Welcoming a $525,709.19 net worth for Christmas!

My latest paycheque helped push me back into the $525K range, and I have to admit, it felt really good to see that number again. I spent Boxing Day quietly at home. Most stores are closed here in New Brunswick anyway, at least where I am. It’s -20°C outside, and the weather has been brutally cold. The kind of cold that makes you appreciate a warm drink, a cozy blanket, and the simple comfort of staying in with zero pressure to go anywhere.

I’m not too far from $530K, but I think I’ll probably get there sometime in early 2026. Not that $530K is super important, but what happens after that is what fascinates me. After $530K comes $540K, then $550K, and before you know it, $600,000 shows up, almost out of nowhere. That’s the part I love about consistency: when you keep showing up, saving, and investing, the numbers can start building momentum in a way that feels almost unreal.

I don’t get a super generous paycheque every two weeks, but I’m expecting a similarly good one at the beginning of January because of some overtime and because I worked during the holidays. I really don’t mind. It’s nice to have the extra cash, and it’s usually very quiet this time of year. Honestly, there’s something satisfying about using that “extra” money in a smart way, whether it’s boosting savings, making an RRSP contribution, or simply building a little cushion for upcoming expenses.

For 2025, I earned around $68,000 before taxes from my full-time job. I also earned about $7,000 in dividend income from my non-registered portfolio. I’m planning to invest $5,000 in my RRSP, no more than that, because I want to build up some savings before I go back to Montreal. That will be in a couple of months, but I want to save in advance for my summer vacation and other expenses. I’ve learned that it’s much less stressful to plan ahead than to scramble later, even if investing is always tempting when the market is moving.

I asked ChatGPT how much my tax refund might be on a $5,000 RRSP contribution, and I was told it would probably be around $1,800. I have my doubts about that number. I don’t think I’ll get that big of a refund on $5K but we’ll see later on. Either way, I still like the idea of making a contribution because it forces me to stay disciplined and it supports my long-term strategy. Even a smaller refund is still a refund, and it’s one more step forward.

After my rent payment and my RRSP contribution, I’ll be starting 2026 with about $5,600 in savings. By the end of April, I should be close to, or right around, $15,000 in savings if everything goes as planned. From that amount, I’d like to invest a solid $3,000 into my TFSA portfolio. I like having a plan that balances both worlds: enjoying life and staying prepared, while still keeping investing as a priority.

I’d also like to reach the equivalent of $1,000 in monthly dividend income from my non-registered and TFSA portfolios. At $981 right now, I’m not that far from the goal. That last stretch always feels like the longest, but it’s also the most exciting. Because once I cross that line, it’s a major milestone. And from there, the focus becomes maintaining it, growing it, and letting time do what it does best: compound in its best expression.