It was never intended to be. It was mainly about current lease prices and if what I was sharing in the post made sense to what's in the market out there for leases. The other thing that bothers me is the rate, rates are crazy high right now. I could be betting that the rates go back to that 3-5 percent on a used car. But maybe I'm wrong

You cannot afford a car. How about a scooter? Electric bicycle? Can you move closer to work? Or within a better bus route?

I’m sorry but if there is a way to get there by bus (even if it’s 2 hours each way) then take the bus. $500/2800 for Uber is not an acceptable expense. Do you have an emergency fund saved up?

in my case, the stock has been a ride.

I like having mathematical triggers -- I make up a formula, and it tells me when to sell.

Through Dec 2019 - Jan 2020, I sold... I think it was 9 lots, at an ever increasing price. The formula would give me a next price to sell at relative to the previous price.

My employer's stock went up December 2019 - March 2020...then when the bottom fell out of the market in later March 2020, it dropped to about half where I sold my first lot of vested RSUs. By October 2020, the stock was to price where I'd stopped selling in january. It kept, generally, going up, and peaked early december '21 at double where I sold my first lot. Then it's dropped. My formula tells me I should sell my next lot at 100.37, but it ended the day Friday at 78.05.

Now... why did I stop? Both times because the total value reached my goal -- the sales brought the total value of employer stock below my target.

In your case, I suggest setting a target -- say 10% of your net worth -- and slowly pare back your vested-RSU holdings down to that level. Further, I'd see if I can't come up with some pairings that make sense to roughly where stock is selling...say +/- 10%.

Also -- for your piece of mind, if you change jobs, you'll be able to roll over this 401k money to another job, or an individual traditional IRA.

Ideally, you probably want to even save more for retirement -- 15% if you can swing it.

You can diversify in terms of tax strategy by putting your additional retirement savings in a Roth IRA.

Check out the flowchart on this page, it has a lot of other good advice:

https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/wiki/commontopics/

It's not just a 6 month swing in equity, btw. It's the rate difference that worries me as well. Please read my other comments.

>you should have waited 6 months if you’re so confident in this prediction of yours.

I'm not predicting anything. I want to build a portfolio wherein I don't lose overall. Please read the post again and my other comments. I can handle the fluctuation over next 6 months. I don't want to just "handle it" though. I want to protect my assets.

I'm certainly intending to stay long term, so like you said I should come out ok in the end. I'm trying to do even better than that. Thank you for your input!

its going to be fairly the same as if I were to finance the car (at the end of the 3rd year) plus I would be tied to a higher interest rate, Whereas with the lease I can refinance with a 3-4 percent IF rates tank in the next 3 years. Most likely whatever we do We will get rid of the car on the 3rd year but uncertainty of the market is whats making me think leasing could work

> Like the title states, I am trying to discern how much money my 401(k) effectively “made” for me last year.

Every 401(k) web site I've ever used shows a personal rate of return, sometimes with the ability to customize the period.

> I have a Roth 401(k) and I contributed the full IRS maximum of $22,500 and I get a 5% employer match. According to my 401(k) it has gone up just under $21k last year which to me seems like it only went up by what I and my employer contributed

The stock market was down last year. This is not surprising.

what do you think?

You’re going to take on a 30 year mortgage but you can’t handle the equity fluctuation over 6 months? You shouldn’t be buying a home then. Or at least, you should have waited 6 months if you’re so confident in this prediction of yours.

You don’t need to try to outsmart the system. Just put your money in a HYSA, be happy with the home you get, and stay in it long enough that you build enough equity to where a little 6-month swing in equity won’t be that big of a deal.

buying a new car is a bad financial decision. But is probably a bad one as well to buy a used car thats 2 or 3k less than a new one, Which is the case for all fairly-new used cars right now

Thank you I will now.

Ok I’ll continue to keep it at 7 percent!

You get all of your money, and tax advantaged investing is good, even without the employer match.

Financial decisions should be made based on future planning not on fear. Fear is driving your decision here. Nobody knows for sure whether a crash will definitely happen and if so how bad it will be. It cannot be predicted. You plan around your budget, your future and don't try to predict what will happen. It's like timing the market, it seldom works.

[deleted]

Thank you! You answered one of my questions that I had. I will continue to contribute. Though I wonder if I should increase my contribution since I do have a Roth IRA with fidelity that’s kinda been neglected.

The limit for 2022 was $20.5k not $22.5k but, aside from that, if you started the 401k last year and invested evenly throughout the year…ending the year even isn't outside the realm of possibility. My 401k had the same value on Friday that it did in Dec '21, with a year of max contributions and another $10k employer contributions.

the market dropped year over year so i would not be surprised if that is accurate, but there should be statements showing you the yearly performance.

Call all the insurance companies. Tell them you cannot pay and you want to negotiate down the total amount you owe. Read some articles about how to do that successfully. Then, sell your car and buy a much cheaper car (any chance you can do without a car). Put your previous car payment towards CC3, once it is paid off towards CC1, then CC2. Start working, but in parallel look for a higher paying job.

Yes, you should still contribute. The tax benefits alone on your money makes it worthwhile.

That's my point Part of me believes I will be upside down. I strongly believe everything will crash. especially with Gold going up like crazy in the past couple of months. Plus If I purchase I would be tied to a contract with a high interest rate. where as if I were to keep the lease I could purchase at the end at a way lower rate If the market tanks... Still I want to get my girl a way better car in 3 years from now. The only reason why I'm considering leasing is because I fear an 2023 LE corolla with 30-40k miles will probably be bought by dealers or auction around 12-13k like you mentioned to be sold at 14-16k (dealers gotta have that 1-2k mark up most of the time lol)

This car is not for me, My girl's father is paying for it. She does not have a car and needs one asap.

I think I'm fine with my investment strategy outside of my RSUs. Its pretty simple slow and steady total stock market/ SP500 stuff. I'm versed enough in my options to know that this was probably the better bet (and its what the other ~75% of my NW is in) But the vibe im getting is that now is as good a time as ever to to just hurry up and move everything and switch to autosale moving forward just for simplicity sake.

​

TLDR its not worth optimizing and even in a diverse fund im more than invested enough in this company (not to mention all the unvested RSUs to come)

​

Thanks!

the same corolla I bought for 15k 19 SE with 21k miles, was worth 18,500 and had 34k miles when I sold it a year ago. they are still at those numbers and some even have higher mileage. You think the prices are gonna hold for the next 3 years? I honestly doubt it, and we seem to be approaching a huge crash in the next year or so. That's what im speculating on. If the market tanks and I decide to finance the corolla, I would be owing around 14-15k at the end of the 3rd year, I'm worried I won't be given my payoff amount for the car at the least...thats what is making me consider leasing.