June 2026 update ($1,460,466 +$10,584 or +0.7%)

↑ Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund is up by $1,443 or +0.6%
↑ Eurozone Stock Index Fund is up by $11,345 or +4.6% 
↑ Global Small Cap is up by $4,316 or +1.9%
↑ Additional investment savings $2,500
Total gains: $19,604

↓ Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Fund is down by $2,404 or -0.4% 
↓ Growth fund is down by $575 or -0.5%
↓ EUR to USD is down by 0.9% or for my portfolio $4,322
↓ GBP to USD is down by 1.5% or for my portfolio $1,719
Total losses: 9,020    

  

May 2026 update ($1,449,882 +$75,719 or +5.5%)

↑ Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund is up by $22,568 or +10.4%
↑ Eurozone Stock Index Fund is up by $10,072 or +4.2% 
↑ Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Fund is up by $25,257 or +4.6% 
↑ Global Small Cap is up by $7,876 or +3.6%
↑ Growth fund is up $7,445 or +6.8%
↑ Additional investment savings $2,500
Total gains: $75,719

Buying vs investing and renting a house

 Ten years ago, I bought a house with a twenty-year mortgage.  It has been an emotional decision and, as I am about to become mortgage free, I would like to share some considerations and costs.

 

I will look at it as an investment and compare it with other investment opportunities.

 

House bought in 2016 for 475,000. House cost in 2026: 600,000

 

Total money paid:

• Initial deposit: 150,000
• Legal cost and tax: 14,500 (1,500 + 13,000)
• Three one off over payments over years: 34,000
• Monthly payments over ten years: 211,000
• Total paid to the bank:  395,000 plus initial cost 15,000

 

Still owe: 130,000 to the bank. Interest paid: 50,000

 

My preference was to lock the mortgage as fixed interest.  First five years the mortgage interest was 2.7%, the last five years 1.4%. I have also maintained monthly payments the same from the beginning, even with all over payments. Last year I was overpaying 400 a month.  The house grew in value 125,000 over ten years or 2.3% a year. 

 

We bought it emotionally and the sellers’ agent used our feelings to full extend – we overpaid 25,000 over sticker price. This is despite that we had no ongoing chain – the seller got their money straight away, without any waiting.

 

Opportunity cost.

April 2026 update ($1,376,128 +$121,364 or +9.7%)

↑ Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund is up by $23,606 or +12.2%
↑ Eurozone Stock Index Fund is up by $14,248 or +6.3%
↑ Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Fund is up by $53,368 or +10.8%
↑ Global Small Cap is up by $18,930 or +9.3%
↑ Growth fund is up $6,286 or +6.3%
↑ GBP is up to USD by 2.3% or $2,486 for my portfolio
↑ Additional investment savings $2,500
Total gains: $121,364

March 2026 update ($1,254,764 -$98,905 or -7.3%)

↑ Additional investment savings $2,500

Total gains: $2,500

 

↓ Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund is down by $23,464 or -10.7%

↓ Eurozone Stock Index Fund is down by $20,506 or -8.2%

↓ Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Fund is down by $26,194 or -5.0%

↓ Global Small Cap is down by $16,483 or -7.5%

↓ Growth fund is up down $5,266 or -4.9%

↓ EUR is down to USD by 1.7% or $7,208 for my portfolio

↓ GBP is down to USD by 2.2% or $2,283 for my portfolio

Total loses: $101,405

 

February 2026 update ($1,353,669 +$25,338 or +1.9%)

↑ Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund is up by $12,959 or +6.2%
↑ Eurozone Stock Index Fund is up by $8,408 or +3.5% 
↑ Global Small Cap is up by $8,217 or +3.9%
↑ Growth fund is up by $2,345 or +2.2%
↑ Additional investment savings $2,500
Total gains: $34,429

↓ Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Fund is down by $3,818 or -0.7% 
↓ EUR is down to USD by 0.8% or $3,977 for my portfolio
↓ GBP is down to USD by 0.7% or $1,600 for my portfolio
Total loses: $9,395

January 2026 update ($1,328,281 +$47,727 or +3.7%)

↑ Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund is up by $14,293 or +6.5%
↑ Eurozone Stock Index Fund is up by $6,532 or +2.5% 
↑ Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Fund is up by $7,089 or +1.4% 
↑ Global Small Cap is up by $10,939 or +5.5%
↑ Growth fund is up by $236 or +0.2%
↑ Additional investment savings $2,500
↑ EUR is up to USD by 0.8% or $3,797 for my portfolio
↑ GBP is up to USD by 2.2% or $2,341 for my portfolio
Total gains: $47,727