Budgeting,  Money Management,  Net Worth Breakdown

Chocolate & Roses: How an Average Couple Added Over $10,000 in Wealth

Love is Definitely in the Air

February has come and gone. I’m happy to see that retail love is down considerably. There was last opportunities for couples to spend into oblivion and for IG, in exchange for quality time.

The pandemic has its fair share of challenge; however, you can find some slivers of real change in how we interact with each other. Valentine’s day was personal again.

Who Needs the Stimulus?

We are still waiting on the final Stimulus package vote for the sweet cash of $1,400 per person for adjusted gross incomes of $75,000 or less. All the pieces interplay with each other. The more you save and invest in your 401ks, 403bs or 457bs, the lower your AGI which triggers a lower taxable income.

That’s got to be a life hack. Wink Wink

Short Month and Smaller Successes. Be sure to check out the weekly post of all my favorite videos, people to follow and tidbit. Additionally, feel free to check out the new dividend investment calculator in the resources page.

Definitely working more than Congress.

Hey lovebirds, we are back in the Driver’s Seat.

Welcome back to the TNFG’s monthly breakdown where I dish out all the secrets on the way to becoming a millionaire household. Like all married men, I have to get approval from the Mrs. Our household’s 2020 Net Worth sped up by over $200,000 in 2020 and I honestly wish we could replicate it in 2021.

Our current goal is to hit $500,000 by April 2021 to put us in millionaire range by 2023. We never seen anyone that look like us shift from poor working class to millionaire status in one lifetime. So we decided to share how, it’s possible. This doesn’t make it easy but possible.

Food costs? Oooh

As a benefit of tracking your spending, you will find where you overdid it for the month. February was a massive reset since we finally got back to the DMV and back into a routine. March will likely be the first real month when things are back to normal. There is room for massive improvements. Hope you are finding those too

There is always a way to make some improvements in your life:

How to FIRE up Your Post Presidential Election Investment Strategy: 15 Stocks You Should Buy For the Next Bull Run 2020+

Here’s the Summary:

Damn Market Greed!

Market said, “Blame the Media and Retail investors because things were going great!”

The market is chaotic to say the least. A lot of people are jumping in and risking more than they have for a life shortcut. However, it doesn’t really work like that and there are stories coming out, chronicling the failures.

Gamifying investing robs from the Poor to give back to the Rich:

Getting Back to a Typical Month

I think I got used to Working from Home. It will be mighty difficult to bring me back to the office by my own free will.

With that said, we are definitely paying a cost in lack of activity. Rising food & dining in cost grew to $600+ where as we should be sub $450.

To combat this, we bought into LA Fitness which raised our fitness cost by about $75 monthly including Gas to get to and from.

I account for everything. Shopping from Amazon came in high since we are stocking up for the year through the subscribe and save feature.

The wife got a second job part-time which works out well since she was getting bored. We started shopping at Aldi’s again to cut food costs. Next up consolidating our Geico insurance so that we can take full advantage of my (Marine Corp) Veterans Discount.

Could Have Been Better…  

If it wasn’t for the meddling retail investors, we could have closed closer to $485,000 but alas. Our net worth went up by a 2.90% whimper – a cash value of $13,675.  Investing really does the trick to sustain growth.

1. Where were the bulk of the wins?

Investments are still the best business in town. Growth for the month hit $10k.

Debt Repayment in 2021. Renovations and expenditures but we are starting to pay it down more aggressively. The total debt repayment goal is $100k in 13 or 14 months. Not sure how just yet.

Cash is leveled out. Thanks to the side hustle, we are paddling away at the surf. We did increase the Emergency Fund (EF) back to $1,125. We have to get that number back to $2,500. That’s our Acid net/max EF so that we invest more than keeping money in our savings at less than 1%.

2. Where did we falter?

Monthly Expense. Not one category hurt us this month, just need to keep living below our means to help us retire sooner than later.

3. What is the Next Step for Us?

Got to beat the wife at the side hustle game.

A little competition goes a long way. Currently the wife is bringing in an extra $1,500 per month compared to my $0. So time to figure out what I need to do for money.

All is Fair in Love and Wealth. Beyond that here’s our overarching goals:

  1. Investing $1,500 per month in M1 Finance Brokerage focused on Growth and Dividend Income that generates at least $1,000 in passive income in 2021. Check out the portfolio in real time. If you like the platform and want to start investing, I have the $30 for $30 referral if you need it – https://m1.finance/SYdqDJ2SyADC. Offer only available until February 28, 2021, when it will revert to $10 for $10.
  2. Shooting for a sustained investment rate with the push for $500,000 net worth. To help monitor your savings, cash flow, net worth, investments, retirement and more FREE with Personal Capital! Sign up with my link & get $20 Amazon gift card. *Terms apply. https://pcap.rocks/lawrencegonz
  3. Lower Food Cost and Increase Working Out – There is an inverse correlation between your waistline and your household finances. As the grocery bill goes up with snacks, the more your wealth shrinks over time.
  4. Work on blog consistency while adding eBooks and eCommerce. Pushing to build out for the next 3 years until we hit $1,000,000 net worth valuation. And, toss in some side hustles!

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