Car Cost per Mile 1

Today marks the one year anniversary of my used car purchase. I swapped my 1995 Buick Sedan with over 180,000 miles for a 2003 Toyota Echo with 87,000 miles.  The primary reasons I opted for this model was to obtain better fuel economy while finding something with great reliability and an affordable price tag. I want ...

July 2013 Progress Report 4

I track both my income and expenses monthly. I started this process over two years ago to provide a better picture of my financial standing, and do this in tandem with a monthly net worth update. This process paints a fairly clear picture of my financial status and helps me identify the savings I’m adding ...

Frugality is Not Deprivation 11

If most people were told they could “only” spend $16,000 per year then they would feel very deprived. Do I feel deprived while spending around these levels? Absolutely not! I recently had my boss tell me that I need to take some vacation time and “go out to spend my hard-earned money”. He knows I’m ...

2013 Financial Goals Mid-Year Progress Report 2

The year is flying by and the sweltering summer sun is upon us. Today marks the first day of the second half of 2013 and provides a good milestone to check back on my progress for my 2013 financial goals (http://www.networthsnowball.com/2013/02/27/2013-financial-goals/) 1) Save 80% of Net Income I’m accomplishing my goal at the midpoint of the ...

May 2013 Progress Report 3

I track both my income and expenses monthly. I started this process over two years ago to provide a better picture of my financial standing, and do this in tandem with a monthly net worth update. This process paints a fairly clear picture of my financial status and helps me identify the savings I’m adding ...

A Toast to Being Vested 3

I made over $12,000 yesterday. No, I’m not a ridiculously compensated CEO or pro athlete. My stock portfolio didn’t reverse the course of the Dow Jones drop and skyrocket up 5% in spite of the market’s retreat, nor did I select a penny stock that quadrupled overnight. It didn’t even involve any illegal or illicit ...

Ditching the Data Plan & Verizon Contract 1

One egregious expense I have paid blindly for the last three years, despite my focus on frugality has been a smart phone plan with tons of minutes, texts, and data available costing me $70-$80 per month. This cell phone bill has been my fifth largest monthly expense category trailing only housing, groceries, transportation and restaurants. ...

College on a Beer Budget…Part I

Many debate the value of a college education today.  The escalating tuition has led many experts to declare that college doesn’t make financial sense.  However, numerous studies provide evidence to the power of earning a college degree.  It statistically provides far greater lifetime income opportunities to pad your net worth. As someone who graduated from ...

$300k Net Worth Milestone 8

Thanks to the stock market’s continued upward trajectory, I eclipsed the elusive $300,000 net worth mark today! I am proud of this achievement at age 27 with less than five years in the working world with my “career” job.   My favorite fact about this is that my gross earnings have only been in the ...

April 2013 Progress Report

I track both my income and expenses monthly. I started this process over two years ago to provide a better picture of my financial standing, and do this in tandem with a monthly net worth update. This process paints a fairly clear picture of my financial status and helps me identify the savings I’m adding ...