by Welcome, fellow FIRE enthusiasts!
We’re thrilled to bring you our quarterly update on how financial independence plays an integral part in fueling our true happiness. In “One Life to Live,” we explore whether we’re making the best of our journey and living in the richest way possible. Let’s dive into our Q3 2017 adventures and financial progress!
Adventures and Discoveries
Illuminating Experiences at Longwood Gardens
Our summer kicked off with a spectacular light show at Longwood Gardens, courtesy of close friends. If you’re ever near Philadelphia, this botanic garden offers much more than flora—think restaurants, beer gardens, children’s play areas, and mesmerizing fountain shows.
Birthday Celebrations in the City of Brotherly Love
We continued our tradition of celebrating my wife’s birthday in Philadelphia. Our niece joined us from Florida, adding to the fun as we explored both familiar and new corners of the city.
Highlights included:
- Visiting the Museum of the American Revolution
- Discovering the Korean War Memorial
- Strolling down Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Obligatory photo op at the Rocky Statue (pro tip: skip the line by snapping a pic from the side!)
New England Getaway
Labor Day weekend found us in Rhode Island, enjoying the slightly chilly weather at Misquamicut Beach and Lincoln Woods State Park. Of course, no New England trip is complete without indulging in delicious seafood!
Financial Progress: Passive Income and Expenses
Bare-bones Expenses
Our streamlined quarterly report focuses on essential needs. Here’s a breakdown of our Q3 2017 spending:
Main Category | Quarter Amount | 2017 Monthly Average | Comments |
| *Net Rent | –$160.71 | $525.50 | We had a surplus of $160.71 for the quarter. This means that the net income before taxes from the rental property covered our entire rent for the quarter. |
| Bills & Utilities | $502.51 | $166.78 | |
| Groceries | $1,470.06 | $526.95 | |
| Auto & Transportation | $1,237.03 | $297.66 | We paid the auto insurance bill for one year. |
| Home Supplies | $172.30 | $64.74 | |
Total | $3,221.19 | $1,581.63 |
Our monthly average bare-bones spending of $1,581.63 translates to an annual spending of around $19k, creating a comfortable gap between our basic needs and overall spending budget.
Passive Income
Our passive income for Q3 2017 breaks down as follows:
Main Category | Quarter Amount | 2017 Monthly Average | Comments |
| Dividends | $4,180.75 | $1,398.88 | |
| Capital Gains | $3,588.24 | $1,050.59 | |
Total | $7,768.99 | $2,449.47 |
Dividend income remains our primary source of passive income for retirement, while capital gains helped offset some rental property repairs.
Optimizing Happiness Through Efficiency
We’ve made progress in simplifying our lives:
- Closed extra bank accounts
- Organizing photo libraries
- Deleting unused phone apps
- Carving out time for new pursuits (like self-taught piano lessons!)
Culinary Adventures at Home
Cooking at home continues to be a cornerstone of our healthy, budget-friendly lifestyle. Some Q3 culinary highlights:
- 4th of July feast: Baked organic chicken with vegetable fried rice
- Salmon egg benedict with home fries and avocado
- Hibachi brunch with friends
Celebrating Milestones
To commemorate a significant financial milestone, we invested in a cappuccino maker. It’s more than just a machine – it’s an investment in creating moments of joy and connection with loved ones.
Looking Ahead
As we approach the end of the year, we’re focusing on:
- Maintaining our financial momentum
- Planning one last trip before 2018
- Continuing to optimize for happiness in all aspects of life
Remember, we all have one life to live—let’s make it the richest one possible. Carpe Diem!
