Firefly's Personal Finance Blog

Investments $2,286,245

Savings $9,247

Home Equity $150,000

October 2026 Net Worth $2,445,492

September 2026 Net Worth $2,471,557

Monthly Loss/Gain -$26,065

Not yet official, but here they are! Next year is my first year being eligible for catch-up contributions. I remember when 50 felt so very far off...now I'm almost there. It feels like it snuck up on me! It was hard to imagine being able to max out my retirement plans in my 20s yet here I am. 

Investments $2,311,834

Savings $8,723

Home Equity $151,000

September 2026 Net Worth $2,471,557

August 2026 Net Worth $2,498,836

Monthly Gain/Loss -$27,279

The market was down slightly for the month. Once again $2.5 million alludes me, but what a problem to have!

My TSP hit $1.8m this month for a high of $1.827m, but dropped to just barely under $1.8m by the end of the month. No worries, I know that I'll see it again though. Also, just barely missed the $2.5m net worth mark.

Investments $2,341,634

Savings $8,202

Home Equity $149,000

August Net Worth $2,498,836

July Net Worth $2,435,359

Monthly Gain/Loss $63,477

Investments $2,275,677

Savings $7,682

Home Equity $152,000

July Net Worth $2,435,359

June Net Worth $2,454,261

Monthly Gain/Loss -$18,902

A little down for the month of July, but no biggie. Got a new position at work, with added supervisory responsibilities, but no pay raise yet. I hope this strategic move works out for me. 🤞🏾

I had my first adjusted mortgage payment yesterday. With the decrease to my escrow I will be able to add $18.51 in principal every two weeks. Every little bit helps! I also do biweekly payments with is supposed to reduce repayment time by years.

I have about $153k in equity in my home with a $195k balance to pay. I have a few retirement ages in mind: 57 (minimum age), 60 (this is 30 years service), and 62 (earliest I can take SS). Many of my co-workers wait until 65 (eligibility for Medicare). It really depends on how I feel, but my goal is not to work until 65, rather no later than 62. Maybe at 62 I'll have a nice remote job, be in great health, and not ready to retire. We'll see. My plans are fluid.

Investments $2,294,097

Savings $7,164

Home Equity $153,000

June 2026 Net Worth $2,454,261

May 2026 Net Worth $2,444,093

Monthly Loss/Gain $10,168

I'm going to simplify my net worth postings by just doing one line item for investments, instead of breaking them down.

Last year my mortgage payment refunded me a few thousand in overpayments. That was the year I purchased so escrow had been calculated for the full year instead of the few months that were left in 2024. This year they are refunding me $777.  This year they are also readjusting my payments to reflect the lower escrow calculation. I'd like to continue to pay the same amount & just have more go to my principal, but I'm not sure that I'll be able to calculate it correctly until I see the new adjusted payment. I'll have to look around the website more to see if I can maintain the same payment amount. I like having a nice even amount.

I received my WGI, or my raise, as of May 31st. It's a little less than $4k annually, or $144.80 biweekly. Maybe I'll clear $100? I don't have any plans to spend it. I will save as I normally do. If I build up extra money in my checking it will go towards paying down any debt. 

Next month is a 3 paycheck month. My only biweekly bill is my mortgage. Everything else is set up monthly. So that paycheck should go towards building up my checking after the mortgage payment.

TSP $1,757,529

IRA $514,274

Brokerage $15,643

Sub-total Investments $2,287,446

Savings $6,647

Home Equity $150,000

May 2026 Net Worth $2,444,093

April 2026 Net Worth $2,329,348

Monthly Gain/Loss $114,745

May was a great month!

Today when I logged in to do my monthly net worth blog, I realized that for the first time I surpassed $500k with my Vanguard accounts. I have both a Roth IRA & another small brokerage account. I had not anticipated reaching this level for quite some time, but it means that I qualify for Voyager Select with Vanguard. Also, it doesn't seem like anything changes with this new standing. When you reach $1 million you get access to their trust services, for a fee of course.

I'm so close that this new standing could change next month. I wonder how long you have to stay at this level to be considered Voyager Select? 30 days? Do it come & go daily with your account balance? It doesn't really change anything for my strategies, but it's cool to finally reach that standing. It was a long journey to get from $50k to $500k! Almost 16 years, actually.

– Basic Investor: No minimum
– Voyager: $50,000 – $499,999
– Voyager Select: $500,000 – $999,999
– Flagship: $1 million – $4,999,999
– Flagship Select: $5 million and above

TSP $1,670,984

IRA $490,420

Brokerage $14,813

Sub-Total Investments $

Savings $6,131

Home Equity $147,000

April 2026 Net Worth $2,329,348

March 2026 Net Worth $2,129,042

Monthly Gain/Loss $200,306

TSP $1,515,502

IRA $446,553

Brokerage $13,371

Investments Sub-Total $1,975,426

House Equity $148,000

Savings $ 5,616

March 2026 Net Worth $2,129,042

February Net Worth $2,247,163

Monthly Gain/Loss -$118,121 

April Fool's is losing over 6 digits this month, I guess. Booo...not a fan.

My car was not totaled out. Repairs were $2,465. I was to be reimbursed that amount minus a $500 deductible, but I'm still awaiting my total reimbursement. I was reimbursed $1,375 initially. I am just waiting on USAA to settle an overpayment of $422 to the repair shop & it seems to be taking far too long. I'm trying to be patient, but it shouldn't take this long for the repair shop to settle an overpayment.

In January I traveled to St. Louis. I had a fun time & ate a lot of good barbecue. My hotel was just a few blocks from the Gateway Arch. We saw some great figure skating at the US National Figure Skating Championships, where they picked the Olympic team.

In February I traveled to the Dominican Republic. My friends & I had a great time. I plan to return again soon. It was one of the least expensive trips I've ever taken & one of the most fun. I did so much dancing!

This month I have my 30 year class reunion. I will spend a couple of nights in a hotel plus have expenses for several class activities. One on Friday, two on Saturday, and one Sunday. Plus whatever I do with my friends on the side. I'm looking forward to it!

TSP $1,607,123

IRA $474,973

Brokerage $15,966

Investment Sub-total $2,096,062

House Equity $146,000

Savings $5,101

February 2026 $2,247,163

January 2026 Net Worth $2,219,701

Monthly Loss/Gain $ 27,462

My 2015 Toyota CRV is in the shop & I'm still waiting to hear whether they will repair it or total it out. Sigh. I really wasn't ready to purchase a new car. I was hoping to build back my cash savings for the next couple of years. Thankfully my insurance is paying me as I filed for a collision. I damaged the core. There  is a radiator leak and the condenser needs to be repaired. And due to it running hot I may have permanently killed the engine.

I don't know why there are no warning lights when your car runs hot. That's crazy! Apparebtly newer cars have this feature, but you would think it would be old technology. Because who is watching the temperature on the dashboard regularly? I only looked because I smelt something burning when I parked my car in the garage the night prior. 

I still have my settlement money & my dad is saying that I will get back money from taxes. Really, that's a miracle. I almost always pay. For the second year in a row I was able to itemize. 

TSP $1,588,627

IRA $468,553

Brokerage $13,932

Investments Subtotal $2,071,112 

Home Equity $142,000

Savings $4,589

January 2026 Net Worth $2,217,701

December 2025 Net Worth $2,161,680

Monthly Gain/Loss $56,021

My goals for next year are as follows:

TSP $24,500

IRA $7,500

Savings $6,000

Brokerage $1,200

Total Savings $39,200

FSA $3,400 (for tax savings only)

2025 Net Worth $2,161,680

2024 Net Worth $1,805,796

Annual Loss/Gain $355,884

TSP $23,500

IRA $7,000

Brokerage $3,200

Savings $4,000

Total Saved $37,700

TSP $1,546,818

IRA $455,150

Brokerage $13,635

Investments Sub-total $2,015,603

Home Equity $142,000

Savings $4,077

December 2025 Net Worth $2,161,680

November 2025 Net Worth $2,147,110

Monthly Gain/Loss $14,570

Happy New Year!

Has anyone already maxed out their IRA today? Or rather, sent the order to do so when the market opens tomorrow? I am sitting here contemplating doing just that noe that I have the cash to do so for the first time in years. However, the last time I did so, the market went down that year so I felt like I bought at a bad time. I know you can never time the market but it makes me hesitant to pull the trigger.

It's my birthday in 3 days! Celebrating another great month of gains & a positive year overall. Cheers to more of the same.

I can't recall if I mentioned it earlier, but I was to receive a settlement from work. Yesterday I checked my mail (I only check it once a week) and I found the check in the mail. It's a nice time of year to receive some unexpected money! I'm not doing anything with it specifically, other than making sure my debt is paid off.

My sister already sent some things the kids wanted for Christmas so I did my Black Friday shopping early. That was my only Black Friday shopping, actually. I don't plan to do much shopping at all as I already shop all year long.

Today is Giving Tuesday so I am donating to my alumni association.

Happy Holidays!

TSP $1,536,798

IRA $451,212

Brokerage $13,534

Sub-total Investments $2,001,544

Savings $3,566

Home Equity $142,000

November Net Worth $2,147,110

October Net Worth $2,139,421

Monthly Loss/Gain $7,689

TSP $1,532,632

IRA $449,349

Brokerage $13,383

Sub-total Investments $1,995,364

Savings $3,057

Home Equity $141,000

October 2025 Net Worth $2,139,421

September Net Worth $2,096,356

Monthly Gain/Loss $43,065

Another milestone! I recently hit $2 million net worth, but today when updating my accounts I now have $2 million in investments on top of my other assets. My total net worth is now approaching $2.2 million.

I don't know how many years I've been reading the Finance Buff, but every year around this time I start checking for their projections of next year's retirement contribution limits.

In 2026 I expect to be able to contribute:

$24,500 to my TSP

$7,500 to my IRA

$3,400 to my FSA

That is an increase of $1,600. That seems like a lot to my FSA, but I've been using every cent of my FSA with no rollover for a few years now. I don't even expect my income to go up by that much as our raise is projected at 1%, if we're lucky enough to get that. Also, I'm sure my health & dental insurance will increase.

I'm glad that I stopped electing for the maximum life insurance as that premium starts increasing at 45. All my parents need is enough to bury me if something were to happen & my basic benefit is many times over that. I have no dependents. They can sell my house. My mom actually prefers my car to hers. My mom gets upset at the idea that I have them as my primary beneficiaries. No parents want to lose a child, but it's just practical & right that they be my beneficiaries before naming my sisters.

TSP $1,499,790

IRA $440,022

Brokerage $12,995

Subtotal of Investments $1,952,807

Savings $2,549

Home Equity $141,000

September 2025 Net Worth $2,096,356

August 2025 Net Worth $2,031,090

Monthly Loss/Gain $65,266

Today is my mom's 75th birthday. I always take the day off from work. First we went to her doctor's appointment, followed by brunch. After those two activities she was tired & ready to go home. Parkinson's really drains her energy; she tires quickly.

Last month I paid off two low balance furniture accounts & it really impacted my credit positively. I owed less than $1,000 on each, but just paying them off has my credit score solidly above 800 again. I have one more furniture account that I'm due to pay off on 3 years. I already paid the 2% fee to incur no future interest so it doesn't pay for me to pay it off early. 

Today is the end of the third quarter as well as the end of September so I'll post a net work update soon!

On Monday, my TSP balance passed the $1.5 million mark for the first time. Pretty exciting! It first reached $1 million less than 2 years ago.

I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but when I took $10k out of my savings to pay off my credit cards I changed my monthly contributions to replenish my savings. I was contributing $100 a month to my savings and $500 a month to my brokerage account. I reversed the contributions to build my savings back up. So now I'm contributing $500 to my savings and just $100 to my brokerage account. I am still maxing out my TSP & IRA so I am still investing a significant account monthly even with this reduction. I have no plans to go back for the foreseeable future. My car is ten years old & I'm putting significant mileage on it now. I will need to fund my next car.