Finance

The comments on last month’s update hit me hard, particularly this one about taking on a Sisyphean task.

They got me thinking about money and tools and this whole journey I’m on. And a lot of things snapped:

• I pulled $40,000 in contributions from my Roth IRA.
• Paid off one of those pesky credit cards (and all lingering credit card debt!)
• Bought a house from a tax sale
• Set up a future inheritance with an attorney

And can I just say how much LIGHTER I feel? How much that was needed?

And yeah, it burned to let some of those investment funds go. But as I was driving around one cold, sunny morning, I realized it was so worth it — and now I have so much to look forward to.

February 2025 Freedom update

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I need to get this out before January slips away. There’s never enough tiiime.

I feel like I’m getting into debt again, like I can’t make enough cash, and the expenses of everyday life keep piling up. Grocery prices are insane, and everything is a “thing.” And there aren’t enough hours in the day.

Can I get paid for being a good dad and playing with my kids? Unfortunately not.

I keep thinking I can turn Points Hub into something, but people don’t seem to want to participate, and researching community-building is exhausting. I work during the day, look up, and it’s 3pm. The final hour before Warren gets off the school bus at 4pm.

From there, 5pm to 8pm is the march to dinner/bath/bed, and if I’m lucky, I have maybe one more hour before I absolutely crash out.

I truly admire those parents that can side hustle. I know it’s just a patch/season of life/all that good stuff.

The stock market was meh this past month, so I’m hovering around the $350K mark much like I was hovering around the $300K mark for what felt like years.

Slow and steady wins the race?

January 2025 Freedom update

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These days are so fast and so slow at the same time. It feels like they fly by, and I never get nearly as much done as I’d like.

Add to that shorter days of less daylight, and it’s nearly a sunk cost. Despite it, I’m up nearly $14,000 this month and striking distance of $400,000 toward my $500,000 goal — as of now, I’m 71% of the way there. That seems… close.

After hovering around the $300,000 mark for what felt like foreverrr, the stock market is picking up wind. I bit the bullet and used a balance transfer offer on an existing card that’s good until March 2026, so that gives me 15 full months to catch up on my credit cards.

That’s slow going, too. I feel like I spend as much as I earn, and that’s with side hustles and a pretty healthy income otherwise. Having three kids is no joke, and the grocery bills… well. How are berries so expensive?!

December 2024 Freedom update

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Lord love me, I am not known for my brevity in writing, but this should be a pretty quick update. It’s been a long week with Halloween, the time change, the election, and getting ready for a work trip next week.

Since I pulled the latest numbers on Tuesday night, the stock market has rallied for the last two days (it’s now Thursday night), and my overall net worth is now over $350,000. This turnaround has already given me momentum to close the last $150,000 gap to a $500,000 net worth goal.

November 2024 Freedom update

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A lot’s happened this month! Our house was befallen with strep throat, Beck turned two, Warren had his first sleepover at his grandma’s house, many school events and birthday parties, and lots of running around.

I also got into couponing at CVS and Walgreens and upgraded my extra phone to the new Pixel 9 Pro—it’s really zippy!

I also got through lingering expenses that put me directly on the path to clearing up my credit card debt, and then into saving. It’s going to take some time, but it’s finally here, so my complete financial focus is on resolving this debt so I can save and invest.

I imagine this is how I’ll close out 2024 and ring in 2025. And it that’s the case, I’m thrilled. It’s now Q4. I’m ready to make some progress and get to the New Year!

October 2024 Freedom update

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I’m currently at 67.2% of my $500,000 goal. My previous net worth peak was $363,002, and this month I’m at $335,872. I’m tired of being at this level, though I’ve been mostly at the mercy of the stock market. I’m to the point where I’ll do whatever it takes to get over the $400,000 hump and into the home stretch to $500,000.

I’ve been working nights and weekends to freelance, pay down credit cards, and get my savings built up.

Something about turning 40 last week lit a fire under my butt. I’m over the halfway mark and ready to push through this last 30% or so that’s left.

You think I can do it by August 2025? That would divide to about $14,000 a month for the next 12 months. That sounds like a lot, but then again, I’m up nearly $17,000 this month alone. But a lot of it is the stock market, which I can’t control. So now I’m working on producing as much as I can—which I can control—to clear this hurdle that’s been in the works for a few years now.

I’m proud of my goal and progress so far, and now I’m beyond ready for the final phase.

September 2024 Freedom update

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August 2024. This date has been in my mind for a long time as the original goal date to accumulate a $500,000 net worth. Now it’s here—and my net worth is still hovering around the $300,000 mark. ‍

This date was set because of my 40th birthday, coming up in a couple of weeks. Back then, I didn’t know I would move, buy and sell two houses, be a digital nomad for a stretch, or have three kiddos. And who could’ve predicted a pandemic in the middle of everything?

Despite many ups and downs (this month AND in the last few years), I’m in good spirits.

I have a lot to report and process this month, so let’s get crack-a-lackin’.

August 2024 Freedom update

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What a month already! A week ago, I was laid off from my job. It was my second layoff in as many years, just when I was starting to feel like I was doing well in the position. Oh well—it lasted a year. So that was how June ended.

It was a particularly nasty layoff: the kind you hear so much about on LinkedIn these days. I was shocked/sad/mad for about a day, then decided to move on. Easy come, easy go.

While I look for the next thing, I decided to go full force into creating a points, miles, and travel rewards community packed with info, courses, events, and more. I announced Points Hub on Friday. As of today (Monday), many members joined with a Pro Lifetime membership, which showed me how crucial this resource will be for so many people.

I’m still applying to full-time jobs on the side. I’m also making outlines for courses, adding info, and building the community at Points Hub. It’s just getting started, but already a blast. Come on in!

Also, spoiler alert, this is kind of an anti-update because, uh… no income at the moment. But this journey has its own life, so let’s see what’s up.

July 2024 Freedom update

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Now that the dust has settled on the house sale, I can more fully take “stock” of my financial situation. I’ve been stressed about it for a few weeks, but ready to lay it out in gleaming detail.

Turns out, months of two housing payments, moving a house full of stuff across two states, and the birth of a child will really put a dent in your short-term financial goals.

I put a lot of expenses onto two 0% APR credit cards, figuring I’d use the money from the sale to pay them down. Well, I barely touched them before the money was gone from other things (which I detailed in the last two updates).

But it’s good! I have a few months to figure out how I want to approach everything and in the meanwhile, I’ve completely retooled my midyear goals now that we’re halfway through 2024.

June 2024 Freedom update

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I’ve been semi-avoiding writing this update to detail this month’s huge losses, but eat the frog, as they say.

The Oklahoma house sold, April 2024 was the first losing month for the S&P 500 after five positive months in a row, and the house sale money was gone in a poof.

I used the money to pay down debt, start on my 2024 Roth IRA, and build up my savings a bit. But, to further illustrate the losses, I invested ~$4,000 but my investments are only up $435 for the month.

I also might’ve been overestimating my old home’s value and didn’t include transaction fees against my net worth in previous updates. But now the house is gone, and so too are the mortgage and equity estimate from my net worth calculations.

Now that I’m renting again, maybe this is a more “pure” version of calculating net worth. All that to say, it was a rough month—and I am down nearly $53,000.

May 2024 Freedom update

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The Oklahoma house is closing on Friday after being on the market only 6 days. I’m thrilled, sad, nervous, etc.

Thrilled to no longer make two housing payments, sad because a ton of bad stuff happened to us in that house, nervous because I don’t want any last-minute surprises, and etc. because.

I’ve been using my credit cards to get us through this patch and very much looking forward to paying them off with the money I get from the sale.

But I also discovered a tax lien sale and have a few properties on a watch list. The auctions are in late April. So, I’m going to hold the money for a few weeks and see what I can do there. If nothing, then I’ll eradicate all my credit card balances.

And if so… well, I still have until October with my 0% APR rates. Either way, not too worried and seeing a lot of upside and potential.

One thing is certain: My net worth will see BIG gyrations this month. I am more at peace with it now, yet I remain hopeful.

For one thing, I didn’t factor in the $20,000 it would cost to sell the house… ‍

April 2024 Freedom update

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Bye, Oklahoma! A lot happened there—like, a LOT—and I’m glad to say goodbye to that place. As of this month, we’ve officially moved for a better school district and to get a fresh start. I first moved to Oklahoma City in October 2021.

Our old house is listed for sale as of March 1.

Considering August 2024—seven more months—is the goal date to save $500,000, that could push me ahead, move the dial back, or be uneventful. I already got the estimated proceeds of how much I’ll get if it sells for the listing price.

Also, until it sells, I’ll pay rent for our new place plus mortgage on the old place. We’re renting now which feels… different after owning my house (and before that, a condo). So far, it’s been freeing not dealing with the stuff of ownership.

I’d like to buy again eventually—but, one thing at a time. Anything could happen this month (this year, this lifetime). But in this moment, I’m at yet another net worth high (and will never tire of typing that).

March 2024 Freedom update

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