2018 Recap + Goals
Another amazing year in the books for the Chicos. The themes for this year were travel, decluttering, baby and getting ready for our big move to Bilbao.
We went from $236,719.93 in net worth at the end of 2017 to $329,597 (Goal: $350K). That’s a $93,162.05 difference – a 28% increase which isn’t too shabby considering the market was NOT our friend. This includes slashing our mortgage by $13,897, an increase in $60,400 for our Betterment account (which currently sits at $139,710 – goal: $130K) and saving an average of 68.07% of our monthly take home.
Some other things that helped us reach this achievement include $4,125 in rental income, a $11,500 bonus, $816 from Chica’s side hustle as a dance teacher, $2,205 from my Ebay side hustle and Chica’s 37% salary increase she got in January.
2018 ACHIEVEMENTS
Our 2018 financial growth was not as strong as 2017 due in large part to the volatility of the market but we stayed the course and kept saving and investing as we always do. Our 2018 highlights include:
– January was pretty life changing when Chica got that job offer and her company matched the salary with a counter offer – that extra salary has been huge!
– When the market got real crazy we decided to sock away some cash as a “just in case” fund — that is currently sitting at about $19K which is plenty for us to live on for 1 year in Bilbao.
– We both became TEFL certified which is our back up plan job when we make the big move.
– We reaped the benefits of our travel hacking from the year prior – we went to San Francisco, Kansas City, Boston (x2), New York City, Las Vegas/Grand Canyon and Spain (x2) — most of which was completely free thanks to the Southwest Companion Pass.
– We found out Chica was pregnant! Chica is currently 12 weeks along. This brought more clarity to our future plans and we have officially set a date to move to Bilbao by November 1, 2019.
– As part of that plan, we have started to minimize our personal belongings – selling and donating things we don’t use or need.
2019 GOALS
We only have 10 months left in the US — 2019 is all about wrapping things up, saving as much as we can, having our baby and then making the big move to Bilbao.
Financial
– Reach our FI goal: $350K Net Worth by the end of Q1 (our retire early goal is $510K)
– Hit $420K Net Worth by the time we move to Bilbao in November
– Keep finding new CCs to build travel points – I'm currently working on the SW Companion Pass
– Sell our condo (going on the market in Feb.) and try at least to break even.
– Figure out our exit strategy for the big move in regards to how we will manage/transfer our 1 year "just in case money"
– Chica to try to keep her job in Bilbao
Personal
– Give birth to a healthy baby in July
– Have a stress free moving experience (good luck!) from our condo to an apartment and finally to Bilbao
– Keep the trend of minimalism, only buying what’s totally necessary
– Enjoy our last 10 months in Chicago/the US
Side-by-side comparison of our Net Worth from 2016 to 2018.
- Our philosophy is that whatever we don't need/use and don't want to take with us to Spain, has to go. 
- You are right about the Craigslist strategy. I always send pictures of other items to buyers who are coming to pick up stuff, and it always works. 
, a $165 hospital bill, etc.) Our misc was a little higher due to our family visits and some other purchases for Christmas. 
