January, 2021 Update

Our net worth climbed to $91,890 and €75,505, an increase of 5.34% and 5.77% respectively. For the first time, our assets grew above $100,000.

Stocks did well, and we had an inflow of cash that obviously more than made up for our spending. I bought another musical instrument, and actually, these numbers include a double charge for which I haven't yet been refunded, so it was a surprisingly good month. We sold something to some friends for a few hundred euros, and at the end of January, I received a bonus as a kind of stimulus due to the pandemic.

Regarding the pandemic, we can't do anything besides order stuff online. We considered buying some plane tickets, but it seems pre-mature at this moment. We can't go to bars, and we can't even have friends over, which often prompts us to spend a lot on groceries. There was none of that this month. Our money went to things, generally, that we can resell later.

We also hit the bonus for an American credit card, which gave us a bunch of very useful points, which we'll eventually use to save money flying back to Germany one day. I value those at 1¢ per point, though the tickets I plan using them on will cost much more than that were I to buy them with cash.

GameStop Thoughts

Since that's the big market news at the moment, I'll say that I'm not participating in this trade. It just isn't my kind of thing. And I generally try to resist this kind of stuff, even if I might end up winning big. My belief is this: the behavior that might make you outrageously rich suddenly is the same kind of behavior that might make you broke suddenly. So I'll stick to my plan, which is doing fine.

I've also watched r/wallstreetbets for a while as a lurker, and while their trade ideas are often really good, there's a time element to them that requires you to be early or not take part at all. However, with the reinforcing peer pressure on the subreddit -- all that talk about "diamond hands" -- it can incentivize the willing latecomers to participate much later than is wise. Just remember, every time you buy, it means someone else is selling.

Anyway, be careful and good luck.