1500 Days to Freedom

Think different and escape the rat race.

Performance Update (Day 2221): First $100,000 Month!

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My main goal* was to build an investment and cash portfolio of $1,120,000* in 1500 days**, starting from 1/1/2013 and ending in February of 2017. I made my goal in 2016, my 1500 Days are over, and I’ve left my job. In the interest of openness, I’ll continue to share my numbers.

$100,000 Dollar Month!

January was a big month for Mrs. 1500 and me. Our biggest ever. For the first time ever, we gained over $100,000. In a month. To be precise, we’re worth $100,513 more on 1/31 than we were on 1/1. Yowsers.

When I was a kid, I never thought that I’d have a job where I earned $100,000 per year. Only super-rich people made that kind of money. Eventually, I did make $100,000 year and I’m still coming to terms with that. Money still feels like an exotic luxury that I don’t quite deserve. Impostor syndrome cuts deep.

But now, I find myself increasing my net worth by $100,000. In. A. Friggin’. Month. It feels very strange, but it’s just the magic of compound interest at work. While I’ll probably never have a million dollar month, if we stay frugal and don’t cut too much into the nest egg, million dollar years are possible decades from now. Life is good.

Compound Growth >> Job

To put the $100,000 gain in another perspective, I made about $37,000 per year, before taxes at my first job, just over 20 years ago. Letting Mr. Market do the heavy lifting is so much better:

  • First job: I worked for a micromanaging boss and had a commute that often took one hour. Each way. I worked far more than 2,000 hours to earn that $37,000. I also spent a lot on gas and clothes to support the job.
  • Mr. Market: In January, I binged on Game of Thrones, spent time at the beach in Florida, ran at the gym, attended parties, and spoke at Camp FI in Florida. While I did all of that, my portfolio went bonkers.
Mr. Market did all of the heavy lifting while I had all the fun

About 25% of this gain was due to Facebook which took off like a SpaceX rocket:

Before we take a victory lap, much of the $100,000 gain was just a rebound or reaction to a poor December. That month, our portfolio dropped $62,668. After the dark comes the dawn. December was dark, but January brought the light.

And this is how Mr. Market operates. In the short-term, the ride is bumpy. That’s why you must always have a long-term mindset.

Spending: $4146.71

While we spent about half of what we did in December, we still burned through dollars than I thought we would. As always, the mortgage was our single biggest expense: $1427.16. Only 9 years and 4 months left to go! After housing, our biggest expenses were:

  • Groceries ($602.40): We entertained a lot in January which drives up the food bill. When we’re by ourselves, we eat frugally; tofu and salads. However, we like to be good hosts, so we go a little fancier when we have guests.
  • Random household nonsense ($331.38): We’re still buying stuff to complete our home remodel that we started in June of 2013.
  • Eating out ($281.33): Much of this came early in January when we bought dinner out for the extended family ($127.91).

Most Fun Expense

While in Florida, Mrs. 1500 and I went to the Navy SEAL Museum. I’ve always loved learning about special forces, so when I found out we were staying a couple of miles away from this museum, I had to go.

Don’t mess with the Mrs.

Most Bizarre Purchase

I never saw myself as a business owner. I don’t want anything consuming my time and more importantly, my sanity. Own a restaurant or retail space? HELL NO! Besides, I know almost nothing about small business. I come from a family of worker bees, not entrepreneurs.

However, an opportunity came up that Mrs. 1500 and I couldn’t pass up. We now own 1/3 of coworking space in Longmont with local friend Pete, otherwise known as Mr. Money Mustache.

MMM HQ Coworking

There is a lot to say about this, so I’ll save it for a dedicated post. In the meantime, learn more:

Social:

January Performance Update

January was huge. Our net worth started the month at $2,064,440 and ended at $2,164,953. This was our biggest month ever.

Chart from Personal Capital, my favorite wealth tracking tool. (Also, it’s free!)***

2019 (as of 1/31/2019)

  • Days elapsed: 31
  • Investment portfolio gains: $100,513  (including 401(k) and HSA contributions**** of $1796.66)

Since the start (1/1/2013)

  • Days elapsed: 2221
  • Gains since 1/1/2013: $1,063,910
  • Investment portfolio and cash: $1,649,953
  • Net worth (investment portfolio plus home equity, a silly toy car (Acura NSX!), bikes, and dinosaurs): $2,164,953

Portfolio Breakdown

We have a diverse portfolio (full listing here) that includes real estate:

  • Mobile home park (elevated home living to the easily offended/politically ultra-correct)
  • Coworking space: We own a building/small business in Longmont
  • Private loan (only one outstanding)
  • Syndication deals

And stock market holdings:

  • Individual stocks (old thinking)
  • Index funds (most money goes here now)

Both sides of our portfolio saw increases:

  • Stock market: $751,335
  • Real estate: $858,618
    • January income from mortgage notes, syndications, and private loan: $5,792
  • Cash reserve: $40,000

We moved some money around this month to raise funds to buy the coworking space ($127,500) including the sale of 200 shares of Facebook and various shares of other funds. The rest of the year should be much more stable. I don’t like to make many moves.

How was your January? How is Mr. Market treating you?

One more thing: UK Chautauqua

Hey look, I’m speaking at Chautauqua again! Chautauquas are incredibly fun events where you get to hang out with your tribe in an exotic locale for a week.

Next to the infinity pool at Greece Chautauqua

Sounds good? Get your ticket here. And act soon (half of the weeks are already sold out).

*My goal wasn’t to have $1,120,000 at the end of 1500 days, but at any time before the day count was up. Why? It all goes back to the 4% Rule. Remember that our little friend, Mr. 4%, is nothing more than the most conservative safe withdrawal rate. Since my investment portfolio now sits at $1,550,000, I can spend about $62,000 in my first year of retirement.

**My original goal was $1,000,000 and no debt, I later raised the goal by $120,000 to $1,120,000 because I will have debt in the form of a mortgage and I firmly believe in not paying it off. My compromise was to have enough money put away to cover the mortgage at the time of retirement.

***This is an affiliate link. If you sign up, the blog (me) makes some cold, hard, beautiful, cash. 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 you are a fine person of above-average intelligence.

****My 401(k) contributions include my own, Mrs. 15oo’s, and the contributions from my corporation. Self-employment with a solo 401(k) is a very powerful savings tool. I should have done this years ago.

Join the 10s who have signed up already!

Subscribing will improve your life in incredible ways*.

*Only if your life is pretty bad to begin with.

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Comments

  1. Wow a 6-digit month from investments alone! You’re living the good life man. I can’t wait to be in your position. I love that even though you’re raking in the dough, you don’t kick back. You’re making deals and pushing yourself to explore new things and build new skills and you’re having tons of fun along the way. That’s what life is all about!
    Mr. Bo Dangles recently posted…Financial FREEDOMMy Profile

    • “You’re making deals and pushing yourself to explore new things and build new skills and you’re having tons of fun along the way. That’s what life is all about!”

      Indeed. The best part of FIRE life is that I have the time and means to do all of this crazy stuff. Life is good.

  2. we had something like a 72k portfolio gain in january, but it was more of a boucneback toward the highs like yours. i don’t take into account our home, which is paid off because i don’t believe the zillow estimate. our realtor friend tells us we’ll get more than what zillow estimates anyhow but we’re not going anywhere any time soon. except for mardi gras in 2.5 weeks. i already got my rock-n-roll wig for the costume.
    freddy smidlap recently posted…I Made Some Portfolio MovesMy Profile

  3. Congratulations on your first six figures month. That’s awesome. Also, you’re a multi millionaire now. Nice! I’ll have to visit the MMM HQ one day.

  4. Do you have any advice or resources you could point someone too when it comes to setting up a co-working space? MMMHQ looks awesome and I think more smaller towns like mine could use a mom and pop type operation with a good community vs. the wework/regus/etc. big corporate set ups.

    From my reading it looks like MMM bought the building and while I don’t quite have the resources to do that could put up a decent chunk to get going with a lease, furniture, etc. If the numbers worked as an investment I could potentially dip into the stash like you seemingly did.

  5. It was the same for me — a giant increase in January. I saw a $125k increase! Crazy big market moves over the last two months.

    None of it was my doing of course, so I try to keep it in perspective. Just waves in the ocean. 😉

  6. Just checked my personal capital and found a nearly $200k increase in net worth (we’re almost to one million!)…until I realized that $145k of that was a doubling up due to a problem moving money from one 403(b) provider to another. But still, I’ll take a $50k+ increase and joint the 4/5 of a million club 🙂

  7. Hi Mr 1500! I really enjoy your blog, longtime reader but first comment here (and hey, I’m somewhere around 1600 days myself!). What I am writing to request, however, are more running updates from Mrs. 1500. I actually do enjoy running and find it fun, so I’m one of those. But I go through long on and off times, and her posting about setting goals and getting fit gave me a nudge back into the “ON” jogging phase. So thank you! And how is it going? Has there ever been a fun jog yet??

  8. So awesome to see someone reaping the benefits of all their years of hard work! Cant wait to see where I will be in 20 years!

  9. Holy $100K growth, Batman! :O I can’t imagine that kind of a swing – my investments don’t add up to a single $100K yet. But I will get there this year, though!!!! Woohoo!!! I’m SO excited for that day! 😀

    This stuck out to me: “Impostor syndrome cuts deep.” And I find that I have that with my job to a very intense degree. I’ve been trying to come to terms with it, but this one is a real toughy to wrangle with because life is subjective and there really is no bar of comparison to use to see “I’m doing it right!”. With my job, I’m always wondering when someone’s going to “find out” that I still feel like I don’t know what I’m doing (even though I do for the most part, they keep giving me raises and bonuses each year), I still wonder why I work here (it’s actually not that bad of a place), etc.. And someday, someone is going to notice that I’m a wolf hiding in sheepskin, taking all the money they pay me for my own freedom, and will boot me [the intense loyalty only works one way, in the end]. I wonder when one crosses the threshold to the comfort zone? Perhaps when the stash gets big enough, for me, to not give a crap. For you? I’m not sure. What do you think the hurdle might be?

    Thank you for your link to Naval in your other post – I’m still churning through our conversation, overall, because despite being strangers, it’s a relief in a way to know that there’s someone else out there feeling very similar things. And talking about it. You can’t talk to many people about that kind of thing. So I don’t consider you a stranger anymore. You know things about me now. About my mind. lol.

    PS I just re-read your 4/13/17 post about being done with work, turning in all your things, saying goodbye. Your mountain view out your home office window. It’s still a very real article for me. You’re almost coming up on 2 years now – congratulations on both that, and with your new current endeavor in Longmont. What an accomplishment!

    • Know that I had massive impostor syndrome at my job too. I was a programmer, but went to school for biology and chemistry. The first time I used a Windows computer was in college. Meanwhile, I’m working with people who were writing code at the age of 7. I always thought I was going to get canned, but never did. In a way, this insecurity was good too though. It caused me to work really hard and get good raises. Why didn’t I see the promotions and realize that I was actually OK at my job? I have no idea. In any case, the fear led to more money which put me where I am today. And it looks like your story is the same!

      Naval is great. That podcast I linked to is 2 hours long, but there are some real nuggets in there. Probably my favorite piece of wisdom is towards the end where he talks about how the people who don’t “fit in” are the ones that go on to do extraordinary things because they don’t have a group to conform to. Or something like that. I’m sure I’m butchering it!

      “I wonder when one crosses the threshold to the comfort zone? Perhaps when the stash gets big enough, for me, to not give a crap. For you?”

      Yep, the stash liberated me. I knew that I no longer had to worry about getting canned. Well, I still worried, but the pressure was much less. If I were to give you advice though, I think my perspective is unhealthy. What you should realize is that you’re probably doing a MUCH BETTER job than your cohorts. You just care a helluva lot more than they do. Seriously, don’t let it keep you up at night. Start living now like you have $10,000,000 in the bank.

      Finally, I’m halfway through the Russel Brand book. Holy cow, that guy is a helluva writer and thinker. I had just known about him from one silly movie I saw a long time ago, so I didn’t see this coming. Thank you for the recommendation. More soon…

    • Hint: No one knows wth they are doing at work… just trying to get stuff done and not be fired! Maybe after 5-10 years you will finally “get it”, but they hired you for your skills not for your knowledge to do the job. Your skills are your flexibility, willingness to learn and correct, and ability to work with others (Probably, I’m guessing here).
      I had the same feeling- I’ve only got about $350k in stocks/index funds right now, and no other investments going on. Trying to put into real estate, but I live in a very HCOL area, and also am allergic to spending money- and I can’t get myself to think of it as investing vs buying something. just keep on truckin’!
      Cathleen Cooks Stuff recently posted…Valentines dinner in- tri-tip roast, mac n cheese, and zucchini gratinMy Profile

  10. This is a huge testament towards investments and steady socking away- $100k in one month (of course only actual if you cash it in…because, yeah…market)- I have to keep reminding myself this is something you worked for years on (we’re only at about $350k of stock investments, and not much else right now, and I’m 35), and stop feeling disappointed that I’m not near that. But still, keep putting money in, and wait…it will get up there, eventually. \
    Cathleen Cooks Stuff recently posted…Valentines dinner in- tri-tip roast, mac n cheese, and zucchini gratinMy Profile

  11. I have not calculated the 2018 year or January of 2019. 2018 was the year of getting some debt taken care of. All three of our cars died in a 4 week period between Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2017. The 99 Subaru, 03 Volvo and 08 Ford all gave up the ghost. Combined they had over 1M miles on them. So I took on $50K in car debt and as of today I am down to $5k. It will be gone in April if not sooner. I also max funded our HSA plan for 18 and 19 and got those funds invested. My retirement dividend goal is to have $60k in dividends all coming from our Roth IRA portfolio and we will have $12k in 2019. I want to be at $60k by 2024. I also am funding a bond ladder as corporate bonds are selling below par value so that I have 50% of income covered by maturing bonds for the first 7 years of retirement. The plan is to have 50% of each years cash flow mature in the previous December so that in January I will have the cash on hand to fund the year along with dividends. I feel really good about the plan and it is now falling into place. My wife and I will contribute about $40k into our Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) this year as well.
    I have also joined a running group and our goal is to run the year. 2019 miles in 2019. I am behind so I need to get my ass in gear.
    John Massie recently posted…Week of December 3rdMy Profile

  12. Nice recap and congrats on the swing! Mine was $65k for January, which yeah, I’ll take with a gleeful smile. Since getting divorced last fall (I posted in your comments about it once), it’s been a slog of expenses and juggling of responsibilities (work and 50/50 custody), but things are looking up. I have to pay $4,000+ a month for alimony and I can’t wait for the day that’s done with (6 of 22 months are done!). I’m not saving a lot right now due to the alimony, but I’m at least doing the basics.
    Congrats on the co-work investment as well! I’d love to do that here in Louisville, but can’t imagine the economics working out – but sure would be fun!

  14. 100k month….Alternative facts *cough cough lol. December was rough, but January picked us all back up 🙂

    I don’t trust Facebook’s longevity like I do with Amazon or Alphabet, but glad it’s still been working out for you.

    Good to see your expenses come back in line this month. Mine have been a bit higher lately than usual, dating is expensive…
    Quique recently posted…Solo TravelingMy Profile

    • Alternative facts! Ha, yeah much of it was a rebound from December. However, the rebound was a lot bigger than the drop as I mentioned in the post.

      “I don’t trust Facebook’s longevity like I do with Amazon or Alphabet, but glad it’s still been working out for you.”

      I’m totally with you there. I sold 200 shares last month and look forward to dumping the rest of it in the years to come.

  15. Hi. A bit of a tough question here. How do you (and by “you” I also mean “we” as investors aspiring to FI) reconcile your best month ever as an investor with your recent tweet where you ask “Have we learned nothing?”

    Let me explain be starting with the quote above related to your best month ever::

    “About 25% of this gain was due to Facebook which took off like a SpaceX rocket”

    You are heavily invested in a “free” dopamine dispensing app. Many of this app’s users are addicted to it, which of course is by design from the app’s creators. The app is free because its users are the real product. The app generates its revenue from advertisers that use cutting edge science based manipulation to convince people buy things they wouldn’t buy otherwise, don’t need, and/or can’t afford. This consumer behavior is often fueled by consumer debt which you implicitly condemn in your “Have we learned nothing” tweet (related to a consumer debt crisis that has the potential to wreck our economy).

    So in short, the investment success celebrated on your blog is, in part, directly driven by consumer behavior that you condemn on twitter. I know there is no simple answer here. I’m sure most of us own
    Facebook via our Vanguard funds. Some of us wrestle with these issues. Some don’t. But given your recent tweet I’d be curious to know your thoughts. Thanks!

    • Facebook! First and foremost, I don’t like the company. I wrote about it in this post: https://www.1500days.com/july-performance-update-day-2037-hundred-thousand-dollar-dreams-decimated/ That’s a long post, but here is what I said:

      “And most of all, Facebook has behaved poorly. The company was careless with user data and wasn’t transparent about the problem. Naughty, naughty. Do I really want to own a company that behaved like this?

      I blab all the time about how I’m an index investor now. It’s true. My stock holdings are a holdover from my days as a stock picker.

      I’m slowly selling off my individual stock portfolio to avoid capital gains. It will take me years to sell off my Facebook shares, but unless new information comes along, it will be the first to go. I feel a lot better holding Amazon, Google, and Berkshire Hathaway.”

      So, I sold 200 shares of Facebook last month and will continue to sell every year. I’d dump them all now, but I’m doing it slowly for tax reasons.

      But, I also own a lot of Google which is guilty of the same behavior that you talk about. Also, I dislike Facebook more for playing loosey goosey with data than for the reasons you state.

      I think both companies provide good. Facebook has connected me with old friends. Google has connected me with lots of information. But you pointed out one of the dark sides. I’m a full believer in capitalism, but yeah, it’s one thing to see a billboard and quite another to have device in your pocket with apps designed for addiction. However, you don’t have to tap the ad (I don’t think I’ve ever clicked on one). You don’t have to go into debt for a vehicle.

      I think it’s all about education. Not only consumer education, but resisting the siren’s call of the device in our pocket. I just had lunch with my 3rd grader at her school one hour ago. I looked around and other parents were also eating with their children, but many were staring at the *&^^ing phone through lunch.

      I also think it’s sad that some of the smartest people in the world are working at these companies, figuring out how to make people click on shit. I’d much rather see their brains working on the next generation of battery technology, nuclear fusion or climate issues.

      If it’s any consolation, if everything keeps humming along (portfolio keeps going up), I’ll use the money to do good in the world. I don’t believe in inheritances (sorry kids), so most of my money will go towards funding good of some type. One thing we’re working on now is buying a dumpy triplex. I’d love to fix it up (good for the community) and rent at least one unit at below market rate to a teacher or someone else who struggle financially.

      I agree; these are difficult questions. I’d love to hear more about what you think, especially any solutions you may have.