My Frugal Miser - August 2025 Income

August income took a hit from working less.  Although I worked two small meeting jobs, I haven't been paid for them yet.  

I received rent from both rental properties in Alabama, and the tenant in the condo paid his September rent early.  I also received two small distributions from Realty Mogul.  

Open Door Capital continues to pay interest on the promissory note.

I completed several Amazon routes and drove a little for Uber.  Driving for Uber pays less now than it did ten years ago, but I had very little income coming in and wanted to give it a try again.

August Income: $7,762

$0 Meeting Jobs
$207 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$1,645 Amazon Deliveries

$3,685 Rental Income (Rental Expenses: $366)
$2,212 Interest Income

$13 Other Sources

Investment Accounts Change in Value: $4,140

My brokerage accounts were up in August.

My Frugal Miser - August 2025 Expenses

I spent like a drunken sailor last month, because one night I was a drunken sailor.  

• I needed a dental filling.
• Since I didn't work many meetings, I drove for Amazon and Uber instead, which used up a lot of gas.  One of the meetings I worked was in Miami and I drove, which cost a decent amount for gas.  The mileage I expensed will fully cover that.  I also changed the oil.
• I paid the $85 annual fee on my Marriott credit card.  It comes with a free night each year which is worth more than $85.

Fun

We love adventures.  Spending on experiences makes us better humans.  

• I paid for a cruise we are taking in November.
• I prepaid for a short trip we are taking this week to Savannah.  It's to do some real estate research but I'm categorizing everything as fun.
• I lost a lot of money one night playing blackjack on our European cruise.  It was the only day I drank too much and my lowered inhibitions cost me dearly.
• I pay for two AMC A-List subscriptions each month.

August Expenses:  $8,920

$556 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$85 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$39 Clothing/ Personal Care

$6,393 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)

$456 Food

$637 Health and Dental

$29 Household/Home Repairs

$0 Unreimbursed Job Expense

$169 Reimbursed Job Expense

$0 Interest Expense

$64 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)

$0 Taxes

$183 Utilities 

My Frugal Miser - July 2025 Income

 My income in July would be much lower, but meeting work I did in June was paid last month.

Meeting income was decent but was almost entirely from work I did in June.  I only worked two days in July.

I received rent from both rental properties in Alabama, but the property manager for one of them was notified that the tenants are moving out at the end of August. I received one distribution from Realty Mogul.  

Open Door Capital continues to pay interest on the promissory note.

I completed one Amazon route.  Unfortunately rates are very low right now and I can't justify putting on the mileage for what Amazon is offering.

July Income: $9,180

$4,132 Meeting Jobs
$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$72 Amazon Deliveries

$2,778 Rental Income (Rental Expenses: $366)
$2,198 Interest Income

$0 Other Sources

Investment Accounts Change in Value: $2,004

My brokerage accounts were up slightly in July.

My Frugal Miser - July 2025 Expenses

Because of my tax refund, I "made money" on expenses last month.  To be fair, strip out the tax refund and I spent $3,693 in July.  

• I spent over $1,000 on Health and Dental.  I'm cursed with bad teeth and had two extracted last month.
• Food was elevated.  Even though we were on a cruise for 12 days, most of the port days were full days away from the ship, and food in Europe isn't cheap.
• I received a $10,000 refund from the IRS.  Unfortunately many of my real estate syndications are struggling, and the losses offset much of my income last year.

Fun

We love adventures.  Spending on experiences makes us better humans.  

• I received another deposit from Chumba Casino ($720).
• On our cruise we spent a lot of money (some of this will show up in August's report).  Notables include a $336 tour in Berlin, $252 car service, and $150 for tickets to a London matinee of Book of Mormon.
• I pay for two AMC A-List subscriptions each month.

July Expenses:  $6242 income (really $3,693)

$42 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$49 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$59 Clothing/ Personal Care

$1,304 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)

$543 Food

$1,135 Health and Dental

$58 Household/Home Repairs

$3 Unreimbursed Job Expense

($380) Reimbursed Job Expense income this month

$0 Interest Expense

$274 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)

($9,936) Taxes income this month

$241 Utilities