Starting Net Worth: $185,059
December tends to come with higher spending for many families due to the holiday season, and we were no exception. Even with the increase in expenses, we stayed committed to our debt payoff plan and made sure we continued progressing toward our goals. This is an important reminder that a good financial plan is designed to hold up even during higher spending months, not only when things feel easy.
December is also when we complete our more in depth annual net worth review. During this process, we update the property section of our balance sheet to reflect current fair market values. This year, both our primary home and our rental property were adjusted upward due to appreciation in our local housing market. Keeping property values current provides a more accurate picture of overall financial progress. We also reviewed vehicle values as part of this update. Vehicle depreciation is accounted for throughout the year, but according to Kelley Blue Book, the value of Natasha’s car was slightly higher than what we had listed. This was largely due to lower than normal mileage over the course of the year, which helped preserve its value.
Looking back, the year as a whole was an exceptional one. By staying focused and consistently working toward our goals, our net worth increased by more than 90 percent over the year. While we did not fully achieve the goal of paying off Natasha’s car, we made substantial progress. That progress would not have been possible without a deliberate and disciplined approach to debt payoff and overall financial planning. This reflection highlights an important lesson: Consistent effort and intentional focus often matter more than perfect outcomes. Over time, that discipline compounds into meaningful financial progress.
Ending Net Worth: $246,040
None of the above information is a recommendation. This blog is purely intended as commentary on things that have happened along our financial journey.