Picking up Nickels

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

September 2013 Financial Asset Roundup

Here are my current financial assets as of the market close on September 10th, 2013:


Asset Aug
2013
Sep
2013
Change
Checking 9,683 2449 -7,234
Money Market 32,538 32,306.41 -232
Savings Bonds 81,139 81,264 125
Treasury Bills 0 0 0
CDs 82,312 82,547 235
Brokerage 102,397 102,115 -282
401k 124,584 125,522 938
Roth IRA 75,515 75,718 203
SEP IRA 385,923 384,988 -935
529 Savings 88,888 89,781 893



Total Assets $982,979 $976,690 -$6,289
   
 
-0.64%

Of course, the Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on American soil is once again upon us. I've remember that day for the rest of my life, and the victims of that day remain in my thoughts.

As for less important matters, the S&P 500 has been on a bit of a roller coaster over the past month, down 0.44% since the last update:

(chart courtesy of msn.com)


On the jobs front, the unemployment rate for August fell to 7.3% but was considered to be another weak number. Oil prices have stayed flat over the past month (around $107), which isn't good with heating oil season around the corner.

On the financial front, the biggest news is that Mrs. Frugalson's employment situation has been resolved! She was brought back after getting a pink slip a few months ago, so we will continue to benefit from her salary and employer-provided health insurance. The other point of note is that the E-LOAN 5.25% APY 5 year CD I opened five years ago in 2008 will mature before the next update. As always, it's been sad watching my 5%+ CDs disappear with no good place to put the proceeds. :(

As for the personal stuff, I've been going through quite a fiasco with my new car purchase. While I've never particularly enjoyed the slimy behavior that many car dealerships employ, the level of incompetence displayed by the dealer we ended up buying from has been the stuff of legend. I would like to create a separate post on the approach I used to purchase this car, but I will hold off since I am still having an issue with the dealer that will hopefully get resolved soon. I'm really looking forward to finishing that business, since I really need to get going on vetting HVAC contractors and see what it will take to get central air conditioning installed in my home.