Category Archives: Net Worth

3 Years!

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This month marks THREE years since I started blogging about my journey to financial independence/Retiring Early!

Happy 3rd birthday to Quietly Saving! 🙂

Back Then

Although my first post on this blog was in April 2014, I had made a note of my finances in March – my starting or pre-FI plan numbers!

Here’s the comparison between my starting numbers and my most recent update:

  • March 2014 – Future Fund: £30,075
    March 2017 – Future Fund: £100,442
  • March 2014 – Net Worth: £74,595
    March 2017 – Net Worth: £171,208

The increases are largely due to new capital being chucked in every month, although I have also been lucky with investment gains from the favourable stock markets these past three years. My property has also seen a surprising 26% increase in value (I know…outside London!), which has helped bump up my net worth.

I’ve aimed to save/invest as much of my net salary as possible (averaging around 40-45%), and also put away income generated from extra curricular activities, such as cashback, gambling winnings, matched betting and other online activities.

As I’m currently unemployed, the income from these extra curricular activities or side hustles will play a vital part in keeping the investment ‘snowball‘ rolling as it were. I’ll also continue to reinvest any dividends/interest I receive.

Courtesy of http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes

Thank You

A big thanks to all who take the time to read this humble little blog – it’s a great incentive to me to know that people have a passing interest in what I have to say about my little journey and I love to read your comments and private emails. Thank you very much for helping me remain accountable, giving me encouragement and ideas, and helping me stick to my plan and aim for my goals!

Next Chapter

The last three years documented what I was able to achieve on an average salary, working for a company I’d been with for over 20 years. Anything I write now will be part of the next chapter of my life, including how I’ll get on whilst not employed and what happens with my next job.

I can say that my plan for FIRE is still very much on, just suffering from a slight hiccup but certainly not dead and buried!  🙂

And on that note, I hope you all have a great Easter!

February 2017 Savings, plus other Updates

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Time for another update!

Again, my ‘income’ this month has been derived from my pay-in-lieu-of-notice (PILON) from my last job.

So, how have I done in February?

Well, I achieved my highest ever savings rate –  79.8%! Woo hoo! 🙂

Rather incredible but most certainly a one-off, largely due to the work bonus which I used to purchase my Dogs of the FTSE portfolio earlier in the month.

This pushes my average savings rate so far to 66.7% but as mentioned before, if I’m still jobless in April, my savings rate is going to be at or around 0%….

February’s savings was boosted by £50 from rent received, £229.75 Jobseekers Allowance (ahem, gotta make the most of ALL my income while I can), £63.10 affiliate income from OddsMonkey* and I had a £10 lotto win which I’ve chucked into the pot too.

Future Fund 

The big extra capital injection and the stock markets still being favourable to my portfolios despite political shenanigans means that my Future Fund is now up to £98,642, which is getting rather close to that big milestone!

Dividends and Other Income

Dividends received this month (which will be reinvested): Continue reading →

January 2017 Savings, plus other Updates

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Ok, the first savings/investment update of the year and things don’t look too different from much of last year.

My ‘income’ this month has been derived from my pay-in-lieu-of-notice (PILON) from my last job.

Previously, my savings rate calculation was based on my net income from my main salaried job, ie net of tax, NI and company pension contribution.  The PILON is net of tax and NI.

So, how have I done in January?

My savings rate was 53.6%, a great start to the year!

That said, if I’m still jobless in April, my savings rate is going to be at or around 0%….

However, next month’s number should get a very big boost as it’ll include my bonus. My highest ever savings rate so far is 70.4%, achieved in March 2015. It’s possible I could better this…watch this space!

January’s savings was boosted by £70.84 from TopCashback* and £50 from rent received.

Future Fund 

With the crippled £ sterling doing a creditable impression of a bottom-feeder, my Future Fund continues to ignore other political shenanigans and is now up to £92.321.

Dividends and Other Income

Dividends received this month (which will be reinvested): Continue reading →

December 2016 Savings, plus other Updates

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Hi all, I’m back! 🙂

I’ll talk about my hols in a later post but right now, I need to get my final 2016 numbers out, plus an update on how I did against my goals.

Apologies in advance for this long post but here goes…

My savings rate in December was 40.6%, resulting in an overall average in 2016 of 44.9%. Although it meant that I failed in my goal, I’m pretty satisfied as I was able to beat 2015’s savings rate of 43.7%!

December’s savings was boosted by £122.25 affiliate income from Siteground* and Oddsmonkey*, £100 from rent received and £100 from matched betting winnings.

Future Fund 

With the crippled £ sterling continuing its slide, my Future Fund got a big boost, up to £91,101. The number looks good on paper/online and I’m a bit giddy that it’s getting closer and closer to that coveted £100k milestone. However, I’m not kidding myself that things are all rosy – the UK is poorer as a result of this currency slide and of course, at some point, the stock market will come crashing down again.

Net Worth

I’ve not mentioned my net worth in a while, only because it’s not something I regularly track. Anyway, my net worth is now £163,004, an increase of 39% from the start of 2016.

I have no idea what a ‘good’ net worth number should be so I’ll just say that I think that’s a pretty good increase!

Dividends and Other Income

Dividends received this month (which will be reinvested): Continue reading →