Note: This is a repost from an old blog of mine, remixed with the graphs, headings ordering, and stylizations I normally do, but otherwise the text is unchanged. Hope you enjoy taking a look back at where this all began! -CJ
Hello readers! For those who are new, these are my monthly posts where I share all the details of my progress on my FIRE journey!
Well, yikes! After a few days of record setting, the S&P 500 started a downward trend that became particularly pronounced in the middle of September and then again at the end of the month! Overall, the market was down 4.76%, which especially hurts after a couple months of 2% upticks! We’ll see if this ends up being only a small downturn or the prelude to more unfortunate events!
September was my first month getting my increased paychecks, but with the money I was hemorrhaging in the market it was hard to notice much of a difference. Maybe next month! Seems like a promotion is imminent which might get some more money coming my way. I had some extra expenses due to moving, like having to pay a hefty security deposit, but I’ll get it back eventually.
September 2021 – $156,963.31 (-$3,148.47)
Well here it is, the first net worth report where I’m down from the previous month. It was bound to happen eventually, and now it’s here. For how much I lost in the market, something like $7k, I’ll take this. Not as bad as it could have been.
401k – $66,847.22 (-$2,298.74)
As I alluded to last month, I toned down contributions a lot to spread more evenly through to the end of the year. So I think maybe all told, $600 or so went in this month, and losses just steamrolled me like my other accounts.
Brokerage – $44,406.56 (+$1,758.23)
Finally, a bit of green in this very red report! As usual I contributed $4k this month, which was enough to eat my losses and then some. Real unfortunate time to drop $4k in though, probably lost $200 or so of that alone! But that’s dollar cost averaging for you! It’ll all even out. I’m considering putting some of this money in UPRO in the future but boy am I glad I didn’t do that this month!
Roth IRA – $29,870.38 (-$1,456.07)
And the losses continue! All in the S&P 500 so I’m just eating that roughly 5% loss.
Cash – $9,672.63 (-$1,295.22)
Not an unusual drop here! Had $5k come in from paychecks, $4k go out in brokerage, about $1.5k go out for monthly expenses and then like $700 for that deposit.
HSA – $6,166.52 (+$143.33)
Looks like my contributions here also outpaced my losses, so this one’s in the green, even if not by as much as usual!
Hope you enjoyed this net worth report! Happy saving!