Our net worth increased to $52,326 and €47,141, representing a growth of 1.7% and 1.98% respectively month over month.
Investment Volatility
I hadn't expected a positive return this month because of the trade war and subsequent market sell offs. It hurt our numbers, but that's the life for anyone holding risk assets.
I'm getting pretty good and dealing with the volatility. The past year or so has really opened my eyes to what the markets can do as a whole and what can happen to individual stocks. Some of my positions have really gotten hurt the past month, but I don't see any reason to sell them, so I'll just sit tight and consider what they'll look like in ten or more years.
Larger Income
The big reason our number was up was because I got paid a bunch of extra money for some extra work I did, and my wife worked through the summer rather than travel to the US with me. When we take our trips abroad, we have to not only reckon with the costs of the trip itself but the opportunity costs associated with her missing work. Things slow down in the summer here, but they don't grind to a halt, so she can still earn decent money.
Vacation Costs
The difference in vacation costs this year vs. last year were enormous. The flights were paid for with Citi ThankYou points and some taxes and fees, and then I spent a few hundred bucks while there. Everything we did that was sort of fancy was paid for by family, and had they not wanted those things, I could have done without. The goal of these trips to connect with them rather than have a fancy vacation. I'd be just as happy sitting in their living rooms as on a boat or beach.
I didn't pay for housing, because they housed me. I never paid for a hotel and was welcomed into family homes for the duration. I try to be a good house guest, and they're happy to have me, but that could change if their circumstances change.
It will be hard to ever switch back to the vacation style where my wife and I travel together for several weeks to various corners of the US. We're already planning a targeted trip for her to see her family directly that will require probably no hotels or rental cars or long drives since I won't be there. And if she does that, and if some family visits me, then maybe we can avoid a trip to the US next summer.
Turning Stuff into Money
I sold a camera this month, and although I enjoyed the camera and will miss using it, the money hitting my hand in return for it felt good.
We have several things that I really need to get onto Facebook Marketplace and Ebay Kleinanzeigen. I was shocked how easy it was, and these services reminded me of Craigslist minus all the weird stuff.
I also sold an old iPad while in the US to Gazelle. I should have done it years ago as it only netted me ~ $26. But, hey, that was money I didn't have before, and now I don't have a device just collecting dust and mental space.
September Forecast
I bet we're going to lose money this next month. I have an enormous dentist bill to pay, and we didn't earn a ton of money last month. We also have a giant tax pre-payment to make, so there you go.
But the market could spike, and if we restrain our spending, then it could all be a miraculous wash.
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