Another month has gone by and the long winter is finally over. With spring starting we were fortunate enough to have another positive month and were able to increase our net worth by 8.31% which is $1,361.03. We had a few unexpected expenses including Les needing new brakes and new tires, which set us back just over $1200 in repairs - but it didn't set us back as much as we feared due in large part to our investments doing well this month. For the first time in a while our investments are up over 10%! Our House Fund has grown to $6249.83, and we still have our $10,000 emergency fund accruing interest.

We are nearing the end of the Day of Zero countdown and things are looking pretty grim. It was always a stretch for us to make this goal, and even with positive growth almost every month we still have a total net worth of -$15,017.97. When we started aiming for the Day of Zero back in April 2008 our total net worth was -$33,775, so we have come a long way and have halved our debt in a year, but there is still a long way to go.

Other exciting news today: We've been featured in the Carnival of Pecuniary Delights! It's got a bunch of personal finance, frugality, and lifestyle articles, be sure to check it out over at Pecuniarities.

So here's where things stand:

• Net worth statement for March 2009: See Full Spreadsheet Here

• Investment Performance (+10.57% in March)

Other Spreadsheets:

• Where did all the money go? March 2009 edition. A Full breakdown of our income and spending categories. The 5% fun fund system is also shown in practice here. We let job creep seduce us away from strict adherence last month and are still paying for it this month.
• Alternative Income Details: March 2009 income totals. We were able to add over $500 to our monthly income for March. Take a look at our detailed tracking spreadsheet as we continue to work to grow these opportunities.

Goals:

• Goal#1: $10k Emergency Fund - Complete @ $10,000. Still full and interest growing, no impact.
• Goal#2: House down payment - $6249.83 saved.
• Goal#3: High Interest Student Loans - -$22,211.00. We have still been paying off the loans, but our intensity has been shifted towards the house fund and getting enough for a sizable down payment.