was 2015 a prosperous year gor you?

[scfr]

2015 was a very "ho-hum" year financially speaking.

Rate of return on financial assets was an unimpressive 1.6%.

Rate of return on non-financial assets was -0.4% (cars depreciate, and even though comps or Zillow on our house would show a higher figure than what I use for our "on-the-books" number, I am sticking with my method of calculation because I suspect home values in our area may flatline or even decrease in the next year or two and eventually my number and the market value will line up.)

Overall net worth increased by only 4%, our smallest increase since 2008.

But you know what? I will take a little progress over none! Any year we are up overall and not down, have our health, and live to keep putting one foot in front of the other, I consider it a good year!

[scfr]

Worse of all a beloved sister in law passed away this month after a brief illness.

I'm so sorry for your loss, snafu.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Max'd my 457, $24,000 for 2015
Max'd my Roth, $6500 for 2015


Working on cutting down on my "rich-man's" disease;
1) drinking (ie, Heinekens, Jack Daniel's, champagne, etc.)
2) eating too much red meat (ie, steaks, sausages, corned beef, hot dogs, etc)
3) gambling (ie, casinos, lottery, sports, horses, etc)
4) ladies of the night (ie, strip clubs, escorts, call girls, etc.)

[phantom]

Financially, 2015 felt pretty rough. In 2014, we built up a lot of extra liquid funds in preparation for the birth of our first child. Then, I took some unpaid maternity leave, and we couldn't save at all. Once I started working again, we got rid of some of our excess savings by paying down our mortgage and spending out of savings so we could up our retirement contributions. It was all according to plan, but having negative cash flow still felt pretty painful. I was almost surprised when I looked at our end of year numbers and saw our net worth had still gone up. It didn't go up as much as it did in 2014, but I was just happy it was up.

But, even if we had lost money in 2015, it'd be hard to say it wasn't a prosperous year. We've got an adorable, happy, healthy addition to our family!

Edit: Realized I'd written 2016 instead of 2015 and 2015 instead of 2014!

[FLA]

But, even if we had lost money in 2016, it'd be hard to say it wasn't a prosperous year. We've got an adorable, happy, healthy addition to our family!

Congratulations! and you got a tax deduction, lol

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Congratulations! and you got a tax deduction, lol

In terms of frugality I was sort of "out of it" all year, but I did purchase some needed items like hearing aids and my CPAP machine, shed, etc.

Hoping 2016 is a better year than 2015.

[Atretes1]

Great year for me. I became debt free and have a net worth of about 7 times my gross income at age 39. I had a negative net worth in 2002. So I have moved a lot since then.

[parafly]

Overall, it was a good year even though most of my investments were slightly negative.

My wife and I ramped up our liquid savings in preparation for our first child who is due in March. We also maxed out our Roth IRAs, contributed the recommended amount to our 401Ks, paid down the mortgage, didn't add any new debt, and surpassed $500K in net worth.

We are in very good shape to live on one income for the foreseeable future.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Terrible year financially and I bet 2016 will be just as bad. I think we lost $50k but we had a FABULOUSLY year personally.

Quit job, sold house, and moved to dream location. Missed our old friends, but made new ones. Realized beauty of living so close to our families this holiday season and it was awesome. Worth every penny.

New career track for DH was a huge gamble because he had no idea if he'd be able to do it. So here's to looking forward to 2016.

Also we have no idea if his new career is as lucrative. Of course a lower cost of living we don't have to make as much as we used to so we'll see how 2016 plays out.

[QuarterMillionMan]

LivingAlmostLarge not to pry but more details please (if you don't mind me asking). Not trying to be a stalker but more details makes it more interesting.

1) Quit job (which sector/industry/occupation)?
2) moved to dream location (city/state)?
3) new career track for DH (again which sector/industry/occupation)?

[tripods68]

4) ladies of the night (ie, strip clubs, escorts, call girls, etc.)

Not to be a stalker, or anything, but curious how much is your monthly budget for this category?

[QuarterMillionMan]

Sure tripods I'll be happy to oblige. This subject matter is so huge that I could write pages and pages about it but I'm pressed for time so I'll keep it short. Also, I tend to be too forthcoming with my own information that I give out and so as not to incriminate myself with subject matter that may be illegal, I'll stick to just the legal material. With that said, my monthly budget on this subject could be as low as $50 a month to as high as $500 a month.

[autoxer]

2015 was a great year for me.

• Increased income by 15%.
• Maxed out 401k & both ira's.
• Added to brokerage and 529 accounts.
• Reduced spending by 5%.
• Saved more than I spent.
• Increased net worth by 22%
• I also quit smoking.
• Started exercising, ran over 300 miles.
• and lowered my cholesterol by 50 points.

[rennigade]

Sure tripods I'll be happy to oblige. This subject matter is so huge that I could write pages and pages about it but I'm pressed for time so I'll keep it short. Also, I tend to be too forthcoming with my own information that I give out and so as not to incriminate myself with subject matter that may be illegal, I'll stick to just the legal material. With that said, my monthly budget on this subject could be as low as $50 a month to as high as $500 a month.

I could never wrap my head around the fact that its legal to do adult things with another person of legal age when no money is exchanged...but the second money is exchanged it becomes illegal. Its ridiculous. It would be safer for all parties involved if it was legalized and rules were put in place.

[tripods68]

Sure tripods I'll be happy to oblige. This subject matter is so huge that I could write pages and pages about it but I'm pressed for time so I'll keep it short. Also, I tend to be too forthcoming with my own information that I give out and so as not to incriminate myself with subject matter that may be illegal, I'll stick to just the legal material. With that said, my monthly budget on this subject could be as low as $50 a month to as high as $500 a month.

QTM--Not too many people would admit this type of vice in this forum--refreshing to hear accounts of your life play out in this forum friendly-site.