I just realized how bad I have been at keeping this blog going. I’m sorry! Looks like the last monthly update I did was way back in September of last year! 😬 So here is a snapshot of how things have changed in the past nine months… I wish I had a good excuse for you as to why I […]
Net Worth Update for June 2025 [First Half 2025] Read Post »
As I write this, the stock market is in an absolute free fall as a result of Trump’s tariffs, and I’m NOT happy with it. If you are anything like me, than watching your portfolio get decimated on a daily basis for no reason other than the fact that our “President” has a hard on for tariffs is quite stress-inducing.
The Stock Market is Falling thanks to Trump’s Tariffs… What to do? Read Post »
I just got back from EconoMe 2025 run by Diania Merriam (pronounced “Diana”) in Cincinnati, Ohio. I wasn’t sure what to expect as this was my first “FI” event as I’m embarking on this journey towards early retirement and financial independence. I was not disappointed (and I already purchased my tickets for 2026!) So as I’m decompressing from 3 very
EconoMe 2025 – My Thoughts and Impressions as a First Time Attendee Read Post »
At the end of last month, I updated my debt payoff plan with a goal towards paying off my credit cards by next April and my personal loan by next summer. After I underwent this exercise, I started to explore my other options for paying off this debt. I had already used virtually all of my emergency savings to pay
Case Study: Inherited IRA to Pay Off Credit Card Debt? Read Post »
Poor performing real estate and unwanted/unexpected expenses gave back almost all the gains from August… Sometimes in this game of trying to achieve financial independence you take a step forward and two steps back. September was one of those months. Between dropping $2k on a down payment for summer camp for two kids next year, a flat tire that set
Net Worth Update for September 2024 [Down $12k] Read Post »
A few months ago, I made reference to my conscious spending plan. The conscious spending plan is a tool used by Ramit Sethi in his books, courses, podcasts, and most recently, a series on Netflix. I love Ramit – I’ve taken several of his courses – and whenever he says something, I listen. Quick side note – I used one
The Power of a Conscious Spending Plan: A Proven Framework for Financial Freedom Read Post »
My net worth update for August 2024… I feel like I’m going in the right direction but… This was one of those months that will drive you nuts if you don’t understand how the stock market works. At one point early in August I was down almost $40,000 (mostly because of my concentrated position in Apple), but then Apple came
Starting to Get on Track… Net Worth Update for August 2024 [Up $14k] Read Post »
Many of the folks in the FIRE community are gainfully employed with a consistent and predictable salary. Self-employed financial independence would seem to go hand in hand. But in fact, almost every podcast I’ve listened to or blog I’ve read from someone in the FIRE community was posted by someone who was/is gainfully employed until they decided to “retire” so
The Self-Employed Path to FIRE: Challenges and Strategies Read Post »
So this is Month #2 of posting about my net worth. I actually started tracking my net worth sporadically way back in 2017, and have posted all of my monthly numbers here. If you would like to check out my first net worth post from June 2024, click here. My Net Worth Update July 2024 I would love to get
Net Worth Update July 2024 [Up $28k] Read Post »
I need to stop using credit cards. There, I said it. As I embark on my journey to FI as a “late starter” post divorce, I quickly realized that using credit cards is the fastest way to derail my journey to FI. I’m in the process of retraining myself how to live a frugal life. For 17 years I’ve been
10 Reasons I’ve Decided to Stop Using Credit Cards Read Post »
This is my first “official” monthly net worth round up. And my 2024 net worth goal is $750,000. Why that number? because it is half-way to my FI number. That’s why. Is adding over $100,000 to my net worth reasonable or even feasible within 6 months from the level I’m at today, and in a presidential election year no less?
2024 Net Worth Goal: $750,000 Read Post »
I am in the process of separating from my wife, and am leaving most of our personal belongings, including furniture, kitchen supplies, bedding, etc. with her in the marital home. So I have to figure out how to furnish a home on a budget. Needless to say, this whole process is wreaking havoc on my newly FI-inspired brain! So here
How to Furnish a Home on a Budget Read Post »