So, like I said, ouch. This may be the largest single month loss in net worth that I’ve experienced since beginning this blog. But oddly enough I’m not phased really or discouraged. I’m still paying down the credit card balances, however I haven’t been able to throw as much money at my debt as I would have liked.

The reason for the trip back to -$30K land is due to stocks. But like I said before – both on here and on twitter – I can’t realistically abstain from buying stock in this market. It’s a fire sale and it’s only going to get better from here…right?

More than doubled last months net worth increase!! …you have to keep your sense of humor about these things, right?

Anyway, slight set back as I had to dip into my savings to cover some books, etc for grad school.
Honestly, it’s a shame how much textbooks cost and what schools make you do to ensure they get as much money from you as possible. In lieu of a text book for one class I had to purchase a handout packet from the school bookstore (only place it’s produced and carried). That photocopied packet cost $200! So much for googling for used textbooks. It’s a shame how higher education is a business. Another example, book versions/editions. Next time you get a chance to look at two consecutive editions of a textbook try to find a reason they needed the new edition.

I’m able to make some higher credit card payments now and one of my student loans has been deferred. Sure I’ll have more loans to payoff once school is done, but 1. I’ll worry about that when I get there and 2. they’ll be lower interest than credit cards and the interest that is there will be a tax deduction. So I don’t mind deferring for now.

More posts to come soon – I was pretty lame last month. But I have a few things I would like to research/discuss in the next week or so…

Only a $7 increase in net worth this month, but overall I’m still happy. The car is officially paid off, the 401k is rolled-over (though lost some money due to a rollover fee and I wasn’t fully vested) and the savings account is climbing back up to mini-emergency level.

Now that I don’t have to worry about a $250 car payment each month it’ll be interesting to see how much that effects my debt pay down.

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?

Quick update to go along with the chart – I’m done with my insurance payments for my car, at least until the policy renews in September. So that’s about $65 – $70 each month that I can now (starting next month) put towards credit cards. Also, as I’ve been pointing out for the past few months or so, I am now just two payments/months away from owning my car. And equally – if not more – important is that I’ll be able to put that $250 a month towards my credit cards. Woo Hoo!

I’m plodding along – that’s for sure. For the most part, debt is being reduced and assets are being increased. I did have to dip into savings a little bit in order to pay for some bank fees and budgeting mistakes, but all and all I’m slowly making progress.

The slow and (hopefully) steady climb continues. Again the most exciting thing from my net worth report is that my car is almost paid off. I can’t help but keep thinking how great adding that money to my debt payments is going to feel.

Within the next month or so, I should learn what my financial aid package will be for grad school – I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Even though I live on my own, I bring in a fairly good salary and personal debt isn’t taken into account when deciding how much support a student will need. I’ve already begun to look at my budget to see how I can make it work harder for both my debt payments and in preparation for school in the fall.