Horses are not an investment
What happened this last month?
I think the only certainty in the markets right now is uncertainty. On the bright side, that uncertainty has driven markets higher right now. From an income perspective, this month was a bonus and stock vesting month, so the amount we were able to invest was higher than usual.
We also opted to use some of that additional income to purchase a horse trailer and get tires for our 2017 Prius. It now has over 250k miles on it and is still going strong with minimal repairs and maintenance necessary. The plan was originally to sell it to our oldest daughter, but she opted for a different vehicle. Our youngest is next in line to purchase it when she turns 16 later this summer.
Where did we spend the most?
Our monthly expenses doubled from last last month. Annually, they’re also up down a lot from last May, and working their way down annually.
- $8080 Horse trailer and repairs
- $671 Tires and alignment
- $607 Horse show expenses
- $440 Life insurance
- $312 Trailer registration (5 years)
The Money Related Numbers
Completed! – 107.18% to target number (previously 99.69%)
This is our invested assets (401k, HSA, IRA, brokerage, etc.) divided by our target goal number.
38 months until original FI date (previously 39)
The number of months until my 45th birthday and our Financial Independence date.
Completed! – 0 months until calculated FI date (previously 0.21)
The number of expected months until we reach our target number. This is based on our current expected monthly contributions, assuming a 10% annual return.
The Expense Related Numbers
12.54 times annual spending (previously 11.08)
This is how many multiples of our annual spending we have saved up towards our goal. For example, if this value was 9.1 and we spent $10,000 annually, we would have $91,000 saved up.
50.15% to minimum FIRE (previously 44.32%)
The minimum number to achieve FIRE is 25 times our annual spending. This number shows how close we are to the absolute minimum.
11.70 times annual spending at goal number (previously 11.11)
We’d like to save 25 times our annual spending. This is how many times our annual spending we’ll have saved when we reach our goal number. If it’s 25 or greater, than our goal number will be enough to cover our expenses. If it’s lower than 25, we’ll need to either cut our expenses or increase our goal number.
How Much We Invested
227.25% Month to Month Change In How Much Saved (previously -16.88%)
This number shows the change in what we saved in our investment accounts this month compared to the prior month.
210.19% Month to Month Change in How Much Saved With Employer Contributions (previously -18.63%)
Same as the prior number, but with employer contributions counted.
2.77% Month to Month Change in 12 Month Savings Average (previously -0.44%)
This number shows the change in our 12 month rolling average. This helps to smooth out months over time.
2.41% of 12 Month Average Net Income Invested With Employer Contributions (previously -0.49%)
Same as the prior number, but with employer contributions counted.
How we track the numbers
I’ve been using Empower (referral link) to track our numbers. I put them into a spreadsheet that calculates the numbers you see above.