From Dream to Reality: Our Dividend Milestone on the Path to Financial Freedom

Hello, dear readers! It’s been a while since our last update, and I must say, disconnecting from the blog for a month was unexpectedly refreshing. As we step into 2017, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news about our journey towards financial independence (FI).

A December to Remember

While many were caught up in the holiday shopping frenzy, we embraced a different kind of December magic. With gift-giving off our agenda, we found ourselves in a cocoon of relaxation. We even kickstarted a new morning routine (stay tuned for posts about that in the coming months!).

But the real magic? It happened in our Freedom Fund.

Quarterly Earnings: A Pleasant Surprise

The end of the quarter always brings a flutter of excitement as we tally up our dividends. These aren’t just numbers; they’re the fruits of our labor, the result of years of disciplined saving and investing.

And boy, did those fruits ripen beautifully this quarter! Our earnings clocked in at a whopping $9,084.66. But here’s the kicker: our total earnings for 2016 reached…

$18,130.30!

That’s right, we’ve surpassed our annual dividend target of $17,500! It’s hard to believe that the tiny dividend stream we started a decade ago has now swelled into a significant part of our passive income. While most of these dividends are tucked away in retirement accounts, we’re already plotting ways to access them in early retirement (hello, loopholes!).

Freedom Fund Update: So Close, We Can Taste It!

Now, brace yourselves for the pièce de résistance—our Freedom Fund update.

We closed out 2016 with a bang, riding high on strong market returns. Our Freedom Fund has now reached 97% of our goal! That’s a 3% jump from just last month.

To put it in perspective, if we decided to retire today, our investments could cover $34,004 in annual expenses. We’re a mere $996 shy of our $35,000 annual income goal. Can you believe it? We’re literally $1,000 away from declaring financial independence!

The Road Ahead: FI in the Air

As we stand on the brink of 2017, we can almost taste financial independence. It’s surreal to think that we might achieve our goal six months ahead of our July 2017 target. The first piece of our FIRE puzzle is about to fall into place, opening up a world where work becomes a choice, not a necessity.

Looking back, 2016 was a game-changer. After a flat 2015, where we shouldered the full burden of our progress, the market finally decided to play nice. Our total rate of return for 2016? A healthy 9.23%!

The next two years promise to be transformative for our family. We’re not just chasing numbers; we’re reshaping our life’s narrative. It’s both exhilarating and a little nerve-wracking, but isn’t that what makes life interesting?

So, dear readers, as we continue this journey, we’d love to hear from you. What financial milestones did you hit last month? What are your goals for the year ahead?