| Currency |
|---|
| United States Dollar - USD |
| Date Joined |
|---|
| 1/20/2018 |
| Salary Range |
|---|
| 150,000 - 199,999 |
| Occupation |
|---|
| Architecture/Engineering |
| Age Range |
|---|
| 40-44 |
| Cost Of Living |
|---|
| Medium Cost Of Living (MCOL) |
| About Me |
|---|
| I'm a 40 year old federal employee, working as an engineer. I graduated college in June 2007, and I saved to buy a house since graduating. On October 1, 2012 I paid my final apartment rent check, and stepped into the world of home ownership October 19. |
| Why I Joined |
|---|
| I am interested in tracking my net worth, and wanted to see what other people my age earn, and how they have their money invested. |
| Best Financial Decision |
|---|
| Living at home during college, and building a retirement account right when I started my career. Buying a house near the bottom of the interest rate mountain. 3.5%, fixed for 30 years! Refinanced at the new house in 2020, for 2.75% 15 year loan. |
| Worst Financial Decision |
|---|
| Getting a car loan within 3 months of graduating college. |
| Current Investing Strategy |
|---|
| I am currently investing 5% into my TSP, and some into our Roth IRAs. I am also saving cash in a Discover and Capital One 360 accounts earning 3.9%. In November 2012, I opened a taxable investment account, and started investing outside of retirement. As of May 2015 I am invested at a 80/20 stock/bond ratio, and hope in the future to diversify into REITs and international stocks. I used to contribute $150 monthly to the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index(VTSAX), and $100 monthly to the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index (VBMFX), when the funds were available. Now though I am just letting it ride and reinvesting the dividends. |
| How do you manage your finances? |
|---|
| I have a very precise Excel budget that tracks EVERY penny, both incoming and outgoing. I pay all of my bills online, it is very easy to keep track of my money that way. I also used to use Mint.com until they killed it off. Additionally I have lots of different savings accounts, kind of like electronic envelopes to control our spending in each category outside of our basic needs (shelter, utilities, and food). |
| What tools do you use? |
|---|
| For my budget I use Excel, it is easily customizable. I even project into the future for gas prices, retirement funds, and bank accounts. I also use TSPtalk.com and CNBC, I like to know what the markets are doing constantly. I also ask friends and family how they invest their money. |
| I need financial help with... |
|---|
| Balancing life and growing Net Worth. Before I was married with children, it didn't matter to anyone but me how money was spent, but adding wife and children, there are a lot more needs, and unexpected items that pop-up. Even though I have been married a few years, I still hate spending money on things I think are wasteful. |
| Favorite Books |
|---|
| Dad is Fat |
| Favorite Movies |
|---|
| Dumb and Dumber |
| Last Login |
|---|
| 9/5/2024 |
| Budget |
|---|
| This user has not created a budget |