No posts from CB in the City since June 30th.  I hope you are doing ok!

My portfolio hit over 800k.  It hit the 700k mark back in December 2023, so just over half a year to gain another 100k (including my contributions).  I doubt the second half of the year will be as good.

My total net worth (including assets and debts beyond just the portfolio) is up over 110k so far for the year--a record increase.  

Debts are down to near 63k--they were at 69k in February.  I am really working on paying down the debt this year.  That's why I am delaying acquiring more cats.  I had thought at the beginning of the year that I would get two new rescues over the summer, but then when I realized how much more quickly the debt is coming down without the additional pet expenses, I decided to delay.

Knock on wood and we'll see what happens with the markets, but I'm pretty sure my total net worth will hit a million during the second half of the year.  I will feel like I am "financially independent" when the *portfolio* (not the total net worth, just the investments) is around 1.25 million.  That should come within two to four years as I am saving fairly agressively--20% of my salary, plus at minimum another 3% from my company, and most years a profit-sharing contribution from the company that's aboout another 6% of my salary.

Before I retire, I also probably should pay for a couple of big home expenses (redoing the concrete stairs, which needs to be done in conjunction with the neighbor since we share a twin structure and one staircase leading up to both porches--and I should redo the roof too, plus buy another car (my current vehicle is 12 years old, but with only 66.5k miles), so there are those factors too to factor into the equation.  The neighbor and I have talked and are planning to do the stair project next year.  

Also, talking of roofs, did you know that insurance companies are really weighting those much more heavily these days?  If your roof is over 15-20 years old (depending on the company), they are likely to raise your rates.  EVEN if you have 50 year shingles--it's the actual age of the roof, not the manufacturer's guarantee on the materials, that matters.  Also companies are now using drones and computer imaging software connected to satellites to check on roof condition.  You can find some of this online--I found a site back in May that used satellite imagery to show me a picture of my roof and the measurement and give me an estimate of replacement cost--but the insurance agencies have access to even better software that allows them to zoom in even more.  (My firm had a property & casualty insurance broker in to do an educational session with us on Monday and this was a key take-home point.)

Still, I am feeling like "FI" (financial independence) is finally within sight, at least.  Not close, but at least visible on the horizon.