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Assets:NT's UK pensions:AV: 22,397 pounds ($27,996)SW: 27,225 pounds ($34,031)FL: 6,462 pounds ($8,078)NT's trad. IRA: $100,851NT's Roth IRA: $56,572AS's trad. IRA: $25,413AS's Roth IRA: $82,315AS's SEP IRA: $59,256CJ's 401(k): $198,555CJ's Roth IRA: $61,939NT's flat: $212,500 (200,000 pounds value x1.25 -15%)CJ/NT/AS house: $592,200 ($630,000 value -6%)---TOTAL ASSETS: $1,459,706Debts:US Mortgage $372,600
Loan from friends (duplex) $9,000UK Mortgage 1 $26,970UK Mortgage 2 $5,685UK...
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Wow, when you thought "life can't get any crazier", 2020 comes along and takes that statement as a challenge.  With that stating the obvious, here is my year in review.
Well I sure didn't expect this.  I had been expecting some type of pullback at the start of the year and March sure gave it to us.  Yet like everyone else here I am with amazing growth by year end.  I started the year with investments at $1,090,000 and ended with them at $1,305,000.  I...
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12/31/2020: $1,024,677
12/31/2019: $841,380
Contributions: $24,000
Net Gains: $159,297
Net Gains & Contributions: $183,297
Year end balance does not include the $1,500 that I contributed on New Year's Eve, even though it was well in advance of market closing time. They also have it categorized as a 2021 contribution so I will have to go in & recategorize it as a 2020 contribution.
My investments are officially out earning me & I work 3 jobs!
Net Worth: $1,131,831
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We made it to 2021, woohoo! 🥳🎉🎊🎆
I am looking forward to achieving these goals in 2021:
1. Finish paying off credit card debt.
2. Contribute maximum to TSP.
3. Contribute maximum to Roth IRA.
4. Contribute to savings monthly.
5. Give to church monthly.
6. Donate to charity monthly.
7. Apply for promotions.
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I forgot one thing in my previous post.
As of market close on 12/31/20, our Vanguard account topped $700,000 for the first time.
We actually have more than that there as that only includes my rollover IRA, my Roth IRA, and our joint brokerage account. My wife also has a rollover IRA and a Roth IRA which hold another $123,000. But the figure that I see when I log into my account doesn't include those.
As always, it's really just another number and doesn't particularly mean anything,...
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We made it!  While I don't have any illusions that the calendar switching from 2020 to 2021 will solve all of the issues plaguing us as a society, it still feels like a milestone that I definitely had doubts about hitting at multiple points through the year.
 
So.  2020.  What a year. 
 
Focusing on financial stuff only, I started the year with mounting debt, took some steps (401k loan #1, and a balance transfer) to try to tackle it, but they weren't...
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I got my stimulus deposit already!  Woo-hoo!
My sidebar is finally fixed!  Woo-hoo!
Does this mean 2021 will be a good year?  I don't dare think it!  But fingers crossed!
I've been thinking about new year's resolutions.  I think my number one resolution is to do my best to play the hand I'm dealt.  Pivot!  This past year has taught me that.  Other than that, my resolutions are:
Work on my novel every day.
Drink LOTS of water!  At...
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2020 Goals
$1,500 to investments
...($2,074 @ 12/31/20)
...Funded with snowflakes
DONE!
 
STRETCH GOAL: +$3,000 mortgage
...I am moving 2018 mortgage goal here, to make up in 2020.  Will see how I feel in 2020, but right now I feel is doable.  It will also depend how college choices start to shake out end of 2020.  Definitely a 12/31 kind of decision.  
DONE!
 
$12,000 to IRAs 2020 (MAX)
...($0 @ 12/31/20)
...Will fund with MH's income
...Will...
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2020 was another fantastic year financially speaking.
Portfolio Value
12/31/19: $1,329,432.03
12/31/20: $1,624,972.12
Increase of $295,540.09 or 22.23%
Spending
This doesn't capture everything as it doesn't include things paid by cash and check, but it's an accurate comparison of identical spending year to year.
2019: $6,657/month
2020: $5,966/month
Clearly, the pandemic saved us a considerable amount of money, primarily from lack of travel and dining out.
If I subtract...
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It's that time of year when Patient Saver tallies up all the spending she's done throughout the year to see where she stands.
Here, then, are my ranked expenses with commentary:
Property taxes, $6,792. No surprise here. My property taxes have always been my #1 expense. This won't change til I turn 65 and can take advantage of discounted senior property taxes which will make a big difference.
Garage stone veneer, $5,900. This was the most expensive home improvement I did this...
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Assets up 14%
Debts down 6%
Net Worth Up 17% -- and just under 100k in one year, which is amazing to me.  At age 60, I'm at long last seeing the real benefits of compounding.
What a crazy year in the markets -- and in life!
Right now I have one more chapter of my self-study CFP review studying that I want to complete before 9 pm, which will put me having completed 4 out of 6 of the review booklets, leaving the Investments book for January and the Taxation book for February. ...
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I reallocated $11k from tax savings to the brokerage account since I'm pretty certain I have saved way too much for taxes again this year. Good NW gains this month overall. In fact, this has been a good year overall in terms of NW. In addition to growing in numerical value, this process has also provided me with emotional relief and knowledge/learning. So, I have included some (mostly) non-number gains for the 2020 year below:HOUSE: There was a whopping $30k in appreciation this...
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Happy last day of 2020! It's been a tough year for many & I'm happy that so many will be able to turn the page on what has been a difficult year.
My sister lost her mother-in-law on Tuesday. They had a very good relationship, which is not always the case with daughters-in-laws and mothers-in-laws, so she was very upset. Praying for my brother-in-law, sister, and my niece & nephew to ease their pain.
I got paid my final paycheck of 2020 today so I can start crunching my...
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I won't be spending anything today, so I did my December recap, and my 2020 recap.
December:
Gifts/Charity: $1068
Housing: $795
Vet/Pet Supplies: $310
Utilities: $178
Groceries: $168
Medical/Health: $106
Phone: $51
Laundry: $24
Furn/Equip/Decor: $19
Eating Out/Takeout: $16
Entertainment: $12
Grand Total: $2763
 
2020:
Housing: $9708
Home Repair/Maintenance: $5071
Gifts/Charity: $3893
Car Repair/Maintenance: $2181
Utilities: $2148
Medical/Health: $1842
Groceries:...
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News years eve here today...going to be low key...hubby is down sick had to call medics out last night...he is doing better today and is going to see his doc but still not great....think it was something he ate.
Our state isn't doing fireworks this year...just to keep the social distancing happening and we are fine with that...also windy so less chance of bushfires...had enough of those last year.
Hope everyone goes into the new year full of hope..happiness and lets hope 2021...
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So glad 2020 is almost over.  
It has been a frustrating year on many levels.  
On the plus side I had my best step total.  Hit over 5 million steps for the year.
Goals for 2021
1. 4,750,000 steps.
2. Stop gaining weight and attempt to lose weight.
3. Pay down $5900.00 dollars of debt.
4. Work on improving skills in the event I need to find another postion.
5. Post twice a month.
 
Happy New Year everyone.
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The unemployment office actually called the hub back yesterday and fixed the issue.  Apparently being RIF-ed twice in the same year is confusing. (RIF= reduction in force, aka laid off or termed) But now it is all figured out and his first $370 unemployment check should hit our account any day.  I decided not to have flex spending taken out of my paychecks for the few months I am working in 2021.  That bumped my paycheck up another $300 per month, which we can certainly...
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Well, another child has tested positive for Covid.  We are waiting on results for yet another one and I am getting myself tested today.  What a discouraging fog we're going around in.  I have been beyond tired and am not sure that the shortness of breath is anxiety or not.  
We reduced the price on our house by $10K and received a ridiculously low contingent offer that we passed on.  No sense counter offering to something reasonable when they want...
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2020 TALLY:
$745 Cash (Chase Sapphire Quadruple Dip, Moi) 
$ 25 Cash  (Citi Black Friday Bonus; 5% online shopping)
-----------
$770 TOTAL *ONE-TIME REWARDS*
Ongoing rewards:
+$283 AmExRewards (6% cash back groceries/streaming services)
+$65 Target rewards (5% discount Target purchases; mostly groceries)
+$154 Visa Rewards (3% cash back fuel/restaurants).  Ended up also using for groceries in Q4 (3% cash back)
+$835 Citi 2% card (2% back everywhere - health...
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Income Total: $1750.00


     * $1500 Recurring monthly retirement account distribution  


     * $225 Swagbucks earnings (cash out to PayPal) 


     * $25 My Points (cash out to PayPal)  


      


Total Spending: $1402.05


Total Savings: $347.95 (difference between monthly income...
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