My Frugal Miser - December Expenses: $8,267

I spent a lot in December.  Fortunately much of the spending was one-time in nature.  I switched health insurance plans, and was offered a one-time chance to pay my premiums with a credit card.  To maximize my rewards, I charged 12 months of health insurance premiums all at once.  I also paid over $2,000 for a dental implant.  In entertainment, I lost $500 gambling on our early December cruise.  The balance of that category was spent purchasing tickets to several events we will attend in 2017.  I had an expensive home repair.  I got a $800+ water bill (not paid yet) and had to pay to have a slab leak repaired.  In food, I bought $200 worth of gift cards to take advantage of holiday bonuses.

December Expenses:  $8,267

$1,381 Auto ($0 gas, $4 repairs/maintenance, $1,377 depreciation)

$0 Bank Fees
$6 Clothing

$0 Computer

$946 Entertainment (movies, gambling, alcohol)

$410 Food

$52 Gifts Given

$817 Household/Housing/Home Repair

$1,381 Health and Dental Insurance (prepaid all of 2017 premiums)

$0 Investment Expense
$504 Interest Expense*

$2,198 Medical/Dental

$0 Miscellaneous

$8 Personal Care

$35 Subscriptions

$0 Taxes
$21 Sharing Economy Expenses (dedicated phone, tolls, car washes, etc.)

$239 Utilities

$241 Vacation

*Interest expense includes student loans and the loan on my car.  As both rates are below 2%, I am completely comfortable paying the interest each month and investing the money that I would otherwise use to pay off these loans.  In December, I paid $490 to E*Trade for "hard to borrow" interest on a short sale of Sears Holdings stock.