Okay – I’m back under 30K for my net worth. Or is it ‘above 30K’? Whichever one means I’m doing better – ’cause that is what’s happening.

Though it’s just barely, so maybe I jinxed myself and next month will swing back the other way slightly (not due to CC spending of course, but due to stock losses, etc…). Either way, I’m continuing a path of overall improvement. I boosted my savings/emergency fund – which is still a continual work in progress – have paid down some credit card debt and am looking at my last car payment for what is hopefully a long time.

You’ll note my pre-tax brokerage (401k) hasn’t changed – I don’t know if that’s accurate or not. It turns out my former company, which still holds my 401k, is in the process of changing the company which manages the accounts – so I don’t have new login information yet. But it’s fine, because my open enrollment period for my current company is this month anyway.

I plan to roll it over and am considering contributing again. Now, yes, I realize I haven’t paid off my debt and that I should focus on that, but I feel that I’m leaving free money (company match – which is in the form of profit sharing) on the table by not contributing.

What are your thoughts?

First of all, sorry for my recent lack of posts. There’s really no excuse since I’m fully in the ‘lame duck’ period of the job transition. My last day is Friday and so far I’ve just been making sure I have a pass for the train and know enough about rolling over my 401(k) to ensure that it happens smoothly and I don’t lose any of the money I’ve saved to fees.

Lately, I’ve been having to really fight my desire to spend money. I don’t know if it’s because I’m bored during this little, extremely quiet, two-week job transition or if it’s because I’m just excited about the new job and the bump in pay I’d be getting. I’ve been having to constantly remind myself that this “extra” money has already been spent in the form of additional debt payments. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tough to resist though. Plus, there are the ‘going away’ lunches and drinks that come with leaving a job – those costs are okay though, right?

Also, I’ve been reading a lot about the Blackstone Group’s announced IPO and their CEO, Steve Schwarzman’s, interesting…but slightly frightening…outlook on his business.

“I want war — not a series of skirmishes,” he said of his philosophy. “I always think about what will kill off the other bidder.”

Seriously, he seems a little (5’6″ – sorry, couldn’t resist) scary with all the war/fighting/killing analogies he makes when talking about mergers and acquisitions.

Crazy CEO aside, I feel like it’s something I would be interested in investing in, but it depends on a few things…how much the IPO is being sold for and after a little more research, if it’s really worth it right now.

I don’t even mind that he’d remain in complete control – it hasn’t hurt them yet, right?

Anyway – it’s something to think about.