My Frugal Miser - August 2022 Expenses

 I spent a hefty sum in August on future travel and home repairs. 

• Delta reimbursed me for the car rental I reserved when my flight from ATL to BHM was cancelled.  This is a nice double-dip since my client also reimbursed me for it.
• I spent $800 on A/C repairs for our home.
• I finally bought a bed frame.  Since moving back to Clearwater we've been sleeping on a mattress on the floor.  I've been having back issues and think part of the problem came from not having a proper bed.

Fun

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

August and September tend to be the slowest months in the corporate events industry.  While busier than usual, I have enough downtime to plan a couple frugal getaways.  Additionally, I took advantage of some future travel deals:

• I made the final payment for our Transatlantic cruise.  In total, the 13 night cruise from Lisbon to Tampa will cost $800, including $200 cruise fare (refunded as onboard credit), taxes, fees and prepaid gratuities. 
• I booked a December 2023 Baja Mexico cruise, which I paid in full to take advantage of an American Express cashback offer.  Cruises are still super cheap.  This 5 night cruise was $604.72 for two people, which includes the cruise fare, taxes and fees, and prepaid gratuities.  I'll receive $150 back from American Express (they offered a $150 rebate if I spent at least $500 with Carnival).  So basically it's $450 for two people for a 5 night cruise.  It's a balcony stateroom and I get a $200 onboard credit.
• We are taking a break from alcohol.  
• We took a quick getaway to Charleston.  We flew Southwest for $48/person each way.  I redeemed Hyatt points for a "saver" award - two of the 3 nights were only 3,500 points.  I used Turo for the first time, which cost about half what the rental car companies were asking.  We used our reciprocal privileges to visit the botanical garden, and I paid $164 for a Charleston Heritage Passport to gain admission to several museums, plantations and historic homes. 
•  At the end of the month we took a quick trip to Las Vegas to take advantage of a free room offer at the Conrad at Resorts World.  Very unusual offer since I only gambled around $20 several months ago when I visited the food court for a late lunch.  We spent two nights in Vegas (I won!), then two nights in St. Louis.  A friend clued me in to all the free activities in St. Louis.  The zoo, science center and some museums have zero admission price.  We have reciprocal priveleges than allowed us to visit the amazing Missouri Botanical Gardens for free. I did prepay for the rental car.  The hotels were free using points or my annual free night stay offered by my credit card.

August Expenses:  $5,113

$193 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$85 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$18 Clothing/ Personal Care
$1,809 Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets)

$482 Food

$41 Health and Dental

$2,391 Household/Home Repairs

$0 Unreimbursed Job Expense

($795) Reimbursed Job Expense (income)

$0 Interest Expense

$554 Miscellaneous (vet bill, traffic fine)

$206 Taxes

$129 Utilities 

My Frugal Miser - August 2022 Income

August was a lighter month for income.  The meetings industry slows down around the time when school starts, plus I no longer have Airbnb income or income from my biggest single family home (it sold fast!).

I worked 3 meetings jobs (two really small ones and one decent one), completed six Amazon delivery routes, and drove a few hours for Uber.

Rental income was as expected.  I received three distributions from Realty Mogul and rent for my two houses.  Good news:  I sold the third Alabama rental property near the end of August.

August Income: $8,986*

$0 Mystery Shopping/ Merchandising
$4,882 Meeting Jobs
$193 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$562 Amazon Deliveries
$3,324 Rental Income (Rental Expenses:  $1,782)
$0 Airbnb Income (Airbnb Expenses:  $42)
$14 Interest Income

$11 Other Sources

*excludes gain from sale of rental property

Investment Accounts Change in Value:  $6,815

My investments were up; each account outperformed the broader markets.  

My Frugal Miser - July 2022 Expenses

July wasn't such a bad month for spending.  The largest expense was for a root canal.  I have to finish that treatment and then will have to pay for a crown, but that probably won't happen until September.

• I received a refund for the portion of our flight home from the Alaskan cruise that was cancelled.  I also received $1,000 for my trip delay claim.  To simplify things, I posted these as credits to the "fun" category even though part of the claim covered new clothing.

Fun

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

• Spending was minimal.  Our Regal Unlimited passes are now billed monthly.  
• We are taking a break from alcohol.  
• I only spent a small amount while visiting my mom in Richmond.  We visited the Edgar Allen Poe museum in Richmond and I paid for train tickets into Washington DC where we celebrated July 4th.

July Expenses:  $2,228

$251 Auto (service, gas, insurance, AAA, etc.)

$49 Bank Fees (annual fees on credit cards)
$207 Clothing/ Personal Care
($465) Fun (vacations, movies, gambling, alcohol, concert tickets) income this month

$729 Food

$994 Health and Dental

$1,481 Household/Home Repairs

$0 Unreimbursed Job Expense

($1425) Reimbursed Job Expense (income)

$0 Interest Expense

$116 Miscellaneous

$163 Taxes

$127 Utilities 

My Frugal Miser - July 2022 Income

July was an amazing month.  I sold the Airbnb early in the month, but managed one last booking.  The buyers were anxious to get settled in but were hitting some roadbumps with the closing and asked to book it the last few days.

I worked 3 meetings jobs, completed three Amazon delivery routes, and drove a few hours for Uber.

Rental income was as expected.  I received one distribution for Realty Mogul and rent for my three houses.  I am selling one of those houses and only received rent for a few days before the tenants vacated.  The house went under contract faster than I expected and should close before the end of August.

July Income: $12,153*

$0 Mystery Shopping/ Merchandising
$7,733 Meeting Jobs
$228 Gig Apps (Rideshare, Food Deliveries, etc.)
$328 Amazon Deliveries
$2,938 Rental Income (Rental Expenses:  $213)
$911 Airbnb Income (Airbnb Expenses:  $578)
$11 Interest Income

$4 Other Sources

*excludes gain from sale of Airbnb

Investment Accounts Change in Value:  $27,151

My investments were up, as were all equity markets.