Harlan Vaughn's Blog

Wow, I’m actually sad to be typing this on my birthday eve. Exactly a year after I originally intended to reach my goal of a $500,000 net worth, I’ve achieved and surpassed it. Considering life has “lifed” so much in these last years, it feels surreal to know that I’m well on my way to…

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.

I have three real estate projects going on simultaneously:

Building a cabin in the woods of ArkansasRehab for an 105-year-old house in MemphisNew home purchase pending for an August closing

I expressed to my real estate group that I might be taking on too much at once, but they chuckled and said something to the effect of: Do as much as you can. 

My new kingdom lol

And it DOES sound like a lot, but between the three projects, there’s quite a lot of waiting. Waiting for permits to get approved, contractors to be ready, the loan to close. So I do everything in pieces, a little here and a little there. So far, it kinda works?

I’m spending a lot of cash lately. The cash outlay for these projects is big. Even so, the equity, appreciation, and monthly income will ultimately be even greater — and I don’t think I’ll lose money on any of it. But I am leaving “save” mode and well into “spend” mode. Sometimes you gotta put it all out there so it can come back later.

Plus, these projects are what’s going to take me to the next level.

I’ve been busy building my team, making connections, and getting everything in motion.

This month, I’ll talk about where I stand in the current moment. Next month will be my final Freedom update, and I’ll include my projections for these projects and where I plan to be within the next year or so, say.

July 2025 Freedom update

Link: Track your net worth with Empower Personal DashboardLink: Join Points Hub — the ultimate points, miles, and travel rewards community — on Circle!

I’ve also been helping to get my grandmother’s house redone on the side (lol). It’s getting fresh exterior paint, a deck glow up, and some pesky limbs removed from overhead.

A comp with the same floor plan sold in under a week for $180,000, so I’m going to mark that house as a $180K gain as it’s fully paid off. That alone puts me well over $500K with my current net worth of $382K.

Balmy day, sweet sangria

But the major highlight of this month is being under contract for a new house. The deal has a lot of moving pieces, but I got an incredible price and will hopefully close in early August. Because of that, I’ll release my final Freedom update closer to the middle of next month.

I’m also going to my first-ever IN-PERSON tax sale and can’t wait to see what happens with that. I’ll either pick up another new property or learn a lot in a short amount of time (or both slash everything). I’m excited and took two days off work to do it: one day for the tax sale and another day to potentially secure my new property? Or just putter around, tbh.

This junk is all gone now

Earlier today, I was at the house in Memphis with a junk removal service. There was an incredible amount of utter CRAP, and every contractor that’s looked at it so far said they couldn’t give a rehab estimate until the place was empty.

As of this week, it will be. It’s starting to look like a house and not a big trash heap. I’ll get that remodel going after I close on the other deal. (Don’t want to apply for a new loan until it’s done.)

The house that’s closing needs a fair bit of work, too. I opened a new LLC to hold any other new properties. I’m officially in the real estate business. My focus is shifting to getting these places cash flowing ASAP. But I’m having fun scooping them up, too.

Financial ponderings

It all sounds like gobbledygook, but I have it all plotted on spreadsheets and kanban boards (not just in my mind).

A lovely sundowner with mom

I expect my net worth to temporarily DROP, which will be kind of alarming. It’s already starting to. I’ll be spending cash as soon as it hits my account and carrying a balance on my business credit cards. But on the other side of this work is equity and cash flow — especially for the cabin and upcoming rental house.

For a while, I anticipate rolling cash right back into the projects, making upgrades as I can. At some point, I won’t be able to mentally hold another project, but until I reach that level, I’ll keep plugging away.

I feel assured anyway, because I don’t intend to touch my current investments, which are now up to $325K.

Pretty good

Even if I never add a single cent (wait pennies aren’t a thing any more) nickel, I’ll have $2.3M in 25 years with an 8% return. But I’m adding $1,000 a month, so that’ll be closer to $3.2M. Plus whatever the real estate stuff does.

I’m thinking long term while I can, although I’m starting to acknowledge that, wow, I’m in my 40s. Somehow I feel more urgent and daring in ways that I never did in my 20s — with a bigger dose of “eff it,” if that’s possible. The timeline is getting shorter. I gotta enjoy what I have right NOW instead of just thinking about some future self. I’m becoming the future self!

This month’s progress

During the last month I:

Got a house under contract.Cleaned up my tax sale property.Contributed $1,000 to my 401k via bi-weekly contributions.Continued building a cabin in Arkansas… will it work? We’ll see.Held the line with my credit cards and other monthly payments.Did more cabin research than I’ll ever admit. (Y’all should see my Pinterest boards!)By the numbers

Here’s how it all looks in rows and columns.

CurrentLast MonthChange2025 Goal ASSETS Overall investments$324,840$311,632+$13,208As much as possible Roth IRA total$52,539$50,458+$2,081 Roth IRA 2025$207$207xx$7,000 (in new contributions) Taxable brokerage + UTMAs$4,527$4,368+$159$25,000 (total invested) Savings$91$42+$49$30,000 Investment property #1$21,500$21,500xx$20,000 in equity Raw land$40,400$40,400xxNo goal, just including for completeness Haven't gotten 2025 assessments yet LIABILITIES Car loan $19,770$20,059-$289As much as possible Credit card #1 $0$0xx$0COMPLETE! Credit card #2 (.99% APR)$9,006$8,998+$8As much as possible Net worth in Empower Personal Dashboard$382,213$375,713+$6,500$500,000 (overall goal) Track your net worth with Personal Capital

Houses n stuff

Short- and long-term goals still include:

Pay off credit cards.Save $7,000 this year in my Roth IRA.Build up cash reserves for savings and to buy more real estate.Acquire more real estate.Develop my land for more opportunities.July 2025 Freedom update bottom line

You know that meme or saying or whatever: “You can just do things“? Man, I took that to heart.

The more I take action, the more things start to swim along and take me with it. It’s like the world is conspiring to make my ideas actually happen, and I’m just the originator or designer or planner. My ultimate goal is to spend all my time working on my own projects, which, working on these, has felt closer to the flow state than I’ve consistently experienced in a WHILE. And to spend time delighting in the company of my loved ones.

With all that said, I’m preparing a big final update with all my projections and numbers… but it’s feeling like I might leap frog over $500K and land right into $1M. That would be stellar, and I contribute much of it to “just doing things.”

As always, thank you for reading and following my journey. Hope everyone is doing well!

Stay scrappy out there!

-H.

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.

This month, I joined a book club that’s part of my local real estate investors group. They’ve been supportive about building the cabin in Arkansas, finding funding to rebuild the house in Memphis, and have given me lots of ideas about how to acquire more real estate.

I went to Arkansas to get well + septic installed on the land, put gravel down on the little road, and cleared a site for the future build. I’m looking into DSCR loans and investor financing for some houses near my other properties.

Mage of the trees

Anyway, I didn’t expect the first book club book to be all that much. I mean, I’ve read tons of similar ones over the years. I don’t know if it’s the group aspect or if it’s just really finding me at the right time — probably both — but 10x Is Easier Than 2x is inspiring me right now.

The premise is that you do things because you want them, NOT because you need them, and that creates simplified focus. That’s currently blowing my mind. I’ve been thinking about what I want and why a lot this month. My biggest factors are all things you can probably guess:

Have control over my time.Not be dependent on outside employers for money and health insurance.Spend more time with my kids.Make more art (write, paint, dabble in music).Create long-lasting assets that I can pass along and have fun along the way.

And as I get into the final stretch of my $500,000 goal, what I want is leading me toward all of this.

June 2025 Freedom update

Link: Track your net worth with Empower Personal DashboardLink: Join Points Hub — the ultimate points, miles, and travel rewards community — on Circle!

My current net worth stands at nearly $376,000 right now. Just last week, a house with the exact same floor plan as the one I’m inheriting sold for $180,000.

I’m not wanting to count my chickens before they hatch, but that amount would easily put me over my goal if I went ahead and included it.

Good digging sites

And even with the cabin, adding a well, septic system, and power lines will increase the value of the land. The cabin, once it’s done, will also have immediate equity. You can see in the photo above where it’ll go. I’m excited to start the framing in the next few weeks.

I’m finally at the place where everything is set to grow fast, which feels surreal after “slogging away” for seemingly so long. I think I’ll fly past the $500K mark and start entertaining the $1M mark.

I don’t care as much about the number any more. Now I’m getting excited for all the projects I can create with my own time instead of making them for other people.

Real estate ponderings

Between now and August 2025, I’m going to add a few more properties to my portfolio. I’ll need to get some type of funding to make repairs and/or build and add new things (fences, decks, rooms). Then I’ll need to pivot quickly into managing the properties: Keeping them rented and flowing cash.

Looking up

As AI creeps in and I feel less and less secure at my main job, I’ve been feeling like I need to find ways to supplement — and replace — my income. And fast, especially if there are loans to repay.

And sure, the world could explode in a nuclear haze any day now, but I’ll continue to look forward, even though that feels absolutely dystopian.

Other stuff

OK like, what about my Roth IRA? The UTMAs for the kids? My savings account??? Paying down my car loan?!?!

I’m plowing all my cash right now into the cabin:

$6,000 to clear the land, level the road, and put down gravel$6,000 for well$5,000 for septic$25,000 to frame 16×28 cabin + two porches$10,000 for wiring and electrical$10,000 to finish, furnish, and appliances

That’s $62,000 to build a 448sf cabin on raw land in Arkansas. Once it’s done, I’m thinking it can generate around $4,000 per month as a short-term rental, assuming a $200 nightly rate and 20 days per month occupancy. That’s 15 to 16 months to pay for itself. Not bad. (And fine if it takes longer.)

You see this guy in the woods, wyd?

As long as everything else can hold for the next few months while I get it built, which it can, everything will be alright. I’ll keep trying to get other stuff going, too. If I spend a couple of years going full-force into real estate to build equity and cash flow, it’ll be worth it. I’ve got a good team together so far.

But yes — I do think about my other financial goals. This one just happens to be taking all my time, energy, and resources right now. And yes, it is what I want.

This month’s progress

During the last month I:

Contributed $1,000 to my 401k via bi-weekly contributions.Officially started building a cabin in Arkansas… will it work? We’ll see.Kept making payments on my credit cards.Got preapproved for yet another mortgage (potentially my third house purchase).Did more cabin research than I’ll ever admit.Held the line with my credit cards and other monthly payments.

I want my. I want my. I want my road trip drinks

By the numbers

Here’s how it all looks in rows and columns.

CurrentLast MonthChange2025 Goal ASSETS Overall investments$311,632$301,863+$9,769As much as possible Roth IRA total$50,458$49,226+$1,232 Roth IRA 2025$207$0+$207$7,000 (in new contributions) Taxable brokerage + UTMAs$4,368$4,290+$78$25,000 (total invested) Savings$42$64-$22$30,000 Investment property #1$21,500$21,500xx$20,000 in equity Raw land$40,400$40,400xxNo goal, just including for completeness Haven't gotten 2025 assessments yet LIABILITIES Car loan $20,059$20,059xxAs much as possible Credit card #1 $0$0xx$0COMPLETE! Credit card #2 (0% APR)$8,998$9,291-$293As much as possible Net worth in Empower Personal Dashboard$375,713$368,158+$7,555$500,000 (overall goal) Track your net worth with Personal Capital

Next stop: 80%

Short- and long-term goals still include:

Pay off credit cards.Save $7,000 this year in my Roth IRA.Build up cash reserves for savings and to buy more real estate.Acquire more real estate.Develop my land for more opportunities.June 2025 Freedom update bottom line

This is the summer that I finally step into my personal goals and set the framework for the rest of my life. I mean, I’m 40 now. I’m halfway through this life.

With the kids getting older, I have more time to think philosophically about what the next season looks like. Operating from pure wants instead of needs is such a reframe. It feels luxurious, kinda selfish, very liberating.

All in all, I’m in a good spot, I’m healthy and life is good. I work, play with the kids, sleep when I can, do other stuff when I can. There’s no shortage of projects. And whether by choice or force, I’m working on them one at a time — but they’re coming in at a solid pace. I think Summer 2025 will be a time I remember: When Things Finally Changed. All that to say, all good, still here and grateful for it. Easy does it.

As always, thank you for reading and following my journey. Hope everyone is doing well!

Stay scrappy out there!

-H.

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.

Talk about a recovery. As of today, I’m up $46,000 vs. last month and a hair’s breadth of 75% to my $500,000 goal.

Real estate stuff: The cabin isn’t happening. Update 5/16/25: Yes it is!

It’s not a “never,” but a “not right now.” Long story short, the zoning office was requiring that I pave a 20-foot road, complete with curb, gutter, and fire hydrant, and were throwing the book at me about it. Update 5/16/25: They dropped this requirement. Now all I have to do is get approval for the septic and well from the county. 

Now, I probably could’ve fought it, but, tbh… I have so many other things going on that I’ll just move on to another project.

Update 5/16/25: So I made one extra call an said, “REALLY?!” and they dug into it an found some old ordinance exemption and that was that. Permit fee is only $60. 

At CardCon 2025 with many talented colleagues

Home prices are dropping. It’s to the point where buying a house may be cheaper than continuing to rent, or at least a wash. I applied for a mortgage today and will look at a few houses over the weekend.

One way or another, I’m making some real estate deals happen within the current environment. But for now, I’m enjoying the progress and trust — I’m planning future moves. Maybe literally (within the same school district bc #suburbandadlife).

May 2025 Freedom update

Link: Track your net worth with Empower Personal DashboardLink: Join Points Hub — the ultimate points, miles, and travel rewards community — on Circle!

I made it to CardCon 2025 in Florida earlier this month. It was an absolute blast to see people throughout the credit card industry. One of many highlights was getting to hang out with Dan and JJ from Dan’s Deals.

Icons

There were many moments of genuine connection and an overall well-planned event. It’s my favorite conference, and I’ll do my best to make it next year for the 10th anniversary. As you can tell from the feature photo, many of us credit card writers and editors know one another. This event promoted a feeling of togetherness that I haven’t found at other conferences.

While there, I was also coordinating plans about the cabin and keeping an eye on local listings.

Real estate ponderings

Home prices are coming dowwwn. I’m of two minds about it. They could keep falling, and then I’ll have a $350K house that I paid $375K for (just an example). But even then, if it’s less than my current rent, either way, I’m saving on monthly expenses. So there’s no reason to wait.

And that latter part appeals to me quite a bit. Home prices around here have held pretty steady, historically speaking, and we plan to be here for at least 5 more years, so… we’re looking at a few houses this weekend just to feel it out. I’ll know it when I see it.

Blue skies. Blue skies. I had a blue sky.

It’d be the easiest move ever, and Warren wouldn’t have to switch schools (and we could move over the summer at a leisurely pace).

But then… owning a house and repairs and all that. I’d also be content to just keep renting for a while longer. Big ponderings.

Cabins?

Soooo the city zoning office in Arkansas is being real “by the book” about this cabin thing. They said I’d be responsible for paving a road, which costs thousands and thousands of dollars. On my building permit application, I estimated the cabin’s total build cost at $30,000.

Obvi, it doesn’t make sense to spend $100,000 on a road to a $30,000 cabin.

Peace in these woods

But Dear Reader, as I write this, they’ve called me back to say I could maybe get a special use permit. They are reviewing it. So I dunno. Mark this one as pending.

If it worked out, I’d be really excited. But also not getting my hopes up about it yet.

Update 5/16/25: By next update, I’ll hopefully have a start date for the framing! 

Other stuff

As I near a $400,000 net worth, I’m slowly taking stock of the house my grandmother will leave me, her life insurance, and whatever’s left upon her passing. Knowing I have that future rental income on the horizon makes me feel more secure about everything.

I hope she’s around for much longer, as I’d always rather have my people than any material things. I’m grateful I’ll have some padding, even if it’s years away.

It’s about prevention

I also now have the deed to the old tax sale dump, which is looking more like a teardown than a rehab. And tbh, that might be better for loan purposes, and also because I’m pretty sure it has asbestos siding and lead paint in there somewhere. But yeah, no urgency about that. I’ll get to it eventually. It ain’t going nowhere.

Between these projects, I’m assured of reaching my $500,000 goal one way or another. And the market has recovered a bit, although if 2025 has taught me anything, it’s to not depend on it in any way. That’s a big part of the renewed interest in real estate projects.

This month’s progress

During the last month I:

Contributed $1,000 to my 401k via bi-weekly contributions.Applied to build a cabin in Arkansas… will it work? We’ll see.Kept making payments on my credit cards.Got preapproved for yet another mortgage (potentially my third house purchase).Did more cabin research than I’ll ever admit.

And in a week, I’ll officially have a first grader.

We officially hit 100K miles on the ol’ van

By the numbers

Here’s how it all looks in rows and columns. It sure was nice turning the minuses into plus signs this month.

CurrentLast MonthChange2025 Goal ASSETS Overall investments$301,863$283,917+$17,946As much as possible Roth IRA total$49,226$46,980+$2,286 Roth IRA 2025$0$0xx$7,000 (in new contributions) Taxable brokerage + UTMAs$4,290$4,128+$162$25,000 (total invested) Savings$64$133-$69$30,000 Investment property #1$21,500$21,500xx$20,000 in equity Raw land$40,400$40,400xxNo goal, just including for completeness Haven't gotten 2025 assessments yet LIABILITIES Car loan $20,059$21,399-$1,340As much as possible Credit card #1 $0$0xx$0COMPLETE! Credit card #2 (0% APR)$9,291$10,282-$991As much as possible Net worth in Empower Personal Dashboard$368,158$322,270+$45,888$500,000 (overall goal) Track your net worth with Personal Capital

$400K, comin’ right up

Short- and long-term goals still include:

Pay off credit cards.Save $7,000 this year in my Roth IRA.Build up cash reserves for savings and to buy more real estate.Acquire more real estate.Develop my land for more opportunities.

I love their art. So much.

May 2025 Freedom update bottom line

I’m feeling good and settled, like everything will work out and be OK. I’ve been reaching out to build my team, and the networking has been incredible. Between the rehab/teardown, cabin build, and potential new primary residence, I’m looking forward to big projects and throwin’ down some roots in my old stomping ground. We’re painting my grandmother’s house, trimming up the trees, and doing a bit of landscaping to get the exterior in tip-top shape. These upgrades should last a while, and the paint colors are going to look so good once it’s complete.

I’m also working a lot, doing dad stuff (our five-year-old graduated kindergarten this week), and staying busy with ideas. It feels good, and I’m in my element. I guess it sounds like a lot all written out long-form, but it’s manageable with spreadsheets and diligent todo lists (I still use Todoist and Evernote after all these years, but always open to new productivity tools. Does anyone like/use Notion?).

As always, thank you for reading and following my journey. Hope everyone is doing well!

Stay scrappy out there!

-H.

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.

Note: I pulled these numbers before “Liberation Day,” so I’m sure they’re much lower now. 

I’m going to do 5 more of these updates, and then let them go. So after this one, 4 more — and end it one year after the date I originally set, which was August 2024.

Instead, we’ll end in August 2025. Not bad, considering the current state of the world and atrocious stock market.

Iconic H

So did I do it? Did I reach my goal? Not quite yet. But I have enough on the way that it’s inevitable. I feel secure, like I will have enough and so will the kids.

And while losing a job or income source would sting, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. When I account for the things that are happening, my net worth is comfortably over $500,000, which was the goal all along. So while I’m not wanting to count the chicks before they hatch, there’s enough that it will all work out and all be OK.

All that to say, I’m marking the goal as “COMPLETE” in August 2025… and will update again when I hit $1M.

April 2025 Freedom update

Link: Track your net worth with Empower Personal DashboardLink: Join Points Hub — the ultimate points, miles, and travel rewards community — on Circle!

So what’s going on?

My grandmother put her house in a trust, with me as the sole trustee. And while I hope we have her for many more years, I’ll eventually have the house, which is worth around $150,000 right now. It’s currently being painted and getting the trees trimmed. Next, we’ll install gutters with leaf guards and get the exterior as complete as possible.

Spent spring break in Arkansas last month

That way, when she passes, I’ll just need to do some updates inside to get it ready as a rental. Rents in the area are easily $1,600 a month, so I’ll have a cash flowing, paid off asset, plus all the equity. That alone would put my net worth at the $500,000 mark.

And then…

Tax sale rehab

I’m close to getting my first construction loan to rehab a house (that’s actually near my grandmother’s house). I paid $16,000 for it and will put about $100,000 worth of work into it. After it’s done, it should appraise for around $150,000. So, a $100K loan for a $150K house.

This’ll be a project and a half

The payments I’m currently looking at would be around $800 per month, and it should rent for $1,200 to $1,300 per month — covering the loan and cash flowing a little extra. With this setup, I’ll have $50,000 in equity. Plus, all the appreciation that builds.

I get the deed in a month and have a contractor ready to go. Looking forward to this summer project.

But it’s not the only one…

Cabins?

While in Arkansas, I got to fully explore my 2.5 acre plot of land — and it’s gorgeous.

Completely peaceful

My plan is to take out a personal loan and build one or two little cabins on the property. It’s located in an area with plenty of tourism, and I’ve been in touch with the local offices about building permits and zoning.

There are a few other cabins in the area, but this location is truly superb. I really think — and even the contractor agrees — that I could build a little cash cow of a short-term rental out here. I need to get the water and electric pulled over and have a couple of areas cleared. Then put down some gravel for paths and one little cabin to start.

This project should start in about a month if all goes well. So, plenty of ideas.

This plot is currently worth around $15,000 but should appraise for much more once the cabins are built. And I’ll need to pay back the loan, but if I’m running my numbers even a little close to correct, I can easily cover it with just a 30% occupancy rate.

Y’all may remember I ran several Airbnb properties for several years. And as an added benefit, I can always clear the calendar when I want the cabin for a weekend.

Other stuff

Lord help me, I cannot leave well enough alone. There are a couple more opportunities that are still in the idea phase. They’re interesting and exciting and keeping me up doing research and connecting with people, so that’s all fantastic.

Between my grandmother’s house, the rehab, building cabins, and any other ideas that come my way, I am:

Pivoting away from stocks and diversifying. Most of my current net worth is in stocks, so it’ll be good to have other assets that earn money in different ways (especially during downturns). Plus, I can’t keep fighting the tariffs and trade wars while I watch my net worth shrink.Adding real estate to my portfolio. It’s nice to have all the raw land, and even nicer to have a few structures generating funds. Tenants will be a fresh challenge, but I’m honestly not worried about it, because I’ll build systems that work for my own risk tolerance. As I do.Taking my net worth beyond $500,000. These projects are hard to quantify before they’re built, but also kinda not really. My grandmother’s house already has a value, the rehab has many comps in the area, and the cabin should cash flow enough to cover the loan plus more based on what’s already available.

Workin’ on it

So all this might feel tight for a while, but once it’s all done, I’ll be glad I did it. And the other stuff I’m pondering, if it works out, would be absolutely gravy.

My stocks lose more and more value every day, so instead of watching them bleed out, I’m gonna build other stuff — literally — until they recover (which I know could be years and years).

This month’s progress

During the last month I:

Contributed $1,000 to my 401k via bi-weekly contributions.Put a house worth $150K into a trust for myself.Got a contractor and loan officer for a gut rehab on a future rental property.Decided to build one or two cabins on my land in Arkansas as short-term rental houses.Got a few other ideas that are still baking.

Nowhere to go but up

By the numbers

And now for the cold declines. As mentioned, most of my net worth is wrapped up in stocks, and with the ongoing stock losses, my investments aren’t looking so hot.

CurrentLast MonthChange2025 Goal ASSETS Overall investments$283,917$305,672-$21,755As much as possible Roth IRA total$46,980$50,719-$3,739 Roth IRA 2025$0$0xx$7,000 (in new contributions) Taxable brokerage + UTMAs$4,128$4,384-$256$25,000 (total invested) Savings$133$55+$78$30,000 Investment property #1$21,500$16,000+$5,500$20,000 in equity Raw land$40,400$40,400xxNo goal, just including for completeness Haven't gotten 2025 assessments yet LIABILITIES Car loan $21,399$22,098-$699As much as possible Credit card #1 $0$0xx$0COMPLETE! Credit card #2 (0% APR)$10,282$11,465-$1,183As much as possible Net worth in Empower Personal Dashboard$322,270$360,024-$33,754$500,000 (overall goal) Track your net worth with Personal Capital

Let’s get these numbers up

Short- and long-term goals still include:

Pay off credit cards.Work up to 15% in 401k contributions from my job.Save $7,000 this year in my Roth IRA.Build up cash reserves for savings and to buy more real estate.Renovate my first investment property.Develop my land for more opportunities.April 2025 Freedom update bottom line

I started this draft a couple of days ago, when stock were low, and am publishing it now while stocks are down 5% for THE DAY. I’m not going to fight this. Instead, I’ll keep investing via my 401k contributions + company match and work on getting other long-term projects going.

It feels good to have an investment property or two in my back pocket and other income sources to keep me afloat. Though I’m currently at $322K, these projects will give me enough equity that I’ll be beyond my $500K goal. And honestly, if I’m just tracking my stock numbers, they’re just going to keep falling — especially if we enter into a recession.

So I’m going to end this tracking project in August 2025, knowing that I will inevitably reach my goal. I’ll soon have:

A long-term rental unitA short-term rental unit (or two)Another long-term rental unit in a trustOther potential projects as they appear

With all of this — plus the over $300,000 I’ve already saved — I feel like me and the kids will be fine, and I’ll have plenty to pass on to them one day. I’m glad to be iterating and finding new ways to expand my wealth. My life is very rich indeed with family, friends, and time to enjoy them. That’s the real wealth.

As always, thank you for reading and following my journey. Hope everyone is doing well!

Stay safe and scrappy out there!

-H.

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.

The comments on last month’s update hit me hard, particularly this one about taking on a Sisyphean task.

They got me thinking about money and tools and this whole journey I’m on. And a lot of things snapped:

I pulled $40,000 in contributions from my Roth IRA.Paid off one of those pesky credit cards (and all lingering credit card debt!)Bought a house from a tax saleSet up a future inheritance with an attorney

Deep breath

And can I just say how much LIGHTER I feel? How much that was needed?

And yeah, it burned to let some of those investment funds go. But as I was driving around one cold, sunny morning, I realized it was so worth it — and now I have so much to look forward to.

February 2025 Freedom update

Link: Track your net worth with Empower Personal DashboardLink: Join Points Hub — the ultimate points, miles, and travel rewards community — on Circle!

I also must give credit to this monthly exercise, because the thought of coming back here and giving the saaame report again was gnawing at me.

All that money sitting in a retirement account when I had so much that could be alleviated right now. It got me thinking about what I’m doing all this for.

And what’s the point of having so much money in 20 years if it means suffering now? I always say money is a tool, so why not use it to solve immediate issues?

From the Bass Pro Shop in downtown Memphis lol

Plus, there’s always more money. Even with all the shifting around, my net worth remained steady. However, I expect it will go up substantially this year, largely thanks to the money moves I made this month.

Tax sale property

I bought a 105-year-old house filled with junk in a transitional part of town for $16,000.

Carson House

Then, I found a loan officer and general contractor via a local investor group, who mentored me and pointed me in the right direction. I’ll get a $100,000 construction loan to turn this into a three bedroom, two bath house with a deck, carport, lots of plants, and new fence.

The final value should clock in around $150,000: Instant equity and appreciation, and a heck of a lot of learning.

Then, I’ll rent it out long-term and use the rent to repay the loan. Even with current interest rates, it should cash flow.

This is my first rehab, and I like to keep the numbers conservative. The rehab will take three to four months, and it’s given me a big project. I’m really excited about turning this place into high-quality housing later this year.

Gramma’s house

A few weeks ago, my Gramma hit me with news that landed like a ton of bricks. She’s 81, and her health is starting to decline. She is limited to a walker and has other health issues.

I found an attorney specializing in elder estate planning, and we put her house into a living trust. When she passes, I’ll get the house and will fix it up as another rental. Because of the trust, there will be no probate, and I’ll avoid a ton of capital gains taxes.

This sweet baby

I’m already sad about my grandmother and also relieved that her assets will pass easily. The house is fully paid, and, considered as an asset, will put me well over my $500,000 goal.

I’m currently at 72% of my goal. Between my grandmother’s house and the investment property, plus continuing to invest in my 401k, 2025 will probably be the year I meet my goal and enter into what I consider financial independence.

This was also another factor that made me feel better about purchasing the investment property. And with this taken care of, we can properly care for my grandmother’s assets and carry out her wishes in a way that respects her legacy. I’m happy the house is staying in the family, and I’m bullish on Memphis real estate.

This month’s progress

I also paid off a card whose 0% APR period recently expired, plus all other lingering credit card debt. The only thing I have now is one card with an ~$11,000 balance and a year to pay it off. I am SO PLEASED about this.

It was a big month full of changes

I likely will NOT max out my 2024 Roth IRA before April (never say never), considering I just cashed some of it out. It was all penalty-free because I only withdrew contributions. If I get any extra funds, I’ll pay off the credit card. Other than that, I can pick up 2025 Roth IRA funding later this year.

I’m also looking into tax liens to add other property investments to my portfolio. I’m still new to it, but doing my first auction this week. Can you tell I’m finally getting into real estate investing to further diversify my portfolio? All this talk about trade wars and tariffs made me skittish about having all my net worth tied up in stocks.

To recap, this month I:

Contributed $1,000 to my 401k via bi-weekly contributionsCashed out $40,000 from my Roth IRAPaid $16,000 for an investment propertyPaid off all interest-bearing credit cardsPaid an attorney for my grandmother’s estate plans, including a living trust for her houseGot pre-approved for a $100,000 construction loan to renovate the investment property into a rentalLooked into tax liens and getting ready to pick up a few of those this week

Pretty big month for my finances!

By the numbers

Not only all of that, but I’m also up $10,000 this month.

And not to count any chickens before they hatch, but I’m pretty sure I’ll reach my $500,000 goal sometime in 2025.

One — eventually two — investment properties while planning for my grandmother’s decline, in addition to raising three kids and working a full-time job. I’m glad I used what I had available to make it easier for myself right now instead of grinding the slow march toward an eventual retirement.

And I didn’t lose any net worth in the process. In fact, I used it to create more.

CurrentLast MonthChange2025 Goal ASSETS Overall investments$305,672$336,134-$30,462As much as possible Roth IRA total$50,719$88,118-$37,399 Roth IRA 2024$2,700$2,700xx Roth IRA 2025$0$0xx$7,000 (in new contributions) Taxable brokerage + UTMAs$4,384$4,274+$110$25,000 (total invested) Savings$55$48+$7$30,000 Investment property #1$16,000xx+$16,000$20,000 in equity Raw land$40,400$40,400xxNo goal, just including for completeness Haven't gotten 2025 assessments yet LIABILITIES Car loan $22,098$22,495-$397As much as possible Credit card #1 $0$8,063-$8,063$0COMPLETE! Credit card #2 (0% APR)$11,465$11,704-$239As much as possible Net worth in Empower Personal Dashboard$360,024$350,615+9,409$500,000 (overall goal) Track your net worth with Personal Capital

Feeling encouraged and grateful

Short- and long-term goals still include:

Pay off ALL credit cards Work up to 15% in 401k contributions from my jobSave $7,000 in my Roth IRA (to count toward the 2025 limit — I’ve given up on 2024’s Roth IRA)Build up cash reserves for savings and to buy more real estateRenovate my first investment propertyFebruary 2025 Freedom update bottom line

And just like that, I’m back on track. I’ve given myself a huge project in the form of a fix-and-hold property that I bought for $16,000. After it’s all done, it should add $35,000+ to my net worth and give me a little extra cash each month. And I solved my credit card debt in the process (and didn’t pay any penalties).

On a sad yet hopeful note, I’ll eventually inherit my grandmother’s house and turn that into a rental property as well. It’s in an excellent location and will be a solid rental with no mortgage and good cash flow.

2025 is looking like the year I will sail right past the $500,000 mark, thus achieving my goal within a year or so of the original target date. Nothing has happened the way I expected it to. Life has happened, and I’ve adjusted my plans every month to include the changes.

I’ll continue to document the construction loan and gut rehab process until I officially reach the mark. It should be… fun? Definitely a learning process as it IS my first rodeo.

Man, I’m so grateful for this space. Without it, I would’ve likely kept grinding away, growing more and more despondent without insight into every resource available to me. These monthly updates have given me insight, a place to vent and think out loud, and a community of people sharing my goals and giving encouragement.

As always, thank you for reading and following my journey. Hope everyone is doing well!

Stay safe and scrappy out there!

-H.

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.

I need to get this out before January slips away. There’s never enough tiiime.

I feel like I’m getting into debt again, like I can’t make enough cash, and the expenses of everyday life keep piling up. Grocery prices are insane, and everything is a “thing.” And there aren’t enough hours in the day.

Can I get paid for being a good dad and playing with my kids? Unfortunately not.

Deep inner strength

I keep thinking I can turn Points Hub into something, but people don’t seem to want to participate, and researching community-building is exhausting. I work during the day, look up, and it’s 3pm. The final hour before Warren gets off the school bus at 4pm.

From there, 5pm to 8pm is the march to dinner/bath/bed, and if I’m lucky, I have maybe one more hour before I absolutely crash out.

I truly admire those parents that can side hustle. I know it’s just a patch/season of life/all that good stuff.

The stock market was meh this past month, so I’m hovering around the $350K mark much like I was hovering around the $300K mark for what felt like years.

Slow and steady wins the race?

January 2025 Freedom update

Link: Track your net worth with Empower Personal DashboardLink: Join Points Hub — the ultimate points, miles, and travel rewards community — on Circle!

I really want to find a side hustle for extra cash. My credit card balances are staying right where they are. I’m paid well at my main job, and those checks keep us exactly where we are. I need to make a dent in some of this debt before it eats us alive.

After all, your debt is an out of control flaming emergency.

Warren’s digital sktech

Beyond that, I am becoming deeply tired. Like soul-tired. I don’t know how people are surviving these days. My guess is they’re not.

The days are sweet, but milk and eggs and basics, I swear, cost more than ever. Every time we go to the grocery store, it’s $200 — minimum.

Anyway, I’m just not making progress. I don’t know how or when I will. And if the stock market is crappy, then my net worth slips. I’m a walking sigh, trying to keep it together.

I am still grateful and still here. Trying my best.

This month’s progress

Not much, but I:

Contributed $1,000 to my 401kDelivered a beautiful Christmas to the kiddos

We had a really sweet Christmas holiday

Maybe I’ll get hit with a flash of inspiration and find the perfect mostly passive, high-paying side hustle. Anyone have any ideas?

By the numbers

Always demotivating to turn the pluses into minuses, but such is the current vibe to kick off 2025:

CurrentLast MonthChange2024 Goal ASSETS Overall investments$336,134$342,394-$6,260As much as possible Roth IRA total$88,118$90,510-$2,392 Roth IRA 2024$2,700$2,700xx$7,000 (in new contributions) Taxable brokerage + UTMAs$4,274$4,354-$80$25,000 (total invested) Savings$48$44+$4$30,000 Raw land$40,400$40,400xxNo goal, just including for completeness LIABILITIES Car loan $22,495$22,890-$395? Credit card #1 $8,063$8,452-$389$0 Credit card #2 (0% APR)$11,704$11,554+$150As much as possible Net worth in Empower Personal Dashboard$350,615$356,870-$6,255$500,000 (overall goal) Track your net worth with Personal Capital

These days, like might age you

Short- and long-term goals still include:

Pay off all credit cards Build my savings account again in 2025Work up to 15% in 401k contributions Save $7,000 in my Roth IRA (to count toward the 2024 limit)Is this like, possible?

The path unfolds, as always

January 2025 Freedom update bottom line

That’s about it for this month. I realized it was the 15th and I still hadn’t updated for January. Well soon, it’ll be February.

Time is now officially FLYING. I literally don’t know what day it is most of the time.

I know that wealth is a simple formula: Make more money than you spend and save it. Easy. 

And if you can’t, you either:

Spend less.Find a way to make more.

We spend as little as possible. We are not living it up. Life is nice, but I feel one missed paycheck away from the whole tower collapsing.

This turned into a financial therapy session. Last year was rough. I hope this year, I can pick up the pace and overcome some of these financial barriers.

As always, thank you for reading and following my journey. Hope everyone is doing well!

Stay safe and scrappy out there!

-H.

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.

These days are so fast and so slow at the same time. It feels like they fly by, and I never get nearly as much done as I’d like.

Add to that shorter days of less daylight, and it’s nearly a sunk cost. Despite it, I’m up nearly $14,000 this month and striking distance of $400,000 toward my $500,000 goal — as of now, I’m 71% of the way there. That seems… close.

It felt SO good to take selfies on the beach this month

After hovering around the $300,000 mark for what felt like foreverrr, the stock market is picking up wind. I bit the bullet and used a balance transfer offer on an existing card that’s good until March 2026, so that gives me 15 full months to catch up on my credit cards.

That’s slow going, too. I feel like I spend as much as I earn, and that’s with side hustles and a pretty healthy income otherwise. Having three kids is no joke, and the grocery bills… well. How are berries so expensive?!

December 2024 Freedom update

Link: Track your net worth with Empower Personal DashboardLink: Join Points Hub — the ultimate points, miles, and travel rewards community — on Circle!

2024 was a weird year. It feels like I barely made any financial progress at all. To my credit, there were many, many setbacks like:

Oh I dunno, paying for the birth of a whole new human in JanuaryMoving away from OKC in FebruaryRenting a house in MarchSelling our old house in AprilGetting laid off from my job in JuneSending Warren to kindergarten in AugustHaving more lawyer bills roll in throughout the yearAnd allll the diapers, baby clothes, and little stuff for our entire household

Sweet Beck. I love this baby

Wow, when I type it out like that it seems like a lot. And it was. Also:

I have nothing in savingsHaven’t paid down my credit cardsHaven’t maxed out my Roth IRA

In January, my net worth was ~$343,000. And now it’s ~$357,000. A whole year of ups and downs, and I’m “only” up $14,000. But I know 2024 was a weird year in a lot of ways — not just me.

Little autumn leaf

I feel like I’m ending the year with a big sigh and not a lot of hope for progress in 2025.

Let’s see: I get two checks a month. The first goes to groceries, car, and utilities; the second goes to rent. I have barely anything left over even though I’m working basically seven days a week.

It’s just… hard to feel motivated when I sit and look at it in black and white. And again — I know sooo many are in the same boat right now.

This month’s progress

To recap the last month, I:

Contributed $1,000 to my 401kTransferred $12,000 to a new 0% APR card

I was hoping to tackle my credit cards, max out my Roth IRA, and build up my savings. That now seems sooo insanely optimistic. I feel like I won’t get there for a long time, and that’s kinda depressing for me.

I also got to take airplane window pics again this month

I don’t know what else I can do other than find a new job making more but… have you heard about the bloodbath of layoffs in the content industry recently? I am extremely lucky and grateful to be employed at all.

So — I’m going to keep doing my best and hope for baby steps. To be honest, any progress would make me feel a lot better right now.

By the numbers

Nearly all of my net worth is wrapped up in the stock market. Credit card #2 is the one I rolled to a new 0% APR card, so I have a while on that.

The second I feel like I’m “getting ahead,” my lawyer slams me with a $5,000 bill. Plus student loans — whatever’s going to happen with that under the new administration. I feel like I’m drowning. So, I’m just getting through the rest of this month and year. Hopefully I can turn the ship around in 2025.

CurrentLast MonthChange2024 Goal ASSETS Overall investments$342,394$325,402+$16,992As much as possible Roth IRA total$90,510$86,382+$4,128 Roth IRA 2024$2,700$2,700xx$7,000 (in new contributions) Taxable brokerage + UTMAs$4,354$4,153+$201$25,000 (total invested) Savings$44$141-$97$30,000 Raw land$40,400$40,400xxNo goal, just including for completeness LIABILITIES Car loan $22,890$23,283-$393? Credit card #1 $8,452$8,324+$128$0 Credit card #2 (0% APR)$11,554$11,351+$203As much as possible Net worth in Empower Personal Dashboard$356,870$343,348+$13,522$500,000 (overall goal) Track your net worth with Personal Capital

Short- and long-term goals still include:

Pay off all credit cards Build my savings account again in 2025Work up to 15% in 401k contributions Save $7,000 in my Roth IRA (to count toward the 2024 limit)Is this like, possible?

Bleh and also yay — this was in Antigua

December 2024 Freedom update bottom lineLink: Join Points Hub

Sorry to sound so dour. Everything just feels so heavy, and December is traditionally a “SAD” month for me anyway.

I have $140,000 to go before I hit $500,000. If I can increase my net worth by $10,000 per month for 14 months, that’d put me at my goal by March 2026. That’s not far. Just a little over a year. And anything could happen, of course, so I won’t take mental possession of it. It’s just helpful for me to keep an eye on the end goal.

Still thinking of the sunny Caribbean views in Antigua

Also, I kinda let Points Hub drift over the last few months, but I haven’t forgotten about it. Between the layoff, starting a new job and then another new job (kinda), I’ve been tossed around quite a bit. But it’s still there — and I’d love to have more members.

Join me on Points Hub. No politics, no social media, just points and travel chat with zero fluff. There are a few partnerships and many resources already. Think of it as a Facebook group without having to be on Facebook — and I encourage members to share and use each other’s referral links! Here are the membership options:

Pro Monthly – Just $5/month forever with coupon code OUTANDOUT ->  Join now .Pro Annual – Just $49/year forever with coupon code HALFOFF ->  Join now .Pro Lifetime – $99 one time → Join now .

As always, thank you for reading and following my journey. Hope everyone is doing well!

Stay safe and scrappy out there!

-H.

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.

Lord love me, I am not known for my brevity in writing, but this should be a pretty quick update. It’s been a long week with Halloween, the time change, the election, and getting ready for a work trip next week.

Since I pulled the latest numbers on Tuesday night, the stock market has rallied for the last two days (it’s now Thursday night), and my overall net worth is now over $350,000. This turnaround has already given me momentum to close the last $150,000 gap to a $500,000 net worth goal.

Thinking about my infinite cosmic power

November 2024 Freedom update

Link: Track your net worth with Empower Personal DashboardLink: Join Points Hub, the ultimate points, miles, and travel rewards community on Circle!

This month, I get three paychecks and get to bill for $2,000 in side hustle work. If the stock market holds, I should be doing pretty well by December.

My overall investments are — as of this moment — up to $336,497. I’m currently putting around $1,000 per month into a 401k and, like the last couple of months, throwing every other cent into paying down my credit cards.

Speaking with trees

I’ll be proper chuffed once they’re paid off and looking forward to how much of a dent I can put in my balances this month. The stuff of life (groceries, so many groceries, doctor visits, clothes, the little lives) has a way of making funds disappear.

It won’t always be this way, but it is for now, which is a big part of my “delayed” net worth progress.

I’m also thinking about how to get Points Hub out to more people. It’s a fun group, points-related, no politics, away from social media. I think I will find a lot of comfort there in the future, and hope others will, too. Here’s my writeup about it if you’re curious about joining.

This month’s progress

To recap the last month, I:

Contributed $1,000 to my 401kPaid down a few lingering bills and ready to get into the bigger credit balancesDid a bit of client workRested a lot

I also downgrade my Hilton Aspire card. The new $550 annual fee hit, and it simply wasn’t worth it, even with all the extra benefits. I got a new U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve card, and have been amazed at how many places accept mobile payments to earn 3X points, which is essentially a 4.5% travel rebate: Dollar Tree, CVS, COSTCO, food trucks, stalls at the farmer’s market, the pizza place, every grocery store…

Mostly I held the line this month. I’ll also admit I was on the “pollercoaster” and having a lot of anxiety about the election. Now that it’s over, I’m getting ready to focus my attention elsewhere — probably more inward. I realize that sounds cryptic. It’s not meant to be. I just want to prioritize time to get some thinking done.

By the numbers

The shifts this month were small. It was as if the world was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen. My investments barely moved, and I paid the minimums on what I could. So yeah, just small things. It felt like a lot and also enough, given all the rising energy of the last few weeks.

CurrentLast MonthChange2024 Goal ASSETS Overall investments$325,402$324,793+$609As much as possible Roth IRA total$86,382$85,610+$772 Roth IRA 2024$2,700$2,700xx$7,000 (in new contributions) Taxable brokerage + UTMAs$4,153$4,136+$17$25,000 (total invested) Savings$141$70+$71$30,000 Raw land$40,400$40,400xxNo goal, just including for completeness LIABILITIES Car loan $23,283$23,578-$295? Credit card #1 $8,324$8,408-$84$0 Credit card #2 (0% APR)$11,351$11,466-$115As much as possible Net worth in Empower Personal Dashboard$343,348$344,811-$1,463$500,000 (overall goal) Track your net worth with Personal Capital

Sunset at the CVS parking lot

Short- and long-term goals still include:

Pay off all credit cards Build my savings account again in 2025Work up to 15% in 401k contributions at the new jobSave $7,000 in my Roth IRA (to count toward the 2024 limit)Trim our budget as much as possible—no “extras” for a whileNovember 2024 Freedom update bottom lineLink: Join Points Hub

Eliot let me know my comments aren’t working here. I think I fixed it. It takes a sec but appears after refreshing the page.

Last time I had comment issues, I had to reinstall the plug-in and lost all the comments up to that time. I don’t want to lose all the comments again and can’t decide what’s worse: losing every comment or not getting any new ones.

But I’m here. If comments don’t work, I’m also on Instagram even though I don’t post much. Try to comment and see how it goes. If it doesn’t go through, find me on Insta or X (@harlanvaughn on everything).

I’m still kind of processing things. There weren’t a lot of financial changes this month. I guess that’s a good thing. I’m happy, alive, grateful, and still here. I feel bad for turning in a “non-update” this month, but I’d rather get it out late and keep resting/thinking than not say anything. I still love it here even though life changed so much these past few years. And if the recent past is any indication, many more are on the way.

Join me on Points Hub — I’m trying to be on there every day. No politics, no social media, just points and travel chat with zero fluff. I’d love to get more people hanging out on there. There are a few partnerships and many resources already. Think of it as a Facebook group without having to be on Facebook — and I encourage members to share and use each other’s referral links! Here are the membership options:

Pro Monthly – Just $5/month forever with coupon code OUTANDOUT ->  Join now .Pro Annual – Just $49/year forever with coupon code HALFOFF ->  Join now .Pro Lifetime – $99 one time → Join now .

By the way, this post is under 1,000 words. Indeed, I kept it brief.

And as always, thank you for reading and following my journey. Hope everyone is doing well!

Stay safe and scrappy out there!

-H.

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.

A lot’s happened this month! Our house was befallen with strep throat, Beck turned two, Warren had his first sleepover at his grandma’s house, many school events and birthday parties, and lots of running around.

I also got into couponing at CVS and Walgreens and upgraded my extra phone to the new Pixel 9 Pro—it’s really zippy!

Autumnal scenes

I also got through lingering expenses that put me directly on the path to clearing up my credit card debt, and then into saving. It’s going to take some time, but it’s finally here, so my complete financial focus is on resolving this debt so I can save and invest.

I imagine this is how I’ll close out 2024 and ring in 2025. And it that’s the case, I’m thrilled. It’s now Q4. I’m ready to make some progress and get to the New Year!

October 2024 Freedom update

Link: Track your net worth with Empower Personal DashboardLink: Join Points Hub, the ultimate points, miles, and travel rewards community on Circle!

I have some balance transfer offers with a 3% balance transfer fee on existing credit cards, so I considered them to stop the interest payments on the other cards I want to pay off. To pull $19,000 would cost $570.

I can realistically pay $3,000 per month toward these cards, which puts me at ~6 months of payments. So will the interest be more than ~$600? I can start making the payments as soon as this month.

Fall sunsets are so pretty

It seems to a be a wash—and that the best thing would be to hunker down and spend every cent toward paying it off. That would put me at March 2025 to finish filling up my Roth IRA for 2024 and then build up my savings.

I may pay a little interest, but the faster I go, the less I’ll pay. I actually think that’ll motivate me.

And either way, it feels good to have a plan. March 2025 – no credit debt and rebuilding my savings. A goal within a goal.

This month’s progress

Speaking of goals, my current net worth is at $344,811. Even though I won’t be heavily investing or saving in the near term, that number will go up as I erode the credit debt—and I still have over $300,000 of investments to keep me afloat.

As of now, 10% of my paycheck is set to divert into a regular (5%) and Roth (5%) 401, and I’ll also get a small match, so that’ll be something toward the future. I can increase my contribution later.

The supermoon

This is all a result of sitting down and taking a hard look at the household budget, where we could cut even more, and where we could improve. That’s also what led me to couponing and the $3,000 a month number. After I get the credit cards paid, I’d like to reaise my 401k contribution to 15% and finally rebuild my savings.

To recap the last month, I:

Took stock of our budgetSet up a new 401k with 10% contributions to startPaid off outstanding charges so I can now focus on eliminating all credit card debtTried to stay as frugal as possibleStarted couponing and actually saved a ton on household basics

Lookit this big kid playing

I also finished the minimum spending on my Capital One Venture card (75,000 miles) and Wyndham biz card (100,000 points). No sooner, I got the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve and will switch all my spending to meet that minimum spending now. It made sense with the 3X mobile payments category. I use mobile pay for pretty much everything these days, including gas, groceries, coffee, the dollar store, and most other purchases.

Going forward, I’m going to shift and simplify my credit card strategy to U.S. Bank more. Still thinking about how it’ll work, but hoping to cut a few cards in the process—I have nearly 40 now, so I think a trim is in order.

By the numbers

I’m close to my peak net worth (which was $363K) and at nearly 70% of my $500,000 goal.

I’m hoping to hit $350K by next month and $400K in early 2025. Of course, I have no idea what the stock market will do, especially this year with the election coming up. Either way, I’m going to stick to my goals and continue to look forward.

As mentioned, THE order of the day is getting rid of all credit debt. After which, I will finish my 2024 Roth IRA and begin saving until I reach $30,000.

That should take several months—after which, I will reassess. And hopefully, along the way, I’ll hit a couple more milestones, because 70% is really close to the finish line. I am working my little booty off to get it done now that I’m so close!

CurrentLast MonthChange2024 Goal ASSETS Overall investments$324,793$319,164+$5,629As much as possible Roth IRA total$85,610$84,050+$1,560 Roth IRA 2024$2,700$2,700xx$7,000 (in new contributions) Taxable brokerage + UTMAs$4,136$4,082+$54$25,000 (total invested) Savings$70$258-$188$30,000 Raw land$40,400$40,400xxNo goal, just including for completeness LIABILITIES Car loan $23,578$23,578xx? Credit card #1 $8,408$8,492-$84$0 Credit card #2 (0% APR)$11,466$11,581-$115As much as possible Net worth in Empower Personal Dashboard$344,811$335,872+$8,939$500,000 (overall goal) Track your net worth with Personal Capital

Short- and long-term goals include:

Pay off all credit cards Build my savings account again in 2025Work up to 15% in 401k contributions at the new jobSave $7,000 in my Roth IRA (to count toward the 2024 limit)Trim our budget as much as possible—no “extras” for a whileOctober 2024 Freedom update bottom lineLink: Join Points Hub

Couple of things I want to share. First, the Arc browser. It’s so good! I’ve been using it for a month, and it’s totally replaced Chrome for me—and you can still use all your Chrome extensions with it. Such a beautiful, clean interface. I swear I’m getting more work done because of it, too.

Second, the Morning Brew newsletter. With all the election stuff going on, I can barely touch social media any more. This is my one must-read every day to stay current on news. It’s quick, snappy, and always an enjoyable read.

Third, check out Points Hub—the points, miles, and travel rewards community I built. We have amazing members, lively conversations, and incredible partnerships—and we’re just getting started. The goal is for members to have their best points & miles year ever. Points Hub is really a hub for everything points with the latest transfer offers, best bonuses, and a whole community of guidance all in one spot. I’m currently working on finishing a video course for points beginners. The twice monthly member events have been so low-key and valuable. There are three membership options:

Pro Monthly – Just $5/month forever with coupon code OUTANDOUT ->  Join now .Pro Annual – Just $49/year forever with coupon code HALFOFF ->  Join now .Pro Lifetime – $99 one time → Join now .

And as always, thank you for reading and following my journey. Hope everyone is doing well!

Stay safe and scrappy out there!

-H.

OUT AND OUT - Out for points. Out for money.