I cannot believe it has been one year since I originally built my spreadsheets, documented my formal plan, and launched this website. When I put my spreadsheets together in early/mid-2020 I documented the monthly goals from June 2020 through 2023. The live tracker on The Numbers page updates with actuals each month as the market fluctuates, so you cannot see the original monthly goals. Thankfully, I’ve made it a habit to memorialize the numbers in a hidden column about every 6 months. Back in August 2020 my net worth goal for August 2021 was $557,473 and I’m happy to report that I’ve met and surpassed this! ???

The biggest takeaway from the prior year of saving, planning and financial goal setting has been the peace of mind that comes with truly understanding my finances. I’ve always been a saver and compared to most Americans my unsecured debt load has never been terribly high, but I never felt financially secure. There is a level of calm in my life now that wasn’t there before. I still worry about money and probably always will. However, the knowledge that there is a realistic end goal with achievable milestones and a year of meeting or exceeding expected results feels fabulous.

I’ve written about one of my favorite financial books, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, a couple of times on this website. In the book Morgan shares an often referenced anecdote and obituary poem written by Kurt Vonnegut:

True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.
I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel ‘Catch-22’
has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.”
And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
Not bad! Rest in peace!”

Learning how to be happy with enough and figuring out how to get the goal line to stop moving has removed so much stress from my shoulders. I unconsciously started this transition over 10 years ago when I questioned, and calculated, the financial pros/cons of owning a car. I feel that I live a rich life and I honestly do not want for anything. Living with enough does not mean living without.

Cheers 🍻