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Total Spending: $1572.31
Total Savings: $6500.00 (See note below!)
Additional Income: Swagbucks earnings: $100.00

Fixed Expenses:
Verizon bundle (internet, cable, home phone): 159.94
Cell phone: 61.46
HVAC and water heater contract: 27.95
Condo Fee (includes water) 190.00

Variables:
Utilities: 85.58
Gasoline: 27.95
Groceries: 405.53
Health: 0
Dining Out: 26.89
Shopping: 230.64
Cash Withdraw: 200.00
New Vacuum: 154.75

Groceries: Includes...
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Sitting here reflecting a little.

Twenty years ago there was such fear because of the Y2K. Looking back on it, we were told to be fearful since the changing of the year could damage computers, cause power outages, etc. Glad none of that came about.

2019 was a good year overall. Some ups and downs, but overall, very blessed.

Glad to see the market closed up today, the last day of 2019. I'm hoping our investments did well this month. Last year this time we lost money the...
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Now that the market is closed, I did the final 2019 update on our portfolio spreadsheet.

12/31/18: $1,023,684.61
12/31/19: $1,329,432.03

An increase of $305,747.42 for the year. That number is incredible to me. It really shows the power of investing and compounding. That's more money than I earned in 2019 gross and a little more than double my take home pay. Obviously, a strong stock market had a lot to do with it. We'll see how long that continues.

I hope you all had...
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Here are my goals for 2020. I found a Google template which I used to break the goals down further, and to be able to track them on my phone. There's two sheets - 1 with the goals, and one for tracking my chore cards (part of one of my goals.)

For some of these goals I actually chose a number that is 40-50% less than what I'd really like to achieve. However, in an effort to actually ACHIEVE these goals, I made them for a lower amount.

Here is a link to my goals spreadsheet...
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For most of my career, I was one of those folks who did not have an employer-sponsored retirement account. I finally got one when I started working for urgent care in 2016, so less then 3 years ago.

As of today, my 401k balance is just over the $100,000 mark.

That's less than 8% of our total portfolio but it was still nice to see that one account cross into 6 figures. I did max it out last year and this year and intend to do so every year I work there so it should continue...
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Wow--I cannot believe how the years slide by.

I am so grateful for all of our blessings: healthy happy child, warm house, too much food, wonderful friends and family.

Off to pay property taxes today, buy some necessities, feed a friend's cat, then to dinner and a movie.

Thankful also for all the SavingAdvice gang. I feel like I know some of you so well, and have been so lucky to have you in my life.

Here's to a great 2020, friends!
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Here is the recap for 2019:

The first six months of 2019 were devoted to beefing up our emergency fund, prepaying monthly mortgage obligations and furnishing our FL house. All in anticipation of my decision to finally resign from a $80K teaching position. With my resignation, came a much better state of mind for me. Losing the income was quite the adjustment at first. In September, I ended up taking a part-time teacher's aide position. I loved this job very much. As expected,...
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Goal: $784,772 by March 2024

Current retirement balance: $541,036

November 2019 balance: $517,266

Progress since last update: $23,770

Still needed: $243,736

The new interim goal is based on getting my and NT's retirement to 4x our salaries (currently $75,120 and $64,118) by the time we turn 50 and AS's retirement values to 3x her annual income ($75,940 in 2018) by the time she turns 45.
$75,120 x 4 = $300,480
$64,118 x 4 = $256,472
$75,940 x 3 = $227,820

It...
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Assets:
NT's UK pensions:
AV: 22,397 pounds ($27,996)
SW: 29,047 pounds ($36,309)
FL: 6,462 pounds ($8,078)
NT's 401(k): $86,522
NT's Roth IRA: $43,321
AS's trad. IRA: $21,896
AS's Roth IRA: $64,340
AS's SEP IRA: $45,359
CJ's 401(k): $160,289
CJ's Roth IRA: $46,926
NT's flat: $212,500 (200,000 pounds value x1.25 -15%)
CJ/NT/AS house: $427,281 ($454,554 value -6%)
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TOTAL ASSETS: $1,180,817

Debts:
US Mortgage $374,193
Loan from friends (duplex) $9,000
UK Mortgage...
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I just had the idea to do a blog post in the next few days about our financial progress in the last ten years. So if you are interested in joining me and writing about your progress title your post something similar to A Decade of Progress or Ten Years of Finances. The titles don't have to be the same, but similar enough that we will notice them.

I look forward to reading your reflections!

Happy New Year!
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My spending was so high in December. Here's the recap, since I do not plan to spend anything today:

Gifts/Charity: 1,300
Housing: 775
Car Repair/Maintenance: 749
Insurance: 685
Utilities: 210
Groceries: 185
Fees/Services: 132
Vacation/Travel: 98
Eating Out: 62
Phone: 52
Medical/Health: 46
Gas: 39
Personal: 35
Vet/Pet Supplies: 25
Laundry: 20
Entertainment: 16
Furnishings/Equipment/Decor: 15
Household Supplies: 12
Clothing: 8
Fares/Parking: 4

Grand Total:...
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On this last day of the year I thought I'd reflect on a few things, but expect more detailed financial posts in the coming days.

It was an unpredictable year.

I didn't plan for buying our daughter a car, yet the writing was on the wall. That lack of planning resulted in a loan in her name with my husband as cosigner. We are currently making the payment of $133.50 per month because our daughter has a very part time internship. She uses her earnings to cover groceries and...
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This has been one of the hardest, most rewarding, emotionally confusing years of my life, and this post is so all over the place that it reflects just that. We were able to make more progress this year alone than I'd done over the past several years, but it came at an emotional cost having had to handle everything solo while my husband was gone. On the plus side, our relationship is as strong as its ever been and it really feels like we're a team when it comes to the household...
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Tomorrow is new years day and we are ready...I currently have just over $500 to add to the CC but since it is pay week I decided to wait and put more on it on payday in 1 payment instead of 2...I am looking forward to this years budget and hopefully this year we can reach our goals unlike 2019...but I am excited and because our income relies the exchange rate it can fluctuate so we may make some extra this year as I try to keep lower than what we think as it does flucuate a bit...
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Wins
-Kitties are both still here and happy, if not healthy.
-Completed 1.5+ CFP courses—and 1.5 to go.
-Was somewhat more active in 2019 than in 2018—about 10% more steps.
-Increased savings to more than 20% of income between 401k, HSA, and emergency fund.
-Did not increase debt despite unexpected ~10k in veterinary medical expenses and accelerating a 5k roofing project into 2019 rather than 2020.
-Work has generally gone well.
-Managed to tackle some deferred home...
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2019 wasn't a real stand out in the books. It wasn't the worst, it was just here. We stagnated. We dealt with some health issues (nothing major thankfully, but a gall bladder removal and then some health issues for the SO's parents).

We had high hopes for fixing up and selling the primary residence, but life got it the way and we didn't move as fast and we've made some poor financial decisions along the way - like thinking we'd move to the rental property that remains unrented...
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We are off to Florida in less than two weeks as my husband is a retired man as of today. I'm a little nervous because we are traveling with our dog. I hope he does well with traveling. Hubby and I are spending time getting rid of things that have not been used in years and our basement looks a lot better now. I've not shop for groceries in a while (just a perishables). I want to unplug our chest freezer before we leave. We are basically eating from the freezers and pantry.

DS#2...
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The hot water is being turned off today -- for the whole day -- so I got up early and took my shower and I put a load of laundry in. (I like to wash in warm water.) I don't really have any other plans for the day. Snow is coming down, so it's a good day to stay in. Though I don't think the snow will stick until this evening.

Oh, here is one plan. I will probably finish my last library book today, so I will go to the library to get some more. I cannot go to bed without...
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One of our main sources of entertainment is watching YouTube. I watch financial channels, full time RVing channels, and OK a crochet video every now and then.

A few weeks ago, I stumbled on to Quest to FIRE. The vlogger is a 30 something married woman w/ no kids living in NC, working towards her FIRE goals. She has a great sense of humor and is fun to watch. I think this is my favorite channel right now.

I also used to really like GazelleIntents, who were doing the Dave...
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With all the crazy Christmas sales and family time I got way behind on logging deals!

Here are my Black Friday Deals at CVS:

Applebees Giftcards (Bought $150.00)
Deal = Spend $75.00 on Applebees GC, get $25.00 back in EB. We did the deal twice, so got back $50.00 in EB to use on our other items.
(Keeping these)

Beauty 360 Disposable Razor 3pk
Regular Price $1.99
-$1.99 CVS CMC Coupon ($2.00 off shaving needs)
*Earned $1.99 EB
Final Price + Tax = $1.99 Money Maker!!
(Marked...
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