Net Worth Update: June 2009 +18% or $2,030

by Les@SpillingBuckets | 7/07/2009 in |


This month was very exciting for our lives and for our net worth. Some highlights:

  • Visiting my family in Connecticut. This was a lot of fun but also a lot in gas and eating out. It's a full two tanks of gas each way, plus food on the road, and food when we get there. We treated my family and friends to ice cream one night, but overall didn't have too much more than usual travel expenses. It was a lot of fun to see everyone and hang out.
  • Buying a house! We closed on June 19th and are still unpacking a few boxes. This means more expenses than usual with house supplies, repairs, and other miscellaneous expenses. We've been trying to budget and prioritize what we spend, but there's still a lot of unusual expenses this month. This also means that our emergency fund is currently "in the mail", as we used most of it towards the down payment - this will be replenished with the $8,000 stimulus money which we should be getting in a few weeks.
  • Family visiting OUR house. After buying our house the family was eager to see it, so for the long Independence Day weekend we had Ry's sister, his mom, and her husband up to visit, as well as my parents, my brother, and my grandparents. It was a crazy weekend, and I am proud to say we had homemade meals for all but one (pizza on Sunday, but my dad treated us (Thanks!!)) and we were able to have fun with so many people and such a huge range of ages and interests. The full highlights of the weekend will have to be in another post.
So given these unusual circumstances in June we find ourselves with a net worth change of +18.13%. Sweet! We gained$2030 this month when you factor in the stimulus money that is in the mail for our home purchase. It hasn't arrived yet, but we've put a place holder for it in our tallies, and it should be here any week now. Being so busy this month our alternative income is down from last month, but we still managed to earn over $300 this month. We started June with a lot in alternative income (mainly selling stuff in preparation for the move) but towards the end of June when things started getting crazy we were struggling to keep the stream flowing.

Here's where things stand:


Investment Update: (-0.35% for June, +3.06 YTD)


Alternative Income ($336.33 for June, $2500.95 YTD)


The full spreadsheets with all the information can be seen here:
Here are blank versions the spreadsheets we use; you can download them if you are interested in using our templates:
  • Where did the money go? A spread sheet we use to track individual expenses, both fixed and variable. Each purchase we make is added. We normally use credit cards so we can update this at the end of the month with all purchases, but if we pay cash for something it is added the same day. You can see the 5% Fun Fund in use here - we budget 5% of all income towards fun purchases.
  • Monthly dashboard A spreadsheet that shows how our net worth has changed from month to month. It is also used to record the value of all assets (liquid and illiquid) as well as expenses and the current net worth.
How are the goals coming?
  • Goal#1: $10k Emergency Fund: Was done, but temporarily used to help our down payment fund. Currently sitting at around $20 with $8,000 on the way soon - so we are counting it at $8020. All extra money is going to replenish this quickly to at least 6 months of expenses, which will probably be more than $10,000 when we complete our new budget.

  • Goal #2: Save for a down payment on a house: DONE! We've moved and are loving the adventure of being a home owner.
  • Goal#3: High Interest Student Loans: $21,931. Still working on this one - it's taken a back burner to replenishing our e-fund and finishing some needed house projects.

Wikinvest Wire

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Our current list of goals as we discover what it means to be wealthy, abandon the deferred life plan, and work to design a fulfilling and sustainable life.

  • Emergency fund of 6-9 months living expenses. Accomplished: June '08

  • Save for a down payment on a house. Accomplished! May '09 Holy moley, we bought a house!
  • When we started this blog we set a goal to have a party on the date we crossed over to zero net worth. We made it! January 6th, 2010!
  • 100% debt free.
    We know the normal thinking about low interest student loan and mortgage debt, but just think how weird would it be to be debt free. How many unique things could we do with little or no major financial obligations and no payments. Gets the mind working, huh?
  • PhotobucketThanks to your support we have been able to provide over $553 in microloans and charitable donations helping to share some of the many opportunities we have with others who may just need a little boost.

    Help spread opportunity today: We suggest visiting Kiva.org, Serve.gov or Points of Light to find a local volunteer organization.

    current sponsored entrepreneurs at Kiva:

    Here is a map of where they are.