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Net Worth Update: February 2016

March 1, 2016 Brian

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Welcome to our February net worth update. My net worth updates have also turned into a bit of a general life update too. I hope you done mind. It doesn’t always have to be about the numbers. February turned into a busy month for us. My youngest son performed in his middle school play, The Lion King. He was Scar. The entire show was amazing and we were proud parents after seeing him perform over three shows. A bit sweet ending to his middle school acting days, it’s now on to high school. We also hosted our annual Bagna Cauda party. A little late, we typically host during the holidays, but great food, drink and times were still shared by all.

net worth

I have cut back my posting on Tuesday and Thursdays. I’m also just blocking a certain amount of time each day for reading and commenting on other blogs. This is all in an attempt to find the best work/blog/life balance.

We don’t expect to slow down in March. We have our twins seventeenth birthday to celebrate. We are in the market for a gently used car for them that we will pay cash for.  My daughter will be performing in her high school play, High School Musical. I’ll be taking part in my first speaking engagement. Sharing our story about our debt and giving tips on how others can help themselves do the same. Wish me luck!

Now on to the numbers, I continue to poke around Personal Capital* using all of the free tools that they have available. I really like having one place to aggregate all of my accounts.  I also continue to update my excel spreadsheet. I still like crunching the numbers myself.

Here are our February numbers:

net worth

Net Worth Details

Cash (-$106.00): Our typically budget is around $6k, but with our first full month of two paychecks and income tax return we were just about able to break even, after cash flowing a gathering at our house for about 30 guests. We dust off our old budget and updated it based on our new income.

Vanguard (-$655.00):  Things seem to be settling down just a bit. Hopefully, we are in for some steady gains over the next few months.

529s (+$82.14): Baby steps here. We are depositing $25 per account each month, but with our new budget bumping this up to $100.

net worth

Autos (-$4,960.00): I use Kelley Blue Book for our car values, a little tumble this month. Still a good feeling to have two paid for cars in the driveway.

Home ($0.00): Still an estimate, we have no plans on moving anytime soon.

Mortgages ($-1,035.00): Our one and only liability. Slow and steady wins the race right? The building wealth priority is our e-fund, and college funding. Once those are complete we plan on attacking the mortgage.

net worth

How was your February?  Do anything special with the extra day in the month? What’s your big plans for March?

 

*The Personal Capital link is an affiliate link. If you sign up, the blog makes a little bit of money. Personal Capital is a free tool and a great way to keep track of your net worth. I only recommend products or services that I use personally and believe you would benefit from.

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Filed Under: Net Worth Tagged With: Personal Finance

Comments

  1. Thias @It Pays Dividends says

    March 1, 2016 at 6:58 AM

    I haven’t started putting our numbers together (hopefully tonight!) but our numbers should be fairly solid. I only track our net worth on a quarterly basis but from quick snapshots throughout the month, our spending seemed to be pretty in line with where we want to be.

    Nice job on another solid February! Sounds like March will be just as busy!

    • Brian says

      March 1, 2016 at 5:44 PM

      Thanks Thias. Good luck with your numbers.

  2. Amanda says

    March 1, 2016 at 8:03 AM

    Hitting that work/blog balance is hard! I think you’ve got a good schedule idea, though: T/TH posts and time to comment every day. I’ve got to find that kind of balance. I may just follow your lead:)

    • Brian says

      March 1, 2016 at 5:46 PM

      Setting time limits for reading and commenting has been the key. Good luck!

  3. Tonya@Budget and the Beach says

    March 1, 2016 at 9:47 AM

    Lots of great things happening in the Brian Debt Discipline household! Congrats on your kid’s plays! I know what you mean about blogging. I want to do more, but I just know I need downtime, so I have to sacrifice a few things with this job.

    • Brian says

      March 1, 2016 at 5:53 PM

      Thanks Tonya. A good busy around here. Agreed. My income producing job take priority. 🙂

  4. Abigail @ipickuppennies says

    March 1, 2016 at 11:05 AM

    I definitely know what you mean about work/life/blog balance. I’m going a little crazy here myself. But I’d like to avoid cutting down my posting schedule because my traffic tanks so badly on the 3rd day after posting. Maybe if my Pinterest traffic keeps increasing I’ll feel better about it.

    I think it’s great to add some life updates. Like you said, it’s not only about money — and besides money affects most parts of our lives in some way.

    Hopefully, your son won’t take too much of his villain role with him know that the show’s done, haha.

    • Brian says

      March 1, 2016 at 5:56 PM

      I really not concerned about chasing traffic or page views anymore. Just want to post relevant content.

      He did enjoy the villain role, and being evil for a weekend, but he’s a good kid. 🙂

  5. Alexander @ Cash Flow Diaries says

    March 1, 2016 at 11:31 AM

    I really like you adding some of your life happenings on your net worth posts. I do the same and it seems readers like that. Plus it lets us get to know you a little better! 🙂

    • Brian says

      March 1, 2016 at 5:59 PM

      I always enjoy reading the personal stuff too and since I’m not posting any round ups any longer figure this was a good spot for the info.

  6. Prudence Debtfree says

    March 1, 2016 at 9:18 PM

    Where will you be speaking, Brian? All the best with that! Congratulations to your youngest son for his acting, and good luck to your daughter for hers. 2 actors in the family – impressive. I will not let my children read this post because they’ll ask me why we don’t buy them a car too. Great to have those checks rolling in again, right?

    • Brian says

      March 1, 2016 at 9:50 PM

      I’ll be speaking at our local library. 1.5 hours to share our story and give out my best tips. Looking forward to it. Thanks. We have a well rounded group over here.

      We were hopeful that the twins would have P/T jobs and be able to pitch in for the car but that has not happen, major push for that now and there will be certain rules for the car. Being able to drive themselves might be the springboard to employment they need.

      Very nice indeed!

  7. Holly@ClubThrifty says

    March 2, 2016 at 8:23 AM

    I haven’t watched our net worth too closely since the stock market started to tumble. It stresses me out! And I don’t even want to know what our cars are worth anymore – not much. But like you, they are paid off so I don’t have to worry too much!

    • Brian says

      March 2, 2016 at 12:45 PM

      Given the recent volatility this sounds like a good approach. Its like a car accident I just can’t look away.

  8. James says

    March 2, 2016 at 8:42 AM

    Always interesting to see updates, particularly during these somewhat turbulent times. While unpleasant, I understand that this is just one brief period in time on a long road.

    • Brian says

      March 2, 2016 at 12:53 PM

      I’m in it for the long haul. No panic here. 🙂

  9. fehmeen says

    March 2, 2016 at 9:45 AM

    I used to blog twice a week too, like you do now, but I just wasn’t seeing the traffic I had hoped to see. So I decided to blog everyday but I could feel myself burning out. It really is important to find the right balance. I’m really glad February turned out to be a good month for you! Wishing you luck for March 🙂

    • Brian says

      March 2, 2016 at 1:02 PM

      I’m not sure I’d have something to write about everyday. Thanks Fehmeen! Have a great March too!

  10. Hannah says

    March 2, 2016 at 12:56 PM

    I’m blogging around 2x per week now too. It seems like a nice balance. Originally, I hoped to create 1 piece of “evergreen” content per week with an occaisional personal piece, but I seem to always pitch my best ideas to someone who will pay me for them, so it doesn’t end up on my own blog.

    All 3 kids in high school next year! That is sure to be an exciting year for you!

    • Brian says

      March 2, 2016 at 1:05 PM

      It was like a light bulb moment when I read your comment. I should be trying to write one person and one evergreen per week too. Thanks for that!

      The kids are excited to be in the same school for one year too.

  11. Amy @ DebtGal says

    March 2, 2016 at 1:03 PM

    I love the general life update aspect of your net worth updates!

    Congrats on being back to two paychecks! And good luck finding the right balance. I think that something we all struggle with…

    • Brian says

      March 2, 2016 at 1:07 PM

      Thanks Amy.

      I find I have to remind myself what my priorities are and not get sucked down the rabbit hole.

  12. Tawcan says

    March 2, 2016 at 2:26 PM

    We haven’t looked at our net worth yet since we do that every quarter. Next update is April. Wow seventeenth birthday for your kids. As a young parent (our son is 2 and another coming soon), it’s hard for me to imagine what it’d be like to have teenagers in the house. Paying cash for used car is a great idea. Should be able to find some reliable used Civic or Corolla easily (I’m a Japanese car type of person).

    • Brian says

      March 3, 2016 at 6:13 AM

      Three teenagers is a different kind of busy than a 2 year old. 🙂 The time went quick. Yes in the market for a import Civic or a Accord.

  13. Catherine Alford says

    March 2, 2016 at 5:47 PM

    I like reading these posts but I’m always reminded of why I don’t track my net worth. Right now it would be hugely negative and not going up. Maybe we’ll start tracking it when my husband is finished with school and we finally get started paying off his student loans.

    • Brian says

      March 3, 2016 at 6:17 AM

      Good luck Cat!

  14. Allan Liwanag says

    March 5, 2016 at 8:56 PM

    This post just reminded that I need to re-look and track my net worth once again. I only track in from time to time and not on a monthly basis. I think it’s better to track it monthly. This way I know how I am doing every month vice quarterly or semi-annually.

    This is a great post and you just gave me a much clearer idea my need to keep my net worth on a monthly basis.

    Good luck in March. I hope you are as busy as you were in February.

    Btw, kuddos on your attempt to have a work/blog/life balance. It sounds easy but it’s not. I’m in that situation too, but every day is a new day to do better when it comes to balancing all the tasks I have in my life.

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about us

Hello, I’m Brian and this is my family. I started Debt Discipline as a way to help keep us accountable as we pay off $109,000 worth of consumer debt. Now debt free, my mission is to help our three children prepare for their financial lives, as well as others. I hope our story will inspire and motivate you to take control of your money. Let me know how I can help!

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