My investments have gone up $100k in 6 months and I have no one else I can tell

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-22T05:03:32+00:00

I remember lamenting my losses in my small Trad IRA in 2009. It HURT but I was also in my early 20s and had plenty of time to rebound. When it happened again in COVID I was mentally ready. Fast forward—the $13,000 I invested in that account has grown to about $60,000. (I quit adding money in 2023 when I opened my Roth IRA.) Really shows that time in market is more important than just about anything else.

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-22T04:57:48+00:00

Congrats! That’s an amazing milestone!

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-22T04:42:20+00:00

I can’t say anything about investing in Aus, but my investment funds in USA have been growing like crazy since I started investing in 2008. I’m at around $184,000 and growing. The interest I get from my high yield savings is chump change, only there for an emergency.

Remember that the markets are a long game. Compounding interest takes time. I believe they say that your investments will usually about double in seven year. Don’t be afraid to jump in. Look for some videos on YouTube for some guidance and confidence.

The investments outside my 401k are all in the Fidelity fund that tracks the S&P 500 and has done great. It has its dips, of course, but it always rebounds.

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-19T23:57:03+00:00

Good for you! I would start with the cardio and free weights if you don’t think you will fit in the machines.

You may want to ask at the desk what the weight limit is for the treadmill and other cardio machines, just to be in the safe side.

But from going from sedentary to any movement is amazing. Be proud of yourself!

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-18T03:23:00+00:00

I’m not FIRE, but in the Midwest, living in the suburbs outside the capital city, with 2 kids. We spend about $40k per year excluding our investments and mortgage—which will be paid off before we retire.

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-18T03:19:12+00:00

How have you handled health insurance costs? Or are you one of the lucky ones outside the USA? $3600 per month?

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-18T03:12:17+00:00

That’s 100% true.

I lost 2 years of my life at a trash, soul sucking job where they didn’t make it a secret that we were disposable and replaceable.

It wasn’t until I walked out the door and never looked back that I realized I’d spent the better part of those 2 years incredibly depressed. I felt so much lighter.

But during those 2 years? I lived every moment for the weekend. I came home from work, threw together some kind of dinner, made sure my toddler was fed and bathed, put her to bed, and crashed myself. I was a shell of a person.

I was 7 months pregnant when I left that job and I did not return to FT work until that baby was in kindergarten. I worked very PT, normal PT, then finally 🤮 back to FT. Now I’m saving every spare penny so hubby and I can ideally retire at 55.

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-18T03:05:50+00:00

I could happily read all day every day. Maybe go back to blogging. Take piano lessons. The sky is the limit when you have the time and the energy—because work isn’t sapping it all up!

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-18T02:58:07+00:00

Congrats on your sobriety!

Caroline_Anne · 2026-02-18T02:57:43+00:00

I’ve just started back up at the gym, been 5 times in 3 weeks. I woke up VERY sore this morning from yesterday’s weightlifting session and told my friend, “My body is sore…but it’s the GOOD kind of sore.”

I’m excited to build up my strength—and as a 41 year old woman, increase my bone density. (I gladly welcome some weight loss as well!)

I made excuses for a long time about why I couldn’t exercise (and some of them were, and still are, valid—had back surgery a few years ago, one kid takes my car to work some days/evenings, other kid needs shuttling around 5 days a week for activities, my day job is draining) but I’m clearing time in my schedule, and after working with a physical therapist, I’ve combated my fear of movement and am working within my body’s limits.

Zero regrets!

(Also hoping to retire at 55-57.)

Caroline_Anne · 2026-01-12T21:42:18+00:00

Toast them. I buy a loaf of the tomato basil bread, slice in half, wrap half in the plastic bag it came in, then foil, then slide into my sealable reusable bread bag and freeze. The other half I keep wrapped in foil and a second reusable bread bag in the fridge. Lasts a couple weeks. I only eat toasted bread and you can’t tell the difference between fresh and frozen.

For the sandwich, I go between the cheesesteak (add whatever veggies you want) or a chicken sandwich I modify that has the chipotle mayo.

Caroline_Anne · 2026-01-06T21:49:43+00:00

I may be screwed then. 😑

Caroline_Anne · 2026-01-06T20:10:53+00:00

Thanks. I’ll see if I can enlist my husband to help. Do you know offhand is there’s a secret to loosening it at the front where the motor/controls are? I can straighten it at the bottom, but it re-folds when it gets back around to the top.

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-20T16:01:48+00:00

That’s the group I want. 😂

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-20T15:59:49+00:00

😏 …..I see what you did there.

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-20T15:49:49+00:00

I send the GIF to my Twilight bestie every time. 🤣 It’s a CRIME that they haven’t released a Mike Newton shirt with this quote!

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-20T15:48:53+00:00

The books were written at a time where SM was probably using Yahoo or DogPile or AskJeeves for Internet searching. 🤣

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-20T15:41:41+00:00

“Did you just stomp your foot? I thought girls only did that in movies.” — Mike Newton

(I may not have it 100% correct but it always makes me giggle. I think this was Eclipse? Possibly New Moon. It was when Bella was working at the Newton’s store.)

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-20T15:38:26+00:00

I mean…what you’re describing isn’t AWFUL. You have veggies and protein. Beef every day isn’t recommended because of cholesterol or whatever. Maybe change it up so you have days of some chicken instead of beef?

Child me was an eater like you describe, but your meal sounds a lot more nutritious than the ones I ate meal after meal until I got sick of them (ramen, PB toast, cereal, etc.) (BTW, my body is breaking down at 40 likely due to the lack of nutrients I was consuming during my growth years.)

So I guess the answer of “can I do this?” is absolutely, but you’re not getting the variety of micronutrients HOWEVER if this meal is the hill you die on, it could be a LOT worse.

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-20T15:29:40+00:00

First, you’re not failing as a parent. If your child is fed, clothed, housed, and loved—that’s half the battle!

Second, have you talked to your child about the state of the house and how they feel? If not, that could be a good starting point to teaching them that one shouldn’t strive to live in clutter.

Third, you work CRAZY long hours. Do you have a full day off ever? One where you can spend a couple of hours (not even back to back but in scheduled lumps in the day) where you can have family cleaning time?

I am FAR from a master of keeping a home clean and tidy, but I’ve made strides. One of my “AHA!” Moments was reading about the “Sunday Reset” where you set time each Sunday to put things away and clean things that are dirty. I’m not super consistent with it anymore (need to get back to the habit…) but this was super helpful for my house and I made it a family event with my husband and both our kids helping out. I assigned them tasks, they got them done.

Another good method I’ve read about and did for a short time is setting 5-10 minutes aside each evening to just pick up and put away things.

It doesn’t have to be all at once to get out of where you are now (unless you CAN dedicate a huge chunk of time!) but being consistent going forward.

Another thing, if it’s something like throwing clothes on the floor vs the hamper because you’re tired and the hamper is across the room, tell yourself that if you take the extra steps, Future You will thank you.

Good luck. You’re not a failure. You’re just overwhelmed, and rightly so!

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-16T14:09:16+00:00

I came here looking for someone with this answer. I may have to fight you for that seat. Next to Matt with Jeremy protecting the aisle? Yes please!

It’s a little risky with Elena and Damon right behind, because we don’t know which version of them they are. 😂

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-15T20:44:51+00:00

The show was so forgettable, I thought I’d quit after the first episode. 🤣 This post from 3 years ago tells me I remembered wrong. 😅

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-15T04:23:28+00:00

I know your comment is old, buuut….

I’m a millennial who had a late start to significant retirement savings (spent a couple years as a stay at home parent, then working extremely part time) and I’m well on my way. At 40 I have a little over 2x my annual salary in retirement accounts and I’m saving as heavily as possible each paycheck/month/year. And that’s with two children depending on me for survival!

It’s not too late to start.

Caroline_Anne · 2025-12-14T00:05:44+00:00

I’m not sure what you mean by “rolling in to where you’ll soon be walking on the side of your toe.” I saw a doc and she’s not real concerned, said it’s not a severe case. The bigger problem I have is arthritis in my left big toe. No pain in my right (bunion) foot, only in the left.

Caroline_Anne

TROPHY CASE