Whelp, there's always that one month out of the year where unexpected expenses will come up and bite you. August just happened to be my turn. Not only did some dental work ($250 oop) and a new eyeglass prescription ($240 oop) sneak in, but the kitchen sink couldn't take any more of the 12 years of gunk, so I had to call out the plumber to install a bypass and do a pressure-wash of the entire pipe run ($600). Luckily all these expenses are tax-advantaged in one way or another. But with a flat stock market and a break from the side gig, it's no surprise that I didn't move much in the net worth department.
Interest rates have dropped considerably, although they'll have to drop even more before I entertain the idea of a refinance. As I age, I understand paying less interest is more important than a lower monthly payment. I'd be willing to switch to a 15-year if the rate was right. But the US would have to be in dire straits to get to that point.
It looks like I'll be finishing the computer upgrade in the next 30-60 days. The rest of the hardware and software has been ordered, so I just need to find the time to execute.
Income should pick back up in September, so this lull will be short-lived. |