributed $275 to our son’s 529 Plan thanks to birthday gifts from family.
What Didn’t Work
Our excessive spending continues to keep us from putting more money away.  As a result, our credit card bill each month has been much higher than usual.  We pay the card in full each month in order to avoid interest charges, but had to pull some money out of savings last month to make it happen.
Next Month
We hope to get caught up a little in October.  I received a third “extra” check that will help cover our large credit card bill without pulling much money out of savings.

Income Statement

August 2012 Income Statement

August was an amazing month – enormous income and large expenses (click on spreadsheet below). 

Our total income for August was $17,679.78, our second largest income month EVER.  The only larger month was December 2011 ($25,449.19, which included proceeds from a recreational vehicle sale).  Our income was huge this month because of my wife’s awesome quarterly bonus ($13,750 gross, $9,839.22 net). In addition to our regular paychecks, my received a $25 company reimbursement.  We also received $50.00 in credit card cash back rewards, a $50.00 gift for my sons 529 Plan, and we earned $3.22 in interest income from our online savings account. 

In July we spent a total of $13,051.92.  We had many rare expenses this month, starting with a $561.81 water bill (broken sprinkler) and $397.03 gas/electric bill (darn A/C). We also went on vacation to Canada($1,865.36), bought a new car battery ($125.91), insurance for our new SUV ($165.97), a portable A/C unit for my son’s room ($173.24 after a $150 gift card), various costs for my wife’s reunion.  We were busy this month!

Next month (September) should be a much more normal income month and hopefully, a mellow expense month.

Net Worth

August 2012 Net Worth Update (+11,797.62)

In August, our net worth skyrocketed $11,797.62 from last month, to a total of $183,017.41 (click on spreadsheet below).

What Worked

The largest impact this month, and likely this year was a huge quarterly bonus that my wife earned. She bonus this quarter was $13,750 gross ($9,839.22 net). Obviously, this has a major impact on our finances. We paid off our 0% credit card balance ($5,236.35), tithed 10% ($1,375), and got a few things done around the house. We contributed a total of $2,820.04 to our retirement accounts, and saw them increase $5,143.40 to $60,813.08 total. All of this goodness resulted in us passing the net worth milestone of $180,000 in August.

What Didn’t Work
N/A, we were blessed with an amazing month.

Next Month
September should be a standard month in terms of our net worth increase. However, it’s a milestone for our family as our son turns 1 year old!
Goals

Net Worth Milestone – $180,000

2 Comments

Today we passed the $180,000 net worth milestone! Our net worth is currently $182,496.62.
We passed our last milestone of $170K last month (July) so reaching $180,000 in such a short period of time is a major blessing.  My wife’s larger than normal quarterly bonus, $13,750 gross ($9,839.22 net), put us over the $180K mark.  Based on my forecast, we should hit the next net worth milestone of $190K by November.

I will update our net worth meter (on the left side of the screen) at the end of the month.

Goals, Net Worth

Already Passed our 2012 Net Worth Goal!

Today we passed our 2012 net worth goal of $173,200. That puts us 4 months ahead of schedule. Our current net worth is $174,101 and my wife expects to receive a large quarterly bonus next week, so our net worth should jump another $8,000 or so by the end of the month.  Our net worth meter (on left) will be updated at the end of the month.

Income Statement

July 2012 Income Statement

July was a somewhat higher than average income month and large expense month (click on spreadsheet below). 

Our total income for July was $8,061.55.  In addition to our regular paychecks, my received $60 in company reimbursements.  We also received a $128.61 auto insurance refund, $150 Best Buy store credit, and we earned $3.24 in interest income from our online savings account. 
In July we spent a total of $11,571.94.  Our largest expense was a $3,000 downpayment on a third vehicle that cost $17,998.  With this vehicle comes additional costs in terms of fuel, insurance, etc., but it will add to our quality of life as we make an effort to do more family outings.
Next month should be one of our largest income months ever, thanks to a very large quarterly bonus that my wife should receive.  Expenses should be slightly higher with the addition of our auto loan, insurance, and fuel.

 

Net Worth

July 2012 Net Worth Update (+3,518.70)

In July, our Net Worth increased $3,518.70 from last month, to a total of $171,219.79 (click on spreadsheet below).  
What Worked
We passed the net worth milestone of $170,000 in July!  We contributed a total of $2,245.04 to our retirement accounts, and saw them increase $3,285.04 to $55,669.68 total.  We paid $600 towards our 0% credit card debt. 
What Didn’t Work
Our cash & savings declined because we pulled $3,000 out for a down payment on a SUV.  The balance on the loan is $16,736.99.  My wife has a company provided car and my car is paid off, so this third vehicle is going to be used for “family” stuff, such as weekend trips to the beach, camping, vacation, etc. 
Next Month
August should be a huge income month because my wife earned a large bonus.  The money is slated for paying off our 0% credit card debt, contributing to our son’s 529 Plan, bolstering savings, and tithing.
Goals

Net Worth Milestone – $170,000

2 Comments

Today we passed the $170,000 net worth milestone! Our net worth is currently $171,781.11.

We passed our last milestone of $160K in December and are well on the way to our 2012 net worth goal of $173,200. Based on my forecasts, we should hit the next net worth milestone of $180K by the end of the year.

I will update our net worth meter (on the left side of the screen) at the end of the month.
Income Statement

June 2012 Income Statement

June was another outstanding income month and an above average expense month (click on spreadsheet below). 

Our total income for June was $10,456.04.  In addition to our regular paychecks, my wife received a third “extra” paycheck this month.  She also received a 1.75% merit raise that was backdated to April.  In addition to my wife’s awesomeness, we received a completely unexpected $473.02 property tax refund (major blessing!).  My wife received $40 in company reimbursements, we received $75 in credit card rewards, and we earned $3.55 in interest income from our online savings account. 

In June we spent a total of $8,787.81.  Large infrequent expenses included $425.24 for 6 months of auto insurance and $80 in gifts.  We also gave our nanny a $25/week raise.

July should be a fairly average month in terms of income and expenses.

Net Worth

June 2012 Net Worth Update (+4,342.33)

In June, our Net Worth increased $4,342.33, to a total of $167,701.09 (click on spreadsheet below).  This puts us at 96.83% of our 2012 Net Worth goal of $173,200 (see NW meter on left side of page).

What Worked

We paid $1,355 towards our 0% credit card debt.  As I mentioned before, our main short term financial goal is to get this card paid off by the end of the year (0% until April 2013).  

What Didn’t Work
We contributed a total of $1,741.95 our retirement accounts, but only saw them increase $1,623.34 to $52,384.64 total.  Not a big deal.

Next Month
We hope to pay down another good “chunk” of our 0% credit card debt next month.  My wife should also learn how large her Q3 bonus in August will be (she kicked butt this quarter).

Our path to financial independence and retiring early.