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My Net Worth - May 2008
By JD Bluefield | May 5, 2008
My Net Worth for May 2008: This is my second posting of my net worth. If you’d like to learn more about my net worth, how I calculate it and how you can too, check out my Net Worth April 2008 post. You’ll as find a great Excel spreadsheet, called Net Worth Calculator, I made to help you and your friends keep track of your own net worth.
My Monthly Net Worth (May 2008): Figure 1 shows my net worth from 2007 to May 2008, with monthly data-points. Overall, if you look at the bar at the top, my net worth decreased by about $4000 (-0.49%). Not a big deal, but more “maintaining the status quo”, as my Nintendo DS Brainage game likes to tell me when I under perform. Not every month can be a winner. Click on the chart to enlarge.
Figure 1: My Monthly Net Worth
Here is a breakdown of how my different investments have performed.
- Savings: A little down, due to a hefty income tax bill this year. Also, the drop in interest rates (Emigrant, 2.75% and ING, 3.0%), did not help my sideline positions in cash increase much. I also pulled money out to open several checking accounts, one being the 4.0% checking account at CPB. I’ll do a write up on how that is going shortly.
- Stocks: After the Fed cut the short term interest rates, my mainstream stocks moved back up from their 1st Qtr lows. Meanwhile, my other riskier investments, such as gold stocks have dropped slightly. They were down much more mid-way through the month, but have since recovered a little. I’m still bullish on gold, as the dollar is still weak, unemployment is on the rise and the credit problem is not over yet.
- Bonds: No bonds in my portfolio or retirement right now. I prefer stocks.
- Retirement: I’m still contributing the same amount to my 401k/TSP, and with the rise in the stock market, its up slightly to a new high. I may decrease this contribution soon to move into a ROTH IRA or directly into the stock market.
- Car: I took a little off the value of my car, and plan to do that every month to reflect depreciation.
- Mortgage: Still paying it off, so that’s decreasing my debt.
- Loans/Credit Cards: No loans and I pay off the balance every month so, no change there.
My Net Worth Evaluation: Overall, the drop in my net worth can be attributed to having to pay Uncle Sammy and gold stocks dropping. My mainstream stocks and retirement increased, so that filled in some of the gap, but not enough to keep me out of the red this month. Oh well.
As for this month, I’m still focused on looking for value and sticking to my investing strategy. I may be pulling out more cash from the sidelines to invest in some undervalued stocks. With the recession scare, many people are chasing boring dividend earning stocks (my bread and butter), so those may be harder to find at a cheap price.
My Yearly Net Worth Changes: Figure 2 shows my net worth from college/starting work to present day. Click on the chart to enlarge.
Figure 2: My Yearly Net Worth
Topics: Calculators, Net Worth |
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