Blazing a Trail Towards Financial Independence
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! This update marks the completion of our first year of monitoring our Net Worth progress. I will be taking a deeper dive into the 2018 numbers in another post, but for now how did we fare in December?
We recently had a conversation with another couple. During the discussion they mentioned that they only contributed enough to their 401k accounts to get their employer match. They maintain that they do not earn enough to max out their 401k contributions. Now that sounds like a fairly typical argument; however, from past conversations we learned this couple has an annual income over $250,000 per year! How crazy is that!
Maxing out 401k contributions would amount to less than 15% of this couple’s income. This conversation really underscored the point: Most of Us Do Not Live Below Our Means
[Read more…] about Living Below your Means: What Does it REALLY Mean?
An email circulated through my office the other day. It read: “Christmas Club contributions will be included on the next pay period.” The email then reminded everyone that enrollment into next year’s Christmas Club had just opened up.
It got me to thinking… is the Christmas Club worth it?
[Read more…] about Company Christmas Club: Is It Worth It?
After 3 weeks our spare bathroom renovation is complete. There was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears involved. How did it turn out? Did we blow our budget? Am I still married to Mrs. Heartland on FIRE? Read on for the details…
[Read more…] about Our DIY Spare Bathroom Renovation, Part II
November is done and gone, and the Thanksgiving left-overs are finally gone with it. I’ll be trying to burn off that weight for the next few months! Did our net worth grow as much as my waistline?
[Read more…] about Net Worth Update 12: Gluttony & Punishment
I don’t know about you, but we are addicted to home renovation shows. One of the shows we particularly like is “Renovation Realities.” Basically, the show’s premise is to follow around people as they take on a renovation project. Usually, hilarity ensues as the couple struggles through the project. Wires are shorted, windows broken, spirits (and sometimes fingers) are crushed, and budgets are vaporized.
Well, it’s our turn in the spotlight now. We’ve just kicked off a renovation of our kiddo’s bathroom. We are self-performing all of the work. Keep reading to follow along on our trials, tribulations, victories and setbacks. [Read more…] about Our DIY Spare Bathroom Remodel, Part I