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Dear Money Nerd's,
Each passing month, I ritualistically revisit and recalibrate my net worth—less out of habit, more out of quiet defiance. There’s a finish line shimmering in the distance: emancipation from the confines of my office cubicle. And I intend to reach it soon.
At 35, I’ve set my sights on crossing the seven-figure threshold within three years. The clock isn’t ticking—it’s thundering.
Life Update — July 2022
July didn’t whisper—it roared.
Lady Money Nerd and I embarked on what can only be described as a cinematic escape—twelve of us, a “dirty dozen,” converging in Greece for a ten-day immersion into beauty, indulgence, and camaraderie.
Perched atop a villa that seemed to float above impossibly cerulean waters, we found ourselves in Paros—a place that feels less like geography and more like poetry. Days blurred into a montage of catamaran sails, vineyard wanderings, chef-curated feasts, and ATV escapades through postcard-perfect villages.
And just when we thought the crescendo had peaked, Santorini entered the frame—cliffside living that somehow eclipsed its own mythos.
One evening, suspended between sky and sea, a friend turned to me and asked,
“Do you ever question if we’re living this life the right way?”
Without hesitation, I replied,
“Every single day.”
Because here’s the unvarnished truth—luxury fades into the background. What lingers… is people.
Yes, the massages were exquisite. The dinners? Impeccable. But those weren’t the moments etched into memory.
It was the wine-fueled laughter on night one—the kind that spirals into inside jokes no outsider could decode.
It was the rogue cat staging a breakfast heist.
It was the… plumbing incident we’ll collectively pretend never happened.
Oddly enough, the most enduring fragments were the least curated.
That trip—arguably the longest I’ve ever taken—didn’t just refresh me. It recalibrated me.
We don’t grind endlessly to accumulate extravagance, though I won’t deny its occasional allure. The real currency?
Time.
Freedom.
Shared moments where money dissolves into irrelevance.
Two weeks with people you cherish, uninterrupted by financial concern—that’s the apex. Everything else is garnish.
Net Worth Update — July 2022
And then… reality came crashing back in.
Let me preface this with a minor heart attack: at one point, my dashboard suggested I’d magically gained $157,000 overnight. A glitch, of course—Personal Capital momentarily lost its mind and quadruple-counted an account. A fleeting illusion of wealth… quickly revoked.
Back to earth.
July was merciless in the markets.
The S&P 500 shed nearly 9%—a descent fueled by the same recurring antagonist: stubborn inflation. The Federal Reserve, caught in a reactive dance, signaled continued rate hikes. Investors, predictably uneasy, began unloading assets. The domino effect was swift and unforgiving.
Translation? My portfolio didn’t just dip—it crumpled.
And August hasn’t exactly offered redemption. We’re halfway through, and the slide continues.
For years, I’ve half-jokingly referenced the concept of an “Everything Bubble”—a bloated ecosystem inflated by relentless monetary expansion. The theory? When one asset class corrects, others won’t remain unscathed.
So far… that hypothesis is aging rather well.
Equities? Down.
Real estate? Cooling.
Gold? Slipping.
Crypto? Also bleeding.
No safe harbor in sight.
My Current Strategy
In its simplest form: stay employed.
If we’re indeed entering a bona fide recession—and the indicators are stacking up—then preserving income becomes paramount.
Why?
Because hindsight is always cruelly brilliant.
How many times have you looked back at 2008 and thought, “If only I had the capital—and the courage—I would’ve bought everything in sight.”
Well, this might be that moment in slow motion.
It’s not particularly flattering for monthly net worth updates, but there’s a silver lining lurking beneath the surface.
If income remains intact, it transforms into ammunition.
Every market dip? A discount.
Every downturn? An entry point.
It’s far less terrifying when you’re positioned to act rather than react.
If you’ve ever hesitated, thinking valuations were stretched—this is your invitation.
Volatility isn’t the villain. It’s the gateway.
Account Movements
Lately, I’ve embraced a near-autonomous system—financial autopilot, if you will.
- $1,000 continues to flow monthly into my Total Stock Market Index Fund without intervention.
- My 401(k) contributions are maxed with mechanical precision each paycheck.
- The Roth IRA? Fully funded back in January.
Consistency over complexity.
Spending Overview — July 2022: $3,148.75
No theatrics here—the budget took a hit.
Travel: $750
Frankly, not egregious considering two weeks of elevated living for two. Strategic use of credit card points shaved off what would’ve easily been another $2,000+.
Clothing: $120
A rare wardrobe overhaul—something I attempt roughly once every half-decade. A few returns should claw back about $100.
Vehicle Expenses: $150
The Mazda demanded its first real attention—brake pads and a handful of mechanical intricacies I barely understood. Still, under 50,000 miles and running like a dream.
Groceries: $235
Before you applaud my frugality—this anomaly requires context. Lady Money Geek quietly shouldered the bulk of grocery spending while we were home.
Final Reflection
Markets are turbulent. Headlines are noisy. Portfolios are bruised.
But beneath the chaos lies opportunity—quiet, patient, waiting.
So I’ll leave you with this:
How are you navigating this storm?
P.S. If you’re not already tracking your net worth, you’re navigating blind. Tools like Personal Capital have become indispensable in my arsenal—clear, intuitive, and, best of all, free
🤓
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