I started this blog on April 18th 2017. Earlier this week I was re-reading my first post and noticed my closing paragraphs contained a few sentences that I should revisit now that it’s 32 months since I started. We currently have about 20k in savings, 120k in retirement accounts, 42k in student loan debt and… Continue reading A Look Back to the Start
Tag: millionaire
My Financial Goals for 2020
What a crazy and productive year 2019 was! If anyone were to look back at the money we laid out on home improvements and repairs, they would balk, saying we’re spending far too much and saving far too little. Having laid out roughly $61,200 in home improvements and repairs in one year, I’d love to… Continue reading My Financial Goals for 2020
A Look Back at 2019
At the beginning of 2019 I set out a number of goals for my financial life. Over the course of the year I hit some goals, added some, and changed some. Lets take a look back and see how I did. 2019 Goals Maximize ESPP Contribution – Status: Complete – This was one of my minor… Continue reading A Look Back at 2019
One Tank of Gas
Back in November I turned in my seldom used leased sedan and bought a much more practical 1987 Chevy pickup. The car was costing me about $400/month between the payment and insurance (I rarely got gas), and the truck cost me $4000 to buy. It’s a 10 month break even and I’ve set up an… Continue reading One Tank of Gas
Commuting and the Value of Time
Like many metro areas, Long Island is a commuter’s nightmare. We have three major East/West highways, a couple of minor ones, and a whole bunch of local highways with lights about every 50 feet. A closure of any one road can ruin the commute for hundreds of thousands of people. Any one of our three… Continue reading Commuting and the Value of Time
Discipline
Recently I’ve been buying used hardcover copies of books that I’ve loved over time. I’ve been re-reading many that I read when I was a teenager, because I probably didn’t read them as critically as I would today. Last week, I re-read the Jurassic Park books, and I came across one of Ian Malcom’s many… Continue reading Discipline
Car Deals
Over many years of paying close attention to this, I’ve realized that I don’t know anyone that’s ever gotten a bad deal on a car. How could that be possible? I know I freely admit that I once got a horrible deal on an Acura TSX because I was young and stupid and really wanted… Continue reading Car Deals
Buying Back Four Years – I Refinance Again
Back in January I laid out my financial goals for 2019. One of my major goals was to get my mortgage down below $350k, and ultimately set myself on a path to start paying more principal than interest on the loan. Had I done nothing, I wouldn’t be paying more in principal until 2027. Had… Continue reading Buying Back Four Years – I Refinance Again
Setbacks and Leaps Forward
Oh the joys of owning a home! In my 40.5 check in post I mentioned how our pool liner had failed and needed to be replaced. This was an expected, but still surprising $4200 setback that wiped out my “Oh shit the ____ is broken” fund. I’m sitting on my deck watching the pool fill… Continue reading Setbacks and Leaps Forward
Checking in at 40.5
Back in January I laid out my financial goals for 2019. Since then, I’ve reached some goals, I’ve questioned others, I’ve completed a major home renovation, and had a mid-range setback. I’ve also been mulling over net worth and whether I like it as a success indicator, but we’ll get to that at the end.… Continue reading Checking in at 40.5
Freed by 50 