My Frugal Miser - January 2026 Income

I had a decent month in January - meeting season has arrived!  My rental properties is still vacant and I'm starting to wonder if it will ever get rented.

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

January Income: $10,893

$7,541 Meeting Jobs
$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$357 Amazon Deliveries

$750 Rental Income (Rental Expenses: $1,376)
$2,157 Interest Income

$88 Other Sources

Investment Accounts Change in Value: $10,446

My brokerage accounts were up again in January.  The IRBT PUT options increased again.  I also have some bets against AMC (I am short the stock and own some PUT options) that increased in value.

My Frugal Miser - January 2026 Spending

Like December, in January I prepaid some expenses, which inflated my spending.  I wanted to buy my way to Platinum status with American Airlines, and I did.  I should probably post about manufactured spending, but in this case I made a large tax payment to the IRS.  Assuming I overpaid, I'll get it back as a refund.  All I am out is the lost interest income had I invested the money instead.

• I made a $6,000 quarterly tax payment to the IRS. 
• I paid the annual fees on two credit cards.
• I paid the annual home insurance bill.

Fun (aka Personal Travel)

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

• I didn't book any travel in January.
• I pay for two AMC A-List subscriptions each month.

January Expenses:  $8,874

$95 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$500 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$166 Clothing/ Personal Care

$5 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)

$276 Food

$264 Health and Dental

$1,039 Household/Home Repairs

$0 Unreimbursed Job Expense

$325 Reimbursed Job Expense

$0 Interest Expense

$32 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)

$6,000 Taxes

$172 Utilities 

My Frugal Miser - December 2025 Income

December was another mediocre month for income.  I only worked one meeting along with three corporate parties.  One of my rental properties is still vacant.  I switched to a new management company and the house was re-listed for rent at the end of the month.  I received rent from the Birmingham condo and two distributions from Realty Mogul.

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

December Income: $9,409

$4,164 Meeting Jobs
$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$231 Amazon Deliveries

$2,738 Rental Income (Rental Expenses: $4,101)
$2,160 Interest Income

$115 Other Sources

Investment Accounts Change in Value: $35,977

My brokerage accounts were up significantly in December.  I had several PUT options and a short position against iRobot before the company declared bankruptcy.  Amazingly, I was able to add to my PUT options after the bankruptcy declaration for additional profit.  I also have some bets against AMC theaters which have increased in value.

My Frugal Miser - December 2025 Spending

December looks like I was a total glutton, but I brought forward some expenses for a reason:  I was really close to getting status on American Airlines, and prepaying some expenses before my December statement took me over the threshold.  Emboldened, I have decided to aim for Platinum before the February 28th cutoff.

These last couple of months I've been working strategically to obtain loyalty status.  Let's face it:  I travel for a living, and getting extra perks makes it less stressful.  By doing a little planning, I have locked in AAdvantage Gold Status (and I still have a couple months to try for Platinum!), Hilton Honors Diamond, and Marriott Bonvoy Platinum (unfortunately a downgrade from the current Titanium, but even getting Platinum required some effort this year).  

• I prepaid for $1,000 toward the water/trash bill.  
• I prepaid for 12 months of mobile phone service for both of us. 
• I paid property taxes on both rental properties using a credit card.
• I made a huge quarterly tax payment.  It's most likely more than my tax liability and I'll get any overpayment back as a refund.
• I bought a dozen air filters to take advantage of an AMEX Offer for $20 back on a Walmart purchase.
• I bought $3,000 in Amazon gift cards.

Fun (aka Personal Travel)

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

• My AMEX card had an offer of $100 cash back if I spent $500 on Carnival Cruise, so I prepaid towards one of our 2026 cruises.
• I visited my mom twice in December.  Those hotel bills along with the rental car are categorized as "fun".
• I pay for two AMC A-List subscriptions each month.

December Expenses:  $24,321

$609 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$0 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$20 Clothing/ Personal Care

$1,330 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)

$932 Food

$818 Health and Dental

$3,220 Household/Home Repairs

$412 Unreimbursed Job Expense

($323) Reimbursed Job Expense income this month

$16 Interest Expense

$310 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)

$15,292 Taxes

$1,725 Utilities