Starting Net Worth: $54,150
September brought a bit more normalcy to our financial lives, at least compared to the whirlwind of the past few months. That said, we still had a few curveballs to navigate, the biggest one being a new car purchase. Natasha’s car had officially reached the end of its road. After more than a decade of service and a growing list of issues, it no longer made sense to keep pouring money into repairs. She fell in love with a Subaru Crosstrek, and after a test drive or two, we decided to move forward with the purchase. We made a down payment and financed the rest, something we hadn’t originally planned for this year, but necessary nonetheless.
The financial markets went on a slide this month, but we stuck to our long-term plan and saw it as another opportunity to invest while prices are lower. We continued steady contributions to our 401(k)s and Roth IRAs, keeping the focus on building for the future even when short-term headlines are less encouraging. This was also the month that student loan forbearance officially ended, and interest began accruing on my remaining balance. We had been making proactive payments throughout the forbearance period to bring the balance down, but now we’re back to making required monthly payments to avoid any reversal in progress due to compounding interest.
All in all, September was a reminder that flexibility is key. Plans will change and unexpected expenses will come up, but staying committed to the bigger picture makes all the difference.
Ending Net Worth: $56,417
None of the above information is a recommendation. This blog is purely intended as commentary on things that have happened along our financial journey.