April Update

The official monthly update.

Items:

• My wife's bonus finally showed, and things are moving smoothly.
  
• My work union is negotiating a new contract, which will include a raise.
  
• I'm working as hard as I can to get back into school.
  
• I've increased my 401(k) contribution to 5% (3% matched).

Goals Update

• Review
• Financial
• Credit card debt totaling $0 (No change) ("deadbeat" credit card balance isn't counted. That card is paid off every month) (goal $0)
• Loan debt totaling $0 *GOAL REACHED*
  
• Loan debt totaling $0 *GOAL REACHED*
  
• Car loan totaling $18,448.46 (No change)
  
• Emergency fund totaling $7263.76 (up $1,955.04) (goal $7,500)
• Roth IRA contributions to date: In savings, $3590.74 (up $1114.8), invested in DCA plans, $300 (up $100)(goal $5000)
• Charitable
• Total hours volunteered: 21 (goal: 100)
  

My wife's bonus has already been distributed, and all the remainder after savings, investment, and the car down payment are hers, as she so graciously agreed.

The stimulus payment will show up soon. We had a direct deposit refund, so we'll get ours in a short while. Me and my wife had a discussion about what to do with each of our shares ($600 each, but I'm not going to decide what to do with her money.)

My wife has been halfway getting into this frugality thing too. I'm very proud of her. We agreed that half of our money will go to our largest debt (the new car), and the other half can be spent as desired. I'll probably just put mine in my IRA.

Right now, we just need to maintain, and cut costs where we can. I think at some point soon, we might sit down and discuss a monthly budget. I've got enough information from my pay stubs to know about how much I get paid now (paid per hour, and it varies by a bit from paycheck to paycheck.)