Hi All,
I just returned day before yesterday at 10:30 pm from attending Camp Mustache Midwest. It has left me feeling re-energized to post an update on my journey. As far as a "calling" goes I am truly just enjoying the reconnecting with my family still. I am coming up on 11 months since I left my work on 06/03/2021.
Financial update: Rounded to nearest K
House paid off 2010 current assessed: 211,000
Brokerage 1: 248,000
403B: 295,000
Brokerage 2: 28,000
Roth IRA: 98,000
Home improvement fund: 30,000
Coverdell ESA child 1: 51,000
Coverdell ESA child 2: 51,000
HSA: 12,000
Savings: 25,000
paid off vehicles and toys ????? 45,000 2018 Honda Pilot,2012 Camaro, 2018 coachmen camper,2013 Honda Fit
misc deposited assets 20,000
------------------------------------------------------------
1,114,000 Net W
My wife continues to work full time. Still negotiating w/mgmt to go part time. She still loves her job and won't join me yet. 75K/yr. I have realized some gains from short term directional S&P trades made mainly for entertainment purposes approx 5k. Still primarily buy and hold forever index funds. Brokerage does have a decent bump up from some geopolitical trades put on since new year update.
Progress since New Years post:
Family time:
It really hit me that my kids pack themselves really ridiculous lunches. I was concerned they weren't getting the calories they needed or worse yet raiding the vending machines at school (what happens at school seems to stay at school). The fix: make killer breakfasts that they can't help but eat. My initial attempts were sad and they would pass them over causing lots of weird leftovers. I have a steady rotation now and enjoy when they make time to chow down.
Highlights are:
1.waffles (I swap wheat flour for oat flour) with off brand cool whip, cut strawberries, sprinkle conf. sugar on top.
2. Combo meal of greek parfait and egg&sausage Mc sandwich. I get the 10% milk fat vanilla greek yogurt and gluten free "Bear Naked" brand cacao&cashew granola (3.99/bag at Wegmans). Rotate some fresh fruit in there as well (strawberry/blueberry/clementines). Drizzle of maple syrup to finish. I use La Brea Gluten Free bread (pricey 6.50/loaf). It is literally the most awesome GF bread ever, No Joke! It is for real. Cook the egg over medium then when sandwich is made break the yolk through the bread and it soaks it up. Yummy.
3. Home fries, breakfast sausage, toast, and prepared fruit. I used to think instant breakfast sausage was the worst, now it is like my best friend. Ready in no time. I find if I peel an orange or cut up an apple and arrange on the plate they will eat it instead of just passing over it in the fruit bowl.
4. Pancakes. Again, swap in oat flour from the health foods store bulk section for wheat flour.
5. Sausage&mushroom omelette
6. Cereal and sleeping in on the weekends.
Home improvement:
Tearing our dining room down to studs and currently putting in new drywall.
Get that woodpile caught up:
This is woodcutting season right now, so, getting that wood pile back up from winter use. We consumed a pretty average amount 13 face cord.
Decluttering/downsizing:
I was able to do a fair amount of ebaying and consignment selling during the hard months of winter. Sold my childhood toy tractor collection at consignment for $320. YAY. Sold my dark tower board game on eBay for $175. I had a Buffalo Bills vintage New Era Super Bowl hat collection with tags on for $110. That was a surprise. NHL memorabilia for approx $225. Plus a lot of little transactions. Blew my mind this stuff had value.
Trying to improve my Christian walk.
Alcohol use is way down and is turning back into an enjoyable treat instead of "Dad's medicine." I spend about $35 a month on it instead of $100 plus. I found an awesome bible in a year podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz in addition to a daily devotional. I really like this guy. He really breaks down some of that esoteric stuff and I feel like he does a good job. I highly recommend even if that isn't your thing, it's a fun listen and free. I am in a small group on Tuesdays and that is going well.
Ski, Ski, Ski.
My season at Bristol Mtn went great. Averaged 2-3 evenings skiing about 2-3 hours at a go. Early in the season the lifts were packed and they forced people to not ride alone (I'm a total loner). It was great. I sat next to a guy and we started talking and he is a Christian. We had such a great time chatting going up we decided to ski together that day. It turned into a friendship and a regular appointment of skiing together. My twilight pass was $490. Was able to score the same pass for this year on sale $390 (Yay).
Go to the kids games.
I am still playing tennis with my son weekly now that the weather is more springlike. A couple weeks ago I was at my old high school an hour away for my daughters track meet. I saw a guy I recognized who had a slightly larger belly and less hair on the top of his head than I remember, like myself. Turned out to be my old best friend, Ben. We lost touch about 15 years ago, but, he was my best man at my wedding. We talked and talked and swapped contacts. My daughter was hilarious, she was literally dragging me to the car because we had to go. I just wanted to hang out all night.
Budget: Pretty much the same except for alcohol is down. My groceries are a solid $20 more expensive each week (is what it is). Home improvement is a budgeted for additional expense. I am anticipating a solid 30% increase in my property taxes over time as they are a % of property value (gulp).
The camp Mustache Midwest was great and really was a nice time to connect. Seeing people in real life was great. The tings I took away weren't necessarily financial. A big theme for me was money takes care of money problems, you have to work on yourself for the rest. Want to give a big shout out to the organizers especially
@grantmeaname,
@lydsandcups, and the rest of the "orange bandanna" crew.
@SnakesintheGrass it was great to play pickle ball and get to know you. If you are ever passing through we will have to melt some metal together.
@fuzzy math just wanted to say hang in there. You got this. We are all pulling for you.
@blurkraken22 It was great hanging out there and on the car drive. Best wishes on the effective altruism journey.
@Turtle It was great to put a face with the name. Best wishes on your life journey.
@Loren Ver it was great to hear your story. I wish you and your husband the best.
@maizefolk best of wishes on the blank canvass that is life plans.
Have fun out there