Author Topic: Celebrations Thread (Read 1754762 times)

Suelavie · « **Reply #1900 on:** March 22, 2019, 02:20:13 PM »

Congrats all !

I just began this week a super list of all the ways I can think of to reduce spending or get back some money.

More than 60 ideas, a large majority of them coming from this forum. I will attack the items of the list one by one.

Today, I recovered almost 500$ of "Boni-dollars"from Credit Cards that I finally put in my RRSP, after years of doing anything with them.

It is so exciting! (my list includes "Categories", "Action required", "Required Level of effort", "Frequency of required effort", "Level of impact on comfort", "Level of risk" and then the cool colums: "Monthly saving", "Annual Savings", "10 years Savings")

Yeah!

arebelspy · « **Reply #1901 on:** April 10, 2019, 05:36:13 PM »

Today I hit 100 days in a row of doing my daily habits/routines that I implemented a few months back.

nereo · « **Reply #1902 on:** April 10, 2019, 05:42:34 PM »

Quote from: arebelspy on April 10, 2019, 05:36:13 PM

Today I hit 100 days in a row of doing my daily habits/routines that I implemented a few months back.

Congrats! What are your new daily habits and routine?

Cherry Lane · « **Reply #1903 on:** April 10, 2019, 06:52:31 PM »

Quote from: arebelspy on April 10, 2019, 05:36:13 PM

Today I hit 100 days in a row of doing my daily habits/routines that I implemented a few months back.

Good for you! It's been a year or so since I've made a real effort at this. I should get back to it.

arebelspy · « **Reply #1904 on:** April 10, 2019, 07:42:35 PM »

Quote from: nereo on April 10, 2019, 05:42:34 PM

Quote from: arebelspy on April 10, 2019, 05:36:13 PM
Today I hit 100 days in a row of doing my daily habits/routines that I implemented a few months back.
Congrats! What are your new daily habits and routine?

Various things like: 10 minutes Meditation, 20-30 minutes fiction reading, 20-30 minutes nonfiction reading (books, not Internet), small workout, extra pushups, gratitude journal, some sort of "work" for the day, etc. I also have some bi-weekly and monthly habits on there. (And a few things I put in just to remind me/track, like daily multivitamin.)

I use the Android app "Loop - Habit Tracker". Totally free, open source, no ads, and very simple/usable design. I'm a fan.

MonkeyJenga · « **Reply #1905 on:** April 10, 2019, 08:08:38 PM »

Quote from: arebelspy on April 10, 2019, 07:42:35 PM

Quote from: nereo on April 10, 2019, 05:42:34 PM
Quote from: arebelspy on April 10, 2019, 05:36:13 PM
Today I hit 100 days in a row of doing my daily habits/routines that I implemented a few months back.
Congrats! What are your new daily habits and routine?

Various things like: 10 minutes Meditation, 20-30 minutes fiction reading, 20-30 minutes nonfiction reading (books, not Internet), small workout, extra pushups, gratitude journal, some sort of "work" for the day, etc. I also have some bi-weekly and monthly habits on there. (And a few things I put in just to remind me/track, like daily multivitamin.)

I use the Android app "Loop - Habit Tracker". Totally free, open source, no ads, and very simple/usable design. I'm a fan.

Ooohh I'm gonna celebrate my fancy new phone that has room for more than 1 app at a time by trying this out myself!

MommyCake · « **Reply #1906 on:** April 29, 2019, 04:48:10 AM »

Recently I gave notice at my stable government job because I've been unhappy for several years.

In two weeks I will be starting a new, lower-paying position that I think I will love.

zeli2033 · « **Reply #1907 on:** April 30, 2019, 08:00:45 AM »

Today I paid off our Student Loan Balance. It took 14 months to pay off ~63k. So grateful we found MMM!

We are officially debt free!

couponvan · « **Reply #1908 on:** April 30, 2019, 01:27:54 PM »

Quote from: zeli2033 on April 30, 2019, 08:00:45 AM

Today I paid off our Student Loan Balance. It took 14 months to pay off ~63k. So grateful we found MMM!

We are officially debt free!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! It will feel good every year from now on out when people complain about their student loans while driving a fancy car sipping a Starbucks. Or at least that's how DH and I feel.

Trifle · « **Reply #1909 on:** April 30, 2019, 02:26:39 PM »

Congratulations on your new job @MommyCake! Wishing you lots of happiness in the new role.

@zeli2033 -- Congrats on killing the student loans! You will fly light and free after this.

:)

zeli2033 · « **Reply #1910 on:** April 30, 2019, 03:50:31 PM »

Thanks, @couponvan and @Trifele! We feel lighter already :)

dougules · « **Reply #1911 on:** April 30, 2019, 04:06:56 PM »

Quote from: zeli2033 on April 30, 2019, 08:00:45 AM

Today I paid off our Student Loan Balance. It took 14 months to pay off ~63k. So grateful we found MMM!

We are officially debt free!

It feels good, doesn't it?

BobTheBuilder · « **Reply #1912 on:** May 04, 2019, 12:59:11 PM »

I just wanted to celebrate that the physics in my last MRI experiment for my ph.d. thesis worked out exactly as I assumed, the data looks almost too good to be true.

Although I am still writing on this chapter, I am thrilled. That work nearly got the best of me. But so happy it was not all in vain. I can map a dynamic process with the time resolution of method a) and the dynamic range of method b), combining the strenghts and elimating the weaknesses of each method.

SwordGuy · « **Reply #1913 on:** May 04, 2019, 01:34:52 PM »

Quote from: BobTheBuilder on May 04, 2019, 12:59:11 PM

I just wanted to celebrate that the physics in my last MRI experiment for my ph.d. thesis worked out exactly as I assumed, the data looks almost too good to be true.

Although I am still writing on this chapter, I am thrilled. That work nearly got the best of me. But so happy it was not all in vain. I can map a dynamic process with the time resolution of method a) and the dynamic range of method b), combining the strenghts and elimating the weaknesses of each method.

And don't forget to patent it if you can.

BobTheBuilder · « **Reply #1914 on:** May 05, 2019, 10:00:59 AM »

Quote from: SwordGuy on May 04, 2019, 01:34:52 PM

Quote from: BobTheBuilder on May 04, 2019, 12:59:11 PM
I just wanted to celebrate that the physics in my last MRI experiment for my ph.d. thesis worked out exactly as I assumed, the data looks almost too good to be true.

Although I am still writing on this chapter, I am thrilled. That work nearly got the best of me. But so happy it was not all in vain. I can map a dynamic process with the time resolution of method a) and the dynamic range of method b), combining the strenghts and elimating the weaknesses of each method.

And don't forget to patent it if you can.

I like your thinking! And the A-Team reference!

SwordGuy · « **Reply #1915 on:** May 05, 2019, 10:12:33 AM »

Quote from: BobTheBuilder on May 05, 2019, 10:00:59 AM

Quote from: SwordGuy on May 04, 2019, 01:34:52 PM
Quote from: BobTheBuilder on May 04, 2019, 12:59:11 PM
I just wanted to celebrate that the physics in my last MRI experiment for my ph.d. thesis worked out exactly as I assumed, the data looks almost too good to be true.

Although I am still writing on this chapter, I am thrilled. That work nearly got the best of me. But so happy it was not all in vain. I can map a dynamic process with the time resolution of method a) and the dynamic range of method b), combining the strenghts and elimating the weaknesses of each method.

And don't forget to patent it if you can.

I like your thinking! And the A-Team reference!

I'm in the Vanguard of science student career advisors. My fees are only 0.04% of your royalties. :)

okisok · « **Reply #1916 on:** June 22, 2019, 11:36:15 PM »

Went from a net worth of about $20,000 two years ago, to just rolling over to $80,000 yesterday! I found the Frugalwoods and MMM and Donna Freedman, and made a lot of lifestyle changes. Including taking a lower-paying but less stressful job. So I've managed to save more in the last two years than I did in the last ten, all while making less money!

My investment income will change, but as of now each month's income would pay my housing costs. That's an incredible feeling, to know that I could lose my job or go to part-time, and I could still have a great standard of living! I stress so much less at work, knowing I don't HAVE TO HAVE this job. But it is really nice to have, to keep beefing up my investments!

dougules · « **Reply #1917 on:** June 24, 2019, 10:20:57 AM »

Quote from: okcisok on June 22, 2019, 11:36:15 PM

Went from a net worth of about $20,000 two years ago, to just rolling over to $80,000 yesterday! I found the Frugalwoods and MMM and Donna Freedman, and made a lot of lifestyle changes. Including taking a lower-paying but less stressful job. So I've managed to save more in the last two years than I did in the last ten, all while making less money!

My investment income will change, but as of now each month's income would pay my housing costs. That's an incredible feeling, to know that I could lose my job or go to part-time, and I could still have a great standard of living! I stress so much less at work, knowing I don't HAVE TO HAVE this job. But it is really nice to have, to keep beefing up my investments!

Less stress is the best thing money can buy.

Glenstache · « **Reply #1918 on:** June 24, 2019, 05:47:23 PM »

Took advantage of the low interest rates and closed on a house today. Just big enough for what we need, and zero plans to expand to anything bigger in the future. Still a bit of a tough gut check to buy in Seattle, but the price and situation works favorably relative to renting.

hodge · « **Reply #1919 on:** June 28, 2019, 08:34:11 AM »

With today's paycheck, I crossed the $200,000 net worth mark! Found MMM in May 2013, when I was fresh out of grad school and had negative net worth from student loans. Salary growth (higher ed) in those years went 34k, 36k, 50k, 52k, 55k, 70k, 72k. Savings rate is currently hovering around 40% -- still a lot of work to do on that front, but it feels good to be making real progress.

nereo · « **Reply #1920 on:** June 28, 2019, 11:03:05 AM »

Quote from: hodge on June 28, 2019, 08:34:11 AM

With today's paycheck, I crossed the $200,000 net worth mark! Found MMM in May 2013, when I was fresh out of grad school and had negative net worth from student loans. Salary growth (higher ed) in those years went 34k, 36k, 50k, 52k, 55k, 70k, 72k. Savings rate is currently hovering around 40% -- still a lot of work to do on that front, but it feels good to be making real progress.

Good work! Now comes the boring part... just keeping on, keeping on, til you hit your FI number.

Trifle · « **Reply #1921 on:** June 29, 2019, 04:35:36 AM »

Quote from: nereo on June 28, 2019, 11:03:05 AM

Quote from: hodge on June 28, 2019, 08:34:11 AM
With today's paycheck, I crossed the $200,000 net worth mark! Found MMM in May 2013, when I was fresh out of grad school and had negative net worth from student loans. Salary growth (higher ed) in those years went 34k, 36k, 50k, 52k, 55k, 70k, 72k. Savings rate is currently hovering around 40% -- still a lot of work to do on that front, but it feels good to be making real progress.

Good work! Now comes the boring part... just keeping on, keeping on, til you hit your FI number.

Great job @hodge! Nereo's right. This next part on the journey is weird. You may have this odd restless feeling, like you're not doing enough. That's because all the low-hanging opportunities have been grabbed. The trick at that stage is to sort of forget about the money for a while, and just live your life. The buckets are filling up; they don't need you to watch them. :)

Trifle · « **Reply #1922 on:** June 29, 2019, 04:36:57 AM »

Quote from: Glenstache on June 24, 2019, 05:47:23 PM

Took advantage of the low interest rates and closed on a house today. Just big enough for what we need, and zero plans to expand to anything bigger in the future. Still a bit of a tough gut check to buy in Seattle, but the price and situation works favorably relative to renting.

Fantastic @Glenstache -- congrats! Right-sizing your housing is one of the biggest moves we can make to optimize finances.

SquashingDebt · « **Reply #1923 on:** June 30, 2019, 07:58:21 PM »

Hit $100k net worth this month! Only person I told IRL was my mom, who was mildly amused when I informed her I was 1/10 a millionaire.

SwordGuy · « **Reply #1924 on:** June 30, 2019, 11:18:52 PM »

Quote from: SquashingDebt on June 30, 2019, 07:58:21 PM

Hit $100k net worth this month! Only person I told IRL was my mom, who was mildly amused when I informed her I was 1/10 a millionaire.

That's awesome! That's about when you start to notice some big gains (or losses). A 15% gain in a year is $15,000, about 1/4th of the median family income in the US. That's not chump change! And it just gets better and better over time! :)

ico · « **Reply #1925 on:** July 02, 2019, 07:08:18 AM »

Celebrating a new job that's a 40% increase in salary, which started yesterday! Hoping to pay down student loans faster at this rate.

arebelspy · « **Reply #1926 on:** July 02, 2019, 07:18:05 AM »

Quote from: Glenstache on June 24, 2019, 05:47:23 PM

Took advantage of the low interest rates and closed on a house today. Just big enough for what we need, and zero plans to expand to anything bigger in the future. Still a bit of a tough gut check to buy in Seattle, but the price and situation works favorably relative to renting.

Congrats!

For myself: Took advantage of the low interest rates and closed on a house yesterday. Much bigger than what we need, and zero plans to downsize to anything smaller in the future. Still a bit of a tough gut check to buy in Seattle, and the price and situation is fairly poor relative to renting.

:)

Glenstache · « **Reply #1927 on:** July 02, 2019, 08:14:07 AM »

Quote from: arebelspy on July 02, 2019, 07:18:05 AM

Quote from: Glenstache on June 24, 2019, 05:47:23 PM
Took advantage of the low interest rates and closed on a house today. Just big enough for what we need, and zero plans to expand to anything bigger in the future. Still a bit of a tough gut check to buy in Seattle, but the price and situation works favorably relative to renting.

Congrats!

For myself: Took advantage of the low interest rates and closed on a house yesterday. Much bigger than what we need, and zero plans to downsize to anything smaller in the future. Still a bit of a tough gut check to buy in Seattle, and the price and situation is fairly poor relative to renting.

:)

Lol. Congrats! I will now be walking distance to Chucks Hop Shop, so may restart the MMM Seattle meetups there.

Mika M · « **Reply #1928 on:** July 02, 2019, 03:05:25 PM »

DH & I just past $1m net worth!! :) (excluding equity on the condo we bought last year ~$25k)

We've been pretty excited and really wanted to break the news to someone but don't have any friends or family we can gush to about it without worrying about it getting weird and awkward (nobody we know personally is even remotely Mustachian).

We first started working on getting more frugal when I discovered MMM five years ago, with about $200k scattered in miscellaneous accounts.

And we've come this far being pretty half-assed Mustachians at that (still splurge plenty on dumb stuff like kid crap and fancy alcohol, still drive everywhere in a car that was bought new with a loan, sent our kid to a nice full time day care the whole time... but three years ago we did go down to one car (a now-paid-off mid-size sedan) - but everyone thinks we're super weird just for that... also downsized from a 1450-sq-ft townhouse to a 960-sq-ft apt condo because we're very lazy and unhandy so that's saved lots in fixed bills and time/energy/money in cleaning, maintenance, and lawn care... most people think we're even weirder for doing that.)

Our original goal was about $1.5+, but we'll see how much longer we can't stand the 9-5 slog! :)

happy · « **Reply #1929 on:** July 02, 2019, 06:25:19 PM »

Congrats Mika M! Amazing what even going at this thing a little half-assed still can do!

Trifle · « **Reply #1930 on:** July 03, 2019, 06:06:27 AM »

Congratulations @Mika M! Good for you. :)

nouveauRiche · « **Reply #1931 on:** July 03, 2019, 10:33:21 AM »

My Vanguard account just went over 1,000,000 for the first time!

Non-retirement         $28,844.36
Rollover IRA         $33,099.49
Roth IRA            $100,688.83
Employer plans         $838,793.48
Total Vanguard assets   $1,001,426.16

dougules · « **Reply #1932 on:** July 03, 2019, 11:16:41 AM »

Quote from: nouveauRiche on July 03, 2019, 10:33:21 AM

My Vanguard account just went over 1,000,000 for the first time!

Non-retirement         $28,844.36
Rollover IRA         $33,099.49
Roth IRA            $100,688.83
Employer plans         $838,793.48
Total Vanguard assets   $1,001,426.16

Congrats. It still boggles my mind how fast it happened to us.

nouveauRiche · « **Reply #1933 on:** July 03, 2019, 03:19:25 PM »

Quote from: dougules on July 03, 2019, 11:16:41 AM

Congrats. It still boggles my mind how fast it happened to us.

Thanks! Yeah, once you know the secret!

happy · « **Reply #1934 on:** July 03, 2019, 05:19:43 PM »

Quote from: nouveauRiche on July 03, 2019, 10:33:21 AM

My Vanguard account just went over 1,000,000 for the first time!

Non-retirement         $28,844.36
Rollover IRA         $33,099.49
Roth IRA            $100,688.83
Employer plans         $838,793.48
Total Vanguard assets   $1,001,426.16

Nice one nousveauRiche!. so many millionaires on this forum!

SwordGuy · « **Reply #1935 on:** July 03, 2019, 07:05:46 PM »

Quote from: nouveauRiche on July 03, 2019, 10:33:21 AM

My Vanguard account just went over 1,000,000 for the first time!

Non-retirement         $28,844.36
Rollover IRA         $33,099.49
Roth IRA            $100,688.83
Employer plans         $838,793.48
Total Vanguard assets   $1,001,426.16

Congrats! That's something to be proud of!

nouveauRiche · « **Reply #1936 on:** July 03, 2019, 09:03:29 PM »

Thanks happy & SwordGuy. I'm expecting it to dip back down again but it's a fun milestone.

My husband saw it and said "two chicks at the same time" [Office Space]

Mika M · « **Reply #1937 on:** July 04, 2019, 11:03:26 AM »

Quote from: nouveauRiche on July 03, 2019, 10:33:21 AM

My Vanguard account just went over 1,000,000 for the first time!

Non-retirement         $28,844.36
Rollover IRA         $33,099.49
Roth IRA            $100,688.83
Employer plans         $838,793.48
Total Vanguard assets   $1,001,426.16

Woohoo!!

Tortoise Banker · « **Reply #1938 on:** July 05, 2019, 09:29:08 AM »

Just passed 500k in investments on the 4th of July! BOOM! We have a paid off house (415k), and a net worth just shy of 900k... Should be FI by 2025 (family of 4, wife stay at home Mom)...

Stay the course--best to all!

fuzzy math · « **Reply #1939 on:** July 05, 2019, 02:22:20 PM »

Quote from: nouveauRiche on July 03, 2019, 09:03:29 PM

Thanks happy & SwordGuy. I'm expecting it to dip back down again but it's a fun milestone.

My husband saw it and said "two chicks at the same time" [Office Space]

LOL @ the office space reference. Congrats!

lollylegs · « **Reply #1940 on:** July 05, 2019, 02:43:41 PM »

love this thread!

we finally passed the $450,000 in investments goal this morning - feels great!

chaskavitch · « **Reply #1941 on:** July 07, 2019, 07:09:32 AM »

My 401k balance just tipped over $100k! Whether or not it dips back down under with the stock market, I'm excited it's at that point :) I've got plenty of time to put more money in there.

SwordGuy · « **Reply #1942 on:** July 07, 2019, 07:57:25 AM »

Quote from: chaskavitch on July 07, 2019, 07:09:32 AM

My 401k balance just tipped over $100k! Whether or not it dips back down under with the stock market, I'm excited it's at that point :) I've got plenty of time to put more money in there.

Congrats!

Getting from below zero to $10,000 is the most important milestone because then you've got interest working with you and a decent sized cushion to make big problems become minor annoyances.

$100,000 is the next important milestone because that's when compounding really starts to be done in sizeable amounts of money. A 10% average market return is $10,000 which isn't chump change!

Your next milestone is when your market returns are greater than your maxed out 401k! Save on!

BobTheBuilder · « **Reply #1943 on:** July 09, 2019, 02:04:50 PM »

Today I returned from the hospital. On Sunday, I swallowed a pointy thing that I did not see after barely chewing a delicous button mushroom fresh from the barbeque.
My esophagus still feels like I swallowed a Giraffe eating a thorn bush, but that could have gone worse. Still hungover from the anaesthesia. Oh and (almost) free health care.

nouveauRiche · « **Reply #1944 on:** July 09, 2019, 08:42:11 PM »

Quote from: BobTheBuilder on July 09, 2019, 02:04:50 PM

Today I returned from the hospital. On Sunday, I swallowed a pointy thing that I did not see after barely chewing a delicous button mushroom fresh from the barbeque.
My esophagus still feels like I swallowed a Giraffe eating a thorn bush, but that could have gone worse. Still hungover from the anaesthesia. Oh and (almost) free health care.

Wow! Glad you are ok. That sounds awful. Hope you feel better soon.

BobTheBuilder · « **Reply #1945 on:** July 10, 2019, 02:09:35 PM »

Quote from: nouveauRiche on July 09, 2019, 08:42:11 PM

Quote from: BobTheBuilder on July 09, 2019, 02:04:50 PM
Today I returned from the hospital. On Sunday, I swallowed a pointy thing that I did not see after barely chewing a delicous button mushroom fresh from the barbeque.
My esophagus still feels like I swallowed a Giraffe eating a thorn bush, but that could have gone worse. Still hungover from the anaesthesia. Oh and (almost) free health care.

Wow! Glad you are ok. That sounds awful. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks! Yes, sleeping helped quite a bit already. Have a good day everyone!

Glenstache · « **Reply #1946 on:** July 11, 2019, 12:44:25 PM »

Quote from: BobTheBuilder on July 09, 2019, 02:04:50 PM

Today I returned from the hospital. On Sunday, I swallowed a pointy thing that I did not see after barely chewing a delicous button mushroom fresh from the barbeque.
My esophagus still feels like I swallowed a Giraffe eating a thorn bush, but that could have gone worse. Still hungover from the anaesthesia. Oh and (almost) free health care.

Was this one of the metal bristles from the grill brushes? Regardless, I'm glad you're okay and on the mend!

happy · « **Reply #1947 on:** July 11, 2019, 08:12:14 PM »

Ouch! Good to hear you are on the mend.

BobTheBuilder · « **Reply #1948 on:** July 12, 2019, 10:42:36 AM »

Quote from: Glenstache on July 11, 2019, 12:44:25 PM

Quote from: BobTheBuilder on July 09, 2019, 02:04:50 PM
Today I returned from the hospital. On Sunday, I swallowed a pointy thing that I did not see after barely chewing a delicous button mushroom fresh from the barbeque.
My esophagus still feels like I swallowed a Giraffe eating a thorn bush, but that could have gone worse. Still hungover from the anaesthesia. Oh and (almost) free health care.
Was this one of the metal bristles from the grill brushes? Regardless, I'm glad you're okay and on the mend!

That could have been worse, but easier to find in a CT scan... It was propably a toothpick that had burned off a bit on the sides, and just the part inside the mushroom/bacon assembly was intact. So the moral of the story is to not use toothpicks if there is a slight probabilty someone very hungry might not check properly for that... Or to check your food properly in the first place. Yay still alive :-D

ItsALongStory · « **Reply #1949 on:** July 13, 2019, 02:47:53 PM »

Different sort of celebration but my wife and I finally had an in depth discussion on plans for perpetual travel or at least an attempt at that. We came out with a very fair plan and an even more exciting timeline of 3 years where we will draw down much less at first to let my stashe grow while living off her generous pers retirement.

It makes both of us super stoked to kick ass for 3 more years and still get to spend many of her hopefully fit and healthy years together. She is quite a bit older than me so we have a bit of an odd age/retirement dynamic.

Initial goal is Western Europe for a few years of slow travel across Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and whatever else we fancy. I'm a euro citizen so shouldn't be overly tough to make that happen.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

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Author Topic: Celebrations Thread (Read 1754762 times)