My main goal is to build a portfolio of $1,000,000 in 1500 days with no debt*, starting from 1/1/2013. Every month, I provide an update on my status. My goal for 2015 was to get my portfolio up to $874,353. Because we saw exceptional returns in 2013 and 2014, I have already accomplished this. Let’s have a very late look at April.
Hey, isn’t this blog supposed to be about Financial Independence and money? You wouldn’t know it lately from all of my bathroom posts. The good news is that the bathroom is almost in the can (get it, in the can, ha!). I owe you one more wrap-up post on that and then you’ll never hear about my potty again. Anyway, I’m super late with this month’s update, so let’s get it on.
April
I started the month at $1,006,450 and ended at $1,011,854 for an increase of $5,404. Since I put $5,475 into my solo 401k, April was a down month. They all can’t be winners.
Here are the numbers as of 4/31/2015:
2015
- Days elapsed: 120
- Days remaining: 245
- 2015 gains: $24,503
- 2015 401k contributions: $16,425
- Left to go (2015): Goal accomplished!
Since the start (1/1/2013)
- Days elapsed: 850
- Days remaining: 650
- Gains since 1/1/2013: $425,811
- Needed for $1,000,000 (investments and cash only): I’m there!
- Needed to retire ($1,120,000 in investments): $108,146
- Net worth**: $1,261,854
The Joy of PEX
Our bathroom is almost done! Finally. The bad news is that it took longer than expected. The good news is that it is coming out really nice. I’ll have a full write-up, but probably not until I come back from our California trip in a couple weeks. I will say now though that the miracles of PEX (supply) and PVC (waste) make plumbing so easy, it’s actually fun. Well, almost.
And the Joy of Text
Writing words is a lot of fun, but even more fun is meeting other bloggers and readers of similar FI mindset. I can pretty much guarantee that not one person in my regular circle of friends or family knows who Charlie Munger is. (Mrs. 1500 note: Not true. The little 1500’s both know who Charlie Munger is. Kind of funny to hear the 5-year-old hollering from the bathtub, “Mom, I can’t find my Charlie Munger Duckie!”) Forget Munger though; just talking about saving money and investing usually results in eyes quickly glazed over.
Over the holiday weekend, I met Bryan from Income Surfer. Of course, I brought up Charlie Munger at some point and was thrilled that Bryan knew more about him than I. Despite my introverted ways, I could talk to Bryan**** for a week straight and have a feeling that we’d just be getting started. The FI community rarely disappoints.
The rest of 2015
Wow, look at that, almost half of 2015 is in the bag. We’ve been way too busy with various projects, but we look forward to taking it a bit easier over the summer. So far:
- We’ve rebuilt our original bathroom. We took it down to the studs and replaced everything.
- We finished both of our new bathrooms (everything except the drywall).
- We’re almost done with a bookcase/railing project. More on that later.
- Mrs. 1500 got a job. This was unexpected, but she is thrilled. So am I since we’re going to be able to save like massive-monkey-money-maniacs*****.
In the second half of the year, I look forward to building up our cash. Since we can no longer get a mortgage, we’ll need cash to close real estate deals. I have some tricks up my sleeve. Stay tuned.
The markets
I never try to time the markets, but if I had to guess, I’d say that we’re probably in for a bit of a correction in the next 12 months. The Feds will start to raise rates and that will cause money to flow out of the stock market. If it happens, I look forward to buying the same things that I’ve been buying all along at a cheaper price.
California Dreamin’
On Friday morning, we jump on the California Zephyr and head out to the West Coast. Thirty-six hours on a train will result in one of two outcomes:
- It will be a glorious experience. We will observe beautiful America from the panoramic windows in the train’s observation car, play board games and bond as a family. Queue the rainbows, unicorns and harp music.
- It will turn into a Lord of the Flies situation where our children go crazy from boredom and fight endlessly. Mrs. 1500 and I will turn into mindless, uncontrollable savages. We will be removed from the train in the middle of Utah and our children will be confiscated by a government agency.
If we survive the train, we’ll then spend two days in San Francisco before heading out to Yosemite. After waterfalls and hiking, we’ll head out to Pismo Beach and finally end up in Santa Cruz. We’ve been burning the candle at both ends, so I’m really looking forward to this trip.
In lieu of my normal posts, I’ll be posting pictures while we’re on vacation. I hope you don’t mind another diversion. Besides, pictures of California are better than pictures of my bathroom, aren’t they?
*I still owe something like $120,000 on my mortgage. Because I have a low rate, I firmly believe in not paying it off. My compromise is to have enough money put away to pay off the mortgage at time of retirement. So, to retire today, I would need about $1,120,000.
**The numbers on the right side of the page only reflect my investments and cash. Net worth includes, but is not limited to:
- Home equity
- Cars
- Bicycles
- Incredibly vast set of plumbing parts: I have no fewer than 7,849 different plumbing pieces. However, somehow the part I need is always one of the 3 that I don’t possess. When are you getting drone delivery Home Depot?!? (Mrs. 1500 note: The little 1500’s like to play with PVC plumbing parts, similar to the way children in olden days played with tinker toys. Honestly, they can stay busy for hours with the plumbing box…)
***This is an affiliate link. If you sign up, the blog makes a little bit of money. Personal Capital is a totally free and awesome way to keep watch over your investments. It’s worth it for the fee analyzer alone. I would never recommend anything that I don’t personally use and completely believe in, so give it a try. If you’ve already signed up through the link, please know that I love you. If you haven’t signed up yet, don’t feel bad because I still love you, but in a different way. You’re like the middle child. Different, but the same, but different. (Mrs. 1500 note: Hey, wait a minute. I’m a middle child…)
****Bryan also knows how to solder copper. Anyone who can talk Munger AND knows how to work with copper is a rare find. If you find a friend with similar skills and smarts, keep them at the top of your contact list. Bryan, you and Mr. PoP should meet sometime.
*****I”m not sure what this means either, but I’m tired, wired and the brain isn’t quite running at full capacity.
The biggest question you will face is whether you’ll be able to walk away once you hit the number. It’s much harder than imagined!
Financial Samurai recently posted…The Financial Benefits Of Joining The Military: Free Education, Great Retirement, And More!
Yep, I think about it every day. I do think that I’ll be able to do it within the next 2 years though. If the Mrs. is working, that will make it easier. I’m also thinking about going part time next contract year to help ease the transition.
Ha! Your collection of PVC is very similar to Mr PoP’s collection of copper… which he was digging into last night to solder a temporary cap on a pipe. Fun stuff. =)
Have a great vacation!
Mrs. PoP recently posted…As If We Didn’t Have Enough Going On… Let’s Get A New Roof, Too!
Numbers are looking good. Will you stick to the 1500 day plan, even if you hit the goal before? Ah Pismo Beach…we have family there, it absolutely beautiful.
Brian @DebtDiscipline recently posted…Build a Better Financial Safety Net
Dunno what I will do. It is all still surreal. 15 years ago, I had 60K in debt to my name. This large pile still feels strange. I have money security issues, so it will not be easy to leave. However, if Mrs. 1500 is working, that will make the transition easier.
Pismo is spectacular! I love the vibe of an old-school, California beach town. Can’t wait!!!
Every time my husband starts working on the plumbing all I hear is a lot of expletives and questions as to why PEX was not more common in 1969. Also, you and Mrs. 1500 are much more efficient home remodelers than me and my husband. Or maybe we are starting from an even junkier place. I think you’re going to win the race to the finish line.
Expletives, shouted loud and with passion are the key to a good plumbing job…
Our house is (was?) a POS. Some person with zero skills (or who didn’t care) did the last round of updates here. It makes you lose some faith in humanity. Really.
With the kind of traffic you are getting to this site you could really kick up your monetization strategy once you go part time and eventually leave the JOB.
As you know I totally agree that a correction is near and imminent.
Cheers!
Gen Y Finance Guy recently posted…You already own your own business, even if you have a Boss???
Woot! Congrats on the bathroom getting done. You’re number one. And number two.
We just spent a lot of time on trains in Europe and recommend card-based games. We had good success with Coup, Love Letter, and Gloom/Guillotine (if you have a good sized table in the car). Have a great trip!
Done by Forty recently posted…When in Rome, Tip 10%
LOL! DB40, are you for hire? I love your comments. I haven’t christened the new bathroom with a #2 yet, but lemme tell you, it is brewing. #TMI
We have kids with us, so Gloom/Guillotine may not be such a good choice. Uno? Go Fish?!
You can definitely hire me. I work for cheap.
We also brought Phase 10, and it’s a long one: great if you need to kill some time. Family friendly, too…though I think you’re missing out on a great chance to teach European history with Guillotine.
Done by Forty recently posted…When in Rome, Tip 10%
It’s crazy…$1 million seems so far away for us. I have money security issues as well. Guess it just comes with growing up without enough money…
SavvyFinancialLatina recently posted…My Relationship with Money
It seemed so far away just 5 years ago. Now look. Keep at it. Never lose hope. Chin up and don’t let your eyes ever leave the prize.
Are you trying to win the competition for busiest man alive? If you need someone to fill in while you are gone exploring, I’d be happy to fill in with a Charlie Munger/1500 days rant on why buying a sports team is silly.
Even Steven recently posted…Finishing Memorial Weekend and a FI Day Anniversary
Correction shmection. I hope it doesn’t happen for another 3 years just to spite those trying to time it 🙂 But if it does, I won’t mind lowering my cost basis a little! Very interested in the Mrs’s job!
Fervent Finance recently posted…Asset Allocation – Part One
Hey FF-
Either way, it’s a win-win, right? A correction will allow us to buy cheap shit. A lack of a correction will just lead to more money in our already fat piggy banks…
Enjoy the well desired holiday!
Congrats to Mrs 1500 for the the new job.
Mr. FSF recently posted…Change
Great post! Having extra plumbing parts is a requirement!
Thanks W!
Well done on the bathroom… Kudos to the people that have the time, patience and skill to do it them selves. We leave this for now to the skilled workers.
Thx to the article I now also know who Charlie munger is (I feel ashamed…)
I am curious to see how you get along on leaving the job.
Enjoy the holiday
Amber Tree recently posted…I keep debt.
Munger is such an incredibly great person. Not just the money part either. He is a humanitarian. He is Ben Franklin reborn.
Sounds like you will be out my way soon! I am an hour from Yosemite and 2 hours from Pismo beach. If you get bored of vacation, feel free to stop by and help redo my bathroom…
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Nice! I hope you make it to Yosemite at least once per year! Based on your comment, I think I know where you are at. We’ll be passing through on the way to Pismo.
However, redoing your bathroom would cut short my beach time. Perhaps we can plan something after I quit my 9-5? #carpentourism
LMAO. The vacation sounds nice. I just did an hour and a half train ride and it was awesome. I got to write a blog post and read a bunch. So relaxing without my wife and daughter… but man am I glad to be back with them! Just don’t bring a board game that’s really aggressive! Babel has to be the worst thing I’ve ever played like that. “Oh, all that hard work you just did? Give it to me.” Then the wife doesn’t talk to me for the rest of the night…
Chris @ Flipping A Dollar recently posted…3 R’s Get a Face Lift with Online Re-Selling!
I use PEX a lot. Also, the quick connect connectors for drains. I think you might have the double vanity a bit not quite the way I would have done it. And use 1/4 turn ball valves, rather than the multi turn stop valves. They last longer and work better.
No Nonsense Landlord recently posted…How to Get Rid Of a Couch For Free
Still loving Poor Charlie’s Almanac. Got Damn Right lined up next. Any other books about or on Munger (or articles) you’d recommend???
Kapitalust recently posted…Credit Cards Are Geysers Raining Down Free Cash
Incredible combination of your wife being thrilled with a new job AND having tons more money pouring in to top up that great big portfolio! Always love checking out your balance, it’s a nice inspiration.
Hope you have a great trip, look forward to seeing some pics from that beautiful part of the world!
Cheers,
Jason
Jason@Islands of Investing recently posted…Remembering self vs experiencing self – who is more important for a happy life, and what role can Financial Independence play?
Thanks for the mention, I’m just now catching up from being gone. It was great meeting up with you Mr. 1500. Next time we’ll have to bring our better halves along. Be sure to look us up when you’re next down in Florida. I want to meet up with the PoPs the next time I make it to south Florida, but that could be a while. You’re spot on, we have a great online community.
Always impressed by how you two decided what you wanted…..and did what you needed to make it happen. Bravo!
-Bryan
Income Surfer recently posted…My Updated Outlook for Coca-Cola
Soooo close man! Hoping you can actually pull the trigger when you hit the mark. From others I have heard it’s gunna be pretty tough, but you’ve built a lifestyle and mindset that shows me you’ve got this covered. Super excited for you guys!
Jacob recently posted…How To Travel For (Mostly) Free: Nashville On Credit Card Rewards
So interesting to read your blog and follow your exceptional ability to build wealth. It always comes down to discipline and diligence. There is nothing as powerful as compound returns and the power of time. Best of luck on your progress, let’s see if you can hit $2M!
Dane Hinson recently posted…IRA Investing: How We Diversify and Balance Our Portfolio
Thanks Dane! Yes indeed, time is our friend.
2 million? That seems a like a long way off. So did 1 million though a couple short years ago…
Great goals, progress and achievements so far. Keep on going and I really hope you meet your mark!
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