was 2015 a prosperous year gor you?

**ua_guy** · 12-30-2015, 01:48 PM

2015 wasn't bad. DH and I got married. Both of us got raises at work, and DH scored a bonus and some stock grants. We paid off two vehicles. Recent comp data on our house suggests huge gains in equity.

On the flip side, I lost 2 grandparents and DH's grandfather is a close 3rd, but he's hanging in there. Also had some unexpected medical bills. Some unexpected vet bills. Some expensive things around the house needed repair. Still trying to keep my sanity at my job....and contemplating my next career move.

Moreso than money, I'd like 2016 to be a year of health and happiness. But 2015 wasn't awful aside from losing some loved ones.

**YLTL_Dan** · 12-30-2015, 01:59 PM

Even with minimal returns in the stock market, we had a very good year. Our net worth grew by ~40% thanks to a good saving percentage, nice bonuses at work and home equity found during renovations. We're DINKs trying to save before the family grows or we decide to give it all up and travel again... we haven't decided which one will win out

**YLTL_Dan** · 12-30-2015, 02:07 PM

Duplicate

**Singuy** · 12-30-2015, 02:10 PM

Originally posted by YLTL_Dan View Post

Even with minimal returns in the stock market, we had a very good year. Our net worth grew by ~40% thanks to a good saving percentage, nice bonuses at work and home equity found during renovations. We're DINKs trying to save before the family grows or we decide to give it all up and travel again... we haven't decided which one will win out

Man how did you gain any return on the stock market? My 401k went down by 1.6%. Lame as hell.

**ua_guy** · 12-30-2015, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by Singuy View Post

Man how did you gain any return on the stock market? My 401k went down by 1.6%. Lame as hell.

I'm in the same boat. Half of my retirement is invested in a Vanguard target date fund (2045?) and the performance is....underwhelming bordering on "why am I even invested in this".

Definitely not a prosperous year for my retirement fund.

**Jluke** · 12-30-2015, 06:05 PM

2015 was about debt and retirement.

I maxed out ROTH and contributed a good amount to the 401k, but not the max. However, my 401k balance is about where I started the year.

For debt:
I paid off a car loan one year early - as planned.

I reduced the mortgage by $26k.

I continue to leverage a low balance with 1.9% interest rate on another car loan and a 0% rate on the HVAC.

Bonus:
And I got close to $600 in rewards from my credit card company - too simple

**kork13** · 12-30-2015, 10:55 PM

In spite of lackluster YTD investment returns (my taxable investments are down $14.32, a whopping -0.028%), this year has been undoubtedly prosperous. My wife & I had our first son

! Financially, we have also done quite well. Our net worth has gone up by $75k (24% increase from last year), due mostly to saving very aggressively (nearly 100% of DW's income), and paying down our mortgages' principle. This year has been a blessing for us, in spite of the chaos that exists in the world around us. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

**disneysteve** · 12-31-2015, 04:39 AM

It's been a decent year. I haven't run all of the year-end numbers yet (since the year doesn't end for a few more hours) but I just took a quick look. Only one of our funds is negative for the year. The rest are at least barely positive with a couple of stronger performers, the best being up 13.67% YTD.

I don't have the overall portfolio numbers yet. I'll do that this weekend. We did spend down about $31,000 from our daughter's 529 so that will impact the bottom line but that money was there to be spent so I can't really count that.

Here's wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2016.

**JoeP** · 12-31-2015, 04:54 AM

From a financial perspective, we did slightly better than 2014, partially because we have more money working for us. Our mortgage has about 23 months left!

From a non-financial perspective, we prospered as well. Minor job change that brings LOTS of positive energy to my life, and we are all healthy and happy. To me, this is more important than money.

**dawnwes** · 12-31-2015, 05:57 AM

Eh, not really. We went into further debt with house fixing. We had hoped to sell the house this past year, but it simply was not ready.

It will be on the market in April. We hope to sell by the end of the summer.

Our HELOC will then be paid and we will put the equity from this house into the next.

Our son had wanted to go to a private high school and we had agreed to let him, and then that changed to him deciding on a charter school, so that saved us $12K.

**Fishindude77** · 12-31-2015, 06:10 AM

Great year !
Hope 2016 is as good.

**Joan.of.the.Arch** · 12-31-2015, 08:49 AM

We put more into savings and investments, gave away more, but earned less. My IRA has earned only a trickle, at 0.6-something%. DH's IRA-- I don't know, as he hasn't looked at it in months. Other investments also flat.

**cypher1** · 12-31-2015, 08:56 AM

Financially: so-so. My EF took a couple of hits with replacing AC/furnace in the summer, along with the dishwasher this month. A couple of months ago I finally opened up a Roth IRA after talking about it forever. My 401K took a hit but I'm not really bothered or pay as much attention to it.

But personally, I was able to travel more this year for priorities (including Europe first time), along with cooking at home and eliminating fast food the last 10 weeks. My roommate just moved out this month, and I'm also a godfather now.

Overall 2015 has been pretty good for me, but I'm thinking 2016 is a whole new beginning to something great. Hopefully

**snafu** · 12-31-2015, 10:32 AM

Best wishes for a happy, prosperous New Year to All

Thrilled to say bye bye to a difficult 2015 here. It's been getting worse as each month passed. We've earned less, saved more, procrastinated on planned home upgrades and watched helplessly as outside forces and international decisions sunk our economy and by extension, investments. I've been beset by medical issues all year, and December ends with a penalty charged for paying less than required on 2014 quarterly income payments in spite of the fact the sum was corrected when I saw the discrepancy at filing last April. Worse of all a beloved sister in law passed away this month after a brief illness.

On the positive side, we've no debt, no mortgage, no car payments, no accrued medical bills and DSs while are far away, seems to be doing well. While our income is low, it is more than adequate to cover expenses. I'm s-l-o-w-l-y following 'the life changing magic of tidying up', and prefer eliminating rather than acquiring stuff.

was 2015 a prosperous year gor you?