Last Day Net Worth: September

By tracking my net worth on the last day of the month, I hope to keep the numbers more consistent based on the usual fluctuations of paying bills and stuff like that. Without further ado... SEPTEMBER!


LIQUID ASSETS
Cash (checking, MMA, W2S): $39,041.17
GNMA: $13,471.42
Total Bond Index: $13,874.95
Total Stock Index: $23,382.37
Total Liquid: $89,769.91
Percent Change: 2.31%

RETIREMENT ASSETS
Roth IRA (Target Retirement 2045): $5,632.91
403(b) (S&P 500 Index): $15,866.54
Total Retirement: $21,499.45
Percent Change: 12.86%
Total Net worth: $111,269.36
Percent Change: 4.19%


It's always kind of a surprise for me to see where my net worth is at the end of the month.  The only account that I check regularly during the month is my cash accounts at Wachovia, which is a small percentage of my total assets.  Guess the stock market is up this month because this is the richest I've ever been!  11% of the way towards being a millionaire! :)

Question so you have to comment:  Do you track your net worth?  Do you think it is a useful or un-useful gauge of financial health? 

Today I'm grateful for: when my opinion is valued
Daily Yakezie:  Girl with the Red Balloon is having a giveaway. Go enter!

Extra Cash

Subtitle: It's the end of the world! Where's your money??

Now that I'm babysitting for Munchkin, I have lots more cash than usual. I'm up $120 so far this month (win!). My problem is that I use my credit card to pay for pretty much everything. It's so much easier for me to track my spending and I get rewards. Win!

I don't know what to do with all of this extra cash. I was debating about this and I remembered a ex of mine who used to keep an "end of the world" cash stockpile. He had a large amount of money that he kept under his bed just in case the banks failed or there was an alien invasion and he needed to bribe people to get out alive. I can't remember how much money it was, but I'm sure it was a lot because this guy was loaded.

I'm not sure if that is a smart or a stupid plan. What do you think? Do you keep "just in case" cash hidden at home? How much?

Or should I just go to the bank a few times a month and deposit it?

Today I'm grateful for: a good first date. I'm pretty sure he'll call again.
Yakezie: Welcome eemusings to the challenge.  Love her blog!

Drinking the Yakezie Kool Aid

Just like Amber, I'm finally going to take the Yakezie plunge.  I've been meaning to do it for awhile, but I just haven't gotten around to it.  Honestly, the thing that worries me is that I won't be able to consistently update 2-4 times per week like they want me to.  And I worry that I won't be able to selflessly promote others in the way that they want me to.  Perhaps I can just add a link at the end of each post?  I think that might be the way to go. 

I'm a pretty competitive person, so I want to go into this with all I've got.  Right now my rank is pitiful, given how long I've had this blog.  I'm 1,207,801.  Ouch!  Let's try to get that down the the six digits soon!

But the other thing is that I like blogging here and having a record of my thoughts.  I don't want to turn this into something other than that.  But I do want to have more opportunities ($$ and who knows what else!) and I know that improving my rank will help to open that door.

So can I do it?  Stay tuned to find out!

Today I'm grateful for: new opportunities

Extra Money

This new school year is going to be bringing some new $$ for me. I will be babysitting regularly 1-3 days per week (always at least one day a week, sometimes as many as 3) for my favorite little munchkin who is 7. So far, I've done two after school days and they've been giving me $40 each time. I'm looking at a guaranteed cash flow of an extra $160 per month and I get to do lots of fun kid things.

I pick Munchkin up from school and then we play! So far we've gone to several playgrounds, story hour at the library, and played with the neighbors. I'm now on the lookout for fun/inexpensive things to do after school for about 2.5 hours, especially once it starts getting too cold to play outside. Here are some of my ideas:

(1) cooking/baking (She loves this! I just have to run it by her mom and dad.)
(2) home manicures (She is quite the girl-y girl.)
(3) tour of my apartment (She is really interested to see where I live. I told her that it's not that fun for 7 year olds because I don't have any toys or anything.)
(4) crafty/arty things

Any suggestions for after school activities (besides homework which takes about 10 minutes!) for Munchkin and me?

Today I'm grateful for: my snuggie. It's kind of redic, but I love it!

My Retirement Investments

I've already written about my regular investments, so I thought I should write about my retirement investments. I have two retirement accounts, each with a different company.

(1) A Roth IRA with Vanguard
Just like my other investments, I opened this at Vanguard because it was easy. My Roth IRA contains a Target Retirement fund. I chose a target retirement of 2045 when I will be 62 (gosh... that sounds so far away!). It's a little younger than the current traditional retirement age because I tend to be a bit more conservative with my investments.

This fund includes global stocks, plus U.S. Treasury and high-quality corporate bonds. It currently invests almost entirely in stocks, giving it a high potential for growth before it begins annually reducing stocks and increasing bonds around 2021.

I like a Target retirement fund because it does the work for me, so I can go on autopilot. It gradually becomes more conservative as it gets closer to 2045, so I don't have to worry about remembering to do it.


(2) A 403(b) with USAA
Since I work for a non-profit, I have a 403(b) which is basically just the 401(k) of the non-profit world. My employer puts in a percentage of my salary and I think I contribute a little bit too. That money is 100% invested in a S&P 500 fund, which is an index fund that mirrors the S&P 500.

Do you have retirement investments? What are they? And where are they?

Today I'm grateful for: Israeli chocolate. Yum!

Conversations on Money

I've noticed recently that I've been having more and more conversations lately with friends and colleagues about money and savings. No one IRL knows about this blog and I'm pretty quiet on my coupon-ing, so that isn't the reason why. Has our culture started a shift to deal-finding and savings not being a taboo topic anymore? Have people no shame in talking about the secret ways they save money?

Case in point, a colleague told us that she gets 99% of her clothes secondhand and she's teaching her children to do the same.

A friend mentioned that he thinks he might be getting rid of his iphone because the bill is just too high (I shared with him two ways he might be able to cut his bill). He also mentioned that he just realized the joy of getting Comcast (hate them) to lower his bill.

Another two girlfriends and I were talking about shopping on the cheap and how one of them gets most of her cute clothes at TJ Maxx and Ross.

Have you noticed this more too?

Today I'm grateful for: impromptu dinner plans

Atonement

I stayed up far later than I should've last night because I was so captivated by a story I read online from a blog I happened upon. I saw a picture of a badly scarred woman and my curiosity was peaked. I went back and back and back in her archives until I found the story (warning, it is very long and if you have a heart, you will be sobbing by the end). And what does this have to do with atonement? Well last year, for Yom Kippur I confessed my financial sins in a post that was incredibly meaningful to me at the time, but after reading that story those confessions feels hollow. My life is so incredibly blessed and there is so much I take for granted. Today I atone for the should'ves, for the things I take for granted, for the small things that are really meaningless in the big picture, but bother me in the day to day:

* For letting a little pimple or a bad hair day bother me
* For my health
* For being too lazy to practice yoga
* For missed opportunities
* For paying others to do what I can do myself
* For worrying about what to wear
* For being forgetful
* For being short tempered
* For keeping my feelings to myself
* For taking people, places and things for granted
* For not telling the people around me that I love them and am grateful to have them in my life
* For being sarcastic and petty
* For being able to walk and talk and move and write and love

I feel so sad for this woman. She gone through so much. And through all of her struggles she has been so brave. I don't know that I could've been so brave.

Today I'm grateful: that I am me.


May you be inscribed in the book of life for another year.

What does it mean to be rich?

As part of my self-reflection, I saw an interesting article awhile ago on Her Every Cent Counts where she asks:

What does being "rich" mean to me? Good question!

(1) Not having to worry about surprise expenses
(2) Being able to give my (future) children every opportunity that we deem important
(3) Being able to give generously to causes that are important to me
(4) Owning a home that comfortably fits my family's needs
(5) Being able to take at least one vacation a year (or if I'm feeling really rich, owning a home at the beach... my dream!)
(6) Earning passive income from investments, so I can decide whether or not I want to work after having kids and how much I want to work
(7) Never having to depend on others or ask for help
(8) Being able to splurge once and again on something that I want which is totally unnecessary
(9) Being able to treat others
(10) Being able to hire people to do things that I don't want to do (like clean my house or mow my lawn)
(11) Being able to eat out at restaurants regularly


Yes, some of these things are a little bit indulgent, but I'm rich! I can do what I want :)

What does being rich mean to you?


Today I'm grateful for: my sister. I've said it before, but I count on her for so much and I'm so happy to have her in my life.

L'Shana Tova

L'Shana tova tikatevu, tikatevu
This is the way we wish a happy new year to you
So we sing and we say on this Rosh Hashanah day
L'Shana tova tikatevu, tikatevu

-my favorite children's Rosh Hashanah song... it gets stuck in your head!

Yeserday at sundown marked the start of the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah (which literally means "head of the year"). It's a new start. And this is probably a chance for some new year's resolutions, but I'm not really feeling it. I've made lots and lots and lots of goals over the course of the blog and I don't know if they've helped me or hurt me. I'm still lacking direction and focus with where I'm going and what I want to do. I just don't think this is the right time to make more goals that I may or may not reach.

During these Days of Awe, the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I am going to reflect. I am going to take time to think about me, what I want and what I need and if I'm becoming the person I would like to be. Readers, I ask you for help in this endeavor. What questions might help me move in the direction towards answers? What helped you find direction? Or have you not found direction yet either?

Today I'm grateful for: surprise free samples

Picture found here

Coupon-ing Start

If you occasionally check out my other blog, you know that I love a good deal. Whether it's CVS, Free samples, or double/triple coupon days, I try never to pay full price. In honor of National Coupon Month (who knew, right?), I thought I'd tell my story of how I turned into the coupon-ing, deal seeker that I am today. For me, the deal seeking started in stages and with a lot of trial and error...

Once upon a time, I had just graduated college and was making just $32,000/year in an expensive city. My rent was more than I pay now and I had a roommate. Roommate extolled the ideas of stocking up when things were on sale. That made sense to me and was the first stage of my deal finding ways.

Stage 1: Stock up
If there are items that you know you will regularly use, buy them when they are at their lowest prices. It takes a little time and tracking to realize what that lowest price is. I've never gone the price book route (keeping track of the rise and fall of an item's price over time), but I have a general mental threshold for when an item is at or near its lowest price.

Stage 2: Coupons and Circulars
Roommate and I decided to get the Sunday paper to take advantage of the coupons and circulars. This was nice to be able to plan a little bit more in advance. Beforehand, we would just go to one store and look around, buy what we needed and stock up on sale items. Now, I could be a little more strategic. I became better about creating a shopping list and finding coupons for when I needed something. However, I didn't think about stage 3... it just never occurred to me.

Stage 3: Combine a Coupon with a Sale
One day another friend mentioned to me that had seen this woman called Coupon Mom on Oprah. This woman paid pennies for $100+ worth of products. She did this by matching coupons with sales. It had never occurred to me that you were even allowed to do that, so this opened a whole new world to me. I started using circulars, coupons and coupon mom's website to buy items more strategically.

Stage 4: Discover Deal Finding Blogs
It was maybe a year later when I discovered blogs that did the same thing as Coupon Mom and were easier for me to understand. I found local blogs that covered grocery stores that I regularly shopped at (Coupon Mom didn't have some of the stores I used) and would alert me about double/triple coupon times. I also discovered the joys of the CVS game and how to get things for absolutely free. I've since stopped using Coupon Mom, but I definitely credit her in getting my start.

All of these stages occurred over the course over several years and I definitely made some mistakes (incorrect coupons, not reading the fine print, using a good coupon too early, forgetting about certain coupons and not using them...) and sometimes still do make mistakes. However, I love the thrill of the hunt and I love seeing the sale prices and coupons shrink my bill. I also love how generous this has allowed me to be. I have about 2 bags worth of food and supplies that I will be donating shortly which I paid pennies for.

It takes a little planning and effort, but I do save a lot of money on my groceries and toiletries and I plan to continue this for the foreseeable future.

Do you coupon? How did you get your start?

Today I'm grateful for: a possible crush?

Luxury or Necessity?

I saw an interesting post a few days ago on Fabulously Broke. I didn't make it over in time to take the poll, but I thought I'd share my answers here. She asked if the items below are luxuries or necessities for you in this modern age. Certainly all of these things are not necessities in the way that food, clothes and shelter are necessities, but they are necessities in that I wouldn't be able to function well without them.

•Home Computer = necessity
How would I stay in touch with all of you??? I could certainly just use the computer at work or at the library (which I did for awhile when I lent a computer to a friend in need... long story involving a spilled glass of water and a rapidly approaching grad school application essay deadline), but there are things that I just don't feel comfortable doing on someone else's computer (banking, for example).
•Microwave = necessity
Even though I don't use the microwave all the time, I'm not so great in the kitchen. Having a microwave definitely helps with making quick meals and heating up leftovers!
•High-Speed Internet = necessity
This goes with the computer. Without the internet, having a home computer would be useless. I use my computer almost solely for the internet and all of its amazing-ness.
•Car = borderline necessity
It would be highly inconvenient with my current job and living situation not to have a car. I could do it, but I would need a lot more time and ambition. I have no desire to bike to work and wind up a hot, sweaty mess. Also, for my job, I frequently need to transport random supplies and it would be really tough to do that on public transportation. The metro here is great, but I don't live on the rail line and the buses near my house don't come very frequently during peak times. If I got a different job that was more metro-accessible, I would consider going car-free.
•Cellphone = necessity
I don't have a landline (see below), so I really need this to keep in contact with friends and family. Plus, it's great to have in case of emergency.
•Landline Phone = luxury
I'm never home and I live by myself, so it just doesn't make financial sense to have one. My apartment is small enough so that I can hear my cell from everywhere, so it's really not necessary
•Clothes Dryer = borderline necessity
I live in a building that provides a washer and dryer, so it's not like I had to purchase these items. I do air dry a lot of my clothes, but I only have 1 drying rack. Also, I like to have my sheet and towels be dried in the dryer because I think they are softer that way (just my opinion!).
•Air Conditioning = borderline luxury
I have window air conditioning units, so I try not to use them all the time. I definitely keep my windows open and use fans, but there are some days that are just so hot that I wouldn't be able to sleep without it!
•Dishwasher = luxury
I don't have one... that's why this is a luxury. I'd love to have a dishwasher someday, but right now my cheap rent makes that a dream. Since it's just me, I can easily stay on top of washing the dirty dishes that I produce.
•Cable/Satellite TV = borderline necessity
See below.
•TV Set = borderline necessity
Having TV is a mindless release for me. I have a lot of shows that I love to watch and it gives me something to talk about at work. I could go without, but I can afford it, so I pay for cable and whatnot.
•Flatscreen TV = luxury
I have a basic old school TV... with a VCR attached. Yes, that's how old it is! I'd love a fancy new flatscreen, but my old TV does the job for me right now and I'd rather not spend the money to upgrade.

What about you? Are these things luxury or necessity for you? And why? Post in the comments or link back to this from your blog!

•Home Computer
•Microwave
•High-Speed Internet
•Car
•Cellphone
•Landline Phone
•Clothes Dryer
•Air Conditioning
•Dishwasher
•Cable/Satellite TV
•TV Set
•Flatscreen TV
•Landline Phone

Today I'm grateful for: the Alexandria waterfront. Why have I not made it there before now?

My Investments

I promised a post about my investments, so here it is. I hope it doesn't get too boring, because then even I'll stop reading! I'm going to discuss my personal investments in this post and then my retirement investments in a future post, so this doesn't get too long or dull.

I have 3 investment funds with Vanguard (plus a Roth IRA which is for another post). They are:

(1) Total Stock Market Index Fund ~ this fund invests in more than 3,000 American stocks representative of the market as a whole. Basically it mirrors how the market is doing. Since, over time, the market has consistently increased this is a growth fund. This is the riskiest fund in my porfolio and hasn't done too well lately because the stock market has been so volitle.

(2) Total Bond Index Fund ~ this fund invests in more than 3,000 bonds representative of the broad, U.S. investment-grade market. Like my stock fund, this fund mirrors how the bond market is doing. Bonds are generally a less risky investment and this fund is no exception, because it invests in the bond market as a whole, it is especially less risky than owning an individual bond.

(3) GNMA ~ this fund seeks to provide a moderate level of current income and invests primarily in Government National Mortgage Association (”Ginnie Mae”) securities. These securities are backed by the U.S. government to provide timely payment of principal and interest. This is also a bond fund and carries little risk like my Total Bond Fund.

About Vanguard
To be honest, my reason for chosing Vanguard isn't really that sophisticated. My father recommended it when I was about 14 and started that Total Stock Market Index Fund. I trust his judgement and I've been very happy so far. It seems as though their website has excellent security and it's really easy to call and talk to a human being in this country (both important to me!). For me, it's just easier to have as many investments in one place as possible, so that why I opened the other 2 funds at Vanguard. My portfolio right now is on auto-pilot and that works well for me (a topic for another post, I think).

The reason my dad likes Vanguard is because their expense ratios to manage their funds are super low. That means that the amount I pay them to manage my funds is minimal, so my money can really work for me.

Index funds by nature are very diversified and this is a pretty conservative portfolio for someone my age. Since I'm relatively risk averse, this is a good mix for me.

Do you have any investments? Where?

Today I'm grateful for: real letters in the mail

Wedding #2 Wrap Up

Thanks goodness wedding season is over for me! Just like after wedding weekend #1, I thought I'd do a little wrap up and process everything here.

First, the overall wedding experience:
Again, it was a really lovely event. The bride was cool, calm and collected as expected. It very much reminded me of your typical New York/New Jersey wedding. A little over the top with food and such, but if you can afford it, do it! This wedding had a little bit of a less personal feeling than the last one, which made me a little sad. But it made me happy because I really feel like this couple has staying power. They are just so good together.

Next, the financial cost:
$100 gift
$200 dress
$60 alterations
$20 shoes
$260 hotel
$40ish brunch for friends (they drove me)
$15ish misc. other things (transportation while in town, snacks)

Finally, my comparison of the two weddings:
Yes, I spent a lot on this wedding and I didn't include my cost for the bachlorette weekend (which is more than I'd care to admit). However, I don't feel quite as strained, angry or annoyed about the money that I spent. It's all about the attitude of the bride and this bride was grateful and accommodating and excited to have us as part of her day. And that made such a difference.


Today I'm grateful for: ice cream and catch up