Here’s Hoping 2019 starts better than 2018 ended

Well on balance calendar year 2018 finished a handful of dollars higher. Another quarter or 2 of bear markets and the PF blogger herd will certainly thin again 🙂

This was the 2nd worst month for our Net Worth in years!

All of the sudden, my bank account is flush again. I am done paying off the Holidays and the insurance bills and all the future trips for 2019. Once again I am finding funds at the end of each month to dump into the ole stock portfolio.

This is also the time of year I spend a couple of hours on the phone/email returning cruddy presents that broke on day one, fighting with customer service to dispute credit card charges that should not be there, and spreading empty boxes to different neighbor’s cans on trash night.

Here are my goals for 2019;

1. Finally Grab some real estate, likely a rental unit.
2. Increase Net Worth by six figures.
3. Implement a true 5 year plan for leaving work.
4. Turn inward for some long overdue self-improvement.
5. Keep my blog going another calendar year (3rd).

Don’t get excited about number (1), I say that every year.

Hope your Holidays all went well and I am looking forward to spending another actual year hanging out with my virtual friends!

First Net Worth of 2019 equals total Assets minus total Liabilities.

Total Assets: $2,132,678 down – $ 35,871 from last month.

Accounts receivable, This is a floundering business deal from 2014

Boat & Cars, Depreciating assets, but sell-able if need be

Real Estate 2nd home/vacation rental

Primary Residence

Retirement accounts; 2 people, 4 accounts total

Brokerage account; Dividend Portfolio

College Funds; Prepaid tuition and 529 accounts or 2 kids

Bonds; ‘I bonds’ bought through Treasury Direct

Cash & Metals; 4 accounts and a security deposit box

Health Savings Account, Started in 2015

Total Liabilities; $396,714 down – $ 1,617.00 from last month.

Mortgage on House; Bought in 2005 Interest 3.75%

Mortgage 2nd Home; Bought in 2012 Interest 3.5%

Student Loan Paid off!

HELOC; Current APR 3.49%

TOTAL FIRST NET WORTH OF 2019; $1,735,964

Tracking your own net worth is perhaps the second most important thing you can do to improve your financial picture. Budgeting your expenses to see where the money goes is probably still number one.

Budgeting is like paying attention to ball game while tracking net worth is like paying attention to the baseball season.

Months can goes up or down, you need a longer picture to evaluate your progress. You are either bringing in more money than you’re spending or you are losing money each month. Tracking Net Worth is easy, useful, and addictive.

Don’t Forget; “Comparison is the Thief of Joy”