tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36050381236537376922024-03-16T02:08:35.817-05:00My Frugal Miserpursuing a simple, frugal lifeJKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.comBlogger1101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-84086108033524273932024-03-09T05:00:00.027-06:002024-03-12T10:16:48.052-05:00Making Progress Towards My 2024 Goals - February Update<p>Here's how I did in February...</p><h2>Financial</h2><div>A new goal this year is to invest 40% of my gross income from meeting work - 30% to index funds and 10% to something more aggressive. I remain on track in Month 2.</div><div><br /></div><div>In February, I earned $9,102* from meeting work. I transferred $3,750 (41% of meeting income) to my brokerage accounts. I purchased a 3 month term CD for the 30%. The "more aggressive" investment has not yet been deployed. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am shifting to a more liquid investment (the CD) for now due to the performance of my real estate syndications and the likely need to add cash to those deals. A few of the deals I invested in are new construction, and those construction loans have to be replaced by standard loans as the debt matures. One deal I am particularly optimistic about is a development that was just completed in Columbus, OH. The sponsors announced that a capital call is forthcoming to cover interest expense until the lease-up is complete. Basically, the buildings are complete, but it takes time to fill them with tenants. Interest rates are higher today than they were when construction began, so the project requires more cash to pay interest until things stabilize. I'm willing to fund this shortfall because I am optimistic about the project long-term.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This will not match what I report in my income blog. I earned $9,102, but received less than that as payments aren't always received in the month the work was performed.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><h2>Health</h2><div>I'm doing well meeting my exercise goals. Last week I worked an event in Chicago for 8 days. I visited the fitness center 5 of those days. I also exceeded 10,000 steps on 5 days. Unfortunately I made some mistakes on my diet. I ate dessert twice and had carbs in the form of french fries, sandwiches and breaded fish multiple times. There were some stressful personal events going on last week and I always use food as a coping mechanism. Bad habit, no excuses.</div><div><br /></div><h2>Simplify</h2><div>I worked so much last month that I was barely home. I plan to add more to the donation box in March.</div><div><br /></div><h2>Have Fun, on a Budget</h2><div>I want to limit the fun budget to $5,000 in 2024. I didn't purchase any travel in February. The fun budget was limited to our AMC A-List subscriptions and the purchase of some Kava-based drink powders.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-76233249076203916352024-03-06T05:00:00.003-06:002024-03-06T05:00:00.250-06:00My Frugal Miser - February 2024 Income<p>February was a strong earnings month. I worked meetings 22 out of 29 days. Rental income was lower than expected. I received rent from only one of my Alabama rental properties. I also received one distribution from Realty Mogul and the small monthly distribution from Open Door Capital. I received an unexpected windfall in the form of a $492 check from a class action settlement involving my brokerage account.</p><p>Open Door continues to pay interest on the promissory note as promised. </p><div><h2>February Income: $14,501</h2><div><div>$9,428 Meeting Jobs<br />$6 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$0 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$2,196 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $359</i>)<br />$2,345 Interest Income</div><div>$526 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: $1,557</h2></div></div><div>My investments were up in February.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-38725857182746867412024-03-02T05:00:00.029-06:002024-03-02T05:00:00.257-06:00My Frugal Miser - February 2024 Expenses<p> February was a decent month. </p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>I paid the annual fee for my Self-Directed IRA.</li><li>We worked an event in Orlando for the staffing company that introduced me to this industry. It normally doesn't cover hotel rooms, so we paid out of pocket for it.</li><li>Miscellaneous was income this month as I received proceeds from selling the Bruno Mars tickets. My speculative purchase of these tickets resulted in a major loss.</li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>No vacations were planned.</li></ul></div><h2><b>February Expenses: $2,892</b></h2><div>$77 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$895 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)<br />$267 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />$220 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)<br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$558 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$13 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$30 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$267 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$350 Reimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">($265) Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts) <i>income this month</i></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$425 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$199 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-84514030618651984692024-02-17T10:00:00.001-06:002024-02-17T10:00:00.143-06:00Making Progress Towards My 2024 Goals - January Update<p>January was a super busy month, yet I found time to work on my goals for this year. To keep myself accountable, here's an update:</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Financial</h2><div>A new goal this year is to invest 40% of my gross income from meeting work - 30% to index funds and 10% to something more aggressive. I'm on track in Month 1.</div><div><br /></div><div>In January, I earned $8,126* from meeting work. I transferred $3,850 to my brokerage accounts. As a bonus (not part of this particular goal), I also made a $1,000 contribution to my ROTH IRA. I chose the Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund (VTWAX) for the 30%. The "more aggressive" investment was a PUT option against Beyond Meat (BYND) that expires in January 2025.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*This will not match what I report in my income blog. I earned $8,126, but received less than that as payments aren't always received in the month the work was performed.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Health</h2><div>I want to lose weight and exercise 5x/week this year. I've lost a few pounds and I met my exercise goal in January.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Simplify</h2><div>This one is all about getting rid of things I don't use. I found out both Amazon and Microsoft have a program where you can sell back your used electronics. For me, this isn't about maximizing what I make from my old stuff. It's about getting rid of things without hassle. I sold 5 old items to Amazon (I received $22 as an Amazon gift card - pitiful but effortless). I also sent off two Surface Pro 3 tablets and a Samsung S9 phone to Microsoft. I just sent those and am waiting for the trade to be approved, but I should receive about 1/3 what I paid for the tablets when I bought them used. I'll receive $58 for the three devices if they are approved.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also added 6 pieces of clothing, a couple books, a lamp and a few miscellaneous items to the donation box. I trashed our 10 year old Roomba and a second robot vacuum and replaced them with a new one. I also trashed a worn out pair of shoes and broken solar charger.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lastly, I simplified my finances just a tad. The authorized user fee for my AMEX was $195/year, so I canceled that card.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Have Fun, on a Budget</h2><div>I want to limit the fun budget to $5,000 in 2024. In January, we drastically cut down on alcohol consumption. We took a 2 night cruise on Margaritaville at Sea, but it was paid for in December. I didn't book any other getaways, so the fun budget was barely touched last month.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm off to a promising start. Of all these goals, losing weight will be the toughest. It's ridiculously hard for me to stick to a diet. Food is my addiction, yet I can't live without it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-35136069967807669732024-02-05T05:00:00.001-06:002024-02-05T05:00:00.151-06:00My Frugal Miser - January 2024 Income<p>January was a nice month for income. I worked 20 consecutive days doing meetings. We ended the month with a two day Margaritaville cruise.</p><p>I didn't do rideshare or work any Amazon routes.</p><p>Rental income was as expected. I received rent from both Alabama rental properties and the small monthly distribution from Open Door Capital. Rental expenses were a bit higher than normal. I paid the fire dues on the condo and my management company charged a research fee to pull up some old repair records I needed to submit for a class action lawsuit.</p><p>Open Door continues to pay interest on the promissory note as promised. </p><div><h2>January Income: $11,014</h2><div><div>$6,522 Meeting Jobs<br />$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$0 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$2,112 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $1,510</i>)<br />$2,381 Interest Income</div><div>$0 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: $4,284</h2></div></div><div>My investments were up in January.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-13237372606438484052024-02-02T10:53:00.005-06:002024-02-02T10:53:52.161-06:00My Frugal Miser - January 2024 Expenses<p>January was a decent month. </p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>I prepaid my health insurance for the year. I'm working on a sign-up bonus on a new credit card and doing this gets me closer to the bonus.</li><li>We worked one event in Orlando where only lunch was provided, so the food budget is mostly our dinners that week.</li><li>My scheme to resell the Bruno Mars tickets was a bust. I had no idea Ticketmaster would set a <i>minimum </i>sale price, yet oddly would offer a "sell it now" option for significantly less than that price. Tickets for the concert did not sell well, and I was not allowed to lower my offer price to match supply and demand. Out of desperation, I sold at the "sell it now" price two days before the concert. </li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>We took a two night cruise on Margaritaville at Sea. The company charged a fuel surcharge ($30/person) and gratuities, plus we had some small charges for ice cream and additional gratuities.</li><li>No other vacations were planned.</li></ul></div><h2><b>January Expenses: $5,834</b></h2><div>$96 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$544 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)<br />$158 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />$274 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)<br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$445 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$3,265 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$48 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$33 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$589 Reimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$96 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$251 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$36 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-19366594279288229802024-01-05T05:00:00.049-06:002024-01-05T05:00:00.135-06:00My Frugal Miser - December 2023 Income<p>December was a lighter month for active income than I would have preferred, but real estate and interest income carried me. Besides, we made the most of it by taking our vacation during a slow time. I worked two meetings and one local transportation job - 15 days total. </p><p>I didn't do rideshare but received a decent check from the rides I gave at the end of November. The $1,141 check included a $700 bonus for completing 60 rides. Without the bonus, my earnings would have been significantly below minimum wage. I didn't complete a single Amazon route in December. Amazon overhired drivers and most of the new drivers are happy driving at unprofitable rates, which I will not do.</p><p>Rental income was excellent. I received rent from both Alabama rental properties and two distributions from Realty Mogul and one from Open Door Capital. I paid annual property taxes for the Alabama properties.</p><p>Open Door continues to pay interest on the promissory note as promised. I also received a decent interest payment on my Capital One Savings balance.</p><div><h2>December Income: $13,525</h2><div><div>$5,280 Meeting Jobs<br />$1,141 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$0 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$4,598 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $3,035</i>)<br />$2,506 Interest Income</div><div>$0 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: $998</h2></div></div><div>My investments were down slightly in December.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-5186770191768582662024-01-03T05:00:00.001-06:002024-01-03T05:00:00.141-06:00My Frugal Miser - December 2023 Expenses<p>The majority of my spending in December was necessary, unavoidable expenses. Strip out those categories and we were frugal last month.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>I am required to have business insurance for my meeting work and paid $404 for the annual policy.</li><li>I renewed our homeowner's insurance for 12 months ($1,243). Because we have a new home in a different part of the city, this is 1/3 what I was paying in Clearwater.</li><li>I paid $5,000 for quarterly taxes.</li><li>Bruno Mars announced a new residency in Las Vegas. A few years ago I was able to resell tickets to his concert at a profit, so I paid $1,311 for two tickets (miscellaneous category) with plans to sell them for more.</li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>Thanks to a profitable blackjack game on the Carnival Miracle, I won $2,600 gambling, making the Fun category positive for the month. </li><li>We spent $50 on an excursion in Cabo.</li><li>The balance was for our AMC A-List subscriptions, rideshare expenses during our vacation, and a small amount for alcohol.</li></ul></div><h2><b>December Expenses: $6,698</b></h2><div>$90 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$0 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)<br />$113 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />($2,279) Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets) <i>income this month</i><br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$418 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$111 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$1,243 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$481 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">($238) Reimbursed Job Expense <i>income this month</i></div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$1,527 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$5,093 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$140 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-88159910471323225532024-01-01T14:00:00.001-06:002024-01-01T14:00:00.142-06:00My Frugal Miser - How I did on my 2023 Goals<p> Every year I set a few goals to keep me on track. In 2023 I published 4 goals:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>increase net worth by 12%; increase rental income by 15% or sell a property</li><li>weigh 175 pounds</li><li>declutter the house by removing 2 items for every new one, keep my inbox clear, stop wasting time doing unnecessary things</li><li>Limit spending in the Fun category to $5,000</li></ul>Let's see how I did...<p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>My net worth barely budged. It increased by about $6,000 in 2023. I knew while setting my goals that I was going to have a big tax burden to pay in 2023, I didn't realize it would be more than $94,000. I consider the second part of that goal pertaining to rental properties a success. I sold my last Florida rental property and I increased the rent on one of the Alabama properties by 14%. I collected 10% more rent from the condo I own in Birmingham. Real estate syndication income was basically flat.</li><li>I gained weight. Fail.</li><li>I created a system for decluttering the house. We keep a couple of large boxes in the office to store things that I'll donate, and when full, we take them to a nearby charity that operates a thrift store. I spent some down time between meetings tackling to-do items that were clogging my inbox. It feels like a weight has been lifted by finally conquering these procrastinated tasks. Success.</li><li>Spending on Fun in 2023 was $4,959. Success - thanks to a winning gambling session on our December cruise, I just barely made it under my $5K goal. This is the lowest this category has been in at least 5 years. Progress.</li></ul><div>Overall I feel like setting goals helped me accomplish more than if I didn't have a plan in place. </div><p></p>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-67391863446267078622023-12-16T06:00:00.003-06:002024-01-01T13:32:08.041-06:00My Frugal Miser - 2024 Goals<p></p><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Every year I <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3605038123653737692/4161218054654813118"><span style="color: blue;">publish</span></a> a handful of goals. I usually
meet some and fail at others. Without this roadmap, I would lack the
direction I need to achieve anything. Here are my 2024 goals.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Financial</span></h2><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Increase Net Worth by $100,000</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Invest 30% of gross meeting income in index funds</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Invest 10% of gross meeting income in more aggressive investments</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2023 my net worth has barely budged, so I have created these goals to ensure success. I should be able to invest between $25,000-$30,000 next year if I follow this plan. The remaining increase in net worth should come from existing investments in stocks and real estate. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Committing 40% of gross meeting income to investments is aggressive (it's well over half my after-tax income). The plan is to lever up other income (rideshare, making deliveries, etc.) when there is a shortfall.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Health</span></h2><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Exercise at least 5x/week.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Lose weight.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I should assign a specific weight loss goal, but I also want to build muscle, so I'm more focused on how my body looks in the mirror and how it fits into clothes. </span></div></div>
<h2 style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Simplify</span></h2><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">We have owned two mopeds since 2012. They don't run. It's time to either repair and use them or get rid of them. I'll do that in 2024.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">I would like to eliminate 30-50 pieces of clothing in 2024, and remove at least 2 items per week from the house.</span></li></ul><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have Fun, On a Budget</span></h2></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">I will limit spending on Fun to $5,000 in 2024.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">I would like to take a few short getaways using points and miles to places I've never been.</span></li></ul></div><p></p>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-61419273300345872892023-12-08T14:26:00.000-06:002023-12-08T14:26:57.205-06:00My Frugal Miser - November 2023 Income<p>November wasn't terrible. I worked three small meetings but it was only 11 days of work. To supplement it I did a few Amazon routes and even drove for Lyft a bit.</p><p>I received rent from both Alabama rental properties and one distribution from Realty Mogul and Open Door Capital.</p><p>Open Door continues to pay interest on the promissory note as promised. I also received a decent interest payment on my Capital One Savings balance.</p><div><h2>November Income: $10,975</h2><div><div>$4,776 Meeting Jobs<br />$152 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$737 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$2,818 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $357</i>)<br />$2,469 Interest Income</div><div>$23 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: $1,951</h2></div></div><div>My investments were up slightly in November.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-64801322687550443122023-12-02T08:20:00.000-06:002023-12-02T08:20:08.244-06:00My Frugal Miser - November 2023 Expenses<p> We were degenerate gluttons in November.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>Earlier this year I researched high quality luggage and decided Monos was the best brand for me. They had an aggressive Black Friday sale - 40% off plus a free gift- so I finished out my luggage needs. Accompanied by a lifetime guarantee, I don't expect to spend much for luggage in the future.</li><li>On Black Friday I used my $50 Saks credit offered by the Platinum AMEX. Net of the credit, I spent $120 and received a $75 gift card, 3 pair of socks and two shirts.</li><li>I paid car insurance... ouch! (It's for both of us though)</li><li>I paid the annual fee for the American Express Platinum card. I almost canceled, but the credits I receive each month just barely outweigh the expense, so a net positive.</li><li>Property taxes were due on our house, and they were crazy expensive. Next year I will qualify for homestead exemption which will help a little.</li><li>We spent way too much on Thanksgiving dinner. Besides a couple decent restaurant meals, I spent more on groceries than usual. </li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>We're going on vacation later this month. I prepaid for a rental car and bought airline tickets instead of redeeming points in order to achieve a higher status level on United for 2024... I'll be Gold next year. </li><li>I also added $300 to my cruise balance for our December cruise to take advantage of a Chase Offer ($35 back on $100 purchase, across three different cards). </li><li>Lastly, Margaritaville at Sea had a Black Friday sale. We've never cruised on this line so I bought a 2 day cruise.</li></ul></div><h2><b>November Expenses: $15,275</b></h2><div>$1,503 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$695 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)<br />$554 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />$1,656 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)<br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$1,011 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$40 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$8,402 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$24 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$457 Reimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$656 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$20 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$257 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-44724749121816275382023-11-04T05:00:00.032-05:002023-11-04T05:00:00.168-05:00My Frugal Miser - October 2023 Expenses<p> October spending was high.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>I replaced the tires on the Elantra and paid the annual AAA dues.</li><li>While having my teeth cleaned I mentioned a little discomfort in one tooth. The dentist started a crown, but while waiting for the permanent crown I was in a lot of pain. Found out I needed a root canal. Spent nearly $2,000 for the crown and root canal.</li><li>Since I didn't work as much, we spent more on food than we normally do.</li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>I planned a 3 night getaway to Columbus, OH to take a closer look at a real estate deal. It was $250 roundtrip for airfare for two. To keep my partner entertained, I bought concert tickets for one night and tickets to see Mrs. Doubtfire a second night.</li></ul></div><h2><b>October Expenses: $4,789</b></h2><div>$928 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$0 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)<br />$140 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />$1,323 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)<br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$635 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$1,989 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$147 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$134 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$880 Reimbursed Job Expense <i>income this month</i></div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$10 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$266 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$52 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-18914725027099181162023-11-02T05:00:00.001-05:002023-11-02T05:00:00.217-05:00My Frugal Miser - October 2023 Income<p>October was a mixed bag. I worked two meetings plus one night for a DMC (destination management company), but overall meeting work was slow. </p><p>I received rent from both Alabama rental properties and one distribution from Realty Mogul and Open Door Capital.</p><p>Continuing from last month, I'm reporting the interest income from my retirement portfolio. I receive a little more than $2,000/month from a loan I made to Open Door. I also am in the process of deploying the other funds in my Self-Directed IRA and plan to report any distributions I receive in the future.</p><p>I did three Amazon routes in October.</p><div><h2>October Income: $10,978</h2><div><div>$4,746 Meeting Jobs<br />$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$248 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$3,231 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $304</i>)<br />$2,632 Interest Income</div><div>$121 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: $4,522</h2></div></div><div>My investments were up slightly in October.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-25534149001951478382023-10-06T06:00:00.002-05:002023-10-06T06:00:00.179-05:00My Frugal Miser - September 2023 Income<p>September was a terrific month. After a 6 day cruise, I worked all but one day last month. Some of that work will be paid in October.</p><p>I received rent from both Alabama rental properties and one distribution from Realty Mogul. Additionally, I have one real estate syndication with Open Door Capital. The first (small) monthly distribution was made last month.</p><p>In the past I haven't reported any of the income generated within my retirement accounts, but I made a new investment that, if successful, will generate substantial monthly income. I made a substantial loan from my self-directed IRA to Open Door Capital. I will begin reporting that interest each month. In September I received both a partial interest payment for August as well as the regular interest payment for September.</p><p>I did not do any Amazon routes in September.</p><div><h2>September Income: $13,760</h2><div><div>$6,648 Meeting Jobs<br />$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$0 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$3,271 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $357</i>)<br />$3,840 Interest Income (includes $3,763 interest from promissory note in retirement account)</div><div>$0 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: ($2,818)</h2></div></div><div>My investments were down slightly in September.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-58709864839328725992023-10-04T06:00:00.001-05:002023-10-04T06:00:00.147-05:00My Frugal Miser - September 2023 Expenses<p>September spending was high.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>I made a $7,500 quarterly tax payment. </li><li>I was on the road virtually the entire month. Since my work clients provide my <b>food</b>, I only spent $32 last month.</li><li>I prepaid $600 towards my T-Mobile Internet (<b>utilities</b>). Discover offered me an extra 4% cashback on any purchase up to $2,000 and as the September 30th deadline approached this was the best way to take advantage of the offer.</li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>We went on a cruise at the beginning of the month. I spent more than planned on excursions and gambling.</li></ul></div><h2><b>September Expenses: $11,478</b></h2><div>$39 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$139 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards) <i>income this month</i><br />$57 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />$2,303 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)<br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$32 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$68 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$80 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$50 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$347 Reimbursed Job Expense <i>income this month</i></div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$96 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$7,506 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$762 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-36055793948653282662023-10-02T06:00:00.014-05:002023-10-02T06:00:00.150-05:00My Frugal Miser - August 2023 Income<p> August wasn't the best month, which is typical. Meeting work usually slows down as school starts back. I worked meetings in Austin and Newport Beach the first ten days of the month, a 4 day "budget" meeting later on and a two day event at the end of August. </p><p>I took full advantage of the slowdown, so I don't mind the loss of income as much. I was able to cross off a few tasks I'd been postponing for months; it feels great to give those tasks "closure."</p><p>I received rent from both Alabama rental properties and one distribution from Realty Mogul. With interest rates rising so fast, I'm worried about a few of the syndication deals I have. A couple of my investments have floating rate debt that matures in 2024. It will be difficult to either refinance or sell those properties under the new rate environment.</p><p>I also managed to complete a few Amazon routes. That income pales in comparison to the meeting jobs, but it's usually enjoyable and easy filler when nothing else is going on. </p><div><h2>August Income: $10,359</h2><div><div>$7,160 Meeting Jobs<br />$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$394 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$2,676 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $360</i>)<br />$48 Interest Income</div><div>$0 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: $2,967</h2></div></div><div>My investments were up slightly in August.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-13063304572638877092023-09-30T07:43:00.002-05:002023-09-30T07:45:59.227-05:00My Frugal Miser - August 2023 Expenses<p>Better late than never, right? I had a couple large expenses in August.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>Our washing machine stopped working. It was only about 5 years old, but we used it heavily when we owned the Airbnb. After doing a little research I realized it would probably be better to take what I would have paid to have it repaired and purchase a new one. Florida is having a tax-free holiday on appliances which clinched the deal. </li><li>I also bought a new suitcase. Since I live out of hotels, I decided to research the highest quality luggage companies with the best warranties. I settled on a Monos Carry-On Plus. I had spent a few months looking at Monos, Briggs and Riley, Away and Yeti. Monos was already at the top of the list, then they had a 25% off sale and I pulled the trigger. The brand offers a lifetime warranty, so I plan to use this suitcase for a very long time.</li><li>Food. Once again we spent a bit too much at a couple of restaurants. Considering I was home half the month, our food spending wasn't terrible.</li><li>Spending on clothes was also higher than I want. I've gained all the weight back I lost during the pandemic. Unfortunately, I had thrown out all my old clothes and now have to replace them.</li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>I prepaid for a Mexican Riviera cruise for 2024. Carnival continues to offer me "free" balcony staterooms and I keep selecting them. They aren't actually free, but very inexpensive: I pay $200, which is refunded onboard as a stateroom credit, plus taxes/fees. I also prepaid gratuities to take advantage of a Chase cashback offer on one of my credit cards.</li><li>I prepaid for a car rental in December. </li></ul></div><h2><b>August Expenses: $4,161</b></h2><div>$218 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$94 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards) <i>income this month</i><br />$189 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />$1,226 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)<br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$614 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$39 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$799 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$150 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">($50) Reimbursed Job Expense <i>income this month</i></div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$362 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$293 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$226 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-10313554346234209192023-08-05T08:00:00.002-05:002023-08-05T08:00:00.152-05:00My Frugal Miser - July 2023 Expenses<p>July was a pleasantly frugal month.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>In June I paid the $250 annual fee on my United Quest credit card but then Chase offered a sweet deal to redeem miles to offset the fee, so I got that back as a statement credit. I also paid the $49 annual fee for my IHG card. That card comes with an annual free night (what a deal!) but I've heard the card is being discontinued and I'll have to pay more next year.</li><li>The category where I splurged was food. I almost always regret it when I spend too much on a restaurant meal. I'm going to try harder in August to avoid overspending here.</li><li>I made a mistake on my business taxes and paid an accountant $800 to fix it</li><li>Personal care - in Vegas we got a foot massage. I also prepaid for a 3-visit package to my local reflexologist. It helps tremendously with my foot pain.</li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>During our Las Vegas trip I won $300. Plus rental car rates dropped from when I prepaid for our car and I received a refund when I rebooked the lower rate. This was offset by my purchase of upgraded seats to First Class for our quick getaway. Overall, this vacation was almost free.</li><li>A friend visited us and we stopped by our local Hard Rock casino, where I won $485 in an hour playing blackjack.</li><li>We pay for an AMC Unlimited plan. </li></ul></div><h2><b>July Expenses: <i>income of </i>$145</b></h2><div>$186 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>($201) Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards) <i>income this month</i><br />$337 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />($111) Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets) <i>income this month</i><br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$567 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$29 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$60 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">($2,084) Reimbursed Job Expense <i>income this month</i></div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$59 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$800 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$213 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-29432898690885302522023-08-03T06:59:00.003-05:002023-08-03T06:59:47.906-05:00My Frugal Miser - July 2023 Income<p>In July I kept making good progress. Meeting work was slower as expected, but because I'm paid in arrears it doesn't look as slow as it actually was: I only worked meetings 14 days in July, and much of that was at a lower than usual rate. I received rent from both Birmingham rental properties and one Realty Mogul distribution.</p><div><h2>July Income: $10,281</h2><div><div>$7,400 Meeting Jobs<br />$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$0 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$2,870 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $357</i>)<br />$11 Interest Income</div><div>$0 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: ($6,200)</h2></div></div><div>My investments were down in July. I took a substantial loss by selling my AMC bonds. I did this after a judge ruled the company couldn't do a stock conversion/share issuance that is critical to raising needed cash to fund obligations. I hope the very best for AMC - it's a great place to see a movie. But the risk of the company running out of money in the next year increased substantially and was too risky for me.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-17589556673013898862023-07-03T05:00:00.005-05:002023-07-03T05:00:00.148-05:00My frugal Miser - June 2023 Expenses<p> May was another expensive month. Fortunately some of my spending was pre-paying for future expenses.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>I paid the $250 annual fee on my United Quest credit card and also paid a fee to use my card to pay quarterly taxes.</li><li>I prepaid the water bill. They don't charge a fee to pay by credit card and I was trying to reach a sign up bonus on a new credit card.</li><li>Thanks to all my meeting work, many jobs provided a healthy per diem that went unused, so it's cash to me. I often get to eat from the attendee meals.</li></ul><h2><br /></h2><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>I paid the balance for our September cruise and purchased an all-inclusive beach day excursion.</li><li>I bought tickets for two shows when we visit Las Vegas this week.</li><li>We pay for an AMC Unlimited plan. </li><li>I purchased a few IHG points due to a promotion.</li></ul></div><h2><b>June Expenses: $6,197</b></h2><div>$89 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$347 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)<br />$39 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />$1,549 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)<br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$160 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$64 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$265 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">($2,230) Reimbursed Job Expense <i>income this month</i></div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$9 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$5,151 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$892 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-55102670780090925792023-07-02T05:00:00.001-05:002023-07-02T05:00:00.141-05:00My Frugal Miser - June 2023 Income<p> I closed out the first half of the year with a solid income mostly from working meeting jobs. I worked meetings 27 days in June. I received rent from both Birmingham rental properties.</p><div><h2>June Income: $13,425</h2><div><div>$0 Mystery Shopping/ Merchandising<br />$11,478 Meeting Jobs<br />$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$0 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$1,945 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $450</i>)<br />$2 Interest Income</div><div>$0 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: $4,326</h2></div></div><div>My investments were up just a bit in June.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-13443480658306315252023-06-05T06:00:00.001-05:002023-06-05T06:00:00.135-05:00My Frugal Miser - May 2023 Expenses<p>May was another expensive month. Fortunately some of my spending was pre-paying for future expenses.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>I made a substantial prepayment to my Internet provider to help earn a sign-up bonus on a credit card.</li><li>I was charged the annual fee ($95) for a credit card.</li><li>I prepaid for reflexology services. I really like the guy I see and it helps with my foot pain.</li><li>While on a business trip, my aunt passed away. There was only one place near my work that sold men's clothing and I needed something to wear for the funeral.</li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>I booked a a cruise in New Orleans. It was $200 for an extended balcony room, plus I prepaid gratuities.</li><li>I bought tickets to see Margaret Cho and Yungblud.</li><li>We pay for an AMC Unlimited plan. </li></ul></div><h2><b>May Expenses: $4,499</b></h2><div>$147 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$95 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)<br />$585 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />$1,451 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)<br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$205 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$413 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$37 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$505 Reimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$25 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$58 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$979 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-57402532946288977012023-06-03T06:00:00.001-05:002023-06-03T06:00:00.156-05:00My Frugal Miser - May 2023 Income<p>May was an average month. Meeting income was good; several meetings I worked are paid in June so this doesn't reflect all the work I did. I worked two short Amazon routes when I was home. I only received rent from one of the two rental properties, but also received two distributions from Realty Mogul.</p><p>Another major transaction this month that you won't see reflected below was the sale of my last Florida rental property (I still have two in Alabama). This turned out to be a very profitable investment. I purchased the home in August 2012 for $63,000. Nearly 11 years later I sold it for $315,000. While it wasn't all pure profit, the improvements I made were minimal. Major improvements included a new roof, flooring and granite countertops. Taking everything into consideration, I still earned about $200,000 on this investment.</p><div><h2>May Income: $9,429</h2><div><div>$0 Mystery Shopping/ Merchandising<br />$6,130 Meeting Jobs<br />$0 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)<br />$168 Amazon Deliveries</div><div>$3,118 Rental Income (<i>Rental Expenses: $805</i>)<br />$3 Interest Income</div><div>$0 Other Sources</div><div><br /></div><div><h2>Investment Accounts Change in Value: ($11,703)</h2></div></div><div>I have several put options against zombie companies. The meme gamblers were active in May because these dying companies did very well in May.</div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3605038123653737692.post-49776000182224441352023-05-08T06:00:00.001-05:002023-05-08T06:00:00.147-05:00My Frugal Miser - April 2023 Expenses<p>April hurt. It was probably the most expensive month in history, thanks to the tax man. The good news is my 2022 taxes have been paid and I am now focused on making the quarterly tax payments for this year.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456122942233518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsVbXlUmg8ZvthFeitluLZpcEblIy4fdAQFJ1S1IIxG3vbimwXQHLklrdPkTPfKjTk8wqFxUnsXb1nAJwCrZJm9StX-H2fe3vJUSTxq04sLfp-splgzC5Jz3tPYw_Jo1a_mPEEOxQ808/s200/money+window.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 136px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></p><div><div><ul><li>I paid my next 6 month GEICO premium early to help me meet the sign up bonus on a new credit card.</li><li>I was charged the annual fee ($95) for the new credit card.</li></ul><h2>Fun</h2><div><i>We love adventures. Spending on experiences makes us better humans. </i></div></div><div><ul><li>I booked a flight to Richmond to visit my mom in July.</li><li>We pay for an AMC Unlimited plan. </li></ul></div><h2><b>April Expenses: $74,170</b></h2><div>$1,402 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)</div>$95 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)<br />$283 Clothing/ Personal Care<br />$310 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)<br /><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$375 Food</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$16 Health and Dental</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$98 Household/Home Repairs</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$155 Unreimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$270 Reimbursed Job Expense</div><div style="margin: 0px;">$0 Interest Expense</div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$31 Miscellaneous (cat sitter, gifts)</div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$70,697 Taxes<br /></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;">$437 Utilities </div></div></div></div></div>JKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06642759003340742623noreply@blogger.com0