Financial Impacts

Instead of using all $50k of cash in my account, I bought into a couple of mutual funds with $30k.  Those funds have historically done well.

Every month I get a royalty check from a company in Texas.  The amount depends on the market price of crude oil and natural gas, and also on how much was taken out of the ground.  It's not that much money, but it has served as our 'pocket cash' for the month.  We like cash over plastic. We use it for groceries, restaurants and other minor expenses. Back when gasoline was twice as expensive most people were complaining.  Not me. The royalty check was almost as much as my salary.

The virus has greatly reduced the demand for petroleum energy, which then reduces the market value of oil.  And to make matters worse the Russians and Arabians are in an oil price war.  With the price of oil around $34 a barrel there is no profit to be made. With time, this will kill the oil fracking industry, and thus make us dependent on oil imports once again.

And to throw gasoline on the fire, the company that sends my royalty check has filed chapter 11.  Apparently they borrowed and made investments when oil prices were high, betting it would stay that way.  They can't pay their debts. I have no idea, at this time, as to how that will effect me.

Good thing I have a decent retirement portfolio.