Summer Rants

New mid-month blog post everyone!  I'm going to try and new bulleted-style and see how I like it.  Here goes nothing! 

• We have Central AIR!!  (Hallelujah!) and just in time.  They finished the implementation of the system and two days later a crazy heat/humidity wave hit the area!  Although it was brutal outside, we were nice a cozy at 75 degrees inside!  I can't believe we waited three years for this
• However, no housing project on a 95 year home go smoothly.  Although the AC system is in place and working - our electrician informed us that that our electrical panel would need to be upgraded (for $1500) and that our old Knob-and-Tube wiring would need to be removed (at $2,000, but up to $10,000 if we were crazy).  Just what I want to hear after shelling out $8k.
• The Pirates are 19 games over .500 and right on the heels of the Cardinals for the division lead.  I remain skeptical that the current roster can play .600 baseball over 162 games, but I am loving the ride and hoping for the best every night.  My skepticism comes from years of let downs and the fact that the line-up has glaring holes (RF & 1B)
• Friday morning was like every other morning.  I woke up and spent some time with the Boy.  I got dressed for work and prepared to let our dog out so she could do her business.  Then, I noticed - The Water!!   The cold water hose to the washing machine had frayed and water was spraying all over my kitchen.  By spraying, I mean visiously dispensing water and soaking everything in its path - including the garage below it.  I felt like I was in a mad Three Stooges episode as I tried to turn the water off while getting hosed in the face!
• $15 for new hoses (steel this time) and unknown damage to the garage ceiling await. 
• The Summer Semester is coming to a close.  I have a final tonight and tomorrow and then I get 4 weeks off.  Only one semester remains until I consider myself a Master of Business Administration!  Not too shabby!!!  It's been a grind, but I've definitely enjoyed the experience and am happy I did it.  However, I am looking forward to bigger and better.
• When it rains, it pours.  Or leaks.  As in, my basement lets in water EVERY time it rains.  It comes from the cracks in the walls.  It comes from the floor!  (Have I mentioned I hate old homes)  I'm not sure how or why this problem has arisen all the sudden - but it could be an easy fix (waterproof the walls) or ugly fix (dig up foundation). 
• Have I mentioned how miserable homeownership can be?
• I'm signed up for Mud on the Mountain in November!  A 7.7 mile run with 26 obstacles in between.  What could be more exciting! It's going to be tough but I'm happy with the training workouts and the change of pace that it has provided.  Bench press was getting boring.
• My Referee Side Hustle is starting up.  I'm having meetings with my crew and already have 9 games lined up for the season.  I'm real excited to be working Friday nights this year!  It should be enjoyable and exciting venture this fall!

June 2013 Net Worth Review

This is very late.  We were on vacation in Hilton Head Island, SC over the first week of July and I was having connection issues at the office this past week.  So, I apologize for the tardy post, but the NW Review is here!!  Lots to discuss!!

 

Here's to the Numbers!!

Cash - $21,595 ($906)

Investments - $108,441 (-$5,838)
Home Value - $197,000 ($0)
Personal Assets - $51,861 ($0)
Less: Liabilities - $178,448 ($1,323)

Assets -

Cash - This is a little misleading.  The cash is inflated as the work done on the house was not completed yet and the money to pay the contractor sits in my checking account.  Also, our credit card bills have been higher than normal this summer - which I'm hopeful is just the Summer Blues!

Investments - The big change here is that traded $4,700 from our savings account in order to pay for home repairs.  What home repairs you ask?  CENTRAL AIR!  That's right.  Our home is now fully equipped with central air and the greatness and cool-ness that it provides.  Yes, it forced us to tap into our savings a little bit, but it cemented the return that we will be able to get when we sell it.

Also, June was a very up and down month in the market.  Just more worry that BBB (Big Bad Bernanke) will stop printing money and everything will slow down.  I'm not concerned.

Personal Assets - 

No change posted here.  We had a second realtor come through the house and confirm the $225k valuation.  However, for consistency, I'd rather keep the home value as is and just reap the rewards when we sell it.

Liabilities -
Mortgage - $129,985 - Below $130k!  Celebrate a little.

Student Loans - $28,771- A boring month compared to May.  I did get the Fed to recognize that I am a Part-Time Student again, which means that I won't be making payments on my 1.51% loans anymore, but I will snowball that payment into my 6.8% grad loan (the unsubsidized one).

Acura Loan - $19,474.  Boring...
  

Total Joint Net Worth - $200,449.  So our overall NW fell this past month, but in actuality, it rose.  Confusing, I know.  The summer spending has me a little worried, if only because Cash is a premium this month as several large bills (Real Estate Taxes and Fall Tuition) have come due.  They are all planned for, but it still creates a large hole in our savings account that will need to be replenished.

I'm still happy with the debt repayment schedule.  As much as I would like to cash in Life Insurance policies and deduct a big chunk, I'm more comfortable waiting until the house situation is resolved.  It's boring in the midst of the process, but necessary to be able to break through.  Stay the course.